Chook Hilton

 The chook Hilton, in progress.

Little Man In A Box by Damian Meehan

Grandma's Nylon Bambi Rug (Name In Progress)

Many years ago when my Grandma died (1993), I saved most of her clothes to use for crafts.

She had a heap of overcoats and loads of ‘Pure Nylon’ tops and pant suits, many of which were paisley and bright. Quite lairy was my old Grandma. Born in 1909, she found her heels (but not her temperament) in the 60’s. Well, with the fabrics and ‘kitsch’ of the era. I have lots of her old bric-a-brac and have added much of my own now too. What was once my Grandma’s style is now my style too. I have a collection of little porcelain fawns and Bambi’s, for example, which is a definite a Grandma influence.

I madeWagga’s out of Grandma’s coats, and still use remnants in all sorts of things: blankets, pot-holders and rugs.

When I first collected the nylons, I imagined using them in hooked rugs, what else after all? They don’t feel so nice to wear and can get a bit smelly, ew. I had bought, or rather borrowed Joan Mortimer’s fabulous book on Rug Hooking, so here was reason enough to save these quite lovely fabrics and save the memories that went with them.

Years went by. I made my ‘Grandma Curtains’ with some, embroidering notes and letters and recipes from my childhood and my life with Grandma and Mum. We three sewers. These adorn my sewing room, appropriately.

But this week, after having a bundle of colours made up for the last year, I started my Grandma’s Bambi rug (name in progress). It’s been sitting in the back of my mind for so long! As ideas do. All I want to do now is work on the rug, even though I really have no place for it in my tiny little house. Let alone anywhere for a pink deer rug! (I can hear your comments about that from here, and I am going ahead so you see, I agree).

Anyhow, the main reason I wanted to write about this is that I feel the intimacy of my Grandma so very much, doing this. Grandma was a quick sewer. Always eager to try something new and get on with it. She used pinking shears rather than zig-zag on the seams (pre overlocker days). I’m not like that. I’m fastidious, but have otherwise almost completely morphed her into myself.

As I pull apart these nylon clothes, I see her quick and ‘strong-but-not- blind’ hemming and remember when I got her to make my end-of-year dress for dressmaker’s college (myself a lazy 16 year old) and lost marks for the pragmatic but not saleable, invisible hem. And last night as I unpicked another outfit, I discovered Grandma’s pencil marks for her darts. It brought a tear to my eye and a pang of loneliness for her and for my Mum. We three sewers who shared so much.

Only I, remaining, know these things about my Grandma. When I look inside these old clothes, I know instantly if she made it and that makes me smile. I still miss her terribly even after this time, but she is hooked into posterity with this very bright, pink, maybe a little bit kitsch, Bambi rug.

Not sure about the background... scenery? Grass and sky? We'll see.

Loving These Foxes! Perhaps Albert/a?

 Worth the inexpensive outlay from Little Cotton Rabbits. Great pattern.

I loved my own knicker-bockers in grade 5.

 She's as gorgeous as he is. Either or, depends on the clothes (no privates after all, not real people in spite of my firm opinions to the contrary).

Leif (Ninja Dragon) and Henry

Love

New sheets! So exciting!

Minor dragon tail adjustments

Ninja!

Happy Birthday little man!

Biggest Frost Since My Childhood

The outdoor fish tank was completely iced over, like all puddles used to be when we were children and walking to school.
Global warming takes all the fun away.

Foxy's Winter Jumper

Foxy Winter Jumper: I followed the pattern for the boy’s jumper (sweater) for my next Fox Doll, but added my own cables. And made it a little longer (which doesn’t necessarily look better and I wouldn’t again). The yarn is a mixture of Morris & Son’s Empire 2ply in eggshell, and a funny little grey I found somewhere. I think it’s a funny animal hair?? It’s super soft, but has very thin, black hairs that made me think my own hair was getting caught (as it does), but finer, and soft. Someone suggested Samoyed, and I have a vague memory of something like that??? Poodle?
The buttons are really old and quite special! Shell.

Vintage Aran Knitting Bag

Well, this Poncho has been sitting in my room for years. It never looked good and I never ever wore it. Then it occurred to me that it could be a nice bag. Particularly a knitty knitting bag.
So I ordered some handles (the one’s pictured are vinyl but I have since ordered better leather ones).
My lining has pockets… of course… one pattern sized, two pleated compartments for working Fair Isle (i.e. one ball for each colour, to keep them separate), a closed pocket for notions and spare needles etc. It’s well big enough for a jumper (sweater) and I made the lining slightly loose so the bag can stretch with the Stuff.
The gorgeous yellow floral cotton looked a bit weak and I put the nice red Hounds-tooth wool to highlight or contrast… (as an inside piece to thread a cord in, to pull tight), but it looks nice as is, poking out the top and I made a cord of the green, which is pulled through the knitted section instead.
I love using it. Friends, who don’t knit but like bags, have commented on it as a regular, nice bag. Not just a novelty, knitting-type bag.
I Do Intend To Draft The Pattern, even after this long, I still will, I promise!!