An Interview with Pauline Turner: The Famous Peacock Cape

Ever since I posted the last images I had of the Fashion Show this past Saturday, there has been a tremendous amount of delightful buzz about Pauline Turner's "Peacock Cape" -- the item that caused the "Gasp of Admiration heard around the banquet room!"

So I decided to contact Pauline for a mini-interview and get the scoop:

Hi Pauline,
I wanted to thank you for sending me your "From Doylies to Dramatic
Designs" booklet so quickly!  I'm enjoying reading it!  
Pauline:  SO PLEASED YOU LIKE IT

I also want to let you know that I also appreciate you showing your Peacock Cape off in class.  It's a beautiful work! ... and it's touched off an amazing amount of compliments on the Crochet Partners online list based on images in my blog, Patrice's and Jane's. 

I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about the piece & then (with your blessing) post them on my blog?  If so, here we go:  YES

1. What inspired you to create this cape? 
ALEC DALGLISH OF THE KNITTING CRAFT GROUP, WAY BACK IN 1982 SENT ME A GREETINGS CARD WITH A PEACOCK ON THE FRONT CHALLENGING ME TO MAKE A GARMENT BASED ON A PEACOCK. FORTUNATELY I HAD MORE PERSONAL TIME THEN - HENCE I WAS ABLE TO WORK THE TIME CONSUMING PEACOCK EYES AND FRINGE THEM.  I TRULY DID HAVE SMALL CHILDREN A CAT, A DOG, A TORTOISE ETC!!

2. On the International Freeform group there was a statement that you had created this piece awhile back but recently recreated it transferring the "eyes" to the new cape.  If this is so, why would you recreate it?  (I see it's pictured on page 13 of your book)
ALL THOSE YEARS AGO I WAS EXTREMELY POOR, IN FACT DURING 1979 I SPENT 6 WEEKS HOMELESS AND EVEN HAD TO LIVE ON THE STREETS.  THERE WAS THE LUREX YARN IN MY CUPBOARDS AT WORK FROM THE PREVIOUS SUMMER SCHOOL WHEN FALCON PRESENTED ME WITH SOME OF THEIR LUREX. I WAS PROUD AND WOULD NOT ASK FOR HELP THEN (I DO NOW!).

SO TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGE I WENT ON THE MARKET LOOKING FOR A PEACOCK COLOURED YARN THAT I COULD AFFORD - IT WAS BRUSHED ACRYLIC WITH BITS INJECTED IN IT. IT WAS OK BUT NOT MADE TO LAST. THE YARN BEING CHEAP FELT LIKE DIRTY NET CURTAINS, ATTRACTED DUST AND BEING SOFT SPUN, EASILY TORE. AS I DID MORE GLOBAL WORK, I BECAME ASHAMED OF THE CAPE BUT COULD NOT BRING MYSELF TO THROW THE EYES AWAY.

BECAUSE THIS WAS ORIGINALLY INSPIRED BECAUSE OF THE SUMMER SCHOOLS AND WE WERE CELEBRATING ITS SILVER ANNIVERSARY, I DECIDED I WOULD BRING THE PEACOCK CAPE BACK INTO EXISTANCE FOR THAT EVENT, BUT THIS TIME WITH A TOUCH OF FREEFORM, CHOOSING YARNS OF DIFFERENT THICKNESSES AND FIBRES, CHANGING THE STITCH HEIGHTS ETC.  YOU SAW THE RESULT.

Yes I did ... you let me touch it too!  I felt honored!  :)

3.  Do you have any plans of publishing the pattern?  (Based on the postings, this would make many people very happy!) 
ACTUALLY I COULD IF I USED THE ORIGINAL BASE AND IF I CAN FIND A SUITABLE YARN FOR THE BASE. LEAVE IT WITH ME

4.  How heavy is the cape? 
STRANGELY NOT AS HEAVY AS YOU WOULD THINK WITH ALL THE LUREX AND MULTI-FIBRE THREADS - I HAVE PACKED IT AWAY BUT NOW YOU HAVE ME CURIOUS AND MAYBE WHEN (IF - BUT PROBABLY WHEN) I WRITE THE PATTERN, I WILL WEIGH IT.

5.  If others wanted to order your "From Doylies to Dramatic Designs" booklet, do they contact you; go to a website?? 
YES THEY CAN.   I WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE POSTAGE BUT I CAN TAKE DOLLAR CHECKS OR MASTER/VISA CREDIT CARDS.   THE PRICE IS normally £12.50 plus p&p £3 = £15.50   - which converts to $29 US.

6.  Any hints on what you'll be dazzling us with at the next Conference?  :)
HAVE TO MOVE MY OFFICE SO LOVELY THINGS LIKE THE NEXT CHAIN LINK IS WAY OFF MY CALENDAR.

 Thank you Pauline!!  :)
 

You can visit Pauline's webpage at http://www.crochet.co.uk/diploma//.  Pauline is the author of several books including "How to Crochet," and her newest release, " Beginner's Guide to Crochet."