On a Roll!!

So, we’re almost at the end of the month!  Hasn’t January flown by?  The festivities of last month seem but a distant memory.  I don’t mind though, for as much as I love the winter, I am always pleased to welcome in the New Year and see the daylight hours increasing.  A fresh month stretched out before me brings an enthusiasm to push forwards and get things done!

Despite my best intentions, 2013 was an epic fail in terms of number of garments sewn.  I can clearly remember sitting down at the beginning of the year to map out a plan of all that would be achieved.  I listed how many pieces of sewing and knitting I would get done, and the number of corsages and turbans that would be finished, but when December came, I had achieved very little in the sewing stakes.

I don’t know whether any of you crafty folk have the same problem, but, from a making perspective, I can be a bit of a butterfly.  One day I wake with an eagerness to sew corsages, the next day I can be hankering after cutting out a garment.  I forever want to start something new.  With a jumper, once I’ve knitted the back and the sleeves, I really have to push myself to get the front finished, and often things get left languishing in a heap, never to see the light of day again. 

Well, this year I have decided to try to finish off those unloved projects, before moving onto something new.  It’s a hard task, I can tell you.  Mr Y got me some seriously scrumptious patterns last month and I’m itching to get at them, but, for now at least, I’m determined to stay on track!

So, without further waffling, the first item to see the light of day in 2014 was a neat little bolero, from this Bestway pattern.

It was started last year when I was going through a stash busting phase, trying to use up some of the copious amounts of double knit yarn that seems to breed under my bed! 

Green being my favourite colour, I couldn’t pass up the chance to see my favourite Stylecraft DK shade of meadow be used for such a pretty project.  Sadly, I should probably have taken more care with my calculations because, yet again, I ran out of wool! 

It took weeks to find more wool from the same dye lot, and by the time it was found, I’d moved onto my next project, and the bolero was consigned to the cupboard.  

The task of completing it wasn’t too daunting, as it was only the one sleeve to get finished.  Here it is in all its green glory!

 

I posted a picture of it on Facebook and was astounded by peoples’ reaction.  When it was listed on Etsy, it sold within 10 minutes!  The new owner is none other than the lovely Fleur De Guere, I think she wears it well :o)

Because of how popular it is, I’ve already cast on another one, this time in a pretty blue shade that reminds me of spring.

Next to be pulled from the cupboard was a blouse, made from an original 1940’s New York pattern.  The only finishing it required was bound buttonholes!  Oh, how I hate doing bound buttonholes.

It has been made from original 1940’s novelty print fabric that I bought from America, and was stung for import tax on; don’t you just love an £8.00 handling fee?!!  Anyway, the fabric is pure cotton, in a sort of spring green, with the sweetest stylised telephone design!

It’s quite a blousy kind of blouse, low fastening, with just two buttons.   It’s definitely a statement piece and not one for the modest.  It has been finished with 1940’s black Bakelite buttons, and is currently for sale in my Etsy shop, which can be found here.

Last, but by no means least, is a dress made from an American Hollywood pattern from the 1940’s.

The fabric was originally bought to make a blind for the kitchen, but when it arrived, it wasn’t the modern cotton that I expected, but was actually a piece of original 1940’s heavy cotton rayon mix. 

It was a squeeze getting the dress out of the narrow 35” by 2 7/8yds piece that I had, but, because it had no nap, I was able to follow the pattern, just, but it meant I didn’t have enough fabric left for ruffles. 

I decided to do self covered buttons, because they looked best, and to keep it as authentic as possible, I fitted a vintage metal zip.  It's a simple dress, but I love it, especially the little bit of gathering in the front. 

It’s a fairly decent size, measuring a 36" bust, but it just won’t squeeze onto Doris the dummy, so I’m afraid we’ll have to make do with a rubbish hanger shot! 

  

I still have a few more projects to finish off, a couple of jumpers, and another dress, but they are waiting in the wings while I frantically try to get my Knit For Victory piece finished. 

   

I’m getting there, and I’m sure my dad will be pleased with it, but I still have half of the back and then the neck and armholes to finish, so I’m sure you can guess what I’m going to be doing for the next few evenings :o) 

Knit for Victory knit-along - I'm In!

So, dear readers, are any of you joining in with the knit along which has been organised by the lovely Tasha, who blogs over at By Gum, By Golly? 

I have, and I can’t wait to get started!  The Knit Along follows a 1940’s theme, and since I’m somewhat addicted to the patterns from that era, it would be silly if I didn’t sign up, right? 

It has come at a perfect time for me.  This year, I have decided to try and make a handmade gift for each of my immediate family, so joining in with the knit along will be the kick up the backside I need to actually get started.  After all, 6 weeks today, folks, is Christmas Eve, so I should really crack on!

So, what to knit?  Well, the knit along is open until January 31^st which gives me plenty of time to tackle more than just the one project! 

My other half and my brother wouldn’t thank me if I gifted them something of the woolly variety, so both of my parents and my two girlie's will be the recipients of my work. 

Choosing for my dad is really easy.  When not a work, he wears a lot of 1940’s original and vintage inspired clothing.  His normal outerwear is a CC41 overcoat and 1940’s trilby (which does get him the odd sideways glance!).  To go with his overcoat and chocolate brown trilby, I’m going to knit him a scarf!  While it’s not the most imaginative of gifts, I hope he’ll really like it. 

The pattern is a Weldons one, printed on wartime paper, and was advertised as being suitable for both civilian and service wear. 

If I’m going to do it, he would want me to do it properly, and as period correct as possible, so I have chosen a pure wool Merino mix, by King Cole, in the most delightful chocolate brown colour.

It’s quite a fine 4 ply, and I have 3 balls of it, which is about 6oz.  The original pattern calls for 4 ¾ oz, so I should have enough.  The beauty of it is that if I do run out of the wool, the scarf will simply be slightly shorter than intended!  At approximately 50” long, I need to get cracking!!

I also want to try to tackle another Fair Isle jumper for my Dad.  I knitted this one for him about 4 Christmases ago. 

  

He absolutely loves it and as he’s so slender, he is a joy to knit for because I don’t have to adjust the patterns to fit his skinny frame.  I haven’t found quite the right pattern yet, but I hope to knit it in shades of brown and beige to go with his brown pinstripe suit.  His birthday is in February, so, if I manage to finish it in time, it will make the perfect gift.

Next up is my mum.  I won’t be knitting a jumper for her, as I still have one on the needles that I was meant to have finished for her birthday 3 years ago!  I have done the front and the sleeves, but it’s being knitted in crepe and I’m finding it hard on the hands, but that’s another story entirely! 

Instead, she’ll be getting a tea cosy.  Mum and Dad live in a beautiful house, decorated and furnished, in the most part, with original 1930’s and 1940’s items.  One day, I hope that they will let me take some photographs of it to share with you all.  There is a huge dresser in the kitchen which displays a collection of Beryl ware, and a knitted tea cosy will be just the job to keep the pot warm.

The pattern is one from the ‘40s, this time produced by Bestway.  I haven’t decided on a colour way yet, the original calls for 4 shades of 4 ply.  I’ll probably try to get some green in there somewhere.  It should be a good way of using up some of the odd balls of wool I have lying around. 

Last, but by no means least, my little pair of pickles!  My girls are truly easy to knit for, and while I won’t have time to knit them a jumper each, I want to make them a beret and matching mittens.  Neither of them likes pure wool, as they find it far too itchy, so I’m off to Norwich on Saturday, without my babies, to see what I can find.

They are also both still young enough to love playing with their baby dolls.  My oldest has a girl doll, so for her I’m knitting a Little Red Riding Hood outfit that I have in a 1930’s Good ??? magazine.  Although not from the 1940’s, I’m sure the pattern would still have been used well beyond the era it was made in.  Obviously it will be done in red, probably using up some of the Stylecraft cardinal that I have left from when I completed this jumper.

For my youngest, her doll is a boy.  Interesting boy doll patterns have proved much trickier to find!  So much so, in fact, that I have yet to choose one and am still looking.  I'll be back to show you when I do! 

So that’s me done, and my next few months of knitting mapped out for me.  The hope is that all, bar the Fair Isle, will be completed in time for Christmas.  I’m sure that’s achievable, providing I stay flu free!! 

I’ve joined the Flickr group that Tasha has set up, so those joining in can add photographs of their work for all to see.  I’m loving looking at the things people have decided to make. 

If you want more information about it, or are tempted to jump in and join in, then there is a link in my sidebar which will take you to Tasha’s original post, where she explains how to go about it! 

xx

Advent Adventures - the tree, a fair and more 1940's knitting patterns!

Well, Monday has come again all too quickly, but I don’t mind too much because we’ve had a rather lovely weekend.

On Saturday, we awoke to a picture perfect December morning.  Thick frost lay upon the roof tops and the grass was white and crunchy under our feet.  Two excited girls opened the first door of their advent calendars.  Their countdown to Christmas has officially begun!

Who am I kidding!  I was just as excited as they were and happily tucked into this little fellow who had been hiding behind the first door in my own advent calendar (you’re never too old!!)

Chocolate consumed and everyone wrapped snugly in numerous layers of clothing (it was -2 you know!), we headed out to buy our Christmas tree!!!  To me, the buying of the tree signifies the beginning of festivities.  

Picking the tree is a real family affair and includes we 4 plus my parents.  We always have a real tree.  You simply cannot beat the smell.  Yes, they can be messy and I will no doubt be pulling pine needles out of my socks for months to come, but I don’t mind, it’s definitely worth it.



As to the choosing of the tree, it takes me a long time and the entire family knows the drill.  This is how it goes. 

I get to the garden centre and I pick a tree which is, of course, positioned at the back of an extremely prickly pile!  I don’t touch the tree, oh no, that painful task is left to the men folk who, invariably, complain that they should have brought gloves with them and vow that they will, of course, bring them next year but obviously never do because the same saga ensues each and every year! 

Once they have grasped the tree, they hold it while I peruse it from all angles but, of course, this first one isn’t quite right.  It’s either not the right shape, doesn’t have enough branches, the branches it does have aren’t strong enough or perhaps the tree is just not the right green – yes I have used that as a legitimate reason to reject a tree because greens vary, you know, and being a fuss pot, the tree I choose has to be “just right”. 

So, more trees get chosen and discarded before I finally find that most perfect of trees which ends up being, more often than not, the tree I selected first!  I doubt this scenario will ever change; call it a Y family Christmas tradition, if you will :o)

The tree won’t be going up yet or I fear it’ll be a mere stick come Christmas Day!  No, we shall wait a week or so which gives me time to hunt out some more decorations :o)
  
On Sunday, we took our wares to the Little Vintage Lover Fair in Blakeney and by jove it was cold!!  It’s a 2 hour drive for us and the temperature didn’t get above freezing for the entire journey; the countryside did look lovely though, well, what I saw of it anyway.  I have a bad habit of falling asleep in the car and with my beret pulled down and my collar pulled up, yesterday was no exception :o)

As to the fair, it was lovely and warm as, thankfully, we were right beside the radiator!  Lots of lovely bits and pieces meant II was able to do a little bit of Christmas shopping and rather too much “me” shopping.  

I bought 25 knitting patterns from one very lovely, and amazed, lady.  Some are from the 1930’s, others from the 1940’s, all are lovely!  One of my favourites is the beaded jumper but that requires the individual sewing on of 500-700 beads!  Not sure my patience would extend that far. 

I also picked up a couple more bits for the kitchen.   One was a green enamel colander which had been languishing in a barn for over a year so I had to be “save” it.  It’s in really good condition and is in a relatively hard to come by colour.  The second was a flour tin, part of the Worcester Ware collection.  It was pretty filthy when I got it but a gentle wash has cleaned it up nicely and it’s currently sitting in the kitchen looking rather lovely! 

  
We have another jam packed week ahead of us, the countdown to Christmas has most definitely begun – only 22 days to go :o)   I shall leave you with one of my favourite shots of the weekend - my littlest cheeky moneky in her new festive onesie :o) 

Run, Rabbit, - Run! - 1940's sheet music.

At the weekend, we went to Cambridgeshire to visit family and were treated to a rather delightful afternoon tea in a vintage themed tea shop called Sophie T's Tea Room.  It's in Yaxley, on the main street and if you're in the area, I cannot recommend it highly enough.  The service was wonderful, the cakes absolutely delicious and the setting was right up my alley!  If you are planning to visit, I would recommend that you book in advance because they were jam packed on Saturday.

Anyway, while we were there, I got talking to the owner's husband who said that the shop had once been an antique shop and that there were still some "bits and pieces" for sale upstairs.  I was actually very pleasantly surprised with what was on offer and came away with 2 pairs of shoes, a hat, 3 dresses and an amazing swing coat, all of which will be heading with me to the Little Vintage Lover Festive Fair in Blakeney this weekend. 

Beside the clothes rail, in a heap on the floor, was a large pile of vintage sheet music which was free and the owner of the shop kindly gave me the entire bundle which totalled over 200 pieces.  Now we're home, I've had a proper sort through what I brought home and am very happy as there were some real gems.  I can read music and play the piano, just, but that's not what they will be used for and it's not why I love them and I thought you might like to see a few of them too :o)

Many of the cover designs are absolutely beautiful. 

Each one a little piece of artwork in it's own right.  Some cheeky or quirky, others sorrowful or sentimental. 

They come from a time when music was so important to keep up morale.  Songs that would have been sung both on the home front and overseas. 

A little piece of history on each and every page. 

They have been well loved, each piece inscribed with the owners name, a treasured possession of a very accomplished pianist with the entire collection spanning 3 decades, from classic waltzes through to The Rolling Stones.  I can't help wondering who she played to. 

Come the new year, I'm hoping to frame some of them as they are simply far too lovely to leave hidden in a drawer, but for now I'll leave you with a little clip, courtesy of Youtube, of one of my favourite wartime tunes, Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer. 

Am linking this post to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday.  Why not pop over to her blog and have a look at what other people have been up to.  She's also running a festive giveaway - after all, Christmas is rapidly approaching!!

Feeling Festive

It's back to normality with a mighty big bump this monday morning after what has been a wonderful weekend. 

Norwich was brilliant.  We left the car at home and opted for a far more relaxing journey by train.  The landscape has changed so much since we visited just a couple of weeks ago.  The trees are holding onto only a handful of leaves, the tree skeletons now clearly visible, winter just around the corner.  I truly adore this time of year.

There are so many wonderful shops in Norwich.  Of course there are the normal shops found in most towns and cities but Norwich also offers a wide range of independent shops hidden down the many pretty little streets and lanes. 

Although the city’s Christmas lights weren’t lit, many shops had dressed their windows in preparation for the festive season.  A veritable festive feast for the eyes!

There are plenty of sweet shops in the city but the best one we found is the one below which, along with stocking an incredible range of sweets in jars as well as lesser know varieties of tasty treats, played the music of The Andrews Sisters and Glenn Miller!

One of my favourite shops to visit is the huge department store Jarrold’s, where you are likely to find something for everyone.  Having done battle with the crowds in the toy department we happened upon the haberdashery department and were surprised at how much they had managed to pack into a relatively small space.  I picked up some Christmas ribbons, cream ric rac (something which had proved tricky to track down in an actual real shop and will allow me to finish another 1940's dress) and some pretty buttons.  I have no idea what I’m going to actually use the buttons for but at just 5p each, I couldn’t leave them behind.

We found our way to the Cath Kidston shop and it did not disappoint!  Well, in most part it didn't but I was really disappointed with the quality of the Christmas pudding decorations.  The felt is a lovely colour and the decorations are very pretty but they've used very poor quality felt and the white is so thin that you can see the brown through it.  At £4.50 a time, it's just as cheap to design and make your own pudding.  I'm very pleased I didn't order them online or I'd have been very disappointed!  Anyway, the window display was so pretty, the entire store was actually, with items perfectly placed for maximum product appeal.   

The shop was packed with people.  I bought my knitting bag, and I’m happy to report that it’s plenty big enough for my knitting, tape measure, spare needles, notepad, pencils etc and then some!  It is good quality and the big plus is its waterproof so I can take it on my travels!  I picked up a couple of Christmas gifts before having enough of the  leaving Mr Y in there to do a little shopping himself (once I’d steered him in the general direction of the things I like)! 

Once it got overcrowded, probably due to Norwich playing Manchester United (not the best day to choose to shop) we stopped and did a little people watching.  Although I don’t like to be in the swarming crowd (crowds make me stressed), I do like to step back and watch people go about their general business, shoppers with bustling bags, Christmas shoppers getting a head start and people simply spending time with family and friends. 

On Sunday, as if our tired feet hadn't had enough of walking, we went into Ipswich for their Christmas market where we were re-united with the critters who greeted us with snuggles and tales of a wonderful weekend spent with adoring grandparents.

The market in Ipswich was heaving and far too busy for my liking.  Getting to the stalls proved difficult and taking photographs of anything was nearly impossible. 

There were lots of vintage stalls mixed in among some craft stalls, a nice mix actually.  From a clothing front, there was nothing to my liking, lots of 1980's jumpers and faux fur hats but there were some nice home wares.  One stall had some stylish vintage French enamel items and I stupidly dithered over an enamel roaster so when I went back for a second look it had gone!

I was rather reserved on the purchasing front and only bought 12 Christmas baubles in a little box.  They aren’t 1940’s, but they are vintage and incredibly delicate.  At just £8.00, they had to come home with me.  I also bought another lot of baubles, this time from Paperchase.  I’d never been in before, don’t really know why, but I think, well I know, that I expected them to be ridiculously expensive but I was actually pleasantly surprised and am pleased to say that I was wrong.  They have lots of non-traditional stuff like glass robots and crocodiles (a Christmas crocodile??) but they also stock some vintage inspired pieces which are well worth a look.

Mr Postie was busy while we were away and there were some lovely packages waiting for me on the doormat including a rather tatty copy of issue 6 of Needlewoman Needlecraft magazine (only issues 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 to go now!) and a collection of old black and white photographs that I'll show you properly in a later post.

Our thoroughly enjoyable weekend has put me well and truly in a festive mood, after all, it’s only 36 sleeps until the day!  I suppose I better pull my finger out and get making! :o) 

Vintage Haberdashery Heaven - Christmas come early!

What an incredibly lucky lady I am. 

In this previous post I told you about the kindness of a stranger and how they had generously given me a collection of knitting patterns, including issue 1 of Needlewoman and Needlecraft.  Well, last week, the same amazing lady contacted me again with the offer of some knitting and crafting things.

Delivered this morning to a very excited household were two rather large heavy parcels.  I had been expecting them but what was contained inside them was far more than anything I had imagined.  The collection of items was so vast that it took me a very happy 2 hours to sort through everything.

It would be impossible to show you everything that arrived, such was the volume of items, but I have picked out some of the most pretty and colourful things and hope that you like them!  Here goes!

Along with lots of little squat balls of thread, there were over 120 embroidery silks which means my 1930's sweet jar is now perfectly full!

Some pretty pastel crochet threads, so incredibly fine.  In the central part of two of them I found some delicately crocheted edgings; stored away and forgotten about maybe?

A vast range of shades of the most beautiful threads.  I've never seen anything like them before.  They are delicate and fine yet have a wool like texture.  There were over 50 of them but the amount wound on the cards isn't great so I wonder what they were meant to be used for. 

Various mending threads including wool for Chilprute underwear, the needle still threaded and slipped into the wound wool by the hand of it's last user.  Stocking threads, darning wools and my favourite of all, the little green and navy Greenwoods card with the rather dashing sailor on the front.

Two items were still in the bags they were originally packaged in.  One still with the receipt from a shop in Hanley, close to Mr Y's old stomping ground from when he did his teacher training.

More amazing examples of vintage packaging, so much more appealing than the ones we get today.  My favourites are the two Newey's ones.  The blue one from the 1930's and red from the 1940's - stunning in both colour and design.

Numerous bindings, grosgrains, ribbons and lace!  All so pretty and many in shades that you simply cannot replicate today.  Matching binding to vintage fabric should be a whole lot easier now.

In an old cardboard box, there were crisp wrappers containing clean, white starched collars new and never used.  Delving deeper, I discovered four CC41 collars, again, unused.  Precious clothing coupons would have been exchanged for these simple pieces of white cotton yet they, too, look unused.

The most delicate of collars.  Dating from, I believe the 1930's, these collars are simply splendid.  So pretty, feminine and fine, obviously belonging to one incredibly petite person, so tiny in size.  I hope to have them cleaned and then frame them, they're too pretty to be in a drawer somewhere.

Last, but by no means least, a little collection of small, pretty things which were discovered  among the various paper bags and mountains of threads.  I love the little handmade flower pins, the green bakelite needles, the pretty box of pins, well, all ok it really!

The owner of this amazing collection certainly took great care of all she had.  Tiny pieces of embroidery silk wound round pieces of wrapper, carefully kept.  Threads shorter, I'm ashamed to say, than I throw away.  A mended stitch ripper laid alongside another, new in it's wrapper.  Items kept until they could no longer be used, because they had to be, the result of living through a period of great austerity and rationing, nothing like the throw away society that we live in today.

It was an immense gift from an incredibly generous, thoughtful couple and one I'm truly grateful for.  Some things will, obviously, be used to create vintage inspired pieces.  Others, like the packaging and collars, will be kept and used for display purposes, meaning that the items treasured by this amazing woman, can be enjoyed by many more people in the years to come.