A Snowdrop-Inspired Nordic Jumper

 

For a while now, I’ve had the idea in my head to knit a Nordic yoke-style jumper inspired by one of my favourite flowers: the snowdrop. There’s something magical about them—the way they bloom so early in the year, delicate and determined, quietly pushing up through the frost and leaf litter to announce that spring is on its way.

Where I live, wild snowdrops are everywhere in late winter. They gather in great drifts along the roadside, scatter themselves like confetti across woodland floors, and pop up in garden corners where you least expect them. I find them absolutely beautiful—they are understated, and full of quiet hope.

Despite searching, I couldn’t find a jumper pattern that featured snowdrops in the way I imagined them. So I decided to design my own.

 

This jumper is knitted with double-knit wool. The body and sleeves are worked flat, then joined together at the yoke, which is knit in the round on circular or double-pointed needles. I wanted to capture the graceful shape of snowdrop petals and the soft contrast between the greens and whites that mark their arrival in the natural world.

I have to confess—while knitting the body, I kept glancing ahead to the yoke chart, itching to start working with the colours and motifs. That’s where the design really comes to life.

The pattern contains instructions for three sizes. I'm wearing the smallest size in the photos. I wanted a cosy, slightly oversized fit—something I could wear over another layer during the chilly months. The finished chest circumference is either 42/46/50 inches, which gives a relaxed fit.

My husband asks me why I am publishing the pattern now in the middle of summer. But I think knitters know to think ahead, and may well be planning a cosy garment for next winter. 

 

It’s been such a joy to knit a piece so personal and seasonal. Snowdrops remind me to find beauty in the quiet, early moments of change—and now I have a jumper that carries that feeling with me wherever I go. The pattern is available on ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

Ethel Blouse

I have been busy sewing again, and used my first ever downloadable pattern. This is the Ethel Ruffle Peplum Blouse from Tiana's Closet. This was a bit of an experiment, as I am still planning to make a blouse from an old embroidered tablecloth, but decided it was best to have a go with another fabric first. 

Possibly my favourite thing about the blouse is the fabric, which is an old curtain that came from a friend's mother. I would use it as a tablecover when I used to do craft fairs, and love the fact that it is old, a bit worn and has such soft colours. My new pasttime is looking in charity shops for interesting fabrics.

The peplum blouse was fairly easy to sew. Downloading and sticking together the many sheets of paper took a while, but probably not as long as a trip to the shops. I really like the sleeves on this pattern, which have a lovely shape. Although I like a long sleeve the elastic cuffs mean you can push these up if you need. I sewed the side seams of the body and arms with french seams, and then used bias tape to enclose the peplum seam on the inside so it would not fray. The blouse just slips on over the head, so no need for zips or fastenings. 

Very happy with the result, and I am now thinking do I go for the tablecloth blouse, or perhaps a skirt that will compliment this blouse. Perhaps faded denim. So many decisions to make.

 

Fish Skirt

Forgive the terrible photo above. I made this skirt from the same pattern (New Look pattern 6271) that I used for trousers last year. I really believe in getting value from a pattern, but am probably not going to move on to the shorts option.

I love the batik fish fabric (which was bought in Bude), but decided it had to be lined. Spent more online buying a navy cotton fabric for the lining, but it had to be done. I added pockets using the same tutorial Soften Studio, on how to sew a french seam pocket that I used on the trousers. It is really good way to add pockets and keep everything french seamed and neat. I love a pocket. 

This was the last of several attempts to photograph it. I just seem to shut my eyes in photos, look very self-conscious, or just angry. So although I look a mess, this is fairly realistic, and at least I am not in my usual wellington boots.

There is going to be another sewing post soon, as I have just discovered downloadable patterns, and am midway through a blouse.

Vegetable Garden Diary May

I have realised that I perhaps should have started my sporadic garden diary.  Seedlings are under way in the polytunnel, and I have a new friend at the Oxfam bookshop, who is doing swaps with me. So thanks to her for the two cucumbers above, and she also gave me some peas and spinach for outside.

Someone (a rabbit I think) has been nibbling things in the polytunnel, so I have had to put some of the seedlings on the table and cover the troughs with netting, and need to reinspect the fence. I am turning into Mr McGregor.

The indoor strawberries are looking good, all grown from my outside strawberries last year. And we are already eating some American land cress leaves.

Outside things are coming along. Below shows the outside strawberries, and potatoes and raspberries behind. My husband's loganberry has even more berries coming than last year, so hopefully we may get more than the one jar of jam. It has also produced another bush a little way off.

Other things planted outdoors are runnerbeans, peas, sweetcorn, broadbeans, onions and carrots (which I planted near the onions as I had heard this might help, but as usual the carrots came up, and the nearly all disappeared over night).

And below is my "scarestork". Chris Packham was on the radio talking about the reintroduction of storks to Cornwall, and I thought this year rather than the scarecrow man we usually make (which the birds sit on) I would try and made something a bit more frightening - with light and noise. We will have to see how this works out.

Reupholstered Bed Headboard

We are doing some DIY, and decided that part of redecorating my son's room meant recovering the headboard of his bed. I've not really done anything like this before, but as I used to be a teaching assistant, have had plenty of experience with a staple gun. We took off the covered buttons which matched the old headboard, but decided to pick a fabric that would contrast. We bought the fabric at Sooz Custon Clothing in Okehampton, which is the best fabric shop I have come across locally. There was an enormous selection of furnishing, dressmaking fabrics, and haberdashery, as well as some great advice about the process of covering the board. I will definitely be calling in there again.

We went for a fabric to match the look of the bedframe, which is a bit industrial looking. I've still got to fasten the frame in place, which will be a little lower and fit under the lower bar, but I think you can see that the end result looks great. To get the buttons in place I used a very long and large needle (which I found in my sewing box), which went through the holes already there in the board.

 

Tamara Way - The Final Section

Yesterday we walked the final section of the Tamara Way. We started at Woolley, and the first part of the walk through the valley of Marsland Water was a real treat. It was lovely to be off-roads, and the woodland and river were really beautiful. I love a bluebell wood at this time of year, and there were plenty about. The route did have a few hills, as we crossed from the Devon to Cornwall sides of the valley.

As we passed through the Marsland Nature Reserve, we went a bit rogue. We decided not to follow the labelled detour because of ash-felling and also crossed the wooden bridge that was marked closed. Neither seemed a problem. Eventually the landscape opened up to a coastal one, and we decided we had to do the extra bit down to the seashore, so we could say we truly had walked coast to coast.

Pink sea thrift was very pretty.

I am not good with heights, and had originally thought I would not walk the coastal route along the cliffs. But decided it would be nice to complete the route in the book, so my husband walked back to Woolley with the dog, and my son and I continued. It turned out the height was not the problem, I think mainly because I was so tired by this point and keen to get to the end of the walk. But the steepness of the path (both up and down) made it very difficult, particularly the sections with steps. I think my knees are not what the once were. But there were some beautiful views, and I wish I had taken a few more photos.

Eventually we turned inland and could see the church and vicarage at Morwenstow, so thought our journey was almost over. But one more adventure. The last field we had to pass through has some very frisky cows, who started to run to meet us. Perhaps to say "charge" would be an exaggeration. There was also a big brown bull, who seemed less interested in us, but looked very imposing. I dived under the barbed wire fence into some nettles, and although my son tried to persuade me they were just curious, we did the last section in the woodland. We joined up with our path, and as we walked up to Morwenstow were treated to a large deer crossing our path. Morwenstow churchyard and church were lovely, and I should have photographed them, but instead we hurried up the hill to The Bush Inn, where my husband was waiting for us with a cold drink. We also decided to have supper there (which was very good) as we watched the sunset. The end of this adventure, we will have to start planning another one.

Batik Seaside Banner

Since my printing course finished I have been thinking of trying some batik at home. One of the ladies on the course got her husband to make her, and me!!, a wooden batik frame. Very kind.

It took me a few weeks to get organised - buying two tjantings, and also some fabric inks. I had a little of the wax anyway, which I think was my daughter's from a school project. Not quite ready to invest in a wax melting pot, so improvised with a little metal dish, some tea lights, and the kitchen laser thermometer to check I was up to the right temperature. It worked well, so I am thinking to keep going with this method, unless I can find a secondhand melting pot.

These first attempts were an experiment. The first attempt, the mackerel, I really was not certain I would be able to get the wax to the right temperature. I feel I got better as I worked down the fabric. I think I am getting steadier with the wax, and braver with my colours. I don't want to get too good with the wax, as part of the charm is the odd splash and splatter in the wrong place.

The shape of my banner was determined by the batik frame, but it meant I could work each section on a different day. The part I enjoy most is the painting with the inks. It is lovely letting the colours flow into each other. It also takes very little ink, just a few drops, so I have plenty left for other projects.

So the banner is up in my bathroom. Spent quite a while looking at frames online, but in the end I spent £2 on a ripped block picture in a charity shop. Removed the ripped picture, and fixed my printing to the frame with a staple gun. Job done!

Tamara Way - Lower Tamar Lake to Woolley

Getting near the end of our long walk. We started at Lower Tamar Lake today, and here is a picture of Upper Tamar Lake, which as you can see was looking glorious in the sunshine. The lower lake is more of a nature reserve, and the upper lake for activities. Even though we had only walked about a mile we stopped at a very nice cafe for an icecream, to give us a bit of energy for the remainder of the walk.

The next bit of the walk was through rural land, with a lovely view looking back to the lake at one point. Our next point of interest was when we reached the River Tamar again. Now it is a small stream. Our route crossed it at Youlstone Bridge, and we knew that this was the last time we would see it. Very hot today, so the dog had a dip, and we had a picnic on a little space next to the river.

And then onwards until we got to the plaque which marks the source of the river.

I was quite interested to see a Neolithic long barrow, which we passed near the junction with the A39. I find this sort of thing really interesting.

And eventually we arrived at Woolley, and decided that was where we would end today's walk. One more section to go, and hopefully we will be able to finish the walk at Easter, with my daughter along as well.

 

Baby Tulip Cardigan

I have been hard at work on this new knitting pattern, which I am calling Baby Tulip Cardigan. It has taken a lot of thought, and knitting. Cardigans just seem the best sort of garment for a baby, with none of that squeezing over the head of a jumper. The tulips are smaller than those on my Tulip Hat, but knitted in a very similar way. Each flower uses two separate lengths of yarn - one for the leaves and one for the flower, which are not carried between the flowers on the reverse of the work. I love the look of the raised flowers, but put them only on the front of the cardigan, as I felt they might be a bit bumpy on the back for a lying or sitting baby.

The pattern comes with instructions for four sizes (0-3 months, 3-6 months, 6-9 months and 9-12 months). I have written sized patterns before, but this one was slightly more complicated, as the flowers had to be placed on each version. (The pattern contains a lot of brackets, and I hope will be fairly straightforward to follow.)

 

 

I have knitted Size 1, 2 and 4 - each one in a different DK wool that I had in my stash. Some of the places where I sell suggest that you will do better by recommending a specific brand of yarn, but I thought knitting with different yarns was a good way to test the pattern. The cardigan only takes 70g to 120g of main shade wool, depending on the size you knit, plus small amounts for the flowers, so it really is a good way to use up some yarn left over from another project. I used Stylecraft Sweet Dreams for Size 1, some North Ronaldsay DK for Size 2, and some Rowan Designer DK which I think came from my sister for Size 4. (Just looked this up, and apparantly it was discontinued in the 1980's, so that has been in my stash for a while!)

 

I like them all, and am rather fond of Size 4 - with each flower being a different colour, and the different coloured buttons at the front. Spent a lot of time in a haberdashery picking these out.

  

 

 

But what now to do with all these baby garments. I don't seem to know anyone with a baby, so apart from no baby models, I have ended up putting my samples in my Etsy Shop, along with my sample Tulip Hats.

The pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

My resolve was to design more knitting this year, although I have been a little distracted by printing, walking, and now the gardening year is beginning! I have quite a few more ideas brewing, so time to start my next design.

Tamara Way - Launcells Barton to Lower Tamar Lake

It has been a bit of a gap since our last walk, but we have done another section of the Tamara Way today, and are pretty sure that two more days walking will get us to the end.

We picked up the route again at the church at Launcells Barton, and once again didn't go in the church, as we had the dog with us. The churchyard was a beautiful mass of primroses and dafodills. 

Quite a steep walk up the hill, and then a bit of confusion about our route through some fields. We were happy to see the River Tamar again at Moreton Mill, and surprised that is still a sizable river. There was then a long stretch along the Bude Aqueduct, where we passed a friendly group of volunteers clearing the undergrowth. This is a disused canal, but is a great route for walkers, and our dog enjoyed some off lead time.

And before we knew it we had reached the Lower Tamar Lake, where a friendly couple who were filling up birdfeeders helped us with our route, and told us about some of the wildlife there. Beavers have been introduced, and there are some bird hides. It seems like it deserves another visit to walk the whole way around.

 

Printed Simmons Park Banner

The fabric printing course that I have been going to over the last 8 weeks has ended. The first half of the course was spent learning techniques, and for the second half we each made a banner, themed around a local park in Okehampton, Simmons Park. These will be hung in a local primary school, along side the banners that the children made under the guidance of a few of us.

 

 

The planning and making of the banners was quite a job, and above is a picture of all of them. I think they are really impressive. What I find remarkable is how different they all are.  I think the techniques were new to everyone, although some of the ladies on the course were clearly very artistic. (Yes we were all elderly ladies, which is what you seem to get on day courses. What do all the elderly men get up to?) Below is my banner.

 

I went through a phase where I really was not pleased with my banner. I felt I was being a bit too literal, with features that actually are in Simmons Park. It really is a lovely and interesting park, with the East Okement River running through it, and a lot of interesting features. Apart from the old bandstand and a lovely willow tree that I included, there is a Swiss-style chalet house, waterfalls and ponds. There is a lot of nature and gardening close together, and I think if we had been doing this project in summer there would have been more flowers and shrubs included.

 

But by the end I was happy with it. The batik tree at the back was done on the last day, and once again I was not steady with the hot wax, but enjoyed the ink painting. It is made up of a combination of printing with stencils, blockprinting and some of the fine details were embroidered. Some worked straight onto their banner, but I made mine in sections which have been sewn together. The park gate is meant to show me and my son (who is now grown up) wandering into the park.

The teacher took a picture of the banners and makers together, so there may be another post on this, and I think possibly a trip to the school to present the banners.

Colourful Tulip Hat

I've finished another version of my Tulip Hat, where this time I have used a different colour for each flower. I really like this version, and it such a good way to use up oddments of left over wool. Each flower head only takes 2.5 m of yarn, which is not really very much.

Again I have had to be my own model, which has meant my trainee photographer (my husband) had to take the photos. I think he is doing quite well!

The hat pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting. I'm working on a new tulip pattern at the moment. Hat will be heading to my Etsy Shop

 

Tulip Hat Knitting Pattern

I am really happy with my new Tulip Hat knitting design, and it will not be too long before there are some tulips out in my garden. It is a really practical, cosy hat, but also pretty and quite unique. Working on the tulip motif took me some time, and I have ideas for some other patterns where I will use it.

This Tulip Hat is knitted in doubleknit wool, and takes a bit less that 100g of the main shade. I would call it medium difficulty, as each flower is knitted with two separate lengths of wool. It is explained in the pattern how to do this, but the main aim was so the wool did not need to be carried on the reverse side between the flowers, which would have made the hat too tight. An added advantage of knitting this way means that it takes less wool.

 

 

I will be putting my sample hats for sale on Etsy, and am knitting one more where each flower is a different colour, which I thought would be fun. I decided they will all be realistic tulips colours, but looking online at photos that really doesn't seem to rule any colour out.

The hat is knitted flat on two needles, and has a single seam to sew up. The finished measurements of the hat when sewn up is 23 cm across at the bottom, and approx 30 cm from cast on edge to top (when rib is not folded up).

The hat pattern is available on Ravelry, Etsy and LoveKnitting.

And just for once a photo of me. I had to be my own hat model, but am hopeful I might be able to persuade someone a bit more photogenic to do some more modelling. My husband had to be photographer/stylist where I am in the pictures. Most of the photos I hated, but this photo was sort of okay, as although it doesn't show my hat off very well, I am at least smiling.

Working on Tulips

Just a little teaser to show you what I am working on at the minute. My intention was to work hard on my patterns this year, and refining this tulip motif has taken me a lot of time. Devising an original design always takes much longer than you would imagine, but I think from my initial idea (in pink) to the final design you can see the improvement. (I know I should have probably run in my ends before blocking!)

I have got to a tulip version I am very happy with, and will be releasing a tulip pattern very soon. Nearly there, but still a bit of checking and photos to work on.

 

Sewing with Handprint Fabric (and Trouser Update)

I just thought I would show you what I have made with my first piece of block printing. You can read more about the printing process here.

Despite Andy, the teacher's, adversion/phobia to mushrooms, I still am glad with this choice. I used the tutorial on the link below to make a large pencil case. It is for my daughter to store some of her sewing tools, so is on its way to London. You can't see from the photo, but it has a dark denim back, blue cotton lining and red zip. The tutorial was really helpful, showing how to insert a zip neatly in a case with a lining. 

Youtube Sewing A Sewing Life 

Last Friday we went to a local primary school, helped with some blockprinting workshops. The children worked together to make banners, with insects, leaves and flowers, which hopefully I will show you. Fun beng back in a school. Now we have the rest of the course to complete our own banners for the school. Not very happy with mine, but there is still a bit of time left to work on it.

My daughter is now at her second internship in London. With the first company, Nicholas Daley, she went to the British Fashion Awards at the Albert Hall, and wore the denim trousers I made her last summer. We laughed a lot that her "intern trousers" made it to the big time. She did say that apart from her boss Nicholas Daley they were all quite underdressed, but somewhere there is a photo of the group of colleagues on the red carpet. I would so like to see that photo. She had such a good time with Nicholas Daley, learning a lot and being given a lot of responsibility. I think she fell on her feet here, so am hoping the next internship will be just as good.

Batik Printing (A Game of Two Halves)

I'm continuing with my community printing course in Okehampton, and was looking forward to moving on to batik. The above is an exercise we did the first week. The idea was to divide the fabric, and use different techniques in each quarter. Top right - looking at how the ink and water spread, top left - printing with the wax on various objects, bottom left - using brushes, bottom right - trailing the wax with a tjanting. I have to say I didn't really enjoy this week. I'm not very steady-handed, and I didn't see how I could ever do a nice design, controlled design.

So knowing that, I decided that my next piece was not going to be controlled. Haven't made that decision I had a great time. I told my husband it was echinacea flowers in a rain shower, and his reaction was "looks more like a blizzard". Still didn't really enjoy applying the wax, but there was something lovely about painting on the inks and letting the colours merge. A lovely lady on the course has got her husband to make her and me adjustable batik frames, so I think you may be going to see some more batik here.

So having learned all the techniques we are now moving on to the community part of the course. Two of us are going into a local primary school with the teacher, to help with some block printing workshops. We are all also moving on to combine some of the techniques we have learned, and each make a banner for the school based on the local park. So there will be more printing coming ...