Florence's Attic

for those of you who indulge in the filthy habit...

a pack of knitted ciggies for you

bought from a craft fair in Leeds for my auntie who I hope will see the funny side!

x

Better Courtside Booties and a new arrival

Here are the Courtside Booties from Crochet Today. 

This is my second attempt at them, and they are so much better this time.  I am really pleased as I love the design, and they will make good baby pressies.  I think even if the baby doesn't wear them, they still look cool say hanging from a drawer handle in the bedroom.  Once figured out (these are definately an intermediate pattern, not easy as the magazine says) they are quite quick.  These were for a baby shower at the weekend.  I'm also going to put in an iou in for a baby quilt as I couldn't find any suitable fabric.  The happy couple don't know if the baby is going to be a pink or blue one and are quite alternative so are loving the colour grey.  Do you know, there is a real lack of grey fabrics out there?  I wanted graphic prints, but there was hardly any grey at all in my nearest quilt shop.  So the boots are grey, and I'll make a baby quilt later on in the summer.  I had never been to a baby shower before, but one of the girls I work with is from the US so decided to organise one.  It was fun - tea, cake and a natter.  I have heard stories of very grand gifts being given at American baby showers, but the done thing here is the wait till the baby is born, so hopefully my present has covered both bases!  My parents made me laugh.  My Dad didn't understand what a baby shower was and thought it was wrong that I was leaving Bizzie at home, and my mum tried to explain to him "it was one of those things you see the celebs go to looking glamorous holding extravagant gifts".

I would also like to announce the arrival of...

Janome Decor DC3050.  Do you name your sewing machine?  My last one would have had a very child unfriendly name if I did.  Going off topic for a mo Mister J and I were talking about naming the car the other day and all he could come up with was Herbie.  Mmm, very original.  So being a Breakfast at Tiffany's fan I think we will leave it as "car without a name" (just like her cat).  Anyway, here it is.  I am so chuffed as there was no way I could've bought one this summer as there are too many other things to pay out for, but my mum gave it to me out of a little amount of money she has just been left.  My great aunt would have really approved of the gesture - she was even knitting earlier on this year at the age of 96, and Bizzie has baby Annabel wrapped up in one of those blankets.
I have said before on this blog that I am not geeky about sewing machines, but I found myself questioning things such as how many stitches I really need, what will it's main uses be, and whether I wanted a computerised one.  The latter was the one that most troubled me.  This machine I really liked,it's functions were exactly what I needed, but it had a digital screen which put me off.  The owner of the shop told me it is just a circuit board, and not a computer, so I went with it.  It fits my walking foot, and he swapped my quarter inch and darning foot over so I am very happy.  In case you are interested, the funtions it has that I wanted are:
Variable Speed (the amount of times the dog or children have walked past and my foot has gone down and my old machine ran away with me
Up/Down needle function - this is so good for chain piecing and turning corners
A couple of button hole stitches - just watch me applique everything in my house now
High Presser Foot - for getting quilts through
Wide feed dogs
Free arm - I really want to start making more clothes and some of the made for quilting machines don't have this.
Now I know some of you probably have fancy Berninas, but this to me is like a dream.  Also, just to add my political statement, please buy local.  This machine is from a little shop in Portslade (to the West of Brighton).  It is really old fashioned, but my first machine (a tiny Frister and Rossman) came from there about 20 years ago.  I then bought my old Janome there about 4 years ago, and now this one.  They service and repair machines, and really know their stuff.  The owner spent over an hour showing me the features of different machines and let me try them out.  I had a bit more to spend than the £289 it was, but he just explained the next machine up did a very basic alphabet and to question if that is worth another £40 to me.  I could have bought the machine cheaper online, but money can''t buy this service!

Oh and by the way.  I will always put the dust cover on it, and never shove it under the dining table when we have dinner...

x

Crochet Today March/April 2008

I so love Crochet Today magazine.  I have bought Interweave Crochet recently and was quite dissapointed as there wasn't that much in there I would make.  I did love the articles though, which is something Crochet Today lacks as it is mainly patterns with one small article.  Luckily the WHSmiths in Brighton often has it in.  If you don't live in the UK you can't understand the lack of crochet magazines here.  My mum often buys the knitting magazines and they rarely have a crochet pattern - and if they do it is usually a bag.

Here is a quick round up of some of my favourites this issue...

A really cute wrap cardigan pattern, and how sweet is this little girl!  The pattern is sizes 2 to 10 so I will be using this one quite a bit.

I love the way these coasters have been styled.  I love these so much I am thinking about ordering some of the Aunt Lydias crochet thread from the States to make them.

The scan of these isn't that great, but you get the gist.  When I first looked at them I didn't really like them, but I think it is just because they have been photograped together and clash.  I think these would make really great presents.

and one I won't be making.  I don't think this will show off my short hourglass frame to good effect!

There are also quite a few patterns for blankets.  All this for £3.00, quite a bargain eh?

x

 

Advice please readers...

Oh my, you know what it's like, you don't post for a week and then you have trouble deciding what to post about...so here is a bit of everything. 

Easter was good.  Some things were traditional, such as too much chocolate, and some things weren't, such as driving up to Essex on Easter Sunday through a snow blizzard!  Mister J won the Easter competition at school which I am thrilled about as it has given him a little confidence boost.

I received my centre block for the round robin swap on Friday.  It is from Luisa in Portugal and is delightful.  I'll photograph it tomorrow and give it it's rightly deserved own post to mull over what border to put on it.

I'm having machine issues, so really need some sewing advice.  On the whole I find the subject of sewing machines quite boring, you buy one, and you use it to sew.  However, my attitude is changing as my machine is not being so obedient.  I have been free machine stitching on fabric and paper for college, but am having terrible problems.  I think my machine does not like it, but thought I'd blog about it here to see if anyone has any tips.  I have a basic domestic Janome machine, which doesn't have feed dogs you drop, it has a plate to cover them.  Every time I have tried sewing with it, the thread has looped at the back and in the sample below 2 needles broke.  The plastic plate which covers the feed dogs has marks on it where the needle has hit it, and i use the darning foot.  I love this technique, but am getting really frustrated with my machine.  I was bought up on British sitcoms and my machine and I keep having a Basil Fawlty threatening his car moment!  Whilst on the subject of machines I am having a further dilemma.  It really needs a service (not linked to the free machine stitching as it has always disliked doing it), but it will be £45.  Part of me thinks I should just part exchange it and try out a new machine.  I would have a maximum of £200 to spend, but if any of you have a budget machine you can recommend, let me know.  Likewise, any tips on free machine stitching would be much appreciated.

Here is the front of the piece I was sewing, along with a sample I gave up on this after realising I was flinching when sewing in case another needle broke!

The loopy back - horrid eh?

My second dilemma of the day are these crochet Converse boots.  I followed the pattern, but feel the sole doesn't work.  I think if I was to make them again I would slip stitch the sole to the upper.  So what do you think readers, do these look great and I am being fussy, or does the sole look just a bit silly?  They need their black laces in, but I didn't want to crochet them unless I am going to give them to the person I made them for.

Do these look like seventies platform Converse boots?

Something else I'm up to which I'm not going to blog too much about, is a project with Mister J's school. This week I did resist fabric dyeing with 90 reception age children.  My hands are a bit stained, but none went on the children - phew!  It is for a background to a wall hanging which the older children will applique on.

Lots to do this week.  I have some free log cabin blocks to try hand sewing as part of my Gees Bend project. I am really looking forward to the hand sewing. I need to get my quilt project designed and ready to be approved, and try to finish my bag.  I also would like to get my Round Robin done and sent out early.   I have also acquired a couple of new books so will post some photos of those - the usual seventies applique I love.  Selvedge is out and looks like a really good issue, and I have already scanned some photos from the new Crochet Today to blog in a minute, so there should be a bit more happening round here this week!

Hope you are all adjusting to the clocks changing.  Since I have had children I much prefer losing an hour as it means I can say I got up at 7 o'clock, rather than 6, which sounds much more sociable!

Happy Sunday x

Crochet Hexagons and an egg R2 D2...

Things are a bit better round here today.  Goodbyes have been said, and the children are being much more civil to each other.  Has anyone else noticed that children seem to sense when you aren't 100% and modify their behaviour accordingly - and not for the better!  My aunt who died was 90 when Jude was born, so she was a good age, but she is the last member of that "layer" of the family to go.  We have lost all of them in recent years and it has made me feel very sad.

It feels strange Easter is here.  It is so early, apparently it won't be this early for at least another 100 years.  I'm going to go and buy some bits for our Easter egg hunt today, and flowers for relatives to try and get in the swing of things.  Usually Easter falls in the middle of the a two week holiday from school, but it doesn't this year.

Here is the R2 D2 egg which I made with Mister J for school.  He didn't want to take it in today as he said it was "rubbish", but I'm not one of these mums to do it for him so it looks perfect.  (Does anyone else look at children's entries in school competitions and think there is no way that an infants school age child could be that talented)  I think it looks great, and he has taken it in!

Also, I have worked out how to do granny hexagons from an old copy of Crochet Today (the very first issue in case you are interested) .  I like to have a light crochet project on the go as an antidote to college work, and these fit the bill perfectly.  The yarn I am using is pretty horrid - just cheapo acrylic, it doesn't even come in good colours, but by the time I mix the browns, beige's and blues it doesn't look that bad.  I cannot justify making a Rowan yarn blanket as a "pick up at 9.30pm for an hour" project at the moment, so it will do.  It is for Mister J as a drag around the house blanket, and for picnics so I am not too bothered.  The yarn was actually bought a while ago to make a ripple stitch blanket, but it kept increasing at the ends so got cross and stuck my two attempts in a cupboard!  I don't know what colour I am going to crochet round each one and join them together in - I'll decide that at a later stage when I have finished them - Christmas 2010 perhaps!  Also, I have learnt the lesson before that I should stop after every 10 and weave the ends in, otherwise it is a long horrid job to do at the end.

Here is the blanket from the magazine - I love these colours

and here are two of my babies

I have been getting visitors from Laura Crochets.  It is a new blog, really interesting and great to see a UK crochet blog - go and visit and say hi and support her yarn diet.

Have a good Thursday - it is the best one of the year as most people don't have work in the morning, so really it is like a Saturday night!

x

The Happy Hooker (well happyish...)

These two projects have been hanging around for ages, but I was a little disheartened with the way they were turning out so they never quite got finished.  I have a few of these sort of nearly there projects around my work bags and feel that if I actually finish them, then I will feel better - even if they just go to the charity shop.

Fit to be Tied
The bag was so quick to make up and I am really happy with it.  The problem with it is that as I finished the crocheting I realised it was too small for me to use.  It would have been fine in the days of one key, cash, a bank card and lip gloss, but bags need to be a little more substantial for my kit these days.  I decided to give it to Bizzie, so put in a cute lining.  I love it, and so does she.  If you are new to crocheting this is a brilliant project to try as it is lots of rows of hdc.

Inside

Cold Shoulders
I am so disappointed with this.  I absolutely love the design, and wanted to make a top I would wear on summer evenings over a strappy top.  The yarn was lovely, but my choice of colour.  I would recommend never making this in variegated yarn.  I decided to finish it to wear in bed when reading (hope I don't look too much like an old lady in it, I suppose the husband will let me know), so chain stitched the ties, but didn't bother with the pom poms.

The lovely original

My effort

Crochet Ruffle Scarf

I followed the pattern and have ended up with this:

this is a close up, and it does ruffle when it hangs but I feel it is a bit thin.  The design is good as you leave an opening mear the bottom on one side to thread the other side through so it wraps round perfectly.  I have one ball of the Tapestry left which is a bit strange, but have put in as many rows as the pattern asked so an thinking about buying some more of the kidsilk to go round the edge one more time to make it fatter.  I need to practice doing some photos like the great ones at Some Girls Wander (check out the fabulous clothes, I love the style but one can only pray to get legs thin enough to wear knee high socks...), so you can see what it looks like on.

I was also really pleased to find the new issue of Crochet Today in WHSmiths.  I have been trying not to shop there due to my personal ethical issues about the post office in Brighton closing, making all their staff redundant, and then reopening in WHSmiths which already has horrendous queues, but crocheting obviously comes between a girl and her ethics!  They are celebrating magazine week and so are stocking some new magazines.  This one cost £3.00 which is on a par with the UK knitting magazines and has proved a good buy.  Here is a photo of it looking dog eared from being in my bag for the past week :

mmm, don't know if I would make the yellow cape on the cover, but the patterns inside are great.  Check out these little Converse style baby boots

sorry about the glare on the photo, but the weather seems to have plunged us into darkness at the mo!

Happy Tuesday x

 

Crochet Workshop

I went on my crochet workshop yesterday and it was amazing!  It was at Kangaroo in Sussex and the tutor was Jane Crowfoot, a Rowan knitting consultant.  What I loved about the day was she tailored the course to everyones needs, from beginners (including my mum who did very well) to a lady who had been crocheting for years.  One of the projects advertised for the day was a ruffle scarf, which in the end no one did as we were all busy practising new stitches.  I got so much out of it as I had a chance to go over what I already know and make sure I am doing things correctly, and then try out new stitches.  She bought Rowan yarn for us to use for the samples which was great as I am hesitant at messing about with what I class as luxury yarn.  The tutor mentioned she may be doing a crocet inspiration course at Rowan in the future - a weekend workshop based on developing your own designs drawing inspiration from places such as wallpaper - that sounds very interesting.

Here are my samples.
The top one is made from Rowan Cotton Handknit (my favourite) and is spike stitch with a row of bobble stitches on top.  I have always wanted to try this and am amazed at how easy it is.
The dark pink sample is made from Cotton Glace and is a sampler square where we went over the stitches.
The circle was made alonside Jane as I wanted to ensure I was closing the cirlce up in the right chain stitch.

The kidsilk mohair sample was going to be a flower, but I got rather annoyed at how long it took as it is so fine.  She suggested doubling it up in the future as it has a fuller effect.

We also did some crocheting with beads.  I am almost embarrased that it is so easy and I have never tried it.  I got some pink cotton glace and beads to try out.  I'll make some coasters or the edging of something for Bizzie.

 

and finally, I bought some yarn to make a ruffle scarf.  I am always scared of buying expensive yarn, but I won't be crocheting a lot this autmn so this is my time out project, and we got a 10% discount!  The colours aren't great in this photo, but the yarn is Rowan Tapestry and a ball of Kidsilk to edge the scarf.

Ooh, and I should mention lunch.  Quiche, different salads including tomato, basil and red onion (my favourite), cheese and biscuits and strawberries and cream.  Not to mention the afternoon tea and cake - we were a group of very contented hookers!

Check out the Kangaroo website - their yarn is sent out with no charge for postage.

Rock Chick Granny Square

As you can feel from the last couple of posts I am desperately trying to get organised for the autumn.  First step is probably to send off my re-enrollment form for college.  If I do that I feel I have made a good start!

I have been checking out the stuff I have got stashed away and come across this grand 14" granny square.  I bought the cotton yarn from the old Co-op store on the London Road in Brighton.  It sadly closed earlier this year after being a landmark for Brightonians for years.  It got very outdated, but I have fond memories of meeting my Grandad there for coffee and popping into the Top Shop concession on my lunchbreak from my first job (Saturdays in a book shop in case you are interested).  Anyway, I get this yarn for £1 a ball not quite knowing what to do with it.  You know how you get blinded by the price...
I made up this granny square and then got stuck.  It was very bright and not really to my taste.  What a difference the summer makes.  I have now decided to mix it with some smaller granny squares to make up a blanket for Bizzie for the winter, and I actually quite like it.  I have a crochet course coming up next week so will be desperate to get the hook out again.      

I have also been busy yo yoing today (I know it's not a verb, but sounds better than Suffolk Puffing!).  They are so addictive and there are so many uses for them.  Mmm, wonder if I could crochet a circle and then pull that into a yo yo...?

If you need cheering up, have a read of this post, so close to what always seems to happen to me, and it really made me laugh.

Happy Friday x

Days out, talks and an old block

All has been quiet on the blog front as we have been outside enjoying the fantastic weather.  I am so enjoying the break and dreading the return of the school run!  I went out on a hen night last night so am a bit jaded today, I am just about to put my yoga bottoms on rather than my jeans so will probably get a raised eyebrow when I go downstairs (I get called Chantelle when I wear them - readers from the US probably won't know who I mean, but I'm sure the UK readers will).

On the sewing front things have been ticking along; making Bizzie's doll and writing for the zine.  I never realised quite how involved you have to get when you write patterns - my hat goes off to those who do this for magazines. 

On Friday night I went to a talk by the quilter Sally Holman.  I always partly dread going to talks of people I have not heard of, but it was great.  If you ever get the chance to go to one of her talks, then you must go.  She is a quilt teacher who also writes patterns for magazines and sells patterns and kits herself.  Her quilts have won quite a few prizes and she attends most of the quilt shows.  I loved they way she was so natural speaking to us, and she put lots of amusing anecdotes in her talk.  Before going I searched her on the internet and couldn't find a lot, only her book which has just come out.  She told us a lot about the book (but it was never pushed) and it looks like it would be perfect to go alongside the Lynne Edwards Sampler Quilt book if you are a new quilter.  It covers techniques, rather than blocks and has a lot in it.  I am not a great lover of highly embellished crazy patchwork quilts, so some of the work wasn't to my taste, but she was a really lovely person and her pictorial work is very interesting.  I use the internet for so much, it always amuses me when I struggle to find information on quilting and quilters in this country.  It has been good to have a reminder that not everyone uses the internet all the time - quilters included.

There has been no crochet on the blog for a while - this is because I haven't done any!  My Dad payed for my mum and I to do a one day course in crocheting next month as a present, so hopefully that will inspire me to start up again.  As soon as the weather turns I really fancy crocheting a spiral scarf in a light mohair yarn.

As I have no photos for you today, here is a picture of another block for the sampler quilt which is still to be finished (3 years later!).  This was a quickie block and I used shop bought papers to do it.  I don't think I will ever use manufactured papers again as they are quite thick to get your needle through - old photocopy paper and envelopes are much thinner, and more in the sprit of the people who used them for patchwork in the past!  I had very sore fingers by the end of this and thought I would justify the cost by using the papers again and again...

Happy Sunday x