Beryl, Iris and Jasmine

No, I haven't suddenly acquired three new cats (although wouldn't they be great names for cats?) Those of you who can't resist a nice piece of charity shop china will know at once what I'm talking about. Beryl, Iris and Jasmine are the three colours of china produced by Woods for many decades from the 1940s onwards; it was particularly popular in the 1950s. Beryl is green, Iris is blue and Jasmine is yellow. 

Green Beryl was produced in the biggest numbers and was a staple of many village halls for years; it turns up regularly in charity shops and the like. The other two colours are a bit harder to find so I was especially pleased to find this little collection yesterday.

A small teapot and three cups and saucers, all in the pale blue Iris. I was particularly pleased with the teapot as, not only had I never even seen a Woods Ware teapot but it's my favourite 1 pint size. They also made a bigger 2 pint size but that would be a bit big for me on my own. I'm very taken with the way the circular lid slots into an oval hole so that you can twist it to lock it in place. Sounds odd I know; you'll just have to take my word for it.

Needless to say, I had my tea out of it yesterday afternoon and you'll be glad to hear that it's a good pourer. The other reason that I like to use old teapots is that modern ones don't have built in strainers. I think they expect you to use tea bags and I use leaf tea. You still need a strainer but that internal one holds back quite a lot.

Anyway, this find prompted me to fish out all the pieces I have to show you. Don't they look pretty all together?

I don't actually have that much of the green Beryl really. I do however have enough for a small tea table in all three colours now.

Or perhaps this ...

Some of this china is in regular use, including my two custard jugs (well that's what I use them for anyway) and the little milk jug.

My Mother-in-law had the green Beryl as her wedding china in the 1950s and she gave me my big jug - thank-you Janet. 

I have a few plates of various sizes too and one little pudding bowl. There are three bigger plates  but only one Iris tea plate. I'd like some more of that size.

I have yet to find a list of all the items Woods made in this range but I did find a very good blog post about it which you might like to read (it has very pretty pictures too). Beryl by Woods Ware: 1940s and 1950s British Utility China. Do any of you still enjoy using this pretty and practical china?

Lately I've been ...

 ... sorting. Again, or should that be 'still'? The endless sort and re-decoration of the house continues. Having done the two rooms on the top floor, now it's the turn of the middle floor. These rooms are going to have a less specific purpose so it's a question of what will fit where and what we need to buy or move. 

The biggest of the two middle rooms will be a spare bedroom but with space for me to craft in too. To be fair, I'm factoring in space for me to craft in just about every room, with the possible exception of the bathroom. This room is also going to be the home of my Mum's quilts too which are currently piled up in bin bags. We're hoping to get a deep wardrobe with shelves to house them in a much more dignified way.

The smaller room is currently my sewing room and will stay as that. It's where I keep my modern sewing machine and all my haberdashery. 

I built this desk and the cubby holes many years ago but I'm now in the middle of making storage boxes that fit each of the holes so as to fit more into them. The fabric boxes on the bottom two rows hold all my sewing threads, sorted by colour. These used to be spilling out of baskets all over the place so it's nice to have them properly organised and stored. 

I decided to use some of the cubby holes at the top to hold things that were bulky but light. For these, I've made card boxes out of old sheets of mountboard that I used to use as backdrops for photography, stuck together with paper tape and covered with pretty coloured card. They're rough and ready but they do the job.

The card boxes may be quick to make but the same can't be said of the smaller boxes on the row below. These are rectangular knitted boxes with plastic canvas inserts and they take ages to make. They are, however, really useful for all the little bits and bobs. Like sewing needles for example ...

The darkest red box holds tapestry and cross stitch needles and betweens for hand quilting. I made the little patchwork bag for my Mum to hold her quilting needles and there are still over one hundred needles in it! All size 10 so, needless to say, I haven't considered using any other size.

Of course I'm still adding things to the two rooms we've already done. The big project at the moment is a pair of patchwork curtains for my craft room. These are going to be unlined and I'm sewing the squares together with French seams so that there won't be any visible raw edges. Just cutting out all the squares took weeks and then I had to lay out the first curtain's worth (96 squares) and work out an arrangement I liked.

I took photos to help with this as clumps of one colour show up better that way. As there were so many squares, this involved a certain amount of climbing ...

I did have two furry helpers though. Here's Linnet checking the final arrangement.

She's getting very brave about coming into that room now. It helps that, being so high up, it's a good place for watching birds - one of her many interests.

Do you know it takes an hour to sew one row of eight squares together and add it to the others? I'm adding one row a day and this first curtain currently has nine rows of eight squares. Here's what the first two rows looked like; from the right side ...

... and the wrong side. See? No raw edges.

When they're up against the window the light will shine through the coloured squares but those doubled seams will be darker, giving a sort of washed out stained glass effect. Well that's the plan anyway.

You wouldn't believe how much thread this is using. I think I'm on my fifth bobbin already. I've just ordered one of those battery operated bobbin winders as I find the threading on my machine fiddly to do. I decided that if there was going to be a time to buy one of these gadgets this was it.

What else have I been doing? Well, there's been quite a lot of knitting of course. I've knitted two sizes of baby hats, based on my Ten Stitch Hat pattern. The smallest one was particularly tricky.

I'll turn these into a pattern when I get round to it. I think the little one is about right for a young baby; the big one is more of a toddler size but who knows?

I've also knitted my daughter a pair of socks, mainly because I thought it was time I wrote up my basic sock pattern and I needed to take the step by step photos. This one I have managed to publish.

Frankie's Basic Socks

There's been quite a bit of cross stitch too. I've finished another ornament from the magazine that was in my Christmas stocking. This one is a Poinsettia Angel.

I'm still working on the Christmas sampler that I started years ago too. I decided that, if I only worked on it at Christmas, it will never get finished so, this year, I've kept it out.

The design is called Christmas Patchwork and it's from the Historical Sampler Company. I think I'm about half way through but it's solid stitching so even the smallest block takes quite a while.

While we were turning out a cupboard (yes, more sorting), I found my Granny's old needlepoint frame and decided it needed to be put to use. Working out how it went together was quite straightforward but then it took me a while to make some tension straps for the sides of the canvas.

This is when all that haberdashery sorting came into its own. I knew just where to find some dungaree clips and a roll of cotton tape to make straps that are easy to move when needed. I also had to make myself a new needle minder (of course I did). Self-cover buttons and extra strong magnets? No problem, already sorted.

I've set up the frame in my new bedroom. It's too nice a room just to sleep in. I can sit by the window and look out over the garden while I work and it stands against the wall in between sessions.

The canvas is a Primavera design called Shaker Village and I'm thoroughly enjoying 'colouring it in'. So far I've done a barn, a tree and a horse.

They also do a winter version of this design called Winter Village. Maybe when I finish this one I could do that one too?

In between all this craft and sorting (or at the same time if it's knitting), I'm always reading. I read a mixture of ebooks, real books and audiobooks, depending on what I'm doing. 

Do you remember me showing you my shelf of Abbey Girls books in my new bedroom? Well, I decided it was time to read through them in order. There are some I've never read and, although I don't have them all, I thought it would be nice to read them in order. I'm following the reading order recommended by the Elise J Oxenham Society rather than going by the date of publication. She re-visited the series later and filled in lots of gaps so this makes sense. 

I'm on the third of my books and am really enjoying them. My daughter has a few I don't have so I shall borrow those when I get to them and I'm hoping to find secondhand copies of the rest. There are half a dozen or so which are prohibitively expensive but, luckily, both the Oxenham Society and the publisher Girls Gone By issued paperback reprints of these. These are now out of print but you can get them secondhand.

I've only just found out that the Children's Press editions of three of the books (published in the 1960s) were heavily abridged, including my favourite The Abbey Girls in Town. I've just order myself an unabridged copy from one of my favourite Etsy shops tygertale. Isn't that exciting? One of my favourite books just got longer. 

Anyway, the other main thing I've been doing (with a lot of help) is gardening. I can only do a small amount at a time because of a) my chronic back condition and b) the Long Covid. In a way though, it's just as well the pain stops me as otherwise I'd be tempted to carry on which wouldn't do me any good at all. 

A few weeks ago my daughter helped me plant my latest purchase in the front garden.

One of three bundles of sticks / bare root roses that we've put in by the railings. One day they will be beautiful. My other roses (no, you can never have too many roses) are all full of buds and the first flower appeared about ten days ago.

This is  Kew Gardens, now a nice little shrub, although this one too was a mere bundle of sticks two years ago. There's hope for the others yet.

One more thing before I go. I've been fascinated to watch the progress of this year's Sheffield Peregrines who hatched the other week. I don't look too closely at feeding time - head of a pigeon anyone? - but seeing the chicks grow is amazing. Have a look.

Knitted Petal Pouches

After the sewn Petal Pouch pattern that I published earlier this week, here is a pattern for a knitted version.

I think these are easier to make than the sewn ones and, as you can see, they come in three sizes too. They are knitted flat in four simple garter stitch pieces and then sewn together. Drawstrings are threaded through a line of eyelets to close the pouches.

They hold more than you'd think they would. This smallest one only uses 20g of yarn all together and would make a good jewellery pouch to take with you on your travels.

Or maybe you need to pack some emergency yarn ...

Whatever you decide to use yours for, I hope you enjoy knitting them. Click on the link below to download the free pattern.

Petal Pouches

More Sewing Patterns

 Two more free patterns for you today. Actually, I've just tidied this one up a bit.

Music Bag

I always hankered after one of those leather music bags with one handle and a metal bar as a child, not realising how expensive they were. So I settled for a carrier bag or just clutched my music in my sticky little hands. This sewn version is much cheaper, much prettier and would also work as a book bag.

The second pattern is my version of these little Petal Pouches. I made these to hold little Easter eggs but they would hold any number of little things. 

You can download either of these patterns, together with my tote bags by clicking on the link at the side, under 'My Free Sewing Patterns'. I think I might have managed to set the links so that they go to the actual pattern now but who knows? Blogger can be very, very confusing.

I've also worked out a knitted version of the Petal Pouch which is nearly ready to publish. This one comes in three different sizes.

I'll let you know when it's ready.

Tote Bag Patterns

I've sorted out the patterns for the three different sizes of reversible tote bags that I mentioned in my last post. You can download them by clicking on any of the links on the sidebar, under where it says 'My Free Sewing Patterns'. I hope you enjoy them.

More sewing patterns coming soon.

Housekeeping

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 ravelry 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.

I've started with my various Christmas stocking patterns, most of which are mini stockings.

So far, I've completely re-written and photographed the original Mini Stocking 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 Mini Dotty Stocking (top left) which is also in the proofreading pile. After that I want to have a look at the Small Stocking and Gingham Stocking patterns. Oh, and the photos on the Classic Christmas Stocking are dreadful too ...

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.

I've also got some other patterns on my list to re-write. Raggy Doll was one of my early patterns and the yarn I used has long been discontinued. Also, the photos aren't very good.

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.

I also want to re-work my Baby Boots 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There's a simple square fabric box ...

... a purse with a zip on the front (this took me a while to work out) ...

... and a straightforward tissue holder (also a useful present).

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ten Stitch Hat

Of course, I couldn't leave it at that so I'm currently working on a baby hat.

It's turning out more of a toddler size but never fear, I have an idea for adapting the pattern for smaller heads too.

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.

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.