I got tons of mending and alterations done today. A headband, a pair of trousers, an oven mitt, a t-shirt – and a sweater.

I bought this lovely wool sweater a few years ago. I love the design, and the fit, and the feel of the fabric, and yet I’ve barely worn it.

First I tried wearing it in early autumn, because of the holey design, but it was too warm. All right, 100% wool, soft and warm, perfect for the cold season, then? Well, possibly for a few days when the temperature is just right, but not when the weather gets colder, because the sweater can’t be combined with anything else. I can’t wear anything underneath because everything shows in the “keyhole” in the middle of the chest. It looks lovely in theory but is so impractical.

After a few attempts to wear it, the sweater went to the mending and alterations pile. I had vague thoughts of filling in the keyhole somehow, perhaps crocheting something? In a wonderful coincidence, another one of today’s alteration projects was a hiking t-shirt in gray merino wool, with too-narrow sleeves. I cut off its sleeves, leaving me with a sleeveless, hopefully more wearable t-shirt – and two small pieces of thin, gray wool fabric, which matched the sweater almost perfectly in colour. Ta-da! One t-shirt sleeve made a perfect patch for the keyhole. It almost looks like it could have been made this way.