tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21398782791209181032024-03-27T17:35:27.533+00:00Frankie's Knitted StuffFrankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-68608277481705164462024-03-27T17:34:00.001+00:002024-03-27T17:34:47.017+00:00Housekeeping<p>No, not that sort of housekeeping. I've been publishing my patterns for more than fifteen years now and some of the early ones are looking rather the worse for wear. According to <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/frankie-brown" target="_blank">ravelry</a> I currently have 594 patterns available on my designer page. Now I'm not planning to re-write all of those but I did think I might tidy up a few.</p><p>I've started with my various Christmas stocking patterns, most of which are mini stockings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAajy5Ye3G-e33EvO8gIkbJuIR6Q_xFll7EkV5oQXfl3dw-KpF-aN4SJvpuezjVuHctWPyy5BH-EfViN3cFEN7GlW_JHuc0vmfDljEF3tQ2jNaRxY30SwdE2R8axjJu1hdyy0ghGGbW5K3qsJqIT6XhbzYxRZMAaoLVK1Z9P4a0Hi13gK8ch7n1MCfFpzO/s1600/18%20Stockings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAajy5Ye3G-e33EvO8gIkbJuIR6Q_xFll7EkV5oQXfl3dw-KpF-aN4SJvpuezjVuHctWPyy5BH-EfViN3cFEN7GlW_JHuc0vmfDljEF3tQ2jNaRxY30SwdE2R8axjJu1hdyy0ghGGbW5K3qsJqIT6XhbzYxRZMAaoLVK1Z9P4a0Hi13gK8ch7n1MCfFpzO/w400-h400/18%20Stockings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So far, I've completely re-written and photographed the original <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-stocking" target="_blank">Mini Stocking</a> pattern (bottom right in the picture) and that will be available once I've proofread it. I've also added more step by step photos the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mini-dotty-stocking" target="_blank">Mini Dotty Stocking</a> (top left) which is also in the proofreading pile. After that I want to have a look at the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/small-stocking" target="_blank">Small Stocking</a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gingham-stocking" target="_blank">Gingham Stocking</a> patterns. Oh, and the photos on the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/classic-christmas-stocking-3" target="_blank">Classic Christmas Stocking</a> are dreadful too ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I've sorted all those out I've got two new mini stocking patterns to write up and publish, a three colour slip stitch one and one decorated with some Fair Isle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIReDCPMDvdSN5gE7zLHaNj9lDrZhyCfGEWsa5jkRDTCmjlLcD0Fw10JxjddD81C6eB_roT9Lg9lkPgEHWGkRo9T4IoRBIyGwQXC5EaZWQbolwHhd5BrvOglbCmCU4hIVnCMx-_6ez53rn5ak04ykwt_JbPFVgRYFSthsbQC_kfDsVPGxFkkF6xB3hSUp/s1600/19%20New%20Stockings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIReDCPMDvdSN5gE7zLHaNj9lDrZhyCfGEWsa5jkRDTCmjlLcD0Fw10JxjddD81C6eB_roT9Lg9lkPgEHWGkRo9T4IoRBIyGwQXC5EaZWQbolwHhd5BrvOglbCmCU4hIVnCMx-_6ez53rn5ak04ykwt_JbPFVgRYFSthsbQC_kfDsVPGxFkkF6xB3hSUp/w400-h256/19%20New%20Stockings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also got some other patterns on my list to re-write. <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/raggy-doll" target="_blank">Raggy Doll</a> was one of my early patterns and the yarn I used has long been discontinued. Also, the photos aren't very good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBaJViOqyKsa9jFtv1_mqEAgb0jXMqjcI0bZJ6iBcG8F2QaEHfGI-OhAp2keYI9sxIMseVGCNglOFDjrkjhD8Xx_Lr7KlvaXelWgyWwMO-3nZuzboN0G7B8AP0xMfDvSTfMafbhM1hEoumrVNf3rn1GOqAGkrIiKvpx1vdOWVKAAlwymoTKvxX9wXNx-p/s1759/19a%20Old%20Raggy%20Doll.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1759" data-original-width="1519" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBaJViOqyKsa9jFtv1_mqEAgb0jXMqjcI0bZJ6iBcG8F2QaEHfGI-OhAp2keYI9sxIMseVGCNglOFDjrkjhD8Xx_Lr7KlvaXelWgyWwMO-3nZuzboN0G7B8AP0xMfDvSTfMafbhM1hEoumrVNf3rn1GOqAGkrIiKvpx1vdOWVKAAlwymoTKvxX9wXNx-p/w345-h400/19a%20Old%20Raggy%20Doll.JPG" width="345" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I gave her a complete makeover with new, brighter yarn last year but as I was knitting her for a quick present, I didn't take any step by step photos so I shall have to knit another one. Never mind, I can think of another baby who would like a raggy doll.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmCR3PYlHxjAudW0UJoy0RP8cBtNVyqxruQ8N2gdLctRaqHSyOdsoI5osGWbsdKSUZylsNtDTC0OpaT7vuiovC529oi-3rGLRh26mYbf02ykzlwSlIjtqEJX-l017mb9f2AFrzYHKzFBYo_zaZME3NPnIlcXg9MFH-SuOol-piuqRF1Uyy6-Q-FlETuJU/s2809/20%20Raggy%20Doll.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="2743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizmCR3PYlHxjAudW0UJoy0RP8cBtNVyqxruQ8N2gdLctRaqHSyOdsoI5osGWbsdKSUZylsNtDTC0OpaT7vuiovC529oi-3rGLRh26mYbf02ykzlwSlIjtqEJX-l017mb9f2AFrzYHKzFBYo_zaZME3NPnIlcXg9MFH-SuOol-piuqRF1Uyy6-Q-FlETuJU/w390-h400/20%20Raggy%20Doll.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also want to re-work my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-boots-4" target="_blank">Baby Boots</a> pattern. These actually stay on a squirming baby and I've knitted quite a few pairs over the years. In the original pattern, the bigger size are just knitted on bigger needles so I'd like to work out a proper re-sizing using the same needles and tension as the smaller pair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO71y8cZOgBJBwpT0u_LLppQ-BKKv-5zxwRpIdZFzsec0Y6cqUPJgSc_PLVqI49oW-mLJSRTxuRxXyiGKCxFU2RZbV12WvBI2BhyxRe69XiYBjZushllFEi5oJimeCf_9_fMJaAZ5vjF2ofp0tApyXjSk-9c8G1ph5okPoIRQx4RvMnJIQT89fUWxKi4ZG/s3309/21%20Baby%20Boots.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="3309" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO71y8cZOgBJBwpT0u_LLppQ-BKKv-5zxwRpIdZFzsec0Y6cqUPJgSc_PLVqI49oW-mLJSRTxuRxXyiGKCxFU2RZbV12WvBI2BhyxRe69XiYBjZushllFEi5oJimeCf_9_fMJaAZ5vjF2ofp0tApyXjSk-9c8G1ph5okPoIRQx4RvMnJIQT89fUWxKi4ZG/w400-h334/21%20Baby%20Boots.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are there any of my old patterns that you feel could do with more photos or clearer instructions? I can always add to the list.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been housekeeping my sewing patterns. I have a few 'Frankie's Sewn Stuff' patterns available on Google Drive. You can find them by clicking on the links in the sidebar - just under the pink label that say's 'Frankie's Fundraising'. Mostly, I've designed bags or, to be more accurate, various sizes of this bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWlyCkNRtT-0Mf4GxrXe1ODnrj4-H1xTzbfzPQisgU5A1-Cw9fQ1VeEd2oUD8ehtVKZXsNY0SSBpi1C3gnuLheItSOIJDyrKiWPCJAhwkQr2KChPysw_oNqMIHbSJFubttVkUN9d2of-FpO628eyZdMxK8FKvSObDqRk-4hZ1IfpFuc25lldYRl1AaI8z/s1600/03%20Bags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiWlyCkNRtT-0Mf4GxrXe1ODnrj4-H1xTzbfzPQisgU5A1-Cw9fQ1VeEd2oUD8ehtVKZXsNY0SSBpi1C3gnuLheItSOIJDyrKiWPCJAhwkQr2KChPysw_oNqMIHbSJFubttVkUN9d2of-FpO628eyZdMxK8FKvSObDqRk-4hZ1IfpFuc25lldYRl1AaI8z/w400-h256/03%20Bags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my reversible tote bag which I've made lots and lots of times. I've also pieced together different fabrics for this bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAYocEvu3vhfeDnYMlDJO8RCpkA66xpsp03F8l6J_-Wtfdy21pRL9VC6v2zjmHFrUA04MkRPhHGxCirZHeWzNXZjueFcFSwqtkihz3VFjZZryi0Gwk0SdW__yLzkS_IqnOfRq1gQLdz0XFW8Yywa0hZupqZoPADFdN8VnMrljUR9xMJOoqTphYGV2mmY9/s1600/04%20Patchwork%20Bags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAYocEvu3vhfeDnYMlDJO8RCpkA66xpsp03F8l6J_-Wtfdy21pRL9VC6v2zjmHFrUA04MkRPhHGxCirZHeWzNXZjueFcFSwqtkihz3VFjZZryi0Gwk0SdW__yLzkS_IqnOfRq1gQLdz0XFW8Yywa0hZupqZoPADFdN8VnMrljUR9xMJOoqTphYGV2mmY9/w400-h256/04%20Patchwork%20Bags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The one on the left is my everyday shopping bag; I made it out of some remnant scraps I bought years ago. I have also designed several smaller versions of this bag including a mini one that's only about six inches tall (I'm writing that one up at the moment). I'm planning to edit the current patterns and add new ones soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to write up the method I use to make lined drawstring bags in any size (very useful for presents) as well as turning some of my other sewing ideas into patterns. I make notes whenever I work out something new to me so other people might find them useful too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's a simple square fabric box ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xEWGzdUeMYjmYC_2K39gDAxMyIDi6HObyTqLpQTd2Wp9Ch-8WQGWQOt20hL4_mQBGacKYSsX7abSrSdIaodFcTW4KoGxboRbGhfN1Tcd7rSIplVM2yXAHW6Gwgz8M5QmkmD-ou2o1XP5UAjZmZcsakr4MJS912OfDwqUQizQbPlciq8BTbu09HRGwng_/s3308/07%20Square%20Box.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2821" data-original-width="3308" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xEWGzdUeMYjmYC_2K39gDAxMyIDi6HObyTqLpQTd2Wp9Ch-8WQGWQOt20hL4_mQBGacKYSsX7abSrSdIaodFcTW4KoGxboRbGhfN1Tcd7rSIplVM2yXAHW6Gwgz8M5QmkmD-ou2o1XP5UAjZmZcsakr4MJS912OfDwqUQizQbPlciq8BTbu09HRGwng_/w400-h341/07%20Square%20Box.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... a purse with a zip on the front (this took me a while to work out) ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPX9w0Z8YwbNphAACQkMBVOhLljcEP0N5HQLHjq09d7Yz8YwZUI0nqgHsuun7TnZhSvMTNvQBAoUdzgTQo8ehAeiYOQZ3OpUQk13fZJ_OA_4hqoqOEZQq8WlUq8TN9Uo-UxXWTT05VgEqnkCxTlb8LZr34v6XPcLMajX2Ahku7d5TJk2V8BpDa-wdd1Bg/s2274/08%20Purse.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1579" data-original-width="2274" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPX9w0Z8YwbNphAACQkMBVOhLljcEP0N5HQLHjq09d7Yz8YwZUI0nqgHsuun7TnZhSvMTNvQBAoUdzgTQo8ehAeiYOQZ3OpUQk13fZJ_OA_4hqoqOEZQq8WlUq8TN9Uo-UxXWTT05VgEqnkCxTlb8LZr34v6XPcLMajX2Ahku7d5TJk2V8BpDa-wdd1Bg/w400-h278/08%20Purse.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and a straightforward tissue holder (also a useful present).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTAEdeQdJ_sF-jLodRdmW0x3uWVgQd3pSzzzCZPbPME6IJ8wsf3DpnZQtIVHRjml8Das9YNyRGwyvpTqzaQ4iWCuP0q1f5IQlVBzqg9I2X3MfnmTzZQpPLFulyCSsIco5h8VqPrpKa0CgsUeCWTRMD_iW0uRRxcybxIJ_BVDtRprYwB4sFIPihZ9Gfg2k/s2115/11%20Tissue%20Pouch.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1416" data-original-width="2115" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUTAEdeQdJ_sF-jLodRdmW0x3uWVgQd3pSzzzCZPbPME6IJ8wsf3DpnZQtIVHRjml8Das9YNyRGwyvpTqzaQ4iWCuP0q1f5IQlVBzqg9I2X3MfnmTzZQpPLFulyCSsIco5h8VqPrpKa0CgsUeCWTRMD_iW0uRRxcybxIJ_BVDtRprYwB4sFIPihZ9Gfg2k/w400-h268/11%20Tissue%20Pouch.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm rather fond of my little fold up cases too. I hand pieced the little hexagons for these and use them to hold mini cross stitch kits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWxpVLRWJ5wo1UUZJjLe5qX-dSmMg53Xqmz6Mntw6ckE_SEiA7Rz1gBlfKLZvRGPRifER-IjAmHS5VUsltx-9IDGJ-6JUWbdtXHJZgjQPbbhqonC2fdSSape3OmzI5xfdOH05A0kOVIwj3kMm_0nO8mlFXIhAjVYxR5ZmXoxTU2bVGAKi9I2HJh8IWDOC/s4608/06%20Cases.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2383" data-original-width="4608" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpWxpVLRWJ5wo1UUZJjLe5qX-dSmMg53Xqmz6Mntw6ckE_SEiA7Rz1gBlfKLZvRGPRifER-IjAmHS5VUsltx-9IDGJ-6JUWbdtXHJZgjQPbbhqonC2fdSSape3OmzI5xfdOH05A0kOVIwj3kMm_0nO8mlFXIhAjVYxR5ZmXoxTU2bVGAKi9I2HJh8IWDOC/w400-h206/06%20Cases.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These little handwarmers are very easy to make and can be popped in the microwave to heat and then slipped in your pocket on cold days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcEsipKuBjlpdQj53_Uhk0AHQZhyKTAUpzqfhfwqZ2eZh2bEyj-1ZSRS7D90VqfZbOg6WMDTjIxIAnek8U79tREZmSxfPepBhFvphX9N6eznKI7rkGuM-6uYjSm0gVv2MurrudwBHxPExv8cJkKlZOtk0nshWaTZzTm7epOtopF13izR3NKrcUYhEIek-/s1956/09%20Hand%20Warmers.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1956" data-original-width="1938" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcEsipKuBjlpdQj53_Uhk0AHQZhyKTAUpzqfhfwqZ2eZh2bEyj-1ZSRS7D90VqfZbOg6WMDTjIxIAnek8U79tREZmSxfPepBhFvphX9N6eznKI7rkGuM-6uYjSm0gVv2MurrudwBHxPExv8cJkKlZOtk0nshWaTZzTm7epOtopF13izR3NKrcUYhEIek-/w396-h400/09%20Hand%20Warmers.JPG" width="396" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I couldn't find what I call my 'hot thing' which is a long thin heatpack for my constantly sore back, I also worked out how to make one of those.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceTuXY7kt3U6TItsrjC8m7QVekEVmWzuwsLGYQKcjtfHUBLPqBA_gy95QlbWGPhANjF2zDpVyW_YDet-z9YpBb80SQYoyrnb_zvsWu30hRaCvut9zsjJuzueUqwnAW1Dey6f0V9rfAqWi6i-zNE7qtbfi7jlG4bJfN8FKS_PkiOk7-coaofJdIAttg2WN/s3450/10%20Hot%20Thing.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="3450" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceTuXY7kt3U6TItsrjC8m7QVekEVmWzuwsLGYQKcjtfHUBLPqBA_gy95QlbWGPhANjF2zDpVyW_YDet-z9YpBb80SQYoyrnb_zvsWu30hRaCvut9zsjJuzueUqwnAW1Dey6f0V9rfAqWi6i-zNE7qtbfi7jlG4bJfN8FKS_PkiOk7-coaofJdIAttg2WN/w400-h146/10%20Hot%20Thing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What with all this re-writing, I haven't been doing a lot of new designs lately and some of them are variations on old themes. My latest pattern uses my ten stitch technique to knit a basic hat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG3grJpoCtzdqJO8-V65vlmKkhyrMQtQe8fp-CjwedgGTEraIbWjoK4UD5LZxbK6XvrCMHgYaaEbjLKrzNwN9AFWzQ0PZFssK2PbaaCpJu8dxUqJLThBZRX6k_ysPq3Hd421-LsIibLEZtsM3ALysbJ4Y8VGaundFj1jbR5f7ThFE_9OqxPAiupiLKZAT/s3385/01%20Hat.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2722" data-original-width="3385" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG3grJpoCtzdqJO8-V65vlmKkhyrMQtQe8fp-CjwedgGTEraIbWjoK4UD5LZxbK6XvrCMHgYaaEbjLKrzNwN9AFWzQ0PZFssK2PbaaCpJu8dxUqJLThBZRX6k_ysPq3Hd421-LsIibLEZtsM3ALysbJ4Y8VGaundFj1jbR5f7ThFE_9OqxPAiupiLKZAT/w400-h321/01%20Hat.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ten-stitch-hat" target="_blank">Ten Stitch Hat</a></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, I couldn't leave it at that so I'm currently working on a baby hat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4_9a25_D4ABxEXNV61WZ4nwSQtlAZmEIZb35tMZsAd8Eq_e0SxZMA6BfgWsI1WnaqslJZG4Tb06te6U8VBIljzNVjyd-FIexGMqmPhPuCtPPw8BNx9bI92fRuwnwX6O6gYAcLNdO47X2fuqUltwjgTJyEuIT2Cq4sDec-3xExE66OIVnJkQC-GGH9hw_/s2515/02%20Baby%20Hat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1930" data-original-width="2515" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4_9a25_D4ABxEXNV61WZ4nwSQtlAZmEIZb35tMZsAd8Eq_e0SxZMA6BfgWsI1WnaqslJZG4Tb06te6U8VBIljzNVjyd-FIexGMqmPhPuCtPPw8BNx9bI92fRuwnwX6O6gYAcLNdO47X2fuqUltwjgTJyEuIT2Cq4sDec-3xExE66OIVnJkQC-GGH9hw_/w400-h308/02%20Baby%20Hat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's turning out more of a toddler size but never fear, I have an idea for adapting the pattern for smaller heads too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do have one new pattern ready to write up actually - a set of knitted pouches, closed with drawstrings. Even the smallest one of these holds a surprising amount.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xBWFIpt6sDLY0s8cZ-3pA3U9U0k3Cg2H3sI_8Nq5Uw-_yNM55M3sqYAreVJ_XtdmIlGp-pAu3G6Ul_Zp2JYwSNafVRg6w0NsqWzvsy3q8EZhJZwpyWfMDq4G5mLop3RGGaCn8ZTnxg0hMp1E0zgwJN8wPQ_smkbqguVFx3zYmWlLxKFpuZFSzBDOGliE/s2556/22.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2421" data-original-width="2556" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7xBWFIpt6sDLY0s8cZ-3pA3U9U0k3Cg2H3sI_8Nq5Uw-_yNM55M3sqYAreVJ_XtdmIlGp-pAu3G6Ul_Zp2JYwSNafVRg6w0NsqWzvsy3q8EZhJZwpyWfMDq4G5mLop3RGGaCn8ZTnxg0hMp1E0zgwJN8wPQ_smkbqguVFx3zYmWlLxKFpuZFSzBDOGliE/w400-h379/22.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And yes, there will be a sewing pattern for the same thing. Now all I need to do is to find time to get on with all this stuff.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyScKmG0Pehurq8jV-2uPG4Zi1_LFk4hfObUE6DD_yLssEw9LcZ_SGi8fZ_VxfOVGL9OnJMAFWzT5w-OUNrg1Hk0-zJMqPjHI5bWuv6ZoY1fqoRFp6IC4TCrdZ317HZg8VlY3GIA82mOO06AC_vquZrx22Be_dcMqwfM4ALslySds8kYK9-Jba4bRM0QvQ/s2528/17.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1879" data-original-width="2528" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyScKmG0Pehurq8jV-2uPG4Zi1_LFk4hfObUE6DD_yLssEw9LcZ_SGi8fZ_VxfOVGL9OnJMAFWzT5w-OUNrg1Hk0-zJMqPjHI5bWuv6ZoY1fqoRFp6IC4TCrdZ317HZg8VlY3GIA82mOO06AC_vquZrx22Be_dcMqwfM4ALslySds8kYK9-Jba4bRM0QvQ/w400-h297/17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-73057433639057270342024-02-21T15:39:00.000+00:002024-02-21T15:39:51.320+00:00Plodding On<p>Plodding on seems an apt title for my life at the moment. I'm trying to walk a little each day which adds to my general fatigue and the struggle to balance the little I am able to do without being ill and the things I would like to do. My current fun symptom is feeling sick. I have to do everything in half hour chunks or I start feeling sick and, if I ignore it, it just gets worse. Ah well ...</p><p>I find that the knitting I want to do at the moment involves lots of mindless repetition which means that I'm doing a lot of playing around with my basic <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/ten-stitch-patterns" target="_blank">Ten Stitch</a> technique. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nXDkj8el9GkKMrJGXpMnC3CeUjkwpYaWiDBipb45pk1oQOjUfefBvqqBuGlkfPIhu-VOtWJP7t3adQBnNsFZJYuiEeW4UBtH4ww5-GwwZJoWp0oArClJ7PinmCSKJTzTWanvkowSQVHa7pLndrRDdA80FxE5VJzVWAV3yyHglcMJ6COPWnRfUG_xewsG/s1600/01%20Ten%20Stitch%20Twist%20Cushion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nXDkj8el9GkKMrJGXpMnC3CeUjkwpYaWiDBipb45pk1oQOjUfefBvqqBuGlkfPIhu-VOtWJP7t3adQBnNsFZJYuiEeW4UBtH4ww5-GwwZJoWp0oArClJ7PinmCSKJTzTWanvkowSQVHa7pLndrRDdA80FxE5VJzVWAV3yyHglcMJ6COPWnRfUG_xewsG/w400-h200/01%20Ten%20Stitch%20Twist%20Cushion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This round cushion started life as a hat but was too big so it morphed into a cushion. I found a 30 cm diameter cushion pad in a charity shop that turned out to be just the right size. It's nearly but not quite knitted in one piece. The final circle is knitted separately and then sewn in place but the last round or so before that is worked with the pad in place which was rather strange. I ended up turning the cushion rather than the needles at the end of rows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought how much easier it would be to knit a square ten stitch cushion cover so I've started one of those too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JXnzmn8QVkCUf2lW6RRekMzMZcZe62WIY0fgPAqbWGoWVr3LHNhFovNJRZJzsOBt_uUZ8byfFPtl_1eF22jQzP7SX2fQCuKuqEfXTYArgSX_uQTUaCelNhzxmXrMlEIiJM_uZANc0CSv2UTc1iDV3aoawBzQY-Mb4FGFqpKXIuuAa_Iunwpk0pG8c7Ve/s2692/03%20Ten%20Stitch%20Cushion.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2318" data-original-width="2692" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9JXnzmn8QVkCUf2lW6RRekMzMZcZe62WIY0fgPAqbWGoWVr3LHNhFovNJRZJzsOBt_uUZ8byfFPtl_1eF22jQzP7SX2fQCuKuqEfXTYArgSX_uQTUaCelNhzxmXrMlEIiJM_uZANc0CSv2UTc1iDV3aoawBzQY-Mb4FGFqpKXIuuAa_Iunwpk0pG8c7Ve/w400-h345/03%20Ten%20Stitch%20Cushion.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The, of course, I had to have another go at the hat ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPhsbeA6mgqfBXTdAMJ0Cmp-nh0ajeDmunNnDFVMKcoJay7yUqzTxvFxdd4deajOx8Hlj9nnf3RMhE-UuOX70nPDKp2AT8VDX15vezXqrjb_F9aIZfo24I26bqL1_m2dgmUMmFOt_d0Qj4T30k6ompSKYOSNc-zVisBgbVi9HWTcJifleMMrFcSWfWiQk/s2718/02%20Ten%20Stitch%20Hat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2435" data-original-width="2718" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKPhsbeA6mgqfBXTdAMJ0Cmp-nh0ajeDmunNnDFVMKcoJay7yUqzTxvFxdd4deajOx8Hlj9nnf3RMhE-UuOX70nPDKp2AT8VDX15vezXqrjb_F9aIZfo24I26bqL1_m2dgmUMmFOt_d0Qj4T30k6ompSKYOSNc-zVisBgbVi9HWTcJifleMMrFcSWfWiQk/w400-h359/02%20Ten%20Stitch%20Hat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Only time - and a lot of knitting and re-knitting - will tell if this one is going to work. I'm also plodding away at a ten stitch rug which is going to be one of the samples for my upcoming Ten Stitch Rectangle pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrilXVdkath3TB49gbDJo18063boLsrCVV_n5ZVo3FTz5OQ5IxuKctIPGNkhxpJxPFreEmdOTeqsYnVVdn09TjeOeRVndoJsS8f05mydm4oSaFQMY_HziApc1KtjSfyx7Jo4I48WUK_MxC5dGTPFvo2FrtW6AecoAjOJCIYHFAhQqssnLgGowLQSkTIaP/s2512/05%20Ten%20Stitch%20Rug.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="2512" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMrilXVdkath3TB49gbDJo18063boLsrCVV_n5ZVo3FTz5OQ5IxuKctIPGNkhxpJxPFreEmdOTeqsYnVVdn09TjeOeRVndoJsS8f05mydm4oSaFQMY_HziApc1KtjSfyx7Jo4I48WUK_MxC5dGTPFvo2FrtW6AecoAjOJCIYHFAhQqssnLgGowLQSkTIaP/w400-h365/05%20Ten%20Stitch%20Rug.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think I'm on the last round now. The idea is to show three different projects, each with different proportions to illustrate the formula for working any size rectangle. I've already knitted a long thin table runner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEEdkGEPJYy4_bbKCMkeC1nfELUZbR35oPjHn9Z9kjNgptT4sQgqT8gT93DIC4en-XGkfGsPpDRTcfsCzT75PbAITy9bUnOHbL7_BwRpSsbpkqYcVGVMai8gDFpsQNSOF4utLE-Sj8ef-bwWi9ldcQ1mEu1Vx3AWnKGtoehn3gXpMcjRjHL76k-4bCDng/s4359/04%20Ten%20Stitch%20Rectangle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4359" data-original-width="3090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEEdkGEPJYy4_bbKCMkeC1nfELUZbR35oPjHn9Z9kjNgptT4sQgqT8gT93DIC4en-XGkfGsPpDRTcfsCzT75PbAITy9bUnOHbL7_BwRpSsbpkqYcVGVMai8gDFpsQNSOF4utLE-Sj8ef-bwWi9ldcQ1mEu1Vx3AWnKGtoehn3gXpMcjRjHL76k-4bCDng/w284-h400/04%20Ten%20Stitch%20Rectangle.JPG" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the rug is finished I'll knit a table mat which will be much nearer a square and I think that'll be enough. Then I've just got to work out how to explain it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once I've got the rectangle pattern done I want to get on with my Ten Stitch Oval. So far, I've only worked out the basic technique (which is fairly complicated) and knitted a sample.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo_VYq9X_UJKzUIDQ1HCjyP1B-OmWuyZO8QsgBYHAmXIo2VoQfT1btlzPpkB8Y6x_W_JyonhU0gFGDbr9v4eKFJRoOyOrx09UpZIYXcWFDnLzaJFoUZsinrZrNigNNM7L7_mZfYd6_rGznAXwSOfglVA4f5YshUdzUVcsQuIipnzA9FwOXrjVHoMbD1Sp/s3907/05a%20Ten%20Stitch%20Oval%20sample.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3178" data-original-width="3907" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOo_VYq9X_UJKzUIDQ1HCjyP1B-OmWuyZO8QsgBYHAmXIo2VoQfT1btlzPpkB8Y6x_W_JyonhU0gFGDbr9v4eKFJRoOyOrx09UpZIYXcWFDnLzaJFoUZsinrZrNigNNM7L7_mZfYd6_rGznAXwSOfglVA4f5YshUdzUVcsQuIipnzA9FwOXrjVHoMbD1Sp/w400-h325/05a%20Ten%20Stitch%20Oval%20sample.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to approach this in the same way as the rectangle, working a couple of different projects to illustrate the basic principle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also been writing up a crochet shawl that I made last summer which, again, is a variation on a technique I've used before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMhcVXumQW16AMOg79QPg_eLe12NwqBmGV6CkxIK4UfVaIsAil1WgXPwJy7EJEq_jQvnOQ6hM1CIlwA9r7DngUexnNOTTZEJcTqe282d3rY5D65GK9bJKSVBiaMM2DL-VOX15V1ORaGpH9cUvzSQtOad43mKaOGg9NuTeeyFXXUcLSbgyEWTZXZd7AP0H/s2712/06%20Lazy%20Vee%20Shawl.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="2712" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMhcVXumQW16AMOg79QPg_eLe12NwqBmGV6CkxIK4UfVaIsAil1WgXPwJy7EJEq_jQvnOQ6hM1CIlwA9r7DngUexnNOTTZEJcTqe282d3rY5D65GK9bJKSVBiaMM2DL-VOX15V1ORaGpH9cUvzSQtOad43mKaOGg9NuTeeyFXXUcLSbgyEWTZXZd7AP0H/w400-h384/06%20Lazy%20Vee%20Shawl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-shawl" target="_blank">Lazy Vee Shawl</a> is worked in a v stitch pattern from the top down using two colours, one plain and one variegated. The colours change every row but you don't need to cut the yarns which is why it's a 'lazy' technique. This is another good use for using <a href="https://www.kingcole.com/knitting-wool/bramble-dk/" target="_blank">King Cole Bramble</a> which is my favourite variegated DK yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My first project with this technique was my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-blanket" target="_blank">Lazy Vee Blanket</a> which I crocheted again last year for a new baby, using Bramble as my coloured yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz0hJMAnt6J-Aj1ZUFxANJ5udst-Pu6gi48qX8gsa8x8ujrYdx65u98jDgiqC4NQ_4_RyPVILtqJXknRe0HgcDJsY0BvXBdf0Ke2Fvqb8o_SRrQQGRZZGG6y3MZJnosbIjZhlhQSryFMEiSa0hwl2yRKiEb_bDmSoq-f-xGN2h_3z_E4J0TgDjusa9Nf_/s2547/07a%20Blanket%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="2547" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfz0hJMAnt6J-Aj1ZUFxANJ5udst-Pu6gi48qX8gsa8x8ujrYdx65u98jDgiqC4NQ_4_RyPVILtqJXknRe0HgcDJsY0BvXBdf0Ke2Fvqb8o_SRrQQGRZZGG6y3MZJnosbIjZhlhQSryFMEiSa0hwl2yRKiEb_bDmSoq-f-xGN2h_3z_E4J0TgDjusa9Nf_/w400-h383/07a%20Blanket%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've also designed a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-scarf" target="_blank">Lazy Vee Scarf</a> which turned out to be a very good way of toning down a somewhat bright variegated yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTRiEDFTgu20JSP-RUxnkKr1jXbQYMuxFKY5uUMHxoe3gYOmmRedk_umWOtT-yeAV7mzJf0-IaWMBV-L0VzBzf5G-sLMoaLlrbP2kEKuJjiNO6-r7ZZVxmPTbkoAIZDRPN-U3sa8lOXmHTmCW7whPzDF75b8jMZ1jb1uTIbmjsb4uah7sQseDY8xwcR3I/s3493/08%20Lazy%20Vee%20Scarf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3030" data-original-width="3493" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiTRiEDFTgu20JSP-RUxnkKr1jXbQYMuxFKY5uUMHxoe3gYOmmRedk_umWOtT-yeAV7mzJf0-IaWMBV-L0VzBzf5G-sLMoaLlrbP2kEKuJjiNO6-r7ZZVxmPTbkoAIZDRPN-U3sa8lOXmHTmCW7whPzDF75b8jMZ1jb1uTIbmjsb4uah7sQseDY8xwcR3I/w400-h348/08%20Lazy%20Vee%20Scarf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I may have exhausted the possibilities of this particular technique now but who knows? The only other thing I've knitted lately is a pair of <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-boots-4" target="_blank">Baby Boots</a> for my new Great-Niece, Elsie Louise who was born at the end of January.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdR10RusbCYdQX2AqjM_41b3sqUzguHt918oKlHjMUk6uqlShKUbfXl-gRZDAQLRHX70ZmRMZp9p6CAovgxF5wC2nV1bRIEGX7JV6n2bWrEKyNkPWkGX345pZBrDY_3wB7OZmtUxhhnywsKGeH00uwYPDoBLOS4n4GbM-HN5_aaEidFSZ9LPQ9Cc6nN80/s3309/09%20Baby%20Boots.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="3309" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdR10RusbCYdQX2AqjM_41b3sqUzguHt918oKlHjMUk6uqlShKUbfXl-gRZDAQLRHX70ZmRMZp9p6CAovgxF5wC2nV1bRIEGX7JV6n2bWrEKyNkPWkGX345pZBrDY_3wB7OZmtUxhhnywsKGeH00uwYPDoBLOS4n4GbM-HN5_aaEidFSZ9LPQ9Cc6nN80/w400-h334/09%20Baby%20Boots.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another old pattern that I need to re-write and update.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I have been enjoying working slowly on some small cross stitch projects too. The first finish of the year was this lovely snowstorm beaded decoration kit which was in my Christmas stocking.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBNUX_lfH8y-ka4E3mB6s8HQniAkoRUz8V6IwU1yN_9iCVNMtkO9VSKnV5o62birtdk8EP4Qe-r_RoOBtkDn8hJjBg268zqob28bqOKvOkonvtkSUfyq3Hg0ui4HRTzzuc1-_ErBI3a62AhMucQoc__12FqndEOc4hfd8HGhsNkwuYxxm45RvRNknG43r/s2809/10%20Beaded%20Ornament.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="2144" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBNUX_lfH8y-ka4E3mB6s8HQniAkoRUz8V6IwU1yN_9iCVNMtkO9VSKnV5o62birtdk8EP4Qe-r_RoOBtkDn8hJjBg268zqob28bqOKvOkonvtkSUfyq3Hg0ui4HRTzzuc1-_ErBI3a62AhMucQoc__12FqndEOc4hfd8HGhsNkwuYxxm45RvRNknG43r/w305-h400/10%20Beaded%20Ornament.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's one of a series of snowstorm kits by <a href="https://buddlycrafts.com/shop/product-53556/mill-hill-14ct-cross-stitch-ornament-kit-325x25-snowman-snow-globe/" target="_blank">Mill Hill</a>. It's worked on perforated paper; you do the cross stitch first and then add the beads with either half or full cross stitch depending on the size of the beads. I added a beaded chain to hang it by and then backed it with felt to hide all the messy ends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, this week, I finished the first of the ornaments I'm making from this <a href="https://www.patchwork-rabbit.co.uk/just-cross-stitch-magazine-christmas-ornaments-2023.html" target="_blank">magazine</a> which was also in my stocking at Christmas. Father Christmas did particularly well on the cross stitch front I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZApU2fz9BdwusNbn0RPywAmnl72lpnMmKX4MqqgpHWYEnocgoJxSkRx1n4_lPSf8b4II4BQRRs1-npGIKs0qdWaDA74Lc8wC8uL6ujf7ViIoN5vpvsmsFbKQM9GXKKq4ZEBJk3K2608nxhL94IuyjCrfWs0pDmRN-XrPJvDASDqs1TyNiuTGEoL2d63L8/s2811/11%20Christmas%20Tree%20Ornament.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="1971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZApU2fz9BdwusNbn0RPywAmnl72lpnMmKX4MqqgpHWYEnocgoJxSkRx1n4_lPSf8b4II4BQRRs1-npGIKs0qdWaDA74Lc8wC8uL6ujf7ViIoN5vpvsmsFbKQM9GXKKq4ZEBJk3K2608nxhL94IuyjCrfWs0pDmRN-XrPJvDASDqs1TyNiuTGEoL2d63L8/w280-h400/11%20Christmas%20Tree%20Ornament.JPG" width="280" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took me ages to finish this one. The cross stitch was straightforward but putting it together was a pain. The only other stitching I've done is a little bit of Hardanger for a birthday card; I love Hardanger and plan to do more this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsYLaGAtEotmOqdmCp7LT3Fyxpp9zcfPq47Z-nmwRTJxwjvXu-KGCq3moA71pEnDCks0WZ17_Axbx40sBhqqnDm3Y1BnrrZogYSNwgGqvnpgOklSZompEhGGhov7t6dcrR33jrkIUZ6d1uiTMieFo_vRvydnF21qQej7Agwz6yXLkhpyMZ_N9_8zW7WvK/s2678/12%20Hardanger%20Card%20for%20Hazel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2678" data-original-width="1938" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsYLaGAtEotmOqdmCp7LT3Fyxpp9zcfPq47Z-nmwRTJxwjvXu-KGCq3moA71pEnDCks0WZ17_Axbx40sBhqqnDm3Y1BnrrZogYSNwgGqvnpgOklSZompEhGGhov7t6dcrR33jrkIUZ6d1uiTMieFo_vRvydnF21qQej7Agwz6yXLkhpyMZ_N9_8zW7WvK/w290-h400/12%20Hardanger%20Card%20for%20Hazel.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh yes, and I've started another one of my 3D beaded projects. Can you guess what it's going to be?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4Ux6Jcm-9izJyKpMEfu4m1IDNS9PhDEfG7JZA6ancfxE2oYFGLzp0G1pK-523N6f1cPTMolgf_7Wykvz6uOcNXCPY8VFcev2UxmP_i4hwpvJA5LduX_qHRpTftHYU4vpRO103Afgtpjdg3QzvfM2rTBRfOGBOiHV6MbGPoWwVNXYNdy7ZZgJ5-68UYzl/s1600/13%20Toadstool%20Roof.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1253" data-original-width="1600" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4Ux6Jcm-9izJyKpMEfu4m1IDNS9PhDEfG7JZA6ancfxE2oYFGLzp0G1pK-523N6f1cPTMolgf_7Wykvz6uOcNXCPY8VFcev2UxmP_i4hwpvJA5LduX_qHRpTftHYU4vpRO103Afgtpjdg3QzvfM2rTBRfOGBOiHV6MbGPoWwVNXYNdy7ZZgJ5-68UYzl/w400-h314/13%20Toadstool%20Roof.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Obviously, it's going to be a little toadstool house, another pattern from <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/5447/1/3D-Mushroom-Gnome-Home-Ornament-Bead-Pattern" target="_blank">ThreadABead</a>. For anyone in Wales, ThreadABead are opening an actual, physical shop in Conwy this year. Can you imagine seeing those wonderful designs in real life? Which reminds me, <a href="https://www.petite-properties.com/" target="_blank">Petite Properties</a>, the designers of beautiful miniature dolls houses, are starting their own digital magazine this year, something I am eagerly awaiting. I wrote about my tiny house project <a href="https://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2021/05/house-building.html" target="_blank">here</a> a few years ago. This year I'm determined to finish furnishing my little house and perhaps start another one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw7VHHUoafpsUT58xoQq-arFSp6ypv1gGCUYVABLq4ONjuIld_YhVw_yiWxZJ9kcqb7ZHLB5IIhklow9vVuZL-Ic5_KA1ksz8bzvQ92kX3vibnyk1S7UU-XZ66cG5A6ndKebKSQBzrZEbmvpKLDDSVWz6l0j44fF_zqFH7Uf9-maFz7ywPfQS9l_J-eCK/s3488/13a%20Tiny%20House.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3124" data-original-width="3488" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuw7VHHUoafpsUT58xoQq-arFSp6ypv1gGCUYVABLq4ONjuIld_YhVw_yiWxZJ9kcqb7ZHLB5IIhklow9vVuZL-Ic5_KA1ksz8bzvQ92kX3vibnyk1S7UU-XZ66cG5A6ndKebKSQBzrZEbmvpKLDDSVWz6l0j44fF_zqFH7Uf9-maFz7ywPfQS9l_J-eCK/w400-h359/13a%20Tiny%20House.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the many things that I miss being able to do now is going to the theatre at Stratford with my son. We were gradually seeing all of Shakepeare's plays at the <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/about-us/" target="_blank">RSC</a> but then Covid hit and I can no longer drive or cope with watching a long play in person. I can watch the plays on DVD because I can always stop them if I feel sick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, I worked out the other week how many of the plays I didn't see and was surprised that, out of nearly 40 plays, I only missed eleven. My plan is to watch those on DVD when the RSC film those productions. I may have to wait a while for Henry VIII though which is rarely performed. My son has started going again on his own and, last week, I gave him a list of old programmes and books that I would like. He came back with four of the programmes I wanted and also got us each a copy of this book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UfGsUJuEC3wBQe-DO_Vt-UKT-cfW6aBh4ZTlixqpyQjLfkMAWIovPds-eRjML5Dd0uQKYoFeSDof3fONQF03InOr7XCQv6cStHvhHkECr16gk3xxyFMNNGuL_9JpUHK8PsusOie84z0Al9BEYc84CXfUKus-VNzJ6WG4g7SkUzvrzXYLwP8UJtNX0q38/s3001/14%20Shakespeare%20and%20Others.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="3001" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UfGsUJuEC3wBQe-DO_Vt-UKT-cfW6aBh4ZTlixqpyQjLfkMAWIovPds-eRjML5Dd0uQKYoFeSDof3fONQF03InOr7XCQv6cStHvhHkECr16gk3xxyFMNNGuL_9JpUHK8PsusOie84z0Al9BEYc84CXfUKus-VNzJ6WG4g7SkUzvrzXYLwP8UJtNX0q38/w400-h238/14%20Shakespeare%20and%20Others.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a very heavy book that the RSC published about ten years ago and which I thought was out of print. The RSC shop had a few copies reduced to £25 so we got a bargain. It has ten Elizabethan plays, most of which Shakespeare didn't have a hand in but it gives a good idea of what else was on the stage at the time. There are very good introductions to each play, extra essays and a really interesting section where actors or directors who have been involved in past productions talk about the plays.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, Jack and I were looking through our books together when we had the idea of reading them together. We're going to take one play a month, starting in March and read the play and all the essays about them and then talk about them together. The first one is <a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/arden-of-faversham" target="_blank">Arden of Faversham</a> which was inspired by a real life murder in Kent in 1551. If we stick to this, we should be ready to start reading through all the Shakespeare plays in 2025.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more thing I've finished which may not look much but is a huge achievement for me is this 1,000 piece puzzle which I started over Christmas. For the past two months I've struggled with this. I've lost pieces (several times) and re-done the edge of the sky more times than I care to count but yesterday I put in the last piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-UO1jNmZI3oxohjO0u4nXl-dNUUdp-crJ6gkHj7WxnE79rahFVXfjK3OLCDvqDkgTNdX66fkswfaTHR5oTki6Cn-LBgwcP1gHTbiuS9VTCPm4qD57oBppO5x3XWDygd4KMSTqVNgvExeVDowViHh6wkbbKkwrX1CmSQfZ6I4a8pWCvbbMLr1ix2TGBzb/s4604/15%20Christmas%20Puzzle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3221" data-original-width="4604" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-UO1jNmZI3oxohjO0u4nXl-dNUUdp-crJ6gkHj7WxnE79rahFVXfjK3OLCDvqDkgTNdX66fkswfaTHR5oTki6Cn-LBgwcP1gHTbiuS9VTCPm4qD57oBppO5x3XWDygd4KMSTqVNgvExeVDowViHh6wkbbKkwrX1CmSQfZ6I4a8pWCvbbMLr1ix2TGBzb/w400-h280/15%20Christmas%20Puzzle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an <a href="https://www.otterhouse.co.uk/Categories/jigsaws/Jigsaws---Games" target="_blank">Otter House</a> jigsaw; they have some lovely ones and they also come in smaller boxes than most puzzles, making them easier to store. Next I'm going to start on what will become my daughter's advent puzzle next Christmas. Let's hope it doesn't take me the rest of the year to finish it!</div></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-46006656437520498302024-02-03T10:04:00.002+00:002024-02-03T10:08:19.339+00:00New Year, New Room<p>As regular readers will know, I am slowly (very slowly) sorting out my messy house and making it my own. This involves a lot of decorating, shifting of furniture and huge amounts of stuff going to charity shops. At some point it's going to look emptier surely? </p><p>I say that I'm doing it but I couldn't manage without my two adult children who do all the heavy stuff as well as any thinking or planning that's too much for my covid affected brain. We started at the top of the house - there are three storeys - and plan to work our way down. In 2022 we turned my son's old bedroom into my craft room and last year we started work on my daughter's old room which was to become my new bedroom. There was quite a lot of sorting to do before I could even start on the painting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QFCqGrY9MYwGfVnmeJc-9Un0M2zRgcNX6i070HJb4Cr3HPtntyTBhpK5GfGQ77u3ny_sgbFprqwP42JWAJAq297DgypN8BpZ8jzXkw-t54hHkorX8W0rBCQBbDAsjyDNltyTqA9w4t2rE_dsVQlPFYdJkykY50aTHr2OZZBMaJB1Oh1vBt4s3fV1FPER/s5137/01%20Before.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3363" data-original-width="5137" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QFCqGrY9MYwGfVnmeJc-9Un0M2zRgcNX6i070HJb4Cr3HPtntyTBhpK5GfGQ77u3ny_sgbFprqwP42JWAJAq297DgypN8BpZ8jzXkw-t54hHkorX8W0rBCQBbDAsjyDNltyTqA9w4t2rE_dsVQlPFYdJkykY50aTHr2OZZBMaJB1Oh1vBt4s3fV1FPER/w400-h261/01%20Before.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although I can manage painting I can only do one coat on one wall per day so it takes a very long time to re-decorate a room. My daughter painted the ceiling for me as even one coat of that was too much for me to do. Then I had to have help with cutting the fabric to make my new curtains - complicated thinking - and again when it came to hanging them and measuring the hems but, by the end of the year, the room was ready for its furniture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As it's the smallest of the bedrooms I decided to get a new, slightly smaller bed to give me a bit more floor space. After an awful lot of measuring and debating the pros and cons of this, I ended up with this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvgxA1IXP3hYzVbWidsrglrvJ7n26KVRGmXiBCsphk-iiKiUY4MhN8rpAsizWKjl4vyUGdJuq1d33RqI2pWwpt8IapNeu8GT2IECjvSo2Nc-D1evkqW7t7DFWw2ExP9Gqkgvj1eDoHVCimWY3cyfMicXo3K7CjWIzMEA5YCmMEQf2UHztjPPzyeWkgZS/s5472/02%20New%20bed.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyvgxA1IXP3hYzVbWidsrglrvJ7n26KVRGmXiBCsphk-iiKiUY4MhN8rpAsizWKjl4vyUGdJuq1d33RqI2pWwpt8IapNeu8GT2IECjvSo2Nc-D1evkqW7t7DFWw2ExP9Gqkgvj1eDoHVCimWY3cyfMicXo3K7CjWIzMEA5YCmMEQf2UHztjPPzyeWkgZS/w400-h266/02%20New%20bed.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's a small double bed which means that it's six inches narrower than a standard double (4', rather than 4'6") and I also decided to have it six inches shorter. You'd be surprised what a difference that makes to the room while still giving me (and the cats) plenty of room to sleep. I bought the bed and mattress from <a href="https://www.bedguru.co.uk/truro-pine-bed-frame" target="_blank">Bed Guru</a> who make beds and mattresses in custom sizes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the bed was sorted we just had to move in my chest of drawers and clothes rail which were the two other essential pieces of furniture. This wasn't as simple as it sounds. Moving furniture between floors in this narrow, steep house nearly always involves taking it apart and putting it back together again. Luckily, we had Tolly cat to help us at every stage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsEfu4RmaVj3-MQgAyoLKOy35EfRbA2kBpsLkPFJQwaW4QSWsEMuqUoFht-n-LqHn1ALFfAaXl7ktBs17tHgEip81t3L6Zp5d_KsijlqNA8AeJ5Gst7ny35rzm0DSTcU_Y_1MeMSQ2vxmwy4-whjL1aLnpVzuedil08G-2e8TxV-6z8NUiWJTPctnJTxC/s5472/02a%20Tolly%20on%20the%20chest%20of%20drawers.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbsEfu4RmaVj3-MQgAyoLKOy35EfRbA2kBpsLkPFJQwaW4QSWsEMuqUoFht-n-LqHn1ALFfAaXl7ktBs17tHgEip81t3L6Zp5d_KsijlqNA8AeJ5Gst7ny35rzm0DSTcU_Y_1MeMSQ2vxmwy4-whjL1aLnpVzuedil08G-2e8TxV-6z8NUiWJTPctnJTxC/w400-h266/02a%20Tolly%20on%20the%20chest%20of%20drawers.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tolly exploring the frame of the chest of drawers.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Choosing a new rug and working out where to put things took weeks but finally, about a week ago, the room was ready for me to move in.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsJMjnjTBU_zKpjRcA0LgS9Wc4gb8nMge-1Ogeety_g5qbvU8_I4VG9-FY96qcPPFFgVakV4okaAn2TdDWQArMGBkO3GSYevM6t3oOkdyIDb_zzjpAuRTlhT-6IaCHcd5CV4TmRz-Z5q13ehIoO8NRCaerIpKdz-1-hg49mclHjQa-FF1ARcRGZPaEU_e/s4277/04.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3004" data-original-width="4277" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsJMjnjTBU_zKpjRcA0LgS9Wc4gb8nMge-1Ogeety_g5qbvU8_I4VG9-FY96qcPPFFgVakV4okaAn2TdDWQArMGBkO3GSYevM6t3oOkdyIDb_zzjpAuRTlhT-6IaCHcd5CV4TmRz-Z5q13ehIoO8NRCaerIpKdz-1-hg49mclHjQa-FF1ARcRGZPaEU_e/w400-h281/04.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I chose a shaggy cream rug from <a href="https://www.dunelm.com/product/cloud-washable-shaggy-rug-1000209399?colour=Cloud+Sandstone" target="_blank">Dunelm</a> which arrived a few days ago and makes the room much cosier. Tolly isn't sure about it as his paws sink into it which he hasn't encountered indoors before; I suspect he thinks it's grass. Linnet meanwhile (who is a very suspicious cat) contents herself with collecting me from the bedroom door in the mornings. It's taken her a year to start venturing into my craft room and even then I have to stay in one place if she comes in or she immediately leaves the room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My new bedroom is much quieter as it's at the back of the house, away from the road and I'm enjoying finding things to go in it. I'm making it a much more old-fashioned room than my super modern, white craft room - in fact, it's really my childhood bedroom. Or the bedroom I would have liked if we'd had more room. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwYESnMahi8FvVvFrXPCi57dAjszEBo-MYHG0pVOrpUZ1jEzBGFdJcNPDbqi_Jyo7jo8vVXSRj45tbxPaeMs8odjCHjCiOlxGIoFF0AFT4lPTCx-jAxelMoxQ3FGmN66G8g4w2Kx-ABjthPQM1h5bKVussDcdP45P1VhxcF13g1Gn0Mfr-Oq70_oYjfwl/s4099/03.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4099" data-original-width="3629" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwYESnMahi8FvVvFrXPCi57dAjszEBo-MYHG0pVOrpUZ1jEzBGFdJcNPDbqi_Jyo7jo8vVXSRj45tbxPaeMs8odjCHjCiOlxGIoFF0AFT4lPTCx-jAxelMoxQ3FGmN66G8g4w2Kx-ABjthPQM1h5bKVussDcdP45P1VhxcF13g1Gn0Mfr-Oq70_oYjfwl/w354-h400/03.JPG" width="354" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's my old dolls house on the chest of drawers which became my daughter's when she was little but has now come back to me. I still have some of my original furniture and am planning to find other pieces from about the same era to bring it back to life. Neville, the dog on wheels was a birthday present about ten years ago; I never had one as a child but we did have a wonderful wooden horse on wheels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZx09o5Gt7JPZxkDyLYZ48S_PM2I8m0P1YS8OzZb_tY71iwlNa00PrfIu1pGqKCtn_9iPT2SlDw4R1U-A_uERR7HJkDufGPifRfQ4CZGvwMg6Fud1HHwNgbQ828emLaBgBLXTpK-PIkdP4hXqjssZWyVRzGLlWIiPbzgCirI8iIqFt_em_YgK2b1Sg8jW/s2076/03%20a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="2076" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZx09o5Gt7JPZxkDyLYZ48S_PM2I8m0P1YS8OzZb_tY71iwlNa00PrfIu1pGqKCtn_9iPT2SlDw4R1U-A_uERR7HJkDufGPifRfQ4CZGvwMg6Fud1HHwNgbQ828emLaBgBLXTpK-PIkdP4hXqjssZWyVRzGLlWIiPbzgCirI8iIqFt_em_YgK2b1Sg8jW/w400-h286/03%20a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my brother Stephen with it in the late 1950s and here's a close up of it in colour ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjwZwfUVUthWLK2lTd8-ga8-s9zRquPPU5R7PVThmq8svO_XGqVXiUyrZdxLyxRuiZVOBv5pwv1nM1Evx0XhjlDZAKT-UUHigWTBuPA-4o4Y10DsCqodKBLTIHe_FwY56LR4Gd9SK96CiGC9g2-qOgnizPAP5Bjp6ZTsxquOEQUy8DuC3DblNPeW5lWiP/s913/3b%20Mark,%20Longstock.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjwZwfUVUthWLK2lTd8-ga8-s9zRquPPU5R7PVThmq8svO_XGqVXiUyrZdxLyxRuiZVOBv5pwv1nM1Evx0XhjlDZAKT-UUHigWTBuPA-4o4Y10DsCqodKBLTIHe_FwY56LR4Gd9SK96CiGC9g2-qOgnizPAP5Bjp6ZTsxquOEQUy8DuC3DblNPeW5lWiP/w350-h400/3b%20Mark,%20Longstock.tif" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would love to find one like this to replace our old one but I haven't even been able to discover the make. If anyone recognises this old horse I'd love to hear from you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, back to my new room. There are some other old friends in this corner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAQsP7ui8-AbRe82ZXTOIM_mizWzGJDGTxZpbsZ34mrjt_c7uZUE7jBhFf1nM0ivHCmub8YK3OaUkv90zfDTAoBnsnz9BExKjve_1e2vZa1ROUjEU65-WjKv44qErHMguXdpUCmxddY5gVW_y7gI5OUZDHqCzMSMhIdLJChrU9_Ts9scEy26eqy0IIeoE/s3211/05.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2699" data-original-width="3211" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAQsP7ui8-AbRe82ZXTOIM_mizWzGJDGTxZpbsZ34mrjt_c7uZUE7jBhFf1nM0ivHCmub8YK3OaUkv90zfDTAoBnsnz9BExKjve_1e2vZa1ROUjEU65-WjKv44qErHMguXdpUCmxddY5gVW_y7gI5OUZDHqCzMSMhIdLJChrU9_Ts9scEy26eqy0IIeoE/w400-h336/05.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The built in shelves hold my children's picture book collection (bought as an adult) and the biggest of the three bears is my old teddy bear. His name is Monkey (don't ask) and he's very threadbare and worn. Always a good sign with an old bear as it shows that it's been loved. The other two old bears came from antique shops.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The most exciting part of the room so far though is the bookcase on the other side of the bed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4uAc99iajqkoKdRnN00r2_UUaGybeJuPuw0kCI40qUQFkZjl8wOf2tP42ELdmK2V35CfrzSAPrHGHoGXSAx253yE2A-qqlVCHhZZ-FQKQLpbH18DIjnYiqZ6k5PtjNMo1esh1sa4f4LAnIvJ6m6v_Qxa9Q3jMuYUvS1GxEOSmZ76SYsOoXiAYAKcMmiz/s4424/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4424" data-original-width="3009" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4uAc99iajqkoKdRnN00r2_UUaGybeJuPuw0kCI40qUQFkZjl8wOf2tP42ELdmK2V35CfrzSAPrHGHoGXSAx253yE2A-qqlVCHhZZ-FQKQLpbH18DIjnYiqZ6k5PtjNMo1esh1sa4f4LAnIvJ6m6v_Qxa9Q3jMuYUvS1GxEOSmZ76SYsOoXiAYAKcMmiz/w273-h400/06.JPG" width="273" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of the shallow bookcases I made for my children when they were little; it's less than six inches deep. Have you ever noticed how so-called 'bookcases' are mostly too deep for actual books? Anyway, this one fitted perfectly into this space and I've filled it (mostly) with childhood books and treasures. Let's look a bit closer ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2HixXpIIaH8QvIP6-3197BeAmsezhl93C-jdSGYKgpkG71j_fkCJgfMrheVrLrJ3vR0uDmHasNPy-dXhSeP5dEJK5o07t3SkKMYnxJ9yjWSLYvyn-TP1bqLFC1VpfKvhDVYcAZ-Rs9YVelNpv3i8t35N86WqXZMz5e6TMDWMCsOFjgDNEhSP5Iw9Vwe1/s5279/08%20Top%20Shelf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2663" data-original-width="5279" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2HixXpIIaH8QvIP6-3197BeAmsezhl93C-jdSGYKgpkG71j_fkCJgfMrheVrLrJ3vR0uDmHasNPy-dXhSeP5dEJK5o07t3SkKMYnxJ9yjWSLYvyn-TP1bqLFC1VpfKvhDVYcAZ-Rs9YVelNpv3i8t35N86WqXZMz5e6TMDWMCsOFjgDNEhSP5Iw9Vwe1/w400-h201/08%20Top%20Shelf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wooden mushroom on top of the bookcase is my new bedside light. There's only one plug socket in this room and it's nowhere near the bed (another of the joys of old houses) so this is a rechargeable lamp.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nearly all the books on this bookcase are my original childhood ones, with one small and one big exception. The small exception is the second volume of 'Tales From Shakespeare' (the green one) which I bought to match volume one which was a prize from primary school in 1971. Next to those books are my old poetry books and my A A Milne's. I've had the tin kaleidoscope as long as I can remember and played with it a lot. Colours and patterns - very much my sort of thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My daughter made me the felt toadstool from a kit and it's sitting on my Mum's <a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/search/author/Joyce%20Lankester%20Brisley" target="_blank">Milly Molly Mandy books</a> from the 1940s. I absolutely loved the book of verses by <a href="https://mabellucieattwell.com/pages/mabel-lucie-attwell" target="_blank">Mabel Lucie Attwell</a> which I was given by my godparents for Christmas in 1962. Attwell had an interesting life as I found when reading the biography of her written by <a href="https://www.chrisbeetles.com/book/2/mabel-lucie-attwell" target="_blank">Chris Beetles</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The little kewpie doll was actually my daughter's but she gave her to me to replace one that I had when I was little and I think she goes well with the Attwell style. At the end of this top shelf are the <a href="https://booksinkbanbury.wordpress.com/2017/01/20/all-about-ladybird-books/" target="_blank">Ladybird Books</a> I had as a child. I've written before about how important these books were to me in a time before colourful picture books. You can read more about them <a href="https://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-long-look-at-small-bookcase.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLKA4H429jFNwngaTOT4v3mGZQKCiiQnRmgGh7VA5SQIk-qkubLhxag_qlq_ukwTsdhevbwj2S1vlKYAY_6QoD7pF41zwUefxCft8MthmYKpCfEKi4vU7tsciVrBWZdz7YQXJW73T9QSJfLu6yNMZu1W_OvbpN-lSDaZrT2N3YEEgsWq4hRS_oeLO27Cv/s5039/09%20Second%20Shelf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1977" data-original-width="5039" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLKA4H429jFNwngaTOT4v3mGZQKCiiQnRmgGh7VA5SQIk-qkubLhxag_qlq_ukwTsdhevbwj2S1vlKYAY_6QoD7pF41zwUefxCft8MthmYKpCfEKi4vU7tsciVrBWZdz7YQXJW73T9QSJfLu6yNMZu1W_OvbpN-lSDaZrT2N3YEEgsWq4hRS_oeLO27Cv/w400-h158/09%20Second%20Shelf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The second shelf is mostly full with my old story books, including the 'What Katy Did' series which I've recently been reading. Thanks to someone on my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/groups/frankies-knitted-stuff?s=tab" target="_blank">ravelry group</a>, I've recently discovered that there were five books all together so I've now go the other two as ebooks. Other favourites on this shelf were <a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Little-Women-by-Louisa-May-Alcott/9780147514011" target="_blank">Little Women</a>, <a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Little-White-Horse-by-Elizabeth-Goudge/9781782643098" target="_blank">The Little White Horse</a>, <a href="https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Borrowers-by-Mary-Norton-author-Sin-Bailey-illustrator/9780141354866" target="_blank">The Borrowers</a> series and the <a href="https://claras.me/mary-plain/" target="_blank">Mary Plain</a> books. Again, I discovered Mary Plain through reading my Mum's old childhood copies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The blue hardback near the end of the shelf is a copy of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Singing_Tree" target="_blank">The Singing Tree</a> by Kate Seredy which I may have stolen from the library. I loved it so much even though (or perhaps because) the setting was quite strange to me at the time that I couldn't bear to part with it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before moving on to the next shelf, I must tell you about the two little hedgehogs at the other end of this shelf. They are old hedgehog toys from the 1960s which my daughter bought me to go with Georgie, my hedgehog nightie case who I got for my seventh birthday and still have. All of them were made by <a href="https://www.merrythought.co.uk/" target="_blank">Merrythought</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYSGrDaqynclmj4X-MHqUM8_5mEER_6zt_59z4udnbD-7b2pvoebI-IDUoc2oZ_RPEPcl1Z2lvJ9n5jb8jE2o6ycjuu7nkVjUS2IZ_iNPS-opoN_4SiyyryN3n_jPVZlZgNOBMZPObYDm9Y5raIsb9f39TUNf81hjX53OnHYQcqB-pC7giLV8IaJVB5NK/s1210/Frances,%2029th%20October%201967.tif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1210" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvYSGrDaqynclmj4X-MHqUM8_5mEER_6zt_59z4udnbD-7b2pvoebI-IDUoc2oZ_RPEPcl1Z2lvJ9n5jb8jE2o6ycjuu7nkVjUS2IZ_iNPS-opoN_4SiyyryN3n_jPVZlZgNOBMZPObYDm9Y5raIsb9f39TUNf81hjX53OnHYQcqB-pC7giLV8IaJVB5NK/w400-h388/Frances,%2029th%20October%201967.tif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two more shelves to look at. The third shelf has my <a href="https://worldofblyton.com/" target="_blank">Enid Blyton</a> books and the rest of my childhood story books. I'm gradually re-reading these and have particularly enjoyed those by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenifer_Wayne" target="_blank">Jenifer Wayne</a> which I think are all out of print now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGyb7YspT9sUkjtUo42PKgEk9DgZWsX4gUbMluyR2bHZOwqLf-TCdjobmujl0o4DUGdEjDVX1DRDlXCzDZiNvV50l0qTuTOoLDgInxaWe7r_C-s9fFONnM-WxyYu9QcsnU_YhxZAvo6bre4e-MGlEx3swFqT6-qmlv_mxYz67Pb50D9vCCta1cSFyUhrf/s4834/10%20Third%20Shelf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="4834" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGyb7YspT9sUkjtUo42PKgEk9DgZWsX4gUbMluyR2bHZOwqLf-TCdjobmujl0o4DUGdEjDVX1DRDlXCzDZiNvV50l0qTuTOoLDgInxaWe7r_C-s9fFONnM-WxyYu9QcsnU_YhxZAvo6bre4e-MGlEx3swFqT6-qmlv_mxYz67Pb50D9vCCta1cSFyUhrf/w400-h155/10%20Third%20Shelf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the middle are my small collection of <a href="https://anna-qs-attic.blogspot.com/2010/12/collecting-character-wooden-polish.html" target="_blank">Polish Peg Dolls</a>. The one in the red cloak was mine as a child, I bought the other two in recent years as I thought it was about time she had some company. There's something rather special about these little dolls I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi6qEU9ngFXNEZhOYZtGTD6_1KBxJuTLtkjoSWdpwJCCGEQUqoi7fEXkSvsLD1Wi3J4CwCGDFsXoxs-rzY3trpibrx72cCWSRThK-Bl3U99qvzbnjmHZeQToxMuhSYUsx8AiSIevw6AaYBYGCWAfInIhbo3WbHW8B4gMD2N1UjflD4FFMQ6JMaumHTwhz/s5128/11%20Fourth%20Shelf.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="5128" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi6qEU9ngFXNEZhOYZtGTD6_1KBxJuTLtkjoSWdpwJCCGEQUqoi7fEXkSvsLD1Wi3J4CwCGDFsXoxs-rzY3trpibrx72cCWSRThK-Bl3U99qvzbnjmHZeQToxMuhSYUsx8AiSIevw6AaYBYGCWAfInIhbo3WbHW8B4gMD2N1UjflD4FFMQ6JMaumHTwhz/w400-h146/11%20Fourth%20Shelf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bottom shelf is where we get to the big exception about this being my childhood books. The half dozen or so at the start of the shelf were mine and I read and re-read them. They were all originally my Mum's and most of them were school prizes. They boasted exciting titles like <a href="https://feather-ghyll.livejournal.com/188690.html" target="_blank">Jane Runs Away From School</a> and 'Bracken Had a Secret'. I can't remember now what the secret was; I shall have to re-read that one. My absolute favourite though was <a href="https://ejosociety.org/her-books/" target="_blank">Queen of the Abbey Girls</a> which I didn't realise for years was just one of a huge series of Abbey Girls books by <a href="https://ejosociety.org/biography/" target="_blank">Elsie Oxenham</a>. As you can see, I've gradually added to my collection over the years, starting in the 1970s ... and I still haven't got a complete set. I think I might have to read them all in order this year, some of them for the first time. Does anyone else know these books?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more thing to show you before I go - a corner of cuddly toys. With a lot of measuring, cutting and sticking, I managed to contrive some basic cardboard shelves out of an old box to house a few toys in the corner next to this bookcase.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81mh4g4KKIjdVc3lGkipQzTrPup72DvwiVrO9WFxoBk_YV-YO-v-tu9jD_ugMJhdlMTUZO-LiUWq9dGyBeIKELmZGJHrwqveaap5Tbm27Ay3NlHeTxOuH_4mPMFJ6Wxe_fgWwIoOcC-lJSX6meivh2TUswy6aTI9bhbEuPfvy8CqH2rMry7WuPNJAVm05/s4635/07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4635" data-original-width="2505" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81mh4g4KKIjdVc3lGkipQzTrPup72DvwiVrO9WFxoBk_YV-YO-v-tu9jD_ugMJhdlMTUZO-LiUWq9dGyBeIKELmZGJHrwqveaap5Tbm27Ay3NlHeTxOuH_4mPMFJ6Wxe_fgWwIoOcC-lJSX6meivh2TUswy6aTI9bhbEuPfvy8CqH2rMry7WuPNJAVm05/w216-h400/07.JPG" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I found the two old toy dogs separately at <a href="https://www.brackleyantiquecellar.co.uk/" target="_blank">Brackley Antiques</a>, the source of many of my treasures when I was able to travel. The rabbit standing next to them is my brother's old toy who he christened 'Bottle'. He also had a penguin called 'Gate'; as you might gather, our Mum believed in letting us name our own toys. Bottle had to have a new body sewn for him by me years ago, hence the clothes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pretty toys on the top of these shelves are Emily Button and her friends Bobble the Cat and Mousey the Mouse. These were sold by Marks & Spencer here in the UK about ten years ago which is when I bought mine. They no longer sell them but you can find them secondhand quite easily. I love their pastel patchwork style.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And now I must stop. I hope you've enjoyed a look round my new room.</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-41009424044359045312024-01-15T14:54:00.002+00:002024-01-15T14:54:32.380+00:00Year Lists<p>I've always been a great maker of lists - things to do, books to read, all sorts of things. I keep an ideas book which was originally intended to be ideas for knitting or crochet designs but over the years it's relaxed to include everything from quotations to plants for the garden and lots of other things besides.</p><p>For the last three or four years I've also kept yearly lists on the computer (or Mabel as she's known to me) to record things I've achieved each year. Now that there are so many things I can't do, it's good to see what I have managed over the previous twelve months. </p><p>My 'miles walked' lists are a bit sad. The year before I got covid, I walked about 700 miles. It's surprising how it adds up; I use a very simple pedometer that goes in my pocket or bag, every time I leave the house so those 700 miles aren't just made up 'proper' walks but also lots of walks to the postbox or in to town. A couple of years ago I'd managed to walk about 300 miles, all in very short, daily walks but last year my Long Covid was worse and I only did about half that. </p><p>I also keep lists of books that I read, not as a target but just for fun so that I can look back and see what I was reading. Last year, I started listing how many crosswords I'd finished too. I do the daily cryptic crossword from <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/series/cryptic" target="_blank">The Guardian</a> (I love being able to print it off) and, in 2023, I finished 109 of them. Given that they publish six a week, I've still got plenty of room for improvement. When he has time, my son also does the crossword and, over Christmas we did really well. Cryptic crosswords are easier to work on with someone else and we finished all but two in about two weeks.</p><p>My other big yearly list is the one you might be most interested in though and you'll be glad to hear that this one includes pictures. Every year I list all the things I've made, whatever the craft. Since I started doing this a couple of years ago it's encouraged me to make more stuff which is always good, right? It also gives me a great sense of achievement; I may not be able to do most of the things I could do before getting ill but I can still be creative.</p><p>I always start the year by knitting the mini stockings that go on my Christmas presents, filled with little chocolates. It gives me a good sense of getting ahead, even if it's all downhill from then on. These were the stockings I knitted last January.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmXJSyCyPo_INBljZeP6Rfh9PZ57YAklRGqUT8RV2UKLNsgSm73nBExoitoTobMT6nqPTa8zRIR34KgDR4QEyBnKYUGk9uUb7Pc01naAj13Jy3Hu9KRxqWeihlyXrFtPXJwGHidnypl77ZAps-WHLRC5YeFdOqg-uKOr-zxqiYtA8qY1FeZdMdndKoKcK/s3004/10%20Mini%20Stockings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2939" data-original-width="3004" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmXJSyCyPo_INBljZeP6Rfh9PZ57YAklRGqUT8RV2UKLNsgSm73nBExoitoTobMT6nqPTa8zRIR34KgDR4QEyBnKYUGk9uUb7Pc01naAj13Jy3Hu9KRxqWeihlyXrFtPXJwGHidnypl77ZAps-WHLRC5YeFdOqg-uKOr-zxqiYtA8qY1FeZdMdndKoKcK/w400-h391/10%20Mini%20Stockings.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They were knitted with a three colour slip stitch pattern and solid coloured toes and heels. Working out how to keep the pattern going round the shaping for the instep was very tricky. This year's stockings have a Fair Isle pattern but I decided to make life easier for myself and only use the pattern on the straight leg section.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jb6mV2JT-0U79an2YU7wGSd4Df_B2ZCWEQRa2j0cp5527pm8h3OAVMOSARdiH1J-EcSYyhy7giVj39WiUmbU-XsVkdoRo0C3pQDTJuwJHFde65Q8aKjQvYlVdQY3jh5lWb1MXwIbc1in1NAuIOye3H5VoeiTVUE2SVesKdswgHqQDHaFPNDi2s4fBJ8Q/s3962/Four%20mini%20stockings.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2058" data-original-width="3962" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6jb6mV2JT-0U79an2YU7wGSd4Df_B2ZCWEQRa2j0cp5527pm8h3OAVMOSARdiH1J-EcSYyhy7giVj39WiUmbU-XsVkdoRo0C3pQDTJuwJHFde65Q8aKjQvYlVdQY3jh5lWb1MXwIbc1in1NAuIOye3H5VoeiTVUE2SVesKdswgHqQDHaFPNDi2s4fBJ8Q/w400-h208/Four%20mini%20stockings.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, I'm getting on well with the next batch of stockings. One of my plans for this year is to go over all my old mini stocking patterns, re-write some and publish new ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, what else did I knit in 2023? Four and a half pairs of socks (the half was the first of a pair for me, all the rest were for other people), several scarves and two sets of <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pippi-baby-jacket" target="_blank">Pippi baby clothes</a> for new babies. They also got a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-blanket" target="_blank">Lazy Vee Blanket</a> and a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/paddle-ball" target="_blank">Paddle Ball</a> each.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIvKCP8fma5ogk-n6Ysf5SKHQO90F6HM4DQuq5xsnscj764Yo6mr9f-9eRXIw08yrBsT_qL9cYVh2eIOL0uEvC3ZWBV5IApuWvjHd_IyNJBN4gJzgXmhWIMIkn44wi3uTJn2YGjT6wV8JT1rk7W5uvVWXbSUFaqJsjniCa1DcE3L4f5YU4VftpKn0acD/s3201/Baby%20Things%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily's%20baby.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2787" data-original-width="3201" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqIvKCP8fma5ogk-n6Ysf5SKHQO90F6HM4DQuq5xsnscj764Yo6mr9f-9eRXIw08yrBsT_qL9cYVh2eIOL0uEvC3ZWBV5IApuWvjHd_IyNJBN4gJzgXmhWIMIkn44wi3uTJn2YGjT6wV8JT1rk7W5uvVWXbSUFaqJsjniCa1DcE3L4f5YU4VftpKn0acD/w400-h349/Baby%20Things%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily's%20baby.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A slightly older baby got a knitted <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/raggy-doll" target="_blank">Raggy Doll</a>, another pattern that needs a complete re-write.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nw_6cSgRdsqntmx-LO75YMiHtS0a0a251Go38MtuOy5Qyj-ck_9D6i7z5dbNXbT9kYn9o9VxlAw12DiT4xyyXVadid6NBeBPdqZB-21pJIAvreGC_nRZxa_Th7XKYd7OnpCFPfVxu3ROBBYWNWJSuyQ3UGF7ICLc8CiJks91Dwrjdl0Yk9fuN2zWXySV/s2809/Raggy%20Doll%20for%20Rosie's%20baby.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="2743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nw_6cSgRdsqntmx-LO75YMiHtS0a0a251Go38MtuOy5Qyj-ck_9D6i7z5dbNXbT9kYn9o9VxlAw12DiT4xyyXVadid6NBeBPdqZB-21pJIAvreGC_nRZxa_Th7XKYd7OnpCFPfVxu3ROBBYWNWJSuyQ3UGF7ICLc8CiJks91Dwrjdl0Yk9fuN2zWXySV/w390-h400/Raggy%20Doll%20for%20Rosie's%20baby.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Knitted toys can be a pain to make, what with all those pieces but the finished results are always pleasing. Last year I knitted two <a href="https://www.frogandcast.com/frog-and-toad-home" target="_blank">Frog and Toads</a> on tiny needles, at a tight tension - never again. Mind you, they look brilliant.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLbPfZy8io8Wg9y3bubZDami3L20nrNvBCXmPbrw33_oeIRhH5_NFQN8C5S0_aUUtjzJJOLtUSLuCFDval2bF46m-CO3cE63NlOKAHW-pnMwW-Yylgcd2qz9vCEjkuQWPTO58GIoX5xJpoqWqM829eDiVIwZITw_2l1Y1Nijp1K6WAU5Ztnx8yebkdjs1/s2841/Easter%20presents%20for%20Jack%20and%20Rose.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="2841" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLbPfZy8io8Wg9y3bubZDami3L20nrNvBCXmPbrw33_oeIRhH5_NFQN8C5S0_aUUtjzJJOLtUSLuCFDval2bF46m-CO3cE63NlOKAHW-pnMwW-Yylgcd2qz9vCEjkuQWPTO58GIoX5xJpoqWqM829eDiVIwZITw_2l1Y1Nijp1K6WAU5Ztnx8yebkdjs1/w400-h330/Easter%20presents%20for%20Jack%20and%20Rose.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are knitted with <a href="https://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/" target="_blank">Shetland Wool</a> which turned out to be ideal for small animals with a lot of shaping. I remembered this when it came to designing my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-donkeys" target="_blank">Little Donkeys</a> at the end of the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnmIa8IASoWNXWZNm3wzcHVm_9TgKG499_bIXgEaWF9ZBjK4MqmnjEIO-y2abYMBF4vG2kMTOYoj06PRYzU9sVyWIr0jC6pvVsNlzLC9Ndn3nGp63sSoYP3aMAdV75DWqJJ7sjLfm7kkMFGaM0rLq6A9Aqh56cl4s7MOT6Tm2N8TQVHOsF4KdAs7ar_1i/s2423/Donkey%20family%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="2423" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnmIa8IASoWNXWZNm3wzcHVm_9TgKG499_bIXgEaWF9ZBjK4MqmnjEIO-y2abYMBF4vG2kMTOYoj06PRYzU9sVyWIr0jC6pvVsNlzLC9Ndn3nGp63sSoYP3aMAdV75DWqJJ7sjLfm7kkMFGaM0rLq6A9Aqh56cl4s7MOT6Tm2N8TQVHOsF4KdAs7ar_1i/w400-h223/Donkey%20family%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knitted a fully dressed hedgehog for a friend's birthday in the summer from Louise Crowther's book <a href="https://davidandcharles.com/product/knitted-animal-friends/" target="_blank">Knitted Animal Friends</a> which I can thoroughly recommend. I bought the yarn to knit myself the owl from the same book but haven't made it yet. Something to do this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1J-9KyCQNfISR85W-Xzp3uU_Kzqw5rg2VWlGyeMRAJinjGWwrEKdeKbUkjqzC-dw1-U2DeFaGqpI9yBo0SBWFHFwgUnHU8oxrwXfujbWb2Ef5vGyjjvkdxwd0fhKG4rHrlrv1sT0SoXxBtmLXGSs1hwQjN9mij5UAALZ1APeGiewsKOthIw-wfgjlS5T/s3985/Hedgehog%2002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3985" data-original-width="2375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1J-9KyCQNfISR85W-Xzp3uU_Kzqw5rg2VWlGyeMRAJinjGWwrEKdeKbUkjqzC-dw1-U2DeFaGqpI9yBo0SBWFHFwgUnHU8oxrwXfujbWb2Ef5vGyjjvkdxwd0fhKG4rHrlrv1sT0SoXxBtmLXGSs1hwQjN9mij5UAALZ1APeGiewsKOthIw-wfgjlS5T/w239-h400/Hedgehog%2002.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did though finally manage to knit myself a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kipper-the-dog" target="_blank">Kipper</a> from the pattern by Alan Dart. The original pattern is for DK weight yarn and comes out too big for my tastes so I used thin 4 ply sock yarn and small needles to make a smaller dog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig80J2EYvKwsIxKKANODOOgmL7ZFqA5o5BzyWbASiS_daEGdlANVuvm7hLnVx8-WEkQrJj1ln2fZ7RYG8b2ZwAN_4h2Bg6BgQRjjtOn3zk-MM5J0pARokPqjR-28aVYc7FL9DsgfZkD21N_ZIbBrgL2ibpLECSCTylp5UAzs54gtspqVvWyk_O0NrHHVyy/s2554/Kipper.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="1822" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig80J2EYvKwsIxKKANODOOgmL7ZFqA5o5BzyWbASiS_daEGdlANVuvm7hLnVx8-WEkQrJj1ln2fZ7RYG8b2ZwAN_4h2Bg6BgQRjjtOn3zk-MM5J0pARokPqjR-28aVYc7FL9DsgfZkD21N_ZIbBrgL2ibpLECSCTylp5UAzs54gtspqVvWyk_O0NrHHVyy/w285-h400/Kipper.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The shading between colours is done with an ordinary pencil which I thought was a clever touch. I updated the shapings a bit as I went along but, otherwise, followed the pattern.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of my knitting in 2023 was for published patterns, including two big ones: <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-cottage-6" target="_blank">Summer Cottage</a> and my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath. I have been working on samples for two more Ten Stitch patterns as well, a rectangle and an oval. The rectangle is easy but I wanted to explain how to calculate how long the first strip needs to be for any finished size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHRfcERicLFRAq_iH0l5kzDGV7bURQprXVBmvHZYRqipxMEOP2XRyTP9bKCotaQc8f-ugMNgh_NF0N6sBnuQZt8_T6hzyBNnfBNeqmkEge0dXiF4ClqLAuKYeGblUrZr1nI9IKqIGMYjLZzBNsoPV4zJP4kiIRs5u8ENE9fX8SJif12KxM-3hIeO01tnp/s4359/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4359" data-original-width="3090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHRfcERicLFRAq_iH0l5kzDGV7bURQprXVBmvHZYRqipxMEOP2XRyTP9bKCotaQc8f-ugMNgh_NF0N6sBnuQZt8_T6hzyBNnfBNeqmkEge0dXiF4ClqLAuKYeGblUrZr1nI9IKqIGMYjLZzBNsoPV4zJP4kiIRs5u8ENE9fX8SJif12KxM-3hIeO01tnp/w284-h400/06.JPG" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The oval was much more complicated to work out and I needed the help of my mathematician son to write me a formula to explain what I'd knitted. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYubrEP1QyLWEdDgT6KdNRlnsiIrHGK-fAVzp0-_VlEGLRxjgABOdXOjfF86ZSuut_JR_EmaMzfLKGppplXTu1jzENdvN3qWXubqLvhaYO89-nFgC9JtlgNbEvFBP48jGWXh2ZOV5W6yHuuY-vn1dtyA2SVQRRqFW32TuNjVsEOeZF7jHSqL6V-ky9n-ln/s3907/Ten%20Stitch%20Oval%20sample.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3178" data-original-width="3907" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYubrEP1QyLWEdDgT6KdNRlnsiIrHGK-fAVzp0-_VlEGLRxjgABOdXOjfF86ZSuut_JR_EmaMzfLKGppplXTu1jzENdvN3qWXubqLvhaYO89-nFgC9JtlgNbEvFBP48jGWXh2ZOV5W6yHuuY-vn1dtyA2SVQRRqFW32TuNjVsEOeZF7jHSqL6V-ky9n-ln/w400-h325/Ten%20Stitch%20Oval%20sample.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The obvious use for a Ten Stitch Oval pattern would be for a rug but it could also be used for placemats or a knitted basket base. Maybe I'll get round to designing this one later this year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of my crochet in 2023 was, again, for published patterns. I've got one shawl waiting for me to write up which uses my Lazy Vee technique which I always enjoy working.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbuFDQV5Dx4q1YLsaKV4ETTDZrH5VX02SV-d_SuyjJH6IqoJdjitkAAjLw5PapgYM0t35BqdQI8nysLjA-sDfXUVkSPLcVJKhzLUD_UO_OjuOH47-3oDy-v0XwoBUwBVk0VDpGDM7ZzI_e1T5uE04qX5o93qVWJyoLEREU3EnwSqaNZNHdJhNVGEu8DQm/s2733/18.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2693" data-original-width="2733" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQbuFDQV5Dx4q1YLsaKV4ETTDZrH5VX02SV-d_SuyjJH6IqoJdjitkAAjLw5PapgYM0t35BqdQI8nysLjA-sDfXUVkSPLcVJKhzLUD_UO_OjuOH47-3oDy-v0XwoBUwBVk0VDpGDM7ZzI_e1T5uE04qX5o93qVWJyoLEREU3EnwSqaNZNHdJhNVGEu8DQm/w400-h394/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Towards the end of the year, I discovered the technique know as Corner to Corner crochet or C2C and had fun making this scarf for a Christmas present.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjyGRdZaERTBFU582koxhA6W_B0pP0mAgenco1W6-xyYQ56LaJ5b_OqtAqXhFevxsYWMbF9MJKJC-TMadVkamcbB_GhJVslbJWlEyLCHu8bZZG9qWsvv5zqOpzX8REgeHsCYfa4TIGytUDGbSl-YqwvqSzyIr2Zr9tLVq6VoEEUKZ4-D_v7Yx4FqIf-TP/s3135/Corner%20to%20Corner%20Scarf%20for%20Pat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2231" data-original-width="3135" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjyGRdZaERTBFU582koxhA6W_B0pP0mAgenco1W6-xyYQ56LaJ5b_OqtAqXhFevxsYWMbF9MJKJC-TMadVkamcbB_GhJVslbJWlEyLCHu8bZZG9qWsvv5zqOpzX8REgeHsCYfa4TIGytUDGbSl-YqwvqSzyIr2Zr9tLVq6VoEEUKZ4-D_v7Yx4FqIf-TP/w400-h285/Corner%20to%20Corner%20Scarf%20for%20Pat.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Again, this was fun to make and a great way to use self-striping yarn. I used <a href="https://www.kingcole.com/knitting-wool/riot-dk/" target="_blank">King Cole Riot DK</a> for my scarf. And I nearly forgot this little reindeer, crocheted from an old magazine pattern, again changing the weight of yarn to make it smaller. This one went in my daughter's Christmas stocking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpENhygkz8bBtYsgrXKHn75pZmVuJlOmpw_JBBEXg3ynVKMaQcifH1XTCYxeGDnzc5JJYucUjvRPqVgrJU3aWcplUdUQYH3sinixe0B1nEvpBakkLpvII3mIj4hu-muEzQFiY2-03h8iUfTQagOqjzqtgoyQ-HDmxoMnNDV411bInFho6WyYYimkg10hM_/s2395/Noel%20for%20Rose's%20stocking.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="2036" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpENhygkz8bBtYsgrXKHn75pZmVuJlOmpw_JBBEXg3ynVKMaQcifH1XTCYxeGDnzc5JJYucUjvRPqVgrJU3aWcplUdUQYH3sinixe0B1nEvpBakkLpvII3mIj4hu-muEzQFiY2-03h8iUfTQagOqjzqtgoyQ-HDmxoMnNDV411bInFho6WyYYimkg10hM_/w340-h400/Noel%20for%20Rose's%20stocking.JPG" width="340" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more woolly finish from 2023 before I move on to other crafts. In May I finally finished this rainbow Tunisian Crochet blanket, worked in the round, which I started years ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__hnVN4zN7vK7HfStt8XtsHZdxwHqIyyRz4cNeXBrkIVli8X9yvJaf0ADIev2hurvgyfDy-z2u-MbqqQT0LEfVlM3jbT7UnS_uRbCQDBaMMXhBwke3WPEkGUe-9K0x4mtwwO_z4wdibWZDmqaYfXBUtMQDoheLNsM_oAwXB2UIRcNfH120NzFeP120wlj/s4417/Tunisian%20Blanket%2002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3180" data-original-width="4417" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__hnVN4zN7vK7HfStt8XtsHZdxwHqIyyRz4cNeXBrkIVli8X9yvJaf0ADIev2hurvgyfDy-z2u-MbqqQT0LEfVlM3jbT7UnS_uRbCQDBaMMXhBwke3WPEkGUe-9K0x4mtwwO_z4wdibWZDmqaYfXBUtMQDoheLNsM_oAwXB2UIRcNfH120NzFeP120wlj/w400-h288/Tunisian%20Blanket%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It looks nice now it's done but it was an absolute nightmare to get it to lay flat. I kept having to re-do the edging to hold it in shape and then it took a lot of serious blocking. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the first few months of the year I made quite a lot of things with felt, starting off with these two Christmas tree ornaments for my son and daughter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZDZf8hlQ-YSdCHom8Nhfv_HccOeg_OLnyQQQ1hO3s3JS7uH1m3YUWcYj8PfhldNBaUfjuyLCzOfm-GiXXZKfZmBlEE3IfxBaNWU1juB2xqJATuaRw4YWvORKbEKt0RCnFp3v9SBOPwTWr4dKmtQIOHD5tYUG2Wu4GxEPEj2DeKfjQuXl9XUqFzR2DB2U/s2830/Hitler%20Santas.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2428" data-original-width="2830" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZDZf8hlQ-YSdCHom8Nhfv_HccOeg_OLnyQQQ1hO3s3JS7uH1m3YUWcYj8PfhldNBaUfjuyLCzOfm-GiXXZKfZmBlEE3IfxBaNWU1juB2xqJATuaRw4YWvORKbEKt0RCnFp3v9SBOPwTWr4dKmtQIOHD5tYUG2Wu4GxEPEj2DeKfjQuXl9XUqFzR2DB2U/w400-h344/Hitler%20Santas.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are copies of the one I made for my tree more than thirty years ago and which they irreverently refer to as the 'Hitler Santa'. I also made two sets of more traditional decorations. These were from the book <a href="https://www.searchpress.com/book/9781446306291/modern-folk-embroidery" target="_blank">Modern Folk Embroidery</a> by Nancy Nicholson which has lots of great patterns.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wK4MsvE6t5trZeL0qarrm9IJY-GrthGs_raaEK2vOSc5eGJ9lxBUjRJnW4z-RRQ-SZo49FesaQ5NykKT06bWY9kOz9YvHUAF5vxrc-l3NotpUQsljCJ6mnA6i0exULahrdGjmPxf-fIU9TuGNQKSdjZxONbQPB7W6EkYJ8SsdGgXfYicixc-nsiixi5l/s1600/Felt%20Ornaments.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wK4MsvE6t5trZeL0qarrm9IJY-GrthGs_raaEK2vOSc5eGJ9lxBUjRJnW4z-RRQ-SZo49FesaQ5NykKT06bWY9kOz9YvHUAF5vxrc-l3NotpUQsljCJ6mnA6i0exULahrdGjmPxf-fIU9TuGNQKSdjZxONbQPB7W6EkYJ8SsdGgXfYicixc-nsiixi5l/w400-h400/Felt%20Ornaments.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, I got a bit carried away when it came to the embroidery. I kept one of each set for myself but then hid them away until Christmas. Only of course when Christmas came I couldn't remember where I'd hidden them. They finally came to light last week at the back of my sock drawer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Using the same book, I also made a pastel coloured felt garland for my daughter - still adding lots of embroidery.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RjDqsGFST3Th_onj4Hv0-SvSdu4eyghiDFPpXSk9dqUsPzdLWtJ43AHFDIT8dUYln5F-Lr7fP8i-FNhTzPDIXZvnxeDu6rVQancLamXEoJ1JnaMErVV8c-Wvuca5zvJCpmQc1s5OMTUV-ePpmspVqQGz23jYUlQZ_p7zW8w395cj-EQmrNdQzbPJ2VCu/s3940/Felt%20Garland%2003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2873" data-original-width="3940" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RjDqsGFST3Th_onj4Hv0-SvSdu4eyghiDFPpXSk9dqUsPzdLWtJ43AHFDIT8dUYln5F-Lr7fP8i-FNhTzPDIXZvnxeDu6rVQancLamXEoJ1JnaMErVV8c-Wvuca5zvJCpmQc1s5OMTUV-ePpmspVqQGz23jYUlQZ_p7zW8w395cj-EQmrNdQzbPJ2VCu/w400-h291/Felt%20Garland%2003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had fun making some felt flowers too, all of which I gave away as presents. I'd like to make more of these at some point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LfdtXiATANtPmQYQmwpz00jeF2mAZJLd2i-IzHbKpw6F8Reb_wsP-RuY4o_1bVGzTVaQ6yTVCen7JvFMZ6R8EdOoyfI_YDifQmbY3Sd5pqHBpLcwVWe43UuyaF32o_5FkvRNKkGuO1C6iWD9pKvqtOEfiyKAxd5G-kidurTaFrB0vd8f9_0xuNlMYhpS/s1600/Flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LfdtXiATANtPmQYQmwpz00jeF2mAZJLd2i-IzHbKpw6F8Reb_wsP-RuY4o_1bVGzTVaQ6yTVCen7JvFMZ6R8EdOoyfI_YDifQmbY3Sd5pqHBpLcwVWe43UuyaF32o_5FkvRNKkGuO1C6iWD9pKvqtOEfiyKAxd5G-kidurTaFrB0vd8f9_0xuNlMYhpS/w400-h200/Flowers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The big flowers are from the book <a href="https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/9781454708018" target="_blank">Fabric Blooms</a> by Megan Hunt but I worked out the pattern for the little rosebuds myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I borrowed a book from the library in the Spring called <a href="https://davidandcharles.com/product/stitch-50-birds/" target="_blank">Stitch 50 Birds</a> by Alison J Reid and used it to make four different bird ornaments as presents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJFxmpXrXxB7v93nqfEzCN-xmVdfja7d0nQKSwdqvXcoARDzWljvFbPIE85M5f6glSEmuUfOcosnatV_1z-xMVwHZIrUqDm16oZHk7T0-KZwPqkfB4S7dwBjri-dSforiQfsMVx8MIKt-SautEO-Ls6Cqlo4H4IJYLsSXFwi6xNX6d6G8Hcwa2AdHLGYB/s2949/Felt%20Birds.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2917" data-original-width="2949" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJFxmpXrXxB7v93nqfEzCN-xmVdfja7d0nQKSwdqvXcoARDzWljvFbPIE85M5f6glSEmuUfOcosnatV_1z-xMVwHZIrUqDm16oZHk7T0-KZwPqkfB4S7dwBjri-dSforiQfsMVx8MIKt-SautEO-Ls6Cqlo4H4IJYLsSXFwi6xNX6d6G8Hcwa2AdHLGYB/w400-h396/Felt%20Birds.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some of the patterns have quite a lot of pieces but the instructions are clear. I particularly liked the use of cocktail sticks for legs. There are other books in the series if you fancy making some felt creatures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm a big fan of Mandy Shaw of <a href="https://dandeliondesigns.co.uk/" target="_blank">Dandelion Designs</a> and, when I was well, used to enjoy visiting her stall at craft shows. This means I have quite a few of her patterns stashed away and, last year, I used a couple of them to make more presents. Three little redwork tree decorations (yes, mine was lost with the felt ones) and a little lampshade that goes over a wine glass with a battery tealight inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1EvDY53lXU3l1VmBAYHOaGX0PkfsUWiWI2ipVoB2M0_jMaSoHofS24Q65qRvmvtRfsqwinLea64oQnTfSomL5VSaLTSzZKjG4uPAJ8O2O-YGxVR7fQ73YAZknaC5u8BmUfiEOPskeKCsf3547yG6fMM_JUGKkbAV6zm6NBXDfTMwND1JHLohIdgLnnln/s1600/Redwork.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1EvDY53lXU3l1VmBAYHOaGX0PkfsUWiWI2ipVoB2M0_jMaSoHofS24Q65qRvmvtRfsqwinLea64oQnTfSomL5VSaLTSzZKjG4uPAJ8O2O-YGxVR7fQ73YAZknaC5u8BmUfiEOPskeKCsf3547yG6fMM_JUGKkbAV6zm6NBXDfTMwND1JHLohIdgLnnln/w400-h200/Redwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I always start off the year with plans to make all the birthday cards I need to send but people born in the first half of the year tend to fare better than those with later birthdays. I cross stitched six cards last year; this is one of my favourites. It's by the designers <a href="https://www.lesleyteare.com/" target="_blank">Lesley Teare</a>; I love the way she combines cross stitch with blackwork.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVPe2o-etRYRK78Zsu-_c-yWG2X6ODUmfQ-SW6LDqJBlYk1A1_G6g9KQGVGINfILNf2CceGdnNf02TSVSk6bc9V0cA8O9nG0H45W6AbiyXpVPsJVnSJwbpc36ebt90N3jo5c6Z1YjvftWPYgWNyh-tvm2iZ1SykEMLcJ4IrLN-p8GadM1L6mbONECYKU7/s2775/Birthday%20Card%20for%20Janet.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2775" data-original-width="2427" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVPe2o-etRYRK78Zsu-_c-yWG2X6ODUmfQ-SW6LDqJBlYk1A1_G6g9KQGVGINfILNf2CceGdnNf02TSVSk6bc9V0cA8O9nG0H45W6AbiyXpVPsJVnSJwbpc36ebt90N3jo5c6Z1YjvftWPYgWNyh-tvm2iZ1SykEMLcJ4IrLN-p8GadM1L6mbONECYKU7/w350-h400/Birthday%20Card%20for%20Janet.JPG" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I enjoyed working this cone shaped Father Christmas for a Christmas present too; it's cross stitch on plastic aida and came together well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg_6pBu-ZopoJl4xwliDfPlXEk-NmFLGtZq-BKC_cxmLA2h-n2aFzCis6QsTipqNTgoxY-7QbaUD82zZe_Hln2Bz5_yyoFlA1JoSiXNzrJlS0jbBTnEFjtHoeq4LsN2UAj8aFt-0q9EjrKW9CulU0Ew6fzBOzAn0cgftkeLkoQpxotQWOaEx9iwf-GZes/s2395/Cross%20Stitch%20Ornament%20for%20Pat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2395" data-original-width="1415" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyg_6pBu-ZopoJl4xwliDfPlXEk-NmFLGtZq-BKC_cxmLA2h-n2aFzCis6QsTipqNTgoxY-7QbaUD82zZe_Hln2Bz5_yyoFlA1JoSiXNzrJlS0jbBTnEFjtHoeq4LsN2UAj8aFt-0q9EjrKW9CulU0Ew6fzBOzAn0cgftkeLkoQpxotQWOaEx9iwf-GZes/w236-h400/Cross%20Stitch%20Ornament%20for%20Pat.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did manage to make one card with hardanger embroidery. I must do more of this in 2024; it's quite a new craft for me and I enjoy it. It's quick to do and nowhere near as hard as it looks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9w6drFtBK_sZlf4h4wGnC195MzwbbhQb06nAp9aZCFlxJUXTfQZBsxcFQIZHwbquhGHDxtgWvtxqIqa4FerEnb7mldoCsZItYlRlTGUUpLJt_cCCBosHO21FQcqHnet0Tq1XZcMk2t_n_XbbkL7SuqS03o_6ztDLcZuN3SWkNEbOD2TKRErMdHGwBtey/s3253/Hardanger%20Card%20for%20Pat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3253" data-original-width="2294" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9w6drFtBK_sZlf4h4wGnC195MzwbbhQb06nAp9aZCFlxJUXTfQZBsxcFQIZHwbquhGHDxtgWvtxqIqa4FerEnb7mldoCsZItYlRlTGUUpLJt_cCCBosHO21FQcqHnet0Tq1XZcMk2t_n_XbbkL7SuqS03o_6ztDLcZuN3SWkNEbOD2TKRErMdHGwBtey/w283-h400/Hardanger%20Card%20for%20Pat.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As ever, I made quite a few bags last year. I often make one of my <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-WtOrMBELySd2FpaGdNTURuMUU/view?resourcekey=0-XsU-_ltkzC62o80ratqXzQ" target="_blank">Reversible Tote Bags</a> to put presents in. They don't take long to make and it's fun choosing the fabrics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0sSOQpVE5Qxq-Vq8IamwyEmG8TGr9kBqvipPMYNLKlW-LW_RjfNh5FTIy19W7gvAIKqjIvY_H8yBNbbSMInJb_aFCHMO9lpm33nEZmNy6HCIWtBmLVZOPf9SQc8JDQGJ-ymb7gk6lJFbupm2EhFtQpCI-izbFu2EjN3TamKcNUDp1aTWPNTFvZc_6epz/s2927/Bag%20for%20Ian%20&%20Tori.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="2554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0sSOQpVE5Qxq-Vq8IamwyEmG8TGr9kBqvipPMYNLKlW-LW_RjfNh5FTIy19W7gvAIKqjIvY_H8yBNbbSMInJb_aFCHMO9lpm33nEZmNy6HCIWtBmLVZOPf9SQc8JDQGJ-ymb7gk6lJFbupm2EhFtQpCI-izbFu2EjN3TamKcNUDp1aTWPNTFvZc_6epz/w349-h400/Bag%20for%20Ian%20&%20Tori.JPG" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made two bags using remnants bought at my local scrap store <a href="https://www.orinoco.org.uk/" target="_blank">Orinoco</a>. The first one used some pieces of vintage barkcloth fabric and the second is made up of velvet squares from a sample book. I actually kept the velvet one for myself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvpQeBi4fbO0VIJ3G1x_S3JOzX0iEY6YHWsZZ5i-TLdpJPDSY_S-6JcjabKgARQGpAXyeJof8WF5L1-V3M8phdcts7OOTYxwyDcUzuHlQBzDRFOgOudRCLhpnLm4DHdR0h7RcygRaDV5sVSVVaA4cVWFOBj_8bVW_bKz9EmzMOk0aZwxLzIR45y07qZMV/s1600/Bags.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1600" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimvpQeBi4fbO0VIJ3G1x_S3JOzX0iEY6YHWsZZ5i-TLdpJPDSY_S-6JcjabKgARQGpAXyeJof8WF5L1-V3M8phdcts7OOTYxwyDcUzuHlQBzDRFOgOudRCLhpnLm4DHdR0h7RcygRaDV5sVSVVaA4cVWFOBj_8bVW_bKz9EmzMOk0aZwxLzIR45y07qZMV/w400-h250/Bags.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've still got lots of velvet squares left from the sample book so they might appear in this year's list of things made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What else? I've made some more Dorset Buttons and woven a few bookmarks and I've done a little bit of needlepoint. I enjoyed making this little pincushion kit in April ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSUh-1VpQ7KWpZ4L7vX-SUkCCPR_7Kare0YDDmAB7zOTvzIFUzPXcoHfRePTt1Npf4ZAe4paXhlenY7rIbCnH8F1mCsWl6jNHbNW84TFo5uDzXHMFcLSy0mpNU18378wVOmRmdYhNebCMqaWGiD-qkCswQcAVtKNolT6xmszetUYDgbRBTqgHmGkf7bmk/s1796/Needlepoint%20Pincushion.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="1796" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSUh-1VpQ7KWpZ4L7vX-SUkCCPR_7Kare0YDDmAB7zOTvzIFUzPXcoHfRePTt1Npf4ZAe4paXhlenY7rIbCnH8F1mCsWl6jNHbNW84TFo5uDzXHMFcLSy0mpNU18378wVOmRmdYhNebCMqaWGiD-qkCswQcAVtKNolT6xmszetUYDgbRBTqgHmGkf7bmk/w400-h376/Needlepoint%20Pincushion.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and I made two little needlepoint boxes with plastic canvas later in the year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vWTHD8WRDRVim-6_MlOdkEJh22xRWbLGwgiN0Q0_3AefjvccO4HOzivtFqbztf99X9rxG8c42XGvn1Ftp8yEZZ_bII0Drzsxi3h3xcdzkOnVXQAHunmsYaLel_LxB1_ULshd3GO2BZLn7aBwf1K0IIYi2GPMaL8I9E8xTda4ULB7O_ZHl3thuPEiFGX0/s1600/Needlepoint%20Boxes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vWTHD8WRDRVim-6_MlOdkEJh22xRWbLGwgiN0Q0_3AefjvccO4HOzivtFqbztf99X9rxG8c42XGvn1Ftp8yEZZ_bII0Drzsxi3h3xcdzkOnVXQAHunmsYaLel_LxB1_ULshd3GO2BZLn7aBwf1K0IIYi2GPMaL8I9E8xTda4ULB7O_ZHl3thuPEiFGX0/w400-h200/Needlepoint%20Boxes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I only made two quilts in 2023, even if one of them was the biggest quilt I've ever made. I'd like to make more this next year. I'm going to start with this aptly named pack of charm squares that I got for Christmas (thank-you Rose).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsBOdQ6YhJiq3G9vAEPgDFdyJ2ky7onnLYxFyHuBMRS6Z4LOjG7kwIK6mhM1CZALaiTXjeLkN8uvVh4xtspqHNQyNabNufDPm9DJxR10ZZaLtpVmcqjddkJn41DhgzLR8QKjCcCk4OYjNgbzqAWUTFMcVnrj2e5kh-14ids-47Is5LD1e6J4a513RESjE/s2450/Frankie%20fabric.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2428" data-original-width="2450" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPsBOdQ6YhJiq3G9vAEPgDFdyJ2ky7onnLYxFyHuBMRS6Z4LOjG7kwIK6mhM1CZALaiTXjeLkN8uvVh4xtspqHNQyNabNufDPm9DJxR10ZZaLtpVmcqjddkJn41DhgzLR8QKjCcCk4OYjNgbzqAWUTFMcVnrj2e5kh-14ids-47Is5LD1e6J4a513RESjE/w400-h396/Frankie%20fabric.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The craft I've made most progress with over the last year though has been my 3D beading. <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/" target="_blank">ThreadABead</a> have so many patterns that I want to make that I decided I needed to do more beading in order to speed up! So ... I finished the third building in the <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/Search_Results.aspx?shop=1&order_by=5&topic=470" target="_blank">Christmas Village</a> which is a barn for the reindeer ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6ZoUB_kQXihdBHF1BKfTD9Hx9-qgTEL-p2fXAdKAdPlmrEpOd8cPcoPHny-JOFrISdOg4pbCKO1qiwrWrheIrPAYT0_nR5pDDxpsHXNgvlZyn0rJlZZW-wzotpd4YN4cfN5gome3AN5j93kHhsNcO4xkzqXwK_iO5adAP1ISPcKkQgBLP9rQ3ovEYtAo/s2982/Reindeer%20Barn.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2852" data-original-width="2982" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6ZoUB_kQXihdBHF1BKfTD9Hx9-qgTEL-p2fXAdKAdPlmrEpOd8cPcoPHny-JOFrISdOg4pbCKO1qiwrWrheIrPAYT0_nR5pDDxpsHXNgvlZyn0rJlZZW-wzotpd4YN4cfN5gome3AN5j93kHhsNcO4xkzqXwK_iO5adAP1ISPcKkQgBLP9rQ3ovEYtAo/w400-h383/Reindeer%20Barn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and then I made two (yes, two) more of the <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/4648/1/3D-Santa-House-Christmas-Village-Ornament-Pattern-Bead-Pattern" target="_blank">Father Christmas Houses</a>, one each for my son and daughter. They have little boxes on the Christmas tree with tiny presents in and these were just the right size.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG307EEiKlyCWNB-wEcSmaBSFC_Ghf66YZj4boEf1xE8RIEwO4X_CxgPFUKEyX8NYc5daUr0-OozFhWXWXxEJIB0abQiUi-hDbc4rOOa2YTZs4bAAFErEicTXlIdKUe8ITzId5pIQ9NiAPjYrf-EEkTent3z2VYpHv9soJWVQXXKLT07Gd9PuUwQjNlGDJ/s1600/Beaded%20houses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG307EEiKlyCWNB-wEcSmaBSFC_Ghf66YZj4boEf1xE8RIEwO4X_CxgPFUKEyX8NYc5daUr0-OozFhWXWXxEJIB0abQiUi-hDbc4rOOa2YTZs4bAAFErEicTXlIdKUe8ITzId5pIQ9NiAPjYrf-EEkTent3z2VYpHv9soJWVQXXKLT07Gd9PuUwQjNlGDJ/w400-h200/Beaded%20houses.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Working the same pattern twice in a row really helped me concentrate on my technique (or lack of it) and, as well as getting quicker, I think I'm making less mistakes now too. I then decided to make these three <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/5637/1/Christmas-Wreath-Ornament-Bead-Pattern" target="_blank">Ornaments</a> as Christmas presents which were a bit different as the patterns allow for a lot of creative decisions on the part of the beader. This was a challenge for me; I do enough creative thinking in my designing so I really prefer to be able to just follow a pattern when it comes to other crafts. I have to say though, I was really pleased with the results. One day, I shall make some more of these.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXcmSTmmv6HUDy0ocbjpGHw6uZiWdAa9CJlQLBH2_JxJJRGExM-R6U3jpFnbYju6KALMbHs6u4GYa40s0i9bhA4jWsHv9A9qXfCTxwH4MIApxaehC1AeXnjeAhNuyhXm-4bDbIDD2yEfPNLEipdymUwehYx5sl60NuxWPcevZYwXOH1Te2OngrMAjjLys/s3461/Beaded%20Ornaments.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2797" data-original-width="3461" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjXcmSTmmv6HUDy0ocbjpGHw6uZiWdAa9CJlQLBH2_JxJJRGExM-R6U3jpFnbYju6KALMbHs6u4GYa40s0i9bhA4jWsHv9A9qXfCTxwH4MIApxaehC1AeXnjeAhNuyhXm-4bDbIDD2yEfPNLEipdymUwehYx5sl60NuxWPcevZYwXOH1Te2OngrMAjjLys/w400-h324/Beaded%20Ornaments.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think my next 3D beading project will either be an Easter pattern or this little <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/5447/1/3D-Mushroom-Gnome-Home-Ornament-Bead-Pattern">Toadstool House</a>; there are just too many to choose from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In 2024 I also want to do some more miniature building. Do you remember my <a href="https://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2021/05/house-building.html" target="_blank">little house</a>?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jKGJDaKmNJuIV5LCWQXM7_fd-B8Az2uehEpCI1DwF_WDmNYFbXtHPnptAeEAolXMJFLmN2OdC5cM3MGTrSmFTyYusoBUWuv3-jdoesUzNTfhWwFws_KbeS_nzHXxPodaOPxHgawj9il-NR1y0ZLW8soRuOD7OOnajBTLPnLwe2C3p2o6yJcYjruaX8X0/s3488/Finished%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3124" data-original-width="3488" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-jKGJDaKmNJuIV5LCWQXM7_fd-B8Az2uehEpCI1DwF_WDmNYFbXtHPnptAeEAolXMJFLmN2OdC5cM3MGTrSmFTyYusoBUWuv3-jdoesUzNTfhWwFws_KbeS_nzHXxPodaOPxHgawj9il-NR1y0ZLW8soRuOD7OOnajBTLPnLwe2C3p2o6yJcYjruaX8X0/w400-h359/Finished%2001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After finishing this more than two years ago, I've been slowly adding furniture. I'd like to finish it this year and perhaps start a new project. <a href="https://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/" target="_blank">Petite Properties</a> are launching a magazine focusing on small scale miniatures this year - that could be just the prompt I need to get building again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What about you? Does anybody else keep 'things made' lists? What are you hoping to make more of in 2024 - other than time, obviously. We could all do with more time to craft, couldn't we?</div></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-15639744896050103372023-12-23T16:31:00.002+00:002023-12-23T16:31:19.022+00:00Christmas Eve Eve<p>It's the day before Christmas Eve so that makes it Christmas Eve Eve - right? The presents are wrapped and hidden away until tomorrow evening when they can go under the tree. In the case of the cats' presents, they have to be hidden until the last moment or all the other presents will have been licked by the time we get to them (I make them catnip toys each year and, yes, I speak from experience).</p><p>The advent calendars are nearly finished. Just one more chain to add to my crochet <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/advent-chain" target="_blank">Advent Chain</a> tomorrow.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoWPfIPIDh0HpgA-J5adCK5yumv2ettHx1cEOLRBDVQlXH9vo6yPzw9-0lJdPI08-Prff68e8irD9xMn10x-8JA0fz85N0TUNDGcRYohyphenhyphenv_4RJ0zpTYHA4IapTUe3VKBIQKLuD4p4WdwP5v_y5blIGGhRol3N7riEgIvU6_7cDncJ97figrXbWvYNGwzL/s5301/Crochet%20Chain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2254" data-original-width="5301" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVoWPfIPIDh0HpgA-J5adCK5yumv2ettHx1cEOLRBDVQlXH9vo6yPzw9-0lJdPI08-Prff68e8irD9xMn10x-8JA0fz85N0TUNDGcRYohyphenhyphenv_4RJ0zpTYHA4IapTUe3VKBIQKLuD4p4WdwP5v_y5blIGGhRol3N7riEgIvU6_7cDncJ97figrXbWvYNGwzL/w400-h170/Crochet%20Chain.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last chunk of my advent jigsaw is going to take a while I think. Look at that big space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZpyVF38reeNK7JfAeEHat6PavSSWF7m0joN51AIe0JzhEh8Gv0EGYBG9sLof474zIynta4X99jjTKmF1bETx6lzuTdJRrMBDE8MlOYMIoVJUbBCeDuSHqzZ7lwwo5XjCWJ914gj4w8I-f0Vm9JRt0N3dwT2xCGmmzGTc_wdlSKNmxe8epBZiCMES8Dos/s4093/Jigsaw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2950" data-original-width="4093" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZpyVF38reeNK7JfAeEHat6PavSSWF7m0joN51AIe0JzhEh8Gv0EGYBG9sLof474zIynta4X99jjTKmF1bETx6lzuTdJRrMBDE8MlOYMIoVJUbBCeDuSHqzZ7lwwo5XjCWJ914gj4w8I-f0Vm9JRt0N3dwT2xCGmmzGTc_wdlSKNmxe8epBZiCMES8Dos/w400-h289/Jigsaw.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've already bought the two puzzles to turn into next year's advent jigsaws for my son and daughter. I found them in a charity shop for £2 each; I know how to spoil them, don't I?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The decorations are up, although for a while these included that traditional favourite the mattress in the hall as my new bed and mattress were delivered last week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXqR2whG5XpYFFtvtJfvlJMKnDzhGu_xJCBBlR0Trunl9OmvjeYMaiQ9c4LsWYOa83-gm5Qd2V8vJMXU3jH6fuOFR4i9iX1o_3egsIk0HmMERoVIiMiRpwY_fAFkfuHQy7VZmZZTVxIcXmUWVXxsYL-h88QqRquookPQVFYw98AwLfmhSPqFCooceLLLZ/s4131/Mattress%20and%20Headboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4131" data-original-width="3060" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaXqR2whG5XpYFFtvtJfvlJMKnDzhGu_xJCBBlR0Trunl9OmvjeYMaiQ9c4LsWYOa83-gm5Qd2V8vJMXU3jH6fuOFR4i9iX1o_3egsIk0HmMERoVIiMiRpwY_fAFkfuHQy7VZmZZTVxIcXmUWVXxsYL-h88QqRquookPQVFYw98AwLfmhSPqFCooceLLLZ/w296-h400/Mattress%20and%20Headboard.JPG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily, one of my son's friends came round yesterday to help him move it up two flights of steep stairs to my new bedroom where it can stay until we can put the bed together after Christmas. Speaking of the bed, apart from the slats and the headboard, it all fitted into this box.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO5HWzRHbdtaSzfWaKv-5K5pUdtTeqEKIOfWb8LpBI9nVP2B5xh-QTu0bhcC-zzOpaqON0yWdYRn6ZDH_393r8VN0mBx3uj_FJjQDwF0L5_ksMpSew3QQ9rekbNFyqWgkd9IttkpAjoeWqABDEDsINURfQyAYiDv1qagZsH-n9uEZVgrE2lekGJge3oWe/s4831/Bed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2017" data-original-width="4831" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO5HWzRHbdtaSzfWaKv-5K5pUdtTeqEKIOfWb8LpBI9nVP2B5xh-QTu0bhcC-zzOpaqON0yWdYRn6ZDH_393r8VN0mBx3uj_FJjQDwF0L5_ksMpSew3QQ9rekbNFyqWgkd9IttkpAjoeWqABDEDsINURfQyAYiDv1qagZsH-n9uEZVgrE2lekGJge3oWe/w400-h168/Bed.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mmm ... doesn't seem very likely, does it? I shall report back once we get it open.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been going through my list of all the things I've made this year and it's quite a mixture. I'm going to write a blog post about my lists of the year soon - oh yes, there are several - but I can say that I always start off my Christmas preparations in January by knitting the set of mini stockings that go on my Christmas presents. Here's my one of this year's, hanging on the tree; I make an extra one for myself if I remember.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6XtOTx_n3mWGdc4DgA0DdN6SNDeO-48vPODbQ-E5nN9wQDsoPrUagzNAzvmDaFg5hNpx3CCAhbZs4_c748xDi6PP7W4Bd0q127SFJfs1q1IpqjthxlXttbpdWLKHnlruvA0N8Wf4A6COnJOGusVr7qLQw4MHuac2V8g89wo5233Ksl_Iu_z-RGe3QcnB/s4408/Stocking%20on%20Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4408" data-original-width="3432" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6XtOTx_n3mWGdc4DgA0DdN6SNDeO-48vPODbQ-E5nN9wQDsoPrUagzNAzvmDaFg5hNpx3CCAhbZs4_c748xDi6PP7W4Bd0q127SFJfs1q1IpqjthxlXttbpdWLKHnlruvA0N8Wf4A6COnJOGusVr7qLQw4MHuac2V8g89wo5233Ksl_Iu_z-RGe3QcnB/w311-h400/Stocking%20on%20Tree.JPG" width="311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem with being so far ahead is that it leaves me feeling smug and I then forget to do anything else for months. Ah well, maybe I'll be more consistent next year. Actually, I have already designed next year's mini stocking and knitted two of them ... One of the things I really must do in 2024 is to sort out my various mini stocking patterns and get them all published properly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and Happy New Year. I shall leave you with a few candles on my son's house warming quilt which regular readers are probably sick of the sight of.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPIja8RO4cfv1uaWiAbv9_qadU3XDGgyc12rN2Vs1i3SyJ9ceqtwkA4NQfOS0n1JyDuFyEROj5w5QFCezNrlfxY8NrWS13f99WyRrIehQg9f_ZOqr4CTO1qRhLhbJNeEYckUw6hVjbzUpXmn7luP33j_-x7bK0iNLz_2S9o3Dca1TELyodFA9-guL24yi/s3766/Candles%20and%20Quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3026" data-original-width="3766" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPIja8RO4cfv1uaWiAbv9_qadU3XDGgyc12rN2Vs1i3SyJ9ceqtwkA4NQfOS0n1JyDuFyEROj5w5QFCezNrlfxY8NrWS13f99WyRrIehQg9f_ZOqr4CTO1qRhLhbJNeEYckUw6hVjbzUpXmn7luP33j_-x7bK0iNLz_2S9o3Dca1TELyodFA9-guL24yi/w400-h321/Candles%20and%20Quilt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-25914940491245899952023-12-14T15:16:00.002+00:002023-12-14T15:16:28.935+00:00Advent<p>I am a big fan of special things and this time of year gives me an excuse to factor in a little bit of special into every day. I am, of course, talking about advent calendars. This year there are four. First and foremost is the traditional card calendar with a picture behind every door.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjXorJYrukmvND_REmG_TetlZ1Ue3vXtgecFNVViweyhVAAfPmwsSukFVE5UHmI7zbNF_dtTerH8wqQaRAk8zuVUXtn1KsFcqyUIy6OXRA-cN_vVxKS38O6pi0vBgF5yl9yDkakXHELIzzpx33j3z3YOQRz_t42Bo8B9i2TtPksq9o0o7U0_KSc5Ht2P3/s4201/01%20Calendar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2961" data-original-width="4201" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjXorJYrukmvND_REmG_TetlZ1Ue3vXtgecFNVViweyhVAAfPmwsSukFVE5UHmI7zbNF_dtTerH8wqQaRAk8zuVUXtn1KsFcqyUIy6OXRA-cN_vVxKS38O6pi0vBgF5yl9yDkakXHELIzzpx33j3z3YOQRz_t42Bo8B9i2TtPksq9o0o7U0_KSc5Ht2P3/w400-h283/01%20Calendar.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The highlight so far this year has been the fat robin on a branch, complete with a hat and his own little stocking and bauble hanging from his branch. You may just about be able to see him halfway up the calendar on the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the moment the calendar is propped up on my mantelpiece in the front room but, once all the doors are opened, it will be moved so that I can see the little quilt hiding behind it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b0UKtdvdVNA642JtvaZN2nC7joAxbL4TjSVETb7ioz9EYvg0LFl50Mui_9Fy0Ri8Nqpcn2qeJQsxFpAzCQWRxifd49rq-5piKpepfIGJi3Zs8Jc_zb-anlA065zy8f9pksSpT30b1XsRWpnUAHp-o1AAxZ1x3FiJpQu1CHidWIp-UWi9AjZLTC_CNjrO/s4908/02%20Mini%20Quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3211" data-original-width="4908" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b0UKtdvdVNA642JtvaZN2nC7joAxbL4TjSVETb7ioz9EYvg0LFl50Mui_9Fy0Ri8Nqpcn2qeJQsxFpAzCQWRxifd49rq-5piKpepfIGJi3Zs8Jc_zb-anlA065zy8f9pksSpT30b1XsRWpnUAHp-o1AAxZ1x3FiJpQu1CHidWIp-UWi9AjZLTC_CNjrO/w400-h261/02%20Mini%20Quilt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see my little beaded houses at the side of the picture too. These are from ThreadABead's <a href="https://www.threadabead.com/Search_Results.aspx?shop=1&item=3&topic=470" target="_blank">Christmas Village</a> series which are beautiful designs, full of little details. So far I have made three of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkT6_iCFgpUo9JPWBQMqzA1B6O9yj_a3JzfC-3f7spt-nha3jMnaMMDbGc5GbBxyWPTqXotp4VtQTHhENBUmu-iGoYN5HCuMwjC3diAuJjmHKzd8tK38xeiEMNLF-FoUzMBErQsO22RbKLbcKM7dxZ_SOCjgg9Mt_7Owio6gf3BaqrVwprPaMWuNPeIes/s5017/02a%20Three%20Beaded%20Houses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2699" data-original-width="5017" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkT6_iCFgpUo9JPWBQMqzA1B6O9yj_a3JzfC-3f7spt-nha3jMnaMMDbGc5GbBxyWPTqXotp4VtQTHhENBUmu-iGoYN5HCuMwjC3diAuJjmHKzd8tK38xeiEMNLF-FoUzMBErQsO22RbKLbcKM7dxZ_SOCjgg9Mt_7Owio6gf3BaqrVwprPaMWuNPeIes/w400-h215/02a%20Three%20Beaded%20Houses.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Reindeer Barn in the middle is the most recent.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />A new addition to the advent calendar traditions this year has been the advent jigsaw. This was a brilliant idea of my daughter's. You choose a festive jigsaw (1,000 piece is best), make it and then divide it into 24 sections and put each section into a numbered envelope. Then you put the envelopes into a box and give it to someone (without the box so they don't know what the picture is) and they have a little bit of puzzle to do every day. It's a cheap way of making an advent calendar, especially if you can find a suitable puzzle in a charity shop.<p></p><p>This year I made one each for my son and daughter, although I had to get them to help with dividing up each other's puzzle as that turned out to be too much for my Covid brain. Here's the one my daughter made me ...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCYQNNYPQYIR6uJiwzxUtHYRQUZ1WJRYmgHrMqCGdIj0axJkNa6e9zJ9Mdz_2WD4D7PeMJX_DIKhLGcGq7hEHAQao0H5lHAKLOwxV8IWdcUf_IM6a1aYJqXI81eUeoU7RKxHeBnQ35HuWDpNkWoEFhnmNpPqHFhOZVJ8uRCp_JdwqYs3Q8IEpIIc52d0V/s5366/03%20Jigsaw.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3033" data-original-width="5366" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCYQNNYPQYIR6uJiwzxUtHYRQUZ1WJRYmgHrMqCGdIj0axJkNa6e9zJ9Mdz_2WD4D7PeMJX_DIKhLGcGq7hEHAQao0H5lHAKLOwxV8IWdcUf_IM6a1aYJqXI81eUeoU7RKxHeBnQ35HuWDpNkWoEFhnmNpPqHFhOZVJ8uRCp_JdwqYs3Q8IEpIIc52d0V/w400-h226/03%20Jigsaw.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's going quite well so far. Each day's section takes me about ten minutes or so to do and is just the right level of difficulty. I think we could well be doing advent jigsaws again next year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My third advent calendar is a crochet one. There's got to be one involving yarn, hasn't there? This is my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/advent-chain" target="_blank">Advent Chain</a>, a simple crochet chain that buttons together to make a garland. I'm about half way through now and it's looking nice and colourful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdQym3CPEIYQx3WwCHzmgiekOW77lfu13Rr5SaV-DypSJ52_6cLWFwsFUbWDXzdN1jUyiZEEbSresHHtYR_-7YrxT5pExnakjyThtyYLtCOaljsTV6ofTHwttI2bH51szQldVVzV1lwIvwSbH3PmkjaXNRvsbwHZuiNYb5IIQfLMaId4unW1ZTUigJH0E/s2221/04%20Crochet%20Chain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1960" data-original-width="2221" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdQym3CPEIYQx3WwCHzmgiekOW77lfu13Rr5SaV-DypSJ52_6cLWFwsFUbWDXzdN1jUyiZEEbSresHHtYR_-7YrxT5pExnakjyThtyYLtCOaljsTV6ofTHwttI2bH51szQldVVzV1lwIvwSbH3PmkjaXNRvsbwHZuiNYb5IIQfLMaId4unW1ZTUigJH0E/w400-h353/04%20Crochet%20Chain.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was thinking that an Easter version of this would be nice, in pastel colours, perhaps with a little picot edging?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last of my advent calendars is an advent candle. Well, actually, it's a night light in a lantern, one every day. I gave up on actual advent candles years ago as they were too stressful. Either I forgot about them and burned three days at once or ended up behind. This version is cheap and very forgiving to the confused and forgetful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought I'd take a photo of it from where I sit in the evening but this is what happened when I tried that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gY0iakvw488RlLUyAafmGL18a_TzamHuB5FgnlfmxANPVR40n19TrX8HBT2f1o2HcGP-1V54C2yqsHEvlD0UhZYH_hCiZq1QzuaZezEoGSCjQg6SOFVm519a525hnDVjkxRGYPaI-zrKBUZIe2lmFsCuBgHbZFeHInZhhyphenhyphencoK-_l7izM5NJg37COKuzs/s2471/05%20Tolly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2471" data-original-width="2308" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gY0iakvw488RlLUyAafmGL18a_TzamHuB5FgnlfmxANPVR40n19TrX8HBT2f1o2HcGP-1V54C2yqsHEvlD0UhZYH_hCiZq1QzuaZezEoGSCjQg6SOFVm519a525hnDVjkxRGYPaI-zrKBUZIe2lmFsCuBgHbZFeHInZhhyphenhyphencoK-_l7izM5NJg37COKuzs/w374-h400/05%20Tolly.JPG" width="374" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pretty candle is on the hearth immediately behind Tolly (of course it is). So, here's a close up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-MpicvDnNfh_E_XNSd9Ded93fZN7tYxoZyVr9u1LypFmH76oJeBeDmhbm0biuzkCPQtryaAk4zwF9gszdVGiXZ5AtHJUjrnny2s3XfG4O2X1t3k5mNKn_jx7JLzS6Ms0D8uBDsq1tRNkKdi2T-hPDZ9hZRop0OeaSW3mUThBs4jNaoomaBcHi6bJVLt/s4038/06%20Candle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2710" data-original-width="4038" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST-MpicvDnNfh_E_XNSd9Ded93fZN7tYxoZyVr9u1LypFmH76oJeBeDmhbm0biuzkCPQtryaAk4zwF9gszdVGiXZ5AtHJUjrnny2s3XfG4O2X1t3k5mNKn_jx7JLzS6Ms0D8uBDsq1tRNkKdi2T-hPDZ9hZRop0OeaSW3mUThBs4jNaoomaBcHi6bJVLt/w400-h269/06%20Candle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I should have taken this picture when the fire was lit as it looks even nicer then but never mind. You'll have to imagine the fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In between all my calendars I am managing to do a few other things. I'm wrapping presents, two a day and playing around with an idea for a 'stained glass' curtain for my front door. I did start a crochet table runner for one of the tables in my room of requirement (my craft room) but I'm not particularly enjoying doing it at the moment. I do like the colours though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSDkFSa5ynkxta2N2HW7QDYISl76qGWrcknfqVTLdvl_IYmjFHCLj88j4Cw95Si1niPUMt-7BJ12dWqpeQ1fRlE4IqxUPjGGLLt81AfvXqn05B9RRNWgpAsUu1lK-oAsc1oICRc4KY-SL_8CdyZWL19wp81KASjnC2_FSmcZYqprxNgfuUbSZL81hdXQv/s2764/07%20Crochet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1982" data-original-width="2764" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkSDkFSa5ynkxta2N2HW7QDYISl76qGWrcknfqVTLdvl_IYmjFHCLj88j4Cw95Si1niPUMt-7BJ12dWqpeQ1fRlE4IqxUPjGGLLt81AfvXqn05B9RRNWgpAsUu1lK-oAsc1oICRc4KY-SL_8CdyZWL19wp81KASjnC2_FSmcZYqprxNgfuUbSZL81hdXQv/w400-h286/07%20Crochet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And this is the table it's intended for. I'm planning to add a border to make it fit the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8UDXQO-kBUUMDxdwRCIJkC2ZSMWdKVW-ihcM9IuDcqCGY-9BqVtUmMO1dREzanPTXTfZM3UyMuyqo39yMX65Wu6pSYK7etxsbhio2ifC3m7o6dLOcIc3XoiigJ7UqUfsMJPZx41XZ-8wHzL3MO2pcrOvyXotMS3IrSUglPNIORn2VpwMqe8Xpo6-G2Ar/s4814/08%20Crochet%20again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4814" data-original-width="3270" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8UDXQO-kBUUMDxdwRCIJkC2ZSMWdKVW-ihcM9IuDcqCGY-9BqVtUmMO1dREzanPTXTfZM3UyMuyqo39yMX65Wu6pSYK7etxsbhio2ifC3m7o6dLOcIc3XoiigJ7UqUfsMJPZx41XZ-8wHzL3MO2pcrOvyXotMS3IrSUglPNIORn2VpwMqe8Xpo6-G2Ar/w271-h400/08%20Crochet%20again.JPG" width="271" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also proofreading what will probably be my last pattern before Christmas which I'm hoping to publish in the next couple of days. Don't get too excited. It's not colourful and it's quite tricky to knit. It does, however, qualify as Christmassy so that's something.</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-62275923620913816382023-12-11T07:02:00.004+00:002023-12-11T07:02:46.705+00:00Candy Canes<p>Today sees the publication of the last of my decorations for the little knitted <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath and I'm finishing off with something that I don't think I've ever eaten. As their name suggests, I think candy canes are an American, rather than English tradition. The look of them appeals to me though and they do add a nice, traditional touch to the wreath.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYB3jA4HhhgysJova00QMRMaWmrssuI2ePhxAcwr3Fs5ac6twsTD7fv4nqI2ykmT9UFPHDRMHULU7Meu3weBSLQCtEpmCio3Hv2_dyKJSKOdmmH5PTOBjy84ZPtRVd_BLdJzXMrNnwUTu2mniQc0j0SwxwbhtVsCFxQmX3IH7kmlfE3-wtmENhV9hdslb/s2973/13.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="2973" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYB3jA4HhhgysJova00QMRMaWmrssuI2ePhxAcwr3Fs5ac6twsTD7fv4nqI2ykmT9UFPHDRMHULU7Meu3weBSLQCtEpmCio3Hv2_dyKJSKOdmmH5PTOBjy84ZPtRVd_BLdJzXMrNnwUTu2mniQc0j0SwxwbhtVsCFxQmX3IH7kmlfE3-wtmENhV9hdslb/w400-h373/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For me, these sweets are forever associated with <a href="https://littlehousebooks.com/about" target="_blank">Laura Ingalls Wilder</a> and her books telling the stories of her pioneer childhood in late nineteenth century America. I first read them with my Mum as they came out in paperback in this country; we were so excited when we found out that there was a whole series of them (I read <a href="https://arthur-ransome-trust.org.uk/shop/Swallows-and-Amazons-Jonathan-Cape-p107773406" target="_blank">Swallows and Amazons</a> as a child but didn't know there were more, how sad is that?) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, there are several references to Pa bringing home candy for Mary and Laura in the books but the best one is of course the story of the Christmas in <a href="https://littlehousebooks.com/books/9780064400022/little-house-on-the-prairie" target="_blank">Little House on the Prairie</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVqQvbiixZzUt70Uv0EC7s9r1wjTkqRloPmEZ2GryBWUzzrjt0bNzdjcCaaOVRS6XfmE4WSJfnvm7ldvB4HuCLYMp_EmrKPn6Al4BuYpi9gRdut6WOYP6_xkPtBD3tAcWZd_quHZ0SBvmCqHqofbJd4QhDbvww3-Sc7etJx8xGH5sQUoYRRrK7tJp8pFw/s3546/Candy%20Canes%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3546" data-original-width="2342" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVqQvbiixZzUt70Uv0EC7s9r1wjTkqRloPmEZ2GryBWUzzrjt0bNzdjcCaaOVRS6XfmE4WSJfnvm7ldvB4HuCLYMp_EmrKPn6Al4BuYpi9gRdut6WOYP6_xkPtBD3tAcWZd_quHZ0SBvmCqHqofbJd4QhDbvww3-Sc7etJx8xGH5sQUoYRRrK7tJp8pFw/w264-h400/Candy%20Canes%2001.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These colour editions of the books are lovely. Not only do they add colour to Garth Williams' illustrations but there are extra illustrations too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mary and Laura are worried that Father Christmas won't be able to get to them on Christmas Eve as the river is too high to cross and they go to bed sadly. But they reckon without Mr Edwards who walks miles to Independence to meet Father Christmas and collect their presents. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudCb6CPo5KT7jWF56a_TGcynNkPKSsiMY00E4ez7mFarD6i8aD3N7ar1J6kdILOGbIoS2nKmhgVKSmXtiGEMqokBBLNHJxxgd-WfcRWTtzOaDMos6yjKuthXWBxWXeV2fu1b-KiR5yI1jCdHJOi2Xusz-2FQgBFVn_Ghi_82u8KyoNUb3lokyxdBlh8uJ/s2404/Candy%20Canes%2003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2404" data-original-width="2314" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiudCb6CPo5KT7jWF56a_TGcynNkPKSsiMY00E4ez7mFarD6i8aD3N7ar1J6kdILOGbIoS2nKmhgVKSmXtiGEMqokBBLNHJxxgd-WfcRWTtzOaDMos6yjKuthXWBxWXeV2fu1b-KiR5yI1jCdHJOi2Xusz-2FQgBFVn_Ghi_82u8KyoNUb3lokyxdBlh8uJ/w385-h400/Candy%20Canes%2003.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As there is no snow he is, of course, on horseback. The girls are so excited when they find tin cups, pennies and little cakes in their stockings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">'Then they plunged their hands into the stockings again. And they
pulled out two long, long sticks of candy. It was peppermint candy,
striped red and white.’</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">As Laura says, "There had never been such a Christmas".</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I don't know what Laura would have made of my knitted candy canes but I hope you find time this Christmas to knit a few and perhaps find a stocking to put them in.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYiFmKI_tCzi47Mm357ojG6OXrCbn7zqNFs8oaCwFnKzURvLUCvpKfN88CqPvT2oHDkUriNB5wVVXnxMBJEQKEeh8rkwc1HrKJQ5vHjRvjA8vm2iybCKxqVlvxu66UR_Qyb0zjGu32aP0J6tsY-8aFfx5dxRYDEuNwd_VoCEV6sC9hc2qMqsMQi-JS8Ww/s3287/16.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3287" data-original-width="3287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYiFmKI_tCzi47Mm357ojG6OXrCbn7zqNFs8oaCwFnKzURvLUCvpKfN88CqPvT2oHDkUriNB5wVVXnxMBJEQKEeh8rkwc1HrKJQ5vHjRvjA8vm2iybCKxqVlvxu66UR_Qyb0zjGu32aP0J6tsY-8aFfx5dxRYDEuNwd_VoCEV6sC9hc2qMqsMQi-JS8Ww/w400-h400/16.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-candy-canes" target="_blank">Candy Canes</a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-42423483183314453702023-12-09T08:09:00.001+00:002023-12-09T08:09:13.307+00:00Oranges<p>Oranges, satsumas, clementines, tangerines - whichever you like, juicy oranges are a necessity to counter all that rich food at Christmas. In my family the one non-negotiable part of the Christmas stocking is the little orange in the toe. My Granny was an exception; she loved big oranges and so, when she came to visit, she had a normal sized orange in her stocking.<br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWy4GaTxQ03ZK7rojKQh4p_lHsJ1EG0TxFrFHMlBlsSRDNVihwfdDxrqAbFkFzNVApLp2QAqky7MpSWaQsGN9dzyo5o-F6zZD3Vff0149nJtcQSzeXQSt77kCGukda5BdaRTTQzbiswqocp-OQuKQiT7MT060saktmvX8y1rXWiwCwU8ouTGR0ZRe5g-K/s2650/05%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2046" data-original-width="2650" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWy4GaTxQ03ZK7rojKQh4p_lHsJ1EG0TxFrFHMlBlsSRDNVihwfdDxrqAbFkFzNVApLp2QAqky7MpSWaQsGN9dzyo5o-F6zZD3Vff0149nJtcQSzeXQSt77kCGukda5BdaRTTQzbiswqocp-OQuKQiT7MT060saktmvX8y1rXWiwCwU8ouTGR0ZRe5g-K/w400-h309/05%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These little knitted oranges add a bit of colour to the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-8" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath and don't take long to knit. It's harder than you think to find references to Christmas oranges in books but I have two to share with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first is another Shirley Hughes book, this time <a href="https://www.walker.co.uk/Out-and-About-9781406372427.aspx" target="_blank">Out and About</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85E2qKsLyRzvlxf9HwUXE0jpU1vvHJMdAUxLUgPBUc5vTcWkDmiAgPH6bRkAxnqIa8OfmHmhZaKFyMim2tfuEQRw19MX3vEu3b2yJgrZLodf95ZlLVoZzgPs7SWS0nuXlnqHsafTIcHibYw51cpv2tRq21StXVKFNcu8H1lyTa4LTPptqhL2O0bKl7G9a/s3383/Oranges%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3383" data-original-width="2862" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85E2qKsLyRzvlxf9HwUXE0jpU1vvHJMdAUxLUgPBUc5vTcWkDmiAgPH6bRkAxnqIa8OfmHmhZaKFyMim2tfuEQRw19MX3vEu3b2yJgrZLodf95ZlLVoZzgPs7SWS0nuXlnqHsafTIcHibYw51cpv2tRq21StXVKFNcu8H1lyTa4LTPptqhL2O0bKl7G9a/w339-h400/Oranges%2001.JPG" width="339" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a collection of seasonal poems about a Katie and her little brother Olly who first appeared in the wonderful <u>Nursery Collection</u> which we have as individual little books, sadly now out of print.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzO1BmnfQUj2G3E74L6ZemfdVUHDdC0jCedQon-hbq-220jZyZLKe21HnB2s4KxQtQmI1O2u9dkb-vCbGmR4HaVjnUUyuOGR2ag1XAU-cvHsGO_KPuNPUUDhyphenhypheniqPu6lej_K3EZ9IFYIjKgnLL-QB5dcGWUqvNbB3IqzuKesq4gjKO4j4JXK3GbuGVLeV9/s2068/Nursery%20Collections.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1691" data-original-width="2068" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzO1BmnfQUj2G3E74L6ZemfdVUHDdC0jCedQon-hbq-220jZyZLKe21HnB2s4KxQtQmI1O2u9dkb-vCbGmR4HaVjnUUyuOGR2ag1XAU-cvHsGO_KPuNPUUDhyphenhypheniqPu6lej_K3EZ9IFYIjKgnLL-QB5dcGWUqvNbB3IqzuKesq4gjKO4j4JXK3GbuGVLeV9/w400-h328/Nursery%20Collections.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You may be able to find secondhand copies of these or of the collected version <u>The Nursery Collection</u> which is more recent. I think that several of the poems are also in the <a href="https://www.walker.co.uk/The-Shirley-Hughes-Treasury-Nursery-Rhymes-Poems-and-Stories-for-the-Very-Young-9781529515114.aspx" target="_blank">The Shirley Hughes Treasury</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, back to <u>Out and About</u>. The poem that caught my eye is 'Hoping' which in just a few lines conjures up all the magic of Christmas for small children. The accompanying illustrations are pitch perfect too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWVVtYqX5OcNUcnkcW2VTtyoSxvLF_ZRJbLg6HJnE9MrR1nw0BzJ0LjrbVVsLYsn75KdOBHxOJ1iAc7XqnfxT30bK2PFtKCber-7Hk4Y3idoZXXhQea_qVerfE-VGonik_c6B5QLdHgLjcTsiyitKhdp7BzI2rlf8PBqowIThayZRXEGNvASfeyNGo_Ad/s2982/Oranges%2002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1873" data-original-width="2982" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWVVtYqX5OcNUcnkcW2VTtyoSxvLF_ZRJbLg6HJnE9MrR1nw0BzJ0LjrbVVsLYsn75KdOBHxOJ1iAc7XqnfxT30bK2PFtKCber-7Hk4Y3idoZXXhQea_qVerfE-VGonik_c6B5QLdHgLjcTsiyitKhdp7BzI2rlf8PBqowIThayZRXEGNvASfeyNGo_Ad/w400-h251/Oranges%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As well as the tangerines, there are mince pies, biscuits ... lots of lovely treats.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGTMGS9ge6PssH7LZGXKAqk9tOSqncwNq9AVNBF79yiyTnAPCgTBYES_MjpUcNbuV4ksJUKurSxibZqpPBksZ2zPJOnr1gVk1CpaaHKpqX2Lhex-OAJ1ISWUX2RsuPV24B7UzohdC9d9Hb6E8Sx3rchbDhMNy4UJyg8LnJooFGONcd92mLZNkt2VkRUY5/s3777/Oranges%2003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="3777" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGTMGS9ge6PssH7LZGXKAqk9tOSqncwNq9AVNBF79yiyTnAPCgTBYES_MjpUcNbuV4ksJUKurSxibZqpPBksZ2zPJOnr1gVk1CpaaHKpqX2Lhex-OAJ1ISWUX2RsuPV24B7UzohdC9d9Hb6E8Sx3rchbDhMNy4UJyg8LnJooFGONcd92mLZNkt2VkRUY5/w400-h286/Oranges%2003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My other choice is also a poem, this time from the classic <a href="https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/now-we-are-six-by-a-a-milne" target="_blank">Now We Are Six</a> by A.A. Milne with illustrations by E.H. Shepard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQMR-GUmOzsbs9TdfbVVizNdMINJEsQgxeysouexevqbGmRQPfUjUceOsTgf8B0cnxIy6ZfUXv4f4GN4pZ5GNoxfxO1moSImWDg7bIBY_PFhmmZOWnnb_gZaiAmgevr108BlUZmh2VYmOl9P3onfiPx78nnEx_oVlOUUIcsJ0V1G5TbYqfeuBi05qJe8M/s3188/Oranges%2004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3188" data-original-width="2131" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQMR-GUmOzsbs9TdfbVVizNdMINJEsQgxeysouexevqbGmRQPfUjUceOsTgf8B0cnxIy6ZfUXv4f4GN4pZ5GNoxfxO1moSImWDg7bIBY_PFhmmZOWnnb_gZaiAmgevr108BlUZmh2VYmOl9P3onfiPx78nnEx_oVlOUUIcsJ0V1G5TbYqfeuBi05qJe8M/w268-h400/Oranges%2004.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both this book and its companion <a href="https://www.poetrybooks.co.uk/products/when-we-were-very-young?_pos=1&_sid=3fdcecd69&_ss=r" target="_blank">When We Were Very Young</a> should be in every home, with or without children. There are so many poems that you find yourself reciting for the rest of your life. there's 'Disobedience', featuring James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George Dupree who 'took great care of his mother, though he was only three', 'The King's Breakfast' where the king tries very hard to get some butter for his bread or how about 'Lines and Squares' which explains just what will happen to you if you tread on the cracks in the pavement?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But for a poem about Christmas that's hard to beat, there's 'King John's Christmas'. We learn right at the start that 'King John was not a good man, And no good friends had he,' but he still thinks it would be nice if Father Christmas brought him a stocking on Christmas morning. So, he writes a detailed list of all the things he would like and props it up by the chimney.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq86Q76tEcbok9ji5OhveE0iPW3DHqRKlybm5Q6sZYzOn92Q9gedwtAoR-dsZvtNW22X6bw8KUUqDv3fTtAKtcXCd9rwAqqNJ4NLCVTqv4_qtNEXDMbqcVRvpEntUg8HnTnanp_jH_Mfjew16kuaq35UaPZp_bSrNBt_vcm8v8BQa0Wj-lcW-Y5pbdWMvW/s2004/Oranges%2006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1407" data-original-width="2004" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq86Q76tEcbok9ji5OhveE0iPW3DHqRKlybm5Q6sZYzOn92Q9gedwtAoR-dsZvtNW22X6bw8KUUqDv3fTtAKtcXCd9rwAqqNJ4NLCVTqv4_qtNEXDMbqcVRvpEntUg8HnTnanp_jH_Mfjew16kuaq35UaPZp_bSrNBt_vcm8v8BQa0Wj-lcW-Y5pbdWMvW/w400-h281/Oranges%2006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are the things he asks for: crackers and candy, a box of chocolates ... "I don't mind oranges, I do like nuts! And I SHOULD like a pocket-knife that really cuts' ... but what King John wants most of all is a 'big red india-rubber ball!' Sadly, his stocking is empty on Christmas morning but, in case you think this is a very sad poem, there's a twist at the end which leaves you smiling. My son who is a primary school teacher reads this poem to his class every Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoH-uKxv-Z43EiC0C8g7b1Z2WNwRxeHzKjJ8kYUZ829EmU7A0b4Er6lQI114vpzKwLCrBgsvKPpSL103ifq2t1SSSognSW_9NQzFl6bT6YCPrtlszc4wNmWHCJXjQcjjZCd4fpfjzXcQvUhtvf-ekswltJsYkO0GdddutcbLw80QYbSQ-JaWXhGdoew7g/s3080/07.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="3080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoH-uKxv-Z43EiC0C8g7b1Z2WNwRxeHzKjJ8kYUZ829EmU7A0b4Er6lQI114vpzKwLCrBgsvKPpSL103ifq2t1SSSognSW_9NQzFl6bT6YCPrtlszc4wNmWHCJXjQcjjZCd4fpfjzXcQvUhtvf-ekswltJsYkO0GdddutcbLw80QYbSQ-JaWXhGdoew7g/w400-h400/07.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-oranges" target="_blank">Oranges</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-53665366018267595582023-12-07T06:57:00.002+00:002023-12-07T06:57:30.191+00:00Snowflake Biscuits<p>The next things to decorate my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath are some snowflake biscuits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiFJD_-C0cZzg-cM-H0zCpv2ER_bmIvtj5S-TQLmaMvA9K_i6wgYwESRFsvRk1rSjS41kUWQJ-37_Ro341uEXSL14-ckhnLs3PPUGXaoSeZFTWJCLnfWnInEwNDMtsmIOuPLsAJzp7Sajo5aMdIdZm1Pm-RLKDjBCw4A8TY7ctBJspqTZ0A7vYj6kXFam/s3994/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="3994" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiFJD_-C0cZzg-cM-H0zCpv2ER_bmIvtj5S-TQLmaMvA9K_i6wgYwESRFsvRk1rSjS41kUWQJ-37_Ro341uEXSL14-ckhnLs3PPUGXaoSeZFTWJCLnfWnInEwNDMtsmIOuPLsAJzp7Sajo5aMdIdZm1Pm-RLKDjBCw4A8TY7ctBJspqTZ0A7vYj6kXFam/w400-h278/06.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were the first things I thought of when I was choosing decorations for this Christmas food and drink wreath. There are lots of special biscuits associated with the festive season but I've loved the idea of these ever since first coming across them in this book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AU_BAILB51SdzisE0_h0Q3bVl_VUvqu6Z_Fyv8ydmqq0Akmfk2fVFF9LUG0tsPUpUEP1pva3q2XhI72LOcp69LRnsSx_baHmT5Z9l3yv1i5ISuuodseZSxDoK4baolW_SWbYiAmQvp0-4_JVcZcUv2DBe_6XvyyDjQvP1AklHaY-dAg1lRrscvlQi-6_/s3627/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3627" data-original-width="2976" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6AU_BAILB51SdzisE0_h0Q3bVl_VUvqu6Z_Fyv8ydmqq0Akmfk2fVFF9LUG0tsPUpUEP1pva3q2XhI72LOcp69LRnsSx_baHmT5Z9l3yv1i5ISuuodseZSxDoK4baolW_SWbYiAmQvp0-4_JVcZcUv2DBe_6XvyyDjQvP1AklHaY-dAg1lRrscvlQi-6_/w329-h400/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2001.JPG" width="329" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In <a href="https://www.janehissey.co.uk/10/Jolly-Snow" target="_blank">Jolly Snow</a> by <a href="https://www.janehissey.co.uk/52/Biography" target="_blank">Jane Hissey</a>, the toys are tired of waiting for snow so decide to make their own in all sorts of creative (and messy) ways. While Bramwell Brown is baking, they make snowflakes out of paper ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaDpaxPcOYn_4VFLJr_RKk7lLjC599j2zdHO5tsDHhgGRMtPc8TQN21p8E40_4pMFaHrIJBbtrIvDrWH95eOOm-MVXDimqNylls_1aYsvnQWe5CUcBNbEcZvoGmZ2D2EZcjXDUN24yspUV_rAngt-oV9b4OCEUc735Fn5bUvDm4khTZsx6QKz6EMu-lit/s3080/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="3080" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaDpaxPcOYn_4VFLJr_RKk7lLjC599j2zdHO5tsDHhgGRMtPc8TQN21p8E40_4pMFaHrIJBbtrIvDrWH95eOOm-MVXDimqNylls_1aYsvnQWe5CUcBNbEcZvoGmZ2D2EZcjXDUN24yspUV_rAngt-oV9b4OCEUc735Fn5bUvDm4khTZsx6QKz6EMu-lit/w400-h250/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and feathers ... and have lots of fun. By this time it has actually started snowing outside but Bramwell Brown has also finished his baking and Jolly Tall (the giraffe, obviously) decides that this is the best snow of all. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">‘Bramwell Brown came into the room carrying a huge plateful of
snowflake biscuits. “I think what you need is some of <i>my</i>
snow,” he said.’ </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JiESDeyeRdXs9qxutls47Ze2oiHGZVT_VIQPsUOOu3GRZHhr9x1L0FvdH_K8U-RRdE4UE6y9a0bfTN0n7-gJXzIeXSJ-qJL-FBXYMqsBZ_KwBFKsLXevU9HimiOUksiwsvSJsBAVMHFCO41WT2A2xNCAy54AVf33zVdl9y3GzZfKUTU7GoSefXVbmwBj/s3483/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2798" data-original-width="3483" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3JiESDeyeRdXs9qxutls47Ze2oiHGZVT_VIQPsUOOu3GRZHhr9x1L0FvdH_K8U-RRdE4UE6y9a0bfTN0n7-gJXzIeXSJ-qJL-FBXYMqsBZ_KwBFKsLXevU9HimiOUksiwsvSJsBAVMHFCO41WT2A2xNCAy54AVf33zVdl9y3GzZfKUTU7GoSefXVbmwBj/w400-h321/Snowflake%20Biscuits%2004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whenever it snows I feel the need to bake some snowflake biscuits as I used to do when the children were small. In case you feel like trying these yourself, I found the little tubes of ready made icing very handy for adding the snowflakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmQXhe2vKujLHS9WEfGTdyp6z_JXpVoG1tLkaCYZveV2qtbRc964ycpxDTWy7D9ZqAIukJWbO8Ep3Yp9HoLyVe9OgYJ7AkcGkm6pccgpqC2d-a_vgJYYHpD-pnHRNmdD9YUAkESu8B4nTY8ggIOYVVqiMEH8Lgqf8Wc6_SaRjaJGOHcUUNmZvG3bxCY6a/s3069/08.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3069" data-original-width="3069" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXmQXhe2vKujLHS9WEfGTdyp6z_JXpVoG1tLkaCYZveV2qtbRc964ycpxDTWy7D9ZqAIukJWbO8Ep3Yp9HoLyVe9OgYJ7AkcGkm6pccgpqC2d-a_vgJYYHpD-pnHRNmdD9YUAkESu8B4nTY8ggIOYVVqiMEH8Lgqf8Wc6_SaRjaJGOHcUUNmZvG3bxCY6a/s320/08.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-snowflake-biscuits" target="_blank">Snowflake Biscuits</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-61371286175504653752023-12-05T08:29:00.002+00:002023-12-05T08:29:38.535+00:00Mulled Drinks<p>Whether it's mulled wine, cider or ale, a warm and spicy drink is a delicious part of the festive season. My personal favourite was mulled cider but Long Covid wouldn't mix well with alcohol so it's non-alcoholic mulled drinks for me now.</p><p>The third set of decorations for my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> are some little bundles of cinnamon sticks with some spices embroidered on using french knots. These are very quick to knit as they're just ... well, knitted sticks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69p77J6k7NK_UAFKQPwt0GspRKQfsbgbFVUwcMh9uePSgLuvv10nUhR4tYY9EhvJtZJk4nv1umbQjP5hQ-Ol2kUpcVAJnjF6gAFpfVROiM5RNlPKRQPCtQdE3xQv6r_zWId22mQRZQPQDih194w_q8i8qJNLulrb8KgijskLqFf9QcSlMQschwiHwRHrD/s5472/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69p77J6k7NK_UAFKQPwt0GspRKQfsbgbFVUwcMh9uePSgLuvv10nUhR4tYY9EhvJtZJk4nv1umbQjP5hQ-Ol2kUpcVAJnjF6gAFpfVROiM5RNlPKRQPCtQdE3xQv6r_zWId22mQRZQPQDih194w_q8i8qJNLulrb8KgijskLqFf9QcSlMQschwiHwRHrD/w400-h266/06.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knew the book I wanted to use to illustrate mulled drinks straight away, a picture book of one of my favourite parts of Kenneth Grahame's <a href="https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/the-wind-in-the-willows.html" target="_blank">The Wind in the Willows</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvISNU-aHoEAkqvvq6FinzQbTC5x3vg1WpPZOHlNBV4gLU4ax02ROVaQX0yz7yf5FRamkn4OEkAQqEUuKdxoawg4wbzYxp-W2kBoUiM3Vn849w9UF_nhv-Y-7QEfqtnQigC-sbQw0tV5GkKmSpwAxEJVhnmbTnZGs-Rm8BdwYc87P_d0oWzh-xtx3Lrzqs/s3542/Mulled%20Drinks%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3542" data-original-width="3542" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvISNU-aHoEAkqvvq6FinzQbTC5x3vg1WpPZOHlNBV4gLU4ax02ROVaQX0yz7yf5FRamkn4OEkAQqEUuKdxoawg4wbzYxp-W2kBoUiM3Vn849w9UF_nhv-Y-7QEfqtnQigC-sbQw0tV5GkKmSpwAxEJVhnmbTnZGs-Rm8BdwYc87P_d0oWzh-xtx3Lrzqs/w400-h400/Mulled%20Drinks%2001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.wordsandpics.org/2021/04/featured-illustrator-beverley-gooding.html" target="_blank">Mole's Christmas</a> has beautiful illustrations by the artist Beverley Gooding. I see she illustrated two other picture books from <u>The Wind in the Willows</u>, <u>The Open Road</u> and <u>Wayfarers All</u> which would be worth looking for. All three books are now out of print.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, as Christmas nears Mole grows homesick for his old home and he and Rat are there when they hear carol singers outside. The ever resourceful Rat invites them in to sit by the fire and goes off in search of beer to mull. "I perceive this to be Old Burton," he remarked approvingly ... The very thing!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLnNY_mLnL3cgDS5EDkEfGOIU5qyjmr8yYxj7zYvFXCrm2F4b2i_44IZ1jhWKDxIKbmx13UPqWYW-tJoqFYBwPrhqWSoeDpATdaP_8Kkhh25EvH6qeTBo1mm3Vh2XqbiN73_sNpBfyQgHGhrMI1x4JHHQ6FX1tsPM_ePIHhJ2_Gnkn5WnCaESyEUcmcro/s2485/Mulled%20Drinks%2001%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1507" data-original-width="2485" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLnNY_mLnL3cgDS5EDkEfGOIU5qyjmr8yYxj7zYvFXCrm2F4b2i_44IZ1jhWKDxIKbmx13UPqWYW-tJoqFYBwPrhqWSoeDpATdaP_8Kkhh25EvH6qeTBo1mm3Vh2XqbiN73_sNpBfyQgHGhrMI1x4JHHQ6FX1tsPM_ePIHhJ2_Gnkn5WnCaESyEUcmcro/w400-h243/Mulled%20Drinks%2001%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">‘soon every field-mouse was sipping and coughing and choking (for a
little mulled ale goes a long way) and wiping his eyes and laughing
and forgetting he had ever been cold in all his life.’</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">It makes you fell warm and cosy just to look at the pictures, doesn't it?</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNoj9_rpv303ewf0MQ6TpB-34YusP5naNGq0XFhxVIlTSf4MFpCM6K30oyNUREIhfrh4-62ozcL0zN1lbb2i7oXBcHEwnZ9D51uMWtE8P_smy9ngvuTcgzlYmUlS21Z9l6rzHfIw_d4DyasmU5v5ka4oAGpbksaonyJMXdS9aEt5y8TKfCciao3-mCHm/s3374/05.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="3374" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrNoj9_rpv303ewf0MQ6TpB-34YusP5naNGq0XFhxVIlTSf4MFpCM6K30oyNUREIhfrh4-62ozcL0zN1lbb2i7oXBcHEwnZ9D51uMWtE8P_smy9ngvuTcgzlYmUlS21Z9l6rzHfIw_d4DyasmU5v5ka4oAGpbksaonyJMXdS9aEt5y8TKfCciao3-mCHm/w400-h400/05.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-mulled-drinks" target="_blank">Mulled Drinks</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;"><span></span></p></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-47341800911143330412023-12-03T07:44:00.001+00:002023-12-03T07:44:14.224+00:00Hot Chocolate<p>The second set of decorations to add to my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath are three little mugs of hot chocolate.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSftcutORCTNVp360Hw3SNoFPDbs3mMsHszaunucx4FbwVAFqY3OBmJCcXLYbrhKZHMzlUtXZQNwglWQJykZWWdUlAPAzlIgKKYmsRMPT3dZkF_CVMZrMDnxBEdiwAfoGeeDRJi0hD8l2F0xz3PlezeNsgi5oE9ih_E6PzUd3jxdKR8tPLrrIo8OS8CWc/s3634/03%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1287" data-original-width="3634" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvSftcutORCTNVp360Hw3SNoFPDbs3mMsHszaunucx4FbwVAFqY3OBmJCcXLYbrhKZHMzlUtXZQNwglWQJykZWWdUlAPAzlIgKKYmsRMPT3dZkF_CVMZrMDnxBEdiwAfoGeeDRJi0hD8l2F0xz3PlezeNsgi5oE9ih_E6PzUd3jxdKR8tPLrrIo8OS8CWc/w400-h141/03%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Who doesn't like a hot chocolate at Christmas (or any other time, come to that?) There's something about this drink that calms you amidst all the hustle and bustle. It's often used in children's books to represent home and comfort. Dumbledore suggests it to Ginny in <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-9781408855669/" target="_blank">Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</a> when she returns from a terrible ordeal ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> "Bed rest and perhaps a large, steaming mug of hot chocolate. I always </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>find that</span> cheers me up ..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In <a href="https://www.andersenpress.co.uk/books/the-polar-express/" target="_blank">The Polar Express</a> written and illustrated by <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/chris-van-allsburg-21819" target="_blank">Chris Van Allsburg</a>, the little boy who narrates the story is not sure if he still believes in Father Christmas when a strange train turns up on Christmas Eve and takes him on a magical adventure, along with lots of other children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDPSxaZLcv4IBgogq3y7S-tC3Pym9Xq7FJFvaFzjB1GcVhllWysnFC68tSuNslALi8B3UXDmMi3foY5sVc3qHy_BvG42DTx0l8UxKtnWWV3MELiL9DwlZMo_JqjSe6AyxJ9kY1Dngt810JrtfS33OpnIFiwRB6i9shkZ7PQk8j-I4hja97m9pXtIeRi3Z/s3364/Hot%20Chocolate%2001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2686" data-original-width="3364" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDPSxaZLcv4IBgogq3y7S-tC3Pym9Xq7FJFvaFzjB1GcVhllWysnFC68tSuNslALi8B3UXDmMi3foY5sVc3qHy_BvG42DTx0l8UxKtnWWV3MELiL9DwlZMo_JqjSe6AyxJ9kY1Dngt810JrtfS33OpnIFiwRB6i9shkZ7PQk8j-I4hja97m9pXtIeRi3Z/w400-h320/Hot%20Chocolate%2001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At first, the boy finds the train a bit scary but everything changes when the children are given mugs of hot chocolate - 'We drank hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars.'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzV7OJUAP_RPwo0-up8DqERBuaC_ACzaq8_lydsTH4PvNpTC9bouNA_cnuNm_PYKkdZW4ZE9gBZ-OF_YECGK87SGRfMkIxaT5ERxNiMCh4MQbvV5jFuMm_obb0KaOsrOiQkjqT6hH17Xx-xPRnSBMTaXvgfKhO66Y4XnzWfzPUGg9TajKNmDggWlIVzo_/s3772/Hot%20Chocolate%2002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="3772" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzV7OJUAP_RPwo0-up8DqERBuaC_ACzaq8_lydsTH4PvNpTC9bouNA_cnuNm_PYKkdZW4ZE9gBZ-OF_YECGK87SGRfMkIxaT5ERxNiMCh4MQbvV5jFuMm_obb0KaOsrOiQkjqT6hH17Xx-xPRnSBMTaXvgfKhO66Y4XnzWfzPUGg9TajKNmDggWlIVzo_/w400-h156/Hot%20Chocolate%2002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The train is, of course, destined for the North pole where the children see Father Christmas and the elves getting ready to deliver the presents. Our narrator is asked to choose the first present of Christmas and it turns out to be a very special present indeed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqW1jcUnzCICqoaM_r30ujF2wusuF6aTy2cJzzHs5u32v-jzERKmqzyEndtPR2t6WqChCzlvLjI7vozJQK64IjL0qzLcJa23oMUxIHChpMUfYugE4se9nvDAUCVfYa1Dn9_menMUZrl3dephiCDKdS4nuH3zi_33c_vDEA1s3IzG5yD7633ytJ0uyhtAt/s3309/05.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3309" data-original-width="3309" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqW1jcUnzCICqoaM_r30ujF2wusuF6aTy2cJzzHs5u32v-jzERKmqzyEndtPR2t6WqChCzlvLjI7vozJQK64IjL0qzLcJa23oMUxIHChpMUfYugE4se9nvDAUCVfYa1Dn9_menMUZrl3dephiCDKdS4nuH3zi_33c_vDEA1s3IzG5yD7633ytJ0uyhtAt/w400-h400/05.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-hot-chocolate" target="_blank">Hot Chocolate</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-44550524112892558542023-12-01T07:52:00.002+00:002023-12-01T07:52:47.871+00:00Fairy Lights<p>This is the first of six posts to complement the six sets of decorations on my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/christmas-cheer-16" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> wreath. I thought you might like to know more about the books that inspired me to choose each of them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V2UCfUmLyd7kXYNA6v47NZW6y3W12QzxSYLdtjyCEV4_B8U641eQA72NIpJZh5HWXyPwWuZMRWcmK2WtCgLe3EChIew5uId5oMLOZ4wIY8xT3eQgfRPOWGfqNusEbdMZXZ_Ywl2rGnhLK24kj7TndS-RIA1zKuSmuSvY5538kiZc_X3bhGteGO0vOdKf/s3287/03.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3287" data-original-width="3287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2V2UCfUmLyd7kXYNA6v47NZW6y3W12QzxSYLdtjyCEV4_B8U641eQA72NIpJZh5HWXyPwWuZMRWcmK2WtCgLe3EChIew5uId5oMLOZ4wIY8xT3eQgfRPOWGfqNusEbdMZXZ_Ywl2rGnhLK24kj7TndS-RIA1zKuSmuSvY5538kiZc_X3bhGteGO0vOdKf/w400-h400/03.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, the first decoration to go on this wreath is a string of fairy lights. These are such a traditional feature of Christmas decorations that I could have chosen lots of books to talk about here. In the end, I've chosen two of my favourites.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's start with just one of the many wonderful books by <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/authors/180254/shirley-hughes" target="_blank">Shirley Hughes</a>. This one features Alfie and Annie Rose; the books with them in are woven tightly into my memories of when my two children were small.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQPfQ0wzyCKXt9VAJqgjQEgG96Z2JwGHRISskcOjc63n0Tesm1aihwDqOzmIIFEtk1veCyAWxLlPfh-A6WU8zH6AFkyxvqKhQKba8vc2DrR_82tirc6SHSXw1Avj_RfW-K2oRnMtGdpU48_fC67AsxjnX6Vxto6Zwk-gZ1FdMf6TlmAWebheq3K466qyE/s3000/Lights%2001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2982" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQPfQ0wzyCKXt9VAJqgjQEgG96Z2JwGHRISskcOjc63n0Tesm1aihwDqOzmIIFEtk1veCyAWxLlPfh-A6WU8zH6AFkyxvqKhQKba8vc2DrR_82tirc6SHSXw1Avj_RfW-K2oRnMtGdpU48_fC67AsxjnX6Vxto6Zwk-gZ1FdMf6TlmAWebheq3K466qyE/w398-h400/Lights%2001.JPG" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/414217/alfies-christmas-by-shirley-hughes/9781849416498" target="_blank">Alfie's Christmas</a> includes all the excitement and preparation for Christmas that you'd expect. Alfie makes cards, does some baking and goes shopping to choose presents. The pictures of their newly decorated Christmas tree are magical.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcX87MoBTkioGz50SEkaH3Hwe-gqdO-UTOjK1IdxphtHrd4t3CIkeOLcsQxqWvsbUWtd6JEqzz4aYnY7zlJlXvvTbzscX50lV2AfJsn3kQetC_ZmqiP18K7nOhfgW7gILDS1kSATXU4tePlnnPOQ4ux6HTQsbR9-uDKEJsZUg_dhGy10HN2LXiRmkP2zY/s4483/Lights%2002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2733" data-original-width="4483" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIcX87MoBTkioGz50SEkaH3Hwe-gqdO-UTOjK1IdxphtHrd4t3CIkeOLcsQxqWvsbUWtd6JEqzz4aYnY7zlJlXvvTbzscX50lV2AfJsn3kQetC_ZmqiP18K7nOhfgW7gILDS1kSATXU4tePlnnPOQ4ux6HTQsbR9-uDKEJsZUg_dhGy10HN2LXiRmkP2zY/w400-h244/Lights%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the things I like about Shirley Hughes' books is that she includes all the little messy details of family life and this book isn't without the over-excitement and tears that go with small children at Christmas time. You'll have to read the book to find out more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My other choice is less well known but an essential part of my Christmas reading. Meet Alpaca, the toy rabbit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NrXm6sNDnegXBfiiuY4mDGGz0R2yHlSnkQYTIZSrRGw4baQgIVYDg-1wsQTOIdLn39ElEWlUwx3E9s93N2clK82RJ3pZ246mk5zcKwg_4IQAZWa9aV6ocXiWU7GUNSaMBkLWos8RlNrNBzrlWn9TwTWZB3KuU4xoIFxy4QFeYZt30Cdu7kVqUEDBlxm_/s2656/Lights%2003.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2656" data-original-width="2656" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NrXm6sNDnegXBfiiuY4mDGGz0R2yHlSnkQYTIZSrRGw4baQgIVYDg-1wsQTOIdLn39ElEWlUwx3E9s93N2clK82RJ3pZ246mk5zcKwg_4IQAZWa9aV6ocXiWU7GUNSaMBkLWos8RlNrNBzrlWn9TwTWZB3KuU4xoIFxy4QFeYZt30Cdu7kVqUEDBlxm_/w400-h400/Lights%2003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Alpaca Saves Christmas,</u> written by Rosemary Billam and illustrated by Vanessa Julian-Ottie was published in 1990 but is now out of print. If you can find a secondhand copy, it's a lovely story. Ellen and her little brother Robert are looking forward to Christmas and so, of course, is Alpaca. They hang their stockings on Christmas Eve and Ellen has made a little one especially for Alpaca.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-0M7SC2AXb4QL6JRlintJDKT-mYZc1oRtUOcomBCkiP5P1G75o5crq_FtsLjlEhRZStWLFFy39ZVSXUZs9pgM89fzpyuhjpoQJld-dlI3uznMCcRmGf2sCRMqRyWwhQD3lCLGSbVSJSkrm4s37i5B1AOxbbUEc7ZiokQwodgmiOds56xqGJ2oHPyBOMu/s2373/Lights%2004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2351" data-original-width="2373" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR-0M7SC2AXb4QL6JRlintJDKT-mYZc1oRtUOcomBCkiP5P1G75o5crq_FtsLjlEhRZStWLFFy39ZVSXUZs9pgM89fzpyuhjpoQJld-dlI3uznMCcRmGf2sCRMqRyWwhQD3lCLGSbVSJSkrm4s37i5B1AOxbbUEc7ZiokQwodgmiOds56xqGJ2oHPyBOMu/w400-h396/Lights%2004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All doesn't go as planned though. Robert can't sleep and decides to go downstairs to wait for Father Christmas, taking Alpaca with him - "I'd much rather stay in bed." thought Alpaca.' Robert bends down to switch on the fairy lights and drops Alpaca amongst the presents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCz06XXXt470p5HHG1y3zYfRzZuJu0ik70EcgLHD_xdQUVYTig7-7ekBHp15Ca4lLa8817o-3FyCvysfbkvFaSuP1tyhUVerJJUJ9DDo-5aSW6CtT4B73x9CK1vlid98g977gGhe8mFHIC2hiwyYp4AvjeHBwV8wfv31RFv9gD1W9bPmIT5g9dVqpuFqF/s2732/Lights%2005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="2732" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCz06XXXt470p5HHG1y3zYfRzZuJu0ik70EcgLHD_xdQUVYTig7-7ekBHp15Ca4lLa8817o-3FyCvysfbkvFaSuP1tyhUVerJJUJ9DDo-5aSW6CtT4B73x9CK1vlid98g977gGhe8mFHIC2hiwyYp4AvjeHBwV8wfv31RFv9gD1W9bPmIT5g9dVqpuFqF/w400-h354/Lights%2005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ellen comes down to persuade her little brother back upstairs and off they go, leaving the fairy lights on and Alpaca still under the tree. "What about me?" thought Alpaca.' And then Alpaca spots someone he recognises but it's been a long evening for Father Christmas and he falls asleep by the fire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePEoFrBf9LLwwtSOTReEzLnFT-GKrWgroMqufFbFherSjxMadNsM-qGlss3Lm13nCHRihuBNeA-QHMgcXqobCq_34jlCd7Mer2ISlT72wDvqibyW7HW0Qbc6t8e38sh-VDDh0KvD_JQXt0_D1XouelGmLz1q7AXfoe2v51DjPeVmn4UtHVCVlprhqp7kj/s2445/Lights%2006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2416" data-original-width="2445" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePEoFrBf9LLwwtSOTReEzLnFT-GKrWgroMqufFbFherSjxMadNsM-qGlss3Lm13nCHRihuBNeA-QHMgcXqobCq_34jlCd7Mer2ISlT72wDvqibyW7HW0Qbc6t8e38sh-VDDh0KvD_JQXt0_D1XouelGmLz1q7AXfoe2v51DjPeVmn4UtHVCVlprhqp7kj/w400-h395/Lights%2006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that is how Alpaca saves Christmas. Mind you, he keeps the story of his adventure to himself. I love this book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGot5N4RpyvdZv7bg9Mnl5EfketlLeiwYolBh3fdFFg6tmbOhDCPXBvai0V6OTGzLW6DKUJi4bE3_CmdetTyKtw048P887tqXOlDtuxYd5v-U-74GIAvouuHyEEf9ZZllZmtDt_7D4MKVgUC-D5c6KkcHNDfVPe7Ux6aofOsbA0qC3wWKXtjAtARhoVeDb/s3309/10.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3309" data-original-width="3309" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGot5N4RpyvdZv7bg9Mnl5EfketlLeiwYolBh3fdFFg6tmbOhDCPXBvai0V6OTGzLW6DKUJi4bE3_CmdetTyKtw048P887tqXOlDtuxYd5v-U-74GIAvouuHyEEf9ZZllZmtDt_7D4MKVgUC-D5c6KkcHNDfVPe7Ux6aofOsbA0qC3wWKXtjAtARhoVeDb/w400-h400/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-fairy-lights" target="_blank">Fairy Lights</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-60311177998149283242023-11-27T18:26:00.007+00:002023-11-27T18:26:35.379+00:00Another Embroidery and some Festive Patterns<p>After writing about my Mum's embroidery last time, I remembered another picture from the 1950s to show you. I found this one in an antique shop and, as you can see, it commemorates the <a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/the-festival-of-britain" target="_blank">Festival of Britain</a> of 1951. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_sfSqy33Spp20KFOYrpLw_Vdj-2R27uW792xcjvrk0b-cxL655KJcc_65w-rU1ghoyKP7r1x-O8mWU8eOKInVn91fPcH-dwwuTa4dEHHU0J-hT8u2PUZdOrHgcc1dsUgmsYDQUfAoyoDy8I7DHmQWZuTO4v5sFQR65_B1ImC8zOkeIkehEZ6qfbyIJ6T/s3741/01%20Embroidery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3741" data-original-width="3025" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_sfSqy33Spp20KFOYrpLw_Vdj-2R27uW792xcjvrk0b-cxL655KJcc_65w-rU1ghoyKP7r1x-O8mWU8eOKInVn91fPcH-dwwuTa4dEHHU0J-hT8u2PUZdOrHgcc1dsUgmsYDQUfAoyoDy8I7DHmQWZuTO4v5sFQR65_B1ImC8zOkeIkehEZ6qfbyIJ6T/w324-h400/01%20Embroidery.JPG" width="324" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an interesting design. On the left are pictures representing 1851 when the <a href="https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1418247/the-great-london-exhibition-of-paper-peepshow/" target="_blank">Great Exhibition</a> was held, the modern equivalents are on the right. Of course, things that would have seemed very modern in 1951 now look dated to modern eyes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Near the top right is <a href="https://batterseapowerstation.co.uk/about/heritage-history/" target="_blank">Battersea Power Station</a> which was certainly a great advance on the windmill. I remember the power station still working but now Battersea is a shopping centre. I also like the horses ploughing on the left and what is now a very old tractor to the right. My Dad was a tractor driver in the 1950s and 60s; I remember watching the harvest and thinking how nice it was they'd put his name on his tractor ... how was I to know that 'David Brown' was also a make of tractor?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The embroidery is a bit stained and has been damp at some point. I must clean it and find it a frame; it deserves to be on display.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also wanted to tell you about a couple of Christmas patterns that I've managed to finish recently. The first one is a crochet version of paper chains where each chain buttons on to the next so that the colours can be swapped round. I've put this together as an advent calendar for myself and thought others might like to make one too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapCaUKTAibCmyk9RvVAOMkrhldQQ3QRieR1LSQKOQVkxkKTXnOOlyoEpGzLoyQSs3oN2n3aSmPOK4xQTl4GZ4ujgeFxRry71tHTMsGEfAQkS9cutsbx0CwodN_6NxV4k2zAZOj8zJR16O38IA0JM7cNGxymeJlCrunoIL81jdmN28ijm_qkf8efA009Bk/s1600/03%20Advent%20Chain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapCaUKTAibCmyk9RvVAOMkrhldQQ3QRieR1LSQKOQVkxkKTXnOOlyoEpGzLoyQSs3oN2n3aSmPOK4xQTl4GZ4ujgeFxRry71tHTMsGEfAQkS9cutsbx0CwodN_6NxV4k2zAZOj8zJR16O38IA0JM7cNGxymeJlCrunoIL81jdmN28ijm_qkf8efA009Bk/w400-h320/03%20Advent%20Chain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wound 24 little balls of yarn, each with a matching button in the middle and wrapped them all in tissue paper. Then I added numbered tags so that I can make one chain a day during advent. If you'd like the pattern, it's available free on ravelry - <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/advent-chain" target="_blank">Advent Chain</a>. There aren't any photos of the finished chain as I've only made one so far to work out the pattern. I'll show you how it's coming along next month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, I also crocheted a drawstring bag to hold all those balls of yarn. Needless to say, this was much more complicated than the chains and took a while to make. I learnt how to crochet a nice cord though so that was fun. I think my favourite bit of this bag is probably the little crocheted snowballs on the ends of the cords. The pattern for the bag is published separately and would make a nice gift or project bag if you don't happen to have 24 tiny balls of yarn in need of a home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbv7HvEKx3vgjYqOnC_24LyTh52q3NEIPpbwsnc1iWMeIqMIEoSzj7fAdq2snVG2wcsZNyFQR_t8XwtI5A5Jwq8eR3ONxgaTYsH5WaYMmjHSy13TZyh9eS8rRAL9OSi3WYECH1R-3XKJB-c7cr_jc5inqRNbY2NPanU4VYtsngE3B7cM_QwBfmzA8mQww/s3210/04%20Advent%20Chain%20Bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3210" data-original-width="1921" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAbv7HvEKx3vgjYqOnC_24LyTh52q3NEIPpbwsnc1iWMeIqMIEoSzj7fAdq2snVG2wcsZNyFQR_t8XwtI5A5Jwq8eR3ONxgaTYsH5WaYMmjHSy13TZyh9eS8rRAL9OSi3WYECH1R-3XKJB-c7cr_jc5inqRNbY2NPanU4VYtsngE3B7cM_QwBfmzA8mQww/w240-h400/04%20Advent%20Chain%20Bag.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/advent-chain-bag" target="_blank">Advent Chain Bag</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />My other festive pattern is yet another wreath. I think this might be the fifth one I've designed and it's the smallest of the lot, being only about 20 cm / 8" wide. Despite that, it took me more than two years to design this one, my Long Covid kept getting in the way. So it's a great relief to have finally finished it.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHF1j4kNtJCF9V2PxPjKGQLi4mTGPBRPQUZrZ9vGGpyvkqO9qe8wSAJlD44DXY5Cvo8WNkgy-Y1W8aIE6fxYkEqw5y6OxlDd5P8pMj4ohtX_F80otafB0URh0QpMJ7BDabl0MKG8f3Oy5RY9FXWZbN4tcPfr49yqP4_N6v9uUHfYM7SmeLBWdzEQ_T3to/s3287/02%20Christmas%20Cheer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3287" data-original-width="3287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHF1j4kNtJCF9V2PxPjKGQLi4mTGPBRPQUZrZ9vGGpyvkqO9qe8wSAJlD44DXY5Cvo8WNkgy-Y1W8aIE6fxYkEqw5y6OxlDd5P8pMj4ohtX_F80otafB0URh0QpMJ7BDabl0MKG8f3Oy5RY9FXWZbN4tcPfr49yqP4_N6v9uUHfYM7SmeLBWdzEQ_T3to/w400-h400/02%20Christmas%20Cheer.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The decorations on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-cheer-8" target="_blank">Christmas Cheer</a> are all inspired by festive food and drink. Well, apart from the fairy lights. I needed something to fill in the background and they added some colour to the design. The pattern for covering the wreath is available now; the six sets of decorations will be published on alternate days, starting on 1st December with those fairy lights. If I can get them written, there will also be a short blog post to accompany each pattern, talking about my inspiration for each of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's not much progress to report on my new bedroom as I'm now waiting for my bed and mattress to be made. They should be ready in a few weeks so I'm hoping to move in before Christmas. In the meantime, I've finished re-vamping the floor and have moved my desk and chair back in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoGVGk7ThYQHWSF4d7fZLLyAwDLXLBpxcl9IsumJG8c_Y6MDfwvkhUVne0ucrAD9OuEk1CFRxzlk2JNJixrgUk5mxsAL-yd8nDk-u_Tn1_CneTc0WOYhrqFa0R0CiKSW9Wr3K8kyJ8F-OqPM6Np-UutVG803GuEskyX_skBxruxCh4mU_TspdqG4ZquuX/s5344/05%20Bedroom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3352" data-original-width="5344" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoGVGk7ThYQHWSF4d7fZLLyAwDLXLBpxcl9IsumJG8c_Y6MDfwvkhUVne0ucrAD9OuEk1CFRxzlk2JNJixrgUk5mxsAL-yd8nDk-u_Tn1_CneTc0WOYhrqFa0R0CiKSW9Wr3K8kyJ8F-OqPM6Np-UutVG803GuEskyX_skBxruxCh4mU_TspdqG4ZquuX/w400-h251/05%20Bedroom.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's actually my daughter's desk (an old double school desk I bought her years ago) but she says I can keep it for the time being. I also found some tiebacks for my new curtains. Did you know you can get magnetic ones now? Well, I didn't. What a clever idea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other thing I've done is to work on the bedroom door which was chipped, dirty and battered from years of furniture moving and general living. Doesn't it look nice now?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VBRtAsq_t2RMqC7hdOkhVUK98jG-gAEDM8dgIcW_GI65I3ZutVHqqprX6cHjE3O6D2ijroZxp25OWA7VqZLQYchJxpu1-UTqot0xma8YvFOPLGgHqXoNCt5ivf69cYWj3-jRjJNZ00bhltFknztYYiXOc0aF97vpJlF9D82TWq4woYuAsth941BcnZPY/s4815/06%20Door.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4815" data-original-width="3139" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VBRtAsq_t2RMqC7hdOkhVUK98jG-gAEDM8dgIcW_GI65I3ZutVHqqprX6cHjE3O6D2ijroZxp25OWA7VqZLQYchJxpu1-UTqot0xma8YvFOPLGgHqXoNCt5ivf69cYWj3-jRjJNZ00bhltFknztYYiXOc0aF97vpJlF9D82TWq4woYuAsth941BcnZPY/w261-h400/06%20Door.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Would you believe, all I did was fill in the chips with a dark wood stain felt pen and then give it a polish with a dark beeswax? A bit of Brasso on the door knob and it looks beautiful. I'm very pleased with my 'new' door.</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-27361441825780468772023-11-18T09:54:00.000+00:002023-11-18T09:54:01.711+00:001950s Embroidery<p>I recently shared this embroidered picture worked by my Mum on my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/groups/frankies-knitted-stuff?s=tab">ravelry group</a> and I thought it would be nice to have a look at some other embroidery from the 1950s.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1fkRtmIbuBCYxLdk_i1gNKQTLKets_bxCS5UfrHdzka3RXaPO0Qq7dAnyahI1Ha-Qu-WM9mjtQDsVYDVT3z23TM1CLSaQ2zvn_g5s4X4zNR8HLqca8soo05zLfQRzsdX0OrhHT7rUV4_8Usg0aub6z6vo262mRlQflMTu8JtfkSq60fUDvBixTH-WSFX/s3167/01%20Mum's%20Embroidery.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3167" data-original-width="3036" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1fkRtmIbuBCYxLdk_i1gNKQTLKets_bxCS5UfrHdzka3RXaPO0Qq7dAnyahI1Ha-Qu-WM9mjtQDsVYDVT3z23TM1CLSaQ2zvn_g5s4X4zNR8HLqca8soo05zLfQRzsdX0OrhHT7rUV4_8Usg0aub6z6vo262mRlQflMTu8JtfkSq60fUDvBixTH-WSFX/w384-h400/01%20Mum's%20Embroidery.JPG" width="384" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think this dates from the 1950s when Mum was a young woman, although I haven't been able to track down the original pattern yet. I particularly like the little cat and the dog and the fact that it's two women. Somehow, it makes me think of the house we lived in when I was very small which had a steep hill behind it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzbpCr8KIfIAjk71Mo1QjbgAbWvRpa2hPBEXa5FDCM8XxvEgJh66-RtCpw6Ms6t6xfm_l-S-_3fADA31wwwz5FY7khy6oKmd-P5bNZdGJ2P1g-uWqzfo3NbVNPC4SCHMPKgsHnDnFm_GwJhOpmjI7V-ojUl-C02-imEwo_RCPx_oQK7Jb3bTS-n71mGG5/s1614/Charity%20Down%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1614" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzbpCr8KIfIAjk71Mo1QjbgAbWvRpa2hPBEXa5FDCM8XxvEgJh66-RtCpw6Ms6t6xfm_l-S-_3fADA31wwwz5FY7khy6oKmd-P5bNZdGJ2P1g-uWqzfo3NbVNPC4SCHMPKgsHnDnFm_GwJhOpmjI7V-ojUl-C02-imEwo_RCPx_oQK7Jb3bTS-n71mGG5/w400-h266/Charity%20Down%20-%20Copy.jpg" title="Charity Down Farm" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Charity Down Farm</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the needlework magazines of the time which often featured beautiful embroidered pictures was 'Needlewoman and Needlecraft' which was published for many years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa7Mqoaz3acHqAMdLEX3gbxa93IPVFsrD_TRrmaoX92wWx49Ho3kvlv5Hlq2x01DUjF5-ftrHoBbPE-4zZXpR7245wLCeyki4UbxoAP-s4w0m_ArZD_RhJ-HWfiuR2jOlJIAwEN0tYgPjpaUQQPe1BgdkKqwD8VUqEOSMYpNRzBWvC_ST_O1D6m7gSjCl/s2699/02%20Needlewoman%20&%20Needlecraft%20magazines.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="2699" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa7Mqoaz3acHqAMdLEX3gbxa93IPVFsrD_TRrmaoX92wWx49Ho3kvlv5Hlq2x01DUjF5-ftrHoBbPE-4zZXpR7245wLCeyki4UbxoAP-s4w0m_ArZD_RhJ-HWfiuR2jOlJIAwEN0tYgPjpaUQQPe1BgdkKqwD8VUqEOSMYpNRzBWvC_ST_O1D6m7gSjCl/w400-h316/02%20Needlewoman%20&%20Needlecraft%20magazines.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There would be a free transfer for some simple motifs but, for the bigger items, you had to order the transfers. The earliest issue I have is number 2 from April 1941 (it was a quarterly magazine).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC_JSQ6PE_GpJNkn2dPQBPag3Ekic_2ltvcAqUMJkvc7RKzjVzujIVmPFBdJ5XGVG_xHFAiNbEAXL_WJvgPd8guN7o5UajfUSXTs3Ix1Rbpl1za6EXD3SGAeGjCdhnB5EhD3XIa-dKrr0YBgRimzTVi0ZqSAZzJ6VzCFmONlw7VM1eDaL8eS6JguPSgVw/s3985/03%20Issue%202,%20April%201941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3985" data-original-width="2879" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC_JSQ6PE_GpJNkn2dPQBPag3Ekic_2ltvcAqUMJkvc7RKzjVzujIVmPFBdJ5XGVG_xHFAiNbEAXL_WJvgPd8guN7o5UajfUSXTs3Ix1Rbpl1za6EXD3SGAeGjCdhnB5EhD3XIa-dKrr0YBgRimzTVi0ZqSAZzJ6VzCFmONlw7VM1eDaL8eS6JguPSgVw/w289-h400/03%20Issue%202,%20April%201941.JPG" width="289" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This copy (found in an antique shop) still has the original list of people in the road to whom it was lent. Miss Beech had it first and then it was to passed on to eleven other friends and neighbours, changing hands every two or three days until finally returning to Miss Beech who kept it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKnWGweFfyr_CB6Lfi7unF6dwSt5BgAYe0rtEQOUzDv4nWeE2RUq6o3w1LpONSlE0Jfwdm4uxT97LJF7ehmZs6JZjEJJPOPA2NiGmwZuHDIjFHPTdDmGzbuABQQ8g840NidB_egx1PPTOu0AAL4YHnhrChSqYzwkOEuvoi3XobFBY-znPC71EYHwRZSpB/s4321/04%20Issue%202,%20list.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3048" data-original-width="4321" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKnWGweFfyr_CB6Lfi7unF6dwSt5BgAYe0rtEQOUzDv4nWeE2RUq6o3w1LpONSlE0Jfwdm4uxT97LJF7ehmZs6JZjEJJPOPA2NiGmwZuHDIjFHPTdDmGzbuABQQ8g840NidB_egx1PPTOu0AAL4YHnhrChSqYzwkOEuvoi3XobFBY-znPC71EYHwRZSpB/w400-h283/04%20Issue%202,%20list.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I remember my Granny doing this with her neighbours. When money was tight, this was a good way of getting to read different magazines. As well as needlework, the magazine also had knitting and crochet patterns, as well as tatting sometimes. In this early issue, I'm rather taken by the embroidered knitting on this little jumper.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFYxMlH7xz_0GZ5cbczwJS27t6VvilfRc-nsGYHLAnGECp8mt5D6O_5Kt__no6ATgxxOZsC3gGboFgnO2bog4mMhT1dMBdd0iMQS9VNGCpFIeE2P9qu3O-ZetDzxhGYkeuu_9zkvFDzoLZxrqhnAkOHroQYt3JrXHrBW-kNvCq2BerqkVceNlYDhGuXZe/s3853/05%20Embroidered%20Knitting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2863" data-original-width="3853" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFYxMlH7xz_0GZ5cbczwJS27t6VvilfRc-nsGYHLAnGECp8mt5D6O_5Kt__no6ATgxxOZsC3gGboFgnO2bog4mMhT1dMBdd0iMQS9VNGCpFIeE2P9qu3O-ZetDzxhGYkeuu_9zkvFDzoLZxrqhnAkOHroQYt3JrXHrBW-kNvCq2BerqkVceNlYDhGuXZe/w400-h297/05%20Embroidered%20Knitting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The pages of the magazines were mostly black and whit but there is another colour spread in the middle of this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkM_X2KHkocTN2epTrTZFFDqhAV5ne82stRx_D2UtSTWEsAK2ig6oG-ZN2LYTPuHnIs4JZCABQR6YRY-XGZY0uAP4YdA6IKqO7r5v9tJRP7yEwOt7_Z4LLu4iV1pUrahVHmrFTag-VdilnL-CfiQ__4A4_ZQ-TPCTk2vSAUH_hp6lK0MQfiZP5HqYE1Ps/s3853/06%20Applique.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2863" data-original-width="3853" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkM_X2KHkocTN2epTrTZFFDqhAV5ne82stRx_D2UtSTWEsAK2ig6oG-ZN2LYTPuHnIs4JZCABQR6YRY-XGZY0uAP4YdA6IKqO7r5v9tJRP7yEwOt7_Z4LLu4iV1pUrahVHmrFTag-VdilnL-CfiQ__4A4_ZQ-TPCTk2vSAUH_hp6lK0MQfiZP5HqYE1Ps/w400-h297/06%20Applique.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Although it's applique, that house picture is in a similar style to the one Mum embroidered. I do have one piece of early applique that she did but, again, I don't know where the pattern came from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pRjfRZZVTxzU0LmQcos_F6KGc03eU8f9XGr63ej5p57S5JRg91wIvLSJ1BoDD7Dpa5zWFcq_8a4SGs_emnUqWEyy-YD6Fyiw-L1W0yxz13a5Hftk46jl2yKFGNPDPxr-bW1UjwBiRJqf8kLToNCSm3I_5dMfVAJXsEWKqz7ndPGx8TQLtOXXjyz2G5GT/s4537/06a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4537" data-original-width="2732" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pRjfRZZVTxzU0LmQcos_F6KGc03eU8f9XGr63ej5p57S5JRg91wIvLSJ1BoDD7Dpa5zWFcq_8a4SGs_emnUqWEyy-YD6Fyiw-L1W0yxz13a5Hftk46jl2yKFGNPDPxr-bW1UjwBiRJqf8kLToNCSm3I_5dMfVAJXsEWKqz7ndPGx8TQLtOXXjyz2G5GT/w241-h400/06a.JPG" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This alpine scene, worked in wools, needs a bit of a repair as moths have got to some of the colours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW47Qb5o4Ge-lWwrmJkqwCnDAPwamTzB-gxuzVA3s0DnRXlAEjt_wj-_n0IifhfzNtSXNoU_H_87vLdZEc8xDItPJbdOIFhumxk49KIhXYKjZzPmMvzFcOr0nxB0ciGxnZiCh0uko6nWqzYLniiluWPmBV6yoo8wjasP6N08bffeKVYeUFEovpAecaB6a/s2922/08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2922" data-original-width="2723" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlW47Qb5o4Ge-lWwrmJkqwCnDAPwamTzB-gxuzVA3s0DnRXlAEjt_wj-_n0IifhfzNtSXNoU_H_87vLdZEc8xDItPJbdOIFhumxk49KIhXYKjZzPmMvzFcOr0nxB0ciGxnZiCh0uko6nWqzYLniiluWPmBV6yoo8wjasP6N08bffeKVYeUFEovpAecaB6a/w373-h400/08.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I gave this one to my daughter, along with a copy of the original pattern and the necessary colours of tapestry yarn so that she can either fill in the gaps or work a new one. This was the cover project on 'Needlewoman and Needlecraft' in July 1955.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhxKEagCyuneTZ8GXd44EQ1bDEAtvWTogGKvWMTgRVdYd7kqv9iyiMdEDuIkybl83bdgAYGeQrwQCPb156eT483CSk1GZKs-GAOb9a-Fj5hAkKMDNojVdDOZtjG2SAFDjxIs2vSiLCFCH9dyx32z9afAOVLwG009DJ3gmgDaHgbd9UP6C-mcmuXs-ubnK/s3715/07,%20July%201955.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3715" data-original-width="2849" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhxKEagCyuneTZ8GXd44EQ1bDEAtvWTogGKvWMTgRVdYd7kqv9iyiMdEDuIkybl83bdgAYGeQrwQCPb156eT483CSk1GZKs-GAOb9a-Fj5hAkKMDNojVdDOZtjG2SAFDjxIs2vSiLCFCH9dyx32z9afAOVLwG009DJ3gmgDaHgbd9UP6C-mcmuXs-ubnK/w306-h400/07,%20July%201955.jpeg" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This next magazine, from April 1954, has another beautiful picture on the cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcIqmDwBBep4zAZ2iFJdU5Ru5_a2092mvqku0ILcx1HorLyrVMZCZarHbhklmDnjJy9vtMjX0TuSKfuXeLSkQygoRKPuLzIedLp0ZlSFoa0s_6sX6qbAlsW__Tusbs_3zQezICYg2efb7UHa-IUVU2gwFzSVXkM3Z8xPas013YwKAAG9DSFKcZ7s_jrZq/s3416/09,%20April%201954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3416" data-original-width="2619" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcIqmDwBBep4zAZ2iFJdU5Ru5_a2092mvqku0ILcx1HorLyrVMZCZarHbhklmDnjJy9vtMjX0TuSKfuXeLSkQygoRKPuLzIedLp0ZlSFoa0s_6sX6qbAlsW__Tusbs_3zQezICYg2efb7UHa-IUVU2gwFzSVXkM3Z8xPas013YwKAAG9DSFKcZ7s_jrZq/w306-h400/09,%20April%201954.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this collection of embroidered flowers, one of the transfers that could be ordered through the magazine; this one would have cost you 7d (that's just over half a shilling in old money or about 3p in new).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKWK7LJNZ4aHrju_9vCw0K_KrS97TMW78eDYvx02aAXtFEP3HqxYEbE8ofEVob_9tW_gmxIYyLYpAKObN-na2v2sjjsEHVOiSBm8nO8HOWg8HatvNJhKTz4i_5Cf_7oT3XGy001dDytv1EosRw5MAdXOGTLb0P-T92NsRvIdgGh5d2GCJA-waadKo0RQw/s4767/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3298" data-original-width="4767" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglKWK7LJNZ4aHrju_9vCw0K_KrS97TMW78eDYvx02aAXtFEP3HqxYEbE8ofEVob_9tW_gmxIYyLYpAKObN-na2v2sjjsEHVOiSBm8nO8HOWg8HatvNJhKTz4i_5Cf_7oT3XGy001dDytv1EosRw5MAdXOGTLb0P-T92NsRvIdgGh5d2GCJA-waadKo0RQw/w400-h276/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The magazine also carried adverts for companies which would supply pre-printed fabric or kits for the designs too. Flowers were a very popular subject for embroidery. I have several pieces worked by my Mum, including this pretty little cloth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAup3uiqPc-eDPg7q8LdCV5SD_zFkTmJpqOm_L4k0G0FsN4Uf34BxKylBbkc-Vf4BgEq5TcMkVdzHOpRSDJ9qga9koNF8nmMlAXi42fW2yc59Ndq8qv4Ctaia8jyW9eJe-SMbWpGisURO9jzxQBdKUPlpmvvw3EVsz00tspjOcb6-2iTqYg8IUaw1kdZ35/s4213/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="4213" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAup3uiqPc-eDPg7q8LdCV5SD_zFkTmJpqOm_L4k0G0FsN4Uf34BxKylBbkc-Vf4BgEq5TcMkVdzHOpRSDJ9qga9koNF8nmMlAXi42fW2yc59Ndq8qv4Ctaia8jyW9eJe-SMbWpGisURO9jzxQBdKUPlpmvvw3EVsz00tspjOcb6-2iTqYg8IUaw1kdZ35/w400-h223/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">All of these embroideries could do with a wash and press ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is especially nice and I wish I could find the original pattern. I wonder what it was intended for?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UmloJDxNlBMlCSW0KkzsuHHcW6egpfcMH3NkaDSWkGAbzuKubyFqDo1U3L6NNII_ZbX0KdcQxRnDXjer9x5930me-VF8VTlxR_Xo5bDv-AnYxxUuj8_L7t6nG3Zx75lve1oN9LKtVMLAjjsy9pHqzlYNknp_dOL_kWYkulsJaKpnGd3g6NUz1p2Qj3rq/s3386/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2547" data-original-width="3386" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UmloJDxNlBMlCSW0KkzsuHHcW6egpfcMH3NkaDSWkGAbzuKubyFqDo1U3L6NNII_ZbX0KdcQxRnDXjer9x5930me-VF8VTlxR_Xo5bDv-AnYxxUuj8_L7t6nG3Zx75lve1oN9LKtVMLAjjsy9pHqzlYNknp_dOL_kWYkulsJaKpnGd3g6NUz1p2Qj3rq/w400-h301/11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would like to use this one in some way but haven't worked out how yet. It's made up of little squares, embroidered together. I wonder if Mum bought the marked squares as a set?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeShe8rRFo08HTx4aPWK42NbkpWdIOMGBgzN6Y6Hko08g_1EXSXgrXgsS5vhoDFewroJNqBv0T3TTgX5ANdFH_vZmVna0kiEglipumxseT1LX0hUnajJCs415zBM8GBpRumJkWJFJ3eTiwFXBBrmzbr9pYaTgvISXMsaqR-rDMILIoE1DVSdAvLkaTfBOP/s4308/12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2978" data-original-width="4308" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeShe8rRFo08HTx4aPWK42NbkpWdIOMGBgzN6Y6Hko08g_1EXSXgrXgsS5vhoDFewroJNqBv0T3TTgX5ANdFH_vZmVna0kiEglipumxseT1LX0hUnajJCs415zBM8GBpRumJkWJFJ3eTiwFXBBrmzbr9pYaTgvISXMsaqR-rDMILIoE1DVSdAvLkaTfBOP/w400-h276/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The style of these strikes me as a sort of modern Jacobean embroidery as do these flowers from the same magazine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnKYoXoTkA4jDzmLgOA1BduoSKoLg05gfaFWcyDot-dnh_6hyphenhyphenwo1iEvqPsFBLyzssjQT-tguxmm29TjAP5svPH1q3kwsp3lIldyrA69SDvmllBdVMG6LZPRuJz3hyphenhyphen6qh1VC6yEXfEDCGpp_FEneqaokRx8iIW5DJ9sg0uRln2WruNdwLecug1qY26heS7/s2982/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="2982" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnKYoXoTkA4jDzmLgOA1BduoSKoLg05gfaFWcyDot-dnh_6hyphenhyphenwo1iEvqPsFBLyzssjQT-tguxmm29TjAP5svPH1q3kwsp3lIldyrA69SDvmllBdVMG6LZPRuJz3hyphenhyphen6qh1VC6yEXfEDCGpp_FEneqaokRx8iIW5DJ9sg0uRln2WruNdwLecug1qY26heS7/w400-h385/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are more nice patterns in this particular magazine. I like the stitch pattern on this jumper - pictured on yet another impossibly thin model. Mind you, the wartime rationing was still in force well into the 1950s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi77bYRGvPc1csvSMjGSVm24fS2hVdR2Disd7RTXlylqwMsbe74O3X3wq0KXE26shTbCbLWJOWmEyCD3YnQ0iRqyNjJSxumceeLhSftR9CbZuhGwzrNbl96M5pKRElsS96GQ4JYaJtV5hSzK_tW1-DPSORlqf7to7BH7yMdFK2MbuiACKNLRyggX9aWQI/s3091/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3091" data-original-width="2265" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLi77bYRGvPc1csvSMjGSVm24fS2hVdR2Disd7RTXlylqwMsbe74O3X3wq0KXE26shTbCbLWJOWmEyCD3YnQ0iRqyNjJSxumceeLhSftR9CbZuhGwzrNbl96M5pKRElsS96GQ4JYaJtV5hSzK_tW1-DPSORlqf7to7BH7yMdFK2MbuiACKNLRyggX9aWQI/w293-h400/15.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And who remembers these belts? When they came back into fashion in the 1970s I wore the one that Mum had worn twenty years earlier. Sadly, it wasn't a crocheted one though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7ZF8evFm4J1KWgiUNg-2IPr6umGW61qugng1PNlqemajrAURjfYCrUAY4le2GfIXbtWYYPzAqSgTKjBvdZ9t2ADsVOhr3SnX2laf-lHRj7wkCOM-4brSlYbL65J-JY_Yi_f6GlUta0cajSS2XsxZwemR98ktU51xkfpCy_lPBZ1Gr7rYIwm7K2ruidGZ/s2787/16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2787" data-original-width="2035" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr7ZF8evFm4J1KWgiUNg-2IPr6umGW61qugng1PNlqemajrAURjfYCrUAY4le2GfIXbtWYYPzAqSgTKjBvdZ9t2ADsVOhr3SnX2laf-lHRj7wkCOM-4brSlYbL65J-JY_Yi_f6GlUta0cajSS2XsxZwemR98ktU51xkfpCy_lPBZ1Gr7rYIwm7K2ruidGZ/w293-h400/16.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the most exciting set of patterns for me though. Tiny embroideries to be made into brooches. You could order the brooch frames as well as the transfers through the magazine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITa40G76Q2Vpzl7BHMMFEns2CiUvUuk8taIrLRA1tPX1WzoBEt6UNh4RqJgfuwd-1sqVdPhaIsuJhOcSrnKVfGQClhKrbSxWdfG-Cffnu33DjzoqUvqTEEiFaHR8C0yR0juYRvbmdi4ZVbd4ljDx4l36hOZYpgu3YipVMewJe3cYd404j6pQSwiWMnRce/s4288/17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3026" data-original-width="4288" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITa40G76Q2Vpzl7BHMMFEns2CiUvUuk8taIrLRA1tPX1WzoBEt6UNh4RqJgfuwd-1sqVdPhaIsuJhOcSrnKVfGQClhKrbSxWdfG-Cffnu33DjzoqUvqTEEiFaHR8C0yR0juYRvbmdi4ZVbd4ljDx4l36hOZYpgu3YipVMewJe3cYd404j6pQSwiWMnRce/w400-h283/17.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a small collection of these, several of which were embroidered by Mum. Hers are the three on the left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYJlYiB0w4z5TMO2zyDv3c6YS0sHCxkWLg6Ambo-YwMdMc1fr53HluRct_y-y4A8p7f422OOWU__XxZsnaFwN7nm3PDS5Sl_gvkyB78IY972hEBFxcB3n7Em4D4KYt5YoGjyDWGI_bAeOozYHQdJyS9YcUxlDjjRy1hUmvmJnXrUhIgluGPPiuA55vhjc/s3657/18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="3657" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYJlYiB0w4z5TMO2zyDv3c6YS0sHCxkWLg6Ambo-YwMdMc1fr53HluRct_y-y4A8p7f422OOWU__XxZsnaFwN7nm3PDS5Sl_gvkyB78IY972hEBFxcB3n7Em4D4KYt5YoGjyDWGI_bAeOozYHQdJyS9YcUxlDjjRy1hUmvmJnXrUhIgluGPPiuA55vhjc/w400-h304/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I should like to collect more of these; aren't they pretty?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have one more finished embroidery of Mum's and it's a big Willow pattern one, measuring about 45 cm / 18" across.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU15nTdrOttkeZwj6VRu8LBE0QFRr7s-MImiQixGeDoNvbxFx5Ob38OSoHPT0QxK8KHoB71MZ9U7XvM3Qcp_rX-FEjaCXV66Tywy3Nob0j3ZHZRYhyphenhyphen1Y4PpsNehn6Gps3jdwBAxrJEZS348-yBvKN6cZNDBKJQw41Nv2TwfX8B7ZlDH5CDltRDqEiDLU0_/s3016/19%20Woman's%20Own.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3005" data-original-width="3016" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU15nTdrOttkeZwj6VRu8LBE0QFRr7s-MImiQixGeDoNvbxFx5Ob38OSoHPT0QxK8KHoB71MZ9U7XvM3Qcp_rX-FEjaCXV66Tywy3Nob0j3ZHZRYhyphenhyphen1Y4PpsNehn6Gps3jdwBAxrJEZS348-yBvKN6cZNDBKJQw41Nv2TwfX8B7ZlDH5CDltRDqEiDLU0_/w400-h399/19%20Woman's%20Own.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know that this one was from a copy of 'Woman's Own' magazine but I don't know the date. I think it would look good framed under glass or plastic as a small table top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you've enjoyed this browse through 1950s embroidery. I'd love to hear of any old family embroideries that you have or can remember.</div></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-29033964605253971762023-11-13T15:34:00.003+00:002023-11-13T15:35:22.142+00:00A New Quilt and a New Bedroom<p>First of all, the new quilt doesn't go in the new bedroom. Actually, the new bedroom doesn't even have a bed but more of that later.</p><p>As regular readers will know, my son moved into his new house earlier this year and I decided to make him a quilt to mark the occasion. He asked for one to go on the coffee table which he inherited from his Grandma which sounded like a good idea. Now this is quite a substantial coffee table - about 4' x 6' - and I normally only make small quilts but I didn't let that put me off. </p><p>The planning was easy. I decided to make a rail fence quilt using lots of different colours and, in February, I sewed the first trial block.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH3TB34DFTNdGJy91NdFETGs5LfJDvg9-nwwUWyneatakZI6PYusv4PK2_bo2dHKi9QCQivWgCQxp-2DLvi7oEud0HQDdVheFbqxY3En_YL3xVoWspC4OaExFRauqLyFEiUCPoKpqKLNKTGCJPSLQMVNDmXwqt5VmYO84l6YXQV3IUrPGGRB6VcBsMk3I/s2852/01%20First%20quilt%20block.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2798" data-original-width="2852" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH3TB34DFTNdGJy91NdFETGs5LfJDvg9-nwwUWyneatakZI6PYusv4PK2_bo2dHKi9QCQivWgCQxp-2DLvi7oEud0HQDdVheFbqxY3En_YL3xVoWspC4OaExFRauqLyFEiUCPoKpqKLNKTGCJPSLQMVNDmXwqt5VmYO84l6YXQV3IUrPGGRB6VcBsMk3I/w400-h393/01%20First%20quilt%20block.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Simple to cut and easy to sew. I worked out that I needed 84 blocks all together so I set about cutting and piecing them, one colour group at a time. By March I had all the blocks done and pieced together - so far, so good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw6yT4cdWDFM5hI5__lIDxZd-ubB7pKHHeEqVoXQV0iLdmuzuVfN1IH0gXau7FOFdEEZRcK2xuAfGnbRpsT3c90xeHly8LRpAfKiOhj7GY2SFGzm8V9hPH3YvHlRsb7hXk7hQm0s8EzdgdxulKkxy-Ie8IqNs2ES_IKE6l-gBPO2-rKsyEI0Jht5BSSsx/s4648/02%20All%20the%20blocks.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="4648" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw6yT4cdWDFM5hI5__lIDxZd-ubB7pKHHeEqVoXQV0iLdmuzuVfN1IH0gXau7FOFdEEZRcK2xuAfGnbRpsT3c90xeHly8LRpAfKiOhj7GY2SFGzm8V9hPH3YvHlRsb7hXk7hQm0s8EzdgdxulKkxy-Ie8IqNs2ES_IKE6l-gBPO2-rKsyEI0Jht5BSSsx/w400-h250/02%20All%20the%20blocks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was a bit of a delay while I hunted through my large stock of fabric for something big enough for the wide border ... and then I had to hunt again for some fabric for a narrow, inner border.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVpF57Rx4776GBgclUcgbq66VKbF0mIJmomDjECCrMnF-j0M40qsXcOHAdly6MLL06W6AWrhvFuy1jodjSs4ud7T1kVn8JCz6cUkR0l5ZIKrzhEq8wHGcLYDbXNHJ6b0BZuHVQcb3skERw0yud8RtsOwAIKjNY2B8C-_jQMmHqLv_GOInWEfTg9ur-kVr/s4157/03%20Quilt%20Top.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2829" data-original-width="4157" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVpF57Rx4776GBgclUcgbq66VKbF0mIJmomDjECCrMnF-j0M40qsXcOHAdly6MLL06W6AWrhvFuy1jodjSs4ud7T1kVn8JCz6cUkR0l5ZIKrzhEq8wHGcLYDbXNHJ6b0BZuHVQcb3skERw0yud8RtsOwAIKjNY2B8C-_jQMmHqLv_GOInWEfTg9ur-kVr/w400-h272/03%20Quilt%20Top.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was a bit apprehensive about pinning such a big quilt but had a breakthrough when I thought of Mum hanging her big quilts from the bannisters to pin them. I didn't fancy doing that but it did give me the idea of putting my big square table in the middle of the room and letting the quilt hang from the sides of that. This worked a treat and gravity helped smooth out the creases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB_269zTrF20TgLSRmmqrWLXbUyyP04iMJN-vhKkFlCCgx_kDdZzNCAVn9eT7RccHFVjmm-W0D3blfQ2NSV69k32lhBf2T7eyFs4qSGbha0FKOGTgMuW_lPMoRmmMQocC9MmYgJyVaVmohEJNNRxFVV5BmXhLewJsIym8K6chuCeOlR33z22I58ZTS5Q/s5472/04%20Ready%20to%20pin.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXqB_269zTrF20TgLSRmmqrWLXbUyyP04iMJN-vhKkFlCCgx_kDdZzNCAVn9eT7RccHFVjmm-W0D3blfQ2NSV69k32lhBf2T7eyFs4qSGbha0FKOGTgMuW_lPMoRmmMQocC9MmYgJyVaVmohEJNNRxFVV5BmXhLewJsIym8K6chuCeOlR33z22I58ZTS5Q/w400-h266/04%20Ready%20to%20pin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked out a simple quilting pattern made up of lines, curves and circles and set to work. You may or may not be able to make it out in this picture ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l-QxMjN1TQV4cm8kAMPgty9F8IG2x_ZE0PIvxHVEgX7wWmAUOen6N0oeVVdUpyNd9eLDXcGg3JRbSCxxEIA06KdiHivTiS3apMFReuCpnJ0xUJp_9pngp8DzojybZ8UDS1MYow1L6aQ2OoT0QmlCVwNx6iKmLnljyRvO81QLmow10Ja1s3Imev3mDTUD/s2735/09a.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1892" data-original-width="2735" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l-QxMjN1TQV4cm8kAMPgty9F8IG2x_ZE0PIvxHVEgX7wWmAUOen6N0oeVVdUpyNd9eLDXcGg3JRbSCxxEIA06KdiHivTiS3apMFReuCpnJ0xUJp_9pngp8DzojybZ8UDS1MYow1L6aQ2OoT0QmlCVwNx6iKmLnljyRvO81QLmow10Ja1s3Imev3mDTUD/w400-h276/09a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think it's a bit clearer on the back. You can see how the lines come together to create circles (sort of).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlZQPNvEIzELtNAjUuImUUqs4nQQttRdVx02FY18U6hfVJ_Bl66-yMa4Kw80FdBJaSBwLFyyrAW9ys5wvcl3_ZxTxGqxAOmZAAetIUZuhR60UGmrUatY5Jbg3-HdrznH5hxK64r1ZQ6YTfY2cp7WThqW5OMtdn8BNYKMWujvD3bjb_ZV-MVCCCN3Bov5g/s3286/06%20Backing%20for%20Jack's%20Quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2269" data-original-width="3286" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlZQPNvEIzELtNAjUuImUUqs4nQQttRdVx02FY18U6hfVJ_Bl66-yMa4Kw80FdBJaSBwLFyyrAW9ys5wvcl3_ZxTxGqxAOmZAAetIUZuhR60UGmrUatY5Jbg3-HdrznH5hxK64r1ZQ6YTfY2cp7WThqW5OMtdn8BNYKMWujvD3bjb_ZV-MVCCCN3Bov5g/w400-h276/06%20Backing%20for%20Jack's%20Quilt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really like watching the quilting appear; it's like the back stitch on a cross stitch picture, it turns a flat design into something with depth and texture. There is one slight drawback though - hand quilting takes a long time. And when you're making a big quilt, it takes a very long time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So ... I quilted through the Spring and then had a few weeks break to make this quilt for a friend's birthday. This is only a mini quilt, the sort of thing I normally make. The pictures are some of her old family photos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXpk7qHoQCGnPqgSWtfODDCxNJtatph4Ur6897s2lA4w0O5G5Z-BAXVp0IlQhuK8NC1KHu_WI0OFp5Z3vRG96tVqusKlJeqGxHkdXiTXxTbEWmNRM4IiQvroIvnEqgARPpofwzz9nQtYHvzghj8QA25O-tg-Lt0DJflFEc_aq0X5_ICZx7N3xaQAYEwi/s4001/05%20Pat's%20Quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4001" data-original-width="3107" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibyXpk7qHoQCGnPqgSWtfODDCxNJtatph4Ur6897s2lA4w0O5G5Z-BAXVp0IlQhuK8NC1KHu_WI0OFp5Z3vRG96tVqusKlJeqGxHkdXiTXxTbEWmNRM4IiQvroIvnEqgARPpofwzz9nQtYHvzghj8QA25O-tg-Lt0DJflFEc_aq0X5_ICZx7N3xaQAYEwi/w310-h400/05%20Pat's%20Quilt.JPG" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then it was back to quilting the big quilt. I quilted through the Summer and on into Autumn. By September I'd moved on to quilting that big border and I finished it on the 1st October.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBy02qcmmMKG_WHvUOmJMC728JOTZtsWUpiQi1unUOO1sbJKVpKx8wafXQJflDNyoAkn_XPTBMkP9HP8JPoT4deDdLXKFYiU4n9P_-1AMzx1_BTNcnGdsWye5LJf7AAOHrT81xrfAmCh4dEXsaJ4gL3PnUK0jHScengM89KMvtYbc3YOHDtaZXhR0-VXk/s5472/07%20Quilting%20in%20progress.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBy02qcmmMKG_WHvUOmJMC728JOTZtsWUpiQi1unUOO1sbJKVpKx8wafXQJflDNyoAkn_XPTBMkP9HP8JPoT4deDdLXKFYiU4n9P_-1AMzx1_BTNcnGdsWye5LJf7AAOHrT81xrfAmCh4dEXsaJ4gL3PnUK0jHScengM89KMvtYbc3YOHDtaZXhR0-VXk/w400-h266/07%20Quilting%20in%20progress.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there was just the little matter of binding the quilt. Little? I'd decided to piece a scrappy binding which was just as well because I ended up needing six metres of it. I machine sew my bindings on to quilts and then hand stitch them down on the wrong side, something I normally see as a quick task at the end but this one took days (of course it did). Finally though, eight months after cutting the first strip of fabric, it was finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Er5AdZjz5mcajZ3cXukYqKEmoGehB6KEd08aV0ahetbXkxZNWQ7FEY_AaEhLQ1VLZUYFFPAZyIKVRvItmjYzma9TZo592TLvbISzbsCNZq4DW61w4qsJ9ta4XK7iKF1AWFE-o7eHspXDUnufkPgJoU2-of0YcoWmDhi1bO0nq0_n5UEdAQ3uivCz6gv/s4527/08.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3134" data-original-width="4527" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG8Er5AdZjz5mcajZ3cXukYqKEmoGehB6KEd08aV0ahetbXkxZNWQ7FEY_AaEhLQ1VLZUYFFPAZyIKVRvItmjYzma9TZo592TLvbISzbsCNZq4DW61w4qsJ9ta4XK7iKF1AWFE-o7eHspXDUnufkPgJoU2-of0YcoWmDhi1bO0nq0_n5UEdAQ3uivCz6gv/w400-h278/08.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm really pleased with it (and so is my son). I haven't got a photo of it on his table yet but here are a few more taken here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHyidCFdz5uB_lEpodOvpPxQNC0PUGm9nOolFb7S5WuL0EgQynKMbYN4bi0SjApTGCdLFtcIEeQpC0aJcyRxwjWvrUc4nhkHf9ldwOMkMV51FoT0ZhhKUeQ7aU3ksrvCWeSK1j8HQ9qrr1JZ-vjHTgVHBvaTCrJwuT1UEBrGqyDncMuwW8OEsZGZsdpC3/s4853/11.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4853" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHyidCFdz5uB_lEpodOvpPxQNC0PUGm9nOolFb7S5WuL0EgQynKMbYN4bi0SjApTGCdLFtcIEeQpC0aJcyRxwjWvrUc4nhkHf9ldwOMkMV51FoT0ZhhKUeQ7aU3ksrvCWeSK1j8HQ9qrr1JZ-vjHTgVHBvaTCrJwuT1UEBrGqyDncMuwW8OEsZGZsdpC3/w400-h269/11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see the scrappy binding in this one ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6Ew4gEGG1RSy9g4txB03XRIZBBsOHBy3eD3DTp8ufzZjvcg1EaCDBcMRkOOsD1wF2ayubHx5e_e6el7xG1HMmYdjIVUm8CXRMqSQV9xWxSQrM8UxHIcRzO1zX-eKj9lckGNUWE_zX54vk2gOuFIAaocAE9Q__VarVIEsGJKvRjrM8zFD8xHxgNw1SrSp/s4602/12.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2938" data-original-width="4602" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY6Ew4gEGG1RSy9g4txB03XRIZBBsOHBy3eD3DTp8ufzZjvcg1EaCDBcMRkOOsD1wF2ayubHx5e_e6el7xG1HMmYdjIVUm8CXRMqSQV9xWxSQrM8UxHIcRzO1zX-eKj9lckGNUWE_zX54vk2gOuFIAaocAE9Q__VarVIEsGJKvRjrM8zFD8xHxgNw1SrSp/w400-h255/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and, of course, a quilt isn't finished until it's been labelled (something I could very rarely get my Mum to do with her quilts).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOagbN5qf289lQbw15jbkw4eGXgncgkfPSr8GIE4FT8dzEwQccJ7Iltau33bYofvyTL16P87uJgqsSDh1HsWRyz2y9ZIYE7J70yPZD9LhihaPsng4SvGnOZdxKWp_ZK0jT-ejXczDUT9eJs_Kc11nD3NrLXcNG7GAB8w_4EqtzMxfOrmZWkCqDmcrkUtv8/s5472/10.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOagbN5qf289lQbw15jbkw4eGXgncgkfPSr8GIE4FT8dzEwQccJ7Iltau33bYofvyTL16P87uJgqsSDh1HsWRyz2y9ZIYE7J70yPZD9LhihaPsng4SvGnOZdxKWp_ZK0jT-ejXczDUT9eJs_Kc11nD3NrLXcNG7GAB8w_4EqtzMxfOrmZWkCqDmcrkUtv8/w400-h266/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's the quilt accounted for. Now for the new bedroom. After the huge undertaking that was my new room of requirement (craft room) last year, this year's big house project is a new bedroom for me. With a lot of help, I am turning what was my daughter's old bedroom into mine. It's on the top floor of the house, next to my craft room so I'm gradually moving upwards. I wanted to sleep at the back of the house which is quieter and also has a lovely view across all the gardens which make up a big green space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The room has been used to store all sorts of stuff for ages, here are a few 'before' pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUJltUClp5pP3-hGOhZjaa-7wdCyODrQLUQjqAhw8l-fcYamHaW7kez6RDruFm0hnCl1jRlvJC2cYgDJZtxSclmu09AIELVSWzcv0N7vnePnqDK29Hhc7l2dfnF3M-jh6yXBX95NMB1Ff1A6J_VOhAIqtcZlANJxYldZZWdmYUXFVCDJA6lhmQHi8rFjT/s5472/14.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPUJltUClp5pP3-hGOhZjaa-7wdCyODrQLUQjqAhw8l-fcYamHaW7kez6RDruFm0hnCl1jRlvJC2cYgDJZtxSclmu09AIELVSWzcv0N7vnePnqDK29Hhc7l2dfnF3M-jh6yXBX95NMB1Ff1A6J_VOhAIqtcZlANJxYldZZWdmYUXFVCDJA6lhmQHi8rFjT/w400-h266/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Piles of books, old photos and more than a few empty bookcases waiting to find somewhere to live. There's also a pile of my daughter's stuff waiting for her to move somewhere where she has room for it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-4CkZH-4R1CINJNuXjXfSOvHwUJ-qJ2GIgUw7QUGF_LkIqiz-UIbThJpSdTKg9iisF6IPcDnHsLV2-sOo3wiq6iyOty2ioC36RaYT0ofhFkdVzp8hEoH-L5p_mF4s145kRPEGhcqRibR-6pHNGeBsAAV948K5fy4iO24Ue70YPerzCzV-8uWF8MoWTDK/s5137/15.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3363" data-original-width="5137" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB-4CkZH-4R1CINJNuXjXfSOvHwUJ-qJ2GIgUw7QUGF_LkIqiz-UIbThJpSdTKg9iisF6IPcDnHsLV2-sOo3wiq6iyOty2ioC36RaYT0ofhFkdVzp8hEoH-L5p_mF4s145kRPEGhcqRibR-6pHNGeBsAAV948K5fy4iO24Ue70YPerzCzV-8uWF8MoWTDK/w400-h261/15.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More books, boxes and a spare bed. Do you see the dolls house with the red roof? My Mum and Dad gave me that for my seventh birthday, I re-furnished it and gave it to my daughter when she was four and now she's given it back to me (now that I've reached the age of nostalgia). I'm hoping to find room for it in my new bedroom and to bring it back to life. I've still got a few of the original furnishings back from when it was new.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can imagine, it took us quite a while to empty the room (and yes, all the other rooms are a bit fuller now). Mind you, another huge pile of bags for the charity shops went out of the house, at some point the house must surely look a bit emptier?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first thing to do was the painting. I wanted to keep the original colours (yellow walls and dark pink woodwork) but it was all it a bit tatty and grubby so I gave it another couple of coats of paint. This was hard going, even though I only did one coat on one wall per day but I got it done in the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I'd finished the walls, my daughter came for the weekend and painted the ceiling for me and, between us, we trimmed some of the old shelves I put up years ago so that they fitted a bit better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeWwR8gSB2f2t9nscHubTtMrMB-maPFhNj26K7HOACCsP6_HtXkX3vvP37xTA83aEuBhKLPVNXRHOMcLC1JAxpeF3Mre4N0g45sfptSVAUnq3ZaFEeP4us9dv61HeHaBRiqkUB_cg-5xsyKV3fZEQIaVYsk66Kanoa71c00_nWAd_UPZXWXY5SeeX0Urg/s5472/21.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeWwR8gSB2f2t9nscHubTtMrMB-maPFhNj26K7HOACCsP6_HtXkX3vvP37xTA83aEuBhKLPVNXRHOMcLC1JAxpeF3Mre4N0g45sfptSVAUnq3ZaFEeP4us9dv61HeHaBRiqkUB_cg-5xsyKV3fZEQIaVYsk66Kanoa71c00_nWAd_UPZXWXY5SeeX0Urg/w400-h266/21.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other thing we got done that weekend was to finish the new curtains for the room. I was fine at doing the sewing - again, a couple of seams a day - but my Long Covid brain can't cope with calculations so I didn't trust myself when it came to all that measuring and cutting. My son helped me measure and cut the fabric so that the pattern matched and then my daughter helped me with the hemming. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEK1X_RHCQ5_fh_47MghWJL3Wsnygt38qx-D8P_2NjLpk3QfiHkXAZIPUgLpogH0vfcaGv8J_chN-bEip4F7Je67Ln5d1ov911u3_IldBvOEt9VubaGD_4O7APcEvGI6EJo98j2CMgz8q0TfeP3CC9VQ5mtPrf104yp1wtHxmj3891Kuo9rRj47kK45C0/s5472/19.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipEK1X_RHCQ5_fh_47MghWJL3Wsnygt38qx-D8P_2NjLpk3QfiHkXAZIPUgLpogH0vfcaGv8J_chN-bEip4F7Je67Ln5d1ov911u3_IldBvOEt9VubaGD_4O7APcEvGI6EJo98j2CMgz8q0TfeP3CC9VQ5mtPrf104yp1wtHxmj3891Kuo9rRj47kK45C0/w400-h266/19.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's times like this when an old house shows its true colours. Big windows and uneven floors mean that you can't just hem both curtains to the same length; one has to be a bit longer than the other so that they're level with the floor. I chose a lovely, old-fashioned rose fabric for my new curtains. After the modern look of the room of requirement, this one is going to be pure 1960s Hampshire (told you I was nostalgic).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9GkrxC9YdX6jHWUlS4QPBnwgFiPp7G99VKuL8W5l40uCigGlRX9dTz18OnOFq2yY9ifXs0YNrf2NAT9DRhtPQqBSbTzi9gukpp0OwutJN6qdKUTyimgdYiFruLuoWhQWgLK_dBPmvoG9YEOPs2DGAWXuab_PXOZvyzED3AwEj2nmEMdiSVNuabOddnRG/s4782/20.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4782" data-original-width="3058" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9GkrxC9YdX6jHWUlS4QPBnwgFiPp7G99VKuL8W5l40uCigGlRX9dTz18OnOFq2yY9ifXs0YNrf2NAT9DRhtPQqBSbTzi9gukpp0OwutJN6qdKUTyimgdYiFruLuoWhQWgLK_dBPmvoG9YEOPs2DGAWXuab_PXOZvyzED3AwEj2nmEMdiSVNuabOddnRG/w256-h400/20.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over this last week I've been re-varnishing the floor (and my hands) so that looks nice and new too. The next thing to do is to order my new bed (the old one is staying in the old bedroom as a spare bed). Unfortunately, choosing the bed involves numbers again so I'm having help with this too. I've decided to get a small double which is 4' rather than 4'6" wide to take up less space but can't decide on which length to get. I've found a company who make custom sizes (including mattresses to fit) so I'm thinking of a slightly shorter bed too but don't know yet whether I'm going to get a 6' or a 5'9" - decisions, decisions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm hoping to have the bed, my chest of drawers and my clothes rail (I don't think I've ever owned a wardrobe) in place by Christmas so that I can move up there. Then I can see what room I've got left up there for other pretty things ...</div></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-82036694013269883482023-09-21T13:09:00.001+01:002023-09-21T13:09:36.424+01:00If in doubt - label it<p>I think having an archivist daughter is starting to rub off on me. Having (sort of) finished my new room of requirement / craft room, it bothered me that it still wasn't quite right. Apart from obvious things like the lack of curtains (I want to make patchwork ones which means it's all very complicated), I was still having trouble finding things. </p><p>So, I spent several weeks working round the room, checking what was where, re-sorting if necessary and then adding lots and lots of labels. I started with the fabric store, just adding little printed labels to the bottom of each shelf so that I knew what was in each of the baskets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOFbYNwkra1A3Vq-Ak81WVWWz_fDTJp3_gVM58bZHKYzxTXjskshYMEXvaaVtGgDH6XTgp3qx3xMoAzuAVV0o87KUW_X6VkM0SjkEIMjFi7kDNyoUM50OaW2iZ7CPSH1Rao8p9elig0whlU7Sqfl1OYtJo49UQrWcb_q_C2lNW8jRiWkD0--btoiDzWW9/s5472/03%20Labelled%20Fabric%20Shelves.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZOFbYNwkra1A3Vq-Ak81WVWWz_fDTJp3_gVM58bZHKYzxTXjskshYMEXvaaVtGgDH6XTgp3qx3xMoAzuAVV0o87KUW_X6VkM0SjkEIMjFi7kDNyoUM50OaW2iZ7CPSH1Rao8p9elig0whlU7Sqfl1OYtJo49UQrWcb_q_C2lNW8jRiWkD0--btoiDzWW9/w266-h400/03%20Labelled%20Fabric%20Shelves.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This immediately made me feel much happier. Even though I don't need to know what's in the baskets until I go to the them, just the fact that I can see the labels when I glance that way makes my brain feel much more comfortable. I was really surprised by how much difference those little labels made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most of this fabric was inherited from my Mum who was a wonderful quilter. Hence this sign ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGybRKGQkgj86qtQdIbqeXnxaMb6tSjN_IqGPq4RrD60XpRPYJcujQi-rlrekPcW0JNGmCGW6WU5XXfIWKeeKjfN3VAy81tFsKBN7ps4IFR0DgUUFA_oU7GGUpmdw9p0XdofCMlAljXYq_bkawEXUHxnojfaQYOQ6NvaFNHzR19lvFzX9HXiC0ldSNpSF/s5472/04%20Quilt%20Shop%20Sign.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGybRKGQkgj86qtQdIbqeXnxaMb6tSjN_IqGPq4RrD60XpRPYJcujQi-rlrekPcW0JNGmCGW6WU5XXfIWKeeKjfN3VAy81tFsKBN7ps4IFR0DgUUFA_oU7GGUpmdw9p0XdofCMlAljXYq_bkawEXUHxnojfaQYOQ6NvaFNHzR19lvFzX9HXiC0ldSNpSF/w400-h266/04%20Quilt%20Shop%20Sign.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were saying how the fabric shelves could be used like a free shop for either of the grandchildren to take stuff from as needed so my daughter made me this sign. Isn't it nice?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm nothing like the quilter Mum was but I have been stretching myself this year by making the biggest quilt I've ever attempted. I normally only make small quilts but I wanted to make one for my son's coffee table in his new house. He inherited the table from his Grandma and it's a big one so the quilt needed to be big too. I'm pleased with how well I'm getting on with it; I had to use a hoop for the quilting which I hardly ever do but I'm nearing the end now. I'm quilting the border and then I just have to bind and label it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9jRk3CVeqJAZ3gmANjlG9BZoP0_H7R09_uLUEBrDE78VRgijejCAdOx1ov1s48wEkvAAKTC7Yej9FZMHggDi4TAw66lFHkCBOtFvYGZA4PoPwOgKR7CAu9ofBKw_a8Meq5QAYv-ZlHmugTOOpd8IVfPwnErE-tfCeVrY4-RbN-c-6nQBcpwSxSHkP2Y5/s5472/05%20Quilting.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9jRk3CVeqJAZ3gmANjlG9BZoP0_H7R09_uLUEBrDE78VRgijejCAdOx1ov1s48wEkvAAKTC7Yej9FZMHggDi4TAw66lFHkCBOtFvYGZA4PoPwOgKR7CAu9ofBKw_a8Meq5QAYv-ZlHmugTOOpd8IVfPwnErE-tfCeVrY4-RbN-c-6nQBcpwSxSHkP2Y5/w400-h266/05%20Quilting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, back to the labelling. My big Knitting Kallax was already labelled so that just needed a quick tidy and clean in passing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoeW5ZufiSy8iQpCDUi3w9jGvksEEtRPZQkpTNgxFqDIV8mmJ8iX3dqph2JLJ4qdjPDddglka5ifzlAPjaZd9SgZK7R9DwCoGEZgjvQ0WJ2RgfcP5MJOmnyyI4wpO4oSp-89zwStjARzuCX_EBtMQv3AZtqkmQWDz9i102fdIprQgsHx6ZNtCrfgg-NfD/s4016/01%20Kallax%20sorted.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3315" data-original-width="4016" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoeW5ZufiSy8iQpCDUi3w9jGvksEEtRPZQkpTNgxFqDIV8mmJ8iX3dqph2JLJ4qdjPDddglka5ifzlAPjaZd9SgZK7R9DwCoGEZgjvQ0WJ2RgfcP5MJOmnyyI4wpO4oSp-89zwStjARzuCX_EBtMQv3AZtqkmQWDz9i102fdIprQgsHx6ZNtCrfgg-NfD/w400-h330/01%20Kallax%20sorted.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the corner next to it is my knitting bookcase which houses all my patterns - 17 files of them and that's not counting the Christmas specials - as well as some old knitting books and patterns (in the suitcases).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY69Pprw8qmFC9OYtXWruow90xiAF_iQwwVAztJNAXiPAQfwbwc6qxUopGrx6acGHyh5U3bbIecjzLp3mxLT-iacZMpzZkQK5QAnW5pOxpZk3at8xDLP8Do8ZNmtMpBZhStYl2tx4M_0KIyQJnUsGjxDaifpByEbGdJHAtHDDTnEUdYn6ARirefyinQ8V/s4902/02%20Knitting%20Bookcase.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4902" data-original-width="2947" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioY69Pprw8qmFC9OYtXWruow90xiAF_iQwwVAztJNAXiPAQfwbwc6qxUopGrx6acGHyh5U3bbIecjzLp3mxLT-iacZMpzZkQK5QAnW5pOxpZk3at8xDLP8Do8ZNmtMpBZhStYl2tx4M_0KIyQJnUsGjxDaifpByEbGdJHAtHDDTnEUdYn6ARirefyinQ8V/w240-h400/02%20Knitting%20Bookcase.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That shelf full of files holds the 17 main files while the rest are either on the shelf above or on top of the bookcase. The collection of notebooks on the second shelf from the top is my hotchpotch of pattern notebooks where I scribble down notes as I work on designs. They are numbered in order but are really quite a mess. One day I'll add dates and things to the pages.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next to this bookcase is my little fireplace which still has my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-gnomes-3" target="_blank">Rainbow Gnomes</a> on the mantelpiece. I've added a lovely wooden magnetic puzzle from <a href="https://www.myriadonline.co.uk/" target="_blank">Myriad Toys</a> that my son gave me years ago as I think it goes well with the gnomes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv73cD3FIxkU9Eq_pmOoqqLwR90Je9AVLY0tQl5Pe44nbjm2hgpiSGamwrSYNzwP86gWbS8eYkjiWh6T2zH2XQesJyP_rpiWWfetcglgQIyVm5HrqZZAMlbvCPqE-Urz_RbRWbJ69YbTQit0gFoleIRZ82lkLd6bfzzvFYhW67jZl7ODf1UlEoRmtx__lv/s4669/06%20Rainbow%20Puzzle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2634" data-original-width="4669" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv73cD3FIxkU9Eq_pmOoqqLwR90Je9AVLY0tQl5Pe44nbjm2hgpiSGamwrSYNzwP86gWbS8eYkjiWh6T2zH2XQesJyP_rpiWWfetcglgQIyVm5HrqZZAMlbvCPqE-Urz_RbRWbJ69YbTQit0gFoleIRZ82lkLd6bfzzvFYhW67jZl7ODf1UlEoRmtx__lv/w400-h226/06%20Rainbow%20Puzzle.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The wall opposite the big Kallax shelves is the window wall where I have two of my three tables. One is an old Regency card table which I can open up to make a big square table; this was very useful when I needed to pin Jack's quilt earlier this year. The other table is our old kitchen table with the top painted white.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuRmmjaBPi3HiHAEuKf45ikuajW0qVDrMCmoOws1E18k-Kk0F25c3EO5oEy0q_ishsKg_4j6LWjEcS1n8uh_3WIwrTfwiVuePZswC0iGzlRtiAfKb09WQDjD5rLVy6wF3XK893PXEeSnAYzMruJki_A-eUMeDQnPPIKSizARQknFEpKruDRCLKc3hLZ4R/s4321/06a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="4321" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuRmmjaBPi3HiHAEuKf45ikuajW0qVDrMCmoOws1E18k-Kk0F25c3EO5oEy0q_ishsKg_4j6LWjEcS1n8uh_3WIwrTfwiVuePZswC0iGzlRtiAfKb09WQDjD5rLVy6wF3XK893PXEeSnAYzMruJki_A-eUMeDQnPPIKSizARQknFEpKruDRCLKc3hLZ4R/w400-h226/06a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can just about make out the Ten Stitch Rectangle on the card table, one of several samples I'm knitting for a pattern. Next to it is my very, very useful (and now tidy) <a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/white-storage-trolley-tray-and-bin-bundle/6540001000.html?glCountry=GB&gclid=Cj0KCQjw06-oBhC6ARIsAGuzdw00ByAg_Envf5ABw9XuJs2nvzG6ZLP7x9fnnO86ZOssh6T1w7tr0uUaAlWSEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">craft trolley</a>. I can really recommend this; it's sturdy, comes on wheels and you can get various attachments for it. The only extra I've added so far is that lid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know, it looks like I've got curtains but these are just the old net curtains from my son's house tied to the curtain rail for the summer so that I could keep the worst of the heat out on hot days. I use the big white table all the time; those granny squares are some of my samples from my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/how-to-knit-a-granny-square-2" target="_blank">How to Knit a Granny Square</a> pattern. I came across them yesterday and thought I might have another play with them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other side of the white table is another set of cube storage. The tall 1 x 4 unit is from <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/kallax-shelving-unit-white-00275848/" target="_blank">IKEA</a> but the 2 x 3 unit next to it is from <a href="https://www.habitat.co.uk/product/6217945" target="_blank">Habitat</a>. Their 'Squares Plus' range is a perfect match for the IKEA Kallax (the 'plus' is important as they do a slightly smaller range too) - useful when you want a combination that IKEA don't do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awjA_-Yz5tj4NmmLHqltLZBaYfygV6WEofwADnJKA9RxKTgkxRLqKBJeEC4UqnRsQla5z_VdGtkB565_JR8D7ZB0acD9KNwcBbegN366nevlLhuZ67JIYwLKf49UJ1QVXm7e3J--W3Gw3mV5sbxoyTsT0V90MKfN1gw01bA2ycs0puUmAYXDOu-4ygBq/s3500/07%20WIPs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3178" data-original-width="3500" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4awjA_-Yz5tj4NmmLHqltLZBaYfygV6WEofwADnJKA9RxKTgkxRLqKBJeEC4UqnRsQla5z_VdGtkB565_JR8D7ZB0acD9KNwcBbegN366nevlLhuZ67JIYwLKf49UJ1QVXm7e3J--W3Gw3mV5sbxoyTsT0V90MKfN1gw01bA2ycs0puUmAYXDOu-4ygBq/s320/07%20WIPs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can't see the bottom row of cubes in this photo as they're hidden by the table but they're all full of WIPs. There are knitting and crochet projects as well as weaving and various needlecrafts - some I definitely will finish and some I'm not sure about. Before I labelled and sorted this unit, it was a real mess. Everything I didn't know where to put ended up stacked in those two empty cubes or piled on top. This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago and it's still tidy. Today there are just some flowers and a mini weaving loom on the top and an empty little basket underneath.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next two sets of shelves are the ones that took the longest to sort and label. These are two of the deep <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/billy-bookcase-white-90401932/" target="_blank">Billy bookcases</a> from IKEA which house a huge mixture of craft supplies and books.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSthhc8pAC1qY2uFbj3Fb2iYDMHmdge2bBT4DS_GaoGxvRdaEh7TIC7fGtpq8cDiuYTWKF53a9yHi62Hc8AJP6BbTJ2Ohv10tTUjEvezGXIYSf6gnZ46-pmf6cUWz-2pGBYK3WFgog-xmYt-4Bs7pKf1tL8V28oLQU7qzNaQPTjs1LuPsS3cW6QTrHAONX/s4310/08%20Bookcases%20sorted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4310" data-original-width="3301" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSthhc8pAC1qY2uFbj3Fb2iYDMHmdge2bBT4DS_GaoGxvRdaEh7TIC7fGtpq8cDiuYTWKF53a9yHi62Hc8AJP6BbTJ2Ohv10tTUjEvezGXIYSf6gnZ46-pmf6cUWz-2pGBYK3WFgog-xmYt-4Bs7pKf1tL8V28oLQU7qzNaQPTjs1LuPsS3cW6QTrHAONX/w306-h400/08%20Bookcases%20sorted.JPG" width="306" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bottom shelves on both are taken up with quilting books and supplies (with my badge making machines tucked in behind them). The next shelf up on the left is for cross stitch while there's more quilting on the right hand bookcase, as well as my 3D beading stuff. The third shelf up on the left is for weaving while hardanger, blackwork and needlepoint are on the right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It gets increasingly bitty as you go further up the shelves. From left to right on the third shelf from the top are loom knitting, my Sizzix machine and dies and weaving books. Then come the tatting supplies and embroidery. The next shelf up on the left has all my miniature making things; you can see the <a href="http://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2021/05/house-building.html" target="_blank">little house</a> that I wrote about here a couple of years ago. Since then I have made some furniture for it but there's still more to do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the right hand shelf are my button making supplies - I love making buttons - and then all the bits and bobs for toy making. The top shelves have felt, fimo, resin and lino printing things (have you noticed that I can't resist a new craft?) and then anything else that wouldn't fit is on top of the bookcases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For those of you still awake, you'll be glad to know we've nearly finished going round the room. The last bit of sorting and labelling was my desk drawers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6J8iswxX5amRm10ZC_yJgtXUX-6eV7HlUBoVD-lF-JBYwaXQ2Tm7DVVPfOMN-ZU5WZ_bie4AYRmmD2XPIAyfqqRtFQRQaN4aOxIj52MW0x5yUHpg2I7aWy3BTOlqQNQ77kfMrnFTtleiuWjV7Qm6cw2NSdBOaXFdNzrYLH4NisErXCIdgr-oX5vx1cup/s5268/08a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3559" data-original-width="5268" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6J8iswxX5amRm10ZC_yJgtXUX-6eV7HlUBoVD-lF-JBYwaXQ2Tm7DVVPfOMN-ZU5WZ_bie4AYRmmD2XPIAyfqqRtFQRQaN4aOxIj52MW0x5yUHpg2I7aWy3BTOlqQNQ77kfMrnFTtleiuWjV7Qm6cw2NSdBOaXFdNzrYLH4NisErXCIdgr-oX5vx1cup/w400-h270/08a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used to have what I loosely call papercraft supplies all over the place and they took up a surprising amount of space. Not any more. All sorted, labelled and put away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjqxJO11vJq6TiL1GXIApx4VMUP5fX8k4M2PwoAwSjuOQOLYO_aGXC3Lynh2jk5MJOZRZH_RNnNqCUvr4ufhpaqTnFYhMOXdNLbIMFVMaVgljrEqvhV7f4aFyAt_4QYsOm3cYjx6NnHpLYLOA-oGiY0FvGzSE229VGg0Xrw6odzKBIWsPuxCWVN6JkcfB/s3973/09%20Desk%20Drawers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3070" data-original-width="3973" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjqxJO11vJq6TiL1GXIApx4VMUP5fX8k4M2PwoAwSjuOQOLYO_aGXC3Lynh2jk5MJOZRZH_RNnNqCUvr4ufhpaqTnFYhMOXdNLbIMFVMaVgljrEqvhV7f4aFyAt_4QYsOm3cYjx6NnHpLYLOA-oGiY0FvGzSE229VGg0Xrw6odzKBIWsPuxCWVN6JkcfB/w400-h309/09%20Desk%20Drawers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are just a couple of the drawers. The boxes are smaller versions of the big IKEA <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/search/?q=kuggis&filters=f-type%3ABox%20with%20lid" target="_blank">Kuggis</a> boxes that I've used in other parts of the room. These are brilliant. They come with lids that double up as trays which is a real bonus and the different sizes can be stacked together too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnGDe774QKh7KNqxt44OvDfBnWkvNjt28u5k9AwO14kHkEN_LA-P13CNlY4dSAfrZrsPxY3ZgKk_FYG7llpxqA4t-gb0snWiTNH8Ka1zykXWNvDXxzDdf7Bv3M-IMVLaJxTRmqjufbOa0ueXHrnLWLCkW0bjBXR6gMx_xfEORYJZ8ZPFYJ8CfkV9SKOLt/s1079/08%20Bookcases%20sorted%20-%20Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1079" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnGDe774QKh7KNqxt44OvDfBnWkvNjt28u5k9AwO14kHkEN_LA-P13CNlY4dSAfrZrsPxY3ZgKk_FYG7llpxqA4t-gb0snWiTNH8Ka1zykXWNvDXxzDdf7Bv3M-IMVLaJxTRmqjufbOa0ueXHrnLWLCkW0bjBXR6gMx_xfEORYJZ8ZPFYJ8CfkV9SKOLt/w400-h286/08%20Bookcases%20sorted%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not all the desk drawers are full of little boxes. There are drawers of card and paper and one with my sketchbooks, pens and paints in too. It's amazing how much can be fitted into ten not especially big drawers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have to say that having my craft things organised like this has made a huge difference to how I work but it's also meant that I'm doing different crafts again. I keep being tempted to make another button, work on my latest little beaded Christmas house or tat another gift tag. It's also really good to be able to tidy up properly. My Long Covid brain can't cope with muddle so being able to put things away is very important. As my Granny would have said "a place for everything and everything in its place".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So yes, I am still able to make things as well as label my supplies. In recent months I've crocheted another <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-blanket" target="_blank">Lazy Vee</a> blanket for a new baby (baby Esther, born last month) ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzWI8VU103V8WM-d14pY3kYLsumN-A3_y2Nw10r5-yfk1HCOv7JN4m_SI07Wv69U0WvtTOBAFEucQT_xG7c4SsNkaDNwZvIZNlk_JP8FagRB7QHZlT5-XMCm0Hc_-75UC2qOCOgagOKGLQbjwWNlZyEiV7fT4gEpl3ZSsXY1NbPpit6HMMzsMdmm4s22w/s2547/10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="2547" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzWI8VU103V8WM-d14pY3kYLsumN-A3_y2Nw10r5-yfk1HCOv7JN4m_SI07Wv69U0WvtTOBAFEucQT_xG7c4SsNkaDNwZvIZNlk_JP8FagRB7QHZlT5-XMCm0Hc_-75UC2qOCOgagOKGLQbjwWNlZyEiV7fT4gEpl3ZSsXY1NbPpit6HMMzsMdmm4s22w/w400-h383/10.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and knitted a re-worked version of my old <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/raggy-doll" target="_blank">Raggy Doll</a> pattern for another, slightly older baby.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9klVqas478FvsbO-dFY_VXh6j6fO3rdrI7z7KAvjl_uemvT0WG1R6YAP_JUtkIANwZu4Ok8nlpG1KUf30aur2iT3-lOcRC3pMKEEHTZYUvcJr_Xuouu6dI1x-MKh_uDEHTcArNdVOtazp9W2x-oI86f5godRpJChPqhgH_1j_swpPjZk9qMsNxpYBvF6B/s2809/11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="2743" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9klVqas478FvsbO-dFY_VXh6j6fO3rdrI7z7KAvjl_uemvT0WG1R6YAP_JUtkIANwZu4Ok8nlpG1KUf30aur2iT3-lOcRC3pMKEEHTZYUvcJr_Xuouu6dI1x-MKh_uDEHTcArNdVOtazp9W2x-oI86f5godRpJChPqhgH_1j_swpPjZk9qMsNxpYBvF6B/w390-h400/11.JPG" width="390" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of the many patterns that I want to update with current yarns and much better instructions and pictures. I shall have to knit another doll to do that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having crocheted the Lazy Vee blanket I was inspired to turn the same basic idea into a triangular shawl so that's waiting to be written up now. Like the blanket, it uses two colours in single row stripes but with no need to cut the yarn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgcIzIl0LS37SsMXnXxdxXACP9y_2KtZdi1SfkDBzqHirXjWlOdjeo9ZWlWAwsiw3PijgpkUryTjLgPAMcXbPrOkmMtKny-3Gisbu43LbLXg0wZ7HE6Ug2Asc6ugGH1jHPW_kCyvTLa1Ia_LNO4RSGWI63XVkX4pDaA6vCvSZxtszuxmi5XWeoEeO-jyo/s2993/13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="2993" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTgcIzIl0LS37SsMXnXxdxXACP9y_2KtZdi1SfkDBzqHirXjWlOdjeo9ZWlWAwsiw3PijgpkUryTjLgPAMcXbPrOkmMtKny-3Gisbu43LbLXg0wZ7HE6Ug2Asc6ugGH1jHPW_kCyvTLa1Ia_LNO4RSGWI63XVkX4pDaA6vCvSZxtszuxmi5XWeoEeO-jyo/w400-h344/13.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The variegated yarn is <a href="https://www.kingcole.com/knitting-wool/bramble-dk/" target="_blank">King Cole Bramble DK</a>, a yarn that I absolutely love working with. I used it in a different shade for Esther's blanket too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A little while ago I sewed a couple of Japanese knot bags, just to see how they worked. I had great trouble with the instructions that I found so worked out my own way in the end. You thread the long handle through the short one and then the little bag can hang from your wrist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lNLWU1DL39MZXBU-5TKbHjSYmf9cdskZem7D6ES_OcAvxhD5ZWNssPjSR9mCxDS0UDg9HwIMru_FcG-jGR8snDBC9l7kWrxwhK1zHRE3s95xqspmIyccd9DBMfl1ATE9iVEsp0DqZYPSuWNUnlZqarzyIt7RBt6iMDB6lYXjkGP4hRnJKRPrnYycleHn/s3358/Knot%20Bags%2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="3358" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lNLWU1DL39MZXBU-5TKbHjSYmf9cdskZem7D6ES_OcAvxhD5ZWNssPjSR9mCxDS0UDg9HwIMru_FcG-jGR8snDBC9l7kWrxwhK1zHRE3s95xqspmIyccd9DBMfl1ATE9iVEsp0DqZYPSuWNUnlZqarzyIt7RBt6iMDB6lYXjkGP4hRnJKRPrnYycleHn/w400-h143/Knot%20Bags%2003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I saw some lovely versions online with flat bases but these would have made the sewing even trickier. Of course, this isn't true with knitting ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uiqvWgr489hlf8nFpu5SZZITgCDccCxAuR9h1GBJ5j-6wTeTPFPd_3FcEqkg-eTJJRDWxdhTC7axGdJhEqYmpneayPiCNAWWqwrVO-4QN0zbsdyH9qePQ-1_kywKDOsmvQXYJQ6JjesGLFFo5b71kFHMJqUE86m1HwmvvhwBF8fg80Zo-4_bk27s3uWa/s3440/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2885" data-original-width="3440" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7uiqvWgr489hlf8nFpu5SZZITgCDccCxAuR9h1GBJ5j-6wTeTPFPd_3FcEqkg-eTJJRDWxdhTC7axGdJhEqYmpneayPiCNAWWqwrVO-4QN0zbsdyH9qePQ-1_kywKDOsmvQXYJQ6JjesGLFFo5b71kFHMJqUE86m1HwmvvhwBF8fg80Zo-4_bk27s3uWa/w400-h335/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This will be my next published pattern. Two sizes of knot bags, knitted in fabric / linen stitch so they don't need lining and with flat bottoms, stiffened with plastic or buckram. They're knitted in the round until you get to the handles which have to be worked back and forth. Just so as you know, taking a photo of a bag on your own wrist is very very difficult.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLB878X-PVL5J-gF9QigFmFNsNSzoTJemw0xYOZf6hjtymBVnMWWy-YhAHo0xFUlLWdPmc-TA-RPA1np2GmY6ztCMAouf4kAl2PgChiGmgolB5S-3jwc5SaUJXWUC-OPzchM_hY3fKuwk9CfFXj6mpRHEafSE0BwdjJQS7Nj4m5l6_wMR6rasRhNUMsvH/s3969/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3969" data-original-width="2619" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLB878X-PVL5J-gF9QigFmFNsNSzoTJemw0xYOZf6hjtymBVnMWWy-YhAHo0xFUlLWdPmc-TA-RPA1np2GmY6ztCMAouf4kAl2PgChiGmgolB5S-3jwc5SaUJXWUC-OPzchM_hY3fKuwk9CfFXj6mpRHEafSE0BwdjJQS7Nj4m5l6_wMR6rasRhNUMsvH/w264-h400/15.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you've enjoyed this little tour of my room and are inspired to add labels to everything you own! Next time I'll show you some 'before' pictures of the next room that we're working on. Oh yes, there's another one ...</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-42241762647552027192023-08-04T12:43:00.002+01:002023-08-04T12:43:52.709+01:00Houses<p>For many months now I've been doggedly working on a little knitted house that doubles up as a box. I made the original cardboard model last year (or possibly the year before) but got no further than that for a long time. Then, earlier this year I made myself start work on it, calling it 'Spring Cottage' in my pattern notebook. It took longer than I'd expected to finish so it's now called <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-cottage-6" target="_blank">Summer Cottage</a>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14ZP4ypbzLO4KyWbYXz9UqNrQG0gyfimXGbBmOqNVyxSufoE-GrUT03uZknJunx7dG-Dkxncx1F9a-FMcyVGQC1midy6Nzj5yNzRwUbUFEhc-M8_08IRZo_9SsWNAJqUM1gv_6ky-LSCZwtQIlX0Nw7htWfz56HwI1CMHvfRAm8ExKScgb6MG30sMTxCm/s1986/20.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1955" data-original-width="1986" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14ZP4ypbzLO4KyWbYXz9UqNrQG0gyfimXGbBmOqNVyxSufoE-GrUT03uZknJunx7dG-Dkxncx1F9a-FMcyVGQC1midy6Nzj5yNzRwUbUFEhc-M8_08IRZo_9SsWNAJqUM1gv_6ky-LSCZwtQIlX0Nw7htWfz56HwI1CMHvfRAm8ExKScgb6MG30sMTxCm/w400-h394/20.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I must admit that I made things hard for myself by including two little dormer windows - just as hard to design as you might imagine - and two chimneys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The finishing touch is the abundance of flowers that decorate all the walls. I worried that I was getting a bit carried away as I added these but I'm pleased with the finished result. You can never have too many flowers can you?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV7WxWG3mD05JhaPFMuBgONAyNydJduKo7aAb1EqkWwgHZoFtnT_jclXqN5hCa6N_n1EHb08c3cltdXcS61uLnsDZXdkYD2dq2cS-bnuHru4H62biMJiwL_hfZIgydAlI6j7FMEDx5hQdnir8H1KD-k-7QpSlb9zZ3oX6ZWLv3bIBESXoMJUqstuyZ3d_/s1938/23.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="1938" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhV7WxWG3mD05JhaPFMuBgONAyNydJduKo7aAb1EqkWwgHZoFtnT_jclXqN5hCa6N_n1EHb08c3cltdXcS61uLnsDZXdkYD2dq2cS-bnuHru4H62biMJiwL_hfZIgydAlI6j7FMEDx5hQdnir8H1KD-k-7QpSlb9zZ3oX6ZWLv3bIBESXoMJUqstuyZ3d_/w400-h388/23.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the first wall I decorated; lots and lots of french knots in four different shades to make a rose bush. There are several more roses on the cottage; they're my favourite flower. I was pleased with the hollyhocks on the other side wall too. These are made with crochet rings and a few straight stitches.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p4Tm_SpKhiffm5KaXQElRAzuZWY5fg0KdXuPYNq9KTZJThylcSM2w9YEeSTeM60u04LzLeKn_W7NZqJc33nLxQ1M7cQhR-74o-mVRGTpiRVpf-1njrdjQHF9T50yyZ2HOY-3sqL2opJ83k6le-LeuHKFR-PB9zMSSHR_opwcVkQOmB5FcKF7w_ZoVp-n/s2398/24.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2398" data-original-width="1774" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3p4Tm_SpKhiffm5KaXQElRAzuZWY5fg0KdXuPYNq9KTZJThylcSM2w9YEeSTeM60u04LzLeKn_W7NZqJc33nLxQ1M7cQhR-74o-mVRGTpiRVpf-1njrdjQHF9T50yyZ2HOY-3sqL2opJ83k6le-LeuHKFR-PB9zMSSHR_opwcVkQOmB5FcKF7w_ZoVp-n/w296-h400/24.JPG" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course there had to be a cat sitting by the back door; you can just spot him in this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3nNs2OD3yTuwn78rOe3T8NN6kNN2Pv2AhYvlZQjMCvMHuywyZTYZmPRiNWY40nwMoTukWWVm3DTwKKVUZGt_NQfGOkmijvaDYBAiJ7gWa5YQcIbg4fm-Wrpvkq_n_Pym4UYb9VyhcFIaOe2nrRuaRd1QomMd7wkkZhkBt_WfDQnxJ0cwhCoKOQSrhcpG/s2283/22.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="2283" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3nNs2OD3yTuwn78rOe3T8NN6kNN2Pv2AhYvlZQjMCvMHuywyZTYZmPRiNWY40nwMoTukWWVm3DTwKKVUZGt_NQfGOkmijvaDYBAiJ7gWa5YQcIbg4fm-Wrpvkq_n_Pym4UYb9VyhcFIaOe2nrRuaRd1QomMd7wkkZhkBt_WfDQnxJ0cwhCoKOQSrhcpG/w400-h379/22.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had always intended this cottage to be based on the stone Cotswold cottages in my part of the world but, while I was working on it, my son bought his first house and parts of that sneaked into the design.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Far from being a stone cottage, his house is one of many Victorian railway terraces built about 150 years ago to house the workers when the railway came to our town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWNF0r-Ftb8WxLLCGRzT1QYFfY8BcFm11AD1PeqgycljPTz7aXTSb7IYZGRVTV-5wftY5prtl3uXtrXgrPe9og5iBs8g5wF_p9wjJWFJUki96hUEwFbA6k2ui2cYzMvA35cnV-hOCed6V846Mz-QcBTGX7FQ2YlcQ1XXnCtD5w4wXfUrpIYCz96HSdiE6/s4791/01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4791" data-original-width="3199" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilWNF0r-Ftb8WxLLCGRzT1QYFfY8BcFm11AD1PeqgycljPTz7aXTSb7IYZGRVTV-5wftY5prtl3uXtrXgrPe9og5iBs8g5wF_p9wjJWFJUki96hUEwFbA6k2ui2cYzMvA35cnV-hOCed6V846Mz-QcBTGX7FQ2YlcQ1XXnCtD5w4wXfUrpIYCz96HSdiE6/w268-h400/01.JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This link with the railways is rather fitting as we have a long history of working on the railway in our family, starting with my Great-Grandfather and ending with my brother. Here is George (my Great-Grandfather) on the Winchester to Alton line around the start of the twentieth century.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZCK2v35rLDacZ_tJMqQ-Ccu2dn7Se9UoVKQr4ftSHnLxCKreMQA_KDkyot9c-qupsbFxvAsaysKqhaAhCr33xStnMl3sppaCjAUmuTzXXxzB1R4VE3KjDa5Aqljckh6cVqKDxqKc19_aaTytnNMRC77HNsaMQeBbELMp82CpC1bFt4KDV4dpV2Y_Nk10/s1163/01a.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZCK2v35rLDacZ_tJMqQ-Ccu2dn7Se9UoVKQr4ftSHnLxCKreMQA_KDkyot9c-qupsbFxvAsaysKqhaAhCr33xStnMl3sppaCjAUmuTzXXxzB1R4VE3KjDa5Aqljckh6cVqKDxqKc19_aaTytnNMRC77HNsaMQeBbELMp82CpC1bFt4KDV4dpV2Y_Nk10/w291-h400/01a.jpeg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jack's house has small rooms but they are very tall which is handy as it means he can fit in lots of tall bookcases. It also has some nice original features like the tiles in the hall and the stained glass over the front door.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw79_6kOsc9CEQZAg2x79NDURtJCEQ5fL7FzW9_hGWOP2l_38n6LmEESNXRPqEUen7Zd6RAmXzfdhbYB5xW-y5KMwWJ6OEuf3E711yJ8j9j3TxIglyz9X1vK9nnVAFpJaoJKw-TJNlAByhRSUPZ1nUOya94cX2OdJ7DM0cx9ZdMy1epCHaaA3AIAoqWgSB/s5472/02.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw79_6kOsc9CEQZAg2x79NDURtJCEQ5fL7FzW9_hGWOP2l_38n6LmEESNXRPqEUen7Zd6RAmXzfdhbYB5xW-y5KMwWJ6OEuf3E711yJ8j9j3TxIglyz9X1vK9nnVAFpJaoJKw-TJNlAByhRSUPZ1nUOya94cX2OdJ7DM0cx9ZdMy1epCHaaA3AIAoqWgSB/w266-h400/02.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That front door was my inspiration for the knitted door on my little cottage; I basically copied the colour and all the fittings as well as I could.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HvmCYighh2FoCEEYZ3WqD84kSnmCaGwE7Ahrz84IJ2ZehgxnC8KOq3MPxpiw8lYCB9FMXzk-3-mdKg16Er3Yf57G3kjDL0ckSVXq2GSa5QpQhttdd4uPtc0bGxXCrzEAGGh6rBmjGypu2T2QLEn6XSTR_dQ2FkWLjtP_E7kCWrufXHh6emMzPUByhCqy/s5472/06%20Stained%20glass.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4HvmCYighh2FoCEEYZ3WqD84kSnmCaGwE7Ahrz84IJ2ZehgxnC8KOq3MPxpiw8lYCB9FMXzk-3-mdKg16Er3Yf57G3kjDL0ckSVXq2GSa5QpQhttdd4uPtc0bGxXCrzEAGGh6rBmjGypu2T2QLEn6XSTR_dQ2FkWLjtP_E7kCWrufXHh6emMzPUByhCqy/w266-h400/06%20Stained%20glass.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Downstairs he has a small front room with a kitchen at the back. This has a huge, original built in cupboard, very like the one in my house which is also a Victorian terrace. You can fit an awful lot of stores in this sort of cupboard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_tSo2gZ2UwZVoLOIpBid1qP917tY0GHzGJhFltXdpG3JR_KVZu6MxGHrsTpKzep3ukGhX9nhs8prEGgpenspxseWRVdPpEUTdyHiJvX8WkAY8wdn9nDIXoFw5vrsnpx0kP5mDXpEiNgmbHeofqxaEVIbYP1f4rGrwowpPhTLeIJ4khS7z6bvoKJCKFRK/s5091/05.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5091" data-original-width="3481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_tSo2gZ2UwZVoLOIpBid1qP917tY0GHzGJhFltXdpG3JR_KVZu6MxGHrsTpKzep3ukGhX9nhs8prEGgpenspxseWRVdPpEUTdyHiJvX8WkAY8wdn9nDIXoFw5vrsnpx0kP5mDXpEiNgmbHeofqxaEVIbYP1f4rGrwowpPhTLeIJ4khS7z6bvoKJCKFRK/w274-h400/05.JPG" width="274" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The stairs are boxed in, going up from the kitchen, right next to the back door. These sorts of stairs always remind me of those in my Granny's house and make me feel nostalgic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFvc3kIAIeM3OCu49i1qdHK30v5UjNVKVuk3j_KgALoA7kGCVr7VTKkcOQFB-dWyle42P3QZOkXhPvURhMS7eiK-K73BioPiJuDCBgnvjMhUpDIVR_3i21FvK4RWOu_0PlsEfKbuuvLU5Na2RAoP0uAXHbMM7_3_ZGgqlAmtZlmVLUE0eH2B4y3XULoLh/s5472/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFvc3kIAIeM3OCu49i1qdHK30v5UjNVKVuk3j_KgALoA7kGCVr7VTKkcOQFB-dWyle42P3QZOkXhPvURhMS7eiK-K73BioPiJuDCBgnvjMhUpDIVR_3i21FvK4RWOu_0PlsEfKbuuvLU5Na2RAoP0uAXHbMM7_3_ZGgqlAmtZlmVLUE0eH2B4y3XULoLh/w266-h400/06.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the next floor is a bedroom and bathroom and then there are more steep, enclosed stairs leading up to the attic room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5rpqA4HaXv7x4ULZJR_CaNQBnF8-la14Yi-T28sQgmYSb6qux-ayMWhxZK68HeKQoBBd1HzgHu-R_xXy-5Hu4ZVEsyWRGBE4KDHC_up2fZo-xOQPXCgWJ-5sG4uv2QkePoXsooXbaHTWcATAZdZcDESdO-vQofiUB_MT5rcowK0DVEBLrJRrzk0N_LRm/s5472/10.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5rpqA4HaXv7x4ULZJR_CaNQBnF8-la14Yi-T28sQgmYSb6qux-ayMWhxZK68HeKQoBBd1HzgHu-R_xXy-5Hu4ZVEsyWRGBE4KDHC_up2fZo-xOQPXCgWJ-5sG4uv2QkePoXsooXbaHTWcATAZdZcDESdO-vQofiUB_MT5rcowK0DVEBLrJRrzk0N_LRm/w266-h400/10.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is one of those wonderful little rooms with sloping ceilings, a huge, wide chimney breast and a little dormer window to the front. And yes, that's where the dormer windows on my knitted cottage came from.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp6BVzdSLRbL2mq3aF7mZ83N1bkZpTkNA9UsvKDSgbqaQhEdaMb93sc3Gqe-YpHz0VDu89g48BOy_8r7Fzmi2wwYcOqaouc5w79MBXyM3907g1NRol_NJ5RUNfbvsxiFcT4mRuo_w4kQaxT04JxwSZpQnNsD5Vz963qacWvY3t3JSY7jEZw31kOj3Kh51/s5472/11.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCp6BVzdSLRbL2mq3aF7mZ83N1bkZpTkNA9UsvKDSgbqaQhEdaMb93sc3Gqe-YpHz0VDu89g48BOy_8r7Fzmi2wwYcOqaouc5w79MBXyM3907g1NRol_NJ5RUNfbvsxiFcT4mRuo_w4kQaxT04JxwSZpQnNsD5Vz963qacWvY3t3JSY7jEZw31kOj3Kh51/w400-h266/11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's the chimney breast in the photo above and the little door in the wall below leads to the storage space under the eaves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm_YABvjKNplZbs1vVY53uHIpRuXiJrONL4mCfTPCX4R2fjlYNSFDGax3LhEMQNnaN4CHmGuQ2DWRvyd1B6LZHBLTOgXR6w2DqXPWVVvqA4AzN--LNbsFI-senGWSVtk0hTrs3n1J1HhmL7L6NiJ13F7SMRtet9saDMxIHlaTUIHLIlkYPt41h5iA2-fQ/s5472/12.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm_YABvjKNplZbs1vVY53uHIpRuXiJrONL4mCfTPCX4R2fjlYNSFDGax3LhEMQNnaN4CHmGuQ2DWRvyd1B6LZHBLTOgXR6w2DqXPWVVvqA4AzN--LNbsFI-senGWSVtk0hTrs3n1J1HhmL7L6NiJ13F7SMRtet9saDMxIHlaTUIHLIlkYPt41h5iA2-fQ/w400-h266/12.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This attic room has now become the games room and is lined with shelves of board games, with a table and chairs in the middle to play them on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the rest of house ... it's filled with books. There was already an alcove of fitted shelves in the front room that were just the right size for Jack's collection of Puffin First editions ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0vk2BQHz_j9K86-997Kc5gdtLLGvm9CAVD_g48igWcpUi1Ec0cHcNNGdEiobwWBitFBAf0Ah13P51bjEyss0KK4GucV4SQbBzj5yeoLH2Lyiww5G_vcpmC_jS0M2EczZTNT9H1D7UOVnPr4n_Ff4Dw5EVrBAJBmUN3QOI-W_97QbIVTOC3EsRL2_ep_u/s5472/02%20Puffin%20Shelves.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0vk2BQHz_j9K86-997Kc5gdtLLGvm9CAVD_g48igWcpUi1Ec0cHcNNGdEiobwWBitFBAf0Ah13P51bjEyss0KK4GucV4SQbBzj5yeoLH2Lyiww5G_vcpmC_jS0M2EczZTNT9H1D7UOVnPr4n_Ff4Dw5EVrBAJBmUN3QOI-W_97QbIVTOC3EsRL2_ep_u/w266-h400/02%20Puffin%20Shelves.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and he's added shelves to the other alcove for more childrens' books, including his collection of picture books and then every other bit of spare wall space is lined with more bookcases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcYRT-X8MWLi82MeFjvz-3ecMSXSpkb-YD4mfTjbMdZVXncg_zT-nQNUBsnjw2xVkBPrc5dc81nFMBtTCSEpoRrBzVO8wIvCczsO6nH6pEQtyk1zqasB6N063pj-sxDrXpxO_2S0Se5BJi39NHvwBO-Hsvb93ZFe678YKzGpkc88DAM2kIE8yAVK6HDPB/s5472/17.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcYRT-X8MWLi82MeFjvz-3ecMSXSpkb-YD4mfTjbMdZVXncg_zT-nQNUBsnjw2xVkBPrc5dc81nFMBtTCSEpoRrBzVO8wIvCczsO6nH6pEQtyk1zqasB6N063pj-sxDrXpxO_2S0Se5BJi39NHvwBO-Hsvb93ZFe678YKzGpkc88DAM2kIE8yAVK6HDPB/w266-h400/17.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He's started putting up some of his pictures too. There's his Puffin Club poster in the front room which you probably can't see for the glare in the photo. By the way, see that coffee table? That's the one I'm making the quilt for. You'll be pleased to know that I'm on to quilting the borders now so the end is in sight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5IMctrB3Xh399enCnU-G8HIcQPhknPiBLzPNqcLZpM8UeFdkF6rbMvY3SvjmhzVjv6LHbhovmjZ0UJalVN6ltpx_mnIrv5dbrsgb5NxUZRhEknJ22PbYYlkyxXgcfIf9_MFNhZ129uETel8thCrjk90yr3XZRSf0V71PJ6S-JJO6gQUI4YJfXuJXoab3/s5472/16.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5IMctrB3Xh399enCnU-G8HIcQPhknPiBLzPNqcLZpM8UeFdkF6rbMvY3SvjmhzVjv6LHbhovmjZ0UJalVN6ltpx_mnIrv5dbrsgb5NxUZRhEknJ22PbYYlkyxXgcfIf9_MFNhZ129uETel8thCrjk90yr3XZRSf0V71PJ6S-JJO6gQUI4YJfXuJXoab3/w400-h266/16.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here's another painting you can't see properly, a painted map of one of his <a href="https://woodcraft.org.uk/" target="_blank">Woodcraft</a> camps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSRJKGcC_ppd-P0dsbe7U-HpX5gC6aY1FzWidl4x8xAIanl0gz8upAvlhlFvNgR-tLZaIbrSz_2nbwRD_vOw1uc3oqKd2YEaRWQwdUFfNzdjtPA51o4ALRSReeQSMNlT1Azs1hngkI06DJLaKeEMhO8RQkBzLsnUJhuoUnawJu3eJwZxUPDCKVk1r3IRe/s5472/18.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSRJKGcC_ppd-P0dsbe7U-HpX5gC6aY1FzWidl4x8xAIanl0gz8upAvlhlFvNgR-tLZaIbrSz_2nbwRD_vOw1uc3oqKd2YEaRWQwdUFfNzdjtPA51o4ALRSReeQSMNlT1Azs1hngkI06DJLaKeEMhO8RQkBzLsnUJhuoUnawJu3eJwZxUPDCKVk1r3IRe/w266-h400/18.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Above his mantelpiece we have hung the dragon quilt that his Grandmother made him. Mum was a very creative quilter; there is a beautiful castle quilted in the background of this quilt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRxW39Ll7UudtmbXUjzmZTub1obVwJg123GiKvoHwvBwDpvmPP1TbbO4jQHsggU_U-y0ip2pjPbt94SQ2HyXTLIoYHTZZIwiLeI2IBKUItgmn-O_b5bi_VqFw421Wde_3bfiV5jj96xtnXurfSvFsVxkeJkIWr27jKiGZ6Exx775zC72mKPYRBCqRUL8/s4944/Dragon%20Quilt.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4944" data-original-width="3204" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LRxW39Ll7UudtmbXUjzmZTub1obVwJg123GiKvoHwvBwDpvmPP1TbbO4jQHsggU_U-y0ip2pjPbt94SQ2HyXTLIoYHTZZIwiLeI2IBKUItgmn-O_b5bi_VqFw421Wde_3bfiV5jj96xtnXurfSvFsVxkeJkIWr27jKiGZ6Exx775zC72mKPYRBCqRUL8/w259-h400/Dragon%20Quilt.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's a close up of the quilt so you can see it a bit better ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUvberQirjGnn59vMJkoM7TFPrwf8l0ouKc6onoZSYmR4O-Ey8yhRX1cG6lpPFn0WdOCikzrB6Uui2mUOr1m-dn94l-XueOaPurIYqUEQdZYUBt1z6G4atqPeB09hntguMKmPqDxmAYZii8nn0vckPOfpqGL5EXeigJ-ZWxuzH10p-9prjeS58bRxIfkB/s2833/Here%20Be%20Dragons.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2803" data-original-width="2833" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUvberQirjGnn59vMJkoM7TFPrwf8l0ouKc6onoZSYmR4O-Ey8yhRX1cG6lpPFn0WdOCikzrB6Uui2mUOr1m-dn94l-XueOaPurIYqUEQdZYUBt1z6G4atqPeB09hntguMKmPqDxmAYZii8nn0vckPOfpqGL5EXeigJ-ZWxuzH10p-9prjeS58bRxIfkB/w400-h396/Here%20Be%20Dragons.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here is the label from the back of the quilt. Mum didn't often bother to sign her quilts but she did with this one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSH5N7t9HZhbHUhks8rvioYoxDHDDTSLeIz0GIDTVpS3o8TPASj4zLx9YO_OlGPLsclXIv2jnFkkY_AsFLWS01a7fvBLLNWaEnTDhpPXe-QsZMvnu2v9kYwcC9_Df1QZE1F5JGLwsaP41ZxVqN_8PTLIY7Zz11PmMhspGdsGtVPAytLLfHAF0QjyeRyXh/s3706/Dragon%20Quilt%2004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2305" data-original-width="3706" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTSH5N7t9HZhbHUhks8rvioYoxDHDDTSLeIz0GIDTVpS3o8TPASj4zLx9YO_OlGPLsclXIv2jnFkkY_AsFLWS01a7fvBLLNWaEnTDhpPXe-QsZMvnu2v9kYwcC9_Df1QZE1F5JGLwsaP41ZxVqN_8PTLIY7Zz11PmMhspGdsGtVPAytLLfHAF0QjyeRyXh/w400-h249/Dragon%20Quilt%2004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've just realised that the backing fabric for this quilt is a partner to the one I've used for Jack's coffee table quilt. Mine is the same colours but with blue stripes rather than squares. Mum had long lengths of both fabrics and they turn up on several of her quilts. Here's the backing on my quilt ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJFicIx3eHXuRq8dsqIxzXnA-MNce0HsdbUMwIqi5aDhwvsLrLE8fhi21DhmZWQFYoVXRFJVvSpWV6LZBJAzDls5uKVg9pfhL4S71x2lsdv4p6Ef13yXr9bqNXV15pUQZcAdLOQePViyyw21uwp09x47YP77d3PR4oZk3QLF_s2lIOQA7JMOKxAVMWweb/s4386/Backing%20for%20Jack's%20Quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="4386" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYJFicIx3eHXuRq8dsqIxzXnA-MNce0HsdbUMwIqi5aDhwvsLrLE8fhi21DhmZWQFYoVXRFJVvSpWV6LZBJAzDls5uKVg9pfhL4S71x2lsdv4p6Ef13yXr9bqNXV15pUQZcAdLOQePViyyw21uwp09x47YP77d3PR4oZk3QLF_s2lIOQA7JMOKxAVMWweb/w400-h256/Backing%20for%20Jack's%20Quilt.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and here is the same backing fabric as on the dragon quilt on Mum's last, unfinished quilt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo_oL5MHMugLrXyRj98M66GDhli9V55o8pUL4HgdiuULCnrCDLHFpOGA5_N94GYhXPi7tCnydk4rl6vSAusPjzz4qEl9FyhmtvN5TAM0wcmTUBNC3IVVpJCyDLtAS1bvtFknXk0ExDtQmk3koDi4BIHJuaufjP3dELLF4XCmRLIJfAjbRSFt5ZoPW90ys/s2863/Mum's%20Unfinished%20Quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2863" data-original-width="2754" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxo_oL5MHMugLrXyRj98M66GDhli9V55o8pUL4HgdiuULCnrCDLHFpOGA5_N94GYhXPi7tCnydk4rl6vSAusPjzz4qEl9FyhmtvN5TAM0wcmTUBNC3IVVpJCyDLtAS1bvtFknXk0ExDtQmk3koDi4BIHJuaufjP3dELLF4XCmRLIJfAjbRSFt5ZoPW90ys/w385-h400/Mum's%20Unfinished%20Quilt.JPG" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My daughter is having this one but first I have to pluck up the courage to finish quilting it. My quilting is nowhere near as good as Mum's.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's one more thing to show you from Jack's new house and it's either the worst or the best thing, depending on how you look at it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4CfJ1oOFdlRjrUK1EZdfBgsio5Kq_Ok4RaIsvA1YJ4dVKBR_6-lpWSwGcCyh6XN_mupk-3BJ8c_AGPNTbem7fUQFt5yv51Xm3u61OjFjZAJUhcFQAU17T0b_2tzt3MZCf4JuayABRIjpPUWT7Uc3PyBccX96Wh3EProNcgsI4B0-5bnhcE0yb8dvkzYb/s5472/07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv4CfJ1oOFdlRjrUK1EZdfBgsio5Kq_Ok4RaIsvA1YJ4dVKBR_6-lpWSwGcCyh6XN_mupk-3BJ8c_AGPNTbem7fUQFt5yv51Xm3u61OjFjZAJUhcFQAU17T0b_2tzt3MZCf4JuayABRIjpPUWT7Uc3PyBccX96Wh3EProNcgsI4B0-5bnhcE0yb8dvkzYb/w400-h266/07.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the back of his tiny garden he has another house! Yes, really. This outbuilding is as old as the main house and, in its time, has been used as a workshop so it has electricity (not that you'd risk using it now), a big sash window and the original old stove.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv_nJ2_eU0e7LhE__MG9ES6-_iEMANuyf-g007hFWVg6GGvks_sEvNCf7WQ_vzqaLvlklNCXVmNCj3dMlsyTA5rkdGGvvDS9hKWcwFY7mhhOlWz6seNW_WCwt7WTvVaAZpJ5StILP0LiaNveoO9RUQEl23d2A-dSgznN3L1gfESdhC7Mm5E0JevHRuUSA/s4294/08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4294" data-original-width="3058" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv_nJ2_eU0e7LhE__MG9ES6-_iEMANuyf-g007hFWVg6GGvks_sEvNCf7WQ_vzqaLvlklNCXVmNCj3dMlsyTA5rkdGGvvDS9hKWcwFY7mhhOlWz6seNW_WCwt7WTvVaAZpJ5StILP0LiaNveoO9RUQEl23d2A-dSgznN3L1gfESdhC7Mm5E0JevHRuUSA/w285-h400/08.JPG" width="285" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It also has a hole in the roof, a back wall that needs to be rebuilt, and lots of damp. But ... it's big and has lots and lots of potential. When he can afford it, Jack has plans to have it turned into a proper building which will give him at least one extra room. You'd never get planning permission for such a big building in a small space now but, as it's an original structure, it can be repaired. We think this is very exciting.</div><div><br /></div>Going back to knitted houses, I had originally planned to design a series of four cottages using the same basic shape, one for each season. Now, though, I'm tempted to make each one a different style of house. I'm thinking of a white thatched cottage for one and possibly a terraced house for another. I may use other family houses as my models too. I lived in two brick and flint houses as child and am particularly fond of them. Here's the one I remember ...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9R4qOfxtJi3KAP3K1Y3162gRJvr_tb8uTKXYkcyCzELzv4B9rVVHk4RUna1H9UIrl4CZ7-FUsX5rO6yFHI3q-72wNBw6Gasevj87DtDTjxodOOHYErxK1Q-2MbuuINgJ_VKMhWiIMVz_E5YDsicUjI3u52vOn35RipjuXeqTe4Ly3SHIsTYZ62Ovg2wk/s2816/31%20Longstock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2112" data-original-width="2816" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9R4qOfxtJi3KAP3K1Y3162gRJvr_tb8uTKXYkcyCzELzv4B9rVVHk4RUna1H9UIrl4CZ7-FUsX5rO6yFHI3q-72wNBw6Gasevj87DtDTjxodOOHYErxK1Q-2MbuuINgJ_VKMhWiIMVz_E5YDsicUjI3u52vOn35RipjuXeqTe4Ly3SHIsTYZ62Ovg2wk/w400-h300/31%20Longstock.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tied_cottage" target="_blank">tied cottage</a> in the village of <a href="https://www.longstockparishcouncil.co.uk/community/longstock-parish-council-15496/buildings/" target="_blank">Longstock</a> where my Dad worked on a farm. The other house that I have especially fond memories of is my Granny's house which my Great Grandfather (he of the railway photo) had built for her when she married in the 1930s.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc-_1D3Yrj4cqUtlApSNQPdVD4w_iFM_mUUlzY6Qv4G6YaPNYeBeYwVO1JO-TAmOznjWUjyFiDpvbU-tiAeZqL1bRqly7Z6aB8tvF9eZUBJcRR-79fgx4i3c4arrkicKNT-Nu-zjz1BgtcLAreUF5a7VV5GzPEXulyGykiEuxkYcbghCsxCQJEUeiFhVj/s712/Frank%20&%20Ida%20Pothecary,%2026%20Whynot%20Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="712" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZc-_1D3Yrj4cqUtlApSNQPdVD4w_iFM_mUUlzY6Qv4G6YaPNYeBeYwVO1JO-TAmOznjWUjyFiDpvbU-tiAeZqL1bRqly7Z6aB8tvF9eZUBJcRR-79fgx4i3c4arrkicKNT-Nu-zjz1BgtcLAreUF5a7VV5GzPEXulyGykiEuxkYcbghCsxCQJEUeiFhVj/w400-h281/Frank%20&%20Ida%20Pothecary,%2026%20Whynot%20Lane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a sort of half house; the downstairs was bigger than the upstairs. There were two living rooms, a kitchen and a tiny bathroom downstairs and two small bedrooms upstairs. Here my grandparents brought up four children. I've recently discovered that steep roofs like that are called 'cat slide' roofs for obvious reasons. That little window at the front is in the storage space in the eaves and could only be reached through half size doors from the bedrooms, accessible only to a child.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One day I'll show you more photos from the gardens of this house; they had a big garden at the back where they grew roses and lots of vegetables and kept chickens, racing pigeons and, during the war, a goat. That's enough about houses for now though.</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-47208580778185088052023-07-04T19:36:00.002+01:002023-07-04T19:36:37.806+01:0092 Colours<p>Finally, I've managed to write up a pattern from my backlog of finished projects. This one holds the record for the most colours I've used in one pattern - all 92 solid shades of <a href="https://www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk/yarns/special-dk" target="_blank">Stylecraft Special DK</a> .</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_84MkJq1jtFmaUOMWPsBHINbheOGPO9G2PJIK2bihrbVJtCXPYeVPnrC2lsHGIyZa0cGPmOPM7zYHEeeVR4aMcF1yf6qtmB9cignHquMyiEEpA0jznwvFgRCVCCqez5kyIhLlcFCF-R84JIFp39S0bOJ-Rb53poVbTHpnUCFk0ruABLK5mTGWv_h07igq/s2565/11a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2374" data-original-width="2565" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_84MkJq1jtFmaUOMWPsBHINbheOGPO9G2PJIK2bihrbVJtCXPYeVPnrC2lsHGIyZa0cGPmOPM7zYHEeeVR4aMcF1yf6qtmB9cignHquMyiEEpA0jznwvFgRCVCCqez5kyIhLlcFCF-R84JIFp39S0bOJ-Rb53poVbTHpnUCFk0ruABLK5mTGWv_h07igq/w400-h370/11a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Over the years of using this as my main yarn, I've collected all the colours and they're a great resource whenever it comes to designing a new pattern. They even have their own tower of baskets, each one colour coded with knitted stars.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pwHamIUHZet5aFwH8JtTZd8d59J0_axwPYERflXEOjGpvdGPICvwFcufLIZwZnRXiLCy7X8V5hdSXR4eBiA5ntaiHGrZ8RwoOJWM71Es01dWazMmkevRHAzN12W5SI45ShkBeSvlWQ3yF-CN2PmAC9b4TCT7wFWKB6A18eb3AUtLeNYqIa4ig4893Uc0/s4490/Finished%20Stylecraft%20Stars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4490" data-original-width="1744" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pwHamIUHZet5aFwH8JtTZd8d59J0_axwPYERflXEOjGpvdGPICvwFcufLIZwZnRXiLCy7X8V5hdSXR4eBiA5ntaiHGrZ8RwoOJWM71Es01dWazMmkevRHAzN12W5SI45ShkBeSvlWQ3yF-CN2PmAC9b4TCT7wFWKB6A18eb3AUtLeNYqIa4ig4893Uc0/w155-h400/Finished%20Stylecraft%20Stars.JPG" width="155" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, I thought it would be fun to knit a scarf using every single one of the colours but I didn't want to darn in all those ends. This is why my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/shade-card-scarf" target="_blank">Shade Card Scarf</a> is knitted in the round; the tails of yarn can simply be knotted together and hidden inside the finished scarf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI4430hpLzuHBtk2ifbQfHdw-L7zzj5JpiW3gMbAT3Zjslq30jMImX7YAaRzP9JsilYykTEP1wZ5EtUUAKkAK4ryDY2fzgI5DMfdgRCanIMT7hxcgZYBmb3mL-cvNIDX0601BznltfwjgvDq-OtKpHW7xyvt2-cbaZEFRicn9vTV16LmxiTwJ2m6surAi/s3237/04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2456" data-original-width="3237" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI4430hpLzuHBtk2ifbQfHdw-L7zzj5JpiW3gMbAT3Zjslq30jMImX7YAaRzP9JsilYykTEP1wZ5EtUUAKkAK4ryDY2fzgI5DMfdgRCanIMT7hxcgZYBmb3mL-cvNIDX0601BznltfwjgvDq-OtKpHW7xyvt2-cbaZEFRicn9vTV16LmxiTwJ2m6surAi/w400-h304/04.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't bring myself to choose the colours completely at random - just a bit too scary - so, instead, I worked through them in alphabetical order by shade name. This resulted in some fun combinations and kept me interested as the scarf progressed. I'm pleased with how bright it turned out; it seems that the more colours you use, the better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5WJOmd0DqK9knfJ0bms7sAOlHi2fsGuz6fT3TvhdByTyfG8YReLTGHXRBxK4CCfQyMPVJI_nPVXoVK4mmsdqrktYIVBuryy0VchQFGeeMZQCd1XstfuZ18TKh6zHWo0r5OuoITKbkdnsA46zQbgoU4xlaz3du7eM8t99-oboe22Clr3YJzG8q3CdVZdG/s3097/08a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2541" data-original-width="3097" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5WJOmd0DqK9knfJ0bms7sAOlHi2fsGuz6fT3TvhdByTyfG8YReLTGHXRBxK4CCfQyMPVJI_nPVXoVK4mmsdqrktYIVBuryy0VchQFGeeMZQCd1XstfuZ18TKh6zHWo0r5OuoITKbkdnsA46zQbgoU4xlaz3du7eM8t99-oboe22Clr3YJzG8q3CdVZdG/w400-h329/08a.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If, by any chance, you don't have 92 shades of yarn, you can of course just use the basic pattern with whatever oddments of yarn you do have. Each stripe only took about 3g of yarn, a length of roughly 8 metres or 9 yards.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been using my Stylecraft Special colour pegs to choose colours for designs for years now and they are starting to get a bit tatty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuU61bNly1TDv4j61w5Ek7e6KSWbHBuoGA16QErk_nIaRSUbQFNcReIXCqxU8eiD0qHMbzt8NsnDPhgWAZaxwvZuiuNvs-dr3PWD5cJQ2Bq4MMZ2AtWIaHXF2iBcUVjd-bchgefjQmdPe601qx9VljZORo7lgnK0V-o0_Ch0bzfI7CDnw_estnI4tYXa7/s1898/54%20Pegs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1898" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHuU61bNly1TDv4j61w5Ek7e6KSWbHBuoGA16QErk_nIaRSUbQFNcReIXCqxU8eiD0qHMbzt8NsnDPhgWAZaxwvZuiuNvs-dr3PWD5cJQ2Bq4MMZ2AtWIaHXF2iBcUVjd-bchgefjQmdPe601qx9VljZORo7lgnK0V-o0_Ch0bzfI7CDnw_estnI4tYXa7/w400-h329/54%20Pegs.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I thought it might be a good idea to have little samples in each of the colours to play with when designing so, while knitting my scarf, I also worked a little crochet penny in each of the colours too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTIkZ7_1d-NydNTkxObKN2lByOsc3jxtngZyq9zlp1--KTFiKvHuAv_P4CC4keGrQ0ve7EvnYH_518hmTQcuZ4cnrcOpkUcDYuqQDpXpeVxBM9I1yWDJ2xedujUt6PRYYaDXosfgCvG6YSv4TBsjwEN5HuyVPzHNKgWbZXzGEZ2_W3yExWCIB2U9P9OG-/s2547/Pennies%2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2427" data-original-width="2547" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTIkZ7_1d-NydNTkxObKN2lByOsc3jxtngZyq9zlp1--KTFiKvHuAv_P4CC4keGrQ0ve7EvnYH_518hmTQcuZ4cnrcOpkUcDYuqQDpXpeVxBM9I1yWDJ2xedujUt6PRYYaDXosfgCvG6YSv4TBsjwEN5HuyVPzHNKgWbZXzGEZ2_W3yExWCIB2U9P9OG-/w400-h381/Pennies%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are small, textured crochet circles, a few inches in diameter which I think will be just right to give me an idea of how the colours go together. I can pull out some intense shades ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BWfo89ZQx0RM88sRJUXz3ruSaQb6EEVxC26mBfzWNSCTIeOBgwi_TOcqo5jAAWApOiwczZyV9SC_Ug2Tma0WMvthgQHylnXoNAFLXgRIBIFdLL1wGLwktr77fTbU60VK4RRgrPufOaag-iZjf0bFeNzhzGAFgjLCsUfeWI6K8ZXPXGtDEScQ0q8TbkhN/s3613/Strong%20Pastels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3114" data-original-width="3613" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1BWfo89ZQx0RM88sRJUXz3ruSaQb6EEVxC26mBfzWNSCTIeOBgwi_TOcqo5jAAWApOiwczZyV9SC_Ug2Tma0WMvthgQHylnXoNAFLXgRIBIFdLL1wGLwktr77fTbU60VK4RRgrPufOaag-iZjf0bFeNzhzGAFgjLCsUfeWI6K8ZXPXGtDEScQ0q8TbkhN/w400-h345/Strong%20Pastels.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... some pastels ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwPXD7M7RwPy9vfGj4PsgDnPtSGDqr8dAL-UNQF8OCtqyJOh9oCzPMzhBt3IZ-K4hbV3FAdedOkeIedhIdF0B_QCbq3JsWU--jDo3RFF_x6tlaJQUh-DB2ydY7mOO7kcb6HeamHBr34Rw-3WgQR0Vya0pT-Y4RhF0FhMe4nzQweYYIwWGp6rAQoSFPGPu/s2505/Pastels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2275" data-original-width="2505" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwPXD7M7RwPy9vfGj4PsgDnPtSGDqr8dAL-UNQF8OCtqyJOh9oCzPMzhBt3IZ-K4hbV3FAdedOkeIedhIdF0B_QCbq3JsWU--jDo3RFF_x6tlaJQUh-DB2ydY7mOO7kcb6HeamHBr34Rw-3WgQR0Vya0pT-Y4RhF0FhMe4nzQweYYIwWGp6rAQoSFPGPu/w400-h364/Pastels.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... or perhaps a set of more subdued pastels with a vintage feel to them ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAfPW0b3CWv3iXqdDa5sag6j0MD5tB2z2Vwg16M-3ftzWXzEyuQh5p8ERNb-msQ46tAluZ3VOAEFB7a1aN9TQGmEOAYYf4igoojaCyMd5MM3ffEIF6XEcpYRSgiZM4y7DIqL6Yet1O1SnzgfLJ7WWEbYErzvrcWj4s7--YgwE6i85TRxeht3-S5ovxAoz/s3097/Subdued%20Pastels.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2835" data-original-width="3097" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAfPW0b3CWv3iXqdDa5sag6j0MD5tB2z2Vwg16M-3ftzWXzEyuQh5p8ERNb-msQ46tAluZ3VOAEFB7a1aN9TQGmEOAYYf4igoojaCyMd5MM3ffEIF6XEcpYRSgiZM4y7DIqL6Yet1O1SnzgfLJ7WWEbYErzvrcWj4s7--YgwE6i85TRxeht3-S5ovxAoz/w400-h366/Subdued%20Pastels.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You get the idea. I also used the same pattern but thinner yarn to crochet a little thread mat for Pamela, my old Singer sewing machine. The original felt one was too small for the modern big reels of thread.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jIbZ2ncZPAknjfiWLQH0ZjqjFF9Zs5DeC-7xs5OVpSeq7mD2fIfP1HqDm9-f_lV5MAKmirHt4tbxylRNcYxHEVfOp2VrsE3xzYI5VGPDcFDzJjRSL3ZlpsbFoARXBlRrvFWBKHAO_vsIm8tX5eJ_PruiZTK8-jylMCGM4-tESfvk-EmEUgTCPz3e53M6/s4648/Thread%20Rest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3156" data-original-width="4648" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jIbZ2ncZPAknjfiWLQH0ZjqjFF9Zs5DeC-7xs5OVpSeq7mD2fIfP1HqDm9-f_lV5MAKmirHt4tbxylRNcYxHEVfOp2VrsE3xzYI5VGPDcFDzJjRSL3ZlpsbFoARXBlRrvFWBKHAO_vsIm8tX5eJ_PruiZTK8-jylMCGM4-tESfvk-EmEUgTCPz3e53M6/s320/Thread%20Rest.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you'd like to crochet a little penny or two, this is what I did. I used a 3.5 mm hook with my DK weight yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Make 4ch and join with a slip stitch into a ring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Round 1:</u> <span> 3ch, 11tr into ring, join with a ss to the top of the 3 ch (12 sts).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Round 2:</u> <span> 3ch, tr in same st, 2tr in every st, ss to top of 3ch (24 sts).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Round 3:</u> <span> 1ch, (Frtr round next tr, 2dc in next st) x 12, ss to first Frtr (36 sts).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Round 4:</u> <span> 1ch, working backwards, (miss 1 st, dc) x 18, fasten off and darn in tails.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span>ss <span> <span> slip stitch</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span>ch<span> <span> chain</span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><span><span>tr<span> <span> <span> treble (US dc)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">dc<span> <span> double crochet (US sc)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span>Frtr <span> front raised treble, treble worked round post of stitch</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span>My Stylecraft pennies fit nicely into this old glass sweet jar that my daughter gave me. Don't they look nice?</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzCxmTF3ms8aI1gTKllNKjashDpq5VnOemaLulcPUkzIuud-ln4NZ0AN7Y5HiB14ESaC66sH4-0ATkJbcCAO1hPSYKadfBnCUqHuIshzGcUs4im0R2BNLIhDpbsttz0IvSH436oX7sJIedaC0TAGB32R6JI3lrP9d86AQmgZO4yG6qLyLQpSvwQc0UARb/s2847/Pennies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2847" data-original-width="1676" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIzCxmTF3ms8aI1gTKllNKjashDpq5VnOemaLulcPUkzIuud-ln4NZ0AN7Y5HiB14ESaC66sH4-0ATkJbcCAO1hPSYKadfBnCUqHuIshzGcUs4im0R2BNLIhDpbsttz0IvSH436oX7sJIedaC0TAGB32R6JI3lrP9d86AQmgZO4yG6qLyLQpSvwQc0UARb/w235-h400/Pennies.JPG" width="235" /></a></div></span></span></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-9575766946651810002023-06-21T17:06:00.001+01:002023-06-21T17:06:54.499+01:00Making Stuff<p>Nearly two months since I last wrote a blog post - I keep meaning to do it but then the extreme weariness that is one of the many delights of Long Covid stops me. So .... let's try again. I've sorted out a folder of photos, let's see if I can link them all up.</p><p>I am still making things, mostly very slowly but it's surprising what you can achieve in tiny bits of time. And I do mean tiny. I've been working on a 3D cottage shaped box for months now. It was originally going to be called 'Spring Cottage' but now will have to be 'Summer Cottage'. I'm determined not to have to turn it into an Autumn cottage though! I sat down to work on it yesterday, drew a few rough sketches of flowers for the walls and then had to give up - see what I mean?</p><p>Anyway, these are probably the fiddliest, most aggravating things that I've knitted for a long time ... and I made two sets of them!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcA6_p2GitdKMs_z4niHGZF9sXe19xObXP63szV5XLDRrS7PqccKrWQLZYvLBfBSd-5FrxCYmwJI07T9-UtmcMZG80CWyixb7L7bTUh9xLP8iQjiW1LNj1kMDeyswaQxtNnxCaV5OjFxZ4MNoszUisx9lW0MQnotLbxzoyWP3uSi6pTbG0wT2iZkdnuXI/s2841/01%20Easter%20presents%20for%20Jack%20and%20Rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="2841" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJcA6_p2GitdKMs_z4niHGZF9sXe19xObXP63szV5XLDRrS7PqccKrWQLZYvLBfBSd-5FrxCYmwJI07T9-UtmcMZG80CWyixb7L7bTUh9xLP8iQjiW1LNj1kMDeyswaQxtNnxCaV5OjFxZ4MNoszUisx9lW0MQnotLbxzoyWP3uSi6pTbG0wT2iZkdnuXI/w400-h330/01%20Easter%20presents%20for%20Jack%20and%20Rose.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were Easter presents for my two grown up children and they were very pleased with them. If you don't know the <a href="https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/frog-and-toad-the-complete-collection-frog-and-toad-arnold-lobel?variant=32557181829198" target="_blank">Frog and Toad</a> books by Arnold Lobel, you need to read them at once. The pattern for the knitted creatures came from <a href="https://www.frogandcast.com/frog-and-toad-home" target="_blank">Frog & Cast</a> and is very true to the original illustrations. It's not a pattern for beginners though; there's lots of detailed shaping and the knitting is done on very small needles so it's hard work. Then there's the cutting holes for the eyes ... nerve-wracking every time. I am pleased with the finished animals though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Much easier to knit was this lovely dressed hedgehog from <a href="https://davidandcharles.com/product/knitted-animal-friends/" target="_blank">Knitted Animal Friends</a> by <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/louise-crowther" target="_blank">Louise Crowther</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxfmM96O2Q-ssK3cOUhGxoFP1KwgsDlDZkRZpoKZ-l-4_sAWDJMuyPxc_vcvgmkNbYT9xrDo9MnkyXG9v4MIUx9mARVYmjnnMrD4CFdqxZHJQCpXghDPV0lLU_T5lLsV5Qh8g0vhL8vHXUYoxkdAH--dkNUP1sUhLKvoMkwQbWhz1KyBoh0R5tJKWY7Gm/s3985/02%20Hedgehog%20for%20Pat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3985" data-original-width="2375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxfmM96O2Q-ssK3cOUhGxoFP1KwgsDlDZkRZpoKZ-l-4_sAWDJMuyPxc_vcvgmkNbYT9xrDo9MnkyXG9v4MIUx9mARVYmjnnMrD4CFdqxZHJQCpXghDPV0lLU_T5lLsV5Qh8g0vhL8vHXUYoxkdAH--dkNUP1sUhLKvoMkwQbWhz1KyBoh0R5tJKWY7Gm/w239-h400/02%20Hedgehog%20for%20Pat.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was a very well designed animal - I was particularly taken by the way the foot was shaped - and the clothes have lots of pretty detail. All the animals in the book are based on the same basic body shape so the clothes can be mixed and matched. My hedgehog, who was made for a friend's birthday present, is actually wearing the pig's clothes from the book.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I ordered the yarn for the hedgehog, I also ordered enough to knit myself this owl, although I haven't started work on him yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-ZsGb6D3QQDuAc3B9MKd7lR6zSUtyLtiIGrhyu8eGI92ypurAPL5am_JSc1ptECGniGi31W2LpK1VjmsVdBAn75bXAHnfbkdmtX7tZx7O6ngIQesK6iPi8B96brBVqVnXwCmKqtnf5Ht1qRVA_cfXfFdp9FCPJPiXjGy73xUPWXLkQEDhbVPfjJi-og_/s4256/03%20Knitted%20Owl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4256" data-original-width="2744" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-ZsGb6D3QQDuAc3B9MKd7lR6zSUtyLtiIGrhyu8eGI92ypurAPL5am_JSc1ptECGniGi31W2LpK1VjmsVdBAn75bXAHnfbkdmtX7tZx7O6ngIQesK6iPi8B96brBVqVnXwCmKqtnf5Ht1qRVA_cfXfFdp9FCPJPiXjGy73xUPWXLkQEDhbVPfjJi-og_/w258-h400/03%20Knitted%20Owl.JPG" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I particularly like his lace up shoes and his duffle coat. Louise has written other books, including another toy animal one, <a href="https://davidandcharles.com/product/knitted-wild-animal-friends/" target="_blank">Knitted Wild Animal Friends</a> which is very tempting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having knitted the hedgehog, I then made a bag to put it in; presents are always nice in a homemade bag I think. This one was a mixture of vintage barkcloth, charity shop finds and buttons.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzaJLTfmwzsCt0wE1bZ8z54C07TCHwNxyNriVYss085z3Sb6pS1axhyxB-QVlqoFJd6idL5KhuMRNQ6tAB32Pd7vunB6QymQCqt8y3d1R0O8DJugHf7beLlBOvEZPmulLZC_jTC04dMmM6ntdwOVjI_M9vPShGo-Cp-ZB38eisJLIWzMuEcGgzD-UDA6N/s3383/06%20Bag%20for%20Pat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3383" data-original-width="2700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzaJLTfmwzsCt0wE1bZ8z54C07TCHwNxyNriVYss085z3Sb6pS1axhyxB-QVlqoFJd6idL5KhuMRNQ6tAB32Pd7vunB6QymQCqt8y3d1R0O8DJugHf7beLlBOvEZPmulLZC_jTC04dMmM6ntdwOVjI_M9vPShGo-Cp-ZB38eisJLIWzMuEcGgzD-UDA6N/w319-h400/06%20Bag%20for%20Pat.JPG" width="319" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On one of my occasional visits to <a href="https://orinocoscrapstore.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Orinoco</a>, our local scrapstore, I bought two sample books of velvet squares. They had very sticky metal stickers on each piece but, with the help of my trusty <a href="https://www.lakeland.co.uk/8976/sticky-stuff-glue-residue-and-oil-remover-250ml?src=gfeed&gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahvObKpgGuUy5Pfr_5xe409kqqsyrvhsesF7gFv2QkjTu_6cBWkNXOxoC6OcQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Sticky Stuff Remover</a> (I was impressed that it worked on velvet), I ended up with lots and lots of velvet pieces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiVBiwXMzk11_mGW48r0hcFXFB5KoYV5OP8gd9yEMk3h0WhEQPXGyBEHWPwa6NwmGJt5YQku8HZl7Lp2vyb1glJT0sk-kcdOAI8_8td0hJ3G5Lvpfu6t71cgJIlDt-T6bMeJ4WbBjLY9QHQeqwXVobs2i0c1nbP6xxuJDr1aPep9bdf8T7In0RW3yH49Q/s4146/07a%20Velvet%20Samples.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3309" data-original-width="4146" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiVBiwXMzk11_mGW48r0hcFXFB5KoYV5OP8gd9yEMk3h0WhEQPXGyBEHWPwa6NwmGJt5YQku8HZl7Lp2vyb1glJT0sk-kcdOAI8_8td0hJ3G5Lvpfu6t71cgJIlDt-T6bMeJ4WbBjLY9QHQeqwXVobs2i0c1nbP6xxuJDr1aPep9bdf8T7In0RW3yH49Q/w400-h319/07a%20Velvet%20Samples.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used just a few of them to make myself this bag. Velvet is a a pain to sew but it turned out well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAob2OWUuaLtJvhqYkpcM1utM8PLuHKD1CTCDTmXvucJ2ji-pGAi2BxddTIDTKC9lYC8cU5gQbmlmvxeve6VlKGVOyAUnK9LhWM2HWJPNqEJ5YFemBAbR60cGHv0PKOAxbqgOdVE_rP-Nv_ARWaBVsJGymF_aRgfeSR9CpbNOLt4Oltu2ISbJqrRXSgHk/s3367/07%20Velvet%20Bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3367" data-original-width="2375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAob2OWUuaLtJvhqYkpcM1utM8PLuHKD1CTCDTmXvucJ2ji-pGAi2BxddTIDTKC9lYC8cU5gQbmlmvxeve6VlKGVOyAUnK9LhWM2HWJPNqEJ5YFemBAbR60cGHv0PKOAxbqgOdVE_rP-Nv_ARWaBVsJGymF_aRgfeSR9CpbNOLt4Oltu2ISbJqrRXSgHk/w283-h400/07%20Velvet%20Bag.JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've made two more bags for presents recently: this one to hold my Mother in law's birthday present ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTV0w5-oFa0e61B0bPZCLh3f93KQPfKSAtZ4_vQMgFDY24PGRu0jZNLOqK-h7mWtb6eaXX6TvcMQ9Hcj-fF_Au0DSe6u-En2mHj1fxE2sBcuaoezemQcBi2Efiniea8626qF06Nq54oaIh_EQ3qMXSVMoNRBRwWouOhHaW1hfplfjNz9ttGLmdIbmjYhq/s2927/08%20Bag%20for%20Janet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="2554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTV0w5-oFa0e61B0bPZCLh3f93KQPfKSAtZ4_vQMgFDY24PGRu0jZNLOqK-h7mWtb6eaXX6TvcMQ9Hcj-fF_Au0DSe6u-En2mHj1fxE2sBcuaoezemQcBi2Efiniea8626qF06Nq54oaIh_EQ3qMXSVMoNRBRwWouOhHaW1hfplfjNz9ttGLmdIbmjYhq/w349-h400/08%20Bag%20for%20Janet.JPG" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and this one to hold presents for a new baby (more of that later).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC6SaUc4maGsUwEG2knzIBv5etSeQJM4cS8kk5WKqWnfspu-H7f0u01Qey7znuAl_ukatN25Ph9ev8gBdfJkLrCqWpXz-oK8N_DZFz-QTbGnbN51mnzR37vHWJpivfQEakJn0MT_4OpeAPVqykWWBZEe1SXdOn2Hk2Dy5mpvqZr_ZM4MYqzqB6YXaGdBy/s2927/09%20Bag%20for%20Ian%20&%20Tori.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2927" data-original-width="2554" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC6SaUc4maGsUwEG2knzIBv5etSeQJM4cS8kk5WKqWnfspu-H7f0u01Qey7znuAl_ukatN25Ph9ev8gBdfJkLrCqWpXz-oK8N_DZFz-QTbGnbN51mnzR37vHWJpivfQEakJn0MT_4OpeAPVqykWWBZEe1SXdOn2Hk2Dy5mpvqZr_ZM4MYqzqB6YXaGdBy/w349-h400/09%20Bag%20for%20Ian%20&%20Tori.JPG" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've lost count of how many tote bags I've made from this basic pattern over the years. If you'd like to make one (or lots) yourself, you can download the free pattern from the link under 'My Free Sewing Patterns' on the sidebar; it's the reversible tote bag.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's one present that I've been working on for months though and the end is still not in sight. This is the quilt for my son's (big) coffee table which is the biggest quilt I've made. It went quite quickly until I started the hand quilting but that is taking me ages. Never mind, I'll get there in the end. This picture was taken just before I started the quilting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3xs21RD9sTFBWASV0smpCBdMFCOYOsiHgSPQg4f3WyuFqgmW1rY42O6dRrx7TerjFnBabasx_KrEEL9K2s1V3-F__l7Y2CarDdtXxLtrZi8S8Xxp4JNqJrw8e8VbYYmdZHhV47N4g4DORkyx_D6xgSPoAw7cgKosjVtHDIsruhNCSA_U9bU_dhxPdPjl/s4342/04%20Quilt%20Pinned.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3330" data-original-width="4342" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3xs21RD9sTFBWASV0smpCBdMFCOYOsiHgSPQg4f3WyuFqgmW1rY42O6dRrx7TerjFnBabasx_KrEEL9K2s1V3-F__l7Y2CarDdtXxLtrZi8S8Xxp4JNqJrw8e8VbYYmdZHhV47N4g4DORkyx_D6xgSPoAw7cgKosjVtHDIsruhNCSA_U9bU_dhxPdPjl/w400-h306/04%20Quilt%20Pinned.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Admittedly, it's not exactly the weather for hand quilting a large, heavy quilt. I also had a break from it to make this little quilt - much more my normal size - for the same friend I knitted the hedgehog for. It has old family photos on it which she gave me to scan years ago so I thought it was time I actually got round to turning them into a quilt. I enjoyed working on this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpXcREadLbsq3R3UZ30LhdrwMHSzYSGZmq4qsHt_8-ufZDVPw0fAA-Ig3nicTqQkXciVus2HlGtCgOY53aTJwI6CFhk4zIzMfuJ1-MBcXiTcbDk1avXo6cKRRhtJ1lZBw5bw8yEAd8X3sgrhmm_oJcz9a96XvMKndTMpRJ9ljmAjhpiNEpzLhwepwHTOQ/s4001/05%20Pat's%20Quilt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4001" data-original-width="3107" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpXcREadLbsq3R3UZ30LhdrwMHSzYSGZmq4qsHt_8-ufZDVPw0fAA-Ig3nicTqQkXciVus2HlGtCgOY53aTJwI6CFhk4zIzMfuJ1-MBcXiTcbDk1avXo6cKRRhtJ1lZBw5bw8yEAd8X3sgrhmm_oJcz9a96XvMKndTMpRJ9ljmAjhpiNEpzLhwepwHTOQ/w310-h400/05%20Pat's%20Quilt.JPG" width="310" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Now back to new baby knitting. I'd forgotten how quick it is to knit baby clothes which is just as well as lots of people seem to having babies at the moment. The bag with the animals on that I showed you earlier holds this set ...<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJQwB_iQmOKOP1vMzmzcPrxmS5m4C0sRZUIenvUp4YIhcEZQiNuQkkeCqlIPEjcRaEQRug45Gpa_4AdheeBhHu_Oq137LZ4Ep8IRwXq9bhYjAufN_e5t2C3LmyDDVtoRE6rnRhBc3Uux5Wkri88Y7dCf3Z90oIPwMxEoyGITNysE6oSrdG8VLdahRU17O/s3701/10%20Baby%20Things%20for%20Ian%20and%20Tori's%20Baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3080" data-original-width="3701" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJQwB_iQmOKOP1vMzmzcPrxmS5m4C0sRZUIenvUp4YIhcEZQiNuQkkeCqlIPEjcRaEQRug45Gpa_4AdheeBhHu_Oq137LZ4Ep8IRwXq9bhYjAufN_e5t2C3LmyDDVtoRE6rnRhBc3Uux5Wkri88Y7dCf3Z90oIPwMxEoyGITNysE6oSrdG8VLdahRU17O/w400-h333/10%20Baby%20Things%20for%20Ian%20and%20Tori's%20Baby.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pippi-baby-jacket" target="_blank">Pippi Jacket</a>, <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pippi-baby-hat" target="_blank">hat</a> and <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pippi-baby-booties" target="_blank">bootie</a> set, together with a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lazy-vee-blanket" target="_blank">Lazy Vee</a> blanket and a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/paddle-ball" target="_blank">Paddle Ball</a>. These things are on their way to baby Lucas who is five days old now. His parents are friends of my son's; long time readers of this blog might remember me knitting these <a href="http://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2021/11/busy-bees.html" target="_blank">bride and groom bees</a> for their wedding cake a few years ago. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJqVX4uE_TOSJrcj0tvaHxDBFE2ZUr-amCMoVIhA3uFes0_EnwMmu1jh5M7AZCNrJqWo45TqBSzwzSCJeDMbUBq0r7_T5Uevb3KcPn_Tzu2B5_H-2gGNOWtJmyHi1a0ZubW6aM_D9supvG0zP3l2DJqaaEOBu9-HV8xggU3KVcR-LbfPQbmwmvLk__nfN/s4098/10%20a%20Bees.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3252" data-original-width="4098" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJqVX4uE_TOSJrcj0tvaHxDBFE2ZUr-amCMoVIhA3uFes0_EnwMmu1jh5M7AZCNrJqWo45TqBSzwzSCJeDMbUBq0r7_T5Uevb3KcPn_Tzu2B5_H-2gGNOWtJmyHi1a0ZubW6aM_D9supvG0zP3l2DJqaaEOBu9-HV8xggU3KVcR-LbfPQbmwmvLk__nfN/w400-h318/10%20a%20Bees.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As soon as I'd finished making things for baby Lucas, I started again, this time for the baby of my daughter's friend (due in August). I've just finished another Pippi set.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aYhrF4HehYh64CiX_JTQxvpkqjW6m7-QzaeEPTbQx7wf0JpJB9aH63wFo4QBQl7gVf5uTNg866tQzEt6qmrV5ziLthZcIjWs33dTTncwE9637EGOSgyI2bEg6ENn5QD1RouUHOhzFi6XeCZqf_h2vA1IGthNhTPoAMGznlCr0cVz81qq4NgawyEW2O-i/s4604/11%20Pippi%20Set%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily's%20baby.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2918" data-original-width="4604" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aYhrF4HehYh64CiX_JTQxvpkqjW6m7-QzaeEPTbQx7wf0JpJB9aH63wFo4QBQl7gVf5uTNg866tQzEt6qmrV5ziLthZcIjWs33dTTncwE9637EGOSgyI2bEg6ENn5QD1RouUHOhzFi6XeCZqf_h2vA1IGthNhTPoAMGznlCr0cVz81qq4NgawyEW2O-i/w400-h254/11%20Pippi%20Set%20for%20Richard%20&%20Emily's%20baby.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm about halfway through another blanket. Again, I'm using the Lazy Vee pattern but, this time, with <a href="https://www.kingcole.com/knitting-wool/bramble-dk/" target="_blank">King Cole Bramble DK</a> for the contrast colour. I really love this yarn; I'm using the brightest shade, <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/king-cole-bramble-dk-loganberry-4486-100g?gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-aht77ns3C-2wMWoeWaqW6M0liSzH4RnyQq26KayXixAXUhYg6h73JbxoCZWkQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Loganberry</a> and I'm really pleased with how it's working out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzrRzxdpp2QGyQhemoygCyxHyCvurMcUHH-JrHEAzELZB2ybf7fGSh_ndgzvG4cGqioRWXWLO3IZNQvI5KoCCnGu6EHkYDzR8kjGhu-ZXvYKAOaF4INEXUXc76uQwSzzDcSLr3L_iMkSHGQoqfqwDabKCdn8DLyb-FwZX62Q82QeSR6cBdFw4bKSJWGN8/s3092/12%20Bramble%20Baby%20Blanket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="3092" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzrRzxdpp2QGyQhemoygCyxHyCvurMcUHH-JrHEAzELZB2ybf7fGSh_ndgzvG4cGqioRWXWLO3IZNQvI5KoCCnGu6EHkYDzR8kjGhu-ZXvYKAOaF4INEXUXc76uQwSzzDcSLr3L_iMkSHGQoqfqwDabKCdn8DLyb-FwZX62Q82QeSR6cBdFw4bKSJWGN8/w400-h333/12%20Bramble%20Baby%20Blanket.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You need a yarn with a long colour run for this pattern; short ones just look too busy and you lose the effect of the stripes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As well as all these things, I do actually have finished stuff ready to write up and publish. Actually, there's a bit of a backlog. Normally, I'm quite quick to publish a new pattern but ... I've been writing up the pattern for this scarf for weeks (by which I mean I wrote a few pages last month and then forgot about it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNZfNvPnwRa8At-LK3TnXiZpG5GaWydlEXPEmcbbwwsKkNHRNcpASwy-KM3SBYb39ZQw3l2VcDKlpwqYdNSJLR03bn0nd0u0NcmxHtXACKxn8bwEQIBdNRD9AD9hYDAHwXzmcO4Pm77fsqXCkPRGE7LK9KrdhtYo_-ZyTpJ7Yb0bH1ivzNIS97krBSvzx/s3559/13%20Shade%20Card%20Scarf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3434" data-original-width="3559" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNZfNvPnwRa8At-LK3TnXiZpG5GaWydlEXPEmcbbwwsKkNHRNcpASwy-KM3SBYb39ZQw3l2VcDKlpwqYdNSJLR03bn0nd0u0NcmxHtXACKxn8bwEQIBdNRD9AD9hYDAHwXzmcO4Pm77fsqXCkPRGE7LK9KrdhtYo_-ZyTpJ7Yb0bH1ivzNIS97krBSvzx/w400-h386/13%20Shade%20Card%20Scarf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It uses all 92 solid colours of <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/stylecraft-special-dk-aspen-1422-100g?gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahg6Q4f4SngFz42bnCOQLO5J1YyhI_nd8ZEZ4nhEc2gJFjOfaYUc2EhoCVuAQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Stylecraft Special DK</a> but without having to sew in all the ends. I really must get back to that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is another little scarf, well two actually, the idea being that you can knit several in different colours and wear them together. I need to take more photos before I can start writing this one up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAnI20tGcCCGkxjV4ehTBkWbaRTtuZ_FugCMSCiZ5mqsWDWd4YzVvvRke3sEhtq4cQx3aEvWwcJceyQ2Fd1xlrlg2Onysrm9M11k7xYrImWbuqjZohCujBJmirvu9IzNX4J10jDqGxQ0Yn6rNYlU8HzSexvk8v08mu6rSg4oYnl2Z2ZR9xHLydYhKEnpd/s2366/14%20Twister%20Scarves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1843" data-original-width="2366" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAnI20tGcCCGkxjV4ehTBkWbaRTtuZ_FugCMSCiZ5mqsWDWd4YzVvvRke3sEhtq4cQx3aEvWwcJceyQ2Fd1xlrlg2Onysrm9M11k7xYrImWbuqjZohCujBJmirvu9IzNX4J10jDqGxQ0Yn6rNYlU8HzSexvk8v08mu6rSg4oYnl2Z2ZR9xHLydYhKEnpd/w400-h311/14%20Twister%20Scarves.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The photos are holding me up with this very colourful crochet shawl pattern too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoZynvuC-oDWWIYpEOwAlqndYRqxK8hQcvYJq2sY0FyAM-9Vnl2JQQ73uvIZIiYgkaakqmrO1ZHpcF340Gd1gfbryRUqyleOUmnmCSo5WOlEyai28zjnBf7JqomLbcxBy2Y4KqW0edPdkTcM3kt1SZuCE7W2sbDHXA4mbjatX6i3MLrGf1cXo4Xk4plBE/s4473/16%20Shawl%20Blocking.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="4473" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoZynvuC-oDWWIYpEOwAlqndYRqxK8hQcvYJq2sY0FyAM-9Vnl2JQQ73uvIZIiYgkaakqmrO1ZHpcF340Gd1gfbryRUqyleOUmnmCSo5WOlEyai28zjnBf7JqomLbcxBy2Y4KqW0edPdkTcM3kt1SZuCE7W2sbDHXA4mbjatX6i3MLrGf1cXo4Xk4plBE/w400-h258/16%20Shawl%20Blocking.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is it blocking but, when I took the final set of photos, I couldn't be bothered to get my big lights out ... which means I've got to do them all over again. The yarn for this is a ball of <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/scheepjes-whirl-rosewater-cocktail-776-220g" target="_blank">Scheepjes Whirl</a> in a shade with the wonderful name of Rosewater Cocktail. Isn't it pretty? Also, it matches my new velvet bag!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPDc9hGSihTeYXgusufuGN3i4fefUlapMuSCVRFm1y35uhY2g7I5LlHwrGWuLUJC7k_21PE4e7R7cyKaGSM2UENre1FcOiVxgBbsaVTdZ1eZ1CTqNhVn6onFIMYhD181AqGhmhBl1Hzonu-6KMX-53iWmwqfq4RI84dhRC9XJM9NsPeGJ50BqCgZZDy7n/s3287/17%20Shawl%20&%20Bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="3287" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPDc9hGSihTeYXgusufuGN3i4fefUlapMuSCVRFm1y35uhY2g7I5LlHwrGWuLUJC7k_21PE4e7R7cyKaGSM2UENre1FcOiVxgBbsaVTdZ1eZ1CTqNhVn6onFIMYhD181AqGhmhBl1Hzonu-6KMX-53iWmwqfq4RI84dhRC9XJM9NsPeGJ50BqCgZZDy7n/w400-h345/17%20Shawl%20&%20Bag.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, am I getting on with all these patterns (or finishing some of my many unfinished projects)? Of course I'm not. I am however starting new ones. Firstly, I was tempted to design a Lazy Vee shawl, using the same technique as the baby blanket - one row stripes without cutting the yarn - this turned out to be much more complicated than I'd expected but I think I've cracked it now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6OaUAQpG3Tft9nJC-e8R13J5-Sx4qgG5hFa4LkvKqSI2g7KUbXFUVJcOFdnb237nJw4AAo9fkN0YlUJVMTlhxkuLfuJ09Fu_ksyYMyewWGUP_0uS1V72A_RHTs1JSuWXdZhVQS1s7WhHEr-oRUQgThcDfmQV0HJ1ufC002oIrL04VnU-a0NNPYk_qId8/s3846/18%20Lazy%20Vee%20Shawl.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2985" data-original-width="3846" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6OaUAQpG3Tft9nJC-e8R13J5-Sx4qgG5hFa4LkvKqSI2g7KUbXFUVJcOFdnb237nJw4AAo9fkN0YlUJVMTlhxkuLfuJ09Fu_ksyYMyewWGUP_0uS1V72A_RHTs1JSuWXdZhVQS1s7WhHEr-oRUQgThcDfmQV0HJ1ufC002oIrL04VnU-a0NNPYk_qId8/w400-h310/18%20Lazy%20Vee%20Shawl.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The coloured yarn is Bramble again, this time a new (to me) shade called <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/king-cole-bramble-dk-victoria-plum-4495-100g?gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahrGcoqvYk3Sh3fRgUyotTEc2brnE29r0mxrQDP8li-ZwzS0wtItInhoCQiQQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Victoria Plum</a>; the main colour is white.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then, the other day, I got sidetracked by discovering <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=best&inline=&query=african%20flower" target="_blank">African Flower</a> crochet designs. So I played around for a while and came up with my own version, using some yarn I had in stock.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenj9vb8R8GxGJZEPbK2mDceF3ZYpy4y_L4YS9ow7OV8jRX5bP2Is-k3-EIYSwZ4VHrQfsn9O-nC2xyRxqi24puybtMq1sMbChMXTukduq8IHFv4sTZABz6FvTHXZd5VG9OqlC7u-ZSM6N8ij2HcvuwoBsHQkycg6g2ja_6YQhIFdEsrbPa6EG9lcC89Fo/s3092/19%20African%20Flowers%20with%20yarn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="3092" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenj9vb8R8GxGJZEPbK2mDceF3ZYpy4y_L4YS9ow7OV8jRX5bP2Is-k3-EIYSwZ4VHrQfsn9O-nC2xyRxqi24puybtMq1sMbChMXTukduq8IHFv4sTZABz6FvTHXZd5VG9OqlC7u-ZSM6N8ij2HcvuwoBsHQkycg6g2ja_6YQhIFdEsrbPa6EG9lcC89Fo/w400-h333/19%20African%20Flowers%20with%20yarn.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm using cream for the flower centres and background, <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/sirdar-hayfield-spirit-dk-sundown-408-100g?gclid=CjwKCAjwv8qkBhAnEiwAkY-ahilgcWu7jIXc7SP-mpSkbg7DBEqf5vjZ4k8pVW9mpBVj5TIOWPk-tBoC5rEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Hayfield Spirit DK in Sundown</a> for the flowers and another shade of the same yarn, this time <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/sirdar-hayfield-spirit-dk-casper-405-100g" target="_blank">Casper</a> to edge the hexagons. Of course I needed to crochet yet another blanket!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have actually managed to finish one blanket that I started years ago. This one is Tunisian Crochet and is a rainbow entrelac, worked in the round. I had terrible trouble crocheting the border as, because of the way it's constructed, the outside edges are actually on the bias (I think that was the problem anyway) which meant my crocheted border kept flaring dramatically. In the end, I reduced the number of stitches drastically and then gave it a very serious blocking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1UUq-w6ve2aGXGEn7wwTg5R6pU3gF6z9IxHQ9JUeM_mpMMxYwQtJCDLAORs3PAby1OVry0FUAtWyexOJp0Wa34HuGsXsaDFKCeDjFUtMfYrj_6xIQfqUKLtmqK0yrTIEWQRjC2Bzj4cO7tcPT9-bDIxdP0rDppsHsuE2SWSQHB6Jt9R9UmU0FOSLnf1D/s4417/21%20Tunisian%20Blanket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3180" data-original-width="4417" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF1UUq-w6ve2aGXGEn7wwTg5R6pU3gF6z9IxHQ9JUeM_mpMMxYwQtJCDLAORs3PAby1OVry0FUAtWyexOJp0Wa34HuGsXsaDFKCeDjFUtMfYrj_6xIQfqUKLtmqK0yrTIEWQRjC2Bzj4cO7tcPT9-bDIxdP0rDppsHsuE2SWSQHB6Jt9R9UmU0FOSLnf1D/w400-h288/21%20Tunisian%20Blanket.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's one of my WIPs finished but as I've started several more, I can't really say I'm winning!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, I have been enjoying sitting in my garden. I haven't been well enough to do gardening this year as I did last summer but my son and daughter have rallied round, cutting the grass and dealing with the most invasive growth so that I can sit out there without worrying about it. Luckily, it is meant to be a wildlife friendly garden. At the moment, the bees are enjoying all the ox-eye daisies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-56uRvffnmmwV4l11NjpbAcRX7Tu5i7c_8JCi6rp-TLWqwAUpY_RbPL2Thj1ZksyqONKaKPL6X3Ffm4OGIiKcTioK3j11HR3wKrCzixjhoGkNUWlVpTD-BS9LGkYXX3xMbA4qGpz5u9BpOKVyZhY4eC2Zlkh5Y4_5EYqqoOXL6iXFLCH0bGCuDhUPt04/s5472/22%20View%20up%20the%20garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4-56uRvffnmmwV4l11NjpbAcRX7Tu5i7c_8JCi6rp-TLWqwAUpY_RbPL2Thj1ZksyqONKaKPL6X3Ffm4OGIiKcTioK3j11HR3wKrCzixjhoGkNUWlVpTD-BS9LGkYXX3xMbA4qGpz5u9BpOKVyZhY4eC2Zlkh5Y4_5EYqqoOXL6iXFLCH0bGCuDhUPt04/w400-h266/22%20View%20up%20the%20garden.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And I'm enjoying my roses. You can never have too many roses in a garden and no, I don't have enough yet. This one is called Buff Beauty ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV1kx-6NsIHCqBytDYGRHR8Mu-GJRsvduPvookZiFTDAK44t5OKw80W77aTKEuZJuh8S5HlKwE9ks7go4a27WNyp7NGIVRDZ0NFerFBFl_oV_rS5cfQT6fCFkA7P3UJavWP9c5T0-cXYO5F04-75hpJbz3lFXfxHGnTo0ynYavhoYEmQKPEVwFmfb5-np/s4169/23%20Buff%20Beauty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3451" data-original-width="4169" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV1kx-6NsIHCqBytDYGRHR8Mu-GJRsvduPvookZiFTDAK44t5OKw80W77aTKEuZJuh8S5HlKwE9ks7go4a27WNyp7NGIVRDZ0NFerFBFl_oV_rS5cfQT6fCFkA7P3UJavWP9c5T0-cXYO5F04-75hpJbz3lFXfxHGnTo0ynYavhoYEmQKPEVwFmfb5-np/w400-h331/23%20Buff%20Beauty.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and the rose we planted in a cage last year is growing well too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGLAkAf0ykhZTkpd9lCht6BPMA2JiZJWp3Jc4lRo6yQBm7st2pIvrY651l2FNw7bgOym8bQi-x6we5TSyaR-ClwSYoNIqTkuePdIBAMLHFUdUv94JfvV1xMxBXZPOOtYh-F3sbyFziG2Tl_d073Eb285yuIbW2O2dauEGnshL57P2nkBcio1pWvXzaDCM/s4170/24%20Pilgrim%20Rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4170" data-original-width="3228" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGLAkAf0ykhZTkpd9lCht6BPMA2JiZJWp3Jc4lRo6yQBm7st2pIvrY651l2FNw7bgOym8bQi-x6we5TSyaR-ClwSYoNIqTkuePdIBAMLHFUdUv94JfvV1xMxBXZPOOtYh-F3sbyFziG2Tl_d073Eb285yuIbW2O2dauEGnshL57P2nkBcio1pWvXzaDCM/w310-h400/24%20Pilgrim%20Rose.JPG" width="310" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know the name of this red one but, as normal, it's showing off, spreading its flowers all over the patio.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfMnV5lRu3ZfZ5o6AkFO4n9c_hLjjMu7LqO7KUmYgKdI1lSJIyQvCaiU9Spw2eYB8h-0TINMlaWmW3dQGP7T0rZf6_UyBI_NfvpL9RXQYHA2-rZxsg_MRkGh_MwmgNXQ89JnjwAa0d46pTrUipnFwacgJZl7Wk--zJnw6gnQ9oxqdMKBsz6j88PBwrSZg/s5472/25%20Patio%20Rose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfMnV5lRu3ZfZ5o6AkFO4n9c_hLjjMu7LqO7KUmYgKdI1lSJIyQvCaiU9Spw2eYB8h-0TINMlaWmW3dQGP7T0rZf6_UyBI_NfvpL9RXQYHA2-rZxsg_MRkGh_MwmgNXQ89JnjwAa0d46pTrUipnFwacgJZl7Wk--zJnw6gnQ9oxqdMKBsz6j88PBwrSZg/w400-h266/25%20Patio%20Rose.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What looks like the paw of a dead cat is actually Linnet, relaxing in the sunshine. She is very laid back sometimes, considering she was very badly treated as a young cat. This was her indoors this morning, waiting for the rain to stop so she could go outside again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyhUH3GTH8zffs_DI9LOoxRBufhkjAMDDiABCEv7ZMVZHpkR9dq61-Gepwqi1s8e6ZFPfLBkgeAGsR3a1ZgFR6nYp53ykXdxuLgfpSPPhElCkZMISjkcaGgmc4itVA29uJca4mEVzHUWoKScqUdhd4RxFSm84qL3i3GHAzEpwFnmfIcSSXxotR808-glA/s5472/Linnet%20relaxing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyhUH3GTH8zffs_DI9LOoxRBufhkjAMDDiABCEv7ZMVZHpkR9dq61-Gepwqi1s8e6ZFPfLBkgeAGsR3a1ZgFR6nYp53ykXdxuLgfpSPPhElCkZMISjkcaGgmc4itVA29uJca4mEVzHUWoKScqUdhd4RxFSm84qL3i3GHAzEpwFnmfIcSSXxotR808-glA/w400-h266/Linnet%20relaxing.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Meanwhile, Tolly cat likes to think of himself as a fearless hunter, stalking through the long grass but he's nothing of the sort. He likes me to be with him when he's in the garden, just in case a bee or a spider should suddenly frighten him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFIUnZf5zZ8fUynqBIPA_BAGpSzVfv8-17BvCorpJLd1tE_cx1KVqtwKnozNy9H5N_A79T8WEL50sSXNkPpgXNNvkvTxLmjXsOwJ0Wq2aDgvZVNkmbGMxzaQHji28va_RDyyQ9MFK_W9wxW9StMXai_YOI5o3L4zahK_yi9NeU9XZruCYL7PkKonk-eZJ/s4804/26%20Tolly%20hiding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4804" data-original-width="3228" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFIUnZf5zZ8fUynqBIPA_BAGpSzVfv8-17BvCorpJLd1tE_cx1KVqtwKnozNy9H5N_A79T8WEL50sSXNkPpgXNNvkvTxLmjXsOwJ0Wq2aDgvZVNkmbGMxzaQHji28va_RDyyQ9MFK_W9wxW9StMXai_YOI5o3L4zahK_yi9NeU9XZruCYL7PkKonk-eZJ/w269-h400/26%20Tolly%20hiding.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can just see him in this photo too, guarding my pot of tea while I take a picture. A pot of tea in the garden is one of my favourite things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7Gzj77F6rdewNdDXLXG2xF2abuQyo5yud1ytiF7kkNwFzfTXwoOQbwVizd1IiEHr0hH31gL6OIOXGr6chDASeb87Rib6CVGNIRkNka4Cam35CsNmoWnhn3dw23C6lkY3J5bYxg4VGF3L8XTxL-ycdoYWe5IRYMNZ9eia66eaPAS4BQLVu32oaEehbxs/s5472/27%20Tea%20in%20the%20garden.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsN7Gzj77F6rdewNdDXLXG2xF2abuQyo5yud1ytiF7kkNwFzfTXwoOQbwVizd1IiEHr0hH31gL6OIOXGr6chDASeb87Rib6CVGNIRkNka4Cam35CsNmoWnhn3dw23C6lkY3J5bYxg4VGF3L8XTxL-ycdoYWe5IRYMNZ9eia66eaPAS4BQLVu32oaEehbxs/w400-h266/27%20Tea%20in%20the%20garden.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of which, I've been writing this for hours now and the sun has come back out so I think it's time to put the kettle on and get back out there. I hope you've enjoyed reading this.</div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-49941816977926983812023-04-30T17:44:00.001+01:002023-04-30T17:44:59.662+01:00A Magic Box and other Pretty Things<p>I've had a very exciting addition to my craft room recently. Want to see?</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHHT2AqHSr_MI6Yr7nCAbOIivNZE9fNRx0-QRnEHeQQxPkjn0UlpthBv84U1E0FNKze7ItZHcCciv1r8FjlqiMa4TJur8GqsPrsBwH5PD4NjV-0qckZnPaDJzuElAXNe0p8mLGntdO_KXDnfv2uSi8-NfveUCpSiXAFb-PL76vY4ecduS1rM51_O49w/s4832/01Light%20Box%2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="4832" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcHHT2AqHSr_MI6Yr7nCAbOIivNZE9fNRx0-QRnEHeQQxPkjn0UlpthBv84U1E0FNKze7ItZHcCciv1r8FjlqiMa4TJur8GqsPrsBwH5PD4NjV-0qckZnPaDJzuElAXNe0p8mLGntdO_KXDnfv2uSi8-NfveUCpSiXAFb-PL76vY4ecduS1rM51_O49w/w400-h303/01Light%20Box%2001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I know, it doesn't look very exciting. It's basically a big black square with a handle on the top. Open it out though and you get ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE5iuvhG4oWxqiBTwpMhW591oUzd4C_L053fgaQOHCjor9VBKKZ1SwP68GTqx6AJLzpBFOh54sVFvzqLkhUb0ZP48wQaNOMUVuzf7ZAqeRIudeOsVV4O1YdG_y7nzc3T-LTVGGyo5f-ejksNWUj1mTxlU6KHZT_Fgw5fubMb1dW8AYRNJieDYienfxg/s3983/02%20Light%20Box%2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3146" data-original-width="3983" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirE5iuvhG4oWxqiBTwpMhW591oUzd4C_L053fgaQOHCjor9VBKKZ1SwP68GTqx6AJLzpBFOh54sVFvzqLkhUb0ZP48wQaNOMUVuzf7ZAqeRIudeOsVV4O1YdG_y7nzc3T-LTVGGyo5f-ejksNWUj1mTxlU6KHZT_Fgw5fubMb1dW8AYRNJieDYienfxg/w400-h316/02%20Light%20Box%2002.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... a big black cube. This is the <a href="https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/products/pixapro-70x70x70cm-foldable-led-light-tent-for-product-photography?variant=42710707339507&utm_campaign=49283&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_source=PaidOnResults&porc=fEAcIyulnFpdHmzmpqxrFqoczpIDBxa" target="_blank">Pixapro Light Box</a> which I ordered from <a href="https://www.essentialphoto.co.uk/" target="_blank">Essential Photo</a> when it was reduced the other week. Obviously, other people had been eyeing it for a while too as it quickly went out of stock so I had to wait a few weeks for it to arrive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To put it together, you just unfold it - everything sticks together with velcro strips - it takes hardly any time and then you just slot in a background and you're ready to go. It gives you a nice white backdrop for photography which is so hard to get right.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's not all though. Did you notice the pocket with the cable in on the first picture? It has LED lights inside the top, operated by a dimmable switch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VM3XPPSLwTrLpRMC0SE48RVPeyf16o-Veh6BdLsMKEK21OEVCHfXOgWT6D06DWxJWmgKPEEckhG0vEVs8mjEI1Tn1eBNdjl25ID_7mwkQHxeOymOscdXNpmXUW67gGHg4kNPcFHp1fR2NOiMcOaXadOvjL0JDX2G9PD5hOxOPWyvbWvohze0cYsQBQ/s4411/03%20Light%20Box%2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3146" data-original-width="4411" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8VM3XPPSLwTrLpRMC0SE48RVPeyf16o-Veh6BdLsMKEK21OEVCHfXOgWT6D06DWxJWmgKPEEckhG0vEVs8mjEI1Tn1eBNdjl25ID_7mwkQHxeOymOscdXNpmXUW67gGHg4kNPcFHp1fR2NOiMcOaXadOvjL0JDX2G9PD5hOxOPWyvbWvohze0cYsQBQ/w400-h285/03%20Light%20Box%2003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And yes, I did have to virtually crawl inside to take this photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is how bright the inside is with the light switched on to full brightness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsD2qN0vj609_ukSqErxNW9Fo0EztJ1PlkycojVn1rhrB3l85KsOgxzMVq5eikxL75B38ufGVN7aB6WEC0XRRPlWYXMpOU35zRsSlrSnzTSQrwnJZbAyhj36Y2PsjUdQxx635sNI60IzQ10AzqgyCc4CQLLtGDwneEc1BWPUTpCMlD5zQw3-7WTXh2Q/s3657/04%20Light%20Box%2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3244" data-original-width="3657" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsD2qN0vj609_ukSqErxNW9Fo0EztJ1PlkycojVn1rhrB3l85KsOgxzMVq5eikxL75B38ufGVN7aB6WEC0XRRPlWYXMpOU35zRsSlrSnzTSQrwnJZbAyhj36Y2PsjUdQxx635sNI60IzQ10AzqgyCc4CQLLtGDwneEc1BWPUTpCMlD5zQw3-7WTXh2Q/w400-h355/04%20Light%20Box%2004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This means that I can now take project pictures, however gloomy the day is. They still need the brightness adjusting digitally (my camera is pretty basic) but the quality of the photos is so much better. You don't get annoying shadows and the colours are spot on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXNzzEmwmVQ6v8-monhkX9y83qhxRgiajjYypyuHdKAgAe5QAjpSHKvGbAj5CSdB-0GXaBNq1sCOTb8dihejcnymuJ7iNf8S81oFosYFge2GVDdmzYhToYkMZuY1KcFxyZTRHIht63LrODKA3CcSD1t7TdcSp1TmVJrYbgM0BP5RRAsAaht5jydmC0A/s5472/05%20Light%20Box%2005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXNzzEmwmVQ6v8-monhkX9y83qhxRgiajjYypyuHdKAgAe5QAjpSHKvGbAj5CSdB-0GXaBNq1sCOTb8dihejcnymuJ7iNf8S81oFosYFge2GVDdmzYhToYkMZuY1KcFxyZTRHIht63LrODKA3CcSD1t7TdcSp1TmVJrYbgM0BP5RRAsAaht5jydmC0A/w400-h266/05%20Light%20Box%2005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I open that square flap on the top (more velcro), I can also take photos from above. This is very useful for the many step by step photos I often need at the start of a project.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe2of4cCjY7T0e3TA0fxnZRhDpP7aSokmJ2dQVahwX_O4HMpsokuE1ZSVJUvTtAXlaN3iho0pL5k0m9Jko05jkSeQC-gLpK6yoABa2UxjtZR-zQKuOKFVz9fygJCiToG9sAwNSUpxK8QcA-hlQR9LwOyXwe5FwHXJMgCvfbeWHKRoM_xGslvqhBqxpQ/s5472/06%20Light%20Box%2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJe2of4cCjY7T0e3TA0fxnZRhDpP7aSokmJ2dQVahwX_O4HMpsokuE1ZSVJUvTtAXlaN3iho0pL5k0m9Jko05jkSeQC-gLpK6yoABa2UxjtZR-zQKuOKFVz9fygJCiToG9sAwNSUpxK8QcA-hlQR9LwOyXwe5FwHXJMgCvfbeWHKRoM_xGslvqhBqxpQ/w400-h266/06%20Light%20Box%2006.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Obviously, I had to test it out straight away. I've been waiting for the magic box before starting on a crochet shawl pattern using this very pretty yarn from <a href="https://www.scheepjes.com/en/" target="_blank">Scheepjes</a> called <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/scheepjes-whirl-all-colours" target="_blank">Whirl</a> which is a blend of cotton and acrylic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17j9FLzNrwb6ldlAOypzTx7XkQ-T3PPE3ep6O6GYlTtQn4uo7XGNRvr3lFZ3sUXC1IFa12HNFob_VOou98gDKMUA_2nDa937aD4kJkwmREQXQ2GvokFLPdmp2JXQyX9YBxbYgNLhU_VTk_xhJfu04464x4JEsEyuvMfLHwWIkMebgS3_BgcEwAzLX4A/s1600/08a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17j9FLzNrwb6ldlAOypzTx7XkQ-T3PPE3ep6O6GYlTtQn4uo7XGNRvr3lFZ3sUXC1IFa12HNFob_VOou98gDKMUA_2nDa937aD4kJkwmREQXQ2GvokFLPdmp2JXQyX9YBxbYgNLhU_VTk_xhJfu04464x4JEsEyuvMfLHwWIkMebgS3_BgcEwAzLX4A/w400-h200/08a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was a bit concerned that taking photos of small scraps of crochet on full zoom might not give good results but I needn't have worried. These two pictures are from the same photo, both on full zoom with the second being a cropped version of the first.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o6-PwcuaOR_0j01rIGR7qvvODt3YwYs3acQmdyjwuikQdwmyVB9mxZB89reGEX8vQIqqyvxI0HEetaiuWO7GQXJURrKHCzE5PCe_2FFVxpd1XgQdhrnqf4vRV7h-6bK7yXYkihVnPXabZ5ueWxr3kCUg508_yNn5e9BZawGMOAVSmYNGmNCz3XUsrA/s1600/10a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1o6-PwcuaOR_0j01rIGR7qvvODt3YwYs3acQmdyjwuikQdwmyVB9mxZB89reGEX8vQIqqyvxI0HEetaiuWO7GQXJURrKHCzE5PCe_2FFVxpd1XgQdhrnqf4vRV7h-6bK7yXYkihVnPXabZ5ueWxr3kCUg508_yNn5e9BZawGMOAVSmYNGmNCz3XUsrA/w400-h200/10a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, it didn't take long for Tolly cat to discover this new, exciting place ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIoZHL4OWL5NKTPAuO9CZCzpzLLtnUieUT_SYKBDcbadSKr1vLcyEGQ0NVZM4IsVSD_N1KL3s9PrpodtJ39PlRHzrbZaJJQGOl6PV-Ju9wLXd1q_KMXAXLogILalKakBqRQ-e1nnkdWEDHmSWoYxHP5RNPkr0tC4xhgGHkrAL4cRdPZIihjMlPrm5sA/s5472/11%20Tolly%20investigating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIoZHL4OWL5NKTPAuO9CZCzpzLLtnUieUT_SYKBDcbadSKr1vLcyEGQ0NVZM4IsVSD_N1KL3s9PrpodtJ39PlRHzrbZaJJQGOl6PV-Ju9wLXd1q_KMXAXLogILalKakBqRQ-e1nnkdWEDHmSWoYxHP5RNPkr0tC4xhgGHkrAL4cRdPZIihjMlPrm5sA/w400-h266/11%20Tolly%20investigating.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Needless to say, I've been removing cat hair from the backdrop ever since. I now keep the flaps closed when I'm not in the room. Not that he ventures up there without a human in attendance - he's not the bravest of cats. Meanwhile, Linnet still refuses to acknowledge the existence of the room. She will occasionally venture as far as the doorway to collect me if their food bowls have been empty for too long but that's about it. It's lovely to be able to take decent photos whenever I want to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In other news, my daughter was here last weekend and she helped me clear out my kitchen cupboards. Actually it was more of a case of her doing it while I did a bit of washing out of containers and answered simple questions like "do you ever use this?" and "have you seen the best before date on this?". The combination of change, nowhere to sit and a task involving more than one thing to do made me feel particularly ill; I wouldn't even have been able to start it on my own. By the end of the day my cupboards were transformed. Here's the big, built in one which no longer has heavy china where I can't reach it ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJMHdqKsNKUzmldBMRzqBQslhXKuBmK3FTDx6t46a3pUpguFzZT0X68VIwpQMm-z-druYQpmZ7cizSv6QZQ6sgDOxQhwBCX-HmhAAYGFbuBPJcWnG4yEhsXJn3UGyVnMsA-yjAV0MR6yuEAsl-OzbOlqLMQ9Lcki_oZvQq5HnbFm2xEcces-lrWGzSQ/s5472/12%20Kitchen%20Cupboard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJMHdqKsNKUzmldBMRzqBQslhXKuBmK3FTDx6t46a3pUpguFzZT0X68VIwpQMm-z-druYQpmZ7cizSv6QZQ6sgDOxQhwBCX-HmhAAYGFbuBPJcWnG4yEhsXJn3UGyVnMsA-yjAV0MR6yuEAsl-OzbOlqLMQ9Lcki_oZvQq5HnbFm2xEcces-lrWGzSQ/w400-h266/12%20Kitchen%20Cupboard.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can actually see what I'm low on now and I've even got room for some of the dishes and bowls I inherited from my Mum which have been languishing in boxes for years. I love this cupboard which was built with the house in the nineteenth century and holds lots of stuff. My neighbours have one just the same (the two houses were built as a pair) and my son has an even bigger one in his new house which was built around 1860 or so. His goes right up to the ceiling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucBhrVc6b794zHXQgtJ2PeC8AWpwDTP8aUFt1c_MKe194qDqXD3g7bPmU6RWFmKevWoLXsBI0R5y9B918E3h7c3utqhIHx_YM85h1EE0OLtqEXxiAd67_OEjqRNzATurDSaLPF1VsdjqircpOPYhTf7zvcQlGfjRoXqpTXMh-XJUhBc6BNBdquoHwog/s5091/15%20Cupboard,%20kitchen.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5091" data-original-width="3481" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucBhrVc6b794zHXQgtJ2PeC8AWpwDTP8aUFt1c_MKe194qDqXD3g7bPmU6RWFmKevWoLXsBI0R5y9B918E3h7c3utqhIHx_YM85h1EE0OLtqEXxiAd67_OEjqRNzATurDSaLPF1VsdjqircpOPYhTf7zvcQlGfjRoXqpTXMh-XJUhBc6BNBdquoHwog/w274-h400/15%20Cupboard,%20kitchen.JPG" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I must write a blog post about his house which is very exciting. Anyway, we also tidied up my kitchen cabinet which is one of my favourite things in the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLK7nDGVxWnBDJtt75M8ld_7f554uhxVpWHnzX6avorQC77raPEsQXoNHCz62q_W5El2dzPthChT0l4VcccjLwGQZP28JYSHCg_148yh1qlTHmUQrxEQhvFGtnv2JYIXhGVPs_Tx9dLwa38pLPKcQgY8MjXaoVMGhbxdZnsgASUiiqlgFIBmb4HPhxQ/s4342/13%20Kitchen%20Cabinet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3407" data-original-width="4342" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLK7nDGVxWnBDJtt75M8ld_7f554uhxVpWHnzX6avorQC77raPEsQXoNHCz62q_W5El2dzPthChT0l4VcccjLwGQZP28JYSHCg_148yh1qlTHmUQrxEQhvFGtnv2JYIXhGVPs_Tx9dLwa38pLPKcQgY8MjXaoVMGhbxdZnsgASUiiqlgFIBmb4HPhxQ/w400-h314/13%20Kitchen%20Cabinet.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not a fan of fitted kitchens so this drop down table on the cabinet is one of the few work surfaces in the kitchen. My cutlery lives in those drawers and the cabinet also houses the all important tea making supplies. My son gave me the lego calendar a few years ago which is brilliant. You do have to re-make it at the start of each month though which leads to me being very confused if I forget to do it. In front of the calendar is my chicken stapler. What do you mean you don't have a chicken stapler? Needless to say, it is purely ornamental.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For many years the little brown armchair that my mother-in-law upholstered has been living at the end of the kitchen. It was a daft place to put it really as it meant that anyone sitting there often ended up hidden by the open scullery door. So ... we (well, I watched) swapped it with the table so that it's now in the middle of the room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnkVhxn-zY-X8BSvdZuJM5qTmkY2Uapz_ZlIdd6VPuE1m-u2pfL0Mzsd9IIDR7BCnPzyNYhIwiHf9hYIxf733DSNrfd3P7iN5a4tEJMga_kYX07t-DuXavvG8UAJY0xT4XzZbiuFrMNxQvVo_fUXBKaPHKkmGtqfWxmSmTno9v-8SW_0ehFqOeeLZ_Q/s5472/14%20Chair%20and%20table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXnkVhxn-zY-X8BSvdZuJM5qTmkY2Uapz_ZlIdd6VPuE1m-u2pfL0Mzsd9IIDR7BCnPzyNYhIwiHf9hYIxf733DSNrfd3P7iN5a4tEJMga_kYX07t-DuXavvG8UAJY0xT4XzZbiuFrMNxQvVo_fUXBKaPHKkmGtqfWxmSmTno9v-8SW_0ehFqOeeLZ_Q/w400-h266/14%20Chair%20and%20table.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This simple shifting of a chair led to another burst of making things this week. First, I used some old barkcloth fabric from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OrinocoBanbury/" target="_blank">Orinoco</a> to make a cushion cover, complete with buttons. It took twice as long to sew the buttons on as it did to make the cover. Another couple of photos to compare, this time the cushion photographed on the chair and then in my new magic box. As you can see, the colours are so much better when I use the light box.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI8v7qBJMl5sX5lKGiLmNh7JA1nzSrT9cfzEDoqD6qFQfbe2ySLgluotZ0aV8guwcoBXJYwtSuNWpT5d7GJA1UPsRNgxmSW7s-JQ3tUkqsSk092hiSEM4bqAqu-Pwd6T7aZPy8AQgCfj6yp2DqnINMI0o26ciS-A8RFOj-T3I3l1gESNP3TISVgSXZg/s1600/16a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrI8v7qBJMl5sX5lKGiLmNh7JA1nzSrT9cfzEDoqD6qFQfbe2ySLgluotZ0aV8guwcoBXJYwtSuNWpT5d7GJA1UPsRNgxmSW7s-JQ3tUkqsSk092hiSEM4bqAqu-Pwd6T7aZPy8AQgCfj6yp2DqnINMI0o26ciS-A8RFOj-T3I3l1gESNP3TISVgSXZg/w400-h200/16a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've got enough of the fabric left to make a couple of little bags too. I regularly find treasures at Orinoco. I made this little pincushion from a needlepoint kit I found there; it was very compulsive stitching, I think I finished it in a week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJL3O7kAeFdJrArzuX-tTl_b0pvBjlTzcizCxmgLZXGPCxqvjsFtlXYJBS6cVgNFd8YDULTnJG-Xr4rIbv-NQHf_mLXiR9voc1UO-TBIU-TNcvqCdo1Ha6gMFs3nJ0MHR0Ok-KFOblPCtAHvfVSicrkgOmX3U0_bT1KBEwwB4IcHOnEEvkY53DcYhSg/s1796/18%20Needlepoint%20Pincushion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="1796" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJL3O7kAeFdJrArzuX-tTl_b0pvBjlTzcizCxmgLZXGPCxqvjsFtlXYJBS6cVgNFd8YDULTnJG-Xr4rIbv-NQHf_mLXiR9voc1UO-TBIU-TNcvqCdo1Ha6gMFs3nJ0MHR0Ok-KFOblPCtAHvfVSicrkgOmX3U0_bT1KBEwwB4IcHOnEEvkY53DcYhSg/w400-h376/18%20Needlepoint%20Pincushion.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, having made the cushion for the armchair, I then had a lovely time choosing colours to match it and crocheting a cover for my little milking stool that I uses as a table. Mats are always falling off it so I made this one to fit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfGH-xm8f0bYlctEhlf-G7U6_QU1c5WyMzsuUAO3sXdelVGwYH5N-ZlFp0NbEb4VCrtt3aaKKU_775jxzgfWIzRpMUvFjtCg8ueMFSLf43Ns_9NNu2t8BMTWg51eF6koX7uzbagBHFdz54OPSGMhiTbMIqqNCj565lKN88eKNxJqRq6HeOZ0XmpDmmw/s3513/17%20Stool%20cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3513" data-original-width="2407" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfGH-xm8f0bYlctEhlf-G7U6_QU1c5WyMzsuUAO3sXdelVGwYH5N-ZlFp0NbEb4VCrtt3aaKKU_775jxzgfWIzRpMUvFjtCg8ueMFSLf43Ns_9NNu2t8BMTWg51eF6koX7uzbagBHFdz54OPSGMhiTbMIqqNCj565lKN88eKNxJqRq6HeOZ0XmpDmmw/w274-h400/17%20Stool%20cover.JPG" width="274" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm really pleased with how this turned out. At first I'd thought of just adding elastic to a big circle to hold it in place but then realised that it would be better to shape the crochet as I went along so that's what I did. The cover finishes on the underneath, just where the legs meet the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more photo before I go and this one isn't a pretty thing at all. Tolly cat managed to get something greasy all over his fur the other week (oil? something from a barbecue?) and he couldn't wash it off so he had to have several washes with actual detergent. He wasn't impressed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmw02vrTmdSCefr2lF6EA5S0S3ZmgqukQklZTSQ9Z2XpM6zxctyXtpa39prVJ7sfUQBBhXIV5_eUa8wHjuVs568FJfn7k3k2-iPEu7JmYUAUB3zKRE8PZwuke1ePqoRL7iUHTSgcKaUOeiowIj0r0Tx-Tz37_ZAYkW54iIIXrzNbsPttDvmg5kgIARA/s3374/20%20Tolly%20after%20his%20wash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3015" data-original-width="3374" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmw02vrTmdSCefr2lF6EA5S0S3ZmgqukQklZTSQ9Z2XpM6zxctyXtpa39prVJ7sfUQBBhXIV5_eUa8wHjuVs568FJfn7k3k2-iPEu7JmYUAUB3zKRE8PZwuke1ePqoRL7iUHTSgcKaUOeiowIj0r0Tx-Tz37_ZAYkW54iIIXrzNbsPttDvmg5kgIARA/w400-h358/20%20Tolly%20after%20his%20wash.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's hope he's learnt his lesson and will keep away from strange stuff in the future. I wouldn't count on it though.</div></div><p></p>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-13854746274764119352023-04-12T15:50:00.000+01:002023-04-12T15:50:47.839+01:00Have Craft Room ...<p> ... will craft, obviously. It's so much easier to make things on the spur of the moment when you know where things are. Mind you, as I have yet to label most of my storage boxes, there's a fair bit of guessing that goes on too.</p><p>At the weekend my son turned up with a charity shop bargain for me. A set of puzzle pieces that can be arranged and re-arranged to make all sorts of geometric patterns. What could be more appropriate for a designer? And it only cost £1. We were particularly entertained by the cover of the box which is somewhat bizarre.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmibUAIEHljTd5w8M4Skuoz24mxhj1K0g26pAQtWkwwxpkRFRXii8iCzqcpjgAa5DdnIPJ57SExOX0k_gjQ8gW-Cq-IfyoiK9FmlB_XDIf1u_u36X89N6aRfq79babeEZC5TnBFXtYPxBNZgLgRb9CPBVuh1NMEercH2XLDmKOtAvInk0WDPZCv2qDCw/s2449/01%20Puzzle%20game%20lid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2438" data-original-width="2449" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmibUAIEHljTd5w8M4Skuoz24mxhj1K0g26pAQtWkwwxpkRFRXii8iCzqcpjgAa5DdnIPJ57SExOX0k_gjQ8gW-Cq-IfyoiK9FmlB_XDIf1u_u36X89N6aRfq79babeEZC5TnBFXtYPxBNZgLgRb9CPBVuh1NMEercH2XLDmKOtAvInk0WDPZCv2qDCw/w400-h399/01%20Puzzle%20game%20lid.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Go away, the great man is thinking"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't think this is an entirely accurate representation of celebrity night life in the 1970s but who knows?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, the puzzle is great. The cards are double sided and there are lots of patterns to get you started. Here's the first one I made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfS4465uRSuR4s_1e1kGX9FkOWdMDGrnXDonol232WTIGNFcwmHK60GY3jxYAocjWdgGDzZtPPoGI7Av60gU4ERlWAUfNtDb-zgUT7jj4KmNdClvz75v9AWy7GIDnkbOs4boQAKI5AgwjlxGWDgcgoRYtsrAZwCYg258pYwt_SYfVW9OaSi6QufTGzg/s2754/04%20Pattern.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2743" data-original-width="2754" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfS4465uRSuR4s_1e1kGX9FkOWdMDGrnXDonol232WTIGNFcwmHK60GY3jxYAocjWdgGDzZtPPoGI7Av60gU4ERlWAUfNtDb-zgUT7jj4KmNdClvz75v9AWy7GIDnkbOs4boQAKI5AgwjlxGWDgcgoRYtsrAZwCYg258pYwt_SYfVW9OaSi6QufTGzg/w400-h399/04%20Pattern.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can't you just see this as a quilt or perhaps a blanket?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I decided that I didn't need the tacky box though (not to mention the disintegrating plastic insert) so today I made a little black and white bag to hold the cards instead. Then I scanned the patterns on the leaflet from the box and printed them out on cards ... and then of course I had to make a little card wallet to put the cards in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdDli_kjCRcdvoYG31TL9osH7AgCrd1ASzavGMZWDViUe9qPryppB4UrAJU--D7YPEYHJcT2eXDgVkzRpFMKCHSK2qhaeWlQI1hFc5WV2wkZJgH3xEjzxq9u0owOS0jnP7RJ8Aj1iAOUZaHlTXjTeo2Xwa-qKBowmFedZLLNG1dn5nGMLu97iJ6SguQ/s4332/02%20Puzzle%20game%20with%20bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2776" data-original-width="4332" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdDli_kjCRcdvoYG31TL9osH7AgCrd1ASzavGMZWDViUe9qPryppB4UrAJU--D7YPEYHJcT2eXDgVkzRpFMKCHSK2qhaeWlQI1hFc5WV2wkZJgH3xEjzxq9u0owOS0jnP7RJ8Aj1iAOUZaHlTXjTeo2Xwa-qKBowmFedZLLNG1dn5nGMLu97iJ6SguQ/w400-h256/02%20Puzzle%20game%20with%20bag.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked out how to sew drawstring bags like this in any size ages ago; it's a very useful thing to know and the bags are quick to make. Choosing the fabrics takes longer than the sewing (well it does for me anyway). I do like making things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aaOUTUhKJSWmI7ixKs7MI1RXapx2Wn0auUTXI-E4IGh68Z_bo46q-0-VkKNkHpASvaTU2aRA17im--ANrFabdZYS4_eZCXHAt_kWHR9_TLkICs5YTbVvLbYYDiZk75bIaAevhk8j1P9VE2-sSK3daN1DptUdC-TvA9nibW4OYlil01JXLD6yvxYg9A/s2526/03%20Puzzle%20game%20bag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2526" data-original-width="2253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aaOUTUhKJSWmI7ixKs7MI1RXapx2Wn0auUTXI-E4IGh68Z_bo46q-0-VkKNkHpASvaTU2aRA17im--ANrFabdZYS4_eZCXHAt_kWHR9_TLkICs5YTbVvLbYYDiZk75bIaAevhk8j1P9VE2-sSK3daN1DptUdC-TvA9nibW4OYlil01JXLD6yvxYg9A/w356-h400/03%20Puzzle%20game%20bag.JPG" width="356" /></a></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-17789732187631448572023-03-10T18:16:00.001+00:002023-03-10T18:16:24.593+00:00More Colour Pops<p>I'm still enjoying exploring the possibilities of my Colour Pop technique which combines lots of colours and some serious texture, two of my favourite things. The first two patterns were purely decorative: a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-strip" target="_blank">rainbow wall hanging </a>...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tkzkva9fo2kmEuIx6LLDkBcjVc1f3AzgD06fkQZo2MTVOa0ZcsOasxu_xfesC7lnZfpfaGD0AtTEJ-klUfB3tG_wKv5yue4lCWNixEKG4UZDV3S8thojdnLM5-Dv3VUgRPiEq62wArr7oHsmsc1SHl-vczTFeuLCzezCPnhkfOGoraYe8N_6UzGJ3Q/s800/01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Tkzkva9fo2kmEuIx6LLDkBcjVc1f3AzgD06fkQZo2MTVOa0ZcsOasxu_xfesC7lnZfpfaGD0AtTEJ-klUfB3tG_wKv5yue4lCWNixEKG4UZDV3S8thojdnLM5-Dv3VUgRPiEq62wArr7oHsmsc1SHl-vczTFeuLCzezCPnhkfOGoraYe8N_6UzGJ3Q/w400-h400/01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">... and a <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-more-chr" target="_blank">Christmas tree</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8HZRJEyHc4cNCNKBt0nUR2vL3kbSrycq38PGG_n4WRtoXxicGZZORq3cshL3mE1C0291j4fusEHJLpO2zIblhVSVZ0U_OcDH0tfApwtAd_KjltslZgBAsbo2pNAOS_QnKK_fZqRLsJQuOTghHsTUpbMw-CNWqQh8NsUgnPpfrXIOOrgOhZ4PoY6SaQ/s3564/02.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3564" data-original-width="2511" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8HZRJEyHc4cNCNKBt0nUR2vL3kbSrycq38PGG_n4WRtoXxicGZZORq3cshL3mE1C0291j4fusEHJLpO2zIblhVSVZ0U_OcDH0tfApwtAd_KjltslZgBAsbo2pNAOS_QnKK_fZqRLsJQuOTghHsTUpbMw-CNWqQh8NsUgnPpfrXIOOrgOhZ4PoY6SaQ/w281-h400/02.JPG" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm turning my thoughts to more practical applications of the technique, so my latest pattern is for chunky little purses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z39-FdVLK78izx4Qm9JoNmmaWp6GQ62W6ncuCxO_SPRpLkfL9z1DolZvHh-539JjPJnj7b0B9CImGh-GgMOpSL-n9wQbNyi6S9GQMCcGaGeW94GHLfjJx9dkjPVOA-gBf37ALJB84DOCdgHM2Exgkm6JmPI5E2duKS_dw9eg2pSX0PsaoLNPcu-wOg/s1600/03.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z39-FdVLK78izx4Qm9JoNmmaWp6GQ62W6ncuCxO_SPRpLkfL9z1DolZvHh-539JjPJnj7b0B9CImGh-GgMOpSL-n9wQbNyi6S9GQMCcGaGeW94GHLfjJx9dkjPVOA-gBf37ALJB84DOCdgHM2Exgkm6JmPI5E2duKS_dw9eg2pSX0PsaoLNPcu-wOg/w400-h400/03.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/roly-poly-purses" target="_blank">Roly-Poly Purses</a> are beautifully tactile and very easy to make. You just knit a rectangle of colour pops and then gather the ends and add buttons to close it. I loved the simplicity of this project. Here's the knitted rectangle; the wrong side with its pretty lines will be the inside of the purse.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q48JKxh_Or1QaUnatdML4JgyB1LV5C54a2YSQcB8v1QyEjmgchZlwmTzIC8vHy1JpDzZnpPGsAy9zZuR71I4MHBkmYDhmGKwAeogAZ8DDPxRICr7M01qPNSn0-aCmU38ksa5Mu-I3uWUZ8rjUvikUDi_c5XkFvjULVZd_pjpuo6fsqhGz2LE-1p4hQ/s1600/04.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1600" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3q48JKxh_Or1QaUnatdML4JgyB1LV5C54a2YSQcB8v1QyEjmgchZlwmTzIC8vHy1JpDzZnpPGsAy9zZuR71I4MHBkmYDhmGKwAeogAZ8DDPxRICr7M01qPNSn0-aCmU38ksa5Mu-I3uWUZ8rjUvikUDi_c5XkFvjULVZd_pjpuo6fsqhGz2LE-1p4hQ/w400-h256/04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I knitted three different widths of purses from the basic pattern, using the same colours for the pops but changing the background colour. These are going to be very useful for holding little crafty bits and bobs of which I have many.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf16O3qKHoqqB4yUm_aCoh9aGU7YQFRdrZ87HVrp8uyIsyFResJdzvaLYMmynFx8OlXiG3uo998Ha_VSdUKpnl5KtOQarm6wskzU4cdM-xy6s5_bijBY3a9pDq65XRM_7-6rPwsNR5Dvov1Ba654yhFKyzjCSSj6aZL4svDCxBImJGcu04z0LGcXHJw/s2960/05.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="2960" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf16O3qKHoqqB4yUm_aCoh9aGU7YQFRdrZ87HVrp8uyIsyFResJdzvaLYMmynFx8OlXiG3uo998Ha_VSdUKpnl5KtOQarm6wskzU4cdM-xy6s5_bijBY3a9pDq65XRM_7-6rPwsNR5Dvov1Ba654yhFKyzjCSSj6aZL4svDCxBImJGcu04z0LGcXHJw/w400-h336/05.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think the next colour pop pattern will be a tea cosy. Those textured rolls would keep the heat in well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the moment though I'm trying to get various projects finished that have been hanging around too long. Do you remember my crochet <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/starburst-14" target="_blank">Starburst</a> blanket from last year? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQsFIIwULWYi9gf8typAVO6E64N1kmr3YUad7l_zT-7k-yoDp6_DVvDEqe4XqifBcZALGVjHw1qF6p58p3Y2GHzJ-ySOgAMto__JI5sZcxvRCTsPKbdTCS6dIlKiwCfZyfLGcmQFemPaiMoLcW6BEorGSLlNklzilhU6rPsaQrAho5WB7JuI0gCuaDg/s2000/07.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQsFIIwULWYi9gf8typAVO6E64N1kmr3YUad7l_zT-7k-yoDp6_DVvDEqe4XqifBcZALGVjHw1qF6p58p3Y2GHzJ-ySOgAMto__JI5sZcxvRCTsPKbdTCS6dIlKiwCfZyfLGcmQFemPaiMoLcW6BEorGSLlNklzilhU6rPsaQrAho5WB7JuI0gCuaDg/w400-h400/07.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I had little balls of all the colours leftover when it was finished so I changed the mosaic design to a smaller star with lines, bought more black yarn and made a smaller version to use up the colours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_F4nz1UqyqYzyvvsD7Joyb1WNuF5u-o49IvRVrL-cDIrzGbldsWSsVKmkhfPcQqBtxejPLdJe6dkQ7tswZmvAoH9pIrdIUn_fvyVYG7lwwi-6eBU-beQoQqC1DrsKYnpZzzDUGd9GmL4NIE6qfMFs1LQlVUxgxIkRzHQxVBXWCw6xEUrGMO8GYcnog/s3440/06.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3091" data-original-width="3440" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_F4nz1UqyqYzyvvsD7Joyb1WNuF5u-o49IvRVrL-cDIrzGbldsWSsVKmkhfPcQqBtxejPLdJe6dkQ7tswZmvAoH9pIrdIUn_fvyVYG7lwwi-6eBU-beQoQqC1DrsKYnpZzzDUGd9GmL4NIE6qfMFs1LQlVUxgxIkRzHQxVBXWCw6xEUrGMO8GYcnog/w400-h360/06.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, I've got as far as crocheting the squares together so I just need to add the border and give it a serious blocking - it's very lumpy and bumpy at the moment. I think it's going to be a bit small to count as a blanket but I may turn it into a little rug. I don't know what to call it though. Any ideas?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've just bought some new yarn for a crochet shawl too. This is <a href="https://www.scheepjes.com/en/whirl-817/" target="_blank">Scheepjes Whirl</a> which is a combination of cotton and acrylic and comes in a big cake of 1,000 metres of yarn. This colourway is called Rose water Cocktail. Isn't that a delicious name?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-dSM6qoInBe_GfbYYcEu1FOCds1JWzXu9VLLdq6JCQN5H2LN_c7N1ovYHGUSk-YCgk-RNFKGv6L6DKiESLhbAex08UViF0phiL6q4hHySkzKSJKRLK3lZQ3EkJm7A2OaTKrQWaKMkcg-wj0VNJfxZWalJj8idK_wWieNmBr1KUnjD0gB8NrscvMkw/s3002/08.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2730" data-original-width="3002" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-dSM6qoInBe_GfbYYcEu1FOCds1JWzXu9VLLdq6JCQN5H2LN_c7N1ovYHGUSk-YCgk-RNFKGv6L6DKiESLhbAex08UViF0phiL6q4hHySkzKSJKRLK3lZQ3EkJm7A2OaTKrQWaKMkcg-wj0VNJfxZWalJj8idK_wWieNmBr1KUnjD0gB8NrscvMkw/w400-h364/08.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before starting on this, I've been playing around with new crochet stitches, courtesy of an ebook version of the <a href="https://www.shopmartingale.com/big-book-of-crochet-stitches-the-ebook.html" target="_blank">Big Book of Crochet Stitches</a> from the Martingale sale. Have a look, there are some real bargains there. The terminology is American so I have to concentrate a bit but it's definitely expanding my crochet knowledge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I told you last time, I've also been using my new / old Singer sewing machine to make a quilt for my son's new house. It's to go over his coffee table which is, unfortunately for me, quite big so this is turning out to be a bigger quilt than I normally make. The top is finished now and I'm waiting for the wadding I ordered to arrive so that I can get started on the quilting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DY-pGv-QVwrcFa2xxzKqKVuXsxNhNpbobl1V1sUJW0DsgK0P_eI6In1cWxeY0TgINUiJK3l9EHOlJHuuOt3TCazR4cOnJhgEAErST0hw7lRa2kcBnAha7JyJcJa-dWPuJm2dX8IKUoMetiEoEJiqmZXjKrnhPkXIEruQEXSqcH_Z_jZNZzlungLlGw/s4157/09.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2829" data-original-width="4157" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DY-pGv-QVwrcFa2xxzKqKVuXsxNhNpbobl1V1sUJW0DsgK0P_eI6In1cWxeY0TgINUiJK3l9EHOlJHuuOt3TCazR4cOnJhgEAErST0hw7lRa2kcBnAha7JyJcJa-dWPuJm2dX8IKUoMetiEoEJiqmZXjKrnhPkXIEruQEXSqcH_Z_jZNZzlungLlGw/w400-h272/09.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-61578542304423105242023-02-18T16:44:00.001+00:002023-02-18T16:44:39.565+00:00Bit by Bit<p>It's been a while since I posted here. It's hard keeping up with things when you're always ill and it doesn't help that I haven't been able to sort out a place to take decent photos in my new room yet. I set up a rather haphazard arrangement yesterday which involved the cables from my big lights stretching across the room at knee height and, miraculously, I managed not to fall over once! So, here are some of the things I've been working on lately, a little bit at a time most days.</p><p>First of all, I've been doing some English paper piecing with scraps from the two big baskets of scraps on the top landing (needless to say, both baskets are still full).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLwFAYKMts3G8L1ea1eaMqtwHi8pFeJfTBkriLA7j0rs0QIoChy0qRLlRi-HNmUCBaQBiWPcUfTGV6G4COzaaOkszkja1Q6wp8biSRpOduv-R6ZLMsOvgiRXMMpG1fuPQwOu_Xu7M3qh4nT3kM56S2L4Jj3U-MREZSyiCcJEiTf7HuPglIFJ0wV-gfQ/s3973/01%20Patchwork%20Blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1698" data-original-width="3973" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLwFAYKMts3G8L1ea1eaMqtwHi8pFeJfTBkriLA7j0rs0QIoChy0qRLlRi-HNmUCBaQBiWPcUfTGV6G4COzaaOkszkja1Q6wp8biSRpOduv-R6ZLMsOvgiRXMMpG1fuPQwOu_Xu7M3qh4nT3kM56S2L4Jj3U-MREZSyiCcJEiTf7HuPglIFJ0wV-gfQ/w400-h171/01%20Patchwork%20Blocks.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm using pre-cut squares and honeycomb paper pieces from <a href="https://www.sewandquilt.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sew & Quilt</a> and, so far, I've tacked enough shapes to make 50 blocks. I've been better pleased with my stitching since discovering this extra fine thread by <a href="https://www.minerva.com/mp/1119885/gutermann-extra-fine-sewing-thread&variant=1089969" target="_blank">Gutermann</a> which really makes the stitches invisible. I shall arrange the blocks like this so will need to add extra squares between the blocks later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgg8WiwV8xjH5VXHYKJc-CkFYPU3nABVNYRXK4XoANA-1rh5xaUwhLMT2N8Zx5eAQVNw6lPgvicvKnK78UemkfDXwffqMEMSrG7X1AgCz9Xrgq2nH4VhaKzFaF25jP2A_tAOTryLb385pK7KSMJxm8azF3QAWXmVOI6LM-2Nnfzsu27XhSCWgVbRlcg/s2906/02%20Patchwork%20Blocks.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2906" data-original-width="2874" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgg8WiwV8xjH5VXHYKJc-CkFYPU3nABVNYRXK4XoANA-1rh5xaUwhLMT2N8Zx5eAQVNw6lPgvicvKnK78UemkfDXwffqMEMSrG7X1AgCz9Xrgq2nH4VhaKzFaF25jP2A_tAOTryLb385pK7KSMJxm8azF3QAWXmVOI6LM-2Nnfzsu27XhSCWgVbRlcg/w395-h400/02%20Patchwork%20Blocks.JPG" width="395" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the things that bothers me about doing so many crafts is that I never really make any progress with some of them. If I only practise them once or twice a year, there's always a lot of re-learning to do when I go back to them. This year I've decided to be more consistent so that I develop the muscle memory for some of my often neglected crafts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is working well with Dorset button making. I am steadily working through this wonderful book by <a href="https://www.ginabsilkworks.co.uk/buttons/button-library/dorset-ring-buttons-book-by-gina-barrett" target="_blank">Gina Barrett</a> which has detailed instructions for over 70 traditional buttons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvqcw5519dOh01FL02k2yCVrG62JfYN0eGIcC3MZwB8ZG1YEik_CI4pmrwUz0WatLqQfAfnfej7Cx5tWgI3ehZIf1G14qtmsSVhw3J7iw5-PWc9xQz8VNBjm3geieliJa6msb2P3xROIaIznDiafVAIsdeVmv48pQAPUJeqgobpDdo1CU-P8_5buoEA/s3627/03%20Dorset%20Buttons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3627" data-original-width="2700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvqcw5519dOh01FL02k2yCVrG62JfYN0eGIcC3MZwB8ZG1YEik_CI4pmrwUz0WatLqQfAfnfej7Cx5tWgI3ehZIf1G14qtmsSVhw3J7iw5-PWc9xQz8VNBjm3geieliJa6msb2P3xROIaIznDiafVAIsdeVmv48pQAPUJeqgobpDdo1CU-P8_5buoEA/w298-h400/03%20Dorset%20Buttons.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see, I've made eight so far so there's quite a way to go. Here's a close up of the first six.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHnorG4eEdXPa9NSqQTLqhr4ELYTsuTsQU47XkG3UDjiWmIlGHohlXgm5jRgiCf44vfU4g1zUqki7gJS03uep5hlHNxn15pfjJKlJPgFK53_nEAzEv347r-plLtLlQHZyL7x_0DIFAexNaq9jYqedc9lTkEYQeqemBnNqWvvXrm12NqV5jq3q3qLgNQ/s1600/03a%20The%20first%20six.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRHnorG4eEdXPa9NSqQTLqhr4ELYTsuTsQU47XkG3UDjiWmIlGHohlXgm5jRgiCf44vfU4g1zUqki7gJS03uep5hlHNxn15pfjJKlJPgFK53_nEAzEv347r-plLtLlQHZyL7x_0DIFAexNaq9jYqedc9lTkEYQeqemBnNqWvvXrm12NqV5jq3q3qLgNQ/w400-h270/03a%20The%20first%20six.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm trying the same approach with tatting but this is a much steeper learning curve. I'm trying to tat this motif over and over and then use the finished shapes as gift tags. As you can see though, my second attempt is worse than the first! More practice needed I think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPNYI1bRXQ7IdcKcLdiEPEHk_JsodJ9vX30D9KWKVW9-HxIw2K9jhFOFh9pfVpjDP2FT6l1ys50e9ehqfEbxKxw6F8WBHAkLrKGeoOKJlFRNgw7q7e6DROrGAAqMGjXWAw9l9wWMWLJYQOc7sHfAISfE2OM7pdcxl2v_ReIxQ-N-OZAB_wZWYL-x4og/s3429/04%20Tatting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1970" data-original-width="3429" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPNYI1bRXQ7IdcKcLdiEPEHk_JsodJ9vX30D9KWKVW9-HxIw2K9jhFOFh9pfVpjDP2FT6l1ys50e9ehqfEbxKxw6F8WBHAkLrKGeoOKJlFRNgw7q7e6DROrGAAqMGjXWAw9l9wWMWLJYQOc7sHfAISfE2OM7pdcxl2v_ReIxQ-N-OZAB_wZWYL-x4og/w400-h230/04%20Tatting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The design is 'Christmas Rose' from the book <a href="http://hugsarefun.com/book-review-new-tatting/" target="_blank">New Tatting</a> by Tomoko Morimoto which, I'm sorry to see, is now out of print. This was the book that re-sparked my interest in tatting although I would also recommend any of <a href="http://umintsuru.blogspot.com/search?q=mary+konior" target="_blank">Mary Konior's</a> wonderful books. Don't be put off by the black and white photos and the lack of diagrams, these are brilliant for beginners in particular. The prices that old copies of her books go for tells you something about how good they are but you can find them reasonably priced now and then. I recently found this one on <a href="https://www.wob.com/en-gb?gclid=Cj0KCQiAi8KfBhCuARIsADp-A552NvMo70mz4lKalOV4LO-AjiOVpMRhnaR3sodQcl5O_dhtMwE-ajMaAqZBEALw_wcB" target="_blank">World of Books</a> for just over £6.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvCLXqRHU79bdqhQD934gRwFO1PQYbfZE44dkEcmkGzg6OLD1xUxgWWXp2RIQkwQtBSewEzg-G98AYM-BmEONTcMRGAfaeQzfIy60MZOum1kAOjRoXfCocngquMU5ZBTfL9BhlMjl5HWkVq6aBQ--3Dmd-Gmsy3SftJ9j7xJTlLn7LGoCdr5JGiJA8g/s4586/4a%20Mary%20Konior%20book%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4586" data-original-width="3236" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvCLXqRHU79bdqhQD934gRwFO1PQYbfZE44dkEcmkGzg6OLD1xUxgWWXp2RIQkwQtBSewEzg-G98AYM-BmEONTcMRGAfaeQzfIy60MZOum1kAOjRoXfCocngquMU5ZBTfL9BhlMjl5HWkVq6aBQ--3Dmd-Gmsy3SftJ9j7xJTlLn7LGoCdr5JGiJA8g/w283-h400/4a%20Mary%20Konior%20book%20(1).JPG" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The author helpfully marks patterns suitable for beginners with a dagger symbol so I obediently had a go at the first one in the book - an edging called 'Betsey's Downfall' (poor Betsey).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAuQbp4-krDdVUBkpBi8kGMRYnigkWePVtH0OAURYkz0zBI2FvH52_BEqQhB2whf_xJcQLrFYi8w3YSZfQKVddFqcZtnyB6Hq4gJQwSChCWLMSdPSvF_kzoXiCaV9YDU_9wnU_nhkXAy4F-lErlG2etDgY_fDJ57yglWcuNUevzlXua9KkND59zKr0g/s2623/4b%20Sample%20tatting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2415" data-original-width="2623" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAuQbp4-krDdVUBkpBi8kGMRYnigkWePVtH0OAURYkz0zBI2FvH52_BEqQhB2whf_xJcQLrFYi8w3YSZfQKVddFqcZtnyB6Hq4gJQwSChCWLMSdPSvF_kzoXiCaV9YDU_9wnU_nhkXAy4F-lErlG2etDgY_fDJ57yglWcuNUevzlXua9KkND59zKr0g/w400-h369/4b%20Sample%20tatting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That was easy. It's so small because I was using up a length of thread on a bobbin, not because I got bored. Even I have more staying power than that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been doing a bit of the next ongoing project every day since just before Christmas. Can you guess what's in this pretty tin?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimto0LuQ--xjbjlzFMmPcKHcdjSbMx8cgRzwaUag-MmD4G4d5Mwee2Xjl9cn6ZSCQh0vv5MCVypkn9Qc0bDp92y5ep1FiN2flrVmNVPlPzVKfcprBzQYQBcOjQCnw9katjbL56k9sO6sSKtG2Q_EuUH_tmjNtWTFj5-aFnH3wQ4ItqjLn_yzMEeVAWcA/s5472/05%20Christmas%20tin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimto0LuQ--xjbjlzFMmPcKHcdjSbMx8cgRzwaUag-MmD4G4d5Mwee2Xjl9cn6ZSCQh0vv5MCVypkn9Qc0bDp92y5ep1FiN2flrVmNVPlPzVKfcprBzQYQBcOjQCnw9katjbL56k9sO6sSKtG2Q_EuUH_tmjNtWTFj5-aFnH3wQ4ItqjLn_yzMEeVAWcA/w400-h266/05%20Christmas%20tin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Appropriately enough, it's full to bursting with ... snowflakes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T9Ot2y7fXSXq75uhBKh77lombSeQAZ2pkn_KllcxNrcifFz-toyYWZVLh05PlOHz3OIdPHTRcMHOLvZ_p-A-UzT6qg9lFawoZDXhcxxvb3ms3jy9aG22mwsdz8zvfE3m0AhffoJiUsRAIet8ThzUWoyM4j3RQnkPLldRYY8SLsn1wXkpMw1S4E4o8A/s3864/06%20Snowflakes%20in%20tin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3483" data-original-width="3864" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2T9Ot2y7fXSXq75uhBKh77lombSeQAZ2pkn_KllcxNrcifFz-toyYWZVLh05PlOHz3OIdPHTRcMHOLvZ_p-A-UzT6qg9lFawoZDXhcxxvb3ms3jy9aG22mwsdz8zvfE3m0AhffoJiUsRAIet8ThzUWoyM4j3RQnkPLldRYY8SLsn1wXkpMw1S4E4o8A/w400-h360/06%20Snowflakes%20in%20tin.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every day I crochet another design from <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/100-snowflakes-to-crochet-make-your-own-snowdrift---to-give-or-to-keep/patterns" target="_blank">100 Snowflakes to Crochet</a> by Caitlin Sainio. Again, I fear this book might be out of print. When I first got the book several years ago, I started crocheting the snowflakes with thread as the author recommends but I didn't really like the result so, this time, I'm using Stylecraft Special DK and a 3.5 mm hook. They don't take long and I'm over half way through the book already and learning a lot about snowflakes on the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What am I going to do with 100 quite large snowflakes you may ask? Good question, I haven't decided that yet. I am considering sewing them together into big panels to hang at my windows next Christmas although I suspect that it would be a case of 'that way madness lies'. In the meantime, don't they look nice?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpskv5J3ZYYIO1JevBhHzmqXHg-7U2flbT36cdjtZhzL0N4u4qTMHnwD2T8qwO8wFqT1r-GCg0sMTJ3RqSBHKHD-JF4aes8CPEDW1dnKmF7ximy9b0-fu8gSSfmPcuF2PfraFSa8kTuYzELHm6K2ThGTYJDkUg9JK3R7jb21jbVecpaY8BBp_eMm_cA/s4038/07%20Snowflakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="4038" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpskv5J3ZYYIO1JevBhHzmqXHg-7U2flbT36cdjtZhzL0N4u4qTMHnwD2T8qwO8wFqT1r-GCg0sMTJ3RqSBHKHD-JF4aes8CPEDW1dnKmF7ximy9b0-fu8gSSfmPcuF2PfraFSa8kTuYzELHm6K2ThGTYJDkUg9JK3R7jb21jbVecpaY8BBp_eMm_cA/w400-h191/07%20Snowflakes.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have also been working on more Colour Pop knitting ideas. This is my technique for adding texture and colour to plain knitting which I have been exploring for a while now. You can see the Colour Pop patterns I've published so far <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/bundles/colour-pop-patterns" target="_blank">here</a> although I did experiment with the idea in a few early patterns too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the moment I'm knitting Colour Pop squares for a baby blanket using some very pretty colours ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZNHe-KAO59tYIbg7HJmDzkJjl3YLeNPZpL9mP8niYSNZO8efVEummH8z3MIg6l5nQlehtuNqaGWIwejeTUrbvxQeLTSlYl2VrcJKG0HLwWO6GLhz0w6lqshresVGCJUfU0eZ3BPnWabo6MLK9Lo5Zl9seXVkGSfQenCZWHboP4eIEX3Mqw99Wj2F7A/s3418/10%20Baby%20Blanket%20Sqaures.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2656" data-original-width="3418" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuZNHe-KAO59tYIbg7HJmDzkJjl3YLeNPZpL9mP8niYSNZO8efVEummH8z3MIg6l5nQlehtuNqaGWIwejeTUrbvxQeLTSlYl2VrcJKG0HLwWO6GLhz0w6lqshresVGCJUfU0eZ3BPnWabo6MLK9Lo5Zl9seXVkGSfQenCZWHboP4eIEX3Mqw99Wj2F7A/w400-h311/10%20Baby%20Blanket%20Sqaures.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">.. and I've also finished a collection of Roly-Poly purses using the same technique.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGq7kD3NEk0t9KcwOtlOx5J4Zdid4V3VtvC1MyhzY2BB83XTJcUelBhfs_MSJSEqK20xvAbOSO2VldJl_L4rlQzDYcCouGUqzAQmxHjYE46OE7HoqESEmHzjCcKPhLuqzIzxt9E_DJErCqRW3Mx3nMZg1Tx85wahKC2rlxJQgrdenNdpqfLrW8YHGAA/s2998/13%20Roly-Poly%20Purses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2476" data-original-width="2998" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGq7kD3NEk0t9KcwOtlOx5J4Zdid4V3VtvC1MyhzY2BB83XTJcUelBhfs_MSJSEqK20xvAbOSO2VldJl_L4rlQzDYcCouGUqzAQmxHjYE46OE7HoqESEmHzjCcKPhLuqzIzxt9E_DJErCqRW3Mx3nMZg1Tx85wahKC2rlxJQgrdenNdpqfLrW8YHGAA/w400-h330/13%20Roly-Poly%20Purses.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm particularly pleased with these as they're just one rectangular piece with the sides gathered into circles and a few buttons added - nice and simple. I'm hoping to get the pattern written up soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have you ever considered using 92 different colours in a knitted scarf? Of course you haven't but this is what I'm doing here ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqWH3JXQ1aeX1FW9wa1PQq_7hY4NvzJ6YLT59EJSDkPM7tPC24aLVUnAksuyu3zPg5BvzOJoXGGfC4dhbnli3F6O2xd8DzerQra0hY_VU4e-0CVkQzjF39jUcgIrHpHJfuZmFtOVk6JGABzr0oVdtOIZ8AnZjeQUPUH7q-8UAN5QzEh7CWtjivfqvEQ/s4517/08%20Shade%20Card%20Scarf.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2156" data-original-width="4517" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqWH3JXQ1aeX1FW9wa1PQq_7hY4NvzJ6YLT59EJSDkPM7tPC24aLVUnAksuyu3zPg5BvzOJoXGGfC4dhbnli3F6O2xd8DzerQra0hY_VU4e-0CVkQzjF39jUcgIrHpHJfuZmFtOVk6JGABzr0oVdtOIZ8AnZjeQUPUH7q-8UAN5QzEh7CWtjivfqvEQ/w400-h191/08%20Shade%20Card%20Scarf.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my shade card scarf which will have a stripe in all 92 of the solid shades of <a href="https://www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/stylecraft-special-dk-all-colours" target="_blank">Stylecraft Special DK</a>. I'm knitting it in the round, mostly so that I can knot the ends together and hide them inside. I may be daft but not so daft they I relish the thought of sewing in 184 tails of yarn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not very good at doing 'random' when it comes to colour selection so I decided to knit the colours in alphabetic order (and why not?). What you see in the photo above is letters A - C. Adopting this approach throws up some very bizarre combinations but I think it will all turn out well in the end.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I use my trusty Stylecraft Colour Pegs a lot when planning designs and they're starting to look a bit fuzzy and tatty now so I'm also crocheting these little circles to act as an alternative to the pegs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMkUtnhi5dfA020OFPEzminnZRUsnfDxvsLpTfVLM5YBd2tyO3-7c6-1gyLrnhHhFjprk0gcbJk28DEBlBN5cYxju_v4Nlvx5oc0a57-xXs31hBcDQVH3jvS9zT9CXdSFxRpZdL_QHJYdYaZGkQsbXSsommKHOcEllWveUnm-qkPUL9kwR-GSMpm-aw/s3298/09%20Stylecraft%20Pennies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3135" data-original-width="3298" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMkUtnhi5dfA020OFPEzminnZRUsnfDxvsLpTfVLM5YBd2tyO3-7c6-1gyLrnhHhFjprk0gcbJk28DEBlBN5cYxju_v4Nlvx5oc0a57-xXs31hBcDQVH3jvS9zT9CXdSFxRpZdL_QHJYdYaZGkQsbXSsommKHOcEllWveUnm-qkPUL9kwR-GSMpm-aw/w400-h380/09%20Stylecraft%20Pennies.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was going to do just plain squares but they seemed a bit dull so decided on textured circles instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am still making progress with sorting all my piles of craft stuff on to shelves in my new room although I'm finding it slow going. It doesn't help that I think I've slipped another disc so lifting things is tricky - also moving, sitting, sleeping ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, this is the state of the big shelves so far.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYEsb8SDTiJAxgbajQ9fYtyaZ8sL0a1EZkYdEv2t2NDVkyhvlpoTb74Cq_mmky09_vnNEyyHABHQ8DB3kprwfLP3zgGoIUln3Rm0dP0O5Wis2WEEMxu5Y5jTjnakA3RaDcdy_74qWzNl815H67y0pfmZIthR720C658Mnwrdcqx-bSRAKG99_iNB_aA/s4798/15%20Shelves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4798" data-original-width="3334" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYEsb8SDTiJAxgbajQ9fYtyaZ8sL0a1EZkYdEv2t2NDVkyhvlpoTb74Cq_mmky09_vnNEyyHABHQ8DB3kprwfLP3zgGoIUln3Rm0dP0O5Wis2WEEMxu5Y5jTjnakA3RaDcdy_74qWzNl815H67y0pfmZIthR720C658Mnwrdcqx-bSRAKG99_iNB_aA/w278-h400/15%20Shelves.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've done cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, tatting, beading, toy making and I don't know what else but there's still quite a lot to go. Meanwhile, there are a few new additions to my desk. One is this pretty clock from <a href="https://www.dunelm.com/product/tell-the-time-wood-effect-large-clock-30cm-1000199811" target="_blank">Dunelm Mill</a> which I'm rather pleased with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7HGCavTmhRNmInkfNL1wqtIgpaMYTiD7BQlwWRK8YBztS8uKeGPu4pH1gT3sqMdOKv12BZQI0W8-WX-4SwdGMD3ELWE2tBMUfRlZAaVMSkMWsV6xMlpCin396dV1sij1soPHdqzq0eD3B3kjhpn9y1e-5FBJ1J_DKHr9tq9-32TGdOwkmWF55uuUA/s2438/18%20Clock.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2286" data-original-width="2438" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb7HGCavTmhRNmInkfNL1wqtIgpaMYTiD7BQlwWRK8YBztS8uKeGPu4pH1gT3sqMdOKv12BZQI0W8-WX-4SwdGMD3ELWE2tBMUfRlZAaVMSkMWsV6xMlpCin396dV1sij1soPHdqzq0eD3B3kjhpn9y1e-5FBJ1J_DKHr9tq9-32TGdOwkmWF55uuUA/w400-h375/18%20Clock.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The other 'new' thing is actually 67 years old and I've had it for a while.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN-VElHKmmVjcUsLT-0C024_I2TJUAuvSV83lxcc_VqF4WLx49i3pND_NcHUai-uIaV1SZuuxubm6B3gU1--raAoxqKgkqOjhJcvA9015log8FhgUHew3S7ecipa4suAThk-7_ZTRS935q11_Zdop6yt2KdYonN0Y42Otx5_zM4-LvwI7Ah_drzpYtw/s3057/17%20Sewing%20Machine.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2406" data-original-width="3057" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN-VElHKmmVjcUsLT-0C024_I2TJUAuvSV83lxcc_VqF4WLx49i3pND_NcHUai-uIaV1SZuuxubm6B3gU1--raAoxqKgkqOjhJcvA9015log8FhgUHew3S7ecipa4suAThk-7_ZTRS935q11_Zdop6yt2KdYonN0Y42Otx5_zM4-LvwI7Ah_drzpYtw/w400-h315/17%20Sewing%20Machine.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a <a href="https://www.singersewinginfo.co.uk/99k" target="_blank">Singer 99</a>, made in Scotland in 1956 which I've finally got cleaned, oiled and working. This was advertised as a 'portable' machine, despite being made of cast iron (guess how I hurt my back?) but, with a new foot pedal from <a href="https://coulingsewingmachines.co.uk/singer-foot-control-pedal-lead-bak-3-pin-66k-99k-201k-306-401-411/" target="_blank">Couling Sewing Machines</a>, it sews beautifully. I'm planning to have a sewing machine on every floor of the house. This one on the top floor will mostly be used for patchwork, as will my <a href="http://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2018/09/more-starts-than-finishes.html" target="_blank">Featherweight</a> which lives in the scullery downstairs and is nice for sewing by the open back door in then Summer. That leaves my modern machine - yes, I do have one of those too - for the middle floor. That machine comes into its own for dressmaking, bag making etc. Also, you don't do yourself an injury moving it around!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have plans to keep the old Singer out all the time in my craft room but am hoping to move it off the desk, possibly to that little space to the left of the desk in this photo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqyHqtEyKv4Bt_eDHFway_dccyn62z2Cc0jyyF6Ue5BR1HJ_XxaOQnSt1lSpd5-ZMzrio3L1TzvUKXMSqbCHnecMpdqL70M3Rc5KaUoJB97WXTBLvzDX5Zluzr6XzXXWJziOixuZdHa9KxDCUP8DWFcxd70wP8xe-2hfExWqGiccUrOvYG5xB_7LpVw/s5472/16%20Desk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQqyHqtEyKv4Bt_eDHFway_dccyn62z2Cc0jyyF6Ue5BR1HJ_XxaOQnSt1lSpd5-ZMzrio3L1TzvUKXMSqbCHnecMpdqL70M3Rc5KaUoJB97WXTBLvzDX5Zluzr6XzXXWJziOixuZdHa9KxDCUP8DWFcxd70wP8xe-2hfExWqGiccUrOvYG5xB_7LpVw/w400-h266/16%20Desk.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today I had a lovely time cutting out rectangles to start a new quilt for my son who has just bought his first house so that will be the first thing I make with this machine. I'll show you pictures once I've done more than cut out pieces.</div></div>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-58233625298981990892022-12-14T19:28:00.000+00:002022-12-14T19:28:06.380+00:00Rainbow Gnomes<p>A couple of weeks ago I had the bright idea of designing a little knitted gnome for Christmas. That'll be quick and easy I thought. Obviously, I was wrong. The actual designing took me a whole day which was far too long for me to work at one time and left me with a temperature again and a ridiculously bad night. </p><p>I (well, actually my son and daughter) have now instituted a timer system where I set a timer for half an hour before doing something that I know makes me ill - anything requiring concentration, especially involving the computer.</p><p>So ... I had knitted one little green gnome and was quite pleased with him.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJp5nue3wxqNjT3VD1_v62rxc16E0REcJ4KCQoXr39Mm_2lPBqE5f5VOTk4VJudCUZbytpqEzu18Ut_PSUJHOJON0jA2Ikzaza8NRkG_EUsPZ_ochuXYInhekL4ijtkZQvRazLvR_pwPb1MJLUjxlvrs6B1Cyi5iEn7tBHd8_iGjSjtuZsdtUk0R9Tg/s2513/First%20Gnome.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2513" data-original-width="1624" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJp5nue3wxqNjT3VD1_v62rxc16E0REcJ4KCQoXr39Mm_2lPBqE5f5VOTk4VJudCUZbytpqEzu18Ut_PSUJHOJON0jA2Ikzaza8NRkG_EUsPZ_ochuXYInhekL4ijtkZQvRazLvR_pwPb1MJLUjxlvrs6B1Cyi5iEn7tBHd8_iGjSjtuZsdtUk0R9Tg/w259-h400/First%20Gnome.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think he has quite a lot of character, considering he's basically a pear shaped piece of knitting with a few added bits and bobs. He's a few inches tall and fits nicely in your hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, I couldn't stop there could I? I thought how much nicer it would be to have a whole set of brightly coloured gnomes so, after a lot of production line knitting, meet my parade of Rainbow Gnomes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiFts7qwkRcyYWlEowjrV98hg9GXRYlMl5_b1o5Yl9Gj_QUE6wRFhSh1cwrZVmLAK5S6HO3Etxk7cZea_KG5uTT003MiCYcDTjeuRciHf0mBnhUJz-4JTzVN0w6hsrLVf73mbuTdbLbrThmOX5kmGUw9fMPEEUkQjJSkZse8hofzvxwuOQK6yjusNXA/s4567/18.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="4567" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiiFts7qwkRcyYWlEowjrV98hg9GXRYlMl5_b1o5Yl9Gj_QUE6wRFhSh1cwrZVmLAK5S6HO3Etxk7cZea_KG5uTT003MiCYcDTjeuRciHf0mBnhUJz-4JTzVN0w6hsrLVf73mbuTdbLbrThmOX5kmGUw9fMPEEUkQjJSkZse8hofzvxwuOQK6yjusNXA/w400-h161/18.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I absolutely love these. I have resisted the temptation to decorate my new craft room for Christmas but don't the gnomes look nice lined up on the mantelpiece in there? Here they are, complete with the lights I've put in the grate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGd4GPzC-DJpCKC7GcJ4M9RnDwAMCSgo9FyPO9FhS19MHXLRG-OW-f4m77t3dsGKRkFCJz77iySbLeqoXxxgsPTFlYF_MJUBAfbMuyTLLuP-5w3xsgnuFodiVsXmuArPkqsWO6tyCWiuFA1sncSBtH_XyXPv7x8bY_frzQKyk_SbPOgze6Mxzjke0UQ/s4993/19.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4993" data-original-width="3090" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGd4GPzC-DJpCKC7GcJ4M9RnDwAMCSgo9FyPO9FhS19MHXLRG-OW-f4m77t3dsGKRkFCJz77iySbLeqoXxxgsPTFlYF_MJUBAfbMuyTLLuP-5w3xsgnuFodiVsXmuArPkqsWO6tyCWiuFA1sncSBtH_XyXPv7x8bY_frzQKyk_SbPOgze6Mxzjke0UQ/w248-h400/19.JPG" width="248" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As normal, the pattern for the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-gnomes-3" target="_blank">Rainbow Gnomes</a> can be downloaded free from my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/designers/frankie-brown" target="_blank">ravelry store</a>. The gnomes are worked in the round and stuffed as you go with a combination of bean bags and toy stuffing. The beard, nose and hat brim are knitted separately and sewn on and the whole thing is finished off with a little jingle bell on the top of the hat. There's still time to knit one for Christmas and I look forward to seeing lots of brightly coloured gnomes popping up online.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apart from the gnomes, I did manage to hang up one of my Christmas embroideries next to my new (as yet, empty) desk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwrv7TOHEXRc1AojTW-FWOCQr8P9-l4y8tPE6jAF47PVxPRIq0Ry5nssuejbXHbdJoS1GfYp7GsY--ohah60-JOf8RLsOKegLh8sY7NEPGiDb9yZxU82Hy9KG5Hd_ugwbPS6J4tcl9oXFSQ6dHcu2s4I1AlZPwAj4abDf-ZxRSvKwrhSdWNnKDQw37g/s4841/Christmas%20Stitching.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4841" data-original-width="2508" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwrv7TOHEXRc1AojTW-FWOCQr8P9-l4y8tPE6jAF47PVxPRIq0Ry5nssuejbXHbdJoS1GfYp7GsY--ohah60-JOf8RLsOKegLh8sY7NEPGiDb9yZxU82Hy9KG5Hd_ugwbPS6J4tcl9oXFSQ6dHcu2s4I1AlZPwAj4abDf-ZxRSvKwrhSdWNnKDQw37g/w208-h400/Christmas%20Stitching.JPG" width="208" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those short needles are the ones I use most. The pot they're in was painted by my Mum; there's a poppy on the other side too.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other decorations up there are these wonderful snowflakes on the door that my daughter's partner sent me when she came to visit at the weekend. He cuts the most incredible original designs each year.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcBDh8FtDUOvDvNA6SCSbDfULLOpSXkyvtnnLoyJTIkxAWzqFxD377l8McF0DytQllfx721MANcRRKiy8L1Paxgje7VXvma5nfqa_VjDwWTDSMAFwbE8rAV3q0ak9ZWZyEdQ3bBhhh63b0kzPupoHz4wfLvpOtyoEkJb6evMwsNfUvhPDIwRstIvCrA/s4818/Sam's%20Snowflakes.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4818" data-original-width="3643" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcBDh8FtDUOvDvNA6SCSbDfULLOpSXkyvtnnLoyJTIkxAWzqFxD377l8McF0DytQllfx721MANcRRKiy8L1Paxgje7VXvma5nfqa_VjDwWTDSMAFwbE8rAV3q0ak9ZWZyEdQ3bBhhh63b0kzPupoHz4wfLvpOtyoEkJb6evMwsNfUvhPDIwRstIvCrA/w303-h400/Sam's%20Snowflakes.JPG" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One particularly detailed one was designed with my two cats in mind as it features all the things they would like to catch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5GbX3UIOkyuEdFmqOOgXnNJFcBEtVCG2_10_pZsNQMz9YVIqMfQNrjWKfECxVV8kDZdECFY1jO3RUBkpQQeLN8PJFqn-b3cRn6AWc95uE5XSNE2-g4Z5deki6UrivnzKq-4haFgw_NROFnLyXXIyQ0l12Oes803h9zELLeVWD1pKDmqd54bFu5fyEA/s1390/Sam's%20Snowflakes%20-%20Copy.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1347" data-original-width="1390" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5GbX3UIOkyuEdFmqOOgXnNJFcBEtVCG2_10_pZsNQMz9YVIqMfQNrjWKfECxVV8kDZdECFY1jO3RUBkpQQeLN8PJFqn-b3cRn6AWc95uE5XSNE2-g4Z5deki6UrivnzKq-4haFgw_NROFnLyXXIyQ0l12Oes803h9zELLeVWD1pKDmqd54bFu5fyEA/w400-h388/Sam's%20Snowflakes%20-%20Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are birds and fish and the wiggly things round the edge are feathers on a string (of course they are!) Aren't they wonderful?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My timer is ticking down so I need to stop now. I haven't forgotten about the tour of the knitting shelves; I just need to take the photos on a day when it's not as dingy as it's been lately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, have fun with some knitted gnomes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCHyzB-3YfvVt1aXok_M_Slce4KKnpWWAIuE83tYMNDNxQm6BITmWY-y9INcZcJpDgynJzfVRanuCWTB5oN4j9-ntopKn1WDqNM_lJkY2d7xBPh7AwPf5ekjtg6WqQdkMbG1WHttFOpYVDMissnPSJWNfQy4MDON60MwiI7dOoIi8Ir0RqkIyPkz2aQ/s2156/14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2137" data-original-width="2156" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCHyzB-3YfvVt1aXok_M_Slce4KKnpWWAIuE83tYMNDNxQm6BITmWY-y9INcZcJpDgynJzfVRanuCWTB5oN4j9-ntopKn1WDqNM_lJkY2d7xBPh7AwPf5ekjtg6WqQdkMbG1WHttFOpYVDMissnPSJWNfQy4MDON60MwiI7dOoIi8Ir0RqkIyPkz2aQ/w400-h396/14.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p>Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2139878279120918103.post-86290446397042588132022-11-30T10:38:00.001+00:002022-11-30T10:38:45.859+00:00Pretty Things<p>Progress on my new craft room has been rather slow for most of this month - a combination of me not being well enough to do much and waiting for my IKEA order to arrive. Actually, it was mostly waiting for everything to be in stock ... Anyway, I now have a house full of large, heavy boxes. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOjnDbYr0tHPfqHUxbWveRveAqLkTDcWNAchNEIxR3sjsdbs0cUedHUxLn03V0VceG3pNEEVgIR73BjQgnAEfQhRY4AfNDpRCFOZE_wNEBZTcBcXEH-RgE8CVmMcCRRDCpfL8cUP2JW6py43lvaPtfVYPCn_aJcO9qr04nf4EITaLukijTY_MR8DEFg/s5472/55%20IKEA%2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5472" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOjnDbYr0tHPfqHUxbWveRveAqLkTDcWNAchNEIxR3sjsdbs0cUedHUxLn03V0VceG3pNEEVgIR73BjQgnAEfQhRY4AfNDpRCFOZE_wNEBZTcBcXEH-RgE8CVmMcCRRDCpfL8cUP2JW6py43lvaPtfVYPCn_aJcO9qr04nf4EITaLukijTY_MR8DEFg/w266-h400/55%20IKEA%2001.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just room to walk down the hall (there are more boxes lining the back hall and another pile in the front room).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To backtrack though ... while waiting for the furniture, I turned my mind to prettying things up a bit. Having evicted my sheet music from a tall set of basket shelves, it was moved upstairs to be home to my <a href="https://www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk/yarns/special-dk" target="_blank">Stylecraft Special</a> which, as many of you will know, is my basic go-to yarn when it comes to designing. The idea was to put a different colour in each of the baskets, a plan which turned out to be trickier than you'd think.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQVo64DQf-594KasLOaQJmTiNdetMyzT_VGQnnPABG5tjJC3NBoGx5a3XJhCIdlE9m0XBmSjsvTd-hSERhXtG9dNcTWL9W9pI32WGKvr-JU8ogoFEfWy4YbEaIqVaOjI3yblHFXjFNGfJRB7cpiRFzfjml0HyW8yj04GoKoNHBXr1zkZCHByW_qsJFQ/s4680/49%20Sorted%20Stylecraft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2634" data-original-width="4680" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQVo64DQf-594KasLOaQJmTiNdetMyzT_VGQnnPABG5tjJC3NBoGx5a3XJhCIdlE9m0XBmSjsvTd-hSERhXtG9dNcTWL9W9pI32WGKvr-JU8ogoFEfWy4YbEaIqVaOjI3yblHFXjFNGfJRB7cpiRFzfjml0HyW8yj04GoKoNHBXr1zkZCHByW_qsJFQ/w400-h225/49%20Sorted%20Stylecraft.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are yellowy greens, bluey greens, bluey purples ... you get the idea. I ended up with nine baskets of bright colours and two half boxes left over. These are going to hold the neutral and pastel shades with space on top for multiples (mostly for works in progress).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then of course I wanted colourful labels for the baskets and decided that the obvious thing was to knit them using the yarn itself.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fTqGS91yWe87RfRzzTG-DPgqh3Sy08yX9mno6VU-hXRKxxPwSsz5PtPv1bxkSb9ypPNJ0XMtGSHzIsGUaTPBGaityG27VDBfOkHr2iLQqxKnr7qPtJGXT4NTPZM2RB9BxzF4Z7ajuX5vAUkNGoXxpXYVyeHJAAFCtJN3aglxUbhHx_UUWTAX53DiBQ/s4490/Finished%20Stylecraft%20Stars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4490" data-original-width="1744" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fTqGS91yWe87RfRzzTG-DPgqh3Sy08yX9mno6VU-hXRKxxPwSsz5PtPv1bxkSb9ypPNJ0XMtGSHzIsGUaTPBGaityG27VDBfOkHr2iLQqxKnr7qPtJGXT4NTPZM2RB9BxzF4Z7ajuX5vAUkNGoXxpXYVyeHJAAFCtJN3aglxUbhHx_UUWTAX53DiBQ/w155-h400/Finished%20Stylecraft%20Stars.JPG" width="155" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used the six stitch stars from my <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stacking-stars" target="_blank">Stacking Stars</a> pattern and added a button to the middle of each. It took me longer to choose the buttons than the yarn (of course it did). The little red suitcase on the top of the baskets holds my Stylecraft colour pegs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's been tricky planning designs with most of my yarn inaccessible so having the Stylecraft sorted has been a great help. At the moment I'm knitting a series of little rainbow coloured gnomes which I'm hoping to get published in time for Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv42P00nAyrwa5tEEQwY6ong7TGCvLOLLXeoniuzYt1hTnNy4gpX_wnvXZibd1viHTYR-m2TxZW4sCD44xkuRRKPvAoo9-TdDDtw4SPqCN1iWhO6VFIi23mmeD07TATewePWB35QYrhHcWIPIymoCaHbmNl8E-almNM7ExyAmzQcww74zemkmza6JA-A/s2608/First%20Gnome.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2608" data-original-width="1796" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv42P00nAyrwa5tEEQwY6ong7TGCvLOLLXeoniuzYt1hTnNy4gpX_wnvXZibd1viHTYR-m2TxZW4sCD44xkuRRKPvAoo9-TdDDtw4SPqCN1iWhO6VFIi23mmeD07TATewePWB35QYrhHcWIPIymoCaHbmNl8E-almNM7ExyAmzQcww74zemkmza6JA-A/w275-h400/First%20Gnome.JPG" width="275" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made the mistake of designing and knitting this first one all in one day, something I used to do easily but which is definitely not a good idea now I'm ill. I kept thinking "I'll just sort out this bit of shaping and then stop", something I regretted when I was awake half the night with a temperature! I'm rather pleased with my little gnome though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As well as playing with my Stylecraft, I've also been painting the top of my old kitchen table which had become rather tatty over the years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJljmqTOBwu5ef87kwNqMRZV1mUSxI62SJkP9dkd25XXHcHpwRcGVmSRJd-p0Q63dFRO_yuVXXZmAKVGpLt1cIPrH100Yztp3trii26dmEkICc6pX2bSn3o8mct3pcGLUrVaj9ijsPOpOQtR21-Q6a2THymKzej751mU35LRkrq60NpPteIfFEcn_JcQ/s5239/53%20Painted%20Table.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3543" data-original-width="5239" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJljmqTOBwu5ef87kwNqMRZV1mUSxI62SJkP9dkd25XXHcHpwRcGVmSRJd-p0Q63dFRO_yuVXXZmAKVGpLt1cIPrH100Yztp3trii26dmEkICc6pX2bSn3o8mct3pcGLUrVaj9ijsPOpOQtR21-Q6a2THymKzej751mU35LRkrq60NpPteIfFEcn_JcQ/w400-h270/53%20Painted%20Table.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Doesn't it look nice? The plan is for this to be in the middle of the room but, at the moment, it's squeezed up against the fireplace so as to leave plenty of room for furniture building. Which leads me neatly on to the next pretty thing ...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5kWlR8QIQCJnLJ2IEQHy0sC4SpvhnXSIyGxtErfC6yexe2nHLiUWxgonRb_4J2cX0F1joBokYvo322zQY1ukOo_0N23IzGbQTnlgfb5hqHeUsa6CpdawTEz03x8NycyubLL_MObruigAx-orj9U4LIyzWEhKWVqDQ8z7QCNN1q1VIa88GHXFgCX3Jg/s4831/54%20Pretty%20Fireplace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4831" data-original-width="3499" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5kWlR8QIQCJnLJ2IEQHy0sC4SpvhnXSIyGxtErfC6yexe2nHLiUWxgonRb_4J2cX0F1joBokYvo322zQY1ukOo_0N23IzGbQTnlgfb5hqHeUsa6CpdawTEz03x8NycyubLL_MObruigAx-orj9U4LIyzWEhKWVqDQ8z7QCNN1q1VIa88GHXFgCX3Jg/w290-h400/54%20Pretty%20Fireplace.JPG" width="290" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two sets of LED lights with the white battery packs hidden behind scrunched up black bin bags. It was quite a fiddle to arrange them so that I could still get at the on / off switches but I'm really pleased with the effect. They make the room seem more cosy straight away; I can almost forget I'm wearing three jumpers to keep the cold at bay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I think of it, do you remember me telling you about the old lamp that I restored earlier this year? It was one of my parents' wedding presents; you can read about its history in <a href="http://frankiesknittedstuff.blogspot.com/2022/02/new-lamp-for-old.html" target="_blank">this post</a>. They had it on top of my Mum's old workbox, made for her by her father out of old packing cases.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv76NLilzocU_W-qfMy5NuhIp4LVxtH-hdaxDHITbHbmsf4Ar8yplavwDqZVuA9uDjmw5De3h7fXma8HZraztlJpByRp_yT9eQX0yyrz55ZEtfcMJiSjNEceZ3RclUEqmRIqC2e5pvOvf2AILIlaIgWtzTlbSznEr-PMbo5_qW1TTVunvLSj2iVUJ5zg/s3248/196x-xx-xx%20Longstock%20David%20Ann%20Brown%20%5BFMB%5D%20-%2002096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="3248" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv76NLilzocU_W-qfMy5NuhIp4LVxtH-hdaxDHITbHbmsf4Ar8yplavwDqZVuA9uDjmw5De3h7fXma8HZraztlJpByRp_yT9eQX0yyrz55ZEtfcMJiSjNEceZ3RclUEqmRIqC2e5pvOvf2AILIlaIgWtzTlbSznEr-PMbo5_qW1TTVunvLSj2iVUJ5zg/w400-h254/196x-xx-xx%20Longstock%20David%20Ann%20Brown%20%5BFMB%5D%20-%2002096.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now that those basket shelves have been moved, there's room for the workbox and lamp in the front room. It lights up that corner beautifully.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cXO03P8E57gMwx3yU3O1Lqf1ZZxnsudCgUVd-hf-YwIqrn1kJ4v8L5klP-JxwBp5Bj-DE39cE0QfWpGa9j4XYvkcKLdzn6JZPyejO0vCN6iYzh8DqK0gimMKYa8_bhWL2Ziw9Od4or21dxR2glbJtnMj0zLGlg9hAQrDHpq95M0dgWmpsI92IbdLpg/s4977/Lamp%20lighted%2002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4977" data-original-width="3253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cXO03P8E57gMwx3yU3O1Lqf1ZZxnsudCgUVd-hf-YwIqrn1kJ4v8L5klP-JxwBp5Bj-DE39cE0QfWpGa9j4XYvkcKLdzn6JZPyejO0vCN6iYzh8DqK0gimMKYa8_bhWL2Ziw9Od4or21dxR2glbJtnMj0zLGlg9hAQrDHpq95M0dgWmpsI92IbdLpg/w261-h400/Lamp%20lighted%2002.JPG" width="261" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's standing on a crochet mat I made when I was about 16 - yes, I was a very cool teenager - which is a bit stained; has anyone got any tips on cleaning it? I tried the gel version of <a href="https://www.vanish.co.uk/products/stain-removers/" target="_blank">Vanish</a> on it but to no effect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've got a couple more things to show you in the craft room, one small and the other not so small. The small thing is my new craft trolley from <a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/pure-white-three-tier-storage-trolley/6414541003.html" target="_blank">Hobbycraft</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VzVCjnFsff5e9nSO7blsvnwwDJnEiqxW6V_9hKpLGqlUXED2WbYtB4_HqUkUUhp3ppiiCc3gFqFGUXbttS-jXF4HLMRuBk_1qQJnUYNhvsgAUm8fbaj6DCjqCUa3EBJj-2EFvwzplFMq0AjOR1doaSydF4VCgyUJgc8imkZqga7XWCS8AKWmwDQ7_w/s5009/52%20Craft%20Trolley.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5009" data-original-width="3074" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VzVCjnFsff5e9nSO7blsvnwwDJnEiqxW6V_9hKpLGqlUXED2WbYtB4_HqUkUUhp3ppiiCc3gFqFGUXbttS-jXF4HLMRuBk_1qQJnUYNhvsgAUm8fbaj6DCjqCUa3EBJj-2EFvwzplFMq0AjOR1doaSydF4VCgyUJgc8imkZqga7XWCS8AKWmwDQ7_w/w245-h400/52%20Craft%20Trolley.JPG" width="245" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm very impressed with this. It's sturdy, easy to put together and has nice deep shelves. It's also very reasonably priced. You can buy all sorts of add-ons for it too but I'm resisting the temptation to do that until I know what will be most useful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other thing I've achieved - just over the last week or so - is to fill that great big <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/kallax-shelving-unit-white-70301537/" target="_blank">IKEA Kallax</a> unit that my son and daughter moved upstairs for me. The arrival of piles of <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/kuggis-series-31607/" target="_blank">Kuggis</a> boxes with my new furniture meant that I could finally start moving the rest of my knitting stuff into its new home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgainNQDADarcODHGOXqmOQguTlPjh1kIk4avkSFTKIPuCiWI3aWo0ySk0IgNY2jveGe7hhDHGnnw9eOKtWy8FwydXzXQWJjnqvTYagLO8CcDWW4EmR9EJ0la32Hj6BzhvWMyrkUkD-zJfh6xRZsgIHjaxvZLlQbKJIn243jJORaFaJMq02TaJHVboQpw/s3433/57%20IKEA%2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3433" data-original-width="3269" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgainNQDADarcODHGOXqmOQguTlPjh1kIk4avkSFTKIPuCiWI3aWo0ySk0IgNY2jveGe7hhDHGnnw9eOKtWy8FwydXzXQWJjnqvTYagLO8CcDWW4EmR9EJ0la32Hj6BzhvWMyrkUkD-zJfh6xRZsgIHjaxvZLlQbKJIn243jJORaFaJMq02TaJHVboQpw/w381-h400/57%20IKEA%2003.JPG" width="381" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Excuse the blurry photo; I'd changed the focus setting on my camera inadvertently.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These boxes are brilliant. They come in different sizes, all with set in lids so that you can stack them together; on the top of one of the big ones you can fit two medium sized ones or four small ones. I've also found that the lids can be used as trays - very handy. I think these are going to be really useful for all sorts of craft bits and bobs but, so far, I've been using them for yarn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1BLu5xWSfyS76hTuBZcAYGyGuCWzSYSWGzLODEUnoLH-yxT2gcUhI7Ldr-uVRwHovZKB03qaTsEMl9ZORFsB6-z7rQurXUmclwhz_qoG0GaiOQwCJ9DFceU5jXJqod0LR63jDlCL1RasBFsdlaBuGL5ssvmZHIdrQEEmdT_4yOUT-YN3ofp7mhDiHg/s4016/Kallax%20sorted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3315" data-original-width="4016" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1BLu5xWSfyS76hTuBZcAYGyGuCWzSYSWGzLODEUnoLH-yxT2gcUhI7Ldr-uVRwHovZKB03qaTsEMl9ZORFsB6-z7rQurXUmclwhz_qoG0GaiOQwCJ9DFceU5jXJqod0LR63jDlCL1RasBFsdlaBuGL5ssvmZHIdrQEEmdT_4yOUT-YN3ofp7mhDiHg/w400-h330/Kallax%20sorted.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Isn't that an exciting photo? If you like, I could do a shelf by shelf tour of it next time. Basically, the yarn that the moths like is in strong plastic zipped bags in the white boxes. I've also made little lavender sachets using <a href="https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/white-organza-bags-50-pack/5795351000.html" target="_blank">mini organza bags</a> to put in each bag as an added deterrent. The acrylic yarn is in the big baskets and the red fabric bins. The shelves also hold all my crochet books and hooks and quite a few of my knitting books. It was nice to be able to go through them and decide which ones needed to be where.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see another new thing in that photo too, my new little white table. This is the smallest of the <a href="https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/lack-side-table-white-30514791/" target="_blank">IKEA Lack</a> tables and cost all of £7! At the other side of the photo you can just see my yellow bag hanging on the door handle. Now that I regularly plod up and down two flights of steep stairs, this is essential for carrying all sorts of stuff so that I still have a hand free to hold on with. Carrying things makes me breathless, even if they're not heavy but it's better if they're in a bag. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If I've got on to minutiae like my going upstairs bag, it's probably time to stop but I just want to show you one last thing. As you know, I've been enjoying decorating my bedroom mantelpiece each season with my seasonal cross stitch samplers at the centre. Yesterday, I laced and framed the last one but then realised that I couldn't get at any of the suitably wintry decorations to go with it. So, for the time being, it sits in glorious isolation on the craft room mantelpiece.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EN3ScA2Rr5xbGelHnBU1o08vV6GA9OOx0VHG-Bf2M4ht0DY-9oSwmGcdWoZlB3ndEZHEP3-WM60TMZcTN-p2ilJmkLDX6B-1s01ew6PjFsWssbdXaYyiMegX9dmX53cuiJ_mCAw9YiqYrQCovSr270XDCS4S2PWdCOVSjOvOwZgjpS2U1BaL5LgMrw/s4120/Winter%20Sampler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2809" data-original-width="4120" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EN3ScA2Rr5xbGelHnBU1o08vV6GA9OOx0VHG-Bf2M4ht0DY-9oSwmGcdWoZlB3ndEZHEP3-WM60TMZcTN-p2ilJmkLDX6B-1s01ew6PjFsWssbdXaYyiMegX9dmX53cuiJ_mCAw9YiqYrQCovSr270XDCS4S2PWdCOVSjOvOwZgjpS2U1BaL5LgMrw/w400-h272/Winter%20Sampler.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://littledovedesigns.co.uk/products/spring-awakening?variant=20656784244790" target="_blank">Winter Sampler</a><br /></div></div><br />Frankie Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02447843170309435881noreply@blogger.com5