If At First You Don't Succeed...

So, two years ago, I took on the 52 Projects Challenge

The idea came from a couple of blogs I was following at the time - one now defunct, the other still going
The idea was that you made a list of 52 projects you hoped to complete during 2014 - then did them!

If you click on the categories list on my sidebar you will see my attempts. The problem was that other things seemed to get in the way, and somewhere in the autumn, I lost the list! I did not manage the things - but I did get other things done. 
I have decided the approach was wrong - instead of berating myself for what I did not achieve, it would be better to stop at the end of each month and make a collage of stuff I had produced, and was pleased with.  And I would not make the list in advance, that way I would be doomed to fail. So here is January's picture 

1. my latest dress from the 'Market' Pattern
2. my recovered ottoman
3. the baby hat and bootees made for a friend's newborn
4. a striped baby cardigan

The cardi is using up some wool Liz bought and didn't get on with. I added a third colour and used that Sirdar book again to knit this one. It is in a larger size - knitting the newborn sizes may be quicker, but babies do grow so fast it is more sense to do bigger stuff.

Bring Up The Bodies!

I did enjoy Sarah Lund, in “The Killing” – and I loved her sweaters. And similarly, Kate Davies wonderful knitwear popped up in “Shetland”, the Scottish police drama I watched back in March. Somehow I felt that encased in a warm Fair Isle or Scandi sweater, I could face anything!

One of my SILs [technically, should that be SsIL ?] gave me a gift token. And I decided to spend it on some lovely real wool for such a sweater. Not cheap Aldi acrylic blends, but the pukka sheep product

I dithered and dithered, and finally went out in October and purchased the yarn. Then it became a matter of pride to finish this one of my 52 projects in time for Christmas.

My pattern is a vintage Lister one from the early 1970s. I found it on eBay. I had a similar sweater to this, which Mum knitted me in Lister Lochinvar wool. That one had a yoke in shades of deep green, with bright white body and sleeves.  I knitted the jumper very carefully, making it slightly longer than the pattern suggested, and then I blocked it on a board.

I love the heathery tones of the random yarn [Sirdar] against the creamy Rowan wool. I shall wear it on Christmas Day and then for bracing walks in the Norfolk countryside a few days later. Hoping I do not unearth any bodies though! Here’s some photos.

I have to say that it looks better on me than it does on a hanger. The pattern was especially good because you knit the front, back and two sleeves, then slip all the stitches onto a circular needle to knit the yoke. No complicated ‘picking up stitches’ – which I always struggle to do neatly and evenly. My only real problem was that I did the neckline ribbing and casting off whilst watching a particularly tense episode of “The Missing” and my tension went incredibly tight in sympathy. When I tried it on, it wouldn’t go over my head! I had to unpick the neck and re-knit it calmly. I quite fancy knitting a black one now, with white patterning – but I am a little bit too busy right now I think!

Some people think that giving a token is a ‘lazy’ gift – but for me this has proved to be a wonderful present, with hours of pleasure.

Sometimes You Just Have To Admit Defeat

I honestly thought I could manage this one. I took an exercise book and began writing a list of things – projects begun, but uncompleted, and projects I intended doing One Day When I Get A Spare Moment.

I dutifully worked through them through the Spring and Summer- and I think I got about 26 completed by the time we went on holiday. Some were making things, others about sorting and organising. I’d added things to the list through the year and carefully ticked things off. But then we went on holiday and somehow I’ve mislaid the exercise book. Is it at Cornerstones? Who knows?

I can remember some of the things I listed – “clean, lubricate and return the running machine to BIL”and “refurbish and refurnish Liz’s Doll’s House”. But I have forgotten most of the other items.

There are less than 8 weeks left this year – and they will be very full of Christmas stuff – and also the Grand Pre-Moving Declutter. So I seriously doubt that any more of the list will be completed [apart from returning the running machine!]

I have done my best – but unexpected sewing tasks [Snow White aprons, Rapunzel Dresses] a trip to Salzburg, and a heavier workload at school this term have all depleted my free time for Personal Projects. So I admit defeat – 50% done is better than none.

Who knows, the exercise book may turn up again when I start packing in earnest – and I can begin all over again in Dorset!

It’s Awl Out Of The Bag!

This project got started last summer when I was on holiday – and all through the winter has languished, unfinished in a carrier bag. But now everything has come together and at last I can reveal the finished article.

It began when I kept seeing these gorgeous woven straw “French Market Bags” everywhere, particularly in North Norfolk, round places like Holt and Burnham Market. That’s where some rather wealthy folks have their holiday homes, and the shops charge an arm and a leg for the most basic things. Bags like this…

I considered the options – buy one in Norfolk [the cheapest I saw in BM was £28] or zip over to France and pick one up there [but the trip will cost more than £28] or make one. Then I saw this bag on the “Quilt While You’re Ahead” blog – it is crocheted in twine! The pattern is available on the blog [thank you so much, Monica!]

Monica used Nutscene Twine in order to get the pretty colours. I went into Dereham Wilko’s and my friend Ann [she was in Girls’ Brigade with me in the 60’s] served me with a couple of large spools of plain Wilko Jute. I set to and made a bag – trying to follow the pattern.

The first attempt came up in a shape I was not too happy with [must get back to Hookery for some more crochet lessons] but #2 was fine. I wanted to put strap handles on, so I just left four neat buttonholes near the top, rather than making handles in crochet like QWYA. Bob suggested using the leftover red leather from the chair. At this point the project stalled.

Then this summer, back in Burnham Market, Bob spotted this calico Land Girl’'s Bag. The strap was one continuous loop of leather. I liked that.

Bob cut me 4 strips of the red leather and I sewed them [with our new awl]to make a loop 10 feet long!

But what about the lining? I wanted some heavy cotton twill type cloth.

My cousin Gill gave me this lovely Marmite tea-towel a few Christmases back – and I have never been able to bring myself to use it. But it is such a lovely heavy piece of twill cotton – and was exactly the right size to line my bag. Just the deep red edge shows when the bag is loaded, and goes well with the leather.

Here’s the finished article…

The straps thread through the holes and are stitched at the top for extra support. I am really pleased with it – the cost of the twine came to less than £5. And nobody else has one quite like mine.

So next time I am in Holt, if I do bump into Camilla when she is popping into Byfords, I shall feel very chic.[My SIL tells me that the Duchess of Cornwall is quite fond of dining there]

Cheap Frills

Just in case you had thought I’d forgotten about this challenge, I have polished off three projects in one go this holiday. I wanted to see just how much mileage I could get from my Lisette Market Pattern

Thus far I have turned a CS pinafore dress into a cute mini skirt, my neighbour’s retro prints into a blouse and a tunic, and Kezzie’s sarong into a dress. All of these receive bags of compliments when I wear them. I even had women at the WDP conference in Salzburg taking photos and pattern details because they wanted to go home and make their own. How crazy is that?

My 52 Projects list included the following items

• make up a tunic - this time with the frills on the sleeves
• try out the pattern in a stretch fabric
• re-purpose those two unused tee-shirts which have been in the wardrobe since November 2008

I combined all three projects last week when I had finished my ‘scheduled sewing tasks’. Here are the tee shirts

 

They came from a PA event I attended in Nottingham with Bob – and were promotional gifts – both large size. I ironed them, and cut off the sleeves and cut up both sides on one, and just one side on the other. I cut the front and back all in one piece, so that I could keep the existing neckline and shoulder seams, then cut sleeves and ruffles from the second tee-shirt [positioning pattern pieces carefully to include the graphics] I was able to use the existing neckline and the existing hems on the bottom of the tee and the sleeve ruffles.

I’m not sure. I do like the little ruffles on the sleeves, much more than I thought I would. Making up the pattern in a stretch fabric was fine. Putting the bust darts in definitely made for a better fit. I should have noticed my hair had got ruffled, and brushed it before the photoshoot, and I still need to lose a bit more weight.

Bob says he thinks the top is “very quirky”- but that I should send the pictures to Prismsound! [I suspect he is hoping they will send us some PA gear – but I imagine if I get anything tangible in response it will just be another tee-shirt!]

Anybody else got any good tee-shirt refashion ideas?

Ä R T H G

In the spring, I borrowed some books from Dereham Library about Scandinavian embroidery – and one of them inspired me to find out more about this lady - Brita Kajsa Karlsdotter. She lived a hard life where the struggle for bread and food was her most important task each day. She had eleven children, and was good and generous. Her strong religious beliefs gave her strength through the difficulties she met in her every day life.

Often, her embroideries are signed with the letters ÄRTHG which means All The Glory Belongs To God. Brita was very poor. The material she used for table cloths were pieces of used sheet - recycling - återvinning - gjenbruk - even in the 1800s! She picked the part of the sheet that was in the best condition. More, she picked out the red cotton threads of an old towel to use for embroidering. Her inspiration was from the nature in her surroundings.Pine trees, and Swedish summer wild flowers. In old age, she could stitch, but was unable to see to thread the needles- so visitors were asked to prepare needles with lengths of red thread, so she could stitch them up later! I mention this as a note to my family for future reference.

As part of my 52 Projects, I picked up a lovely old cream woollen blanket from the Sue Ryder Shop in Dereham for just £3, and I decided to embroider each corner with Swedish style designs.

It is traditional to put one’s maiden name on such work – but I’ve just put AMH – my initials before marriage. Sydd ar mig is Swedish for Stitched by Me - and because I acknowledge that all my stitching skills are a gift, I have put Brita’s ÄRTHG  motto as well. Much Scandinavian stitchery uses blue as well as red wools – so I have done that [many of the Cornerstones furnishings are red/white/blue]

I finished the blanket on Thursday afternoon after my post –op doze, and on Friday, Bob whisked me off to Cornerstones for 24 hours [convalescing for me, grass cutting for him] The blanket is now draped on the sofa, ready for Country Living or Kirstie Allsopp to come and photograph it, in all its stylish beauty.

ÄRTHG  perfectly sums up my feelings about our little bungalow, so it seems quite appropriate that my blanket should live there!

Feeling Like A Teenager Again!

No, I haven’t had a sudden burst of energy, or a facelift, played Simon and Garfunkel LPs, or spent the afternoon watching a young slim John Nettles playing Bergerac – no, I have just re-used a dress pattern for the fifth time! Back in 1974 I bought this McCall’s pattern for 45p. I made it long [blue and green] and short [lilac] and then in 1979 it was my used for my wedding dress in white satin.

I modified the sleeves, and the neckline – with and without the collar – I really got my money’s worth. Now I am repeating this…

This pattern looks like being equally worth the investment. So far I have converted my ‘Amish housewife dress’ into a cute little skirt, used the fabric from my neighbour Yvonne to make a yellow blouse and a Lilly Pulitzer retro tunic, and Kezzie’s sarong to make a blue cotton dress for Austria [I should mention that other delegates in Salzburg asked to photograph both these last two!]

Now I’ve made another tunic- this time I turned the neck facing to the inside, and cut the armholes deeper and faced them. The fabric is a lovely cool drapey cotton, a gift from my friend Sandie. She said she thought I could do something with the red border print. It is a little ho-hum on the hanger, but Bob says I look “Very Mary Quant” when wearing it. [I wear it with leggings- I’m too old for a mini that short!]

Mary Quant [now in her eighties!] was the designer of my youth, producing clothes which were inexpensive and practical [short, ‘so you could run for the bus more easily’ she once said] Confession – my shortest mini-skirt came in at just twelve inches long. I got told off for wearing it to a Christian Union meeting at Uni! I was [and still am] under five feet tall – it’s not as if I had legs as long as Twiggy’s

My new black border print tunic is one of my 52 Projects – I am determined that any dress fabric gifted to me will be turned promptly into something wearable. Thank you Sandie for your generosity

Put It In The Pantry With Your Cupcakes…

NO I haven’t forgotten about the 52 projects challenge – and I even managed to squeeze in an extra during May to compensate for my week away in June. But many tasks have not seemed blog-worthy.

Last week a school cancelled my booking – so I used the time to tidy my food cupboard. It was a mess [and I forgot to take a photo of the ‘before’] Now everything is neatly stacked and stored. There was only one discard – a jar of pickled silverskin onions, unopened, but two years out of date. They looked  odd, so I unscrewed the lid, and they smelt even odder. They went! Everything else was sorted, jars were wiped down, labelled, and lined up tidily – and things are much better now.

I also had a radical decimation of my storage boxes – unmatched lids and bottoms went, as did boxes with splits, or missing tabs. The Lock’n’lock does seem to be outperforming the cheaper equivalents. “Food cupboard” is a very uninteresting name – but I don’t have anything equivalent to these three

• pantry  [from the Latin panis – bread – the bread store]
• scullery [from the Latin scutella – platter – the bowl store]
• larder [from the Latin lardum – bacon – the meat store]

My bread is in a stainless steel Brabantia breadbin, my plates and bowls are in various cupboards, and the meat in the fridge and freezer. I always thought a ‘buttery’ was some sort of store for dairy produce, but it seems that it comes from ‘butt’ – wine and liquor storage! I don’t have one of them either.

What do you call your food storage areas?

Fun With Florentines

Down the years, I have accumulated a box of ‘cover kits’ – the things that come stuck to the front of craft magazines. Back in London, we had a friend who worked for the Railways and his job was to collect and return all unsold magazines from WHS– but the ‘freebies’ had to be removed an discarded. So he would bring round bags of bits and pieces – toys for the girls, floppy discs [remember them?] for Bob, and stitch kits for me.

I decided one of my 52 projects should be to stitch them up, and find creative uses for them. I had a set of three tapestry kits – canvas, yarn and needle which were landscapes. But no charts to work from.

The pictures of the packets were really too small to decipher – but then I had an idea. I downloaded a Florentine chart from the internet [that is the stitch pattern, not the gorgeous chocolate biscuit!]

Because the threads were all nature/earth colours, they went really well together and I stitched a little rectangle in the pattern [in America this pattern is often called Bargello, after the Florentine Palace where chairs are stitched with this pattern]Then I stitched up two more – and pondered on what to do with them.

I don’t have a needlecase at Cornerstones – I realised at Easter that the needles there are just stuck through a remnant of felt. So I found some suitable fabric in an old book of sample swatches

I sewed a little book, with an inside pocket, and fastened it with a bit of slim leather thong, wrapped round a vintage brass button which I thought looked suitably Italian.

I put a little pocket inside too, to hold a needle threader. A quick and easy project which has made something useful from something otherwise neglected.

Steph and I had a wonderful Citybreak in Florence in 2003. So much art and culture to see and enjoy. It now appears that the pounding feet of the tourists may be damaging David’s ankles. Oh dear!

If you do feel the need of the biscuits, here is the recipe from Ocado.

Allegedly they were created in Renaissance Florence by the cook of the Medici family.

Fine And Dandy!

I know they are considered a weed- but I love dandelions. I love their sunny golden colour against the green of the lawn, I still enjoy ‘telling the time’ by blowing away the seeds on the dandelion clock, just like I used to as a little girl years and years ago.

When we returned from Cornerstones, the back lawn at the Manse was sprinkled with little yellow spots of sunshine.

We have such an abundant crop – perhaps I ought to be super-frugal and pick the tiny green leaves to add to salads, as Alys Fowler suggests – but I suspect Bob might demur. And they are a diuretic after all [the French name is pissenlit!]

These flowers have inspired artists and designers for years – Lucienne Day’s Dandelion Clocks appeared in the fifties – and is still in production [on linen, at £75 a metre I do not own even a scrap]

Just lately I seem to have been surrounded by Dandelion-type Prints

My SIL Denise gave me a Sanderson Dandelion print teatowel – and then my birthday Kindle from Liz had a similar design on the case [although this is described as ‘cornflower’]

The library book I borrowed yesterday has a pattern for a sketchbook cover, and it’s made from two co-ordinating dandelion prints. They are everywhere! Then I also spotted this cool apron on the internet

It is described as an ‘elderberry apron’ but nevertheless it reminded me of all the other prints I had been looking at.

I think these stylised flowerheads are all so pretty – maybe I ought to add ‘embroider some dandelions’ to my Project 52 list!

Are you fond of dandelions – or do you regard them as weeds to be eradicated?