O hey-a! After finishing my own Kelly anorak and having it admired to the nth degree by family members, I made a few more! a pale grey one for Cassie, and I also made a deep cobalt blue one for Tim’s girlfriend Kelly. Well, it seemed only right that she should have a “Kelly” too!
I quickly snapped that top picture of an unsuspecting Cassie waiting to meet up with me in town before she noticed me heading towards her… I know it’s a bit blurry and not very posed to show off the anorak to modelly perfection, but I just really like it nonetheless… to me it attests that she’s been wearing it a tonne, in fact every single occasion that I’ve seen her in the past three weeks since I finished it and gave it to her she has been wearing it. There’s no greater compliment to a seamster than that! as well as a testament to the pattern being an absolute style winner. Kelly’s worn hers each time I’ve seen her since I gave it to her too, but I’ve not taken any pictures of her in it.. will update if she sends me one 🙂
This, taken when I presented it to her three weeks ago, and probably the only time it’s been worn with the sleeves unrolled like this. It does look a little more wintery like this. I have to admit, it does look a lot trendier and suits the casual, “heading into summer but still need a layer” look to have the sleeves rolled up.
Both the anoraks are in a nice weight cotton drill from Spotlight, in fact, all the other bits and pieces are from Spotlight too. In both anoraks, I added a few inches to the length of the body and modified the pockets to have separate pocket flaps so as to close the pockets; otherwise these are both made up exactly to the pattern.
This picture below of Kelly’s anorak has been my most “liked” picture on instagram ever! far more than anything I have ever made for myself! Interesting, no? Well, I think it is, anyway 😉 I don’t know what that “says”, if anything at all, but maybe something. Social media is such a funny phenomenon. Something else also interesting to me is how a person, any person, can have a certain number of followers and the number of “likes” never ever reaches anywhere close to that number. Honestly, I have no idea about how or why this is so, but it’s just a curious thing.
I’d got enough of the same white cord for Kelly’s anorak , but since I’d found a nice, perfectly colour-matched blue zip for hers’, and used blue thread for all topstitching and there was no other white anywhere in the jacket; the white cord looked all wrong. And naturally there’s no such thing as blue cord in the whole of Perth! so I just had to dye it. And, when your regular dye-pot is HUGE and there’s just one little length of cord what’s a mad maker to do? but of course, improvise.
Yeah, I know this looks uber-weird, but determination breeds resourcefulness… and it gave me such a laugh to watch this crazy little dye-pot bubbling on the stove! I’d tossed a pair of the same white plastic stops as I used for Cassie’s anorak in with the dye bath and it was very satisfying that they dyed up a nice deep blue too. I’d bought some silver stops just in case but fortunately the blue dye did the job beautifully 🙂
Different day, still wearing it. Yep, like I said, she’s worn it literally every single time I’ve seen her in the past three weeks. I’m calling that a ginormous WIN!
I love the colour of Cassie’s one, it’s so nice for spring!
All the two of them are so pretty and I can see why Cassie and Kelly would wear them since you gave them. I like especially the colour of Cassie’s one! The two are really lucky you made them such stylish anoraks and you are lucky to have such appreciative lovely young women to sew for!
How wonderful that your work is so appreciated! And yes your Pal on the stove cracked me up.
Somehow I am lacking in the stylish gene as it would not have even occurred to me to roll up the sleeves of an anorak, but it does look great that way!
Great work on the anoraks!
I’m totally sold on the anorak now! I am going to have to try this for me and my girls I think. I’m so glad that you mentioned dying the cord. Seriously, why did that never occur to me? I have left out cords on hoods because all I could find is white. Little notes like this in a blog are eye opening–thank you for that!
How rewarding to have your Kellys so appreciated ! About the rolled sleeves, I love this style. I miss the 80s when it was OK to do that even with blazer sleeves.
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Two perfect anorak’s and I can understand why they are worn so often and very much appreciated. Your small dying pot is very ingenious.
Really impressed with these. You are such an inspiration with your improvisation!
Both jackets look perfect Carolyn abd I love them both. Not surprising at all that Cassie and Kelly have wirn theirs non stop, I would have too! And thank you fir the dye pot picture 😀 you really are resourceful!
Beautiful makes! You are my sewing idol.
fantastic, love the dye experiment, so resourceful. that shade of blue is lovely, such a perfect colour and I can see why it got so many likes, as probably its more of a universal colour that will suit so many skin tones. Well done on the gorgeous makes and great they are so appreciated
These are both gorgeous jackets, no wonder they’re getting so much wear! That dye-pot photo made my laugh on instagram – that’s brilliant it worked out so well!
Lucky girls to have received such beautiful jackets. I love your resourcefulness in overcoming any sewing problem with such success. Love your work!
What beautiful jackets you have made for your loved ones! Love them both! Cassie looks fantastic and there’s just ‘something’ about that blurry photo that makes it ever-so-special. 🙂
You are the jacket manufacturer these days! I love this jacket on Cassie and how sweet and appreciative she is to have it. You can tell by the way she wears it that it feels comfortable AND cool. High cool factor is important 🙂
Those are both winners. The can made me laugh too! Only because it is the sort of thing I would do to save dye and use a small quantity. JO x
Both jackets are just so fabulous! Love them both.
Both of them look so beautiful. Your creativity is totally amazing!
All your Kelly jackets look amazing!! May have to put this one on my list for spring!
They are all gorgeous and look so neat on. I love that you went to the lengths of dying the cord and toggles! I always think your outerwear is top notch.
Great anoraks. They’re such a workhorse of a garment, it’s astonishing that they’d get so much Instagram notice! I mean, more than the stupendous Alabama Chanin collection, really?? And many other favorites that don’t require being a craftsperson to appreciate?
Maybe it’s a sign that we humans enjoy seeing fantasy splendor (sometimes) as well as essentials. But preferably with some clever twist. In this case, the blue color? I was about to ask where you found blue cording when I saw the dye pot explanation. That’s what I mean: sure, it’s more fuss, and neutral colored cording would have worked OK…but dyeing the rope and tips blue takes the anorak way up the scale of cool. Your love of solving design puzzles shows, again. Congratulations. May your weather improve swiftly.
thank you so much, Sankati! yes I guess anoraks are more relatable, being an everyday item. I mean, we all like fantasy clothing, but that is far more subject to personal taste I think 🙂
Love. Love. LOVE!!! All of them are so pretty.