Knitty adventures at Monkley Ghyll

Susan and Gavin very kindly invited us up to the farm they moved into in March, (in fact the same weekend we moved into our new house). It's in an idyllic spot in Lancashire, about 20 minutes from the coast and Morecambe Bay. You will have read of their journey if you read her blog Just Call Me Ruby. We had the most wonderful time, as did the children. It was so good to squeeze one more trip in before school started.
 

 
These lovely creatures greeted us. I can't remember their breeds, I think the brown one is a Zwartbles? They were super soft, and greasy. We also met the chickens.

Miss B rolled her sleeves up ready to set to work.

We had a lovely day out in Morecambe Bay.

We had morning coffee at the Midland Hotel built in 1933.  

That morning I chose to wear The Frilly Jumper which I had finished years ago, but never photographed. Luckily it was from 1934.

I made it using some vintage cotton I found on Ebay years ago, by Bucilla, a 3 ply in pale beige and off white. I don't know when it dates from, I'd like to think the 30s, but more likely the 50s. It's one of the loveliest yarns I've ever worked with. It has a high twist, but is light, even though it is mercerised.

This is the ceiling of the hotel with the spiral staircase leading up to it.

The foyer and lounge area with the original rug.

We went to Brucciani's for lunch, another 30s gem, listed now and almost untouched ever since.

You can just see the mirror with ornate lamp above it.

Now I couldn't visit Susan without bringing some knitwear, in the off chance that she might photograph me in it. I have so many completed jumpers from both volumes now that I haven't had photographed. We managed one, but there are still lots to go.

                                                 Image courtesy of Susan Crawford

The Rose Jumper at last. Knit in the same yarn, in the smallest size. I'm very happy with the result. It seemed a little short at first, but has already dropped after just a few wears. That would be the silk.

                                                        Image Susan Crawford

Photographed outside Susan's front door, on a little stone wall filled with fragrant lavender. Everything was still in bloom.

                                                Image courtesy of Susan Crawford

I also took a few shots of Susan with my camera, a Canon 500D, with a 50mm lens. (In fact all the shots apart from the ones by Michael Demetriou and the ones in and of the hotel and cafe, which were taken with my phone, or Gavin or Susan's phone), are taken with this lens.

Susan also took a few shots of a couple of her designs, Nancy, which is available now, and Asthall, which will be released soon. They will be part of a collection called Knits for a Cold Climate.

As I may have mentioned, lots of the jumpers are being re-knitted in Fenella and Excellana, so I also got to model one of the re-knits - Could Anything Be Prettier, which I completely fell in love with. No photos of that yet though. The fit is almost exactly like the original version in the book, light and airy in Fenella, in the dove grey shade Columbine. Of course after wearing that I had to buy some Columbine along with Marriner to re-knit one of my designs, Bebe Daniels. It was originally knitted in Matchmaker 4 ply which is no longer available.
                                                                               

                                                         Images Michael Demetriou

I think it is going to look lovely in those two shades. Got to finish a few things before that though.                                                                       
                                                                         

Got my husband to take one of my boy and me on the old rusty gate opposite the front door. I was wearing my Blackberry Cardigan. It was so peaceful there, all we heard were the swallows above us, and the sheep bleeting in the field. The pigs got very excited if we went near them though, expecting food.

Filling up their water trough was tremendous fun.

Pottering.

Our last day, waving goodbye to the farm. He was so sad to leave.

So was I. Thank you Gavin and Susan.

                        

First Day

It was the first day of school this week for my boy, but also the first day for me of life without him during the day. He looks a bit sad here, but that's because someone is taking his photo, which he hates. He soon cheered up when he got into the playground.

I made an effort to look nice that day, it gave me a great opportunity to wear some of the goodies I picked up on my travels with Susan.

She is selling off lots of the pieces from Vol 1 of A Stitch In Time, as so many of them are now being re-knitted in either Excellana or Fenella, and she just doesn't have space for them. I was lucky to get first dibs on them. I chose the Blackberry Cardigan. I loved wearing it for the book, and had such fun playing the 'haughty' lady. It has been in my queue for ages, and now I don't have to knit it! Woo hoo!

                                                                                                                      Image Susan Crawford

Image courtesy of Susan Crawford

            
I also nabbed the Shell Pattern Cap, which I just had to have as I crocheted it for the book. It was one of the first things I crocheted actually. I'm glad Susan trusted me to do it, as it turned out really well, and still fits beautifully. I've decided I need more grey in my wardrobe.               
                                                                                       

 
 Image Susan Crawford

I did want to buy the Pinafore Jumper too, but it was just too short, no matter how many times I tried to pull it down. I would need at least one more pattern repeat on the body to wear it. Back in the queue! I also really wanted So Completely Feminine, as I knitted it for the book, and have great memories of doing it. But again, it was a bit short on my long old bod, so I left it for someone else. Sigh...

I picked up a few more pieces too, which I will share in my next post about Monkley Ghyll.

 
An anxious boy, and I'm trying to make up for it by smiling too much. At least I'm wearing sensible knitwear.

Crochet Mug Cosy

I've seen lots of mug cosies around, and thought I would make one for myself. Having then made a few more as gifts I thought I would share the pattern with you.

It is a very easy pattern to follow, (it had to be really as I am still by no means an expert in crochet)! I used a chunky weight yarn, as it works up really quickly and keeps it's shape. I used Robin Chunky, a 100% acrylic yarn. It fits most standard mugs. The one below is an American diner style mug.

The version above has a button in a matching yarn. For the first one I used a plastic button, (pic below). I soon realised if I wanted to throw it in the washing machine, I should use the same yarn. For a smaller button you could use an Aran weight yarn, but remember to make your button loop slightly shorter. The pattern for the button is based on a free one from yarnforward.com 
Thank you Yarn Forward.

This pattern uses UK and US crochet terms. US pattern and terms are below the UK ones.

Materials
Approximately 50g of chunky weight yarn
6mm hook
Scissors
Large eye sewing needle

Abbreviations
ch - chain
dc - double crochet
rep - repeat
sl st - slip stitch
st - stitch

Pattern
Row 1: Make 10ch, * miss 1ch, 2dc in next ch, rep from * to end. Make 1ch and turn.
Row 2: * Miss 1dc, 2dc in next dc, rep from * to end. Make 1ch and turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures approximately 25cms, omitting the 1ch at the end of the row. Do not turn.

Make 3ch, sl st into base of cosy at end of first row. Slip stitch back across chains and up last row worked. See photos below.

To make button loop, make 10 - 12ch, sl st in base of ch.

Button
Make 2ch, leaving a 12cm tail.
Round 1: 8dc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in 1st dc.
Round 2: 1ch, * draw up a loop in 1st dc. Draw up a loop in next dc, yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Rep from * 3 times, so that all 8 dcs in Rnd 1 have been worked. Sl st into 1st dc to complete round.

Fasten off, leaving a 10cm tail. Using sewing needle and 12cm tail pad the button to create filling. With 10cm tail gather opening of button and pull up tight to create a base and sew to opposite side of button loop.

This is my first crochet pattern design, so if anyone gives it a go and it doesn't work, please let me know.

'I like a nice up of tea in the morning...' (Binnie Hale)

US version

Materials
Approximately 50g of Bulky weight yarn
10-J/6mm hook
Scissors
Large eye sewing needle

Abbreviations
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
rep - repeat
sl st - slip stitch
st - stitch
in(s) - inch(es)

Pattern

Row 1: Ch10, *skip 1ch, 2sc in next ch, rep from * to end. Ch1 and turn.
Row 2: *Skip 1sc, 2sc in next sc, rep from * to end, Ch1 and turn.

Rep Row 2 until piece measures approximately 10 ins, omitting ch1 at the end of the row. Do not turn.

Ch3, sl st into base of cosy at end of first row. Slip stitch back across chains and up last row worked. (See above photos for further help.)

To make button loop, ch10 - 12, sl st in base of ch.

Button

Ch2, leaving a 5 in tail.
Round 1: 8sc in 2nd ch from hook. Sl st in 1st sc.
Round 2: Ch1, * draw up a loop in 1st sc. Draw up a loop in next sc, yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops on hook. Rep from * 3 times, so that all 8 scs in Rnd 1 have been worked. Sl st into 1st sc to complete round.

Fasten off, leaving a 4 in tail. Using sewing needle and 5 in tail pad the button to create filling. With 4 in tail gather opening of button and pull up tight to create a base and sew to opposite side of button loop.

Please let me know if you come across an error, this is my first crochet design.

Thank you. Hope you like it!

'You're the cream in my coffee...' (Jack Hylton)

Summer is over

Summer seems to be at an end now, at least that's how it feels to me as my little boy starts school this week. It is the beginning of a brand new chapter in his life. And in my life, too.

This was him on his last day at nursery. Yesterday we had a settling in day at the new school, and when I say 'new', I mean it. A brand new, shiny building for Reception, Years 1 and 2. He was very nervous, and didn't want to go in, but once he saw the dinosaurs he was away. His teacher is awesome, but I do worry that it will be hard for him. He is a sensitive soul, and had a hard time settling into nursery. The bigger children in the playground frightened him. It's only now that I am writing this that I feel sad, I know it will change him, crush his spirit. I just hope it doesn't destroy his already shaky confidence.

We were very lucky to have had two holidays this summer, after years of none at all. I didn't mind in the slightest, I love being in London during the summer. It feels so empty, well, relatively.

My diet plans while in America didn't quite pan out, surprisingly.

If you haven't heard of Cracker Barrel, you just need to know it serves fried steaks for breakfast.

Great days at the beach, and two great nights out on our own.

We had dinner in a cinema, (yes, dinner, not just some crappy popcorn, or a pretentious piece of cake and a glass of too expensive wine) - nachos and burgers with a pitcher of Sam Adams - it was awesome! We saw Guardians of the Galaxy, which was also awesome. We also managed to do some thrift shop rummaging before the film, where I picked up some great bargains.

The other night we went to a Mexican restaurant and had a drink afterwards on the roof terrace of another place, which had this view.

It was the perfect time to get out my crochet.

We had a late break up in Lancashire at the beginning of September, making the most of the late start at school. We stayed on a farm, with a very good friend who I hadn't seen in more than two years.

But more of this woolly adventure later...