Purl and Seam

handmade in Lancashire

13

January 12, 2021

I haven’t done a birthday post for quite some time. But today Summer turns 13 and I cannot fail to mark such a special day.

They say that the days are long and the years are short, and until you have children you really don’t appreciate the truth of it. It seems barely a moment since the day we tentatively pushed open the door of the foster carers sitting room. Our hearts were in our mouths as we savoured the moment of seeing our daughter for the very first time.

Our journey to adoption wasn’t littered with pain and heartbreak as it is for so many. I was nearly 40 when I met Dave and both of us had remained childless for so long, it was odds on that we would have fertility issues.

It turned out to be a blessing rather than a curse, because it brought this amazing girl, and her darling brother, into our lives. I say that they were always ours, they were just delivered to the wrong address!

Time stopped at our first meeting. I remember how Summer’s face lit up when she saw us. How during that first hour she called me Mama for the first time (the foster carer had worked hard with a little book of photos so she’d know who we were when we met). How she fell asleep in Dave’s arms, peaceful and safe.

Bridging ( the process of getting her accustomed to us) was supposed to take 2 weeks, but she was having none of it, and was home with us within 7 days.

And our world changed for the better.

It’s not been an easy ride. We have had to fight hard to get her diagnoses and the accompanying support. She calls me her Battle Bear. I carry that with more pride than I can articulate.

But she is the warrior. She has fought back from a terrible start in life, and challenges that would floor grown men, to become a most beautiful person.

She is kind and funny. Smart as a whip and able to find the loophole in any argument. Fierce in her defence of justice, and intuitively gentle with animals. She is beloved by her friends and intolerant of bullies.

Equally happy to wield power tools to help Dave with DIY, or a food mixer to make bread or buns, she is fabulously practical. I love having her helping in the sewing room and at the weekend she was helping me caulk gaps in the ensuite ready for decorating.

She is, in short, our joy. Her name is not one we would have even considered, it was her gift from her birth mother. We couldn’t have chosen better for her. As a little school friend wisely said, aged 5, “Summer has the most perfect name because she lights up the world”.

Happy birthday, darling girl. Every day you surprise and amaze me (and get on my very last nerve). Keep being the wonderful girl you are. I cannot wait to see the woman you’ll become. I know she’ll be strong, wise, kind and gentle. You are wonderful and we all love you more than we have words to say.

4 Comments CATEGORIES // uncategorized

DIY Upcycled Tops

January 9, 2021

Let’s start a new year of sewing with some simple upcycled tops that I completed towards the end of last year.

I had 3 jersey dresses that I had bought probably a year earlier and not worn even once! I don’t know what I was thinking when I bought them. They’re not really my colours. They’re not particularly flattering. Honestly…this is why I don’t go clothes shopping! I’m so very bad at it!

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8 Comments CATEGORIES // Sewing

New Year

January 5, 2021

There seems nothing to be said about 2020 that hasn’t already been said. But I really want to start the year acknowledging what has passed in the last months.

Personally, 2020 was really hard. On top of the pandemic there were numerous challenges at home. By December I was on the ropes.

We took time over the holidays to make some changes. We head into this New Year hopeful for better times all round. Although at the time of writing, here in England we sit, as do our national neighbours, in full lockdown yet again, with schools closed, we remain positive.

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2 Comments CATEGORIES // Family Life

Luna and Reynard – DIY Felt Friends

November 20, 2020

It’s been a while since Miss Luna Lapin made an appearance on this blog. This time she’s in company with a foxy friend.

So whilst the last Luna I made was for a friend of Summer’s, this one is for her to keep. The Reynard is for Dylan. We’re teetering on the edge of softies not being cool, but for the moment these were received with glee and are treasured.

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CATEGORIES // uncategorized

DIY Print Sweater – Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater V3.0

November 10, 2020

Please excuse slightly grainy pictures. Lancashire is gloomy at the moment. We need some crisp bright days, please!

My love affair with the Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater continues.

My blue and black striped sweaters are in almost constant rotation as the weather is so much cooler here. So when I saw this beautiful printed ponte di roma on the Patterns and Plains website, it was a given that it would be another Elliot Sweater.

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CATEGORIES // Reviews, Sewing, Style

DIY Hand Knit Socks

November 6, 2020

It seems a while since I put a pair of hand knit socks up here. I’ve just checked back through the blog and find that it was actually August of last year! Don’t tell Dave. He’s been bemoaning the lack of new socks this year. It seems he has a point!

This pair run true to form for stripes and boldness. And they are probably the only pair he’ll get this year!

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

DIY Cocoon T-shirt – Hot Patterns Blouse-Back Tee

November 3, 2020

I’ve had the Blouse-Back Tee from Hot Patterns in my stash for sooooooo long and never got around to making it. When I made the Blackwood Cardigans for Beth and myself, I had some of the lovely jersey left over. It seemed a good idea to use that up to trial this pattern.

I’ve spoken recently about trying new styles, and this definitely falls into that category. I have never in my life worn a cocoon style but the financial investment here was so low, again it felt like nothing to lose.

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CATEGORIES // Sewing, Style

DIY Striped Baby Cardigan from a Vintage Pattern

October 21, 2020

A baby cardigan is always a lovely thing to knit. A striped baby cardigan is particularly adorable. In these gloomy and sad times, the joy of a new baby makes a teeny cardigan a particularly hopeful garment!

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

DIY Black Striped Sweater – Helen’s Closet Elliot Sweater V2.0

October 15, 2020

My love for the Helen’s Closet Blackwood cardigan is being extended to her Elliot Sweater pattern too.

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CATEGORIES // uncategorized

DIY Sweater and Shorts : Confetti and Vogue V9008

September 23, 2020

Before I start talking about Confetti and V9008, I just wanted to have a bit of a ramble about style and sewing and shopping. If that’s of no interest, then please just scroll down to the pictures and the reviews. I won’t be offended.

Sometimes I find it really useful to park thoughts and ideas here. Mainly for me, but also because you never know who might be having the same stuff rattling around in their noggin.

My sewing is so hit and miss at the moment. The difference between the Crystal Cove and Ogden Camis in recent posts only serves to highlight that.

I’ve been pondering on this topic this week. I think there are a couple of factors at play. Grab a cuppa, I have thoughts!

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CATEGORIES // Knitting, Sewing, Style

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