We were talking about names today... it seems that everyone in my office is called Linda... different ages, so no rhyme or reason... although at school we had four Susans, how Bunty like is that?
My sister was born on Easter Sunday and my mother managed to fight off the suggestions of Esther and Joy, still it could have been worse but fortunately Bunny did not feature
My father, who would not go to the phone box to ring the hospital when I was born wanted to call me Molly! Still I have my brother to thank for revenge by proxy, he was sent on the phone box mission and returned to the house looking very perturbed, he broke it to my father that it was twins... he kept it up for half an hour before admitting that it was quality and not quantity!
Even my brother has a name tale... my mother was under Eamonn De Valera's son who was a gynaecologist in Dublin and like his father quite a Catholic. He asked my mother if she would call her first born after the Virgin Mary... she said she would consider it, if it was a girl but frankly not one for a boy... however, my mother was so acquiescent which is why my big brother is called... oh it's bad but not quite that bad, Michael James Mary... I kid you not!
The quilt has to be delayed as my special wadding has been delivered to the wrong place *stares hard at suspects near Barlow and Fields* I had arranged for it to be delivered to my local coffee shop and it has not arrived although it has been despatched. After a quick call to The Cotton Patch and talking to the lovely Jeff, a new bundle is now on its way to a very clearly written address! So I thought that rather than waiting we will start the Afghan... and as I cannot sew, I thought I would make a quilting inspired reversible square of flying geese and another of reversible diamonds.
All squares should measure 12 x 12" and I am using Jarol Sweet Briar Chunky and 6mm needles. Now to do these square, all you need to do is knit and purl, and count... so yes, you can do this. Abbreviations K - Knit P - Purl St - Stitches rep - repeat Reversible Diamonds with Double Moss / Seed stitch
Cast on 42 stitches Row 1 - K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, Row 2 - P6, K6, P6, K6, P6,K6, P6, Row 3 - P1, K5, P5, K1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P1, K5 Row 4 - P5, K1, P1, K5 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P5, K1 Row 5 - K1, P1, K4, P4, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P1, K4 Row 6 - P4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K4 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P4, K1, P1 Row 7 - P1, K1, P1, K3, P3, K1, P1, K1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P1, K1, P1, K3 Row 8 - P3, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K3 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P3, K1, P1, K1 Row 9 - K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2 Row 10 - P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1K2 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1 Row 11/ 12 - P1, K1- rep to the end
Row 13 / 14 - K1, P1 - rep to the end
Row 15 - P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,P1, K1, P1, K1, P2 Row 16 - K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1 Row 17 - K1, P1, K1, P3, K3, P1, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P3
Row 18 - K3, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K3, P1, K1, P1
Row 19 - P1, K1, P4, K4, P1, K1, - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,P1, K1, P4
Row 20 - K4, P1, K1, P1, K1, P4 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K4, P1, K1
Row 21 - K1, P5, K5, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P5
Row 22 - K5, P1, K1, P5 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K5, P1,
Row 23 - P6, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6 Row 24 - K6, P6, K6, P6,K6, P6, K6 Row 25 - P5, K1, P1 K5 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P5, K1 Row 26 - P1, K5, P5, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,P1, K5 Row 27 - P4, K1, P1, K1, P1, K4 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P4, K1, P1
Row 26 - K1, P1, K4, P4, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,K1, P1, K4
Row 29 - P3, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K3 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P3, K1, P1, K1
Row 30 - P1, K1, P1, K3, P3, K1, P1, K1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P1K1, P1, K3
Row 31 - P2, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1,K1, P1, K2 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1
Row 32 - K1, P1, K1, P1, K2, P2, K1, P1, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P1, K2
Row 33 / 34 - P1, K1- rep to the end
Row 35 /36 - K1, P1 - rep to the end
Row 37 - K2, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P2 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1
Row 38 - P1, K1, P1, K1, P2, K2, P1, K1, P1, K1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,P1, K1, P1, K1, P2
Row 39 - K3, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P3 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K3, P1, K1, P1
Row 40 - K1, P1, K1, P3, K3, P1, K1, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P1, K1, P3
Row 41 - K4, P1, K1, P1, K1, P4 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K4, P1, K1
Row 42 - P1, K1, P4, K4, P1, K1, - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches,P1, K1, P4
Row 43 - K5, P1, K1, P5 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K5, P1
Row 44 - K1, P5, K5, P1 - repeat twice more and for last 6 stitches, K1, P5
Row 45 - K6, P6, K6, P6, K6, P6, K6 Row 46 - P6, K6, P6,K6, P6, K6, P6 Cast off. Sew the ends in now... you will just not want to spend an evening doing this when we come to put the blanket together.
Flying Geese Square
Cast on 41 stitches Row 1 - P1, K9, repeat to the end of the row, P1 Row 2 - K1, P9, repeat to the end of the row, K1 Row 3 - P2, K7, P3, K7, P3, K7, P3, K7, P2 Row 4 - K2 P7, K3, P7, K3, P7, K3, P7, K2 Row 5 - P3, K5, P5, K5, P5, K5, P5, K5, P3 Row 6 - K3 P5, K5, P5, K5, P5, K5, P5, K3 Row 7 - P4, K3, P7, K3, P7, K3, P7, K3, P4 Row 8 - K4, P3, K7, P3, K7, P3, K7, P3, K4 Row 9 - P5, K1, P9, K1, P9,K1, P9, K1, P5 Row 10 - P5, K9,P1, K9,P1, K9,P1, K9, P5 Repeat these 10 rows three times more and cast off.
So there you have it, we have started our Afghan, next Winter we will be snuggling under it after a day out sledging in the snow...
Now let's pop over to Handmade Monday and see what has been happening there... and who knows by this time, next week I might have got my wadding and be ready to start :) ... And can you smell that from my kitchen, my slow cooker is on a roll with a beefsteak and kidney casserole just the thing for a snowy evening, yummy!
Happy New Year everybody and welcome back! This year I am challenging you and me for that matter to make something a little bit bigger than our usual Sunday project, we are going to make two items... well pretty big items, we are going to make (drum roll) a fabric quilt or a knitted Afghan over the year. I have every faith in you and your skills, so this post is all about prep. Now I know what you are thinking... Ros this is going to sooo expensive, don't you know about the recession? Well tell me about it people, this is why the quilt is going to be quilt as you go, as well as being a scrap sampler quilt, which means we will do two blocks a month, a plain block and a patterned block and we will quilt them as we go along, so there will be no big backing to do. And did I mention, you will learn a new and mysterious language?
The Afghan will be a little bit different too, it will be reversible... yep, that is right, which ever way you look at it, it will look the same. It will be knitted on big needles, so it will not so much grow as race off your needles... I promise and remember I had my Firefighters and Braille badge when I was in the Girl Guides, so you can trust me! What will I need to have and be able to do to make the quilt? Right let's talk about the skillset... can you do Maths? Scared, OK, can you do sums and read a clock, yes? Well, then you can do this, it will be a cinch! Can you sew straight? Can you use an iron? Did you answer yes, then how come your house is not covered in quilts? You can definitely do this.
This is just a selection of my fat quarter... and one of the odds and ends bags...
Next, do you have a bag(s) of scraps that are too small to be a fat quarters (Ros, you are using language, what is a fat quarter? It is a piece of fabric 22"wide by 18" long, ie, a quarter of a yard) but just too big to throw away? Or do you have a stash of fat quarters (a stash is a hoard by any other name, it's what you have to have to make your life complete) that are just begging to be released. Now, you have to make a choice about backing, is it going to be the same colour for each block (the square or section) but remember you will only be doing two squares a month, so you really only need to buy a metre of backing and front every couple of months. So you will need cotton fabric, batting / wadding, rotary cutter, quilting ruler, cutting mat, thread, a water soluble pen or pencil, fish knife, washi tape, sewing machine and then you will be ready to make a start.
This was my very first quilt - a hand sewn Amish quilt
I am going to use black as my main fabric (yep, I know I swore I would never work with the dark side of the palette again) as it will make any fabric that I use sing and pop out. However, if you want to do this make sure that your wadding / batting is black. Why? Because if you use white wadding it will beard (great term) which means that little white flecks will spread through your cotton just like an old man's beard not a pretty look! But don't worry, I know that not everyone will want to make a quilt but you can try out any of the techniques to make smaller projects like cushions / pillows, tote bags, place mats.
Hang on a minute, what will it look like, well do you know something, I just don't know, here is my work book, I can see it in my mind's eye and I will be making it alongside you... so don't just read this jump on it for the ride! And this Afghan, what do I need for that? Can you knit and purl? Can you count? Then you can definitely make an Afghan and this one is going to be special as it will look the same both ways. I am making mine in three colours, grey, cream and red and we will be knitting up 12" x 12" squares... they will knit up really quickly and I aim to have squares that will knit up in an evening. We will join them together with a crochet stitch and it will look fabulous, as well as being snuggly. I am going to be working with 5 balls in each colour of Jarol's Sweet Briar Chunky, a pair of 6mm needles... and a cable needle, cos we know how to do reversible cables already, don't we team?
Just remember all we are doing is making a mess of knots with sticks and string... and even children, cats and kittens can do that! Anyway this is how it will roll, the first Sunday of the month, will be our quilting date and two weeks later is our knitting date... except this month, cos we quilt next Sunday. In case you are worried, we will still be doing other fun crafty projects on the other Sundays... I still owe you a tutorial for an Etui box, don't I?
Just a little plea before we finish, I know that many of you will immediately start looking on the internet but if you can, please remember that your local yarn and fabric shop need your support too, these are tough times people and we all need to support our local shops. And the good news now, is that Handmade Monday has returned from its Christmas hols... and you just know that the team on there will have done something amazing in the break!
This is my sister Annette, she is modelling a scrap or maybe it is a wrarf (as it is a combo scarf / wrap) that she created for our friend Cecelia. Cecelia is one of the knit and natter ladies who is originally from Columbia and has the most amazing sense of style... together with her own craft room that her husband thinks is his office. Recently after a trip to Spain, she bought back a lovely scarf which tied up round her neck. Annette really liked it and decided to use it as a starting point for her design, the original had a ruffle which was knitted separately and sewn on and although pretty enough could stand a little improvement. Annette is really good at finding unusual wool to work with and King Cole Galaxy was just the ticket as it is interspersed with delicate little sequins which catch and dance in the light.
Will readers please note, my sister does not have any lines on her face, I spent hours painting them in on PhotoShop, so that you would all know she is my older sister!
The scarf has an integrated ruffle, and cables encasing a double moss / seed stitch which gives it a gorgeous texture. To top it all off is a rather lovely flower to use as a button and you have the option of knitting it or crocheting it. Now all you need to do is get your yarn and needles ready and you are ready for the off! Cecilia’s Scarf
100 gr double knitting yarn - King Cole Galaxy Double Knit
Size 2.75 needles, 1 cable needle
Size 3.50 crochet hook
Knitting Abbreviations:
K = knit
P = purl
RS = right side
WS = wrong side
C4F = place next 2 stitches on
cable needle, hold to the front of the work.
Knit the next 2 stitches, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable
needle.
C4B = place the next 2 stitches
on a cable needle, hold to the back of the work. Knit the next 2 stitches, then knit 2
stitches from the cable needle.
Note:
An additional 5 rows are knitted
on the first 6 stitches of each row.
This results in the ruffle effect.
After the first row the first 6 stitches on each row are knitted as
follows: knit 6, turn x 5 times. In the
pattern this will be shown as K6T.
Using size 2.75 needles, cast on
42 stitches.
Row 1 K6 P2 K4 P2 K1, P1 7 times
P2 K4 P2 K6. In future the first row
will be knitted as follows:
Row 1 KT6 P2 K4 P2 K1, P1 7 times
P2 K4 P2 K6
Row 2 KT6 K2 P4 K2 K1 P1 7 times
K2 P4 K2 K6
Row 3 KT6 P2 C4F P2 P1 K1 7 times
P2 C4B P2 K6
Row 4 KT6 K2 P4 K2 P1 K1 7 times
K2 P4 K2 K6
These 4 rows form the pattern,
repeat until work measures 46 cm ending with Row 4
Next row: K6T P2 K4 P2 Cast off
16 stitches P1 K4 P2 K6
Next row K6T K2 P4 K2 Cast on 16
stitches K2 P4 K2 K6 (this forms the hole for the flower to poke through.
Continue in pattern for a further
10cm, ending with Row 4.
Cast off
Flower
Knitted Flower
Abbreviations
K knit; p purl; st stitch
Cast on 10 sts.
First row: K1, p5 k4
2nd row: K8, k twice into the next stitch k1 – 11
stitches
3rd row: K1, p6
k4
4th row: Knit
5th row: K1, p2 together, p4, k4
6th row: Knit
7th row: Cast off 6 sts , k to end 4 sts
8th row: K4, turn
and cast on 6 sts (10 sts)
Repeat last 8 rows 15 times more,
then work 1st to 7th rows again.
Cast off
Roll straight edge to form flower
allowing for petals to roll back and secure rolled edge in position.
Sew to scarf approximately 15cm from cast-on edge.
Crochet Flower
Crochet Abbreviations (NB These are English terms for the US, a DC becomes and SC, a Tr becomes a DC and so on)
Row 1: 1dc
in 2nd ch from hook (counts as 1dc) [1dc in next ch] to end, turn –
25dc.
Row 2: 4ch,
miss first 2dc, 1dc in next dc [3ch, miss 1dc, 1dc in next dc] to end, turn.
Row 3: 4ch, work 1dc, 3ch and 1dc
in first chsp, [3ch work 1dc, 3ch and 1 dc in next chsp] to end , 3 ch 1dc in 1st
of 4ch, turn.
Row 4: 4ch, 1dc in first chsp, [3ch, 1dc in next chsp] to end, 3ch, 1dc in
1st of 4ch, turn
Row 5: As Row 3
Row 6: 5ch, 1dc in first chsp, [4ch, 1dc in next chsp] to end, 4ch, 1tr in
1st of 4ch, turn
Row 7: Slst into 1st chsp, 4dc in first chsp¸slst in next dc,
[4dc in next chsp, slst in next dc] to last chsp, slst in 1st of
4ch.
Fasten off.
Roll chain edge to form flower,
bringing outer ends to centre and secure in position.
Sew to scarf approximately 15cm
from cast-on edge.
I think that she has done a great job with this pattern and I have been asking her for permission to publish for a few months... but I think you will agree with me, it has been well worth waiting for. And finally, if you ever see my sister looking at you like this... run, run as fast as you can and don't look back!
Now, I know what this look means... and it isn't going to end happily...
And for no better reason than it is still Christmas, I just had to finish with this... enjoy!
Well I hope you are all basking in the afterglow of Christmas and wondering why you got so worried, and trying to work out where you will put those Christmas presents. So firstly, here is a little something I am rather proud of... it's wreath, a Christmas wreath currently hanging on my front door.
And do you know why I am so proud of it, it is made by one of the ladies who took a class with me last year. Isn't it great when you are able to pass your skills on?
Then there is my tree, you may remember that last year, I spent much of the time on suicide watch with my suicidal tree which spent about eight of the twelve days of Christmas trying to leap out of its bucket. So this year I managed to buy the reject tree from Trafalgar Square... I think that it only lost out by an inch or two... and I have no need for curtains as it fills the whole of the bay window! In fact, I had to take this pic standing on the coffee table and I still couldn't get it all in...
And what was even better is that most of the decs this year were made by me..
Now this is rather special and I wanted to share it with you before Christmas, it's a commission I had made for my sister by Sally. I wanted a picture that would capture her interests and Sally had a twinkle in her eye and knew precisely what would work for Annette.
She got it s right, even down to the pink wool :)
And talking of Annette, I have a real treat for you on Sunday... a pattern from my big sister, inspired by her friend Cecelia (of whom more later) and here is a little preview of what we will be making.
I do hope that you like it, cos I think that the model feature here made rather a good job of it!
Right, I owe you all an apology... I know I have not been here and this is part of the reason:
Can you spot me... I thought I blended in rather well!
With my mate, Sally, we ran a rather great Christmas stall, even if I say so myself! Cakes, Decs, Wreaths and gifts... we covered every Christmas base!
And tonight I was watching a super documentary with the Unthanks on BBC4, having walked back home from visiting my friend Deborah and her magical Christmas grotto... little does she know that her snow is actually quilting batting and I have my eye on it... if I can remove the glitter! Part of the walk back is past St Clement's church in Leigh-on-sea where they were holding a Carol service which so took me back... way back.
I went back to Mrs Pickering's class in 1963, where the auditions were held for the Nativity... where I played... second shepherd, yes I started with ambitions for the Virgin Mary... I mean I had the hair, albeit tied up in plaits but no, it was not to be. However I quickly realised the louder you said it, then you were in! Does anyone remember how the sound barrier was actually broken in 1963 by a five year old screeching at the Heavenly Host,"Where have they laid the baby wrapped in swaaaaaaaaadling clothes?" Concorde, pah!
And then there was the action carol... The Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School version of the Rocking Carol...close your eyes and join me... grab your elbows and sing, whilst violently rocking the poor child from side to side... and I swear this group have something approaching our chutzpah
Substitute the puddings for dressing gowns and the caps for towel... and it could be us... Scroll on a couple of years, The Virginian was a big programme every Friday night, the John Wayne film was the highlight of the Christmas season and then Mr Cracknell found it... The Cowboy Carol. What you mean you did not know about the cowboys coming to the Nativity, harrumph... where were you? We had Mrs Read on the piano, who swore she had eyes in the back on her head, but I did not realise until many years later that the highly polished upright she played might just have given her an unfair advantage...
So for all of you, who walk past a Sally Army band and are taken back to your six year old self, still believing in Santa Claus (who you will remember went to school with my mother because they both had the same handwriting), sit back and sing your heart out to a carol you will have sung with gusto, with a tinsel halo or your mum's best tea towel secured with a dressing gown.
And finally, I just want to ask you all to spare a thought or a prayer for the residents of Newport, Connecticut... I remember so well my mother collecting me from school on the afternoon of the Aberfan disaster, the rain pouring down and she would not let go of my hand all the way home. Please remember not just the children but the bravery of their teachers, teacher shape each and every one of us....
I don't know about you but one of my most fave childhood Christmas memories was waking up in the early hours feeling the weight on your feet and knowing that Father Christmas had been, filled your stocking and waiting until daylight before I was allowed to open them. Although I was lucky that I was not my mum, as one Christmas two of her sisters, she was the eldest of 12, got up in the middle of the night and swapped the presents around so that they got what they wanted... at least, until my granny woke up! Back then I used my father's socks from his wellingtons, large creamy socks with utilitarian writ large, so we are going to make something a little more aesthetically pleasing for the end of our beds.
You will need the following:
Selection of Christmas fabric strips 1 yard / metre of wide ric rac braiding Christmas fat quarter, choose one with a good pattern 1/2 yard / metre plain cotton lining fabric Selection of Christmas ribbons 1/2 yard / metre of cotton batting Cutting mat, rotary cutter, dressmaking shears Pins Iron and ironing board Let's get cracking, iron your fabrics and set them aside. You will need a template to cut around, either use an old stocking and draw around it, or at this time of the year, there are lots around in magazines and Christmas make books (check out your local library, so use one and adapt to suit you... ie, with a longer, wider leg if you think Father Christmas is going to be generous this year! Cut out two in cotton batting, two in the plain cotton lining and one in your fat Christmas quarter. Lay your Christmas fat quarter on top of one piece of batting, now this is important, really IMPORTANT, lay the other piece of batting down and ensure that the toe is pointing in the OPPOSITE direction.
Now we are going to layer up the stocking, cut strips of varying widths, now play with them, see which ones work best together. You could lay them in parallel lines down the stocking or fan them out around the heel.
Sew down the strip at the top of stocking using a 1/4" seam allowance, now sew the next strip to the first strip, iron the seam open, continue this until it covers the whole of the stocking. Trim the excess from around the stocking.
Now the fun starts... more is more at Christmas, pop some ribbon over the seams, for the other seams use an embroidery stitch in a contrasting colour... one of those that you have on your machine but never use. You could apply some applique, a snowman or a child's name... make sure you choose children with short names or we could be making Easter stockings!
Pin your ric rac braiding so that the centre is 5/8" away from the edge and sew it down.
Place the two linings together, now put the back of your stocking with the right side up on top of them and finally put the front of your stocking face down so that you can see the reverse. Pin them all together. You will be able to see the line of sewing that you made to attach the braid. Sew along that line, do not deviate away from it, stay with it all the way around. When you have finished, trim and notch the curves... for a small project like this pinking shears will give you the easing you need.
Now turn it inside out and hey presto your lining is in place... yes, really it is. Pin more braiding around the top of the stocking 5/8" from the top and sew it in place. Measure around the top and add 1 1/4" to this.Now cut a strip of fabric 3" wide by the length you have just measured, sew the ends together using a 5/8" seam allowance. With right sides facing, pin the top strip and the stocking together and just like sewing the stocking up, sew along the seam line used to secure the braiding. You will now have a raw edge, iron under 5/8" and pin it over the top of the stocking... now you can either slip stitch it into place or top stitch it into place.
Cut a strip of fabric 12" x 3", fold it in half lengthwise, sew across the end and down the length, trim the excess and turn it inside out. Press and fold it in half... so that you have a handle, pin it inside the stocking on the back on the heel side. Machine it into place and now it is ready to hang at the end of your bed or on your fireplace.
And now over to Handmade Monday to see what everyone has been up to over the past week.
