Antidote Vintage - My Woollies Now in Stock!!

We've woken up this morning to the first frost of the autumn.  White frosted roof tops and clean crisp air; I just love this time of year!

This is a post I should have done back in the summer but didn't, the disorganised person that I am!!  And I'm linking in with Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday because, do you know what, I'm pretty pleased with the below!! :o)

In the spring, we were contacted by the lovely Annie of Antidote Vintage, a charming shop in Norwich selling an eclectic mix of vintage clothing and accessories.  The shop was being re-launched to include the work of local artisans and we were asked whether we wanted our corsages and knitwear included, which, of course, we did!

Unfortunately we couldn't make it to the official re-opening but we did pop up the day before, with our trusty camera, to have a sneak peak and a good old nosey at what was going to be on offer. 

A local newspaper did a piece on the new collections.

The article used a little bit of artistic licence because I'm actually based in Suffolk, not Norfolk, and obviously the jumpers aren't my design, I just chose the colours, but I figure any publicity is good publicity, right?? :o)

The shop is lovely and very welcoming.  It was once an apothecary and still has some of the original apothecary shop fittings which provide the perfect backdrop for the vintage and handmade goodies on offer. 

Antidote currently has the two below jumpers in stock and they have also taken some of our turbans - perfect winter head warmers!

If you're in Norwich, why not take a trip to Antidote Vintage, Upper St Giles Street, where you'll be met with very friendly service and will find some lovely items of vintage clothing as well as some of our woollies to keep out the cold this winter :o) 

1930's jumper - in record time!

There has been somewhat of a jumper drought on the blog.  The last woollie I showed you was back in August, tut tut, so I thought it was about time I remedy that! :o) 
  
I do my order knitting in the evenings when I have peace and quiet to concentrate.  I’m working on an order for 3 jumpers, which I can’t really show you until I’ve sent them to the new owner.  One is finished, one just needs the collar and the third, I’ve already finished the back, so we’re getting there!! 

Working with little Y’s by day restricts the level of knitting I can do.  In the past, I’ve tried, and failed, to knit complicated patterns and so have come to the conclusion that rib and stocking stitch are the way to go.

For over 12 months I’ve wanted to knit using a colour called mint from the Stylecraft Life 4 ply range.  It’s a 25% wool, 75% acrylic mix and is such a pretty colour, very feminine and delicate and very much suited to a 1930's jumper.  Having chosen the wool, I had a flick through my 1930’s patterns and decided on this very simple affair from the October 1937 issue of Good Knitting.

The pattern is incredibly easy.  There are 50 rows of k3, p2 rib which, although sounds a lot, is far quicker to knit than k1, p1 rib so wasn’t actually too bad.  The pattern says "the deep welt is a new trick and ensures a perfect fit", well, that remains to be seen but it fitted Doris nicely!  The entire jumper is stocking stitch over 120 rows with only 8 stitches added into the main body of the jumper. 

I started with the front because it was the most complicated piece with the colour change from mint to silver grey for the bow detail.  I wasn’t too happy with the way it suggested working the inserts of grey.  The two wools had to be twisted which gave an uneven stitch each side of the join.  I’ve managed to tighten it up a bit when running the threads in, but I think, if I knit it again, I’ll run the mint to grey colour change in a fair isle way where the finish will be a lot neater.

The bows were really quick to work and I can see me using the pattern for them on other items, a beret perhaps?  They have a little button hole in the middle and are knitted separately, obviously, and then sewn onto the ribbed band.  I stitched them down a little more than the pattern indicated because I didn’t like the way they flopped about because it made them look uneven.  Stitched on firmly, they look so neat. 

I chose original vintage buttons and opted for tiny white glass ones that have a pearlescent layer on them which means they look plain white from a distance, but have hints of colour when you look closely.

As to the record time?  Well, the jumper took only 12 days from start to finish.  Yes, you read that correctly, just 12 days.  I started the front rib in the car on Saturday the 13^th October when we were out for the day.  I like to knit in the car.  It gives my hands something to do on a long journey and it’s surprising how quickly the work grows!  I limited the knitting to day time only and, being such a simple jumper, it was very quick indeed.  I finished knitting it yesterday and spent the evening pressing and piecing it together because that, again, is something I can't do without total attention.

Another plus point is how economical it was to make.  It took just under 2 balls of mint with less than 15 grams of silver grey.  When I say just under 2 balls, I really mean just because all I had left was a teeny tiny ball which was smaller than a plum.

I think it has turned out really well and the pattern was very clearly written.  The devil, as they say, is very much in the detail.  It was so simple to knit but the bows and tiny buttons change an otherwise ordinary jumper into a classic piece of late 1930's styling. 

We’re off to Norwich this weekend for the Little Vintage Lover Fair being held at Dragon Hall and this jumper will be coming with us.  If you're in the area, why not pop along and say hello? :o)

Weldon's Home Front Woollies + more!

I've recently been buying more knitting patterns - no surprise there I hear you say.  However, I'm going to sound like such a hypocrite, from a Stitchcraft buying point of view anyway. 

I've always said I wouldn't be one of those people paying silly money for a Stitchcraft magazine, etc, etc, etc.  Well, I have!  

The one that I bought was this one.  Isn't it pretty!!

I paid £29.02 for it!  I know, I know, it's very, VERY expensive, but I can justify it, honestly I can.

1. It's from April 1943 and as I had all the other 1943 issues, this completed my set. 

2. The lady on the cover is wearing a green jumper, my favourite colour, lame reason I know but I'm using it! :o)

3.  It has the most beautiful crochet corsage pattern, 3 patterns to be precise, for dahlias, apple blossoms and columbines - ok, so I'm not a proficient crocheter, but I could learn, right?

4.  I wanted it, plain and simple :o)  This is the reason that really held greatest sway!

From a condition point of view it smells.  It smells quite badly actually, like a damp old village church (making it sound so desirable now, aren't I??).  The front cover is completely detached and has been mended with masking tape and there are some pink stains on some of the pages but I am really over the moon with it and, all told, am super happy to have it - I'll just push the price out of my mind! :o). 

The Stitchcraft magazine isn't the only thing I've been buying and I've had quite an influx of patterns recently.  They have all come from eBay, and refreshingly, were not that expensive. 

First up are these 3 which were a bargain at 50p the lot, plus P&P. 

I couldn't believe no one else bid.  I mean, who wouldn't want to own the one with the rather dashing Roger Moore on the front?  The two black and white ones are seriously tatty, the top one is actually in 4 parts but the one with Roger on is pretty much in perfect condition.

Next up, a couple of Lavenda patterns. 

These patterns are some of the nicest to work from because the instructions are listed row by row making them incredibly easy to follow.  The one on the left was £2.00 and actually buttons all the way down the back.  The one of the right cost £3.00 and has been on my wish list for a very, very long time.  It's like the waffle jumper that I make but is all smooth, i.e. stocking stitch.  This copy is incredibly tatty, lots of tears and a sticky tape repair too.  I'm contemplating laminating the original - it shouldn't be done, I know, but I fear it will fall apart if I don't do something to it soon!


Next, four more charming ladies ones. 

All bought individually, and all around the £2.00 mark.  Love the two-colour jumper.  The original used white and mauve - perfect for spring perhaps??

Issue 31 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine - that's another one ticked off the list, along with a lovely, simple twin set pattern which originally came free with My Weekly magazine.

Finally, and definitely a case of saving the best till last, is this Weldon's Home Front Woollies magazine!

I don't think I need to say a lot about it really because the cover alone speaks volumes!  What's not to love?  The colour photographs are amazing, especially the Home Guard chap with his shotgun - obviously photographed before the Home Guard had a uniform or their SMLE 303's!

The magazine was issued by Weldon's on September 17th 1940.  It's not in great condition, the cover is detached, is grubby and quite battered but the patterns are all present and correct!!  It was part of Weldon's Knitting Series and is No.26.  I would love to know what was contained in the previous issues -does anyone know??
 
I showed Mum and Dad, aka Norman from the Home Guard and Ivy from the WVS, the magazine and each would like something knitted from it.  Too ambitious for this Christmas, and I'm not sure how I'll get on tying to match the colours, but maybe for next year :o)

Cardigan, Cupcakes and Christmas!!

Three little things to share with you this evening before I pick up the needles.

Cardigan

First up is a cardigan that I knitted for the beautiful daughter of a very good friend of mine.  I actually knitted it in April and have wanted to post about it but, like so many things, just hadn't got round to it, until now! 

It is the first baby garment I have ever knitted.  Despite having 2 girls of my own, I'm ashamed to admit that I never knitted them anything when they were tiny.  I didn't actually learn to knit until I was expecting my second daughter, 5 years ago, and I just never got round to making them anything, which I really regret now.

For this one, I didn't use baby wool because I wanted a more subtle, vintage pink and instead opted for Stylecraft 4 ply in pale rose.  It's a really sort yarn and lovely to work with.

The pattern is very easy, it honestly is.  The main body of the cardigan is knitted in "feather and fan" stitch, which I've used lots of times before.  The pattern is based on 4 rows.  1 is a pattern row of simple increasing and decreasing, the rest are stocking stitch.  It's the increasing and decreasing on that first row that gives it the scalloped effect at the bottom.  It has raglan sleeves which made putting it together very easy - no extra sleeve fullness to fit in! 

As you would expect, I went for a vintage pattern which is either from the 1940's or 1950's.  Sorry to be vague but baby patterns are very hard to date!  If you can enlighten me further as to the correct date, or have any tips on how to date these patterns, please let me know :o)

The only thing I found a bit tricky was the section for the ribbon to thread through.  I didn't read the pattern properly so they weren't evenly spaced but I got there on the second attempt and think it looks very sweet. 

Although it's not that clear from the photographs, the cardigan was meant to have a ribbon tie at the chest and the neck but I changed the neck one so it was fastened with a popper, very, very securely stitched on.  Personally, I felt that the double bow was a little too fussy.

I haven't worked out how to link the pattern so you can print it, but if you have a special little person to knit for and would like a copy, just send me an email and I will get it over to you :o)

Cupcakes

After a busy morning of work, I let the girls join me in a spot of baking!  They really love to bake and today made vanilla cupcakes. 

When it comes to cake decorating, I must confess that I'm a bit of a control freak.  I like things to be "just so", icing to be smooth and perfect and so on.  When the girls get involved, I try and close my ears to the hundreds and thousands hitting the floor and resist the urge to limit them to say, 10 decorations per cake!  To them, less is most definitely not more.  They are at the wonderful, innocent age where a bit (or a lot in some cases) of everything on the cake makes it very personally theirs.  

Today, I handed over the decorations, stepped away from the table and gave them free reign to do as they wanted.  They certainly took me at my word and created these sugary mountains! 

I think they consumed as many sweets as they used, although littlest Y swears she only had "5, or maybe 6 Mummy" !!! 

My Y, having done the fatherly duty of eating a cake made by each of them, is currently suffering from a little too much sugar! 

Last up..........

Christmas

Is it too early to say the word?  Well, when you consider that many of the shops have been sneakily stocking up on cards and wrapping paper since late August I think it's safe to give it a little mention :o)

I've signed up to the festive swap which is being organised by Lakota over at Faith, Hope and Charity Shopping.  I'm also linking this post into her Ta-Dah Tuesday post :o)

I took part in the Jubilee swap which Lakota organised and it was really good fun which is why I've signed up to this one too.  If you fancy spreading some festive cheer, why not pop on over to Lakota's post and take a little look at what it's all about :o)

Autumn is in the air!

Well, Autumn has certainly arrived and I love it!!

There's a nip in the air first thing in the morning and a wonderful, earthy smell which, to me, signifies the autumn.  I love this season and the way the landscape slowly changes from lush greens to rusty reds with an almost golden sunlight.

We took full advantage of the bright golden sunshine yesterday and headed to Needham Lake.  On a quite day, like yesterday, it's a very tranquil place.  People fishing or taking a walk through the trees in the dappled sunlight.  The leaves here have just started to turn to beautiful shades of rust, red, brown and orange.  Some had even fallen and we were able to walk on a crunchy, crispy, autumnal carpet of colour. 

We love it here and spent a happy time watching the ducks and geese before collecting some conkers.  Conkers, in our neck of the woods, have been in somewhat short supply.  I don't know whether it was the appalling spring we had which knocked off the blossom or whether it has simply not been a good growing season.  Whatever the reason, the girls were very happy to find a lone horse chestnut tree bearing these excellent specimens.

At 4 and 6, with good aim not yet being a skill they have honed, I think playing conkers is a little beyond them and so tomorrow, with the help of some sewing pins, glue and sequins, they'll be making conker monsters.  

I remember playing conkers while waiting for the school bus and being so proud to defeat my opponent.  It was serious stuff and we would soak out conkers in vinegar (I don't know why) while others favoured drying theirs in the oven.  I'd take my foursy (a conker that has smashed 4 other conkers to pieces) on the bus proud as punch, only to have it splintered into pieces by someone else's monster at morning break.  I was a horrible younger sister when I played conkers with my brother and would purposefully take aim at his knuckles - how mean was I?! 



This morning, we awoke to thick mist/fog (I'm never sure which is which!), the first of this new season.  Tucked up by the warm radiator, (npower will love me!!) I watched the girls play in the garden, their feet soaked from the dewy grass.  Mr Y has a very busy time coming up at work so has spent the entire day working, but I don't mind.  An enforced day at home with nothing to do has finally given me the chance to start cataloguing some of my knitting patterns. 

I started with the biggest number in my collection - my much adored Stitchcraft magazines.  These are the ones I always turn to first when I want to try a new pattern and simply marvel and the beautiful colour wools they had.  Here are some of my collection.

These magazines have proved an invaluable source for exceptional knitting patterns.  They contain a wealth of information and are, therefore, incredibly sort after.  A quick search on eBay and you'll see what I mean with early examples reaching over £10 a piece. 

There are quite a few gaps in my collection, mostly from 1939 backwards.  I have made a list of the ones that I'm missing and have been very efficient as it is now pinned it up in the kitchen (hoping Mr Y will take note) and a copy is also in my journal so I can, hopefully, fill in the gaps :o)

On the knitting front, things are moving along nicely.  This is what I'm currently working on.

It's a cardigan which is being knitted in a charming shade called petrol from the King Cole range.  It's very pretty and I'm on the penultimate piece!  Oh, the spider??  Well, that's one of Cadbury's Halloween treats.  Clever Cadbury's, always thinking of something new to snare people like me! :o)  I shall be devouring it with it's green crispy middle later on this evening while I watch Downton Abbey! :o)

Hope you have had a wonderful weekend too!

Needlewoman & Needlecraft Issue 1 - the kindness of a stranger

Just a very quick post about something which recently made me smile :o)

If you have been following my blog for a while, you may have seen the post about my collection of Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazines. 

These magazines are a wonderful source of amazing knitting patterns and the early wartime editions are becoming incredibly hard to find.  I've been on the search for a copy of the illusive first edition for a number of years.  It's been very much a needle in a haystack sort of search, hoping that one might turn up on eBay or at a vintage fair!  Frustratingly, I had been unsuccessful..........until now!!!! 

Delivered last week, and now taking pride of place in my Needlewoman and Needlecraft collection, is...........

This wonderful first issue, in amazing condition, came to me as a gift.  What makes the gift even more special is that it came from a perfect stranger! 

A couple of weeks ago, I was contacted out of the blue by a lovely lady who had seen my blog.  She and her husband had been sorting through a relative's effects and had come across some knitting magazines, including issue 1 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine.  While searching online to find out more about the items they had found, they stumbled across my post on the Needlewoman and Needlecraft magazine.  Seeing that I didn't have issue 1 they decided to give me the copy they had found!  I couldn't quite believe it and was so incredibly touched and honoured.

The magazine is even better than I could have imagined.  It is a wonderful first edition packed full of ideas for home items and clothing.  It has a very charming introduction, written by the Principal of the Royal School of Needlework at the time, a Lady Smith-Dorrien, D.B.E, she wrote;

"At a time when all forms of needlework are at once a pleasure, a solace and a service, I welcome the new journal and wish it the success it deserves".

The magazine features patterns for the men and women folk who were "doing their bit" with jumpers which had been specially designed so that they would not show under tunics.

A charming pair of woolies for spring - just look at the matching posies!  I have added the two-tone purple jumper to my "to knit" list, a list which is somewhat long! :o)

Crests of H.M Services - I'm not sure which I like better, the crests so beautifully embroidered or the line drawings at the top of the page featuring, I think, Buckingham Palace and a plane.  A Blenheim perhaps?

The magazine is simply excellent and a very welcome addition to my collection.  It's a wonderful piece of history and, like so many publications of the time, gives us a small glimpse into what life was like for the 1940's woman.  

I am incredibly touched, honoured and amazed that someone, who doesn't know me and lives a considerable distance away could do something so kind and generous.  It has definitely restored my faith in human kindness! 

To the couple who gave it to me, if you happen to be reading this - thank you once again, it will be safe with me :o)

Wimpole At War

Well, we're home, and what a brilliant weekend we had.  We spent it under (rather wet!) canvas at Wimpole Hall for their "Wimpole at War" event. 

Wimpole Hall is a beautiful National Trust property which is worth a visit at any time.  It was taken over by the National Trust in 1976 after the owner, Elsie Bambridge, daughter of Jungle Book writer, Rudyard Kipling, died.  The house is vast and beautiful and the gardens are impressive.  This is a picture of the house first thing on Saturday morning.  The blue sky is deceptive because it was a lot colder than it looks!!

Once a year, they turn the clock back 70 years and the grounds are "invaded" by re-enactors for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend of wartime fun. 

To be fair, the house was a bit of a disappointment from a 1940's perspective.  There were a few "rations" on the breakfast table, a couple of gramophones, a few period knitting patterns and some USAAF boots and a jacket but there was so much more they could have done and it was a shame they didn't embrace the era. 

However, outside was a very different affair.  There was 1940's music, the Suffolk Home Guard, the NFS, the Ministry of Food, a pair of Spitfires, a good helping of Woolton pie and so much more!  All enjoyed with friends old and new :o) 

Love those giant containers!

There was a dinner and dance on the Saturday night and, to celebrate their 33rd wedding anniversary, my parents went along.  They enjoyed a welcome warming meal of sausage, mash and red onion gravy (Woolton pie for Mum), followed by fruit crumble!  Too cold to dress in their best, so overcoats were the order of the day.


Slightly "rabbit in headlight" look going on!  Think it was the camera flash :o)

On the purchasing front, there were more stalls this year and I came away with a green Tala biscuit tin (never can resist green!), some tasty National Trust biscuits to go in it (not sure they'll last that long!!), a Kangol CC41 beret bought by my Dad for C, some more knitting patterns (you can never have enough!) and "The Kitchen Front" cookery book from 1942 which was only 50p because it didn't have the front cover! 

The weather let us down on Sunday big time.  It rained so hard that our tent leaked and we had to pack up early!  There is now a van to unload and a tent to dry out.  Wimpole is our last 1940's event of 2012 - I'm already looking forward to next year! :o)

1940's Hollywood dress pattern in Clydella fabric

Well, I've only been and gone and made another dress!! 

This one has been weeks in the making and to finally get the last stitches done and it photographed on "Doris" is a huge relief. 

Two years ago (time flies!) I bought a piece of fabric which was labelled up as Viyella.  Having worked with Viyella before and really liking the finish, I picked up the 3 meters for a reasonable £17.50.  It's a soft yellow colour with a small design of 1cm which is cream and brown.  The fabric had sat in my stash for months until June (told you it had been months in the making) when I finally found a pattern to go with it. 

1943 Hollywood pattern.

When I came to unwrap the fabric, I found that there was an original label on it that I'd not seen before (teach me to look properly at what I buy won't it?!) and instead of Viyella, I actually had a piece of Clydella.  If you look it up online, you might think that Clydella is Viyella's poorer quality relative.  Viyella has a 55% merino, 45% cotton content whereas Clydella is 81% cotton, thus making it cheaper and less "cosy".  The fabric was actually lovely to work with.  It didn't fray too badly or slip about, is strong and durable yet is soft and hangs really nicely so Clydella gets a thumbs up from me! 

The dress wasn't the easiest.  The instructions weren't exactly detailed and in two places just simply didn't make sense!! 

The dress has 7 buttons running down the back.  Where the buttons end and the two pieces of fabric get sewn together for form the skirt just didn't fit.  If I put the buttons where the tacks were then there simply wasn't enough fabric to cover ones modesty!  I stitched it as per the pattern, unpicked it and hand stitched it again, unpicked that and then, in desperation, decided to ignore the pattern and make the thing fit the only way it would which meant adjusting the seams.  I got there in the end and am very happy with the way it turned out.

Fitting of the pockets was also not easy as I kept getting the ric rac caught!  In fairness, I think it was far more to do with my inexperience at such things than the pattern itself. 

I loved the ric rac.  I bought the giant size stuff at my local fabric shop.  Having never before had a reason to look at ric rac, I didn't realise what a wonderful array of colours and sizes there are - I'm well and truly hooked and have already picked the next dress I want to attach some to! 

Trimming was time consuming, lots of tacking and pining and very careful placing.  There are two places where the two lines or trim aren't exactly symmetrical, and that bugs me a little but for a first attempt, I'm pretty pleased with it.

Enough waffling though, here is what you really want to see, some photographs!!



The belt isn't too big really, the dummy is just smaller than the dress - just realised it needs a belt loop so not "quite" finished after all!!! :o(

 I'm off to the North Norfolk railway this weekend for their 1940's event where I hope this dress will find a new owner. 

Autumn is very definitely here.  The evenings are drawing in and there's a definite chill in the air when Mr Y heads out at 7am.  Darker evenings mean more knitting time and I'm nearly half way through a cardigan which is being knitted in the most beautiful petrol blue colour by King Cole.  Should be finished in a couple of weeks, perfect for the colder months ahead :o)