yarn along: Maggie O'Farrell, crochet and an x-ray

Hey folks, thought I'd pop in to share what I'm up to at the mo. And I've got some seriously mixed feelings about these two. 

Let's start with the book, shall we? I picked this up at the library because I LOVED Maggie O'Farrell's The Hand That First Held Mine. I'm only a little way in so far, but am floundering a bit as, while beautifully written and absorbing, it's really not the most uplifting read. I'd recommend Instructions for a Heatwave, but not if your soul's in need of something lighthearted. Team it with some Austen or PG Wodehouse, I reckon, and you'll be on to a winner. Oh, and this book's now hideously overdue as I couldn't get it back to the library because A&E! Which leads me to...

The crochet project. Nope, that cardigan still isn't finished, but a recent long train journey necessitated a crochet WIP that was good to go. I grabbed this orange top and it was all going so well until my fingers had a run-in with a car boot last weekend. Ouch. We hot-footed it to the hospital where I had my first ever x-ray (waaay less exciting than I'd hoped). Miraculously, although the car boot completely shut on my fingers, I came away with no breaks or fractures at all. I'm actually fine, just some tiny cuts and a bit of swelling. But I did have to rest my hand (doctor's orders) and haven't worked a single stitch all week. I can't tell you how odd it's been. Have you ever had to halt your making against your will? Very frustrating. 

Practically, Easter for me this year will be travelling and fun family time. On the train I'll be tentatively wielding my crochet hook once more and getting stuck into the orange top again (it's a treble cluster dream of a project from Simply Crochet issue 30 and it's now available as a Ravelry download, too). 

But ultimately, Easter is about hope. I can put aside whatever stuff is going on and know that love wins in the end. Wishing you and yours a peaceful break over Easter!  

I'm joining in again with Ginny's Yarn Along.

Hello 2016!

Happy new year everybody! Our Christmas was busy; filled with family visits, an inordinate amount of meat, cheese and candles and blustery walks. Glad we were able to get to church on Christmas morning as it's so easy to be dazzled by the sparkliness of the season. I hope you had a special time celebrating with your nearest and dearest. As always at this time of year, in those funny in-between days after family have gone and before I head back to work, I try to reflect a bit over the year just gone. 

2015, you were a handful.

Firsts: hosting Christmas Day, Jane Austen Festival Promenade, dog walk, Airbnb trip, Bristol Balloon Fiesta, leg wax, bundt cake, published crochet patterns, IKEA trip, knitted shawl, visit to Cornwall, hair dye, sambuca shot (not wise), buying furniture, trouble sleeping, FaceTime, sloe gin sipping, successful pancakes, tablecloths, gym workout, makealong, attempt at quilting, seeing reindeer. 

There were job interviews, beautiful weddings, tears, prayers, job worries, trips to the zoo, laughter, serious illnesses, one horrendous stomach bug, many, many train journeys, dance classes, puppies, baking, zero trips to the hairdresser and a promotion. We did a big, scary home move, settled into a new city (still working on it), said goodbye to our commutes, made time for family and friends and watched loads of netflix. I worked hard, made stuff and was late a lot.

My highlights were swimming in the sea, catching up with old friends and spending time exploring Paris with Mr P. We were blessed. 

Looking back on the goals I set last year, I didn't manage to knit a pair of socks (though I did turn a heel!) or miraculously become a morning person, but I did try to write more honestly and be kinder to my body. I joined a yoga class, carried on running a bit and ate my greens.

In 2016, God willing, I hope to make more time for the important things, keep running and yoga-ing, finish two garments, give thanks, design a blanket, fall back in love with writing, be braver and make a difference.

taking stock: October

Guess who got their disposable camera developed? This is lovely Dawlish.

Making: top secret yarny things for Christmas! Already behind!

Cooking: all the eggs.

Drinking: hot lemon and honey in a bid to ward off the dreaded lurgy that's doing the rounds at work.

Reading: Emma aloud at bedtime. And The Guardian's Fashion Statement emails over lunch. 

Wanting: a pair of heels that doesn't hurt. Is there such a thing?

Looking: at our disposable camera pics from the last month - some gems and some hilarious. 

Playing: with fabric again and loving it. 

Deciding: we might be real adults now we've bought a vacuum cleaner. Even if it does have a face. 

Wishing: we were back in Paris. Still not over it!

Enjoying: get stuck into Twitter again. (Say hello! I'm @BeccaLParker)

Waiting: for some news that might be big.

Liking: layering up in the colder weather. 

Wondering: how long we can put off using the heating.

Loving: hearing positive news about close ones whose health is now improving.

Pondering: the appeal of neon. 

Considering: a drastic haircut. I still can't decide. 

Buying: peppermint tea like it's going out of fashion. 

Watching: Buffy again from series one. 

Hoping: I can see my sister over Christmas. 

Marvelling: at nearest and dearest lovelies getting engaged all over the shop! Much excitement. 

Needing: to find the perfect twig for a special project that's a bit overdue. Will share soon!

Posing awkwardly in another country? Nailed it. 

Questioning: unnecessary supermarket packaging.

Smelling: yummy lemon candle.

Wearing: brightly coloured tights and spotty socks.

Following: socalitybarbie on Instagram, poking fun at all the hashtags.

Noticing: it getting dark so early now. It's definitely autumn. 

Knowing: my cuppa is getting cold.

Thinking: about the future is a bit scary.

Admiring: talented bakers. I miss Bake off!

Sorting: endless laundry.

Getting: the urge to do my nails all fancy.

Bookmarking: stuff about Joanna Newsom's new album to read later.

Coveting: the stack of books in my amazon basket.

Disliking: not being able to drive.

Opening: my mind to doing things differently.

Giggling: at witty captions and wishing I'd written them. 

Feeling: guilty about skipping running for the last two weeks. 

Snacking: on healthy seeds and nuts in my mind, but in reality it's biscuits. 

Hearing: the squeaky squeaky washing machine.

As usual, grab the list from lovely Pip if you love lists too and fancy sharing a Taking Stock post. What have you been up to?

regency realness

I hope you're not offended by bonnets. As an Austen fan who'd lived in Bath for six years, not taking part in the Jane Austen Festival's Grand Regency Promenade suddenly seemed much sillier than actually dressing up and joining in, so this year we did just that. And it turns out I took loads of pictures of people's backs. But these are Regency-garbed, bonnet-topped backs, so I thought share them anyway. 

The Promenade is a costumed event where over 500 Austen enthusiasts (see also: literature nerds, historical costume lovers, folks who like to do quaint things in pretty English cities etc) take a turn around the city of Bath. I attended with some wonderful fellow knitters and Mr P, who was somehow persuaded and looked unnervingly at home in his get-up. 

It's certainly a bizarre world to enter. You do feel as if you've stepped back in time and ordinary things such as visiting a cash point or using your phone become strangely novel. You find yourself filled with bonnet admiration, pelisse envy, surrounded by people twirling parasols and quoting Pride and Prejudice. The latter was fairly excusable as, due to the inclement weather, our hems were indeed "six inches deep in mud". 

Another discovery was that knitters love Jane Austen, or at least Austen fans love knitting. I was sporting my newly-finished Pebble Beach Shawl and I saw a fair few stunning handmade shawls. There was a Regency market (but of course) after the Promenade and I spotted a whole host of incredible knitted reticules and miser's purses. These pineapples were my absolute favourite and seemed to be selling like hot cakes. Talk about trends coming full circle. I found a knitting pattern for one on Ravelry here - an awesome reworking of a pattern from 1840.

As first-timers, we thoroughly enjoyed the promenade. Everybody we chatted to on the day was lovely. My personal highlights were: a little girl on the train to Bath asking if I was Cinderella, helping Mr P fix buckles to his shoes with kirby grips, eating a slice of apple cake roughly the size of my own head with the lovely knitters and shamelessly strolling around The Circus and along the Gravel Walk in a Empire line gown, lace fan fluttering.

If you've ever thought about going, I'd recommend it. There are all kinds of other events in the festival, but this one's a real spectacle. My frock was from this lovely Etsy seller and we hired Mr P's outfit from here. 

off the needles: Pebble Beach Shawl

Nope, you're not seeing things; I did actually finish my Pebble Beach Shawl and it's a beauty!

In case you're wondering about the freaky get-up, myself, Mr P and some lovely ladies from knit club attended the annual Grand Regency Promenade at Bath's Jane Austen Festival this weekend (we're just that cool). As you can imagine, that's a whole other kettle of fish and there were a few knitty treats that I'll share with you next time. 

Anyhow, this was the shawl's first outing, so I persuaded Mr P to take some snaps on our way home. The FO shots are something I'm really trying to work on. Any tips would be most welcome! Neither myself or Mr P know much about photography, and I feel fairly awkward in front of the camera. I guess it will come with time. 

I think the pics show off the shawl nicely, though. I started it back in May for the CFTC Makealong and while it took absolutely ages, it was a really good challenge for me. I stepped out of my knitting comfort zone to try circular needles for the first time, working lace to make my first ever knitted shawl. 

For the picot bind-off, I had to learn how to do the knitted cast on method. It's a mildly shameful thing to admit as a knitter of some years, but I'd only ever used the thumb cast on prior to this! Here's to learning new things.

Curious Handmade's Pebble Beach is a fantastic pattern. The clear, grid-style format made it really easy to follow for a lace novice, and the stitch counts on each row helped a lot. I could check if I'd gone wrong or not! There was a fair bit of tinking with this project, but those stitch counts kept me on the straight and narrow. I loved the percentages, too, to indicate how much I'd completed. I think the pattern's now available as a full-size shawl, too.

It's a beautiful accessory and it really came alive after blocking. Going to just wear mine forever now. 

All the details, as usual, are on Ravelry here.

home-town tourists

Hey, remember that glorious bank holiday weekend? Yeah, me too. Come back to us, sunshine! Where have you gone?

I was fortunate enough to have The Chap to myself for a whole, magical three days over the bank holiday. We made the most of it with a spot of home-town adventuring. I think it can be so easy to forget about all the cool stuff in your own town. I live in Bath.  It's a beautiful city, but when you're dashing to work or nipping out to get milk, sometimes you just stop looking. It's good to take time to do something new or a little bit touristy so you see the place you live in through different eyes. 

Spot the obligatory swan

Fancy Palladian bridge - every home should have one

We'd never been to Prior Park before and a gorgeous day seemed like the perfect time to go.  It was stunning! Pemberley, eat your heart out, right? It was such hot weather that we were a little tempted to 'do a Darcy' and leap into the lake. We managed to restrain ourselves. 

There was an ice house, a hidden grotto and fragrant wild garlic absolutely everywhere. Naturally we went straight home and made an epic carrot cake with cream cheese icing. There are no pictures - it didn't last that long!

So, when do we move in?

 Have you been somewhere cool, or done any home-town adventuring lately?

bonnet boom

"I shall wear a large bonnet, and bring one of my little baskets hanging on my arm.  Here, -- probably this basket with pink ribbon."

Emma

Jane Austen

I was commissioned to trim some more bonnets!  This time a couple of Austen-style bonnets for little ones.  I used straw hats for the bases again, trimmed with bias binding and lovely grosgrain ribbon.  They're covered with vintage cotton in cute floral prints.  Considering the sewing machine threw a bit of a wobbly so they're hand stitched, I'm pretty pleased with them.  

I even used the melty technique for the first time to stop the ribbon ends fraying. Just trim your ribbon ends diagonally, then hold over a flame (think candle/lighter, not bonfire) for a few seconds so it melts a little, forming a seal.  No more fraying!   

bonnet rouge

Guess what treasure flashed up on my phone the other day? 

It's a photo of the delightful Mrs B looking very lovely in the bonnet I made for her!   

Please excuse me while I do a happy dance.      

trimming a bonnet

"She vowed at first she would never trim me up a new bonnet, nor do anything else for me again, so long as she lived; but now she is quite come to, and we are as good friends as ever." 

Sense and Sensibility

It was a two scissor job.

There comes a time in a girl's life when she finds herself, at 2 o'clock in the morning, eating leftover Chinese takeaway and trimming a bonnet.  While I'm pretty sure this is something Jane wouldn't do, (she'd be far more organised, and ne'er a slave to fashion) I was pretty chuffed when a friend commissioned me to rustle up a suitable chapeau for Bath's annual Jane Austen Festival.   

With ribbon, vintage lace and a whole load of bias binding, I set about transforming a straw hat.  Here's how I got on in those bleak small hours.  

The continually brilliant Lizzie Bennet Diaries was a helpful companion throughout, as was this resource.  

Certain shades of limelight can wreck a bonnet's complexion

Et voila!

It's only me that can see that big ol' crease, right?

You know what?  I may be a little Jane'd out after all that.  But I loved it.  Any late night milliners out there got some tips about bonnets?

Dissertation Survival #3: taking tea

"Tea passed pleasantly, and nobody seemed in a hurry to move."

Emma

Jane Austen

I can't seem to achieve anything significant without a dosage of tea.  As my house mates would attest, some of my best work this term was done in an Earl Grey-fuelled haze.  All of a sudden my flask became a handbag essential and an invaluable library companion.   

When you reach that point when sleeping isn't an option anymore, you just need to power through and get some words down, that's teatime.  Sometimes you have to crawl out of the dissertation den and get a brew on.  

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to go and hide from my deadlines in the beautiful surroundings of Bea's Vintage Tearooms.  (Bathonians  - they've popped up next to the Assembly Rooms).  Charming red-lipsticked staff, and lovely tea and cake served on pristine vintage china.  And they didn't mind me doing a bit of knitting.  Go, feast, try the orange cake.     

The tea ensemble, complete with sugar tongs/nippers/nips.
Just don't make the mistake I did by googling sugar nips.  Yikes.

If you can find a dapper chap to pour for you, that's 10 tea points!

 There's something undeniably soothing about the ceremony of taking tea, the quiet symphony of spoon against cup and the brushing of crumbs.  

It was so good to take a break.  Now back to the books/ sewing! 

sometimes #2

I watch guilty pleasures like TOWIE and feel no shame.  

I'm glad it's cold outside because there's only so long I can justify wearing a onesie for this many hours of the day.  

I wish I could pay someone good money to clone Jane Austen and Vivienne Westwood.  The three of us would form some kind of couture-making, essay-writing, dissertation-slaying dream team.   And then I'd get a first.  

I love discovering unexpected movie gems like Deep Blue Sea.  LL Cool J dictating the perfect omelette recipe, shouting at sharks and fighting his way out of his own oven with an axe?  Precisely the sort of film I would never watch, but we wept with laughter.  Samuel L. Jackson's in it too.  

I feel like a five year old when I have crumpets and bramble jelly for supper, and plan adventures with my crayons.  

I feel like it's one of the world's greatest injustices when I'm down to my last teabag and there's no more Marmite.  Bleak days indeed.  

I write a blog post and realise that it's way past my bedtime.  

I feel inspired to be a better person when a stranger holds the door for you, or reunites you with that mitten you dropped.   

I'm linking up with the ever fabulous young people in love.  Hop over, grab a button and sort out a 'sometimes'.  

little miss literature

How adorable are these?

I recently came across the fabulous work of Alison Oliver (no relation!).  She's illustrated the Baby Lit series of books, written by Jennifer Adams; chew-proof counting books based on the classics.  In raptures I devoured a copy of Little Miss Austen Pride and Prejudice.  Forget toddlers, I want them!

They're very much number focussed, but the illustrations pull you into the world of the novels.  I quite like that the real stroytelling is left largely up to the reader. Just lovely, sugary but very much alive.

Pride and Prejudice and Romeo and Juliet are available now.  From March you'll be able to get tiny mitts on Alice in Wonderland and Jane Eyre too.

You can see more of Alison Oliver's work here.

2011: makes, mistakes and greatest knits

Happy 2012, folks!

I've been off adventuring a little and will report back, but for now here was my 2011 in craft.  T'was a very good year.  I worked hard, I curled up on the couch and turned a blind eye to deadlines.  I fell asleep in the garden, I got up early and made porridge.  I knitted in the pub and read Jane Austen on the bus.  I grew geraniums and bought a pink Bible.  New stitches and recipes were learned.  Patterns were scrutinised, conquered or abandonded.  Friends learnt to knit, shared meals, got married. 

This year I want to write more, read more, knit more, love more and let no cup of tea go cold. 

I'd like to draw every day and knit a tea cosy. 

What are your hopes and craft plans for 2012?