A while back I found this piece of pale pink linen- I think it was probably a placemat in a past life. It had a good weight to it, and an embroidered woven pattern worked around the edge in dark grey and white. Like I did back here, I got inspired by the previous stitches on this linen and worked on it a little more- this time in dark grey thread and an allover pattern of branches and crosses. Kind of like a childhood treasure map.
Thought you might enjoy a quick flick through my newest book, Knitting 24/7, which was a gift from my Mum. I don't knit nearly as often as I would like to these days but I continue to buy yarn and bookmark patterns for some utopian knitting future I have in my imagination… it will happen!
This book is by Veronik Avery and is beautifully illustrated with photos by Thayer Allyson Gowdy. The projects are gorgeous and designed to be manageable for busy people- I think that's why Mum thought it would be the perfect book for me. Shown above are my favourite designs- textured socks, geometric pillow, ostrich feather shawl, and acorn tea cozy- but there are lots of other patterns for clothing and homewares that are small enough to finish within a reasonable timeframe, yet provide a good knitting challenge.
Happy new week!
I've had a fear of sewing with fine knits for ages, but decided to conquer that fear recently by sewing up this striped dress. The fabric is a fine navy and white jersey knit that I was lucky enough to find at the op-shop in one long length. I took a risk and just cut into it with no pattern, and I'm pretty pleased with the result. Having said that, I hope noone examines it too closely because some of the stitches are on the wayward side, and I'm not sure that all the stripes match up, but I don't really mind about that since it's for me to wear.
If you're thinking of making your own jersey dress here is a (very rough) guide to how I made mine:
I cut out two very roomy pieces- a front and a back as though I was making a very large and long singlet. The front piece was a few inches wider than the back. From the leftover pieces, I cut three long strips on the bias (about 2" wide). For sewing the jersey, I used a fine (and brand new- important!) 'jersey needle' on the machine, and fine polyester/cotton thread, as well as a fairly long stitch setting on the machine. Next I sewed the shoulder and side seams, pressed the bias strips and used them to trim the armholes. Then I used shirring elastic to gather in the front, then applied the last bias strip to sew the neckline. Lastly I pulled in the dress with some more rounds of shirring above the waistline and hemmed the whole thing.
With a slip underneath (also quite important because of the cling-factor) and a red cardigan over the top, I'm happy with my 'it-must-be-nearly-spring' dress.
I hope you are doing well and have a nice weekend planned. What are you up to? I am planning a winter walk on the beach, a spot of knitting and perhaps finishing reading this book to the kids (one long session and we should be able to get to the end.)
Just channelling a bit of summertime here from a frosty little place at the bottom of the world.
These cushion covers were made from my small collection of vintage poppy-printed fabrics. They're part of my shop update today.
Dreaming of resting against one of these on a garden swingseat, lemonade in hand and accompanied by birds in surrounding trees… surely those days can't be too far away?
I hope the sun is shining on you today.
A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from a kind blog-reader letting me know about a fabric sale in a private home nearby. An elderly woman had moved into a rest home and her family were clearing out her house for sale. She had loved to sew and knit and they were looking to sell a rather huge stash of fabric and yarn. I bought some lovely old pieces of fabric, and just before leaving, I got talking to one of her sons. He showed me a bag filled with knitted pieces and off-cuts and asked if I wanted to have a go sewing with them. They looked to me like vast machine-knitting experiments but he said he remembered his mother buying the pieces in long tubes, then machine-sewing childrens' vests from them. I couldn't resist buying these knitted pieces even though a giant bag of projects was not something I needed.
I gave them a wash and a sort-through and made some hot water bottle covers with them. It's such fun playing with the beautifully-coloured pieces, and every cover is a unique thing. (I used the ribbed bands from the knitting to make envelope closures on the back- you could make one with an old jumper, come to think of it.) One for everyone in the family, and one for the kind man who offered me the knitting. I have grand plans for the rest of the fabric and will keep you posted…
I've just finished reading the memoir Toast by Nigel Slater at the moment as his cookbooks are among my favourites. There's a brilliant bit in there about how his stepmother made gorgeous lemon meringue pies, but jealously guarded her recipe from the young Nigel who longed to learn to make one. He would creep past the kitchen each time she was baking one, slowly gleaning bits of the recipe from clues such as how many broken eggshells were left on the bench.
Actually, the entire book was crammed with beautifully-described food memories, and it made me think about some of my own. This in turn lead to a batch of lemon curd being made over the weekend. I used this recipe and added some limes too for extra citrusy tang. A jar of sunshine, one for us, and one for a friend. There's be lemon curd on toast for breakfast this week.
This winter was the one in which Keira finally outgrew the coat I'd made for her in Norway. We got a pretty long run from it, really. So I dreamt up this new one for her and finished it last week, just in time for the cold snap. I used some vintage wool plaid for the outside, and some equally old rayon-cotton for the lining. I started out with a commercial pattern- (Kwik Sew #3818) but made quite a few changes- one being to fully line the whole garment. Also I adjusted the size (K is rather on the small side) and omitted the double-breasted look. The front of the coat closes inside with big snaps, and has loops on the outside.
There's still time to enter my giveaway over at the Growmama blog– just leave a comment here to be in to win a parcel of bits and pieces from my etsy shop.
I wish you a very happy weekend- we are settling in by the fire to watch The Princess Bride with the neighbours.
We had a really lovely break away- very rural and quiet. The children played all day long with their friends, while the parents drank coffee and sat by the fire. We even drove through a night-time snowstorm (very exciting, as snow is very rare in these parts), went looking for penguins, and went running over sand dunes. The perfect winter break.
I got some good work in on my cross-stitch 'sampler' that I reserve strictly for holidays and very much enjoyed the internet break.
I just wanted to write that I'm absolutely devastated by the news of the massacre in Norway. Oslo and its surrounds have such a big place in my heart and the Norwegian people even more so. It's completely shocking and still unbelievable to me that such needless killings took place and I'm sending all my love there.
You can see some beautiful tributes here.
We're heading away for a short mid-winter break with some friends. I'll be back here again in a few days, but until then, I'll send you over to the lovely Anissa's blog, where I feature as part of her 'creative mama' series. If you leave a comment on that post, you enter the giveaway I have offered up over there: for a bird print, a set of hellebore cards, and a 'vita' drawstring pouch.
Thank you, and thanks to Anissa for inviting me! See you next week. X
It was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to some good friends this week, leaving for the other side of the world. Actually, quite a few friends have been taking long plane journeys or are planning them for the near future, so I've found myself making them these 'eye-masks' for use on their travels. I used some of my favourite fabrics for the outside layer, and for the lining, Liberty lawn (it's pretty luxurious, that stuff) and on a few others, vintage kimono silk.
The pattern was one I designed for the last issue of Extra Curricular magazine- it's quite simple, with layers of cotton flannel inside for (hopefully) a complete lack of light shining through.
The winter sun is shining here this afternoon, we have a houseful of children making huts and artwork, and a pot of hot chocolate (this recipe) on the stove. Not a bad Friday at all.
Have a lovely weekend.
tiny happy 