Wednesday, May 21, 2014

The humble knit blazer



All Zen on the building site



Today's photos are courtesy of our building site, formerly known as our back yard. There is no work today because the engineer has to come back with the new calculations for the footings, which is what happens if you try to excavate into volcanic lava flow and find that the massive boulders you remove are too deep for your foundations.  I suppose I should be stressing about the cost of all these delays and re-engineering works but whenever I am tempted to go down that line of thought, I just think to myself, "first world problems."  Of course it is easier to take a broader perspective when you are not paying for it - and since I contribute precisely zero to the house hold economy my zen like attitude is perhaps slightly less admirable.

It's funny though I have start to think of the cost of things in terms of renovation fit outs. This re-engineering work will cost us a new toilet and half a hand basin.

In times of huge expenditure and expensive footings, isn't it nice to be able to return to a hobby that over the course of a year costs me less than a heated towel rail?

 Let us turn our thoughts to more comforting and reassuring pursuits  - that of the hobby seamstress. Here is my experiment with Ottobre 02-2014-10 the humble knit blazer.  I purchased a 3 metre length of felted wool merino from the Fabric store at a huge discount because of a fault that ran every couple of metres down the centre of the fabric. It is thick and warm and cozy, and it is just like wearing a snuggly wool blanket. That is on the plus side. On the minus side, the semi fitted style and heavy fabric add quite a bit of bulk to the figure, which is why I have nicknamed this jacket, "the ten pounder."


I used snap domes instead of button holes. I didn't like my chances with the sewing machine - the fabric is very thick.

It's quite handy for the school run when I need something to stave off the early morning autumn chill and its casual look makes for a good jeans and jersey combo.

I love the whole idea of the knit jacket but this is not true love, it is not, if you will,  a Vittoria and Albert quarried quartz freestanding bath.






The zipper  is a humble black 10 cm jean zipper.  





8 comments:

  1. Well having seen that blazer in person I'd say it's not so humble, it looks fantastic. I hope the excavations went well and didn't swallow up the other half of the handbasin.
    Love J

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    1. Thanks Miss Smith - but I feel I may have to play with it some more until it reaches my unrelenting standards.

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  2. Hi MA so good to read your blog again and see a dirt pile bigger than ours out the back door. Admittedly a drier one I think. Love the shirt and the blazer both. I have cut out coffee since our last conversation (well the odd one, very odd) and you are right. It cuts out the energy peaks and troughs. M

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    1. Ah Miri - you know I finish detox finally in 2 weeks and then I would have finally got to have a coffee after 1 1 /2 years - but in the meantime I have developed an autoimmune disease which means I cannot drink coffee without moderate adominal pain afterwards - so I may never be able to drink coffee again - just as well I feel so much better without it, eh?

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  3. I hope the renovations/extensions are getting better. I am marveling at the thought of half a handbasin. There is a plumbing store in Newparket/Parnell that has $500 toilet brushes if you want to really skew the measuring - i.e it only cost 3 extra toilet brushes etc.
    Great Jacket too!

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    1. hey Amy - thanks for the tip on the toilet brush! I think it will go nicely with our posh bath and taps. The problem is, you'd have to do an inventory after a guest used your loo in case they tried to flog it. I can imagine it would inspire a lot of brush envy.

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  4. Lovely jacket! I wanted to tell you I still use that beautiful purse you made me. I always get compliments. Thanks again! -Christy

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