My journalistic debut for In Retrospect magazine

Image rozrussell.com

I have become a 'reader' at the British Library, and a 'writer' for In Retrospect magazine.

The former feeds my need to look at vintage knitting patterns all day long. (It doesn't fulfill my need to own them, but I'm hoping that will follow, before I have to re-mortgage the house to pay for them).

The latter is something I have never done before, and it was one of the hardest things I have ever undertaken. Anyone who thinks writing is a doddle is either a natural, a genius, or has never tried. I have so much respect for good writing. Many of my friends make it look effortless, from music journalists to novelists.

Mat Keller asked me to write a piece about the music of the 1930s after hearing me play it at my house when he came to interview and photograph me for his Southern Retro series for In Retrospect magazine. He had also seen the Shellac Sisters in action at the Rivoli Ballroom several years ago. I kept jumping up and changing the song every 3 minutes, and I expect my passion for the hot dance music of the 1930s became apparent, if somewhat annoying. It was really important for me to have the music I love playing while being photographed wearing clothes from that time. (It helped with the nerves, as it was still too early for cocktails!)

Image Mat Keller for the Southern Retro Collection

Naturally I chose to wear knitteds. This is my cable jumper, a Copley's pattern from 1940, worn over my now threadbare 1940's day dress.

Image Mat Keller for the Southern Retro Collection

The hat is a design I haven't released yet, called 'Hat with a Tilted Brim'. It is crocheted in Fenella 2 ply wool, by Susan Crawford Vintage.

Image Mat Keller for the Southern Retro Collection

The wool cupboard, in its untidy state. (Did you notice the moth killer at the back? Oops.) Here I'm wearing a 30's full length floral dress, which is a favourite, and goes very well with my 'Draped Beret'.

Image Mat Keller for the Southern Retro Collection

Here I am on a typical day, lounging on the sofa, reading The Needlewoman, and deciding where to lunch (I wish). I'm wearing The Rose Jumper from A Stitch in Time Vol 1.

I got very nervous when the magazine arrived, but my article was there, as well as the Southern Retro interview. There was a lovely article by Miriam McDonald about vintage caravans, and why they make such a great holiday choice for accommodation. I also enjoyed her piece in the last issue about Jazz Age holidays, which included the hotel I long to visit - The Burgh Island Hotel.

It was grand meeting Mat, and we had a good chat about everything from babies to bakelite, and, of course, 78s and vintage knits.

Theodora.

The Hall of Shame - The Neglected Knits

Happy New Year.

At this time of the year I'm sure I am not alone in making lots of New Year's resolutions. At the top of my list is to FINISH my projects. It is going to be quite a feat of patience and willpower, but I pledge to try.

These little babies have been sorely neglected. I started the turquoise one a couple of years ago; it is The Prettiest Collar from Stitch in Time Vol 1.

Using Drops Alpaca, I knitted the first size. It has since been sized up and down, giving five sizes now in the new version of the book. Mine will be OK, about a 36-37 inch bust, if I don't press/block it too wide. I'm on the last sleeve, but something came along and caught my attention, and that was it. Stuffed in a bag, into the box next to the sofa.

At the top, Golden Eagle 'Lady's Jumper', from Vol 2. I did the second size, as I had worn the sample from the book and it fitted beautifully, but being lazy I didn't bother to do a tension swatch, and it has turned out too big - about three inches too big. And too long. I actually didn't want the fit of the original, I think it is too tight, I much prefer the fit of the sample knit. Darn! I also really wanted a navy jumper in my wardrobe as I have quite a few navy skirts and trousers to wear with it.

Photo courtesy of Susan Crawford

I have only sewn up the shoulder seams, but if I want to reduce the size there is nothing I can do except re-knit the body. (I might sew up the side seams and try it on again. I won't press it). 

Next, Panelled Effect Lady's Jumper from Vol 1, in the first size. I've taken ages with this one, as I had so many other things on the go at the same time, but it is growing slowly. The pattern has no 'rest' rows, i.e, no purl rows, they are all in pattern. I kept making mistakes, and had to rip back countless times. I couldn't be happier with the result so far, though. I'm using Fenella wool (a true, 3 ply weight) in Atomic Red, which is giving me the exact tension. I can tell from just the front that it is going to fit beautifully.

Another almost complete jumper from Vol 2 of A Stitch in Time - Quick Work in Thick Wool. I went for the same colour as the sample, but not the yarn. I chose Drops again - Nepal. The only thing missing is buttons. I just can't find the right ones. 

Lastly, a turban I started in January last year, which I've put down and picked up many times. It WILL be finished by the end of January this year!

This isn't everything. I haven't included the jacket that I can't get to (Xmas tree is blocking it), in my wool cupboard: Box Coat, from Vol 2. For that, I have some Lopi wool in tweedy brown that I had bought for absolutely no reason that I can remember, about ten years ago!

I also haven't included my new designs which I am still tweeking - one jumper, three hats and three brooches. I am going to release them all at some stage on Etsy, if I can work out this new EU tax mess!

How many UFOs have you got lurking?

What are your New Year's resolutions?

Theodora.

We're Gonna Hang Out The Washing On The Knitted Line - Part 1

I haven't had a chance to photograph many knits recently, I've been trying to finish a few designs. One is almost ready to share, and I did get my brother and my long suffering husband to take some shots of it. I'm now in the process of uploading it to Ravelry, which seems to be much more complicated than it should be, but then I am no expert on these things - I'm still finding my way around this laptop. Here is the song this post is based on if you want to have a listen:

We're Gonna Hang Out the Washing On The Seigfried Line

I wanted to try some more outdoor shots, so these were taken in the morning in my garden. I was constantly trying to outrun the sun, but this is a bunch of knits old and new - all vintage patterns, of course, except the hats, which are my original designs. Naturally I want them to look vintage, but the proof is in the wearing.

Some of you might recognise this - it's Starring Stripes from the wonderful Zilredloh's blog. Finished at last - I only started it in March! I am so pleased with the colours, I got an almost perfect match to the original. It did come out slightly big, but I thought it might, with my use of a 'sportweight' wool, (which I think is equivalent to a heavy 4 ply? Please correct me if I am wrong). The main natural shade is 3 ply but the rest are all 4 ply. So it does make a difference. Luckily the jumper is worn with a little ease, so I can get away with it. Next to it you will see a hat to match. I couldn't resist, I had just enough yarn left. It is one of my new patterns called 'Hat With A Tilted Brim'.

Please excuse the camera phone pic. 

Didn't quite outrun the sunshine here... The yellow 'blouse' is from The Lux Book, 1940 I think. Knitted it years ago, it's a teensy bit snug now. My good pal Wozza shot it for me back in 2008.

In the glamorous location of Cannes - sorry, Cafe Rouge in Southgate.

This wool is from a cone, 3 ply or finer, turned out too short for Long Torso T, but great with vintage sailor pants.

Here it is being worn with a flying baby. At a 78 record fair, obviously.

Back to my washing line. On the left is another knit from A Stitch In Time Vol 1 - 'Such a Debonair Little Jumper'. Knit in a fine alpaca, it is super soft. On the far left, you can just see a grey hat with a jaunty bow, and in the middle another hat in Fenella, in shade Chalk. These are two more of my 'Hat With A Tilted Brim'.

Here is 'Such a Debonair Little Jumper' with ribbons threaded through (left), or accessorised with vintage dress clips and a baby Gladstone. (Right).
 

           



I'll leave you with me cheesing it up at The Blitz Party after a few too many Gin & Its. This little magenta beauty is from a 1940 Copleys leaflet. I know it is from 1940 because the original owner pencilled it at the top in very neat handwriting - Feb 29th 1940.

I'll show you the rest of my washing line in my next post, and a bit more about this Copley's creation.

Theodora.

Knitty adventures at Monkley Ghyll

Susan and Gavin very kindly invited us up to the farm they moved into in March, (in fact the same weekend we moved into our new house). It's in an idyllic spot in Lancashire, about 20 minutes from the coast and Morecambe Bay. You will have read of their journey if you read her blog Just Call Me Ruby. We had the most wonderful time, as did the children. It was so good to squeeze one more trip in before school started.
 

 
These lovely creatures greeted us. I can't remember their breeds, I think the brown one is a Zwartbles? They were super soft, and greasy. We also met the chickens.

Miss B rolled her sleeves up ready to set to work.

We had a lovely day out in Morecambe Bay.

We had morning coffee at the Midland Hotel built in 1933.  

That morning I chose to wear The Frilly Jumper which I had finished years ago, but never photographed. Luckily it was from 1934.

I made it using some vintage cotton I found on Ebay years ago, by Bucilla, a 3 ply in pale beige and off white. I don't know when it dates from, I'd like to think the 30s, but more likely the 50s. It's one of the loveliest yarns I've ever worked with. It has a high twist, but is light, even though it is mercerised.

This is the ceiling of the hotel with the spiral staircase leading up to it.

The foyer and lounge area with the original rug.

We went to Brucciani's for lunch, another 30s gem, listed now and almost untouched ever since.

You can just see the mirror with ornate lamp above it.

Now I couldn't visit Susan without bringing some knitwear, in the off chance that she might photograph me in it. I have so many completed jumpers from both volumes now that I haven't had photographed. We managed one, but there are still lots to go.

                                                 Image courtesy of Susan Crawford

The Rose Jumper at last. Knit in the same yarn, in the smallest size. I'm very happy with the result. It seemed a little short at first, but has already dropped after just a few wears. That would be the silk.

                                                        Image Susan Crawford

Photographed outside Susan's front door, on a little stone wall filled with fragrant lavender. Everything was still in bloom.

                                                Image courtesy of Susan Crawford

I also took a few shots of Susan with my camera, a Canon 500D, with a 50mm lens. (In fact all the shots apart from the ones by Michael Demetriou and the ones in and of the hotel and cafe, which were taken with my phone, or Gavin or Susan's phone), are taken with this lens.

Susan also took a few shots of a couple of her designs, Nancy, which is available now, and Asthall, which will be released soon. They will be part of a collection called Knits for a Cold Climate.

As I may have mentioned, lots of the jumpers are being re-knitted in Fenella and Excellana, so I also got to model one of the re-knits - Could Anything Be Prettier, which I completely fell in love with. No photos of that yet though. The fit is almost exactly like the original version in the book, light and airy in Fenella, in the dove grey shade Columbine. Of course after wearing that I had to buy some Columbine along with Marriner to re-knit one of my designs, Bebe Daniels. It was originally knitted in Matchmaker 4 ply which is no longer available.
                                                                               

                                                         Images Michael Demetriou

I think it is going to look lovely in those two shades. Got to finish a few things before that though.                                                                       
                                                                         

Got my husband to take one of my boy and me on the old rusty gate opposite the front door. I was wearing my Blackberry Cardigan. It was so peaceful there, all we heard were the swallows above us, and the sheep bleeting in the field. The pigs got very excited if we went near them though, expecting food.

Filling up their water trough was tremendous fun.

Pottering.

Our last day, waving goodbye to the farm. He was so sad to leave.

So was I. Thank you Gavin and Susan.

                        

Panelled Effect Ladies Jumper

I talked about some special knitting in my last post, and here it is, in Fenella. The shade I chose after much debate is Atomic Red, a soft coral red, which I think will really suit my skin tone. I've not seen a shade like this in any yarn around at the moment, and I know a lot of research went into sourcing vintage shades for Fenella. I literally love them all, from the really dark brown of Myristica (which I've got my eye on for a skirt), to the palest pink of Constance Spry. I'm so glad there is a deep navy too, it's such a great alternative to black, which I vowed when I first started knitting vintage never to use. I have never knitted a jumper in it, but have done a few hats.
 

This shot was taken in natural light without flash, and the colour match is pretty close.

This one I took with the flash. The colour match here is slightly closer to the original. My pics still need a LOT of work, but getting the colours true is a start. Something I hadn't realised before is how different the colour of wool can look in different lights, and at different times of the day.

This is Panelled Effect Ladies Jumper from A Stitch In Time. It is the first time I am knitting in 3 ply for myself, and I am very excited about how it will turn out. One of the yarns I am using for Starring Stripes is a 3 ply, but amongst the four other yarns, all of which are 4 ply, it doesn't really count. I also knitted a baby jumper in Patons 3 ply for my son when he was a baby, in off white, which was cute.

It is shaping up really well. I am about six inches in. I'm working the first size, as in the book, which fitted beautifully, with a bit to spare. I was a lot slimmer then, though, so I am a bit concerned that it will be on the snug side. But, when I look at the picture of the original, it is a close-fitting jumper. Hoorah.

My plan is to lose weight between now and finishing it, which will be perfect. I've been 'planning' to lose this weight since the Spring, (actually since June 2012, after I had my daughter, but very half-heartedly). Except I'm going to the land of burgers, donuts and awesome ice cream for over a week. How exactly am I going to do it? I would rather sit and knit than go to the gym. Hey ho.

I'm hoping to get lots of it done, on the beach. I don't sunbathe, even though I don't really burn, being half Greek, but I'm not at all keen on the searing hot sun on my skin. That would be the other half: Irish.

I might try to blog while I'm away, my brother has loaned me a couple of lenses for the camera, although that doesn't mean my photography will improve!