I know, it's not really, around here at least. Yet.
As a child, that fact was my only gripe with September. I had just celebrated a birthday, and I was back at school with shiny new school supplies and pretty new school clothes. But new school clothes consisted mainly of sweaters, thick corduroys, wool skirts, hats, mittens, and the most exciting of all: a new heavy coat. Stuff that will keep a kid warm and dry waiting at the bus stop or out at recess the rest of the school year. Around here we tend to get awesomely gorgeous and warm Indian Summers that can last into October. But real summer was over. I was back to school; I wanted to wear my back to school clothes. And I would. And I would be hot. Uncomfortably hot. And itchy. So non-sweater-weather, that was my September nemesis.
Fortunately, I guess...I no longer start September with a drawer full of that new-wool-smell (mmm, smell that...makes the itchiness worth it, kind of). So I am loving the fact that although the nights are cooler, and it is dark earlier, I get to enjoy some more summery weather as the rest of the tomatoes ripen in the sun.
But there is still a sweatery theme around here right now. A couple weeks ago I was thinking about nothing and sketching in my Moleskine, and these guys appeared.
I'm not expecting this to actually make sense to you, but it might make a little more sense if you realize that I draw and sketch from the bottom right corner out. A habit I picked up early on to minimize the smudge-drag from my left hand. I even draw that way on the Wacom...I realize smudging is not an issue drawing digitally but I can't not do it that way.
These guys have been kicking around in my brain...really wanting to be realized in their final form.
No, really...I need to. It says so, right here.
So I started digging around through old rag piles downstairs. Stocked up on some thinning colors in the thread box. Found those pillows that the puppies chewed up 20 years ago. Yes, I still have pillows that were destroyed 2 decades ago.
The first sweaters to go under the knife were both thrift shop finds from the 80s. A lovely, heavy, hand-knitted fisherman's getup that never fit right and always looked weird on. Didn't really have a front or back. More like it had 2 backs. But it was such a great sweater. So it went into the paint-clothes drawer. And it got paint on it. And I tugged at the neck constantly every time I wore it. The other was a tricky little bugger. A pretty, sleeveless turtleneck. It looks so soft, and when you touch it, seems so soft. But it sneaks up on you. Wear it for an hour and your neck will run screaming, leaving your head in danger of falling off onto the floor. This one must be used sparingly. It's a dangerous little sweater.
My tiny sketches were about as close as I got to a pattern. I let the sweaters themselves dictate size and shape. I cut pieces that sort of made sense and started sewing.
Meet Sweatercat.
Because he was sewn during family-time, the project ended up being stitched completely by hand. Some details would have been much simpler and tidier had I gotten out the machine...but this time, it was more important to enjoy quiet, together time than to complete a project efficiently. Once finished, though...I realized he needed something.
Meet Dickie, Sweatercat's little buddy.
Yeah, Dickie's arms are too high, or maybe his nose is too long. Hard to tell. That's what happens when you don't bother with patterns or plans of any kind. But Sweatercat doesn't mind.
And Dickie isn't at all bothered by the fact that Sweatercat's lips are so dry that they're stuck to his teeth.
They're perfectly happy this way.
And the boxes they're posing on? More about those in a bit.
After looking at them for a while, there was something familiar...and suddenly I remembered some silly little unfinished drawings that have been filed away in the "to do one of these days" folder for over a year now.
I think this could be Sweatercat's entire family.
OK...I can't stand it. The boxes! I can't wait to show you, but it's going to have to be another post. Later. Not now.
Oh alright (I can hardly contain myself) here's a little peek...
Bye for now.