petulant feminine

2007-04-08T19:05:00.000Z

The fabric is nearly ready to go! For everyone who's waiting for some, I'll email you in the next couple of days when it makes it to the post office.

The painting below is by Laura Knight and it's part of my new responsibilities. Goodie!

2007-04-05T21:52:00.000Z

2007-04-02T19:37:00.000Z

Today was my last day at work in my old job. Gosh, three months notice is a very long time. I am very very pleased, though at having got most things in a finished state. A huge sense of achievement.

Especially at having installed an exhibition of Goyas...

New job, new museum, in just two days time!

2007-03-07T14:48:00.000Z

A big pile has formed, but as yet I've not sorted it into smaller gift sets :)

Today: carpet fitters
Friday: electrician
Monday: painter
next Monday: kitchen fitters

Shame the house will be gorgeous just as we plan to leave...

2007-02-19T21:03:00.000Z

I'm going to have to do a map of fabric migration, I just love the idea of my stash heading round the globe.

Thanks to everyone who emailed/commented, the boxes will be much less embarrassing now.

Lori, Counting Mermaids, Cosy and Bekka: unfortunately Blogger didn't give me your email address so could you contact me so I can find out where to send yours?

2007-02-18T19:24:00.000Z

I need your help...

I have too much fabric.

(well actually I think I've got a fine amount of fabric but apparently in the eyes of the house-buying public I have too much. You'd think boxes of fabric would ENCOURAGE people to purchase your house, but I'm told not. Crazy world.)

So some of it needs to go to good homes. Time for a giveaway!

Leave a comment or email me (petulant at vegemail dot com) and I'll send you a selection pack. Let me know your preferred colours, textures, patterned or plain. If you're not in the UK I'll probably make it a slightly smaller pack to cut down my postage costs, but you'll still get some. You can use it for anything, pass it on to anyone else, enjoy it in any way you want, just please don't sell it as fabric.

And in exchange... after I've moved (please don't send me anything before I move, I've got enough problems with what I've got!), send me a welcome-to-your-new-home card so it will feel all cosy and homely even if we are surrounded by boxes.

2007-02-14T09:34:00.000Z

Happy Valentines!

2007-02-13T12:09:00.000Z

So here's my first attempt with DPNs (you can spot the ladder...).

It's a square for the testalong and I will admit to having fun. Mine's smaller than they are supposed to be because apparently the cute DPNs-in-a-tin are too short (they are made by Blue Sky Alpacas if you were wondering). But that's OK, frankly I was getting a tad bored of the pattern by that point anyway. I can see me making enough for a blanket - it's good instant gratification knitting.

The yarn is Opal sock yarn, in a colourway inspired by the artist Hundertwasser. As I was knitting it looked as if I was creating a sunflower: suddenly I understand the power of varigated yarns...

2007-02-07T20:37:00.000Z

I really don't do DPNs. Or at least I didn't...

This gorgeous tin of little needles made from the elegant tree (yes really) won me over.

I still don't understand DPNs. They look like cocktail sticks. Stitches fall off both ends. You feel like you're juggling with a spiky octopus. What's wrong with knitting flat anyway?

But I'm knitting a (or maybe more than one) testalong square. I'm very late but I'm learning.

If I'm not careful I'll start knitting socks next...

(thanks for all the positive comments about our upcoming move. I'm slowly managing to throw things away...)

2007-01-24T19:38:00.000Z

I got a new job just before Christmas, one that will require a major move. So, we have a house to sell and I hear buyers generally prefer houses that don't look like bombs have hit...

I've promised myself to cut down on the crafting and blogging in order to do some of those things at home that I haven't done. But I will admit I'm finding this cold turkey hard. I keep seeing fab swaps! But I'm determined to only do things where no one else has to rely on me for the next few months.

At the weekend we all had a go with the printing kit I put together for DH for Christmas, loosely based on this tutorial on Whip Up.

It's brilliant! Instant gratification and a completely different set of marks from other forms of relief printing.

2006-12-30T19:53:00.000Z

His 'n' hers scarves, very vaguely relating in to the Architect's Scarf pattern in Greetings from Knit Cafe. I liked the idea of the recipient choosing the changes and widths of colour.

DH's is Paton's Beehive Shetland which I really only bought because I've seen a lot of Beehive in vintage patterns and I didn't think they still made it. Maybe they don't, it was a bargain on ebay. To be honest it's a bit shiny-suit but doesn't look too bad when paired with the infinitely more superior red Debbie Bliss Merino chunky.

And mine is Malabrigo with stripes of the everlasting Rowan Cork Bryony sent me (seriously, she sent me one ball and it just keeps on going - cardi, beret and there's still some left...)

I really like the way it looks with my patterned coat, but to be honest it hasn't converted me to varigated yarns. Particularly chunky varigated. It looks so lovely in the skein, but just a little odd knitted up...

2006-12-29T22:04:00.000Z

When DD was born, she was on the 7th percentile for weight, but the 93rd percentile for head size (yes it still makes me cross my legs just thinking about it). I blame the fact that we read her all those books and played her all that mozart in utero.

Cosy cloche hat in something pink that washes well. I think we have already discussed DD's love of fluffy yarn... although I will admit to quite liking it used like this.

2006-12-10T19:24:00.000Z

Decorating weekend... two weeks to Christmas! (arrggghhhh)

The paper tree was inspired by Manda's much more amazing ones.

2006-12-09T20:47:00.000Z

One day, about three months ago, DD remarked that her shoulders were cold. Rather than say yet again 'perhaps you should put some clothes on, then?' I foolishly remarked 'I'll have to knit you some shoulder warmers'...

Every day since then (often several times a day) I've been nagged for shoulder warmers. Today I admitted defeat and succumbed to the furstorm that is knitting with Stylecraft Gypsy and Cotton Angora held double. Both lovely yarns I'm sure if you lean towards the pink and furry... Thankfully it was 9mm needles and thus quick (even the pompoms because I cheated and just wrapped it round a rectangle of card, there are SOME advantages to super fuzzy yarn).

Basically it's a garter stitch scarf with pompom ties. Apparently it's nothing like shoulder warmers but it's better than putting a tshirt on.

2006-12-06T19:45:00.000Z

This year I was determined that DD would not just scoff chocolate all the way through Advent. Or for that matter get a Polly Pocket every day as she was hoping for...

This morning she COMPLAINED about the chocolate coin so I've obviously set the bar for crafted gifts way too high (mind you this afternoon she opted for going for a walk rather than shopping so possibly she's just been replaced by an alien child)...

2006-11-26T12:09:00.000Z

2006-11-25T14:10:00.000Z

A big thank you to Carrie, who sent me this fab pincushion for the pincushion swap.

Mind you, I've not had chance to use the pincushion as DD has been totally converted to sewing by this pincushion and has played (carefully) with it practically permanently since it arrived. Carrie also sent a huge selection of wonderful sewing stuff (oh and some chocolate, tragically long gone :)).

2006-11-23T13:43:00.000Z

I took part in Open Yours Too trade 10 and had my first swapping calamity!

Camilla had sent me a wonderful package (you can see the photos here). But the horrible postage system lost it! I am still gutted about this and rather hoping it'll turn up sometime. It looks amazing, and obviously so much work went into it.

But then, this lovely bar of chocolate turned up from Mari, who was Camilla's swap partner...

And then a second parcel from Camilla. What a star you are, Camilla! So many lovely things. I feel incredibly spoiled, thank you, both of you.

2006-11-21T13:33:00.000Z

Thank you to the lovely Ali for sending me a Christmas organiser.

I immediately proved how much I needed it by losing it! Thankfully I found it shortly afterwards and I think it'll get a lot of use this year. It's a really simple but fab idea using interlocking envelopes, and is really beautifully put together.

2006-11-19T18:57:00.000Z

I think it might be like the Oscars this week, I've got so many people to say thank you to, some a bit belatedly. Taking photos is much harder now it's pretty much only light when I'm at work...

DH did an amazing job for my birthday. He even took up blackwork embroidery to make me a picture (and his embroidery is better than mine's ever likely to be so we'll draw a curtain over that...). Thanks honey :)

2006-11-13T21:36:00.000Z

Just for Wendy, the teapot DD painted for DH.

Pottery cafes are quite trendy now, but the advantage of living in the ceramics centre of the western world is there are loads to choose from. I love Emma Bridgewater's designs and their pottery cafe is brilliant. They have lots of sponge stamps so it's dead easy for a five year old to create a Emma Bridgewater-style design.

2006-11-12T20:54:00.000Z

T is for... 12 of 12

10:12am, bedside table. Actually I'd been up since half eight but this was a mid-morning moment of peace as I got dressed.

10:27am, living room. DD getting ready to go swimming.

12:34pm, on the way out of the village. I had to work this weekend, one of my duty management weekends. Thankfully the museum's closed Sunday morning.

12:36pm. Who needs to go to New England? We do autumn beautifully in old England too.

12:53pm, the view from my office door. Yup, that's three stories of galleries. Vertigo's not in my job description.

2:14pm, the ladies. One day I'm going to research and write some interpretation for these tiles. They are definitely a museum piece.

2:15pm, the top tea room (staff room). You can see all the car parks for miles around.

2:19pm, on the stairs back to my office. The sounds-nicer-than-it-tastes creamichoc from the staff room machine.

2:20pm, the view from my office window. I get a lot of westerly sun so the stained glass is functional.

4:19pm, getting in the car to go home. The sign fools no one, yesterday the car park was completely full of random shoppers.

4:33pm, petrol station. For my american friends, 83.9p is about a dollar fifty and a litre is about a quarter of a gallon (so that makes it $6 a gallon...).

4:35pm, on the road, nearly home.

2006-11-05T10:47:00.000Z

DH has gone all civilised.

He requested a teapot for his birthday in order to facilitate this transformation and DD did a brilliant job creating one for him at the Emma Bridgewater Pottery Cafe.

Now Emma Bridgewater makes her teapots a very generous size. Poor DH would have had to drink 6 cups in half an hour to still have warm tea... I'm not actually sure the tea cosy I made will keep it that much warmer, but it does give the impression of taking tea with a Totoro.

2006-10-31T20:46:00.000Z

O is for... old

The great thing about marrying someone 1 year older than yourself is that they reach each age just before you.

So you can tease them mercilessly about getting on in years, but by the time you make it there it's no big deal. I somehow don't think it would work as well if I'd married someone ten years older than me.

DD decorated the cake... more is definitely less when it comes to sprinkles.

2006-10-27T09:10:00.000Z

October is birthday month here at Petulant Towers.

Hard to believe my baby is 5 now, although I do now look back to those days of late night feeds and intense baby focus with nostalgia which I guess says it all.

At times she seems practically grown up, but thankfully I think we've still got a few more years of yelling at each other to come...

2006-10-21T12:24:00.000Z

This week's work in progress is a hat and it seems to have been mostly knitted in bed. It's quite hard to knit in bed, I find the end of the needles get tangled in the bedding, but, well, it's been a tiring week :)

I am completely in love with this alpaca silk yarn, particularly on casein needles (needles made of milk, absolutely amazing). I've vowed never to knit with anything else. Of course this is why I'm so tired, all that work to afford £5 a ball yarn...

2006-10-17T20:24:00.000Z

S is for... seventeenth of October

Lots of British heritage organisations have got together to create One Day in History: a collection of blog entries for October 17th 2006. The entries will be archived at the British Library for future historians.

Here's my October 17th 2006:

I'm never quite sure what time I wake up, but I knew from the sounds outside it was still early. After a while I leaned over to turn on the radio and dozed through the first hour or so of the Today programme on Radio 4. The central heating clicked on at about 7am and I heard the breadmaker buzz at quarter past. The smell of fresh bread was all through the house.

And that was my last moment of quiet... up, dressed, daughter downstairs, breakfast, packed lunch, hair brushed, daughter's school uniform on, brush teeth, grab handbag, diary and school bookbag and out the door at 8.30am. Take daughter into school, hug goodbye for the day, then drive the 8 miles to work.

My day at work was not especially unusual for me, but perhaps a little different from many people's working days. There were the usual emails, conversations with colleagues, briefings about upcoming issues and complaints about things becoming problematic.

But I also spent a few hours returning about 50 pots from Turkey, Iran and Spain, some hundreds of years old, back into storage cabinets. These had just come off exhibition and needed returning to their precise home location. Later in the afternoon I gave 30 art students a tour of the museum, talking them through the background of 16 key objects around which they will form a project. They were particularly interested in a ceramic suitcase made by Richard Slee.

The rain started to fall as I drove home and the road was gridlocked with traffic about half the way. Pancakes for tea with extra eggs to try and get some protein into daughter. We all talked about our favourite parts of the day.

About half past 8, time again to sit down and relax. Husband and I sit side by side, both with our respective laptops catching up on email, news and blogs. Then just time to do a little hat knitting before heading up to bed and listening to the ten o'clock news on Radio 4.

2006-10-10T20:31:00.000Z

We've been in Frankfurt this weekend, staying with some friends in their utterly gorgeous house.

I'd love to be able to fill you in on crafting nuggets of Frankfurt but it all went past at a running pace!

2006-10-01T18:51:00.000Z

We spend a small fortune on Barbies... Perhaps, if there were no Channel 5 commercials and no trips for other people's presents to Toys R Us, we'd just have a happy cucumber family instead?

Nah, unfortunately the desire for pink plastic seems to be inbuilt...

I like the way DD draws noses: cute, isn't it?

2006-09-24T09:34:00.000Z

Tomorrow I start back full time at work again. I think I'm naturally a full-time worker: I feel I've been cramming a full-time job into half the hours for the last 18 months (and of course hanging out with DD is a full-time job in its own right).

685,000 objects (not to mention the team of 12) sometimes feels like a disabilitating responsibility but it's the displays that both inspire me and drive me to despair. I don't have the perfectionist gene and generally I think that's a good thing.

I loved Alicia's post yesterday about how it's the little things in life that make up 'society'. Museums are stuffed full of the big things: the expensive, the exhibition pieces, the wedding dresses, the medals, the ceremonial mayorial items. The challenge is to use these to draw out the details of life.

Mind you, tomorrow I'll probably get embroiled in some car parking problem... :)

2006-09-23T07:58:00.000Z

A big big thank you is due to my One Skein pal, Wendy. Wendy has been a fantastic pal (I always get the best ones!) and has spoiled me rotten.

The final package included a gorgeous knitted bag, just the right size for carting small in progress projects around; a dishcloth, some fantastic bits and bobs including the rest of the bag yarn and beads (so lovely) and ooooh Maya Gold chocolate :) I've been really curious about Wendy during the swap as she kept dropping hints... and her blog is brilliant.

My own secret pal, predictably, has not acknowledged my final parcel. >sigh<. I could post her blog address here so you can go see the things she's made with the yarn I sent her (so I guess she liked them even if she didn't say anything - which makes me feel better), but I don't think I will. But here's a picture of the last parcel for posterity.

2006-09-21T15:21:00.000Z

I've been working on my swap for Open Yours Too, here's a sneak peak.

Who was it said you can never be too rich or too thin? Well sod that, more like you can never create enough things with felt or bird motifs or at least that seems to be the way the crafting winds are taking me at the minute.

I've always been quite jealous of the way some wonderfully talented bloggers work a theme so that simple grows into sophisticated. There's Jane and her jellybean cushions, Stephanie and her tissue holders, Hillary and the stitchettes, Manda and her cats... Of course they all do lots of other gorgeous things but it's great to watch an idea develop as they reincarnate it.

I didn't think I could do that, but apparently I can. Who'd have thunk it? :)

Open Yours Too will open for a new round in about a week for anyone's who interested. It's been interesting doing a smaller (in terms of people) and shorter swap.

2006-09-14T17:46:00.000Z

This winter, it seems like everyone will stylishly sport the 1930s knitted beret (that's Joan Crawford in 1928 by the way).

Here's a very simple and rapidly-made beret in a chunky knit. I used Rowan Cork (thank you Bryony!) which is chunky without being bulky and therefore a good choice, especially if you like to see the stitch definition to add to that 1930s feel. It's knit flat rather than in the round (1930s style...), but the joined seam is hidden in the pattern made by the increases.

50g Rowan Tweed (I've used Ivy), one pair of 8mm straight needles, one pair of 5mm straight needles, a tapestry needle.
Gauge is not too critical, but if you knit very tightly and/or have a big head, you may prefer to use 6mm needles for the rib.

Cast on 3 stitches

Purl all odd rows through rows 1 - 21

Row 2: knit, increasing in every stitch (6 sts)
Row 4: knit, increasing in every stitch (12 sts)
Row 6: K1, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (18 sts)
Row 8: K1, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (27 sts)
Row 10: K2, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (36 sts)
Row 12: K3, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (45 sts)
Row 14: K4, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (54 sts)
Row 16: K5, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (63 sts)
Row 18: K6, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (72 sts)
Row 20: K7, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (81 sts)
Row 22: K8, increase in next stitch, repeat to end (90 sts)

Work 9 rows in stocking stitch, ending on a purl row

Row 32: K8, K2tog, repeat to end (81 sts)

Work 9 rows in stocking stitch, ending on a purl row

Change to 5mm needles and work 9 rows K1 P1 rib

Cast off, leaving a long tail (40cm) to sew up.

Pin right sides together and sew up back seam. Finish in ends.

I found it looked best with a brooch pinning the crown to the rib to make it sit gracefully asymetrical.

This is an offering for Whiplash, in the tutorial category.

2006-09-13T20:48:00.000Z

A big THANK YOU to two fantastic Teeny Tiny Swappers.

The parcel from Ali and her two boys just kept going on and on! Some wonderful things, and I was most especially excited to see the crayons made by melting in ice cube trays.

The two-sided hand puppet Cynthia made has been a firm favourite.

Thank you, both of you and your families.

It was so great to receive your gifts!

Somewhere out there are some birds that we made flying their parcels to their destination.

More pictures on flickr.

2006-09-01T13:33:00.000Z

I got all self indulgent making a postcard with details of my "interests, hobbies, loves, dreams, etc" for the Open Yours Too swap...

The really scary bit was I had loads more that didn't fit. Perhaps I need to do a whole quilt entitled "me me me"!

2006-08-31T16:20:00.000Z

This was taken the night I made my Brownie promise. I think I was seven and feeling nervous.

I really liked the idea of acquiring badges - I can remember pouring over the handbook planning the toymaker badge (which I never got). I can also vividly remember the badge test where I had to hand wash a pair of socks in a big tin bucket. Was that the homemaker badge? However, I didn't actually get that many. But I've kept them all these years.

The Pincushion Challenge for August and September is 'recycle'. Finally those hard-won badges have a use :)

2006-08-30T13:13:00.000Z

We went to The Hub in Sleaford (which is a strange place to build a national centre for craft but that's European funding for you).

I was disappointed with the architecture (it's a converted seed warehouse but it's been VERY converted...), but the exhibition spaces are great, a really nice size and light. And the cafe tables all had a make-your-own-poem game which was fun.

We saw the Embroiderer's Guild exhibition The Art of the Stitch which had some really inspiring pieces. It also had an excellent section with fabric, thread, needles and hoops so you could work out your inspiration there and then. DH and DD got especially stuck in and here's a joint effort headband inspired by Clare Proctor's work.

The show is off to Williamson Art Gallery in Birkenhead next - worth a visit if you are near. I've never been to the Williamson, I must check it out.

2006-08-29T12:58:00.000Z

Holiday crafting part 1...

This is likely to be the only picture you get of the red shrug as it's not quite what I hoped it would be. It's intentionally quite bulky (moss stitch in chunky yarn), cinched across the back, but it doesn't quite sit right. AND Skegness beach is covered in spiders...

Great fresh donuts, though :)

Moss stitch shrug knitted with 200g King Cole Magnum Chunky (yes I know... it was the only red chunky in the shop...), 75% acrylic and 25% wool, on 8mm needles, with brocade edging stitched on.

No pattern, just 2 _|_ shaped pieces.

2006-08-17T21:01:00.000Z

Getting stuff ready for our hols...

Coconut for a curry and a new cardi for the weather.

Isn't it amazing when someone gives you something you never knew you needed? The pins for knitting came from my one skein secret pal - they are BRILLIANT!

2006-08-07T19:55:00.000Z

DD and I escaped for a long weekend at the beach. So that's why the weather turned a lot cooler in case you were wondering... :)

We had a really great time on the beautifully unspoilt beaches of Prestatyn.

And because the weather was good for maintaining those green and pleasant Welsh valleys (did you know there are 4 million sheep in Wales?), I managed to persuade DD to do a few things I wanted.

On the pile there is a table runner in a traditional Welsh woollen blanket pattern from Trefriw Woollen Mills. I would have loved a blanket but they're unsurprisingly not cheap.

It's a great place though, you can see all the machinery in operation, much of it extremely old. And the setting and drive to it with Snowdon on the horizon was just gorgeous. There's tweed for a skirt and a flower felting kit from there on the pile too.

Then there's red linen, more apple print fabric and something that looks a lot like Amy Butler from Abakhan Fabrics in Mostyn which was completely spectactular. Some wool for a cardigan and some ribbon snuck in too...

2006-07-31T20:55:00.000Z

The first movie I ever saw at the cinema was The Slipper and the Rose. And I've loved it ever since. It's a musical Cinderella and, as any good musical should be, both hilarious (sometimes unintentionally) and tear-jerkingly sad.

Tie One On's theme this month is musicals...

The Slipper and the Rose features plenty of aprons, most especially during the song 'Position and Positioning' which takes place below stairs at the Prince's castle (the pictures at the bottom of the poster).

All the costumes are gorgeous and sumptuous and the servants clothes are great for swishing and totally useless for working in.

I've made a purple satin apron with decorative stitching around the edge. I also made the swishy red satin circle skirt underneath but it's not quite finished so it's a good job you can't see it properly :)

I have absolutely no idea when I will wear a purple satin apron but perhaps domestic goddesses need that bit of gorgeousness?

This was the first thing I've sewn using my new sewing machine. Trust me, satin is not a good fabric to test with...

2006-07-30T15:53:00.000Z

I always thought jam-making was akin to alchemy, secrets known only to silver-haired members of the Women's Institute.

But... shhh! don't tell anyone... it's dead easy to be this form of domestic goddess. All it requires is a 4-year old having fun at a fruit farm, followed by a big pan. I'm sure if I was serious about it I'd have stirred it more often and used a thermometer and all carefully balanced flavours but the ramdom throwing everything in tastes yummy.

2006-07-24T20:09:00.000Z

I'm sure when I was little the school summer holidays were only about a week and a half... This the first one I've faced as a parent and those six and a half weeks look mighty long on the calendar.

Still, DD has my crafting all lined up. I'm not allowed to make any creative decisions myself but I have to do all the boring stuff (i.e. the work...).

There were tears all round on Friday and our vases-made-out-of-a-postal-tube-and-some-plastic-cups held up better than I expected against the stacks of chocolates and wine bottles.

And today I got to make my first quilt. I hope seeing Belle and Sleeping Beauty in (their eggbox) bed together doesn't traumatise anyone too much (or remind you of Love Island)...

I would love to be a quilter but the sheer size of a real quilt is a bit of a challenge for instant-gratification me. I loved that I could make this in about an hour while watching telly. Either the Polly Pockets are going to get a lot of quilts, or I need to figure out how to attach them together.

2006-07-16T19:34:00.000Z

What do you mean, June's over already? :)

Here's my contribution to the blue month of Project Spectrum. Influenced by the picture Akbar Witnesses the Drowning of Two Members of his Retinue from the V&A, I knit my square for Knit a River.

Moss stitch (quite rough, that river), Twilley's Freedom Wool.

Knit a River are continuing to collect 'protest' blue squares until the beginning of next year if you too want to knit your governmental pressure for water aid.

2006-07-15T20:33:00.000Z

I'm going to gross someone out here, aren't I?

How to make an evening bag from the unused contents of your lingerie drawer...

you need:
- a pair of knickers (panties, briefs)
- a piece of matching, solid cloth, approximately the same size as the knickers
- half a metre of 1cm wide ribbon
- 2 bra underwires (you can buy these in haberdasheries if you don't want to dismantle a bra)
- half a metre of thick elastic thread
- small safety pin

This is not a good project to get rid of those grey-ing knickers that really ought to be replaced. And there's no way it's going to work with a thong...

It is, however, an ideal way of using pretty knickers bought by you or your partner in an optimistic moment of sexy lingerie that now languish at the back of the drawer. Shortie knickers with flimsy gussets work best: the longer the leg, the deeper the bag that can be made.

Here's what to do:

Turn the knickers inside-out, cut off any labels. Match up the top edges (this will make the bottom edges sit a little out of shape), pin the front and back together just above the gusset.

Cut a straight line across the bottom from one side of the knickers to the other. The cut should retain the full length at the sides and remove the gusset completely.

Sew this line, leaving 0.5cm seam allowance. This needs to be a strong seam: if using a machine sew the seam twice, if by hand use very short stitches. If the fabric will fray or is very delicate, zigzag or blanket stitch the edges.

Cut the lining to size. The lining gives the bag its strength so it needs to be made from a solid fabric. I used a piece cut from a tshirt which matched perfectly but the stretchiness can mean the bag gets pulled out of shape. A canvas or upholstery cotton might work better.

You need two rectangle shapes (or a larger one folded in half): width, the measurement across the top edge of the knickers plus 1cm seam allowance: length, the measurement from the top edge of the knickers to your new seam plus 3cm for the elastic channel.

Sew one side of the lining, leaving a 0.5cm seam allowance (these seam allowances are small because otherwise they will show. You can always cut bigger and trim after sewing). If the material will fray, zigzag or blanket stitch the edge.

Turn the top edge over and then over again to create the channel for the elastic. The turnover should be on the 'wrong' side: the same side as the seam. Sew along the bottom of the channel. If you use fabric from old clothing like I did, save yourself a job by using the existing hem turnover as the channel.

Sew the bottom of the lining and three quarters up the other side. If the material will fray, zigzag or blanket stitch the edge.

Turn the knickers the right way out and insert the lining, 'wrong' side to 'wrong' side. Turn over the top edge of the knickers and pin to the top edge of the channel on the lining. Sew along this edge. You may find it easier to handsew this seam.

Leave a cm or so not sewn on either side of the unfinished lining seam.

Measure the length between the points of a bra underwire. Cut the elastic twice this length plus 6cm. Attach a safety pin to one end and then push it through the channel.

Once it's through, knot the ends tightly leaving about 1cm of tail on each end and distribute the gathers evenly. Tuck the elastic in and handsew the final piece of lining together and to the top edge of the knickers.

At this point, the knickers will be wider at the bottom than the lining. Push your finger into the bottom corner of the lining and meet it with the same bottom corner of the knickers. Pin and make a small stitch attaching these together. Do the same with the other corner, then distribute the gathers evenly.

Cut the ribbon into two equal pieces and fold each piece it in half lengthwise and pin together. Sew the edges together. I found this much easier to do by hand than by machine. Feed the underwires through the tube you have made (the ribbon will twist a little) and sew the tube shut leaving a tail of about 2cm at each end. Trim off any frayed ends.

Position the underwires centrally on each side. Fold the tails of the ribbon in half and pin to the lining so that the end of the tail is undermost, next to the lining. Don't try and sew the underwire 'handles' to the knickers, it will put too much strain on the delicate fabric. Sew all the way round the ribbon tail, firmly attaching the handles to the bag.

There, you're done. Go out and let your knickers have some fun :)

2006-07-09T06:58:00.000Z

I've spent most of last week installing an exhibition about the sixties and despite many traumas it has come together brilliantly.

Yesterday was the opening day and L did a fab and groovy job of painting 60s designs on all comers. It was great watching her: she had a true artist's confidence of line.

Now that tattooing has almost officially become an art form, I wonder if body painting might be the next 'is it art' question? It'll certainly be celebrated today at the World Cup final.

2006-07-08T19:42:00.000Z

More wonderful parcels :)

My One Skein secret pal sent these lovely things and a great insight into the day she bought them. It was so interesting to discover a little more about her. The yarn is unbelievably cuddly and I love the card - it had a pattern printed on it!

Sandra sent me these magazines as part of the Mag swap (there were also beautiful badges made with liberty fabric and oh-so-yummy Belgian chocolate). There's more details at the Flickr group.

I was blown away by French crafting magazines: it's an entirely different mind-set to the ones you can buy at a newsagents in the UK. This spread just summed it up for me: how to make a mosaic candle holder next to an advert for gorgeous lingerie. I don't think UK crafters are expected to want nice knickers...

I've been so lucky in my swap partners so far: I've so much enjoyed discovering new ideas and new ways of doing things.

But I'm really struggling with the person I'm supposed to be spoiling in the One Skein swap. I've sent 2 parcels now and not got any response until I've enquired a good while later if they've been received. She's posts a lot on her blog and her forum so I can see she's got lots of things on the go keeping her busy, but it's not like I want a fancy response. A quick acknowledgement would be nice, a thank you even nicer. I feel like I'm being petulant about it, but when you spend time and money on someone you don't know it's nice to get some sort of feedback. I'm really unsure if I should bother with the August bit of the swap - what do you think?

2006-07-06T19:31:00.000Z

L is for... locally grown vegetables
(yes the alphabet is running backwards for a bit...)

I've always been pretty hazy about which things are in season when: I'm a child of the seventies, our birthright was to have anything we wanted on our supermarket shelves whenever we wanted it!

I didn't even know fish had seasons until I discovered the BBC's monthly guide to in-season foods. This is a great reference and because it links straight to their recipe database, it inspired me to try new things. It's forced me not to be stuck in the rut of grabbing the same old apples, bananas, carrots, lettuce etc.

And, of course, it radically cuts down on the food miles. I commuted 70 miles on one of the busiest motorways in the UK for two days of the week up until last year. I was constantly cursing the lorries. But there again I was still automatically buying apples in July - not because I desperately wanted apples, but because I just always bought apples. Some of those lorries (and more lorries in New Zealand or South Africa) were because of my buying habits.

Last year I discovered Northern Harvest, who deliver food from their own farm and those around them to homes in a radius of 50 miles. Suddenly there's excitement when something first comes into season and desperation to buy lots of something as they warn there's only a week left (we had a LOT of pears a month or so ago). I get to choose my vegetables by COUNTY (not country) now.

2006-06-30T15:28:00.000Z

Here's my work desk for WIP fridays. It's only neat (yes this is neat for me) because it just got a tidyup :). Previously, it was hard to get past it...

2006-06-27T19:30:00.000Z

I will admit, not being woken at 5am with mewing for breakfast has put me in a more creative mood... although I suspect David Austin can take more credit than me for the roses.

First, I need to say some thank yous for wonderful things that arrived last week.

I really like Annie's artwork and admired some cards she made.

The wonderful person sent me some in exchange for a copy of one of DH's books.

I feel like I did nothing on that swap!

And then by some miracle (I never win anything), I won a competition at Erin's A Dress A Day blog. I'm looking forward to cosy beach reading of this (if I can find an appropriate dress to do it in).

If you don't know either of those two blogs, get over there and enjoy.

Then, the recent creative blackspot when I just didn't feel like sitting down to make anything seems to be over.

Sandra, if you're reading this, look away now!

I have an uncertain relationship with magazines as I feel I should keep them but then they clutter up the place endlessly. Recently, however, DH bought me back some magazines from a book signing in France and I had a revelation! I really just like looking at the pictures! It's OK to cut out the best bits! So I joined Cotton Strudel's magazine swap and I can't wait to see what Sandra has sent me from Belgium.

I made a quick bag to send the ones I bought and really it was an excuse to try and see if I could back fabric with freezer paper and send it through the ink jet printer. It worked absolutely brilliantly, I will definitely be doing this again (the picture is DH's, I wish I could draw like that).

And last but not least...

My copy of One Skein finally arrived.

Here's the felted bowl drying out.

I hate dpns with a passion and managed to avoid them by using a shorter circular needle and then ending with a three-needle bindoff instead of doing the last decrease row.

The wool is Twilley's Freedom Wool which actually doesn't felt quite as well as I expected but feels great to knit with.

2006-06-20T20:13:00.000Z

M is for... Miss you

Nin had been with us for 12 years, almost all the time DH and I have lived together. The first day we took her home she was so scared she hid under the chest of drawers all night. She died yesterday in her place of santuary under our bed.

She wasn't the brightest cat and she was extremely annoying at 5am, but she was loved. The house feels empty without her.

I'm glad she travelled the journey alongside us for all these years.

(I know I've not done I, J, K or L yet... I'll get to them...)

2006-06-16T07:14:00.000Z

The final day of Colour week... red.

This is my favourite tea cup (I've got three of them), it's Wade fiestaware from the 1960s.

Wade are still going, they make little ceramic collectables - I remember collecting the whimsies animals when I was a kid. Pretty sure they don't make tableware any more, though... I'm not overly surprised: the colour and design is wonderful but the saucer's got big old ring marks from the jigger it was made on and the glaze is pretty uneven. But I like that you can see the hand of the maker(s).

To see the rest of the week's tour of Staffordshire ceramics in my house:

Blue willow pattern (Burleigh)

Black and white cereal bowl (Portmeirion)

Brown floor tiles (Minton)

White sink (Twyfords)

2006-06-15T15:02:00.000Z

Blue = Willow pattern. No brainer, really.

2006-06-14T18:27:00.000Z

To continue the Colour week tour of ceramics made in Staffordshire in my house... here's a little black on DH's cereal bowl (Portmeirion if you're interested).

2006-06-14T18:09:00.000Z

I've been so lucky to receive some great things through the post recently...

Astrid sent me this really soft and lovely black sweater from her Great Monday Giveaway.

I've got plans to alter it a little but I won't start it until I'm sure what to do, it would be so easy to ruin it...

And I've received my first parcel from my One Skein pal.

What a great selection! Some lovely papers, some needle point guards (which I desperately need as DD has a habit of grabbing knitting saying 'what's this, can I help?' pulling all the stitches off...) and a really intriguing thing shaped like 3 sides of a square to make a loopy scarf with - it looks great fun to try.

And the skein of yarn... ooooh! A beautiful ball of laceweight hand dyed in gorgeous shades of purple.

Lace is a new challenge for me but I've spent the last couple of weeks reading the entertaining posts on The Amazing Lace. I was wondering if I could find a simple pattern and try and make sense of the whole lace thing to select an appropriate yarn... and the perfect one turns up through my letterbox! I'm very excited to try it, thanks so much secret pal!

2006-06-13T19:34:00.000Z

It's Tuesday so it must be my brown Minton bathroom floor...

2006-06-12T18:24:00.000Z

Magfly inspired me to try felt bead making and even more wonderfully sent me some roving to try it.

DD and I have really enjoyed it, it's the perfect activity for a 4 year old who likes instant gratification and to do it all herself. Here's a useful tutorial.

DD also arranged her own photograph.

2006-06-12T18:20:00.000Z

White day of Colour Week (or possibly should-be-white in the case of my grouting...).

2006-06-09T11:36:00.000Z

My inspirational picture for Project Spectrum's month of blue. It's in the V&A and called Akbar Witnesses the Drowning of Two Members of his Retinue.

Bit of a serious one this month, I'm going to pinch some of the V&A's interpretation:
This illustration to the Akbarnama (Book of Akbar) depicts the Mughal emperor Akbar (r.1556–1605) watching two of his men drowning as they attempt to swim with their horses across the Ravi River in the province of Lahore (in present-day Pakistan). The composition was designed by the Mugha court artist La’l, and the details painted by Sanwala.

I've struggled a bit with what to do this month as I tend to use blue very rarely. Then I heard about Knit a River, a knit petition to encourage more governments to invest in water aid projects.

Water, and the lack of it, seem to be making the headlines at the minute. Here in the rainy UK we are facing drought conditions, hosepipe bans and the threat of standpipes (last seen in 1976, a summer clear in many British people's memories). But even so it's hard to imagine having to walk miles every day carrying water, or knowing that the water you have is contaminated and might kill your children.

The picture shows how difficult it is for us to master water, much as we need to. It's a good inspiration for my 15cm x 15cm blue square...

2006-06-08T07:07:00.000Z

Thanks to Pink Rocket being a star and sending me some freezer paper, I've had a go at freezer paper stencils and made this bag with a swallow on it.

It's about the size for a sock-knitting bag (not that I knit socks, but my one skein pal does...).

2006-06-02T13:31:00.000Z

Last weekend we went to Manchester Art Gallery. A few years ago the museum closed for several years and had an enormous refurbishment. I'm a bit scathing of the Casson Mann grey (leading UK museum designers who have so far turned several museums stylish grey...), but the galleries are still looking fabulous. It makes excellent use of breathing space in the building rather than cramming objects into every nook and cranny.

The little button exhibition was great, although the real excuse to visit was the Miffy exhibition.

I hadn't realised that all of Dick Bruna's work is cut outs - that's how he gets such flat colour. It was great to see his other illustration work as well as his children's books.

The exhibition has some great kids activities and DD got to meet Miffy herself :)

2006-06-01T20:15:00.000Z

And then yesterday, my Back Tack softie arrived from Norway.

I've really enjoyed discovering Magfly.

She's been quite an inspiration during this project: a few weeks ago she posted something like 'why not keep it simple' at just the moment I needed rescuing from getting way too complicated with the bunny :)

She's been making the most beautiful felted beads on necklaces recently and I was so excited to discover she had sent me one of them and some roving to make more of my own. I can't wait to try it out!

She also sent DD a knitting dolly (strikkelise I think) which she battled with for a bit and was then over the moon when she got it sussed. I foresee a lot of knitted cords in our future... Oh and there was some yummy chocolate too (not sure that even made it to the photo!).

But most importantly...

This beautiful cat! Look at that friendly face! And very soft and cuddle-able. She even has sweet little black claws in her exquisitely-shaped paws.

Thank you!

2006-06-01T19:48:00.000Z

Desiree has formally adopted my Back Tack bunny, so I can now share some photos.

The rules for this round of Back Tack were detailed: only using black, white and up to 20% of one other colour, no more than 20cm high, 5 buttons and the initial of the recipient somewhere on the softie.

I went through several different pattern ideas and an awful lot of different fabric choices.

Eventually I made a bunny from Better Homes & Gardens (the pattern was sent out by the Back Tack organisers) which is great and I'll definitely use again.

I felted a cashmere tank (that I got on ebay) and it turned out unbelievably gorgeous and soft and so easy to work with. The pink ears are from an old t-shirt of DD's. I printed them with a rubber stamp tree design which came out looking quite scrappy but I really like the texture.

Four of the buttons (the 5th is the tail) are threaded on a belt which Desiree can take off and wear as a bracelet. You can JUST see the 'D' on this photo at the tip of the ear.

Although the bunny is wearing a dress, it's been consistently referred to as 'he' during its creation. Good job he's gone to live in a liberal country...

2006-05-30T18:04:00.000Z

Tie one on May challenge

A smock apron to wear out.

Here I am, wearing it out...

(at Manchester Art Gallery). Not too sure I'll wear it that often, mind, I've come to the conclusion smocks are best suited to those whose ribs stick out...

2006-05-27T21:03:00.000Z

I've been making some leaf prints this week, playing around with ideas for a swap with Pink Rocket.

Here's an apple pincushion for May's pincushion challenge. The fabric is a rip-off of Orla Kiely's designs which I love dearly.

2006-05-23T20:23:00.000Z

My Back Tack softie is all wrapped up and ready for a flight to Sweden.

I'll post more pictures after Desiree gets it: I'd hate to spoil the surprise.

2006-05-21T10:37:00.000Z

Nineth century (more than 1100 years old!) Egyptian woven fabric from the Clothing Culture exhibition. I'm still amazed that it has survived so long.

Yes, it was dark in there :)

Look at the similarity to Cheshire red cabbage... (which also amazingly turns the water blue...

2006-05-20T20:26:00.000Z

Today we went to the Whitworth Art Gallery. They have a fabulous textile collection and today were launching both the family guide to the new permanent display of textiles and the exhibition of early (and I mean pre-1000AD - amazing!) clothing.

The new textile gallery is great. It's got some downsides (no object labels yet, tee hee; the children's activities in such subtle housing you miss them), but the displays are simple and engaging (and, nicely, the lighting increases as you go up to them). And once we found them, DD loved the dressing up in costumes from around the world and the drawing with stencils.

I was most inspired by this lino block printed fabric from 1938. It was designed by EQ Nicholson, who, poor thing, is more famous for being Ben Nicholson's sister-in-law. The Whitworth also display her original sketch and lino block. The block's only about 8" x 10" (and she obviously used another underneath in blue for the sky), but the unusually small print sections look great.

2006-05-19T10:31:00.000Z

The Great Friday Mailout :) I got quite into the packaging...

My mum recently found all the letters I wrote home when I was younger.

I used to really enjoy decorating the envelope with drawings but also with strange quotes or facts.

2006-05-18T19:55:00.000Z

Before Sir Walter Raleigh brought potatoes back from the New World in the sixteenth century, we Britons were forced to turn to parsnips for mashing and roasting.

We're still awaiting Reynolds to introduce freezer paper to the UK and so, ironically, I'm stuck decorating fabric with potato prints rather than stylish freezer paper stencils.

I made a stand today and instead made parsnip prints. Unlike with freezer paper (sob!), the paint bled copiously. But I rather like the end effect, it's a bit like batik.

(Personally I love parsnips but DD and DH hate them. They're currently in season so I've got a lot in the fridge...)

2006-05-17T19:44:00.000Z

DD's first embroidery (she's 4).

I was pretty impressed with her needleship until I looked up what girls were doing 150 years ago.

This sampler has faded a lot but it was made by a six year old called Emily in 1858. I wonder if she could even properly read what she was stitching?

Actually I'm still impressed with DD's. She picked out the colours herself and there's an interesting composition going on there...

2006-05-15T06:38:00.000Z

The Great Monday Give-away!
You can read more about the give-away here at Bugheart. Gwen does it every week, but this is probably a one-off...

Basically, the rules are:
- if you want something, leave a comment
- if you are the first to comment, send me an email with your details (my email in sidebar)
- once you've received the item, send me a postcard showing it in its new home
- if you decide you don't like something, pass it on to someone else or put it to another crafting use. Don't sell it on!

Taken! (all to go together) Four 1960s sewing patterns. Size 38inch bust. Two dresses, a skirt & jacket and a coat.
Taken! Dark blue silk. Both 113cm wide, 2m of a light weight silk and 2.5m of silk chiffon. Bought at Liberty's in 1994 so it probably counts as vintage now :) I bought it to make a shift dress from, but 12 years later haven't managed yet...
Taken! Ollie and Nick evening purse. Black velvet with a japanese design of silver and green flowers. Dark red satin inside with pocket. I love this, but I have way too many bags...
(all to go together) Ten knitting patterns from the 1980s. Lots of sweaters (including a batwing!) and cardigans, a skirt and a hat and scarf. All for women except one cardigan which is sized for both men and women.

2006-05-14T08:39:00.000Z

The wonderful Gwen at Bugheart offers up some of her amazing vintage collections each week in the Great Monday Give-away.

I've been on tenterhooks waiting for the postie to bring the dress I nabbed and was so excited when it came. Even the packing was amazing, and Gwen included some great yarn in the exact matching shade of orange.

In honour of Ms Bugheart's generosity, I will be doing my own Great Monday Give-away tomorrow, so y'all come back y'hear?

2006-05-12T19:04:00.000Z

Rhurbarb isn't very photogenic, really... but it's in season and so I've made LOTS of rhubarb crumble.

Oaty Crumble Topping
(use to cover any gently stewed fruit - other favourites are apple and orange or mixed berries)

3oz butter
3oz plain flour
4oz oats
4oz brown sugar

with cool fingers, rub the butter into the dry ingredients. Add a little sugar and liquid to the fruit and top with a generously thick layer of crumble. Bake at gas mark 5 (200 degrees C) for 35 minutes.

Makes enough for 3 family-sized crumbles. Will keep for several days in a covered dish in the fridge. Crumbles freeze well.

2006-05-11T20:35:00.000Z

One Skein swap questionnaire

Which yarn is most like your personality (you can be specific or general with your answer- brand, type, color, fiber, whatever)?
I haven't really knitted with enough yarns yet to be too conclusive on this one - basically I'm open to suggestion!
I'm not good at very slow-going projects so generally head towards thicker yarns, but that's one of the things that attracted me most about the one-skein book: nothing would take too long! So perhaps this is my chance to use more delicate yarns (whch I generally love the look and feel of).

What is your favorite color yarn to knit/crochet with?
If I'm knitting for me I tend to go for reds, purples, browns and the odd bit of green. For my daughter it has to be pink. I most like slightly washed-out pigments rather than really really garish ones.

Have you ever used variegated, or magic, yarns?
I'm not a sock knitter so haven't tried self-striping yarns. I can see it would add interest to the process but I'm usually not so keen on the strong colour changes. I'm not a big fan of varigated yarn for the same reason but do like the subtle changes of a hand-dyed or similar yarn.

Do you tend to favor certain fibers when choosing yarns?
I like the feel of natural fibres and 'quality' yarns, although I find a % of artificial fibre really does help the knitting process. I keep hoping to find a great yarn that is machine washable but I haven't done so yet...

Do you prefer to work with center-pull or traditionally wound balls of yarn?
Is it just me? I can never find the centre end to pull...

Have you ever worked with organic yarns or are you interested in trying them?
I haven't although I am interested in welfare farming and supporting smaller local products. I enjoy investigating the smaller suppliers who carefully source their flock etc. I've bought fair-trade alpaca and would aim to do so again.

How many and what projects have you made in the last year?
Only really started knitting again at the end of last year. Since then I have completed knitty's tempting top, a hat from a vintage pattern, a mobeius wrap, a felted bag, a bolero and (nearly) a string of flags. I've sewn quite a few things in that period too.

Will you be knitting any gifts this year?
I should have thought so, possibly from the book!

What is your favorite one skein project?
My book hasn't arrived yet but... I think the things I'm most likely to tackle first are the felted bowl and the tank.

How much yarn do you have in your stash and how do you store it?
At the minute about a dozen balls, in a basket in the bedroom.

Do you have a yarn in your stash that you love so much you can never use it or part with it?
I don't really get that attached to materials, I tend to instead plan over and over again what to use them for (but then never get started). I do have several balls of recycled yarn from a friend's sweater that I won't use until I can find the 'right' thing.

Do you knit less or differently in the summer?
not sure yet! Probably not though. I don't dress much differently.

Do you belong to any knitting groups (online or offline)?
several projects (see my blog) but no stitch 'n' bitch type groups.

2006-05-09T20:01:00.000Z

Recognise the yarn, Bryony?

Bryony awarded me 200g of Rowan Cork for recognising something obscure about Vic & Bob.

It's Ivy colourway and I first planned to make something for DD whose middle name is Ivy (after her great grandmother). However, 4 year olds and handwash-only merino rarely mix successfully so instead I knit myself this bolero/shrug to celebrate Project Spectrum's month of green.

Cork is discontinued now and I can sort of see why, it's a very unforgiving yarn made of a stretched tube rather than spun normally. If you dare to put it down in the middle of a row it makes a big gap between stitches. Any stitch except stocking stitch looked like I was making fishing nets.

But it's a shame it's gone: the stocking stitch looks lovely and I've never come across another yarn that knits up quick on 8mm needles but doesn't create a bulky garment (if anyone knows of others - tell me, please!).

The pattern started off as Knitscene's sideways ribs... but I thought I'd make it with short sleeves and shorter as I didn't have much yarn (although I only used about 100g in the end)... then nixed the ribbing and knit it all in stocking stitch... then wanted to give it a little more structure to hold a heavy brooch I'd bought so added binding round the edge (which took ages to sew, but I like the end result).

The shape of the brooch reminds me of the 'happy' shapes on Terry Frost's painting.

2006-05-08T19:35:00.000Z

shhh! it's a secret...

My printer refused to print out the pattern for Pointy Kitty, so it was back to the drawing board for Back Tack. And the result is so adorable I'm going to have real trouble sending it off to Sweden. Here's all I'm showing til it's done :)

2006-05-05T10:30:00.000Z

Tee hee... think I might have a go at Tie one on this month.

Sorry, you'll have to click the picture to read the strip, Blogger can't cope with an image this wide any other way...

2006-05-03T19:26:00.001Z

I'm procrastinating on the pointy kitty... and am instead embroiled in the possibilities of back tack extras (which I fear may become a whole scary world of one-upmanship).

So... starting small with cute bunny patches...

2006-05-02T19:58:00.000Z

An inspirational painting for Project Spectrum's month of green.

It's by Terry Frost, Green, Black and White Movement, 1951. It's in the Tate.

Frost used these circle-segment shapes a lot in his work. I don't know what particular significance they had for him, but photographs of him show he had a hugely expressive mouth, often with a wide smile the same shape as he used in his work.

2006-05-01T19:56:00.000Z

H is for... heels

Now it's May, it's time to start thinking about waxing my legs, painting my toenails and wearing shoes I can't walk in very easily. :)

2006-04-30T18:12:00.000Z

There was an invitation in my intray this week for Craig Fisher at Vane in Newcastle. This was the image on the front and I was intrigued by the beaded decoration, which is really beautifully done.

Click to look closer if you have a strong stomach. :)

'Fisher is concerned with the seductive image of an object and the way in which we receive them. In his work he highlights the difference between the real object and the image of that object'. It is amazing how when I know what it is, it really does make me feel slightly ill.

2006-04-26T19:56:00.000Z

I often spend more time researching something than I do actually doing it: I can have endless patience looking at holiday options and then just forget to actually book the final choice.

I love casually browsing the internet for its wealth of source material. Back when I did academic research (when I didn't even have a computer...) I used to feel the same way about libraries; I spent a LONG time betwen shelves and shelves of bound art journals from the 1890s to 1930s. Actually reading books cover to cover appeals a lot less to me than picking out the little useful nuggets of information. Not a good completer-finisher, me...

In my slightly obsessive research towards a pointy kitty for Back Tack 3, is this going to turn into a site of pictures of cats?... :)

I love this pottery cat from Tonala, the big ceramics-producing area of Mexico. I wonder if I can translate this into fabric?

2006-04-23T15:09:00.000Z

Don't get me wrong: I love my mother and my daughter dearly. It was great to get the chance to spend four days in Disneyland Paris with them and (mostly) a magical time was had by all.

But, boy, you sure need to queue a lot. And it was hot. And they don't sell juice boxes. I'm glad to be home, watching snooker on the telly with my feet up.

My feet hurt, I'm sunburned and feeling ragged around the edges. My muscles hurt from carrying a four-year-old when it all got too tiring/boring/ intense.

DD tells me the princesses are not the actual ones from the movies, just people dressed up in costumes.

I don't believe her, after all we stood for an hour and a half to meet them whilst wearing stupid headgear.

(Belle was an absolute sweetheart and generous despite clearly roasting alive, and Sleeping Beauty was completely unfazed by being asked to sign a picture of the tellytubbies)

As well as being surly enough for whiplash, this was also a good bit of experimentation to get posable limbs for my Back Tack kitty.

2006-04-16T20:16:00.000Z

The gender divide... illustrated through our weekend crafting activities:

DD and I took out Cinderella from the library and we really liked her ball dress. The illustrator is Julie Monks.

Some textile paint... a potato print (DD did most of the printing herself, she had fun making the stars 'twinkle' by just adding paint to the points)... I should probably have ironed the fabric first... a bit of elastic and lace... and about 5 hours of hand-sewing (I really MUST get my sewing machine sorted)...

and here she is modelling the new skirt at the ball (well dancing on the sofa until she gets an invitation to the palace).

Meanwhile...

Last weekend DD and DH went to the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Possibly hanging out with her 8 year old cousin T made her hanker after a sword and shield. DH eventually gave in...

DH is a dab hand with insulation tape and a Pringle tube.

He may live to regret making this, but so far she seems quite happy with the idea a sword is for chopping up vegetables (thank you Royal Armouries display team and your excellent cabbage-slicing)...

Next weekend:
I tackle chain-saw carving and DH takes up flower arranging in our attempt to redress the balance.

2006-04-14T18:02:00.000Z

On Wednesday DD and I fly to Paris on Air France. Does anyone know if I'll be able to take either a sewing needle or knitting needles (bamboo most probably) on the plane?

2006-04-12T18:31:00.000Z

I saw the most amazing sunset at the beach. Because it's April there was no wispy sea haze so it was a perfect glowing orange circle disappearing into the sea.

I didn't have a camera; actually I don't think I could have captured the magic of the moment on a photograph. But here's a photo from Pictures of England (which is a great site showing the beauty of this country) of the same spot with the lovely colours.

Thinking of this wonderful sunset and the Degas indoor-beach, I set to make a Project Spectrum orange and yellow bag for DD.

The Wirral has an off-shore windfarm, and these windmills were silhouetted against the orange fire of the setting sun. I used a really simple overstitch around the outside which evokes that effect.

There's a picture of the whole bag on sew?Iknit!.

2006-04-11T13:11:00.000Z

I'm signed up to Back Tack 3 which was an entertaining thing to do in itself - lots of crafters all competing with each other to sign up the minute the address was announced (midnight here in the UK).

Ideas have been flowing since I read the rules a couple of weeks ago so I'm excited, if a little daunted by the high calibre of the company. I've been thinking about making pointy kitty for a couple of months now so I plan to concentrate on that rather than lose myself in the wealth of softie patterns out there.

So, a little research into essential cat-ness. A few years ago I was bewitched by a book I bought in Vermont, which shows a house where the rooms' (very stylish) decoration and layout is all cat-orientated. Our poor cat doesn't even get a cat flap.

N, our cat, is an old lady now. Well travelled - she's been to California and back and survived 6 months in quarantine kennels. Her favourite hobbies are apparently kicking kitty grit all over the floor, eating grass and then coming inside to be sick and wailing for her breakfast at 6am. Oh and sleeping on people's heads. There's no denying it, cats do things the way they want.

So here's a Back Tack inspirational shot for me. Not N, it's from flickr, always a excellent research source. I like the contented look cats have when washing themselves.

2006-04-09T17:43:00.000Z

I loved the yarnstorm family's fairy cakes a few weeks back, but was mostly just impressed that the usual yarnstorm aura of calm surrounded the picture.

Cooking in the petulant household is never quite that ordered, and an awful lot gets eaten as part of the creative process...

Still, if you watch out for your teeth on the excess of decorative balls, DD makes a yummy fairy cake :)

2006-04-06T16:38:00.000Z

G is for... Green (& Black's)

I think buying fair trade chocolate is pretty important: what's a luxury for us shouldn't destroy people's lives half a world away. Plus it feels like giving to charity, so really it's a responsibility to eat more chocolate...

We are given so much choice in the western world and mostly it's cost or convenience that guides our decisions. Even if we only occasionally take food miles, fair trade and free-range (both poultry and pork products) into account, it will help the world around us in the long-term.

Green & Black's is the most prominent fair trade chocolate producer; so successful in fact that they have been bought up by Cadbury's. They have been criticised for 'selling out', but actually I think it's great that Cadbury's are seeing how important fair trade is commercially. Perhaps one day all Cadbury's chocolate will be fair trade...

My very wonderful Secret Pal, Bryony, rounded up Secret Pal 7 with a fantastic parcel of the Green & Black's chocolate cookbook, some chocolate, and oh yes, some green Rowan Cork yarn she had promised me. Bryony has spoiled me so well, I've got some amazing things that I will treasure and use for years. I've also had the benefit of her good advice and friendship which has definitely made me a better crafter. She's a star! Thanks Bryony.
I... um... worked out who she was quite early on but she's managed to keep up the facade of secrecy extremely well :)

Here's chocolate swirl shortbread from the recipe book, it's yummy. I'm not going to post the recipe though, you'll just have to buy the book yourself :)

2006-04-02T18:50:00.000Z

An inspiring picture for the Orange/Yellow month of Project Spectrum. Beach Scene, 1869, by Degas; in the National Gallery in London.

Despite the Impressionist's love of plein air, I don't think Degas was that keen on fresh air - he seemed to paint a lot more indoor scenes than outdoor - and in this one the key figure pair was posed in his studio.

Which is why it feels like an April rather than a summer painting - cosy curling up inside THINKING about the beach rather than actually being there. DD said 'let's go to the seaside!' yesterday (it's about an hour and a half to North Wales from here) just as it started to rain. Hopefully we'll get there before too long.

There's a lot of tenderness between the two central characters in this painting. I'm hoping to translate this with my Orange/Yellow crafting into doing something specially for DD.

2006-03-30T18:02:00.000Z

I got a great package from my recipe swap.
Joanne had created a gorgeous journal with recipes for all kinds of things she though I'd like, not just food. I'm thinking the first I try will probably be Margueritas... :)

She also made me knitting needles - how cool is that?

My package took 10 days to cross the Atlantic, so I hope the flapjacks inside haven't poisoned Nanette.

Flapjacks

5 oz butter or margarine
3 oz brown sugar
3 oz golden syrup, treacle or molasses
8 oz porridge oats

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Melt sugar, butter and syrup in pan, do not let boil.
Remove from heat, add oats and mix thoroughly.
Press into greased 8 inch square tin and smooth surface.
Bake for 25 minutes.
Mark into squares while still warm, then remove from tray and break apart when cooled.

2006-03-28T20:12:00.000Z

Yesterday's post made me think a bit more about the appeal of Grace Kelly.

Conspiracy theories abound about Princesses and Grace is no exception: did she not realise she would have to give up acting when she married Prince Rainier? did her family pay a $2 million dowry? who was driving when she had the fatal car accident?

She was much loved, though: closeknit newly rich family; paired with many of her leading men (not James Stewart, though); long marriage and close times with her family in both Monaco and America.

I'm not sure she was really in enough movies to be able to say if she simply acted how she was herself.

In Rear Window she's stylish and beautiful, a glamourous foil to Stewart's doldrums. But she's also open and loving, in one scene she is comfortably in Stewart's arms, curled up on his broken leg and wheelchair; in another she produces a gorgeous nightgown from the tiniest case, clear that she is going to stay the night. She also places herself in the most dangerous situations, not a woman that NEEDS Stewart, but who chooses to be with him.

I love this dress Kelly wears in the climactic scene - rich and sunny, poised and delicate. I think I'm going to get out my pearls again...

2006-03-27T18:08:00.000Z

Bryony tagged me (it was last week, but I had to finish my felted bag first :)). I've done a bit of it before here, but here are the rest:

4 films I can watch over and over
I think I'm going to have to do this in categories...
- Classic movies: Rear Window, mostly because Grace Kelly is just so stylish and sophisticated - the sort of woman I want to be when I grow up :). Honourable mentions to Some Like it Hot and Roman Holiday (my Dad looked a bit like Gregory Peck).
- Adaptations of Jane Austen: Clueless, I love the colours especially. I also love Emma that had Gwyneth Paltrow in, because it captures the summery feel of Emma so well.
- John Hughes-era teen movies: I grew up in the 1980s, they were seminal. I think Breakfast Club is the best, but I also can't resist Say Anything (Cameron Crowe almost gets a category of his own, and John Cusack too - High Fidelity is probably the successor to good teen movies) and Pretty in Pink.
- Disney Princesses: I don't get much choice about watching these now but repeated (and I mean repeated) viewings has convinced me that Cinderella is the best, although Sleeping Beauty looks the nicest and Beauty and the Beast has the best characters.

4 tv shows I love to watch
- The Apprentice, get all my manangement skills from watching that
- Project Runway/Project Catwalk, admittedly the same format as above, but I really like the creative-ness of what they produce.
- Location Location Location, even after all these years, Phil & Kirstie keep me amused, although half the appeal is other people's house problems, obviously (finding myself irrestistably drawn to the very terrible Anthea Turner: The Perfect Housewife at the minute for the same reason).
- I also get very involved in big sporting events, the Olympics, Commonwealth Games etc despite being very un-sporty.

4 websites I visit daily
- Bloglines, and thus all the lovely people listed in my sidebar
- BBC News
- My email (I've got 4 in total including work, all online)
- Google, barely a day goes past when I don't need to look something up

4 fave yarns
Now here you have me... I haven't been knitting long enough to answer this conclusively. Generally love the one I'm with.

2006-03-27T18:01:00.000Z

Mother's Day [grin].

Inside are chocolate-covered apricots, but you really had to be here for the story of making them (big pointy sticks and candles were involved, her teacher is brave...).

2006-03-25T11:29:00.000Z

It was worth the wait...

My felted bag has turned out wonderfully. A really great size, shape and colour. Thank you, Secret Pal, for the tools and advice to do it.

It was interesting how it changed shape - before felting it was long and thin. Having read about Di's experience of getting mangled lumps where the edges roll up, I was really worried about the gape of the handle.

I ironed it over and over again and it refused to flattern properly, but in the end it turns out it's part of the design and the cast off bit stays straight, while the newly cast on stitches over roll up to form the handle better.

My front-loading washing machine won't let you stop it part way through, but it seems to be quite accurate as to the temperature you set it to (which I can do independently of the programme). I put this through a quickwash and set it to 50 degrees C.

I had worries about it felting the front to the back so put one of DD's t-shirts inside. Watching it through the window, I saw it fall out almost immediately and there's no sign of any sticking. I also washed it with a couple of towels to bash it around properly.

I'm kind of sad to have lost the really soft texture of the knitted wool (that wool is really lovely), but the felt is really strong - I can use this as a proper bag with no worries of holes appearing.

My only problem was I ran out of the lighter coloured wool, so one side is different to the other at the handle. But because of the quirky texture of the felt, it actually looks pretty good like that.

The colour didn't fade or change at all (just the light changing in these photos).

2006-03-21T15:04:00.000Z

Felted bag BEFORE its trip into the washing machine.

Knitted in Eskimo 100% wool by garnstudio. It's very nice to look at, isn't it? (and underneath is some rather nice Orla Keily rip-off fabric I bought to make another bag with (they'll look good together :))

2006-03-17T21:10:00.000Z

F is for... fear of failure

Will my front-loading washing machine mangle my first felting attempt?

The street in front of DD's school is always full of parked cars at morning drop-off time. Most mornings I see DD's friend P zipping past as her mum finds a tiny spot right by the gates. We always park a long way back because I don't want to risk not finding a space and being late for class.

I do like to plan risky things at work, but the difference is that element of planning: I like to know where I stand if I'm likely to fail.

(thanks to my wonderful secret pal's instructions I'm feeling quite confident about the felting...)

2006-03-16T18:13:00.000Z

Much fun was had this afternoon photographing everything in our house that is pink or red for Zeneedle's Project Spectrum meme.

DD gets a bit enthusiastic with the digital camera... so I've edited out a LOT of barbies...

2006-03-13T19:59:00.000Z

There's an arctic wind blowing today and I wish I lived in catalogue-world. Come on spring, hurry up!
Norfolk Lavender
Sweet peas from Bloom
Emma Bridgewater pots
Cath Kidson's picnics