Cruise control

I don't think there can be many young women who made it through the 80s without having a crush on Tom Cruise. I can only have been about 7 or 8 when Top Gun first came out, but it had a lasting impression on me. In fact, that film has a lot to answer for, it was no accident that I or a lot of others of my generation ended up in the Air Force. Of course we didn't tell the recruiters that...

Although my time is served, when it came to knitting for two of my Air Force friends, I couldn't help but notice the resemblance between a babygro and a flying suit and curiously had an abundance of olive green in my stash. It didn't take very long for an idea to be born (although this baby is taking its time about it).

Despite a few issues with creating the way the crotch would fasten it was pretty easy to design and didn't take long to knit up. It's an 18" chest made from Patons Fairytale 4ply (60% acrylic 40% nylon), it's wonderfully soft and can even be machine washed and tumble dried.

It's been languishing in my unfinished box for months. I needed to embroider the various badges to turn an otherwise boring outfit into true Mini-Me status. The embroidery is somewhat crude to say the very least, but you get the idea (although I've blanked out the name tag). Nick, can you please transfer to 7 Sqn because the badge is easier to do. The elephant looked suspiciously like a camel at one point and I was loathe to redo it.

Be it son or daughter on arrival s/he can be dressed just like Mummy and Daddy.

With other military based outfits in progress I'm concerned about turning into a novelty knitter based on my own whims. Since you already know I take my careers direction from films you won't be surprised if you see me dressed as a Pirate. Don't point and laugh - just show me that horizon.