Evie, Author at Purl and Seam

Even more stitches from Ma Stitches

October 28, 2009

Ma Stitches is back again still trying to sign for her new flat. The gross incompetence of the housing agency is astonishing to say the least. Hopefully by this time tomorrow we’ll finally have the keys.

The good news is that once again she has a morsel of knitting for Button in her case. This time it’s this little beauty: DSCF3118_0161_edited-1 I have absolutely no idea what the yarn is other than it’s cotton that I had in my stash. The pattern also is a mystery. I’ve downloaded it from somewhere on the internet and can’t for the life of me find it again. So apologies to the lovely designer…if you can help me out I’ll be thrilled to make the necessary acknowledgements.

That bloody wedding…again

October 10, 2009

Today Mr Stitch, Alice who isn’t a cat, and myself went to look at possible venues for our postponed wedding.

We had three appointments booked, but after visiting the second venue, The Gibbon Bridge, we phoned and cancelled the third because we simply couldn’t face it. Why? Because we couldn’t stop laughing at the astonishing levels of rudeness we experienced.

I had explained quite clearly to the receptionist when I booked the appointment that we would only be a small party of a maximum of 40 during the day with possibly another 30 in the evening. Unfortunately this information hadn’t been passed on to the obnoxious little man who met us to show us around the place. I swear you’d have thought we’d asked him to eat his own liver when we explained this to him. The additional 30 in the evening particularly perplexed him, even more so the owner of the venue, who had been dragged into the conversation because he was so offended by the prospect.

“Why would you want to do that?” she asked.

I sooooo wish I’d had a camera to photograph Mr Stitches face at that point. Alice who isn’t a cat nearly choked trying not to laugh and couldn’t look at me for the rest of the visit.

It didn’t get much better and we got out of there as fast as our little feet would carry us.

Thankfully, the first venue we had visited had been beyond wonderful. A beautiful 1880’s manor house, a Michelin starred celebrity chef, exquisite decor, and perfectly pitched levels of service. Oh, and lets not mention the orange butter biscuits. We were enchanted and, in truth, had only gone to The Gibbon Bridge to confirm that we were making the right choice.

Obviously we were.

So we turned the car around, and still laughing, hot-tailed back to the first venue to place a deposit.

: Image courtesy of weddingvenuesinlancashire.com

So, dear reader, I can finally confirm that on the 13th November 2010 I shall marry Mr Stitch at our local church surrounded by close family and friends, then we shall all head over to the private dining room at Northcote Manor for a fabulous foodie feast in celebration.

I can’t wait. I’m beyond excited.

More stitches from Ma Stitches

October 10, 2009

It was a cold and windy day in Lancashire yesterday (big surprise there) but Little Stitch didn’t mind because she was wearing the second cardigan recently completed by Ma Stitches: DSCF3003_0053_edited-1

I’ve fiddled with the colour and whilst this photo still doesn’t accurately reflect the wonderful depth of the purple of the yarn, it’s reasonably near. The pattern is from the same book as the little yellow cabled number; the yarn is Phildar Oxygene in Prune that I bought in France during out last trip.

As always, Little Stitch looks adorable in it, so thanks again, Ma, for another hit knit.

Ma Stitches stitches – part one

September 29, 2009

Ma Stitches has been busy and here’s the first of two beautiful creations she brought up for a very lucky Little Stitch during her visit last week: 171

The second knit awaits buttons. I’ll post about it when they are sewn on. Both are knitted from this book:

Image courtesy of sirdar.co.uk

I, on the other hand, am meeting myself coming back and not getting very much done at all. Most frustrating!

Another milestone

September 28, 2009

Saturday would have been my parents 45th wedding anniversary.

: Christmas 2008

Normally at this time of the year, the Aged Stitches would have been in Cornwall for the annual holiday. This year Ma came to us.

She arrived late on Monday evening but Little Stitch woke up, insisted on getting out of bed, and greeted her with the biggest hug.

We had a lovely week of shopping and playing and generally having fun, rounded off with dinner with the Stitches-in-Law on Saturday evening. It was another bittersweet evening as we were so obviously one seat short at the dinner table and Pa had so wished to be with us for this evening. But it was not to be.

Ma is home again now and Little Stitch is running around the house shouting “Grandma”. Thankfully her work is done…Ma is moving back to Lancashire as soon as we can make the necessary arrangements. We are thrilled.

Gratitude

September 11, 2009

As we reach the end of the summer, the weather has finally broken and today has been glorious.

So we abandoned all other plans and headed to the park to practice our walking skills, eat ice cream and generally have a lovely time in the sun.

065 But whilst we enjoy this day, and look forward to Mr Stitch being on holiday next week, we took time out to remember those families whose joy was shattered forever 8 years ago today and whose loved ones will not walk in the park with them again.

Our prayers go out to them.

And to those who risk, and lose, their lives on a daily basis to ensure that I can play with my daughter in the park in safety.

We are grateful.

Still loving Chloe

September 3, 2009

Well, theres not a lot to add to my previous post about the multicoloured Chloe, except that I’m still loving this pattern; this time it’s the raspberry pink Sublime double knit. 004 Despite being re-knitted yarn, knit on needles larger than recommended to get the right tension, this has come out really nicely again.

Yay!!!!

In sewing news, my plans are slowly formulating. I’m actually working on my first full outfit, which is trousers, a top and a cardigan, which I’m hoping to reveal soon. It’s the first time I’ve actually done the whole outfit thing when sewing and I’m finding it really quite exciting. I’m hoping to get some sewing in over the weekend as both radiator covers are now painted and ready for fitting.

So, watch this space.

Oh! I. Give. Up!

August 28, 2009

Still basking in the glow of renewed enthusiasm for the much loved and much neglected (in this house at least) art of dressmaking, and housebound because of the high winds and torrential rain battering the house, I decided to spend a happy hour cutting out jeans for Little Stitch and the black and white gingham blouse for myself.

Ahhhh, the best laid plans of mice and sewers.

The jeans that Ma S-I-L had donated to the cause are far too tiny to be cut for Little Stitch. I’m going to have to filch an old pair from get Mr Stitch to find an old pair of his, and try those, or, sadly, I will just have to go fabric shopping next week. Tragic!

So I pinned the pattern to the board for later and laid the fabric and pattern pieces for the blouse on the table ready to press, pin and cut: 001

Hmmm. At first glance this looks like it’s going to work, but what you can’t see is that the fabric has a flaw. A yellow line running down each edge of the fabric, intermittently, about 5 or 6 centimetres in from the selvedge. On both selvedges. As the fabric has been washed and I don’t have a receipt, there is little I can do about this.

So, as I have to cut around the flaw, there simply isn’t enough fabric.

At this point I suggest you insert your own expletive.

Thankfully, there’s enough fabric to cut a shell top, with a short sleeve, if I cut carefully. It won’t shouldn’t take me long to draft that, but at this point I’m doing the wise thing.

I’ve packed the pattern away for another day (before I put a match to it), ditto the fabric. I’m pouring myself a glass of something therapeutic and curling up with my man, Ugly Betty and my knitting.

I’m making a start on this for Mr Stitch:

From Classic Knits for Men

It’s official title is “Snowflake Jacket” but Chez Stitches its “The Starsky and Hutch Cardigan”. I’m not doing it in the proscribed yarn as Rowan yarns and I simply don’t get on, but in Patons Jet, which I bought for the princely sum of 79p a ball!

I shall, of course, be starting off with a swatch!

Chloe…how I love thee!

August 23, 2009

I adore this little cardigan.

048

Even though I had to undo the whole thing because of the lack of common sense and swatching, I still absolutely adore it.

It’s terribly easy to knit, looks fantastic and is super versatile. The raspberry version is coming along nicely and will be finished this week. Although the original pattern was made up as a stripe, both of my versions are knit in just one yarn and I love them. It’s a great transition piece and fabulous with jeans and more dressy outfits for Little Stitch. I love it so much I’m thinking of a red version to go with a little pink and red Mini Boden dress gifted to LS by Julia.

Oooooh…obsessed…moi?

Busy doing nothing

August 19, 2009

Mr S has marshaled the support of all my chums in his campaign to make me take it easy.

It seems he’s even convinced Little Stitch to help, as daily she works hard to master this walking thing, thus meaning that Mummy has less carrying of her to do. She astonishes me daily as she masters new skills and we found out last week that all developmental delay has been made up and she’s now doing all the things she should be by now, and some that would be expected of a 2 year old. She’s just the most amazing little person.

I’ve been banned from the workroom again this week…sigh. But then, to be fair, other than the black checked wrap blouse and some curtain projects, I really don’t know what I’d be sewing at the moment.

I have to own to feeling blocked. My wardrobe is so sparse that even the moths have moved out due to the starvation rations. I’m also still carrying far too much weight, which isn’t really conducive to fashion because you feel like everything looks wrong, and it sure as eggs is eggs feels wrong.

It all becomes the most ridiculous vicious circle where you feel like nothing looks good on you, so you don’t make anything, then you have an empty wardrobe, so don’t know where to start to fill it up because its such a ginormous task, and you don’t feel that anything looks good on you anyway.

So I know I need to stop, take stock and make a plan. I’m thinking of making a small wardrobe of quick to make basics to see me through whilst I work on losing the weight and getting back to my normal tiggerish self. Just not sure what it looks like yet.

Which is perfect timing seeing as the Rest and Relaxation Mafia are hard at work.

But one good thing about the R&R Mafia is that Ma and Pa Stitches-in-Law had Little Stitch yesterday for her usual visit, but she’s stayed with them a wee bit longer than normal whilst I snuck off to the cinema to see Coco Avant Chanel.

Picture courtesy of www.apple.com

All I can say, is if you haven’t seen this film yet…hotfoot off to your local cinema and give yourself a treat. It really is just the most marvellous film. I was left breathless by the cinematography. Audrey Tautou is her usual luminescent self, and the whole production is just glorious. I’m tempted to go again to see it at the cinema and will definitely be buying the DVD as soon as it hits the shelves.

I’ve also finished the little multi coloured cardigan for Little Stitch. I’m so thrilled with it that I’ve pulled out the orphaned raspberry merino yarn and worked a swatch for that tonight and cast on another one for her. The multi one is currently blocking overnight and I’ll photograph it in the next couple of days once I’ve got a button on it.

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