Tom Hunter: A Journey Back.


Image © Tom Hunter

I was reading the Big Issue yesterday, and suddenly did a double-take when I saw this picture. It’s from the “Travellers” series by Tom Hunter, who has several current exhibitions in London and around Europe.

When I was at University I harboured a sort of a romantic notion that I would somehow land a lovely job with a publisher in London, and live in a tiny little flat which I would paint purple. Sadly none of those things materialised in the end, but this picture is extraordinarily close to my imaginary living space.

Occasionally Paul and I will discuss the possibility of getting rid of all our belongings, and living a more minimalist lifestyle. We both like the idea of Container City, and I am madly love with these pod houses, by Eco Hab. They look like something Wallace and Grommit might build!

Usually we end up shaking our heads sadly – we’ve already built a twelve foot square shed in the garden because my sewing had drastically outgrown the house, and one look at our bookshelves will tell you that we don’t really know the meaning of the word “minimal”.

In spite of my over-developed hoarding tendencies, I do sometimes think it might be incredibly freeing, to just get rid of all the things we collect and hold on to but don’t really need. There’s so much unnecessary consumerism in this world that it might be nice to somehow step outside it and start again.

Painted Lady

Painted Lady

I don’t do very well in the summer. I suffer from heatstroke, I burn easily, and I find it very difficult to function once the weather starts to heat up.

I spent most of today hiding in my Shed, sorting out another pile of patterns and fabrics to go on Ebay. (I’ll be listing them on Monday.)

By about seven thirty it was finally cool enough to go outside and take the camera for a little walk. The first thing I spotted was this shrub, which was absolutely covered in Painted Lady butterflies.

Paul’s been out for a helicopter ride today, taking photos over London.
I’m very happy with this little piece of beauty a little closer to home.

Trailing Leaf

This little beauty is “Trailing Leaf” by Amanda Jones, and it’s on page 66 of issue 6 of The Knitter.

I have a whole bag full of Rowan Cashcotton 4 ply in a lovely peachy colour, which I think would be perfect for this.

[edit] Oops – there’s a misprint, and the pattern calls for DK, not 4-ply.

I’m still knitting this fabulous 1970s hoody, but I have reached the point where it’s painfully obvious that I don’t have enough Debbie Bliss Soho left to finish knitting the hood. Actually, I reached that point quite a long time ago, but I spent yesterday evening knitting the hood anyway.

Chatting to other knitters, it’s clear that it’s not just me who’s determined to keep knitting in these circumstances, as though some extra wool is mysteriously going to materialise through sheer force of wishful thinking. It’s the same as knitting faster when you think you might not have quite enough yarn to make it to the end of a project. Common sense (and, you know, physics) dictates that wool doesn’t magically get longer the faster you knit, so why do we persist?

My plan for this evening is to unravel my poor half-knitted hood, and start again with a big collar. After that I can spend the weekend blocking and sewing, and I’ll have a nice new chunky cardigan. Just in time for summer…

Getting rid of the spiders.

Magpie, eating a spider

Apparently it’s spider season.

One of the hazards of working in a wooden building at the bottom of the garden is that spiders like to share that building with you.

I’m not the biggest fan of spiders, so I was very glad to spot this magpie taking care of one for me!

Seventies Style, and Size Charts.

1970s print tunic dress

I think this one might even be my favourite tunic so far.

It’s made from a brand spanking new thirty-five year old bed sheet. Check out the fabulous 1970s print!

In the interests of encouraging you all to buy a lovely tunic dress or top… I’ve now put together a size chart. It runs from UK size 2 (bust 29½”) to UK size 30 (bust 54″). If you fall outside of that range, fear not! I can still make a dress or top for you. All I need to know are your bust and hip measurements, and I can draw up a pattern in your size.

It Has Begun.

Teacups Tunic

The first tunic dress is now up for sale on Etsy.

All I need to do now is make more. Lots more.

Chiltern Open Air Museum.

Shepherd and lamb

Today we went to the Chiltern Open Air Museum, and I got to pet this little lamb! He is ten days old! Bless!

We also saw an encampment of the Romano-British re-enactment Group, the Vicus.

As you might expect, I very much enjoyed the fashion show. Lots of tunics! And a demonstration of toga wrapping. I’ve taken lots and lots of pictures, and I had a very interesting chat with the Romans about the benefits of wearing loosely woven wool cloth in this hot weather. Cooler than you might think, apparently.

After the demonstration was over, I asked a group of Romans to pose, so I could take photos of their shoes.

As you do.

(If you’re me.)

Roman shoesRoman shoes
Roman shoesRoman shoes

Socks with sandals – shocking.
I’m very tempted to have a go at making a pair of those boots though.

Taking over with Tunics.

It occurred to me that it would probably help me in my plan to take over the world, if I told you how I was hoping to get there.

This is how:

Raglan tunic tops and dresses

I’ve been working on various incarnations of this pretty little tunic dress and top over the past couple of years, and I have great plans for their future. But that can only happen if I tell you how you can buy them – so that’s what I’m doing now.

I can make these in just about any fabric you can think of. Pictured above are knits and wovens, patterns and plain, recycled curtains and bed linen, brand new fabrics and an old t-shirt.

Because I sew each tunic by hand, I can make them in any size you need. Just send me a couple of simple measurements, and I’ll send you a dress which will fit.

All the information you need is here.

Know somebody who you think might like one of these?
Please feel free to pass on the details.

Thank you!

Lollo Rosso.

Lollo Rosso

Home grown lettuce.

I cheated a little bit, and bought these from the garden centre as seedlings, rather than planting my own seeds. But they’ve grown like mad in the past few weeks, and I finally decided they were big enough to eat! I’ve chopped up one of my six little lettuces, and am in the process of scoffing it for my lunch. The great thing about this particular variety of lettuce is that it grows back after you cut it, so these six lettuces will actually feed me for ages.

This is the best part about growing food – eating it!

My peas and beans appear to be doing well, despite a slight run-in with some birds uprooting the seedlings. My courgettes have finally started to appear, and the potatoes are enormous and need burying before they get too big.

I’m definitely going to have some very tasty lunches a bit later on in the year – I only wish I’d remembered to plant tomatoes!

Chloe’s psychedelic jacket – finished.

Psychedelic jacket - complete

From a huge roll of fabric, via a PhotoShop drawing, to a finished jacket!

The most difficult part was sourcing a truly enormous orange button. I bought this one on Etsy, from TheKitschEnd.

The jacket’s now in the post – hopefully Chloe will send some photos of the jacket in action, when it arrives!