Teal blue wool bouclé "Melba" cropped jacket

Started in 2013, this self-drafted jacket, called the "Melba" (because it's based on my memory of a wildly expensive jacket seen in Melbourne) was made up to the point of deciding whether to make Spanish Snap buttonholes, or machine keyhole buttonholes. After languished for seven years, I'm over it and just want it gone. Machine buttonholes it is.

The fabric is a heavy wool bouclé originally from The Fabric Warehouse.

Maybe if I'd finished it in 2013 I'd wear it, but I really can't see myself in it now, so it will go to Ziggurat in a few months, when they are taking winter stock.

Pink pom-pom beach poncho from a blanket *tutorial*

Orginally a $5 polarfleece baby blanket complete with pom-poms from Countdown supermarket.

The only pattern piece I used was for the hood. Any hood pattern piece will do - in this case Butterick 6101, as it was still out on from the teal hoodie. Pockets were drawn straight onto the fabric by tracing around my hand.

I've illustrated a chart to help explain the process.

1. Cut a strip off one side just wide enough for the hood and two pockets. TIP: cut these with their openings on the finished edge to save time hemming.
2. Hem the main piece along the cut edge, then fold into quarters. Cut a quarter-circle hole out of the folded corner for the neckline. The finished circumference size needs to be the same size as the lower hood neck seam length.
3. Sew all pieces together using a zigzag stitch. You may need to stretch the neck edge a little when attaching the hood to make it large enough to pull over your head.

It's not my best work, but it took less than an hour to make, and is a perfectly functional poncho for the beach.