It has been a week since cyclone Yasi blew through and I now have power back to my house. We all got through okay, with no-one injured and only minor damage to the house....a few trees landed on the house, damaging gutters and one casement window broke. It wasn't all bad. My sister and her family evacuated to our house and it was lovely to have them. I rediscovered the pleasure of a candle-lit bath. A forced holiday from television and computers is probably a good thing now and then, and I didn't need to make excuses for not vacuuming, ironing or washing!
The day before cyclone preparations began in earnest, I whipped up a very quick muslin of this interesting design from "Pattern Magic Vol 3 - Stretch Fabric Material". This book is listed for $50 on Amazon, but it only cost me $20 in Japan. If you
go to Amazon you can see some images from the book. Admittedly, Amazon are showing only the more wearable designs. Some of the others are pretty kooky!
I had lots of jobs that I really should have been doing, so I picked the quickest project to try. It is basically 2 circles sewn together. The bottom circle has a hole for your body to go through and the top circle has a hole for your head. Two slits are left open between the circles for arm-holes.
Initially, I thought that the top was wearable, probably best made up in a neutral colour, to layer over other neutral coloured knits. I liked the back neckline. Now that I have seen photos of me wearing it, it won't be getting beyond the muslin stage. Never mind, it was a quick, fun play-around.
This is the tree that landed on the front of the house. Some kind neighbours helped us remove it.
This top does feel a little like a super-hero cape.
From some angles, the back looks quite lovely. From others, not so much.
And lastly, a photo of our cyclone bunker. We moved our very heavy, jarrah dining table into my sewing room (I did have to do some tidy-up to get it in there). Fortunately, we did not need it, but we did check to see if everybody could fit underneath.
Glad you and your family made it through the Cyclone okay!
ReplyDeleteWow, such an interesting shirt. It's fun to see one of the patterns made up even if it's a little unusual.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got through the storm all right without the need to use your sewing room-cum-bunker. I live nearly as far from the ocean as you can get..so we don't experience much in the way of cyclones here.
so glad you all made in there in Queensland ( well except that one unfortunate young bloke ) hopefully all natural disasters for Queensland are done for tne next millenia. We were all feeling your pain down here.
ReplyDeleteFrom Victorian bushfire survivor.
Glad you, your family and your house are ok. I've been thinking of you wondering how you faired.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very interesting shirt! Some japanese pattern books have the craziest patterns in them.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even realize you lived in North Queensland. I am so glad to hear that your family made it through the cyclone safely. And heres hoping that is the last cyclone we get this year.
I blogged about the book not too long ago. For non-Japan residents, it's more affordable from yesasia.com. Anyways, I hadn't categorised this design as wearable but seeing it made up by a "regular" person, it looks much more appealing!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't need your bunker.
ReplyDeleteGlad you and your family are ok, I can see what you mean about the super-hero cape, but I don't mind it.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you and your family are ok. Never realised that you lived in the cyclone area.
ReplyDeleteTHe shirt is very original, nice combination of fabrics and sure very good looking on you.
Very good you're safe! It looks like you mad it all fun for the kids, but trees falling on the house aren't exactly a good time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting take on the 2-circles school of t-shirt design. I actually wore a lot the one I made from Vogue 3334, an 80s Miyake pattern, and it was quite surprisingly good-looking as well as comfy. Here is a bad picture: http://groehm.tripod.com//sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/2334.jpg you could wear it with the seam in back as well, and it sat on the hips asymmetrically.
Welcome back and I'm glad the cyclone went by without too much damage. You Queenslanders have been getting more than your fair share of wild weather (and you already get all the giant bugs don't you?) so hopefully that's it for a long while!
ReplyDeleteI think your 2 circles top is actually pretty interesting. It looks great from the front and intriguing from the back! And you could do this with other shapes too couldn't you!
Good thing you all faired OK in the cyclone - it must have been scary not knowing what to expect and a relief when it was all over.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting top - worth a muslin. You could definitely wear that out but you'd have to totally believe in its coolness - its not for doubters!
Your house looks just like one my sister used to live in, in Gulliver. She's in Mundingburra now. I'm in Cairns. Pretty good cyclone, to hit both at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how you went, so I am glad you posted and all is well. Interesting top. I am keen to see what else you try out of this book.
ReplyDeleteHow awesome, another sewing blog by someone in the tropics :-) I am in Darwin, and have spent most of my life sewing clothes that are as cool as possible. It eventually dawned on me that was quite a specialty in itself!
ReplyDeleteI hope the tree didn't do too much damage to your house, and I'm glad you didn't need the extra shelter. And the power finally coming back on is always nice, eh?
Imogheena
Glad you made it through the big blow. Your cape top is very innovative - but I do like the back better than the front.
ReplyDelete