2022 May - mostly small steps forwards

What got finished:

Stopped tinkering with the sage green French Terry jacket. It drapes better now and has been worn with only positive comments from friends and acquaintances. Perhaps I'm being fussy when I would like it 1/2" longer and with smoother sleeves.

Knitted seat belt padding. I rarely travel by car. However, being a petite person, when I do, seat belts catch on my neck. DD took me to Anglesey to try see Puffins, and we did see an Osprey, a wild Peregrine, some seals and lots and lots of lovely creatures, plants and scenery. A 5" by 3" rectangle, plus a band with two button holes, helped a lot. 

Updated the croquis. New photos, and a new tracing of my outline, which is diverging even further from the 'standard' templates. Used the croquis to work out the stripe placement on a planned cardi*. And to see whether it was worth altering a tee shirt with an added band - I prefer with, but not enough to risk spoiling what I have.

*Amazing DD and DH replanned the outward journey to our holiday cottage once they knew there was an even bigger branch of a fabric shop en-route. Three cuts of fabric and some haberdashery were added to our luggage.

Repairs and alterations As part of the Me Made May review,  apart from assorted tiny repairs, I was mostly trying to deal with the armpit wedgie which I think is due to my increasing upper spine curvature.

Tea pot print shirt. Released a vertical dart into a pleat, much more comfy.

White plissé Freya. Let out at junction of armscye and sleeve seam. 

Paisley Freya. Used seam allowances to add 1/8" x4 at notch height.  However, until friction soreness from the weekend subsides, it's not useful to tinker more. 

Paisley Mica. Permanently stitched the hem. 

Slow knitting: 

Talvi sleeves are progressing slowly, horseshoe scarf even more slowly. I'm optimistic about both, but am sewing more than knitting this month, and am joining in with a community outdoor project. 

And now I've got some oomph back, there's a backlog of household tasks, mostly just cleaning and fixing up, to do. 

Me Made May 2022 - How are we doing?

This year for Me Made May I attempted  to bring out appropriate items for my May activities, prioritising Me-Made or significantly refitted, and assess them after a full day's wear.   

Temperatures have been in mid to high teens most of the month, so hot weather clothes will have to wait to be assessed in June. Unusually this month, I made several long car journeys as a passenger, fell asleep sitting, and  my underarms became quite tender - could have been any of my layers or the seat belt. I may have falsely accused some garments as the discomfort lasted a few days. 

The summary of what I wore and what I found is probably more useful than the details. Here goes:

 

Things that I've worn in May, and reach for all the time 

Me Made Tees. Long sleeves. Slightly scooped or high V. Length just above low hip - though I get some use from tees 6" below waist. Lighter colours will be better once the sunny days arrive. Some tees are tired-looking, one has shrunk and could do with an underarm gusset if I can find the scraps. Verdict: Make more. 

Sturdy trousers. The thick cotton blue camo fabric from Leeds Market is perfect for walking in spiky vegetation and in most weather. If you know the Southport tide range, you'll get the joke about hi-vis beach wear. 

Verdict: Make more. (My fitting has improved since I made these)

 

Joggers. Me made sage French Terry pair, very comfy though a little short. Can I add cuffs? One thin Rtw pair, unaltered, terrible drape at back but good range of motion and doesn't chafe anywhere - worn regularly for tai chi. Two thick Rtw pairs with added fabric between high hip and waistband, need a long top to cover the too visible alterations but no longer chafe. Worn all winter and at beginning of May.

Verdict: Ready to make more - I've pattern tested using thin poly/silk paisley Jersey, but it's been too cold to give them a full day trial. 

Eccentric me-made semi-fitted trousers. Two pairs from a damaged border print duvet, intended as pattern testing, but so comfy I wore them lots last summer.

Not tested yet this year: me made wool silk trousers from vintage gifted suiting. These were lovely in the heat last year, and whilst I can get a better drape with the now-updated pattern, I'll keep these until they wear out. 

Verdict:  Make more in linen (already bought) and more in the inherited suiting fabrics for autumn/winter.

Things that I've worn in May, but reluctantly.

Long sleeved RTW woven shirts, mostly from charity shops, cut for straighter backs than mine. Despite attempted alterations, all rub at underarms. Not enough back width although shoulders too wide. Last surviving office shirt (teapot print), plaid overshirt, new-to-me check button down shirt. 

A 3/4 sleeve blue floral is looser cut, just about acceptable though I prefer full length for sun protection. 

Verdict: Keep the plaid temporarily, for medical visits - the sleeves roll up all the way. Start pattern testing an office shirt and an overshirt 

.Rtw trousers are cut for flat tums and low hip bigger than high hip. My measurements are the other way round, so choices are to buy big enough at HH and take in elsewhere, or to buy tight and too long, using excess fabric to patch in at high hip and below cf waist. Hence I occasionally dare buy from charity shops and alter. The ancient red linen pair with a yoke are just about acceptable after moving buttons, they droop a little but don't chafe too badly. The beige cotton linen pair droop, despite waistband tucks and a dart near the inseam. Blue canvas might be salvageable with an insert below front waistband. The beige linen pair with tucks in the waistband have finally given up the ghost..

Rtw Beige silk trousers (gift), shortened and taken in at waist. Sad at the back hem after many outings, but so good to wear in mild to hot weather. Does everyone have this conflict between long enough to stride out in but short enough to stand and cook in? 

Verdict: try to salvage blue canvas pair, make two replacement linen pairs that fit. Don't yet have the skills to make an equivalent silk pair. Need more practice.

Indoor/outdoor layers, every one of them reluctantly worn. At this time of year I mean cardigans or  thin jumpers (sweaters) to wear in the house in morning and evening, and to slip on against wind chill if going out. The winter ones are somewhat better.

Me made brown bomber jacket was a trial from gifted flawed baize - not intended as a garment fabric at all. It's comfy, has a fastenable opening at centre front, and is a good weight for a spring cardi or summer jacket. Although it's been worn loads of times, I'm always aware of the poor finishing from three years ago, and the visible flaw in the sleeve. 

Emergency purchase when away from home, old RTW boxy burgundy rib swamps me at shoulders and arm length but was smallest size that went over high hip. Despite restitching sleeves with double turned cuff so my hands show, it still feels like the least bad of a poor bunch, all that was available at that point in the retail cycle.

Grey workwear fleece, sleeves shortened and underarms eased. Although good fabric and the same size looked great on my colleague, this never fitted me well. The zip finally died this May, and I'm not going to replace it.

Ancient black thin fleece pj top, worn as sweater. 21.5" wide at back underarm, 20" around armholes. Loose enough not to rub, fitted enough not to bury me. Good indoors, black is too hot in sun. 

Recent trial cardi, rescued sage French Terry from failed boxy jacket. Nice fabric, not a bad fit, but I feel meh in it, The hang of the patchworked sleeves maybe? Or just my attitude to too many attempts with this material?

Verdict: keep trying based on sage trial cardi. I have a leftover that will probably do a trial bodice and another for a trial sleeve. Then some thinner French Terry for a summer layer if that test is successful.

 And the supporting stuff... 

The waterproof coat is cold when wet, remember to take an underlayer. 

Showerproof coat will do another year, but I'd prefer deeper armholes. 

Plenty of knicks and socks - have disposed of some worn ones. 

One formal bra, one supportive, one much-altered and scruffy but comfy, one scratchy spare. That's enough in cold or mild weather. Worn out ones disposed of. The hot weather ones, me made or altered to have cotton front bands haven't been worn yet this year. 

Plenty of scarves, need to finish the cream horseshoe one on the needles. 

Everyday handbag and formal handbag still good. 

Recent gift of cloth bag (lovely sketch of collie) gives me enough shopping bags with right sized handles, Can get rid of the scruffy ones. Have added a zip pocket to the Swiss cheese bag for keys etc. 

Shoes: One pair formal probably OK, one pair formal to dispose of. Trainers well used but not a great fit - though I'll be extremely lucky to find a sturdy pair in half-size narrow-heel wide-front. Two pairs of sandals will probably do another year - they were good all last summer. Flip flops for summer house shoes are still good, warm slippers are put away till autumn. 

The me-made pjs are still fine, though I'd missed trimming one of the armscyes (oops), no wonder the other top was always my first choice. All the Rtw pj trousers have been altered at some stage to raise the elastic above my protruding hip bones. The llama jamas are my comfiest, with a 24" back at armscye bottom, cuffs at wrist and ankle. 

Summer dressing gown is much too tight now, but has nostalgia value so I wear it anyway. Can I add a band down the sideseams? Fluffy hoodie used as winter dressing gown is put away till autumn.

Mostly Me Made Underlayers. Me made cycling shorts for extra warmth and to reduce friction with Rtw trousers. Altered Rtw leggings with an added tummy panel are ok when all shorts are in the wash. I'm homing in fitting a camisole underlayer - this year's are a better fit, however the plissé leftovers are a bit bulky under mild weather clothes. Verdict: Make more. 

May distraction. A UFO moved on, but still not a success.

The plan, to concentrate on the Me Made May assessment, and do any minor fixes as I find them, continued. But I'm also trying to move Unfinished Objects (UFOs) to the Finished or Remodelled list. 

I'm counting the green French Terry jacket as a May project, although it was started last October,   remodelled starting in April, and finally assessed as a failed UFO. It had a miscut back neckline, a tendency to duck tail, and I simply felt swamped and uncomfortable in the boxy cut. I decided to unpick it and see if the fabric could be pieced and reused. A skirt wasn't going to work, but I'm still short of mild weather layers. Are these called overs or toppers nowadays?  I want something that can be fastened for warmth at centre front in the mornings and evenings, but can be opened up when warm with scurrying, or if the weather improves as the day moves on.

Unable to quickly* find a pattern with deep set in sleeves (there are plenty of raglan or drop shoulder around but I'm not yet working on fitting them), I decided to trace an old black pj top and add a front fastening.  Various adjustments for a first attempt. I've kept the nice detail of a small bodice extension before joining the sleeves, which have a wide and shallow sleeve cap, the kind I usually see in toddler knits. A few fitting changes at the shoulders, plus I've given myself an additional quarter inch at high hip, 1" total extra ease.

* Rant. Of course I've stumbled across two or three candidates since. But I'm rubbish at guessing search terms. 'Tops sew pattern' really doesn't help narrow down the options, set-in doesn't seem to be indexed on the search engines.

I pieced fabric big enough for the sleeves from the dismantled dropped shoulders version and some scraps, zigzagged in an arc at back neck. Unfortunately, the horizontal seam affects the drape - shame, cos I've been fantasising about lower waste layouts for the next version. Unhappy about both the the wider-than-anticipated-neckline and the backward shoulder creep, I tried a centre back/neck dart. And hey presto, fit and drape improved no end. I've added buttons but not buttonholes at the front. Will probably just add press-studs for now. Not a spectacular rescue, perhaps I'll replace the sleeves now I've found the missing remnant, but certainly better than its predecessor.

One extra thing happened towards the end of the month. If this is an indoor to outdoor layer, it needs pockets. I spent ages pinning rectangles in different proportions to try find a phone-friendly size. No luck since I simply don't have a flat front, or a large enough area that approximates a flat front. Keys, tickets and a few coins or a note will go in, but will have to take a bag for my phone. Since that functional requirement couldn't be met, I subbed in the pockets from Tilly and the Buttons Stella Hoodie. Well, divided the kangaroo pocket into two, then lined and stitched both on. Yet again, I need more practice to stop it looking amateurish. 

I've worn this a couple of times for coastal or woodland walks. It's much more comfy than RTW, and practical around the house and on the dunes. The bad news: it looks lumpy and miserable. It'll do temporarily. Next time (and I have another length of French terry in brown,) let's revise the high back and shoulder shaping, which is not far out. Try sleeves without piecing so I can assess where the excess is, and maybe add a smidge at high hip. Narrow the neckband: it doesn't have the tension of a continuous front to keep it tidy at the overlap. Raise the neckline to compensate, and maybe a bit more to cover the assorted tee shirts that show awkwardly (most of them). Or just continue refining my tee necklines outward and downwards, which is happening anyway..

Wish me luck!

2022 April. Mostly Freyas. An unexpected capsule.

On the knitting front, I've struggled a bit. The Horseshoe scarf is supposed to be an easy project. My brain, though, was definitely still addled post-covid recovery. I did finish it, and prepped yarn for a proper version. But having lost momentum, I haven't started this or continued with the Talvi sweater. Mid-month, I finished the tiny cardigan in mint and purple. Started a preemie size hat with the remaining 25g or so, increasing to 56 sts before continuing straight. Finished May 1st, so let's include the hat in April too.

I'm running short of decent mild weather tops, and somehow refitting the familiar TATB Freya top pattern in stages has worked better than knitting. I'd planned one more attempt in a white plissé fabric, and found two bonus garments with the leftovers. Then, since we had more work in the flat, so I still couldn't unpack my fabric boxes, I thought I'd buy another metre of paisley grey brown plum poly silk to make a faux dress, when put with the March Freya and Mica tops. Impulsively, I bought 2m to see how I'd like a faux jumpsuit as well. Good move: the trousers took just over a metre, the skirt a little less. And got a bonus garment from the paisley - more on that later.

The white plissé jersey has a zigzag border. To make the most of it, I cut out a TATB Freya top with a front skirt* and a plain back. I'd toyed with the idea of statement sleeves, but decided to go with plain and a necklace as more versatile. Tweaked the sleeves, and finally rotated them to the angle of my own arms. Is there a Forward Arm Adjustment in the catalogue? Over the next few weeks, I adjusted the lower hip, having cut out the dress shape not the top. I quite like the flare at this length, but a flaw in the border at the side seam was affecting the drape. I also reshaped the skirt seam twice, to sweep lower. Another time I would attach lower than the waist, to give the choice of tucking into a skirt.

* to avoid a curved edge for the border. 

There was enough  plissé from the other selvedge end for a long cami mashed from the So Zo vest and the TATB Freya. Since I'd just worked on fitting the Freya, I used this below the armpit and, roughly, the SoZo Vest shape above. This version had the FBA eased in, rather than darting it. The body sewed together beautifully - however I hadn't taken account of the plisse expanding when pressed. Still 'need more practice' pressing the binding to shape. But, unlike last year's vest attempt, there are no stitching gaps attaching it. 

All that was left of the white plissé jersey was a 40" x 20", a 6" x 18" ish and some hand sized scraps.  If I pieced the back near one sideseam, surely I could get a short cami mashed from the So Zo vest and the TATB Freya? There was just enough! Did a better job easing front to back, and a better job pressing against a rolled cloth. The binding still needs more practice, though.

After a photo session, I continued to tweak all four Freya descendants. Though I notice today folding clean laundry that the Mica hem is still only tacked (hand-basted) up. Oops.

Mid-month decided it was the time of year for moving the cold weather clothing to less accessible drawers, and trying on the mild weather clothing to see what still fits. As usual, the quantity is fine, though there are too many near orphans, and some items show their dozens of wears. The detail is in my diary, and may feed into my Me Made May verdicts, too. I did take action on remodelling the teapot shirt to remove a dead collar and remodel the worn-out cuffs. A few more minor repairs happened too. Still thinking about the two mid-grey short sleeved tees. These barely get used as we rarely get hot overcast weather here. Can I use one to make long sleeves for the other? 

Came back to the paisley grey brown plum poly silk fabric. After playing with layouts to use New Look K6217 trousers, I decided the darted waist wouldn't be good with this print anyway. Toyed with the idea a thin cardigan, too. But in the end plumped for an ancient joggers pattern, Successful Sewing 8 (henceforth SS8) combined with a Freya-derived skirt. I was pleased with the low-waste solution  - a CB seam and a non-obvious change in print orientation was a compromise worth paying for a bonus garment rectangle. Both projects are more wearable toiles rather than office or formal clothing.

With the SS8 gathered trousers, I fixed some grainline and shaping (fit) issues which had annoyed me on the last iteration.  When sewing together, I realised I have relapsed into the habit of rushing fabric through the feed dogs. When what I actually want to do is support and steer the fabric, but let the feed do the work. Bother! One leg puckered and had to be redone. I've still to test wear for a day - too cold so far - but borrowed them as emergency pj trousers and they were really comfy overnight and at breakfast. Next time, I'd like to try wider elastic rather than what was accessible this month.

The Freya-based skirt needed some changes at the waist - a dress doesn't need the same support. Since I don't currently have a well-fitting skirt, this is likely to get a lot of wear, with either of the matching tees or any of my black, white or grey tees. This info also fed back into my main Freya tracing in the abdomen area.

And the bonus garment? Patterns For Pirates Peg Legs cycle shorts in pieces of paisley -  a patchwork project. As well as solving piecing problems, I'm still trying to get relative heights at back front and side seams right. I am happy that I improved the fit, especially around the waistband, but still have some grainline issues and leg length (at inseam relative to outseam) to solve. These have been tested as undertrousers for a full day, including a Tai Chi session - and are even nicer to wear than last year's pairs.

And the capsule? I'd thought to pattern test, making a faux dress and a faux jumpsuit**, plus a top for a cooler weather formal occasion. The bonus garments were great for refining fit and feeding it back into my tracings. I was pleasantly surprised at the combinations. From the paisley, a Mica Tee and  Freya Tee, SS8 gathered trousers, a Freya skirt and Peg Legs shorts. From the white plissé, a Freya Tee and a long and a short cami. From older makes, a white jersey Mica Tee and  Freya Tee. Add RTW or much altered RTW, a black long-sleeved tee, beige silk trousers, a black light-weight fleece, two grey short-sleeved tees, and a Chanel-shaped unlined jacket.  Sounds like a great combination for a city break, when that becomes easier. 

**I've still to make up by mind on the faux jumpsuit, preferring the patterned trousers with a plainer top. But love the skirt with plain or a either matching tee. We haven't had any hot weather yet, so don't know how well the poly/silk will breathe. Fingers crossed everyone.

Me Made May 2022

 As proposed and explained at http://sozowhatdoyouknow.blogspot.com/2022/03/me-made-may-22.html, the Me Made May challenge is very flexible, and each participant can decide their own aims.

This will be my third May attempting the challenge. My aim (not as formal as a pledge) is 

to bring out appropriate items for my May activities, prioritising Me-Made or significantly refitted, and assess them after a full day's wear.  

• Is it still suitable for me? 
• Is there an easy fix? (Adjust hems, add or remove waistband tucks, replace buttons, trim hanging threads are the usual suspects.)
• If I'm reluctant to part with something on its last legs, what aspect would I note? (Some quality of the fabric, scale of print, ease of movement etc). Is some part of it refashionable?
• If I dislike something, but wear it anyway, is it donatable? What would I like to replace it with? (Usually something similar that fits better or isn't worn out yet.)

I don't intend to keep strictly to May - I've already overlapped  into April, and may run into June. And I don't intend to post the gory details, though I plan to take or dig out archive pictures for my own use. 

At the end of the month, I hope the process will help me set priorities for the next tranche of makes. 

The quick try on test, April 2022, already shows I have loads of scruffy clothes, some very formal outfits, but not much left that is up to meeting standard. What I need is sturdy layers for walking on paths not pavements, comfy but tidy layers for tai chi, sturdy footwear and tidy clothing to wear into town, one or two respectable outfits for the odd day's voluntary or paid work. A few accessories to dress up the respectable stuff.  Easy-to-pack clothing for duties and for pleasure has been a theme in the past - and would be a bonus even in these strange times, for laundry and for drawer space.

Looking back on last year's assessment, I still haven't plucked up courage to get rid of many tired but comfy items. Some of the 'make more like this' garments have had the patterns refined, but not yet in better fabrics. 

Am I alone in this hanging on to old favourites?

2022 Q1. A good start to the year

 2022-01 

Finished and donated Double Spiral Twelve Stitch tiny blanket in Peach and Cream. Spent quite a bit of time with this over the holidays, and am definitely improving. Still need to be consistent on tension when joining - sometimes the joining yarn pulls through to the front, sometimes its on the back.

Used up the Stylecraft Aran that's been in the box for ages to make three bright pink hats, Nursery school age. All the variations used the Addi 22 for a horizontal brim, then picked up and hand knitted a bit more stand and crown.  Tried to make matching mittens, but not enough yarn even for these.

I did manage to find enough bits of yarn to make blue sparkly fingerless gloves to go with the hat made in December. All these were donated.

One more experimental hat. Did a flat panel centre on the Addi 22, then hand knitted side panels (stranded some blue and white together) Fits primary school age, donated.

Top down baby hat, conventional, in leftover dk, mixture of small balls of rainbow drops and white. Donated. 

Worry worms. A quick refresher project, and used up some scraps. Donated to someone in need of a cheer up.

And some repairs: kitchen drawer handle replaced. DD's shopping bag restitched. Narrow hem to fix a torn corner of a silk scarf. 

2022-02

Fourth wristwarmer in the very last of the Hayfield Spirit - so I have a pair for indoor use with metal dpns, as well as a pair in my handbag for outside use.

Prototype cover office chair .The project to recover the ancient (ten year old?) but small enough office chair has been on my list for months. The test version using two charity shop imperfect cushion covers, a stag design, was largely successful. However the last tweaks were paused when all sewing stuff was put away while works to the flat happened. The remaining fabric scraps are still (end of March) in a high cupboard.

Started Talvi knits v2 sweater in Finchdale (colour) Aran - a Christmas present of next year's jumper.

Another conventional baby hat in the rainbow drops yarn. This time 0-6 months size. Donated.

Newborn mittens - to use up the last scraps of baby yarn. Donated.

Repairs: shortened worn sleeves on workwear grey jacket. Restitched perished seam on undertrousers.

Crafternoon Tea at Southport Creative Arts Making Chinese Thread boxes: origami gift boxes, historically for threads and other small haberdashery items. All credit to the tutor, Debbie.

2022-03 

Preemie cardi. Why? Handbag size project; to check tension as I switch methods during a garment. Only one cuff still to do. For donation.

Continued with Talvi knits v2 sweater in Finchdale (colour) Aran. I need to check the armscye fit, so have paused while I've worked on two sewn tshirts which could inform the next few rows..

Laela Jeyne Mica Tee in Paisley grey brown plum poly silk. A relaxed fit tee with inset sleeves and V-neck. Better than the two I made last year, but still needs some work on hollow chest area, which is affecting the shape of the V.

Horseshoe scarf.  I've been asked in two different contexts how I made the white one, about 5 years ago. So I attempted to chart and reknit. At end of March, I'm halfway along. I'm happy I'm reproducing the shape and size, but the emergency yarn choice and sick-leave-brain affecting the tension have been less successful. (Spot the understatement).

Tilly and the Buttons Freya top, in Paisley grey brown plum poly silk. My old Freyas are all either too tight or grey and worn. They did get gradually more relaxed as I worked on the pattern. So started again with a new tracing, sizing up to eliminate most of the negative ease. (Glad that trend is no longer de rigeur.) This version is still quite fitted, but crucially includes what I've learned about adjusting back neck, back width, and doing an FBA to fit my own shape. Bound the neckline proposed for a cowl neck - and found it was an acceptable bateau neck. I'm happy with this iteration, but would like to do another to see whether the fixes I've pencilled in will deal with the slightly tight lower armscye.

2022 plan. Well, some thoughts.

 Lots of ideas for 2022. Some of these will happen, and depending what life throws at us, new opportunities could queue jump. Every year I aspire to complete items from the queue, polish my techniques, improve my fitting, and learn lots of new things. These are not SMART goals, but saying them out loud helps me choose projects that will take me in the right direction.

In no particular order.

Service sewing machine - the engineer suggests March.

Using up, adapting or finishing off:

Small amounts of yarn/handbag size projects. I don't think there are many leftovers that go together, either in weight or colour, so it'll have to be small items. Maybe see what the Community Centre can donate to the the Foodbank recipients - small hats and gloves, squares for blankets, small scarves, toddler cardis?

Refit green boxy jacket - will a cowl improve it?

Finish summer handbag from last year's course.

Grey workwear zipped top sleeves - cut off frayed bit above thumbholes, elasticate at my arm length, and use scraps to increase hip circumference.

Revisit the fitting shell project. There are still some sheeting scraps, and some inherited floral polyester lengths unlikely to find a home.

Wardrobe holes:

More long sleeved t-shirts. Probably bigger Freyas (Tilly and the Buttons book) or Tulip Tees (Patterns for Pirates)

Formal-ish dress to replace double jersey Freya (now too small)

Another pair less informal trousers. There are some nice inherited suiting lengths waiting. And a nice shirt length that goes with the linen.

A denim skirt or pinafore - the fabric piece is not quite long enough for jeans.

More cycling shorts as undertrousers, maybe wear them under the denim skirt.

Pattern test and make up the mouse quilting fabric waistcoat. 

More masks. There might also be ear savers, knitted to convert our few purchased masks to a ties. That way they'll sit round my neck between shops.

Knit a second jumper from the much altered Talvi knits Moss Green Sweater pattern. Enter all my notes onto the pattern first, maybe chart it out.

Replace at least one pair of tired joggers.

Possible gifts:

Waistcoat for DD, for next winter.

And quirky fun things:

Even better fitted legwarmers/footless socks , especially if they'll bring the denim skirt into use in colder weather.