OneChurchillsGreen

On the road again with Agnes....

It's been a while since I took Agnes, my trusty green Fiat 500, cross hill and vale. So, when I set off this morning for Home Sweet Home in Sherborne I did so with just a little trepidation. But an hour later and she was safely parked opposite the Abbey and just across the way from the new home of Butterfly Bright. I used to nip back and forth to the very same shop when my friend Liz first opened a couple of years back. Not only was it filled to the brim with gorgeous homewares, but it also stocked our range of Sicilian Artisan products, Veru. Now, Liz has passed the helm to Lizzie and Ali, haberdashery extraordinaires! Alongside the prettiest melamine picnic ware, sits beautiful Michael Miller fabrics and all manner of sewing must-haves. A sewing machine class was in full swing in the workshop out back. And, if Lizzie and I get organised, we will see some crochet workshops happening there soon - maybe with some summer cotton yarn, crochet isn't just a winter sport after all! And not wanting to leave empty handed - in fact, given more time, I could have filled Agnes to the brim with summery cotton prints, buttons and braids - I treated myself to this beautiful grey velvet/cream lace ribbon, just perfect for a little summer sewing project for Pipi, the combination will be perfect with her white linen trousers (cropped from last year to make a fab pair of capri pants!). 

 

Remember the peacock blue thru' to celadon stash?....

Earlier in May I posted about the delights of finding yarn you'd all but forgotten about. I've been hooking away with a 1.25mm hook and my stash of fine cotton yarn. Gradually my project is starting to take shape...

I'm planting out cosmos at the moment (just popped in for some string for the sweet peas!), but another evening or two and I should be ready to put it all together xxx

Start crocheting now ready for the Autumn apple harvest!

It made me smile to see my apple cosies on German design blog designchen. My German is non-existent I'm afraid, so I'm not too sure what they were saying, but I think it was along the lines of 'the apple trees are in blossom, so get cracking on your cosies now in time for the fruit harvest later in the year'! (Any German speakers, feel free to correct me on that one!). And it set me thinking. Our crab apple tree is very much in blossom and quite beautiful. It took me a few months to master crochet, so why not - learn now and by Autumn you'll be making little apple cosies as gifts for children, their teachers, or friends. The pattern is such a simple one and is ideal for beginners - the first edition of Mollie Makes, featuring the pattern, is now available for free download (if you're an iPhone or iPad user - not me, ironically), alternatively you can get it online with The Guardian, or better still it is featured in my new book, together with a sweet little apple blossom pattern and so much more. Inspired by that very apple blossom, I picked up some green, white and pink Rowan 'cotton glace' and whipped up some lunchbox sized apple cosies for my Etsy/Folksy shop. The only problem being, the children are eating the apples as soon as I nestle them in a cosy - I'm afraid I don't even follow my own pattern, I just use an apple as my guide and off I go! xxx

Learning to crochet......

It is always a pleasure to teach others to crochet. Having only picked up a hook myself for the first time a couple of years ago, I get so excited starting others out on their crochet journey. Not everyone will get as hooked as me, but if crochet gives them even an ounce of the satisfaction and peace it has given me, then it can only be a good thing. I had a great day yesterday with Angie, Jo and Rebecca going through the basics. The setting couldn't have been more perfect, Angie's beautiful conservatory overlooking her spectacular garden. The doors were open, the sun was shining, the cotton yarn looked more enticing than ever. And my students were just brilliant - with determined concentration, they'd cracked the basic stitches before our second coffee of the morning!
And by end of play they were tackling the finest gauge cotton on a project featured in my book - hence the slightly cryptic photo (all will be revealed in September!). 
So proud of their achievements and in such a short space of time, hopefully they'll be planning their next project already!

A quick knit.....

The yarn I picked up in Canada is taking shape. With our spring weather here in Dorset being variable, but predominantly wet and windy, I thought Pipi could do with a pair of 'in-between-season' wristwarmers. I picked up the beautiful fine blue yarn from the Fibre Studio on Granville Island, a pair of 3.25mm needles and here we are - 45 stitches per row, 70 rows in stocking stitch, crocheted together with some pink cotton yarn and finished off with some buttons from my little jar. I simply double crocheted the two edges together, leaving a gap for the thumb and a 5mm edge at the top (to roll back - I hear rolled back knitting is on trend at the moment?!). Anyway, they look really cute and even better, they're perfect for early morning lamb feeding!

 
If you fancied knitting up a pair but haven't got any handspun yarn at your disposal, just use a lace weight yarn, it's ideal for spring time temperatures. I'm cracking on with my fine cotton stash project this weekend, hope you have a good one too xxx

Happiness is.......

.....discovering a yarn stash you didn't know you had! Oh, and a good nights sleep!!! All revived and refreshed after an undisturbed night, I decided it was time to look at my long neglected Etsy and Folksy shops. Thinking I'd pretty much consumed my existing yarn stash, I gathered up my fine cottons, only to find a whole ream of gorgeous greens and blues I had forgotten all about. From brilliant kingfisher blue to the palest celadon, there is a whole palette to work with and I've got an idea already, be back in a while xxx

April showers..........

......or should that read 'deluge'! Apparently we've just had the wettest April for over 100 years here in England, yet still the shadow of drought hangs over us! I thought I had a basic grasp of climate, surely heavy and constant rain would eliminate the prospect of a drought? But no, it's still looming. Oh well, as a true Brit, I'll just soldier on despite what the weather brings - in my heart I know we will have more rain than sun this summer, so I'm not too worried for the garden, which is looking more and more lush and green by the day. In fact all of this rain has allowed me to catch up on some housekeeping and crochet. With the book finalised, I decided to reignite my urge to create. A few afternoons have been spent at the little window overlooking the garden and paddock, hooking away.....

....and with my trusty crochet bible, Betty Barnden's 'Handbook of Crochet Stitches', I've been practising some new stitches. Here is a dishcloth in small daisy stitch - I'm not sure it's exactly what Betty intended, I think I might have interpreted it slightly differently!

And with yet more dishcloth cotton to use up (I trialed three different brands for one of my book projects), here is a little cot blanket 'in-the-making' using Betty's 'daisy in a square'. I'm loving this one as I can crochet the squares together as I work each new one, no sewing up at the end, yippee!

And then some lavender bags, it might still feel wintry, but it's time to pack away the winter woollies. In an effort to deter the moths, my trunks will be laced with lavender bags this summer - oh, Martha Stewart would be proud! I used up some sample motifs I had floating about and made another 'daisy in a square'. As ever, their bottoms are as pretty as their top halves!

And yes - the sun came out just long enough for me to photograph these little bits and bobs, perched amongst my wisteria, which is starting to bloom beautifully. I might have a stinking cold, but with so many fresh and exciting projects underway - the garden, the crochet, summer sewing, spring cleaning - I can't help but smile and get stuck in. That's before I've even mentioned the lambs, oh I'll save that little gem for my next post xxx

It's official.......

I can't quite contain my excitement, I can officially announce the publication of my very first book of crochet patterns! I know I have alluded to 'the book', primarily as an excuse for my blog absenteeism, but I can now fill in the gaps. 

I have spent the past six months creating 35 projects for 'Simple Crochet', a title in Mitchell Beazley's new 'Creative Makers' series. I was so surprised when asked to write the book that I agreed instantly, after all it had been so much fun sharing the apple cosy pattern.

Creatively, I have never been so challenged, emotionally so drained and personally so satisfied. I'd glimpse a scrap of yarn left from knitting a baby jacket for a friend's new arrival, or wonder at a skein of hand-dyed silk I had stumbled upon whilst browsing Etsy. Slowly, but surely, the projects took shape, first in my minds eye and then at the end of my trusty hooks. From cushions, coasters and bags to toys, scarves and blankets, there's something for everyone - not just apple cosies, I promise! And there's a whole lot of me in there, sharing what I love about crochet, the sheer joy of creating bits and bobs by hand, you will all know where I am coming from.

I am, quite literally, over the moon with the finished book, each project beautifully photographed by the fabulously talented Yuki Sigiura (the book really is a team effort - publishers, art directors, editors, pattern checkers). Looking back, there isn't a pattern that I wouldn't love to make again - it might not be atom splitting, but it's mine and I'm really proud of it.

After all the excitement, the sad news is that it's not available until September - but my pulse is racing, it's ready for 'pre-order' on Amazon (never thought I'd see my name on Amazon!). 

And as if that wasn't enough, the sewing book in the series 'Simple Sewing with Lola Nova' is available for pre-order too! Now, that one will definitely be on my Christmas list xxx

A traveller's yarn.....

You can take the girl out of her country cottage, yarn filled life, but you can't take the yarn yearning out of the girl! The Sicilian, the bimbi and I have been over the top of the world and back - we left the glorious Spring sunshine here in Dorset, flew over Greenland and touched down in snowy Whistler (via Vancouver, of course!). And it was breathtaking, inspiring and relaxing all wrapped up in one big, beautiful, white snowscape. I've dreamt many a time about vast white landscapes, scattered with snow laden pines.

Waking up to gentle snowflakes on our first morning in Whistler was like a dream come true. The children couldn't quite believe their eyes, but before long they were on the slopes up to their knees in powder and the reality and wonder of our situation began to sink in. And yes, the skiing just got better and better (well the childrens did anyway - thanks to their grandparents gentle guidance - I'm just happy to make it down in one piece these days!), but this trip wasn't just about seeing a new part of the world and hurtling down mountains, we'd come to spend time with my Canadian Papa and his wife (I was adopted as a baby here in England, but I'm actually half Canadian, half American). Having only found my Pa a year ago, every moment we all have together is magical. Meeting his family and friends is pretty special and my understanding of him gains texture and depth every day.

What he must think of me is altogether another matter! Yes, I loved being on the mountain, but I even surprised myself at how restrained I have become. Ten years ago I would have challenged myself to the very limit, but now I'm content to play it safe and worry about what the kids are up to - skiing in and out of the trees, searching out every deep patch of powder - their adventure knows no bounds. I, on the other hand, felt my heart skip a beat as we passed a little yarn shop on our first day in Canada. On our way out of Vancouver to Whistler we stopped off on Granville Island and I popped into the 'Fibre Art Studio'. Barely had my feet touched terra firma when I acquired three balls of beautiful yarn - handspun, hand-dyed or both.

I had promised the children I wouldn't spend the holiday with my nose in a crochet project, so I carefully packed my yarn away, peeking only occasionally at its' glorious potential! A few days of skiing and mountain life later and we were back in Vancouver for an afternoon, this time in Gastown. The kids, The Sicilian and my Pa were on their way to a Canucks ice hockey game - luckily for them I spotted a fabulous Vintage frock store, followed by an intriguing little yarn store. Gastown has a vibrant yet edgy atmosphere; there are evident social problems which accompany most downtown quarters in big cities, but with these come the low rents that encourage indie boutiques and galleries to thrive. The shop that caught my eye as we drove through was 'Community Thrift & Vintage' frock shop on Carrall Street. A fabulous 1950's skirt graced the mannequin in the shop window and inside was a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous vintage clothes, bags, underskirts, scarves and shoes - if only I'd taken an empty suitcase. Even better, the shop is run by a local charity for the community, staffed by members of that very community. From here it was just a short stride to 'Wool is Not Enough' on East Cordova. Shoshana, the owner, is so right, 'wool is not enough', but boy does it make my soul sing and her shop is an absolute gem of carefully selected yarns in beautiful hues and natural fibres. My luggage allowance stopped me from indulging. Not to mention The Sicilian's gentle reminders of my stash back in Dorset, which, whilst fast diminishing, still requires several projects worth of work! But if you're in the area, don't hold back, the colours of the 'Spud & Chloe' yarn alone are enough to warrant a whole Summer's worth of knitting and/or crochet projects.

And there, for now, I'm afraid I must leave it - having teased my Pa about his endless hunger for sports coverage, I fear I may be just as obsessive about yarn tales. We are back in Dorset now and the three balls of yarn I picked up on Granville Island are calling me to action - it's off to the Wool Workshop in the morning, I'll be catching up with the girls and casting on a few stitches or chains to see where my Canadian yarn takes me!xxx 

Frankly - meet the maker.....

As if this beautiful weather wasn't enough to lift the spirits, I have just seen my crochet bits and bobs gracing the pages of Folksy's online magazine 'Frankly'. When 'Frankly' asked me if I would like to be included in their 'meet the maker' feature, I leapt at the chance. Those of you who read my blog know only too well how much joy I get from crochet and all things crafty. If I can give others a little insight into my yarn filled world and maybe inspire them to pick up a hook then even better. I am a huge fan of Folksy, it is a great showcase for some of the wonderful crafters the UK has to offer, ideal for an original gift too!

And just to avoid any confusion, yes, the Sara Bratby they refer to is me! Despite being married to The Sicilian for 11 years now, I still haven't changed my email address, so my maiden name 'Bratby' has a habit of sneaking in here and there! 

Well, I musn't dawdle, we're off to Whistler tomorrow - I have a list as long as my arm of last minute jobs, but before I go I thought I'd give you a quick glimpse of my current project.

Inspired by Jill and Jane at our Wednesday Wool Workshop, I've picked up my precious cone of Habu 'Stainless Steel Wool' and combined it with some left over silk yarn from the fabulous girls in Nuremberg (which, if I'm not mistaken, is also available at Loop London now) and a light sprinkling of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. This gossamer light wavy chevron scarf is a gift for a special girl in Canada, so I'll be finishing it off on the plane over! Nine or ten hours should do it, don't you think?! xxx