An Easy, Warm Balaclava

Deanna at Wedding Dress Blue posted a tutorial for this nice, warm balaclava.  I was unfamiliar with the term, but when I saw a hood tying tightly around the face with a piece coming up to the nose, I knew it was just what I needed for my three-times-a-day walks in all kinds of weather with my dog, Rusty.

You can find the pattern and tutorial here:

http://weddingdressblue.wordpress.com/2011/12/30/tutorial-balaclava/

The pattern prints out onto 6 sheets of paper which are easily taped together and cut out.  In printing my pattern, I found there was a small gap between the 1st and 2nd rows of paper on the right hand side, but it was easy to see where the cutting line should be.

There’s just one pattern piece to cut out and a simple zigzag stitch to put it together plus a couple of notions – elastic cording and cord stops.  I couldn’t find the single barrel stop Deanna mentions but used Dritz #493-1 2 Cord Stops along with Dritz #9342B Round Cord Elastic (JoAnn’s).  I shortened the cord by about 10 inches for the medium pattern so that the cord stops are on either side of the balaclava, about eye level.

Also, the piece of fleece remnant I picked up was only 22 inches long but worked fine by reducing the cuff to 1-1/2 inches. I had enough left from a 60″ wide piece to make another balaclava if I wish.

I’m sure I’m going to get a lot of use out of the balaclava in the next few months and thank Deanna for the good tutorial.  My youngest daughter served as model.

Quilter’s Hooded Jacket

 

Last summer, I was looking for a pattern for a hooded jacket that would be good to wear in the fall and spring.  I found just what I was looking for by A Little More Effect Pattern Company, 10736-124 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5M OH1.  It’s called A Quilter’s Hoodie #0351. 

I chose flannel fabric and a flannel lining to get the warmth I wanted for early spring/fall temperatures and liked the pockets and zipper opening.

I didn’t quilt the jacket at all but used the coordinating fabrics to good advantage and I liked the way it turned out.  It’s very comfortable.

I entered the jacket in the sewing division of the Warren County (Ohio) Fair and won a blue ribbon.

As I usually do when I make jackets, I used leftover fabric to make a small purse to carry in quilt shops, antique shows, etc., where I don’t want to haul around a heavy purse.