Kirsten and I are obviously both fired up by this latest project, having ideas for the next month while the previous one is still in progress. It was lovely to get her parcel this week whilst Rosie was still here, so we could look at the Flat Gift together. This was published in 1972, and women's liberation was beginning to take off ...[including taking off and burning bras, and shedding our suspender belts in favour of tights]. But you will find none of that nonsense in here, oh no! this is definitely a book for unliberated little girls
- Your first project, a hairband [Ask Mother for a piece of elastic]
- Another project, as decimalisation has just happened, a pocket money purse [perhaps Father will give you a bright new 1p coin to put in it]
- Make a ball for baby and stuff it with cotton wool [or old nylon stockings cut up into small pieces]
- Or a pencil case [ask Mother to press this well under a damp cloth]
Rosie and I had a good giggle. Then we looked in detail at K's stitching. She had used another scrap of her Laura Ashley fabric, but this time done rich, dense embroidery to resemble Kashmiri rugs, with their rows of chain stitching. K said it reminded her of her Oma's house.
My piece was a sashiko wave. It was a free download from here but I did my practice piece and decided I wanted the wave going the other way! I used a perle thread in shades of blue
Here it is alongside Kirsten's first Laura Ashley Patch. A surprisingly different interpretation of the same pattern.
K's 2nd Flat Gift was a piece of the LA for me. I am keeping that in reserve for another time!
Ladybird books so familiar to those of us of a certain age, and yes, some of them so endearingly but hopelessly old fashioned 😀
ReplyDeleteThe stitchery is beautiful.
Alison in Wales x
The easiest project was "a knitted tie for Father" Rosie declared that her father never wears a tie anymore!
ReplyDelete'ask Father for a penny'.....because he obviously holds the purse strings! Isn't it funny to look back on these social attitudes now. Both stitchings are lovely, what will you come up with next I wonder?
ReplyDeleteThank you - I know Kirsten has an idea 'in development' and I am still working mine out
DeleteLadybird books fascinated me as a child because they were so far removed from my own life. I was a police officers child and we lived in a variety of police houses-some attached to police stations and some not. Glad Rosie enjoyed her time with you and was there when the parcel came. Thanks for sharing the link to sashiko. Catriona
ReplyDeleteIt was those twee little gardens with white picket fences. And full skirted dresses with sashes. And Mummies with never a [permed] hair out of place. And matching china!
DeleteOh those Ladybird books, they were definitely 'of their time' weren't they. :-)
ReplyDeleteOh most definitely. I have just notice the pencil case contains a Proper Fountain Pen. Do children use these nowadays?
DeleteWhat made me chuckle was the knitted egg cosy! This book seems more like something from the late 50's to me! JanF
ReplyDeleteIt feels like it was written well before 1972
DeleteI remember that the children were always 'properly' dressed when they went out; the little girl had a hat and what my mother called a Kensington coat, with a velvet collar, and the boy a belted mackintosh and school cap.
ReplyDeleteOh those little coats with the velvet collars,I so wanted one!
Delete1972 is a long time ago and yet it doesn't seem so to me! But I can't imagine anyone knitting those items over 50 years later! I'm enjoying seeing Kristen's and your embroidery.
ReplyDeleteI Knitted my Dad a tie once. It stretched horribly
DeleteI have read through all the adventures and good time you had with Rosie visiting. Precious for grandparents and for Rosie!
ReplyDeleteSuch precious memories stored away
DeleteI didn't grow up with Ladybird books, but, I do like looking at vintage books. Your stitchery and Kirsten's are beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteLadybird Books area peculiarly English tradition, first published in 1914. Their size 4½ x 7 inches was chosen because one 56 page book could be produced from a single large sheet of printers' paper with NO WASTAGE. That meant it was cheaper to make, and sold at a n affordable price.
DeleteI love these!!! Kx
ReplyDeleteHaving even more fun with this project
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