Vintage Fun at The Ageas Bowl, Southampton

On Saturday I somehow managed to convince everyone that we wanted, as a family, to visit  Yellow Vintage Fair that was happening at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton. How I achieved this I will never know, possibly because the flyer mentioned 'lots to do for the kiddies', and my children are always on the look out for another opportunity to wreck themselves on a bouncy castle.

 Anyhow, if I had gone on my own I probably would have seen more, more closely, but spent a lot more too, so I can't decide if I am glad they all tagged along or not! Of course, we left with one thing... for the children. How do they do that!?!

My fave latest finds were some fun tables using board game emphemera from Another Man's Treasure from Romsey. They also had some great lamps. 

A luscious display of fabric, glasses and jewellery from Many Happy Returns (find them in Wickham Market) but alas I am on a fabric buying moratorium.

The children were enchanted by the singing of The Cadettes ('oh Mummy, they're singing the Tomato Tornado song!') which made a long wait for coffee most enjoyable, and there were also lots of girls dressed up, which I like to see! Sadly, I was not allowed to go and get my hair in a Victory Roll at the Vintage Hair stall. Vintage Hair Lounge is so cool (@vintagehair on Twitter).

True to the flyer there was a whole kids area, next to the bar, so I guess it was a Dads creche too. Plenty of ice cream and bouncing tired them out, giving me a few more precious minutes with the bakelite and frocks.

I hope that the Yellow Vintage Fair will be on again soon. Although next time I might not take the kids...........

Treasury Tuesday

It's probably going to be the first year in about 10 where we are invited to NO weddings, so I am getting my fantasy wedding fix the Etsy way. 

Blog Neglect - and some Vintage Pattern Love

Yes, I am guilty. I have realised with a shock that it has been months since my last outside broadcast. Of course, I am still a bit on the old FaceBook but shame, shock, chagrin, I have hardly touched this blog. So apologies if you have been checking in, although I don't really know if anyone has...............

Tonight is Halloween, but I will ignore that for now (it's not a big event around here. If I get one Trick or Treater straggling up the lane they will deserve a mug of cocoa and a blanket as much as some sweets).

I am mainly here on Tinterweb to show off my latest aquisition in the Vintage Pattern stakes, this amazing girls smocked party dress. If I can get off my petooty and finish all the MBD Christmas orders in advance I will try and make one but it will have to be a gift to someone with a teeny girl - the patterns in Size 1 only and both my girls are too long and tall for this style. The 6 yr old looks like a standard lamp these days, in a frilly skirt. Luckily Baby T has several under 1 yr girlbabyfriends so......

I like the pink gingham version with the bigger bow at the back - that's a tongue twister - but these are all really short hey. Very full skirts too - need some matching knickers I reckon - cute!

Last minute! Bit of a giveaway

Just a little post to pass on a fabric giveaway to you. This one is over on Very Berry Handmade and features some gorge retro fabrics that I MUST HAVE, courtesy of the equally fab Stitch Me Lane.

So why not check out this lovely chance to win some things and maybe enter - you never know, it could be your lucky day?! But I hope not, because I want to win. And hurry, it's not open much longer!

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 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.

Vintage Cross Stitch Ideas - 2

Vintage Cross Stitch Ideas

This is such a sweet little set, from my very old (1940's?) french embroidery booklet. I would love to lavish time and attention on my children's clothes in this way. I am having a bit of a vintage baby clothes moment (see post last week) but not enough to actually sit down and make any. Besides my embroidery is not so neat.......... Still. the dress is a simple sort of summer affair and you could probably achive the right look with some braid. I am thinking about this section of my stash, combined with next summer, combined with some white cotton fabric:

A sweet momento of someone elses past

I was at an Antiques Shop recently, when I spotted this photo of a little girl in a dusty corner of the place, half hidden behind some other stacked up frames. I wonder if the sitter has grandchildren of her own now. I wonder why this picture was left abandoned although it clearly once meant so much to someone. When it was taken, someone carefully hand coloured this little lady, from the blue eyes to the red hat on her doll. And check out her dress! It looks hand embroidered - the detail is not so easy to see here but there are little animals (puppy, duck) and flowers all over it. Although I was not shopping for wall art, I had to buy her. She can sit in my sewing room and help to remind me of how precious a hand made thing can be.

Classic cable jacket

Here's another great find from my vintage patterns stash. A Vogue knitting book from the 1960's, with some really wearable designs in. Thankfully also most are in DK rather than the usual vintage 4-ply business. I wish I had time to make this warm looking cable jacket for myself! I could have done with it today, against the blustery wind. 

Vintage Patterns continued

Still ploughing through the stack of vintage patterns and clippings. There are some classic examples from the fashion of the1940's to the 1980's. Here is a 1970's magazine knitting pattern for a little cardi, with the clothes and lovely styling giving it such a touch of Victoriana.

Huge stash of vintage patterns hooray

Just before my mum went on her month long expedition to Sri Lanka (Why? I hope she is OK?! She never writes) she mailed me this enormous stash of vintage patterns, books, magazine clippings etc. Some are knitting patterns, some sewing, childrens, crafts, etc. I will slowly get through looking at all of them but here are a few highlights that initially caught my eye.

The little girls smock is from a book of fairytale theme embroidery patterns which are really charming.

The second picture is an article showing you how to knit a dress, as modelled (of course?) by Francoise Hardy! (Woman 1967)

Cute knitting pattern alert

After a wonderful rummage at my local charity shop I have lucked out and got a large stack of really old knitting patterns. I don't have time (sad face) to get started knitting any yet, but I thought that I would share a few in case anyone else needs something to do?!

This baby hat one is my favourite, I reckon you will need a 3-ply looking at the tension, anyway who can resist its ears?
The Orlon Baby Hat PDF Pattern can be located here

Why Mummy? Why?

Blouse Pattern Saga

I have been soliciting advice over on Sew Retro about a blouse pattern that I bought at Vintage at Goodwood. It is a size 18 and I am a size 10. And not skilled personally in the pattern rescaling dept. But hey, you don't refuse a 1950's sewing pattern that's less than £3 do you?

Any advice welcome, here is are images of the packet front and back so you can see the piece shapes.

Motto Monday has gone all vintage

A slightly different motto day today as I wanted to show off my pattern books that I got at Vintage at Goodwood. Hooray, two Vogue knitting books from the 1950's and a blouse pattern which I had to buy even though it's size 18.

I love the weird logic here, because as all women know, angora is like catnip to men?!?!! I would worry if my husband only loved me because he liked to stroke my........ hold on....(thinks) Maybe there's something in it after all.

This lovely and completely enlightened yarn advert is from Vogue Knit 100, which is completely gorgeous and full of must-knit items but is a bit falling apart, so it only cost me £2. A bargain, surely. Hmmm, it won't upload, so here's a picture.

Vintage at Goodwood

was so awesome. They even had den building, a sand pit and a roller disco, so the smalls were well entertained. Got lots of inspiration, saw loads of great outfits (!) and had a giggle at the Chap Olympics. Wonderful stuff.