Purl and Seam

handmade in Lancashire

Best laid plans and all that!

January 10, 2022

I had an inclination to write a sort of “line in the sand” post with the hope that the coming year would be more….amenable…than the past two. Summer is just starting to study “Of Mice and Men” and the quote which inspired it seems so apposite for the last couple of years:

The best laid plans o’ mice and men

gang aft agley*

and leave us nought but grief and pain

for promised joy!

Robert Burns – “To a Mouse” – 1786. *often go wrong

Never a truer word spoken. It has been such a time of grief, and pain, stress and worry. Many have lost loved ones, and those who haven’t have lost time with their people.

We’re into the second week of January 2022 and ‘plus ça change’!**.

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CATEGORIES // Family Life, Home Dec, Knitting, Sewing, Style

DIY Hand Knit Sweater – Tulip by Ririko

March 2, 2021

This Tulip sweater has been so long in the making. I originally wound the yarn in October 2019, cast on, couldn’t get my head into it, and put the project in the naughty corner.

In August of last year I decided to try again.

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CATEGORIES // Knitting, Reviews

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 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 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

Gramps – Made by Ma!

February 29, 2020

Before we chat about Gramps, can I just start with a quick “Lord, how cute is this boy of mine?”  One of the things I love about this blog is it’s not just a catalogue of the things I’ve made, it’s also a visual history of my kids growing up.

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

2019 Goals – How did I do

February 26, 2020

At the beginning of 2019 I set myself 6 goals. Whilst I’m a bit late to the party with a review of the year, I’m taking the time to look back at what I’d hoped to achieve, and what actually happened.

1…Make Maud more like me

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CATEGORIES // Knitting, Sewing

Honey Bee Sweater

January 9, 2020

According to my Ravelry account this Honey Bee Sweater was finished in July last year. Yesterday was the first time that Summer has worn it. Cue eye roll! I think we’re at the tipping point of not wearing handmade for a while. Eeeep!

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

Yarndale 2019

December 23, 2019

It seems so very long since Yarndale 2019. To be fair it was back in September, on a lovely autumnal day. Driving to Skipton is always lovely. Whilst the parking for Yarndale is tricky (I ended up parking in town and walking up the hill to the Auction Mart), it’s worth it.

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

Longfellow V2.0 – review

October 3, 2019

I’ve made Longfellow before and it was a huge hit. I think I can safely say that this is the most worn knit I’ve made for Dave. So much so that a second was requested, again in navy, everything the same as before except the length.

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CATEGORIES // Knitting

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Evie

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