That's Torn It!

I took Bob a cup of tea, as it was 11am. He turned round from his computer and stared at me, raising one eyebrow quizzically "Why are you dressed like that?" . I was wearing a crop top bra and a pair of ancient capri-length lycra running shorts. I explained it was the winter/summer wardrobe swap. I try on everything.  If something is too tight over these undergarments, then it goes. The thickness of the shorts guarantees I have 'breathing space' at the waist - and avoid anything too tight in hot, sticky weather. Three garments, all made around 2014 didn't make the cut. 

They were all made from the same Lisette pattern. The first, a tunic which I previously wore a lot with leggings, was a genuine 1960s vintage print  given to me by a neighbour. My splashy Lily Pulitzer dress. The second, was a lovely Javanese cotton sarong from Kezzie which I turned into a summer dress. The third a pretty cotton dress made from a cheap 'Poundland fabric' down in Dorset - I added useful patch pockets.

In this week's trials, I discovered that the Java dress fitted beautifully, except for the cuffs on the sleeves. A teeny bit tight on my 'bingo wings'. I love this one, so I have removed the cuffs, and will bind the edges, so it fits comfortably.

The third is just too tight - but is a cute teddy bear print. This may make something for Jess.

But the first? Ooops! This shift has no fastenings, which is why I like the pattern! I got into it ok, but when I tried to wriggle out it completely disintegrated under the left arm and across the bust.  Absolutely no possibility of salvaging this one. Let's face it, the fabric is 60 years old - and at that age most things have either worn thin [like this] or run to fat [like me]

The final casualty was that £1 Patra dress from the CS shop last summer. When I got it, it was reduced because the sleeves had ripped. I wore it quite a lot at the end of the summer - but like the Pulitzer frock, the fabric had definitely reached the end of its life, and as I shook it out, I could see it was worn through in places, and ripped even before I out it on. I removed all the lovely Mother of Pearl buttons, and cut out and salvaged the best parts of the pretty print.  And rolled up the blue fabrics to go into the loft.

The Pulitzer will make a good lining for a bag, the Petra will perhaps be used in machine embroidery, and the teddy bears may make a skirt for Jess.

A few 'wearable' garments have gone into the donate bag, A  satisfactory swap-around

Do you do a seasonal wardrobe swap?

They Never Expected That!

In the old days, my parents went into the shop, selected their purchase and handed over the cash. They could see the size. and weight , and quality. Now we order online, and pay with a card, and within a few days, the product we have chosen is delivered to our door. Or is it?

Years ago I had to alter a fancy dress costume for a slim young friend. She had ordered 32/34 thinking it was the bust size. It wasn't, it was the American dress size [bust 60"+]! It could have been a 2-man tent. I altered it for her, and had an awful lot of spare camo fabric left over.

Then there are those people whose supermarket online orders come with very bizarre substitutions. "a birthday cake candle, number 5" being replaced by 2 and 3 [because 2+3 = 5!]  

And others who order patio furniture or cupboards, only to discover they are sized to fit a doll's house. One of my loveliest birthday gifts this last week was a cross stitch kit. At least, that's what my friend thought she was ordering. When it arrived, it was simply the pattern chart, printed out on three sheets of paper. She was, understandably, concerned - she had expected fabric and threads to be included. 

Was it of any use? Fortunately I have some evenweave fabric left over from the 2024 project with Kirsten. And lots of threads- all recently sorted, I can line them up with my DMC shade chart and sort out the exact threads I need. What might have been a disappointment has actually turned out to be an excellent Stash Buster. Thanks C.

Have you ever received a delivery which was not what you expected?

Wool Gathering

If you buy yarn from The Wool Warehouse it will be delivered* in a tulle drawstring bag. This is useful for keeping knitting clean and tidy, containing the balls of yarn and the knitted pieces. I have just started a new project. It is rather complex so I'm not revealing anything yet.

But I did want to mention that this is the second time I've used WW and I am very pleased with their stuff, and there is lots to check out on the website. As well as knitting yarns, patterns and accessories, they have sewing stuff too. [*WW give you the eco-option of 'no bag' if you want to avoid unnecessary packaging.]

The dictionary defines wool-gathering as "indulgence in idle daydreaming, or aimless wandering of the mind" I will just say that the latest pattern I am working on requires 100% concentration so I am doing just a dozen rows each day. 

Do you have anything on your needles right now? 

Count Your Blessings...

... then ask for grace to share them generously with others. 
 

Prime Time

Thank you Côte Brasserie for a fabulous birthday lunch 

1. Bob had crab paté, I had a Kir Rosé alco-free cocktail 
2. Main course - he had steak frites, I had moules et frites
3. Dessert - pistachio brulé for him, cafe gourmand for me.

We strolled back to the car park, and came home very full, and very happy . Thank you all for such kind words yesterday, I had some lovely gifts and cards

Yes that is a Christmas card. My old schoolfriend remains in hospital [since November] but she found an unused Christmas card in her locker so wrote me a birthday greeting inside. The Manchester boys made a card with" all the things Grandma likes" on it.

Jesus the King, the Bible, Palm Sunday, family, tea, flowers...I think it is excellent! 

So very grateful to be surrounded by love right now.

In My Prime

Today is my birthday - looking forward to going out to lunch with Bob later.  We all ate the birthday cake last week - it was Jon's birthday on Easter Sunday - so I decided we would share cake and a cuppa together one afternoon while they were in Norfolk. My lovely new neighbour asked me to alter some trousers for her recently. I said she didn't need to pay me - my sewing is a gift I love to use to help my friends. She said she would like to do something - so I suggested she might bake me a cake. She has a reputation for baking, and I told her coffee&walnut is Bob's favourite. 

Doesn't this look splendid? It tasted fantastic, and was soon eaten up! Gloria delivered it on a cakeboard, saying she did not want the board back, she had plenty, and this one had been used before anyway.

Never one to waste anything, I covered the board in grey wallpaper - it made a brilliant stone in front of my Easter Tomb last Sunday! 

I do not feel any older than I did yesterday. 71 is a prime number, so this year I think I shall be 'in my prime' 

I Have Seen The Golden Sunshine

🌞Wednesday dawned bright and sunny. It was a rare Wednesday-Without-Shed day, and Bob was eager to get out and enjoy the weather🌞 I'd had a bad night, and woken with a headache. After he'd brought me breakfast in bed, it seemed churlish to say "I need to stay home and do housework"

🌞We got in the car and drove up to Deepdale Market on the coast. We stopped briefly en route to investigate a sign saying "Bric-A-Brac - Everything £1" I bought a sign which amused me, and Bob bought a filthy pair of pincers. We drove on to Burnham Deepdale, the sky was so blue, and the countryside so green...

I do love the mural in the alley way to the pop up craft shops. Not much of interest, but two lovely ladies were selling handmade jewellery and knitted accessories in aid of Duchenne UK. They were sisters, and one was the gran of a boy who has DMD. I treated myself to a kilt pin brooch for £5 - decorated with sewing notions and a Manchester bee. 

After a jacket potato lunch we drove home stopping in Fakenham, for milk in Lidl and a mooch round the Sue Ryder shop. I found a book

A simple cover, with fantastic contents. Years ago I got this from the library and knitted Steph the fingerless gloves for her birthday, then made half a dozen pairs as Christmas gifts. The book is divided into four sections with seasonal items to knit, sow, bake,craft and grow... 

Here is a photo of Steph's gloves from 2009

I shall enjoy reading this book again, and maybe I'll have time to do more of the projects. Some are pictured below. The illustrations are clear, with good templates and photos. Worth £2 I think. Altogether I spent £8, plus my spud. A good day out. I'm deciding where to put my sign, Bob polished up his vintage pincers the moment we got home. They look splendid. 

"o

I am not sure why we should" beware children playing". I think "be aware of children playing" probably would sound a little kinder. But the sign made me smile, and I love that children come and play in my garden.

This week's sunshine has been lovely. I hope the weather is kind where you are.