mi pollera

Finished the wool skirt for the highlands. It's not too stylish (except perhaps for the embossed czech buttons, which are not visible in the photograph, and the red velvet waist facing) but these ample folds are going to keep me warm. With petticoats and long underwear underneath, and wool sweaters and a poncho on top, I'll at least feel as if I made a good effort to anticipate climactic conditions. I'm told it's a cold winter in Peru this year, and as I contemplate packing, trying to eliminate as much as possible, I'm experiencing some pangs for for the imminent loss of summer weather. (Besides, you can fit so many more summer clothes into a suitcase!) Yesterday I passed a guy riding a lawnmower around a tree on a tiny patch of grass, and the smell! The smell of cut grass, drying in the sun. Nothing like it. It reminds me of hot fields with corn swelling on the stalk, the fragrance of tomato leaves and the raptures of fresh basil...

My new favorite trick for button loops: linen thread, crocheted over with yarn to match the color of the garment. Why linen thread? Have you ever tried to break linen thread? Exactly. That's why. I also used it to sew on the buttons. The hem is deep and machine stitched, so this skirt should be pretty durable. It will have to be. I guess I'm all set then... wool socks, got those; sweaters, yep... petticoats, yes, gloves, poncho, hat... oh, my hat. Hmm. It's a little the worse for wear, ever since it got caught in a true deluge last year. It got so wet that the dye started running out and over my clothes. Each pigtail was dripping inky plops. You should have seen me afterwards, trying to wash my hair in a bucket of freezing rainwater. The brim used to be rather perky, and the crown had a distinguished shape, but now it looks more or less like a deflated soufflee. Perhaps I'll find another one.

Comments

[claudia]

I would love to see a picture of you in the petticoats and the skirt and the hat.

Are you taking a camera?