Free Pattern Friday - Cable-And-Tuft pattern jumper

I think I have been a bit slack in my free pattern shares recently. Sorry about that.

This one comes from a 1949 edition of Woman and Home.

Theodora.

Oops, I did it again

I've been weak again - I started another jumper. It has been on my list since I saw it on the cover of a wartime Stitchcraft magazine.

I've mentioned before about my slight obsession with knitting magazines, and I acquired this one a little while ago. I have to report that I have been a good knitter recently and have not been on Ebay.

It is described as a honeycomb pattern, and is more challenging than anything I have done recently, and I have to say I am really enjoying it. A bit of cable, a twist, all interspersed with ribbing. I haven't got far yet, but I only started on Monday. I had two reasons for starting it: I have had this wool in my collection for a long time, saving it for a very special knitted. It is a very close colour match. I found the buttons at Spitalfields market, but I still haven't found a buckle, which is quite crucial. I've really got to hunt one down to match the buttons. The original uses buttons to tone with the bag, I think, but I don't think I'll make the bag.

The second reason for starting this was her pose and the turban she is wearing. It's just so chic. If I try to recreate that pose I might need to invest in some more blusher! Woah, that is all the rouge.

This is my new project bag. The moment I saw it at the E17 Art Trail, I knew I had to have it. I have one of the old row counters that is printed on it. It is from Dotty Designs, and can accommodate quite a hefty amount of wool! It lives next to my sofa now, in full view, not stuffed in the corner with all the lost souls of half-finished knits.

This week I went to an L7 gig in Camden town at The Electric Ballroom. It had been quite a long time since I went to a gig, and - wait for it - more than 20 years since I last saw L7! (I may as well come clean, it's not like I'm pretending to be a young flibbertigibbet.) It was at the now (in)famous 1992 Reading festival. L7 were wonderfully wild and already notorious, riding on the (short-lived) 3rd wave of feminist optimism, as was I. I wore a t-shirt by Silverfish emblazoned with the slogan 'Hips, Tits, Lips, Power'.

They did not disappoint. My friends and I got in just as L7 went on, deciding on one last quick drink in one of our old haunts The Good Mixer.

Err, I don't know what I'm doing here. Too many Snakebites.

I went with my two Riot Grrrl buds, Shanthi and Nese. We used to roam the streets of Camden Town on a regular basis, but Nese and I both have children, so now we mostly roam playgrounds and parks.

We shoved our way down near the front, and the crowd just boiled when they played 'Andres'. After a few songs, we looked guiltily at each other, and decided we needed a drink. Not that the pit was too much for us or anything!

Ah, it was fun being 'young' and carefree again. Glad I got the last Tube home, though.

Theodora.

E17 Art Trail fun

The E17 Art Trail is still on, but my little stint is over. For 'A Life of Skein', my friend Helen opened up her garden for two days of woolly goodness. Helen has only been dyeing for just over six months, and in that short space of time she has built a very solid base and already sells at shops and designers fairs. As you can probably tell from the photos, she LOVES colour.

She displayed all her yarns, in skeins and cakes.

I displayed my beret patterns, and actually sold some! The box here has the chunky weight yarn I used for the cowl below.

There were spinning demonstrations.

I used a gorgeous cake stand to show my knitted brooches. (This reminds me, I need to get one).

The table in all it's glory.

I cast on a cowl on Friday in a chunky wool, and it was finished and sewn up by Sunday.

I'm wearing my nautical version of A Draped Beret, in white cotton. Helen is wearing the Moss Stitch Beret, which uses her Blue-faced Leicester.

Spinning in the sunshine.

We knitted, chatted, and laughed a lot. We indulged in cakes made by friends, and made new friends. There are now further knitting collaborations on the horizon, which is incredibly exciting!

I was so chuffed at selling some patterns, I had to take a picture of this lovely lady!

Back to the knitting now. I am making knitted brooches to sell on Etsy.

This is a new design, 'Bows & Bells'. Like another design, the Envelope Clutch, this was made for a friend's birthday. I had the foresight to write the pattern down as I did it, and to take photos of it before I gave it away.

I have been spurred on immensely by Helen, whose focus and sheer hard work has made me realize how much you can achieve if you just put your mind to it. And get off your butt.

I'm going back to sit on my butt and knit furiously.

Theodora.

Getting ready for the E17 Art Trail, and a trip to Minsmere

I've been knitting furiously over the past week, in preparation for the E17 Art Trail. Testing my hat patterns (again), even taking them away on a little holiday to finish. This sounds like it was an effort. It most certainly was not. I always take knitting away with me, (in fact I take it almost everywhere with me). I aim to always be knitting furiously, when life permits.

We were kindly offered a cottage in Suffolk for a few days over half-term by friends, so we jumped at the chance. It was right near Minsmere RSPB reserve, where Springwatch is based this year. My boy has a true love of nature, nurtured by us, and it was a joy to be with him as he experienced all the beauty of Minsmere. We saw an adder, bearded tits, avocets, and sand martins swooping low just past our faces. We even heard the boom of a bittern. We were lucky enough to have two sitings of bitterns. Miss B was more interested in the ladybird backpack the reserve gave her than the bittern flying directly over her head!

We had a day out in Aldeburgh, where we found the loveliest diner I've ever seen, and I've been to America and everything! Delphine's (it has no website), was a little slice of 50s kitsch, but so beautifully done, right down to the condiment jars. It was a tiny place but we grabbed a booth by the window.

Formica table tops, mint green walls, and a mirrored ceiling!

The most crucial thing for me, and the American hubby, was the food. It was up to the standard of the decor, and that is high praise indeed.

We ordered apple juice for the children, and it came in cute little bottles with straws.

I found a vintage fair in Snape Maltings, so I went a bit embroidery crazy! A cushion cover,

an enormous tea cozy, and a couple of table cloths. I also picked up an entire box of 1930s embroidery transfers. I didn't really want the whole box, but it was the end of the day, it was raining, and the woman selling them said she didn't want to take them home. I'm not complaining, there are some crinoline ladies in there! I could seriously get into embroidery, if I didn't need to sleep at night.

I also saw some 'china' I had never come across before called Melmex. It is a type of plastic from the 1960s (I think). I confined myself to just one, in this pastel pink. I rather fancied a lime green one too, and now I regret not buying it.

Fun was had on the beach collecting rocks, and them throwing them into the sea.

I went to the International Club again last Saturday night with my knitting buddy Simone. We met in Zedel's for dinner first and were pleasantly surprised when the staff gave us a complimentary glass of bubbly. It was because we were wearing hats!

Simone had been to Fashion on the Ration earlier that day, so was wearing a 1940s ensemble, consisting of a CC41 dress and maroon hat.

Photo by Wozza

I wore a cotton jumper I made from a Beehive Wool String pattern book, named 'Interlude'.

The hat I wore is a beret I designed because I just couldn't find the right 1930s pattern for one. It is crocheted, in navy cotton to match the jumper, and because I love navy. Unimaginatively named 'A Draped Beret', I designed it in two sizes, (21 inches and 22 - 23 inches). It also comes in three 'depths', to be worn with more or less drape depending on your personal preference. The beret above is the middle depth.

This version in white has the least depth, which gives it a more nautical look. I will be releasing this pattern at the E17 Art Trail on Friday if I can get a half decent photo of it by then.

Theodora.

E17 Art Trail

It's nearly the start of the E17 Art Trail in Walthamstow. For the first time since I've lived here, I am taking part. I'm very excited about it, but also quite nervous. My good friend Helen Reed invited me to join her for 'A Life of Skein'. We're venue number 11 on the programme.

 Photo courtesy of The Wool Kitchen

Photo courtesy of The Wool Kitchen

We will be hosting it over two days. On Friday 5th June from 10am - 3pm, and Sunday 7th June from 11am - 5pm. our aim is to 'Bring you knitting, crochet and spinning for knit and chat in the garden.'

Helen will be showcasing her hand-dyed yarns, of which she has many! In all weights, from lace weight to super chunky (above), and in a myriad of colours, solid and variegated.

I'm using a 2 ply Exmoor Blue Faced Leicester for my Moss Stitch Beret, which I will release as a pattern for the Art Trail.

It's lovely wool to knit with, super soft and fluffy.

Photo by Wozza

The Moss Stitch Beret in 4 ply alpaca.

This version is in an aran weight silk and alpaca blend.

Photo by Mike D

This is a pattern I had almost forgotten about: Pom Pom Beret. I previously released it as a kit with Abstract yarn shop in Walthamstow village, run by Alessandra Rigillo.

I'm using one of Helen's 'urban hand-dyed' yarns for this one: Another Blue Faced Leicester in an aran weight, so it knits up nice and quickly. It is a super easy pattern, perfect for a beginner. It uses only the knit stitch (garter stitch), with some decreases to shape the top. It has to have pom poms - the bigger, the better.

If you want to see more of her hand dyes, take a peek here.

Photo by Mike D

I seem to be big on the hat knitting. Hmm. Here's my 'Beret for Everyday'. This was done in Excelana, which is - you guessed it - Exmoor Blue Faced Leicester! This pattern will be available at the Art Trail, too.

Let's hope lots of people turn up, or we'll be getting through a lot of tea and cakes ourselves! If you are in Walthamstow, please do come and join us and say, 'Hello'. We aren't bitchin' (like in the photo below), we're just knitting nerds. But then, if you read this blog, you'll know that about me.

We won't be dressed like this, either. There will be more wool. A lot more. I hope it's not too warm out.

Theodora.

Free Pattern Friday and a year of blogging

The end of April marked a year of consistent blogging for me. I actually started this blog in 2011, and managed four posts before I let it slide. I still don't really know what my blog is about, but the consistent theme seems to be vintage knitting, interspersed with the fun things I get up to.

Sometimes, I combine the two, like on a day out with the kiddies in coordinating colours. Here's another look at my Victory Jumper, this time with shoulder pads. They just finish it off. I'm so happy with the length of the sleeves, too, just above the elbow. This was a very popular length in the 1940s, as it made it a very wool-saving alternative to long sleeves when wool was in short supply.

The free pattern this month is from the 1950s, and it's a twinset. A longish polo-neck jumper paired with a dolman-sleeved bolero.

I just love her pose on the cover, and the bold blonde highlights at the front of her tousled, bobbed hair. Quite fancy the skirt and chunky bracelet, too!

It is a larger size than usual: 35-37 inch bust. Worked in 3 ply at a tension of 7.5 sts to the inch, it would be easy to substitute a 4 ply for a slightly larger size.

It will be on the Free Vintage Patterns page, too.

I went to another International Club at the end of April, with my friend Simone. We met for dinner, and headed over for an evening of 78s and a live band. There was a vintage photo booth set up in the basement by Hanson Leatherby, a rather marvelous photographer, who specializes in vintage-style photography. I haven't seen any of the shots from that night yet, but everyone had a great time doing it, so I'm sure they will be amusing.

Simone promised vintage knitwear, and she did not disappoint. Here, she's wearing the Miss Marple coat from A Stitch In Time Vol 2, in a very sensible brown shade.

Her jumper is from a 1930s edition of Stitchcraft magazine, in D.K weight wool. She describes the shade as Sea Green, which sounds very 30s to me. She was very kind and gave me some 3 ply wool, in the same sea green shade, and some in cream. I will give it a very good home. I'm still trying to decide what pattern to knit with it. I'm wearing Embroidered With Tiny Flowers from A Stitch In Time Vol 1. I love the enormous balloon sleeves.

We had some fun in the restored pub where the night is held.

Simones' long-suffering pal Gordon took these pics of us clowning around.

On to the next night of frivolity. I'm still wearing pink, and my hair is still curly. Just fast-forward fifty years.

Mixtape was all about the Yacht Rock last month, and it gave me the perfect opportunity to wear a turquoise jumpsuit and my 'Stevie Nicks' sparkly kimono blouse.

My hair got some serious scrunching action, and I wore it to one side with a hair-comb and copious amounts of hairspray to keep it there.

My partner in crime was Magnum P.I. (see what I did there). The 'tache was pretty impressive.

There was dancing and white wine spritzers were sipped langorously.

I hope this photo thing doesn't mess with your head, my phone did it automatically.

Last month wasn't all fun and games. We had to say goodbye to our beloved puss, Mr Tibbs. He'd been with us since 2006, wandering into our garden as a stray, and becoming a very willing house cat. He was an ace mouser, too.

I'm glad I got some pictures of him before he was put to sleep. He was very ill by the end, so skinny.

He lost that eye quite recently, as a result of an infection made worse by the FIV he had. He was such a loving cat, but he shared a house with two female cats who never took to him, so there was always tension. He had a good life though, I think.

Theodora.