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.

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.

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?

Knitzwilliam Darcy (Jane hits the big 236)

Gorgeous vintage china hanging from the ceiling in Cassandra's Cup, Chawton

Just a quick post to say happy birthday to the old girl; today is Jane Austen's 236th birthday!

Ah, Janey Jane.  We're celebrating by watching Clueless (the 90s answer to Emma) and downing copious amounts of tea.  Why not commemorate the day with a cuppa, dramatically sieze a copy of Northanger Abbey, OR . . . knit yourself some Austen goodies!

Yes, you read that right.  If you've been dreaming of chic regency ways to stave off those chilblains (or indeed how to kit out your Mr Knitley or Knitzwilliam Darcy), then dream no more.  This here nifty publication is your answer.   

Jane Austen Knits.  A copy appeared (as if by magic) in my pigeonhole at work last week.  What I feared would be hideous and twee was actually rather fab.  You can check it out here.  Many happy returns, Miss Austen. 

let them knit cake

To raise money for Breast Cancer Care, fabulous Gina is planning to contruct a Marie Antoinette wig entirely from knitted cakes!  Now, if that's not a good idea I don't know what is.  To knit a cake and get involved with Gina's Pink Friday click here.

Last week I did a fair bit of knitting.  I needed some new samples and a fresh challenge.  Here is the little cakey slice I finally produced!  It's pudgy and wonky, but I'm pleased all the same.   The pattern is from Bittersweet (as seen in Bloggerversaire). 

I ventured out with this one.

Knitting: The cake slice.  75% complete.

Where: the pub.

Comments/stares:  Had a nice chat with the man on the next table about knitting.  For some reason he thought I was knitting fingernails?!

The big knit news I mentioned last week?  Well, that would be our knitting circle's newest project;The Big Knit 2011, which ironically involves knitting the tiniest hats known to mankind.  Innocent Smoothies has once again challenged knitters to mini hats for their smoothies.  Each hat raises money for Age UK.  This year's patterns are brilliant.  Check them out here and get your knit on.    

making sense

gorgeous Sense and Sensibility artwork by Skottie Young

Austen time again, I'm afraid!  This November sees the 200th anniversary of the publication of Sense and Sensibility.  It's not most people's favourite of her novels, and I include myself in that, but I do think the relationship between the Dashwood sisters is really interesting.  In homage to Janey-Jane I shall be re-reading the novel.

Popped along to the fashion museum a couple of weeks ago and what should I find but costumes from the fab 1995 (Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet) Sense and Sensibility production.  Brilliant.  These included Marianne's wedding gown.  You can't really see in the pictures, but the main body of that dress was dotted with tiny foil stars.  Just lovely.



The awkward moment when Willoughby totally blanks you

So, who's up for a 2011 Sense & Sense re-read?

A handbag?

Hooray! The reticule turned out well. I finished off the sewing while nursing a nice chai latte in town. Who needs Mulberry when you could make yourself one of these babies? Not sure if I could take it clubbing though.

The workshop was thoroughly fabulous. Check out http://www.charlotterainecorsetry.co.uk/ for more info. While trawling the web for anything similar, I came across this hilarious knitting pattern http://janitesonthejames.blogspot.com/2009/07/are-you-crafty-create-your-own.html

"a ball? I long for a ball!"

'I cannot talk of books in a ballroom; my head is always full
of something else.'

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

I am a very lucky young lady, and whether or not I am indeed Miss Emma Woodhouse is as yet to be decided. Last night was wonderful! We went straight from work, not ideal, but managed to sneak in a much-needed cuppa beforehand. The venue was lovely; I'd never seen so many chandeliers in one place, casting rainbows all about. There were candles and scatters of petals and pearls on the tables too. After the meal we attempted some regency dancing, hilarity ensued. The trouble was knowing which women were men, as well as right from left! Eventually arrived home at midnight with very tired feet and a posy of roses that smell just like marzipan. Sigh. Why was I born in the nineties?

Onto books however. In order to remedy my starving student/impoverished artist situation, I lugged a rucksack of books to town to sell at the paperback place. Unfortunately, the chap only wanted Tristram Shandy and gave me 50p for it. What a cheek! Certainly not enough to finance my essential and extremely very important ribbon expences. Grrr.

en fin

Final project and assessment - done. Now time for tea!

Further textiles-related news - off to see the degree show today, realised it's the last day, ooops. Also, attending a regency ball with work on Saturday, so I guess I'll just HAVE to buy some more ribbon!