ships and boats and goats on my work table

little woolen goat

All of a sudden I felt a strong spiritual need to make a goat.  I thought that I would just print the pattern sheets and get started but I haven’t made a goat or a lamb in such a long time that I had to follow my directions closely. It was a strange sensation – relying on the steps that I wrote and photographed but couldn’t remember.  I’m relieved to report that I found myself to be an excellent instructor.  In the lamb and goat pattern I recommend quilting cotton ( find the sleepy goat  sewing pattern here)  but I wanted to make a goat from a fabulous grey wool Edwardian skirt I found last year. It’s a homespun feeling wool and a little fragile – very goatish but not so fun to sew.  It took longer and was fussier than cotton but I felt like it was worth the extra effort – and I like how sculptural I could be with the wool.  I love him.

little wool goat

little wool goat

I immediatley started another wool goat using a vintage blue pendelton shirt. It’s a lot sturdier than the grey and should be easier. I love the color and texture. I’ve been making tiny things from this shirt for a year or so – but it kills me a little each time – I don’t ever want to run out.

fabric ship building

And ships and boats – there is a fleet in progress.  I’m in a boat making mood (I think it’s March whispering to me from around the next bend).  And I’m preparing for a ship building workshop here in NYC in April.  We’ll be making fabric ships in the workshop and I’m testing and refining and rehearsing the steps. It still amazes me what graceful shapes cereal box cardboard can make – so many possibilities.

fabric boat building

I’m making some smaller sailboats for my fleet too  – they will have bird and owl captains (find the pattern to make your boats own here).  I’ll hang them all here and enjoy them for a little bit and then hopefully sell them so I can do it all again.

9 Comments

  1. Thank you so much for admitting that you are a little sad when cutting up a garment for the fabric. I was feeling that way and wondered if you felt a little sad especially when cutting up your beautiful vintage clothes. You do beautiful work and it truly is a good way to honor those clothes and the people who wore them. Thank you for sharing your wonderful work and patterns.

    Blessings,

    Marla

  2. Dawn Burnside

    This precious goat is truly adorable. I just “love” visiting here, & how you describe what your thinking & feeling down to the beautiful, soft wool & the the vintage pendleton. And reading about procrastination & the many kinds & how it’s easier to keep going than to start, or in my case start over, I am working on this every day. I just had to comment on this beautiful little guy. Oh to be in NYC & attend one of your sailboat workshops..
    Thank you sincerely for sharing your lovely art,
    Dawn

  3. Liz Calais

    Hi there Ann, I was in New York City last week and had a gift to give to you from my area. I never heard back from you. I had hoped we could meet for a quick visit at a coffee shop. We stayed in the Renaissance Hotel in Times Square, but visited everywhere in NYC. OMG, it was incredible and exhausting. I’m so sorry we didn’t get to meet. lizcalais@gmail.com

  4. Jaimie Sander

    Love the goat! I hope you post the other one,that is beautiful fabric,I would love to see him finished.Thank you for sharing!

  5. Yes, he is the sweetest little grey wool goat. I can just picture him galloping and goat-jumping about in the straw and climbing on wooden stumps with his friends. So cute. I hear ya on the bittersweet use of treasured fabric; sometimes nothing seems quite good enough for it….and then it lingers unused, which is kinda silly when you think about it. That Pendleton plaid will certainly make one lucky little dapper goat!

  6. Daffodil Angel

    Greetings from Tasmania. These guys are so sweet. Love your wool materials.

  7. Ghost Story is in my top ten favorite spooky books!! Enjoy it but please keep setting aside time to sew. With the weather cooling, I have several of your patterns I want to make for Christmas gifts. I love the lemon verbena idea and I think I might sneak some pine needles in for a Christmas feel. Keep up the great work and know you are truly an inspitation

  8. Ghost Story is in my top ten favorite spooky books!! Enjoy it but please keep setting aside time to sew. With the weather cooling, I have several of your patterns I want to make for Christmas gifts. I love the lemon verbena idea and I think I might sneak some pine needles in for a Christmas feel. Keep up the great work and know you are truly an inspiration.

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