SEWN: THE NOSTALGIA WRAP

Memories are a funny thing. They are powerful, yet often flawed.

This project has a bit of history to it. Sarah has heard a bit of this story after I commented on her fabulous Woodland Stroll Cape. You see I've been planning a cape/poncho/winter thingy for literally years.

I have this rather precious memory. I recall being small, maybe four, and I was the proud owner of the most wicked poncho ever. Crocheted in green and white, pom pom drawstrings, I was a child of the 70's. That thing was the bomb. And I remember very clearly one particular occasion of wear. I was sick (nothing major I suspect) and my father allowed me to keep my pyjamas on with my precious poncho thrown on top to head to the doctors. I remember striding with pride holding my Daddy's hand. I seriously felt like the queen of the world.

I've pretty much always wanted to create a newer, more modern and fresh version of that famed poncho. A few years ago I fell in love with Tessuti's New York Cape when I came across Kirsty's version showcased on the Tessuti blog. Oh my, be still my beating heart. I rushed to buy the pattern, and then... stalled. I don't know why. I just never got around to it.

Then last winter I visited The Fabric Store to buy something completely different. And whilst making my purchase I saw a roll of the most amazingly perfect pure wool coating I'd ever seen. Shades of apple green, cream, fawn and brown.

Please don't tell me it's back there because someone bought the whole roll I begged the staff.

Um yep, it was. But my angel on earth (one of the shop assistants) chased some up from another store and one phone call later it was winging its way to me.

Coordinating wool binding was purchased from Tessuti and I was ready to go... and then I stalled again.

Why?

Because this fabric needed to be honoured by the right pattern. And when I saw Anna's divine Winter Wrap it became all too clear that this is what this fabric was meant to be. I knew it was perfect and I had to have something just like it.

I fired up Google and minutes later I found this tutorial and the capacity to make the cape/wrap/thingy of my dreams.

This is a super quick project that basically requires you to cut a "neckline" out of a square of fabric and then bind the edges. You could use regular bias binding or even handstitch a blanket stitch around the edge. I had the wool binding so was set to go. I used Anna's fabric dimensions, a square of 1.3m x 1.3m, because I liked the fall and drape of hers.

I have had in my stash for some time a couple of Tasmanian designed and crafted wooden buttons purchased by the hubby on a business trip to Hobart. I wanted to add just a little something, so used this beautiful bird button as a "brooch".

Back to memories. Why are memories flawed? Because my mum just informed me the poncho was red, not green and white!! And as soon as she said it I thought "So it was..."

Green, white, red, it just doesn't matter because good god I love this thing. It might even cause me to show my teeth...

And the reason it holds such nostalgia for me? My father passed away in my early teen years. Wearing this capes brings back such powerful memories of him and how dearly I was loved. You may have been gone for twenty-eight years Daddy, but I remember you. I remember you Daddy and this one's for you.