Endless Knitting

I've been really lax at blogging recently, mainly because I've not yet learned to knit and type. Every spare minute seems to have been spent with the sticks and string, I'm a woman possessed! It began with a drive to begin making new stock for a slightly new direction for my Folksy shop, of which more soon. I interspersed this with work on my grown-up version of Queen Bess and was then interrupted by news of the birth of a son for one of my best friends. Of course that called for a knitted gift and my old favourite, Debbie Bliss' Teddy Bear from Simply Baby came out beautifully in dark brown, even if the photo doesn't do it justice.
Once I've woven in ends on Queen Bess and blocked it, work will begin on sizing and writing up the pattern, ready for test knitting. I find that brain-hurting work, but do love the idea of sharing my designs so needs must. On that subject, while all this knitting has been going on I've been fielding emails from the test knitters on my Coniston Sweater and I think I'm nearly there. My first 'for sale' pattern- exciting stuff!

Shop restocked!

Having been very neglectful of teacosies for months and months, I've suddenly got all re-invigorated for a number of reasons. Anyway, the result is that as I mentioned in the previous post, I uploaded my Union Jack teacosy pattern on Ravelry and have been very excited to see it added to more than 75 favourites lists and 20 or more queues! Meanwhile, I've completed what I'm calling my 'High Tea' collection of teacosies, each with a vintage teapot, to restock my Folksy shop. 'Battenburg' has been joined by 'Cucumber Sandwiches' and 'Lemon Drizzle'. I love the soft retro colours and can't decide which is my favourite!

Battenburg- a preview!

I'm really pleased with how it turned out! Coming soon to the Folksy shop- just need to dig out my sew-in labels from whichever box marked 'Craft' they're in and get the others in the 'High Tea' collection knitted.

Yarn and yarn

I mentioned recently that I was saving money while feeding my knitting habit by recycling the yarn from projects that didn't go right. Here you can see my winter wooly- 'Emma' from Big Just Got Bigger by Rowan. It's not the most figure-flattering of numbers, but it's soft and cosy and seems to suit the yarn better than it's previous incarnation, whose cabling and enormous foldover collar made it hang very badly in my opinion. Best of all, it's sort of a new jumper for free!
The next victim of my 'frog and remake' campaign is destined to be this 'Iceland' sweater in Rowan Cocoon yarn. I loved this when I saw it in Rowan Magazine #42. I loved the yarn when I looked at it at a knitting show and when C got it for me for Christmas a few years ago. I loved the way the finished article looked...until I tried it on. It hits me in all the wrong places and is completely unflattering. As a result it has sat in the drawer, loved but unworn, for far too long. I've decided to accept that it's not for me and reclaim the yarn for something I will actually wear.
There is a stay of execution for 'Iceland' just now, however, as this morning's post brought a new haul of yarn and a new issue of Yarn Forward. This, combined with a long awaited return to my local knitting group last night (with M in tow) means I am in knitting heaven just now. The yarn is the admittedly acrylic but nonetheless delightfully soft and knittable Sirdar Snuggly DK. It's destined for a number of teacosies I have in mind to restock my rather neglected Folksy shop. There's a theme for the designs I have in mind and the first- 'Battenburg' is already underway.

Wedding preparations

Today is a hymn of praise to what mums can do, serendipity and all things handmade. As I've mentioned in previous posts, a very important wedding is coming up in (eek!) only a couple of weeks now. I'm an honoured daughter-in-law indeed to be involved in lots of different ways including making treats for the children (see crowns in previous post), playing the flute for the entrance of the bride (gulp!) and reading.
So obviously my outfit is pretty important, but I always find it really hard, not least on a limited budget, to find anything I really like to wear. So I decided, like I did with my own wedding, that making my own was the way to go. I realise that sounds slightly like I made it all myself, which would be slightly innaccurate, but suffice to say I found a fab 50's dress pattern free with a copy of 'Sew' magazine and rang my mum to ask if I could stay with her for a couple of days of free babysitting/dressmaking consultancy. Mum being mum she said yes of course, so I got some samples of fabric from MacCulloch & Wallis, whose online service I can heartily recommend, and, having previously decided on gunmetal grey or sage green, ended up buying a scary amount of dupion silk in green shot with RED! It looks wonderful and is perfect for the autumn feel of the wedding (I know, I've been privy to fabric samples and flower plans from the bride herself!).
So two days of sewing later (sewing on my part mainly consisting of stitching the neck ruffle you can see detailed here- my idea for an addition, therefore my stabbed fingers achieving it!) and the dress was ready, fitted to my exact requirements and the one and only in the world.
I needed something on my shoulders so I made a shrug from Fitted Knits using Rowan Kid Classic, which makes beautifully soft garments with that lovely fluffy haze that works well on retro designs.
The serendipity came with a text message from my mother in law asking for my shoe size. Turns out we are the same size, and also that she had bought some shoes to wear for the wedding but had changed her mind. The colour and retro styling just happened to be perfect to go with the dress so would I like them? Well now I have a policy never to look any horses in the mouth, least of all gift horses...
And to (literally) top it off? Only a cocktail hat would do- not least because playing the flute in a lampshade would just look weird. Folksy came good, with the simply marvellous Tallulah Blue. Despite having to struggle with dodgy internet connections and being on holiday, she agreed to making a customised version of one of her fabulous designs, using my dress fabric and at an incredibly reasonable price. The detail is great, down to the leopard print lining and the sequined jewel buried in the rose. My photography really doesn't do it justice but do go and check out her shop and/or blog.
There's something wonderful about knowing that you're wearing something where care (and not sweatshop labour) has gone into every stitch. I can't wait for the wedding day now!

Fells and Tarns and Becks Oh My!

Springtime is meant to be the time of new beginnings, but for us it's been late Summer and Autumn. A new place to live, a new job (for C) and a new role (as stay-at-home mummy) for me, and new online adventures (of which this is one).
As far as our new home goes, with the tide of boxes finally receding, I have been a-baking and a-making in order to make it home rather than a house. Amanda Blake-Soule's latest offering 'Handmade Home' has been invaluable inspiration- more on that at a later date, as well as my trusty collection of favourite cook books, rediscovered from yet more boxes! Penelope, our hen, has even begun to lay eggs again, so she must approve of our new home.
When not homemaking, P and I have been welcoming the (sometimes kind) weather of these late summer days by getting out and walking whenever we can, whether en famille or with friends old and new. Our current bible is 'Easy Miles' which has lots of buggy/newly toddling friendly walks in this heavenly county we can now call home. I think we have explored 6 so far- not bad for being here just over a month! We even did one walk two days running, the second time with plastic tubs at the ready after we spotted major blackberry treasure to be had (picture above)- fresh air, exercise and free fruit for jam, the good life indeed.
One of the best things about our new home is that I have a crafting corner to call my own again, after I sacrificed my work space to make room for a cot in our old house. It used to be just a question of housing a whole load of balls (of yarn, that is) but now that I've caught the sewing bug, my corner resembles a pile of fabric and haberdashery with a sewing maching perched on top. Just to add to the clutter, I've got the completed items for my Folksy shop and three more gorgeous teapots found by my sister, and waiting for cosies...