I'm just mad about saffron

(in case any of you are of an age to remember Donovan!).

This is my latest knit from Rowan Winter Blooms book by  Kim Hargreaves, the saffron jumper.  I have finished this a little late as it is very warm and cosy and a bit warm for spring.   I love the peplum and it definitely has the vintage vibe I like.

Its a very simple knit.  If you can cast on and knit and purl you could certainly have a go at this one.  Because I like a fitted look and I knit a little on the loose side I went for negative ease and knit the size small, 34" bust  (while I measure a 37" bust).

The wool is Rowan Lima and really quite strange, it is very soft and fluffy but odd to knit with.  It can't be frogged (pulled back) as it completely looses its shape, and you block it by using the steam method.  I think if may pull or pill quite easily, but it is gorgous to wear. I love the colour, but the wool is variegated and you can just about see that it striped rather strangely in some spots and I broke the wool quite a lot to try and match the two sides of the front and at the seams.

... and a strange, eyes closed, pickie!

 

 

 

I had a lovely mothers' day.  Dan and I went to Dunham Massey which is a stately home.  The gardens were fabulous.

 

Especially this himalayan cherry, the bark was like copper.

 

The great hall had been transformed to a copy of the hospital which it housed in World War 1.  There were actors who walked around reliving lives which had been recorded and in an exhibition you got to find out more about the patients and staff, really interesting.

Our favourite room, the library.

I'd certainly recommend this for a day out (it was very busy and you need to be prepared to wait for a ticket on a similar day).  And a picture of the two of us ..... must remember not to wear such bright socks!

A few days off coming up and I have loads of making plans!  Sometimes I think I enjoy the planning more than the making.  I have two sweater from the lovely PomPom quarterly.  Love this little book which was beautifully wrapped in tissue.  First another warm sweater, which probably won't be worn until Autumn (if we are lucky).

Then a little tee - in the silkiest of yarns

This is my favourite fabric of the moment, Golden Garden by Alexander Henry which took a lot of finding (eventually it came from Vietnam), with a couple of the dresses I am considering.

A new retro pattern from Butterick, to make in Duck egg crepe

Then I found some real bargains at Standfast and Barracks in  Lancaster.  This is liberty Tana Lawn, ok it isn't the current collection but it was only £5 a metre!  So two blouses please.

More Tana Lawn, this time for a Vogue repro dress.

.. and I'm just taking part in Gertie's underwear sew-along.

... and fabric for 2 other dresses planned.  This is my project shelf all ready to get started.

 

So that all looks very tidy and under control, not!  I'm afraid this is the less organised other fabric sitting and waiting for me to do something with, much more messy!

 

So tune in for lots of makes to come.  Now I'm off to watch the final of the Great British Sewing Bee, I really wanted Linda to win.  By the way did you know you can download the patterns used for free at quadrille.co.uk, so maybe I could just make the 1930s blouse as well!!  What plans do you have?

Wooly thoughts

It's been a pretty full week.  Two trips to the Dukes playhouse in Lancaster; to a play called Sabbat about the Pendle witches and to see the film of the NT production of Frankenstein which was excellent!

There was also a lot of puppy time - I'm pleased to report Tess is settling well and very impressively going in the garden (most of the time!).  Rosie is getting on very well with her and there are many manics bouts of chasing each other.

 

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had been buying wool on ebay and a few other sources!  I think its time I confessed to what extent this has been!   

It doesn't look too bad does it?  Only thing is this is just the Baby Cashmero - which I'm using for my ripple blanket and also have been saving up for a Fair Isle jumper.   There is also wool for 3 jumpers and one jacket stashed, as well as for a couple of shawlettes!  Better get knitting then!  

I finished the Rowan jumper, quite pleased although I did struggle with so much moss stitch and changes in tension do show a lot. 

I've always been impressed when people say "I whipped up a .....", making it sound like the work of moments, but my next knitting project was just that.  I took about 4 hours to "whip up" this little shawl and as I was knitting it I thought I would never wear it, but I absolutely love it.  It's so soft and easy to wear and it took an afternoon.  Fantastic.



There has also been a bit of crochet.  I used some more of my cotton to make a cover for a hot chocolate tin!  The inspiration for this came from Lucy at attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-tin-cover.html whose crochet is just gorgeous.    I have to say that I don't enjoy crocheting with this cotton and its tiny 2.5 crochet hook as much as I do the thicker yarn ... and indeed it took me quite a while to finish this.  Still got a lot of the cotton to use up though!

I probably should point out I've had an extra 2 days off work this week to play!  Hence quite a bit of lovely crafty time.  Shame there was little sun though.  Still the wild flowers at the moment are stunning and I'll finish with a couple more of the lovely meadow we walk through.