My most favourite ready to wear hoodie is on its last legs and I’ve been meaning to cut it up to turn it into a pattern for about two years, but as this year I am not wearing a single item of ready to wear clothing, the time has come to copy it.

I am currently wearing the new improved version on my holiday to Tasmania, and here it is in some strange places. The feature photo is sitting astride a pink rocket on the “Mona Roma”, which is the ferry to the amazing MONA (Museum of Old and New Art).

Also perched on a sheep on the same ferry. It could have been worse; there was a cow on the other side of the boat!

Some photos of the original hoodie, which is by Esprit. I basically rubbed off the pattern, adding a 1cm seam allowance where necessary.

The fabric for my new one is some cotton stretch velour that I had found in an op shop a couple of years ago and which I had forgotten I had. I have searched fabric shops for something similar and I had exactly what I wanted at home!

My orange hoodie has raglan sleeves, but I really wanted to self line the hood and just didn’t have enough fabric. I found by making regular sleeves and shoulders I could just fit the whole thing on. I used my t-shirt block to convert the pattern and I took quite detailed photos of the whole process, which I have left at home on my camera – gah!

I used some of the sewing techniques from the orange fleece on this one. For example, the neckline seam is covered with stretchy bias binding. I didn’t have any that I really liked so I hit upon the idea of using knicker elastic and it is brilliant! I just stretched it ever so slightly and it pulls the neckline in a smidge so it fits me perfectly.

I wanted a slightly different finish on the sleeves and body so used ribbing left over from my first Thread Theory Finlayson, and it matches perfectly.

I bound the edge of the hood and pockets with strips of the ribbing.

The jacket has proven to be the perfect weight for a Tasmanian summer and I have worn it twice since we’ve been here with many more wears to come.

I thought I would include these photos from my visit to  MONA with my friend Suzanne, who came to Tasmania with us. Here we are in a “cave” of indescribable blinginess.

The scale of the cave can’t be shown in a photograph, but the one below is taken from outside through the doorway to give an idea of how it is constructed in the museum. It was quite astonishing.

A last one of the jacket in action, this time at the Richmond bridge, built in 1823. I think we visit Richmond every time we come to Hobart, because it’s such a pretty place.

Doubtless followers on Instagram will be seeing more of this jacket, and, if I can find suitable fabric, I would love to make another one.

I teamed the hoodie with my Jamie Jeans, Liberty t-shirt, and Éléonore pull on jeans, which I’ve never blogged it seems.

I should mention that entry to the MONA is free for Tasmanians, which I think is rather wonderful. The museum has contributed a huge amount to the local economy and it is now a “must see” on every tourist guide.

And now a couple of gratuitous photos of the MONA. There is a new wing, which I’ve never seen before, and this is the Faro Tapas bar complete with gigantic installation.

As in most modern art spaces, some of the art left me rather cold, but I loved this, er, machine.

The building alone is worth a visit. It is hewn from inside a limestone cliff and the construction details are all on display. A nice article on the architecture, together with some wonderful aerial photographs is at https://mona.net.au/museum/introduction.

Meanwhile, a couple of interior photos: a tunnel between exhibits

and another galleyway between exhibits which took a bit of getting used to.

I have been to the MONA several times, but I am astonished at how much it changes. This won’t be my last visit I’m sure.