Almost immediately upon arriving back in Perth from the UK, we left for Hobart, Tasmania. You always know you’re in Hobart by (a) the third world conditions at the airport, where airbridges are in a very distant future; and (b) Sammy the Seal sitting on the baggage carousel
I had been watching the weather fairly closely, but it’s always hard to tell what it’s going to do as 25°C can be quite hot in Hobart. I took a few new things that I’ve been making for the challenge in the Sewalongs and Sewing Contests group on Facebook, but I really couldn’t wear too many of them due to the cold weather, so they will feature in a later post when I get back to Perth. I did however wear my red raincoat a lot, and am pleased that it continues to prove to be fairly warm, reasonably rainproof and almost windproof.
However, here are a couple of things I did make for the trip. The Papercuts Anima-pant, which is much like the Hudson pants, but with a few differences, particularly in the pocket department.
I very much like this pattern except that it turned out about three sizes too big. This is an easy fix for next time, but I am a bit sad about the lovely grey marled knit from Potter’s. I did wonder if I could shrink them, so they will be getting a hot wash when I get home.
In spite of the size (I made a small and suspect that the XXS will still be too big), I managed to wear them for a bit of bush walking. One of the other changes I’ll make is to ditch the drawstring at the waist as it produces a rather unsightly lump under t-shirts.
I also wore another Lady Aimee top, which is a fabulous free pattern. I’ve lost count of the number of these I’ve made, all of them from scraps, and this one is no exception. I also changed the back a bit.
On most of my Lady Aimee tops I’ve added a back yoke, but on this one I also mirrored the side fronts at the side back. This is the best photo of this that I’ve got.
I keep thinking that I’m going to make the top longer, but I’m always constrained by the size of my scraps. Perhaps I’ll make one with “real” fabric! This wonderful bush walk, by the way, is about 15 minutes walk from Mark’s mother’s house and is full of birds and wildlife. We really enjoyed walking through it listening to the bird calls and the rustling of the undergrowth as unknown creatures scuttled off.
Tom and Bridgette flew into Launceston and drove to Hobart to spend the last couple of days of their holiday with us. They stopped in various places along the way, but the most exciting news is that on a beach at Dove Lake, Cradle Mountain, Tom proposed to Bridgette, producing champagne and a magnificent ring. Happily she said yes! I am so proud of him as it was a proposal to remember forever. So romantic and I think we all shed a tear.
We all went to Wineglass Bay, where we did the long trek down to the beach and back up again. I wore my much-too-big Anime-pants and yet another Lady Aimee, together with the Naughty Bobbin bonus Coco Cap pattern. In spite of my best efforts, it’s also a bit big for me, so I’m planning another (that wide brim is fabulous), but with a few changes.
The trek into Wineglass Bay is reasonably arduous, but the beginning of it is quite pleasant, with a spectacular lookout and this lovely resting bench. I immediately wanted one, so have put in my order with my very capable sons.
Wineglass Bay is so named because it resembles a wineglass. I struggle to see it, but this photo shows why it is called this (I think!). It is a stunning spot with lovely views.
The beach is wide and long, and we were lucky with the beautiful weather. We sat on the beach and had a drink and a snack before tackling the long climb back to the carpark. 
We took Tom and Bridgette to the top of Mt Nelson, which has wonderful views over Hobart and the Derwent River.
And of course Salamanca Market, which I’ve blogged about before, so will only put up this photo of a rather quirky stall with its very laid-back owner! He was laying there talking to prospective customers, and I would have hated to have roused him to sell me something!
You are probably wondering where all the fabric shopping is, and I am really sorry to tell you that Flash Fabrics closed down in July and the wool shop “The Stash Cupboard” has moved from Liverpool Street to 180 Macquarie St, although I only discovered this by accident as they haven’t updated their website. Apparently all the rents in Liverpool Street increased by 50% when the new Myer store opened, causing the exodus. I shall update my fabric and yarn shopping in Hobart post to reflect these, and a couple of other changes.
No trip to Hobart is complete without a visit to MONA, the Museum of Old and New Art, but when we went we found it was closed. No matter, we’ve been several times and this opened up an opportunity for a new experience.
We had a play down on Constitution Dock and noticed this enormous passenger liner tied up. It’s Ovation of the Seas, which carries 5,000 passengers and 1,500 crew. It’s eighteen stories high apparently and certainly dwarfed this newly built hotel. I think there might be something wrong with me, but the prospect of being a passenger on something so enormous gives me the horrors, and yet some of my friends love this sort of holiday so I’m clearly missing something.
We also finished up at Cornelian Bay, which has lovely views of these quaint beach huts, which are cantilevered over the water. You can also see the Tasman Bridge in the background, which had a pillar knocked out of it by a drunken sea captain in the 1970s. It now has an uneven gap between two sets of pillars because the ship still sits at the bottom of the Derwent River, stopping the original pillar being rebuilt. 
This will be my only post from Hobart. We’ve had a lovely, but chilly, nine days and I did enjoy our excursions, but I am looking forward to getting home to some warm weather and getting organised for Christmas. I did manage a little bit of vintage shopping, buying a couple of gifts for Tom and Archie, and I might Instagram some of my purchases after Christmas.