Sunday, January 10, 2010

duffle trouble

duffled up
My knitting needles have been in overdrive lately with the advent of the cold weather. For non-local readers, who are wondering exactly how cold that weather is, the answer is Very! -13 degrees C the other morning according to my car, after I had chiselled my way in and careered off down the road to work. I know it's a bit of a maternal cliche but I can't help but worry about rubbishknitterjunior's general wellbeing in such climes. So I am very happy now this little duffle coat is finished. Pattern is Roo from the Twist Collective, yarn is Aragon Yarn Classic Romney, donated to the keep-the-rubbishknitters-warm fund by the lovely Kate B. There was just exactly the right amount, no more than a couple of metres left over. When I first touched this wool I immediately thought of duffle coats - it is a fat, sturdy feeling single ply almost like roving which is super warm to touch.

Modifications: I put an extra half pattern repeat into the hood, because my child has a massive head. My tension was a bit off, so I made a size down, and it came out just right. (More details about these tinkerings on the Ravelry project page should you require them). This was a great pattern, I enjoyed it a lot. Doing the fastenings was fun. Ideally I had wanted leather triangles, but in the local fabric store they only sold what the lady pleasingly described as Pleather. I wasn't sure about it initially but it was both cheaper and easier to sew, and looks enough like leather to fool a blind man on a galloping horse, so it'll do. I cut out equilateral triangles and handsewed them on with thin strips to hold the toggles. It worked pretty well I think. My only slight reservation with this fastening method is that there is a bit of a wind-admitting gap in the middle. If I have time I might put a zip in as well to pull the sides together a bit, although it is possible I am overfussing with such a thick warm coat. Mmmm snuggly, I want a duffle coat too now...
let me outbrrr

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

gorgeous duffle, perfect timing

Jessica said...

I really like this. I see what you mean about the gap, that is unfortunate but overall it is a great little coat. Wish we had weather that would let us wear something like that here. Thanks for sharing!

Manuel said...

adult version in black....I'll take two, cheers....heh

Kate said...

Oh, the yarn is PERFECT for that coat. :-) He looks splendid. And don't worry about the gap. My boys are wearing the minimum amount of clothing possible and haven't dropped down dead with hypothermia yet.

rubbishknitter said...

Audrey: cheers!

Jessica in Texas, would you like to do a weather swap, I am getting a bit bored of snow now.

Manuel: ok, i'll have those ready for you in about 9 winters time

Kate: glad you like it - thankyou so much for the yarn, much appreciated by both of us!

Amy said...

I´ll like to order an adult one too please - It´s Fab!!

Melanie C. Jordan said...

That is beautiful!
I knit too but nothing close to that.