Month: September 2020

Back in time, or not…

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Our first visit on our Northumbrian trip was to Beamish. To say we enjoyed it would be an understatement. For two heritage enthusiasts, with a particular love for social history it was an amazing day out, and we can’t wait to go back.

Things were obviously a little restricted, the trams were not running, but the buses were and we had a trip on this gorgeous vehicle.

Some of the rooms were closed off, as were some of the smaller properties and there were less interpretive staff working but that just gives us all the more incentive to return next year. We loved the vintage style mask signs.

Our tickets are valid for a year and it is such a large place we didn’t manage all of it in one day anyway. I have split the photos into two posts as I took so many.

Our first location was the 1820s hall which had a beautiful formal garden. I think it is one of the original buildings at the location, many others have been relocated or are being built as replicas. It was a really hot and sunny day so we got to see the place in the sunshine which was wonderful.

The second location was one of my favourites, a 1950s miners’ welfare hall. It was complete with all of the things that you would expect, and some that were very unexpected and really interesting. I think it was one of my favourites due to all of the textiles, and the lovely interpreter we chatted to.

I had spotted the knitted version of Muffin the Mule as we went up to the table. I remember my Grandad had a metal version of this puppet and I watched some of the episodes when I was younger.

We were also fascinated by the knitted baby in the womb which was used by midwives in the 1950s to explain birth, and particularly which way the baby was lying. I do remember having a knitted womb at my antenatal classes 30 years ago which the midwives used to explain the birth process.

As well as the wonderful textiles with crochet, embroidered tablecloths and hexagon patchwork there were lots of information signs not too dissimilar from those we are seeing today.

Diptheria was the issue then, with posters warning of the dangers of coughing and the need to vaccinate against the disease. Very relevant to the situation today and a reminder of how public health is vital despite the differences in society now. We also loved this poster stressing the importance of taking holidays to keep you healthy for work, we couldn’t agree more!

The attention to detail in the building was brilliant, they had even asked the Formica company to make them some of a 1950s pattern for their tables and had the advert outside the building. I am sure I remember this from my childhood.

The 1950s area is one that is being expanded so I am really looking forward to seeing more of it on our next visit.

We have had the first week of term, met the new Year 1s and are keeping everything crossed for teaching being able to be on campus still. It was very difficult getting to know a group of students all sat in rows with masks but we did at least have a Zoom tutorial later in the week so we could see their faces.

It was upsetting for all of us as normally this week would be full of fun and creative things that we were doing with them. However, we are adapting. I always used to say to my teacher trainees that the key to being successful is to be flexible and adaptable and that will be even more important this year.

We are under enhanced restrictions in my area again but the sun is shining so I have been able to go for walks at least. I have finally finished the very difficult jigsaw and am on with a new one. I am so thankful again for my lovely home, and secure job as we enter another period of uncertainty.

I hope that you are all ok and coping with everything. I am also so grateful for my crafting as it gives such respite from all of the anxious bits of life. I am working on a new camper van embroidery alongside the knitting and enjoying some new series on Netflix, one set in space, Away, which has been excellent. However scary life is the the moment at least I am not trying to get to Mars 😉

Take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.

In love with anything tiny

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I don’t know what it is about my brain but I am officially addicted to anything small. Be it patchwork, knitting, cross stitch or dressmaking, everything is better when it is tiny.

Over the years I have made so many little knitted animals, with equally small clothes, tiny patchwork hexagons, cross stitch ornaments that I need a magnifier to sew, and dresses for Barbie where most of the pieces are no bigger than my hand.

Although I have made larger things there is something wonderful about the teeny tinyness of it all. Maybe it is the sense of completion, it does not take months to do something. Maybe it is to do with my desire to swap projects on a regular basis.

The same passion for tiny has now been confirmed by our trip away in my first tiny accommodation. I have been following lots of vlogs for years about tiny house living and was really excited to see what staying in the shepherd’s hut would be like. I know it was only for a couple of days but I could honestly imagine myself living in something like that full time. It was wonderful!

These pictures are from the Air bnb listing as it looked a lot more cluttered once we had arrived. As we were staying for just 2 nights we didn’t unpack. If I was living in something that small full time I would need a little more storage (for fabric of course 🙂 ) , but I loved being in a space that was probably not even as big as my kitchen.

I have the sense all the time now that this house is too big, it is too full of ‘stuff’, even though it is only a small 3 bed terrace and I can’t wait to properly declutter and downsize in my move to Spain.

The outside space was so lovely as well, these are pictures that I took on the first evening we were there.

It was a perfect view, overlooking the field which was being ploughed the next morning and with a view of the sea and some amazing sunsets.

The firepit was very much appreciated, it is the first time we have sat around a fire this year and I have so missed it. It truly was an idyllic place to stay and would thoroughly recommend it.

Since we got back I have been compiling a list of all my other favourite little Air bnbs to visit, I have about 20 so far. I may not get to all of them but I can dream! We have booked a wonderful cabin overlooking the beach for next May, in Northumberland again as we had such a good time and want to explore the area more.

I will post more about the rest of the trip soon, it was better than we had hoped as the weather was really good and we were able to visit lots of lovely places.

Meanwhile it is back to work with our new first years starting on Monday. We are very uncertain as to what will happen as we are under further restrictions in our area as of next week but we will keep our fingers crossed that we can carry on teaching on campus.

I hope that things are not too difficult where you are, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.

Very cute knitting!

stitchesoftime4 Comments

I have not had much time to craft in the last couple of weeks as term has started and I have been teaching, socially distanced, in classrooms that look like a GCSE exam room, and from behind a visor. A bit strange but it is lovely to be back in the classroom 🙂

I have made some progress over the last couple of months on knitting clothes for the Little Cotton Rabbits animals and spent some time this week blocking them. They are so cute and I am loving the designs.

Julie has worked really hard on all sorts of new patterns and additions to existing patterns so we now have so many options for gorgeous wardrobes for our creations.

I have now knitted three pairs of dungarees, the earlier blue ones for Egbert the elephant, who has gone to his new home now with my friend from work’s grandson. The green ones will be for a little mouse and the navy ones for another friend’s grandchild. I just love the cute little pockets!

These are my first pair of rompers, adapted from Julie’s pattern to have more of a frill on the bottom. These will be paired with a little cardigan and I am also in the middle of a very cute backpack for this set.

One of the other new patterns I have bought has been for some textured dresses and I have just finished my first one, again with the sundress option for the top. I will make a cardigan to go with this as well.

I was very excited last week as I went in to town for the first time in 6 months and my local habdashery shop has survived the lockdown. I am so pleased for them, and for me so celebrated by buying some more gorgeous wool for future outfits.

I am also very excited today as tomorrow we are going to Nothumberland for a few days. We have booked a very cute shepherds’ hut and Ellen and I will be visiting lots of castles and Beamish open air museum. All places we have not been before so I am really looking forward to that.

This picture is from the Air BnB listing, how cute is this! We are planning to stay in lots more cute places over the next few years as we both love tiny houses and want to try lots out.

I will be back at the end of the week as I am teaching on Saturday again and next Monday the full-time students start with us. Fingers crossed that we can stay teaching on campus, such uncertain times for all of us but I do hope that they enjoy their time with us. I really feel for them after all that they have been through this year and although I will not be teaching any of the Year 1s this year I am looking forward to spending time settling them in.

I hope that you have a good week ahead, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.

What the well-dressed Steampunks are wearing this season

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The Kelham event showed just how wonderfully creative Steampunks are when it comes to their masks as well as their costumes, and there were some beautiful and very unusual masks on display. Even though we did not have to wear them all the time, just in the toilets, bar and at stalls, most people kept them on all day.

I wore mine all the time, hopefully this is the only time I will have to wear it but was very pleased how well it went with the outfit and I even got featured on the event Facebook page for having a lovely mask which was very nice 🙂

As usual there were some stunning outfits, lots of bright colours and detailed work having gone into all of them.

I particularly loved this sea themed outfit, Ellen and I are going for this type of theme for next year at Whitby.

It was nice to meet up with people from previous events, these in the above pictures are the people we met at Whitby Abbey.

We also met this lovely lady again,we first met her at Clumber during the WW2 event and then at Lincoln. She had a gorgeous bee hat and sunflower bustle.

I was very pleased with how my whole outfit came together, I wore the same purple skirt and top as at previous events .

I was also very pleased to find this fabulous little purple handbag the day before when we were charity shop browsing in Retford. How cute is this!

Ellen had a wonderful ringmaster outfit, she used the jacket she made for Steampunks in Space a couple of years ago, and a skirt adapted from a charity shop find.

The hat decoration was part of the same set of tunic fabric that I used from Bombay Stores.

This is one of my favourite pictures of her, even with the mask you can see her smiling!

James and Kerry looked equally lovely, James had a new waistcoat for the event, with matching mask. His Mum made these and the waistcoat is stunning, such beautiful work.

The hall itself is amazing, we are hoping to go to other events there. We didn’t get chance to go inside but had a lovely picnic just outside, using the new basket.

A wonderful chance to have fun and here’s to many more normal weekends in the future.

I hope that you have enjoyed the costumes, I will be back later in the week with an update on the knitting progress. Meanwhile, take care, stay safe and thanks for visiting.

The ‘Glories of Bombay’ Steampunk outfit

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It was wonderful to be at an actual event last weekend, although the weather was not that good we had a great time and I will share more pictures of all the wonderful costumes in my next post.

I wanted to do a separate post all about the jacket and hat though as I am very pleased with how they turned out. I had an idea of what I wanted to do, based on the wonderful fabric from Bombay Stores that I bought at Christmas, but it turned out much better than expected.

I used the pattern that I had previously used for Amanda’s wedding jacket but made it much shorter without the points and did not add buttons, partly as I do not like doing buttonholes, but I think it suited the outfit to have it open.

The tassels were from stash, cut from an old Christmas table runner and there is a hook and eye behind them. I also added a brooch from stash when I wore it.

The sleeves were double layered with the organza over the satin. This was partly a practical solution to the fact that as the satin was from the bargain section and only £1.25 a metre it was quite creased. I think it worked really well though and really makes the jacket.

All of the motifs were cut from the tunic set and stitched on, as was the band at the bottom.

The hat had the same organza used for the removable band and some more motifs and beautiful jewels. This was all pinned in place.

I also made a matching mask, I will include pictures of that in the next post, there were lots of wonderful creative masks made by my fellow steampunkers and it was wonderful to see that we could have an event even with all the current restrictions. Huge thanks to all at the Ministry of Steampunk for arranging it.

I got back from Ellen’s on Tuesday and have been doing a little bit of knitting and sewing, Ellen has very kindly made me a wrist pincushion which is something that has been on my to do list for ages. It co-ordinates so well with all my other sewing accessories.

I have been making some more masks as there was great excitement this week as I actually went back into work! I went in on Thursday and had my first teaching session yesterday which went well. A little strange with me wearing a visor, no handouts and all the of the students sat on individual tables 2 metres apart but it was good to be actually back in the classroom with the students. I have made a few masks but need a week’s supply and a range of colours so that I can co-ordinate with outfits 🙂

I have a quiet week ahead so hopefully I will be able to make good progress on the knitted animals. I have finished the romper, a dress and another pair of dungarees so will share those with you soon.

I hope you have a good week ahead, take care, stay safe and thanks for visting.