Swanmore Community Yarnbomb - part 2

Flower corsage on bench

2013 cushion

Annoyingly sideways look at the tree

From a distance

Up the tree - so proud!

Swanmore - Community Yarnbomb

To raise awareness/a few eyebrows for the Swanmore Festival of Flowers and Music 2013

Gorilla Knitting?

It was several months ago now, that during a meeting about publicity for our church flower festival, I allowed the gremlin inside me to say 'Hey, I know. Let's do some Guerilla Knitting!'. 

I mention, for the sake of clarity, that I was probably the most junior there by at least 20 years and church publicity stunts few and far between. Our activities are usually strictly coffee morning based, which plays to the strengths of our congregation, so I wasn't altogether surprised when the first reactions were exclusively blank stares and open mouths.

But, as is common, I had underestimated the older generation. There was one lady who asked what "gorillas, or any kind of animal, had to do with knitting?", to general amusement. On the other hand I heard others keenly discussing how guerilla knitting might or might not differ from guerilla gardening, which they seemed completely au fait with. I left the meeting bemused. Apparently I was now head of a keen illicit club of knitters, hell-bent on wrapping the village in yarn. 

As much as I tried to pretend to myself this was all an amusing mirage, I kept having conversations with people, in the street, at coffee after a service, anywhere, along these lines:

Elderly Lady: "Oh I have been meaning to talk to you"

Me: (trepidation set in ) "Yes?..."

EL: "I was on the internet looking at this knitting thing, and there are so many fantastic ones, it really is exciting, anyway, how much do you want and when?"

Me: "..... thanks.......oh. Scarf sized? Or maybe bigger....??!??!"

After more weeks I realised I had to get serious, visit Pinterest (I made a board to help me), blogland, twitter, get help! I had never done any guerilla knitting before, and now I was in charge of a community project that seemed to be growing before my very eyes. Panic set in. Luckily there are a lot of sensible and useful resources out there for the Yarnbomb Baby. Twilight Taggers blogposts on How To Yarn Bomb particularly caught my eye for providing practical advice.

I have to say the villages response has been phenomenal, considering how on the down-low I kept it. This just goes to show that a good secret club was what the ladies of church have been waiting for. Even this evening I was interrupted from bedtime stories by a knock on the door. On the step was a white-haired lady, glint in eye, clutching a bag of knitted squares. She thrust it into my hand wordlessly, and hurried away.

It is now the evening before the morning I am meant to put up this knitting. The weather forecast is propitious, the help has been arranged. I have gained approval from the owners of the trees/benches to be used (more on this another post I think). My head aches, there is Flu going around the children, but I think my headache is PRE-GUERILLA ANXIETY.

To be continued......

Making little clothes

What could be more fun and rewarding than making little clothes? I have a few recently finished/started (not guaranteed to finish before they're grown out of, sadly) projects that I though I would put up here on the interweb for some admiration/approbation. Feel free to comment!

Fairisle Tank. From a 1970's pattern so its a bit short in the body but a nice easy one. I am digging this fairisle look wool, and it turns out that a mixed colour is really practical as it shows up the stains less (and there are a lot of stains).

Sunhat. It's a Butterick Pattern and the first proper hat I've sewn. Despite the brim seeming quite excessive, It is good on a sunny day and features piratical exterior (sorry again my model is not particularly biddable) and contrast red ties.  I have actually also made a matching dungaree romper in the stripe with pirate straps and mismatching buttons. But no photo of that yet as the weather has now turned crazy with raining and wind and I have been otherwise occupied taking photos of the fallen down trees to send to Mr Loss Adjuster. Boo!

Is it so wrong...?

to find a vintage knitting pattern and really want to knit three jumpers just like the picture so that we all (all the ladies - men are exempt) have matching jumpers?! I have never felt like this before. In fact, I would have said that I was implacably against dressing your children alike, let alone like you. Now this. I fear some madness is upon me. 

 

Also I would just like to show you this picture because I spend most of my day gazing on the real thing which is magnificent and kissably fat around the cheeks area. So damn cute and I made it myself. I am possibly committing the parental sin of favouritism, but it is only temporary because he will soon turn into a shoe refusing, smart talking, mother botherer like the others ;-) 

Chicken Jumpers

 Copyright 2008 Jo Eglen

My mother sent me the most fascinating article clipping through the post today (From SAGA magazine though, sigh) about the plight of bald rescue hens. In the article it showed a number of fabulous pictures of hens which have been provided with natty jumpers by benevolent charity knitters. There aren't so many pictures on the online article sadly, but there's no need as you can go direct to the website of the Little Hen Rescue Centre that needs them. It made me smile to see those poor baldy chooks in their bright sweaters. If you don't knit there's a pattern to make one in fleece.  I note that they are currently well stocked for the knitted variety but if you are looking for a good cause to add to your list of to-dos ... (not me, I can barely lift cup to lip at the moment without some new vital task presenting itself to me. Usually in the form of a nappy)

Happy browsing. x

Wooly Wednesday - Bee Bee Folklorique

Ah the Bee Bee Fashion Knitting book. A book I was given by my grandmother who no doubt bought it in the hideous 1980's from whence it came. A book that has so much bad about it that it becomes a beacon of hilarity. It stands proud on my shelf of old knitting books, not only for its celebrity endorsements (not only Britt Ekland AND Johanna Lumley, but also Rudi Kroll Captain of the Dutch Football team!!) but for the fact that it has just the most eye poppingly awful all-wool combos on offer.

Because this jumper coat cries out for matching leggings

Seriously, if you ever see it in a charity shop, buy it! Let's face it, we all need a laugh. But not without it's Wool-o-meter, an innovation which attempts to take away the guess work in choosing wool, but actually renders the book utterly obsolete if lost. Who's bright idea was that?

But the occasional gem shines out from the general crud, and to be fair to the book with a judicious yarn choice I could probably make most of the garments look like the actually nice chunky knits that are in the shops at the mo'. There's a sloppy cowl neck with gold flecks in the window of New Look at the moment that  is almost definately from this publication! In the 'Disco' section, 'natch.

My favourite pattern is this Lapland style mother and daughter combo. I love the hood. And the shoulder detail. In fact I love the whole folklore thing. I'm just an elf at heart ;-)

Knitting projects on the go

Now the winter has started I have been enjoying getting my knitting out again - it always goes on the back burner, like everything else, when the weather is fine. Also, knowing there is a baby on the way helps me get around to finishing things! I have recently finished a pair of boot socks that have been knocking around the knitting basket for ages, and am halfway through a nice cosy hat for myself. If I like the way the hat turns out I will knock out a few more for Christmas presents. 

My most cherished current knitting proj is a baby jumper from the BBC Knitting Fashion book (c1975!), hopefully for my own forthcoming winter baby. I wanted a fairisle look, but without the work, so I went for this self patterning wool. I have managed to finish the back and it's turning out really nicely so far, what do you think? Here's a picture too from the original pattern which shows the neckline. I'm making mine in a slightly samller size hopefully 0-6m. My last two babies were big ones, so no point making teensy jumpers! 

Wooly Wednesday - Tyrolean Jackets

OMG is it already Wednesday? This is bad news! It means I have lost half a week and not done much in the way of anything (apart from getting children to school every day, feeding family, keeping house, gardening etc, natch.)

Today I will be showcasing a sweet pattern I found in the bottom of a pile of things my granny gave me. Not that old, but definately retro - a lovely 80's tyrolean style jacket for Mummy and Me. In fact, I am pretty sure that my mother did have this jacket.

The styling of the photo is cheesy, the skirts are awful ( I had several like this when I was about 17 so obviously  I hate them now) but something in me is loving this very lady-like shawl collar and embroidery affair. Luckily I am exempt from trying to make it as no woman as pregnant as I am looks good in a draw string waist. Phew. 

from 'Hermit Family Favourites'

Wooly Wednesday AKA Crimes against Fashion

Here the leaves are turning to rainbow colours, children are back at school and there is a definate nip in the air mornings. So my thoughts are returning to knitting as you will see from the previous post, and I have been rummaging through the knitting patterns and books that I have hoarded/been given (my collection has got to that stage now where I no longer have to seek them out, they come to me!). 

So I thought that I would reprise my previous knitting pattern wednesday bonanza, although I have renamed it as most of the time I cannot provide the pattern. Ever since I was sternly unbraided on Ravelry by some self-appointed copyright watcher I have been a bit nervous about providing the patterns - OK they are all at least 40 years old AND usually from magazines long since forgotten but heck lets all get paranoid about prosecution. Really now, I'm sure that all the file sharers of forthcoming films and music are far more the focus of the police than some lady who occasionally posts up defunct knitting patterns from the last century but I suppose someone somewhere might be losing money from my actions so I better stop. 

I will instead merely post up the accompanying photographs which of course are completely not bound by copyright of any sort (pretends confusion). These have a theme: they come from the same 'Keynote Baby Book' and all show why you should not put children in an all-wool, one colour outfit. These children would be older than me now. I hope they were not permanently scarred by this experience. Particularly this first chap:

Knitting for baby, 1940's stylie

I am still poring over the ancient knitting book my gran gave me months ago - this time as I KNOW I need to make some baby clothes ready for January (ah bliss) I have a real reason and focus. Also, who can resist a book with illustrations to the patterns as above?

So, besides making my 1960's maternity dress (more to follow on that later in the week I think) I am now planning a few adorable baby cardigans. If one believes ones own eyes and the (somewhat dim) scan provided by the NHS I should chose some blue snuggly wool. I think I will start with this lovely thing: 

Pattern Wednesday - Weekend Casuals: His and Hers Sweaters

This is a cute unisex pattern that I think has a lot of wearability today. Also it's in DK (phew!). It comes from one of my stash of magazine patterns that were torn out sometime in the 1960's or 1970's  - no chance of finding where they came from now! I like to keep old patterns in the public domain - at least they might get used again, instead of festering away in the dark, but of course if you know who this pattern belongs to, coyright wise, and would like to get in contact, please do. I am always happy to credit where it is due. 

Follow the link to the pattern document - I'm afraid the formatting is a bit awry - the page was really creased and although I have tried to go through and check for mistakes, my scanner wasn't very happy about the state of this one!

WEEKEND CASUALS

Magpie Monday - Best. Book. Ever

Tra La La. I own Practical Knitting! So I don't know really how much this counts as a magpie find, as I didn't buy it, I was given it by my mum who is having a clear out. Anyway, it came to me gratis so that's in the spirit, right?

This fabulous 1940's knitting book was originally owned by my grandmother, I think her mum bought it for her when she left home(?) It has ladies, gents and childrens patterns in. I think that the bast part is that there are three whole chapters at the back explaining how to modify the paterns in terms of size, colour and stitch to suit your own tastes. Which is a nice change from modern patterns which basically say 'do it like THIS or you'll screw it up!'. It is my new bible. Shame that I will not be able to make myself any of the lovely slim fitting jumpers for another 9 months or so - no point. Luckily there is a large baby section. Now where did I put my 4-ply ...?

My mum remembers wearing this exact vest. Itchy!

I do plan to make this delightful hatty scarf

This is part of the Magpie Monday blog hop over at Me and My Shadow

Pattern (Recommendation) Wednesday - Honesty

This is not really a pattern so much as a pattern recommendation. I have been busy knitting my daughter another cotton tank from a pattern that I have made several times before, called 'Honesty', and thought that I would spread my love for this pattern further by blogging about it. It is designed by Sublime Yarns for their range of cottons and I think that it is a lovely simple pattern to follow - I especially like it because I have not managed to completely screw up the neckband which is what I often do! Here I used a cotton acrylic mix from Sirdar called Summer Stripes. It knitted up somewhat large but not a real problem. Also, the bow's a bit floppy but hey, she likes it. If you Ravelry all the pattern details are here and if you like, a link to my project page. 

Previous attempt where I actually used the recommended yarn:

Broken Neck

I have had to open a Dinosaur Hospital! One of the little boys I know in the village, whose mother purchased a dinosaur from me at Xmas, seems to have very strong hands. He managed to virtually decapitate his toy, which was a bit distressing to see and pretty amazing if you have ever tried to rip a soft toy in half - it wasn't the seam that broke but directly across the fabric? I can only think there was some sharp nail involved.... Anyway, I took in the poor unfortunate animal, patched him up, and he has gone home now sporting a new scarf to remind his owner about the poorly neck. He even had a discharge letter, signed Yours Dr T. Rex. I hope that the good doctor will not be getting any other patients!

Pattern Wednesday - Look on the Bright Side Tank Top

OK OK I know that there is a basic error in the title: it is not Wednesday! But I just got around to posting this today. I am on a kind of 12 hour time lag at the moment. If you could see my house you would realise that the disorganisation is not just blog related.

Here we have a simply 'lovely' men's tank top in what the magazine claims is an easy cheat for Fairisle, making a several colour sweater but only two colours at a time. "Cunning". Shame it makes you look like you have stolen a blanket from the Peruvian Musicians in the High Street and cut it up to make a tank top. The styling in this photoshoot is adorably romantic/camp. I love their unkempt hair. And this must be the last recorded sight of a full beard on a male model. Enjoy.

UPDATE! I have now suceeded in saving the file in an acceptable format so now you can view the whole pattern including the chart for the tank in the large picture here

Sit and Knit A Bit

If you knit and have time to make just one teensy weensy 6x6 square please do to support the Centenary of International Womans Day. They are making a huge blanket to commemorate/raise awareness of women's issues around the world. For more information and a much better explanation of what it is all about please have a look at this website

If you have this

please help to  make this!

Pattern Wednesday - a quartet of hats

What more need I say, when describing this delightful knitting pattern for four different children's hats? I am pretty sure that my Mum, at age 2, had the pink angora effort or similar, although persuading her to produce relevant photographic evidence may be problematic! I love poor wee Rab in his yellow beret. Not his most flattering colour!

Pattern Wednesday - Victoriana Bolero

Bolero Pattern

This cute little pattern for an angora sweater is simple and would still look lovely, although maybe not with the big sleeves? Such a sweet photoshoot, really in the Laura Ashley Victoriana vein. As they say the 1970's are a big story for your fashion inspiration this season, drink deep from the well of faded charm I have here. Enjoy xx

Pattern Wednesday - a Cameo performance

Look at this fabulous vintage pattern styling.  They are clearly having a lovely day out in Oxford, enjoying the weak British sun in their comfy slacks and matching sweaters. But all is not well. The poor woman is forced to stand in this faux-winsom manner against her husband as a ploy, to avoid him noticing the fact that her boobs are possessed and are creeping up her shoulders shortly to burst out and begin a  B-movie scenario.