pom pom hat

This was the first collaborative effort with my little person for something for them!











I hacked together a crochet hat pattern for my 2 year old (though likely to fit someone else's 3 year old).

Round 1: 4 chain (ch) stitches (st) and slipstitch together
Round 2: Ch 3, 11 double crochet (dc), slip to close (12 st)
Round 3: Ch 3, 1 dc in first st, and 2 dc in the next 11 stitches, slip to close (24 st)
Round 4: Ch 3, *2 dc in first st and 1 dc in next st*, repeat for next 22 st (36 st)
Round 5: Ch 3, *2 dc in first st and 1 dc in next 2 st*, repeat for next 31 st (48 st)
Round 6: Ch 3, *2 dc in first st and 1 dc in next 3 st*, repeat for next 43 st (60 st)
Round 7: Ch 3, *2 dc in first st and 1 dc in next 4 st*, repeat for next 54 st (72 st)
Round 8-19: Ch 3, dc in each st (72 st)

I used DK yarn and a 5mm hook. I have quite a tight crochet style so someone else could easily use a 4.5mm hook instead.  I added a loose pompom to the top (LP preferred that to the ears I was suggesting!).

The finished hat is similarly sized to a 3-6 year knitted hat my little person received as a gift (in case I used that one to figure out the sizing).  I'm writing it here so I'll remember for the next time (so I can size it up!).  The hat is 18cm top to bottom and 53cm in circumference.

Papercut Palisade Trousers

I am ridiculously pleased with these trousers.  So so pleased!  I finished these before work this morning and wore them all day!

I cut these out over two months ago and the changes I needed to make to the pattern pieces to suit my 'block'-like StyleArc Willow Trousers made me lose all interest in actually sewing them up.  I hadn't cut out the fusible interfacing and then kept them in a bag for the following two months.  Finally, pulled them out and cut the last interfacing pieces at the Fabric Hoarders Sewing Meetup last weekend.  Thank you lovely sewists for providing a space for me to sort my sewing sh*t out!

(Please ignore the cat hair - these were never getting photographed if I waited)

So here's the deets.  Black fabric from a Wellington Fabric Hoarders Meetup swap.  The pattern base size is Papercut Palisade XL but I changed the crotch curve to fit with the changes I've made to the StyleArc Willow Trouser pattern, increased the waist size, and raised the waist height. I have a protruding stomach and a flat bottom which does not lend itself to keeping my trousers up so raising the waist means these sit at the top of my hips so can come in enough to stay up.  And after a day's wear, they're working well.

(The fit is actually better than this - but this is me jumping up on the chair within the 3 second window to get the photo! Definitely #sewingInRealLife!)

So what would I change? They're a little tight on the calf so it might be worthwhile to do an adjustment for a full calf in the next pair so they don't twist out.

A very comfy fit with a great pocket detail. 

As per all paper papercut patterns, the instruction booklet is attached to the pattern pieces which I find super annoying.  You are *supposed* to cut it out and stick it together but after spending $30 on the paper pattern, I'd much prefer to have a separate instruction booklet.  I also trace the pattern (partly because I change size quite significantly and partly because if I make changes to the pattern for me I'd like to get back to the original if it doesn't turn out correctly) so I'm also damned if I cut out the instructions without cutting out the pattern.

The company handled some cultural appropriation very badly recently and made me less enthusiastic about supporting them. They also provide the 'standard' very slight model photos *especially with smaller busts* which make the patterns hard to visualise on larger bodies.  They're rubbish at regramming larger bodies too (though I wouldn't want these very 'real life' photos circulating too widely - haha!).  So disappointing as they are a local NZ company.

Pattern: Papercut Palisade

Size: XL

Adjustments: added to waist and changed crotch tot fit my StyleArc Willow trousers. I also increased the length above the crotch to bring the trousers up to my

Fabric: Wellington Fabric Hoarders Meetup group swap