Out Of Africa

A strange request this week – could I possibly run up a few costumes for a local school? I thought they meant for the Nativity Play – but no, this is for multi-cultural education – costumes from around the world. First up they needed some African ones. I was given a length of fabulous printed fabric to use…

Plus these pictures from the Internet of what was wanted.

The request was 2 boys’ outfits [tunic, trousers, and a pillbox style hat] and two girls’ outfits [long dress, and a turban style head-dress]

I dug out my set of Pebble Mill At One Patterns [purchased in 1985/6] as I knew these were the right size, and would be a good starting point.

And I have produced these

I think they fit the bill nicely. The trousers can be rolled up for shorter boys, and the long dress has elastic in a casing at waist level, so it can be ‘hitched up’ on girls who are not so tall.

I have deliberately made the garments loose fitting, as the younger children put on the dressing up clothes over their school uniforms.

Using the PMO patterns brought back many happy memories- Liz and Steph had jackets, coats, dungarees, skirts and more from this set. I always intended to knit the wonderful cable sweater from the blue pattern, but never got round to it!