Crafting on the move

I'm taking a short break soon and have been thinking about crafting I can do on the move. Knitting seems the best idea, and I am going to get started on a hat for myself and one for my dad.

For me, a cabled beret using this beautifully soft caramel-coloured merino wool bought in the John Lewis sale;
I haven't bought the wool yet for my dad's hat but it's going to be a double thickness hat with a cabled brim.

And a find - bought yesterday in a charity shop, a lovely homemade bag with wooden handles. I think it's a knitting bag or work bag. It's a proper old one, I'm a bit rubbish with guesstimates of dates but perhaps 1940s or 50s? (50s is pretty much my guess for most things!). Inside lining is yellow with some moth damage, so I gave it a good soak in soap flakes to freshen it up and remove the dirt.


Pretty, eh?

K x

Knitting and Weaving

I've been feverishly knitting away at a couple of neckwarmers, using this great pattern by Sarah Fama. I'm onto number 4 and I'll likely make a couple more as they make great presents and are the perfect size to use one skein of Rowan Silky Tweed.

I spent nearly an hour in Mandor's today, perusing their beautiful fabric selection. Unfortunately I couldn't find quite the right one for my dress but bought some poly cotton sheeting to make a toile, though I won't get started on that for a few weeks, til I get back from holiday.

Another interesting charity purchase today - a vintage children's loom;

It comes with instructions and pattern information;

As well as a pile of wool and even some examples - I don't know how well you can see in the picture, but there is a long light grey piece which is rolled up, and a black square which has been folded into a rectangle and sewn at the sides to make a pocket.

I was pretty impressed when I saw how good the quality of the fabric looks as I've never tried using a loom before but thought it might be a good way to use up some odds and ends of wool. Again, I won't be getting started with this for a few weeks but am quite excited about the possibilities, if I can figure out how to use it.

I think I've been inspired to explore weaving ever since a visit to the studio of a weaver, Angarad McLaren at the Briggait in Glasgow. Her work is beautiful and well worth checking out.

In the meantime, back to the knitting...

K x

Dress, dresses and a soup bowl.

I've not blogged for a while. Not because I haven't been thinking about it but I think that a post should always have pictures, and pictures I do not always have.

I finished the bird dress and was pretty pleased with the results. I'll post a photo of me wearing it as it doesn't look like too much on the hanger. So what's my next project? This:

I think I'm going to go for the sleeveless version thought I also like the 3/4 sleeve one. I'm planning to get material for the toile this weekend and maybe some material for the dress, depending on what the wonderful Mandors still have in their sale.

My other pattern purchase is this:

It's one of those reissued vintage patterns. To be honest, now I've received it, I'm not sure that I like it quite so much as I thought. The lovely full-skirted black dress is in fact an over skirt made from organza or similar, which fits over the other straight dress. Not sure I'd really be bothered with that to be honest. The slim dress is nice, although I have decided that fuller skirts suit me better. Hey ho, I might make it or I might re-sell it.

Other than the sewing I've been knitting a couple of neck warmers as presents - it was supposed to be one but half way through I decided that the intended recipient might prefer I different colour. So the first one will be a gift for my mum. Nothing like getting an early start on Christmas presents!

And so, the soup bowl;


Isn't it an absolute beauty? A gorgeous piece of art deco ceramics. When I saw it, on one of my charity shop trawls, I had to immediately go to the bank for the cash required to buy it (£2.99). Maker is Royal Venton Ware and the mark dates from 1927 to 1936.

This is the second elegant, two-handled soup bowl I have. Perhaps that's how collections start?

K x

Knitting Needles and Dress Progress

Ever since reading on another blog (I can't remember which one) about a tutorial to make bracelets from old plastic knitting needles, I've been thinking about giving it a try. Last week I went to one of my favourite (secret) charity shops and bought up all their coloured plastic needles. The lovely old ladies who staff the shop were so helpful - aren't those always the best kind of charity shops, which are staffed by sweet old ladies?

Above are the fruits of my labour - the yellow ones with blue ends are actually metal but I just loved the colour, and there is another odd one amongst the selection which appears to be metal covered in some kind of plastic.

However I'm having a bit of an ethical dilemma about the project, as I will be rendering vintage objects un-usable in their original form...some of the needles have lost their partner but I think I would hesitate to use the other ones. As someone who has made a career of the care and preservation of the past, it seems wrong somehow!

I do have my own collection of lovely vintage plastic needles, which were given to me by my mum. These have been used by her, my gran, and my great gran. I love the idea of using these 'family' needles which have been used to create knitted projects for decades, most of which are long gone. Perhaps I'm being over-sensitive with regard to the charity shop needles, due to my profession, but some craft projects really make you think!

The knitting needle bracelet tutorial is here, I'd love to know if anyone else had tried it, and how they got on.

As for the birdie dress, I've re-drafted the (very simple) pattern to make the dress more fitted and have cut the bird fabric. I seem to have done something weird with the arm holes in so doing, but am just going to have to go with it and see what happens in the making up. I'm not yest experienced enough as a dress-maker to know what my mess ups mean!

Fingers crossed....


K x