Silver screen

I'm feeling slightly melancholy lately.  The past two months have been full of difficult decisions and changes, not sure if the changes and decisions I made are good yet, only time will tell. 

Changes are always difficult no matter how small they are. Everyone says that when one door closes other ones opens, which is true but it's still very hard to close the door behind you without feeling sad for the things that you are leaving. So before I go all soppy and start crying for the days gone by let me share with you some of my favourite pictures of silver screen stars that are long gone but doing the thing I love most......Knitting!! Let this be a kind of metaphor; things may change, eras pass, but some things will stay around forever.

Betty Davis

Katherine Hepburn

Elizabeth Taylor

Audrey Hepburn

Doris Day

 Greer Garson

Lucile Watson

Ingrid Bergman getting little help form Alfred Hitchcock

Vivien Leigh

Merlin Monroe 

Vivian Leigh putting her husband, Laurence Olivier, to good use.

Ava Gardner

Judy Garland

And one more of Betty Davies as she is my favourite!

Anna xx

Strawberry Tea....

June to August are very exciting months, not only summer is in full swing, lots of concerts and outdoor exhibition, but also it's time for Strawberry Tea Party!!

Breast Cancer Care has teamed up with Royal Albert to create this fantastic event to raise much needed funds for Cancer Care. I wanted to do something to help, and the idea hit me like a tonne of bricks!! Strawberry….tea…party….summer…..strawberry plant! What else!

I wanted to design something to be the perfect decoration to your Strawberry Tea party. That can also be used all year around or raffled at one of the games played during the party.

I’ve chosen to crochet the plant, with some basic knitting on stems. I find crocheting a lot more forgiving and more free-style. Of course when it comes to yarn, only Rowan Cotton Glacé would do as its fantastic mercerised cotton which is a dream to crochet with, not to mantion the incredible range of colours.

I wanted everyone to be able to make this plant so only used the basic of stitches: dc, tr, and so on. Simple shaping rather than fancy stitches. I have tried to make the instructions as simple as possible and from comments I received it appears that I have, which means a lot as I really want everyone to be able to make it.

The photos were taken at my partner Dave, aunt’s stunning garden and the lovely doggie you can see in the background is Red, Dave's Mum dog, who was a fantastic model :)

The pattern is available for free, but in turn please donate whatever you can to this very important cause. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Both women and men can be affected by it, Breast Cancer Care is committed to improving the treatment, support and care of people affected by breast cancer. Please donate whatever you can at: www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/donate

The pattern is available to download from my website: www.moochka.co.uk and Breast Cancer Care websit: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/fundraising-events/strawberry-tea under 'Be crafty'.

The Breast cancer Care website provides huge range of information: checking your breasts, support to those affected, volunteering and of course you can also signed up to host Strawberry Tea party!!Check them out: www.breastcancercare.org.uk

I’m planning Strawberry Tea already….can’t wait!!

Anna x

Not an ordinary tour

Two weeks ago I had the amazing opportunity to go on a guided tour to Clothworkers'

Centre at the V&A. To be precise Blythe house, which is used for a study and conservation of textiles and fashion. 

Blythe house is divided into sections, each museum (V&A, Science and British) occupies a part of the

building for storage and study purposes. The V&A uses Blythe house for its vast tapestry and textile collection, over 104.000 items to be precise. Not everything can be exhibited at the same time and storing fragile items in an appropriate area is vital to enhance the long-term care of the collection.

Blythe house was once used as the headquarters of post office saving bank, reminders of which can be clearly seen all around the building. The blue walkway which you can see in the pic below was used only by female while the court yard only by male workers, so they could not be led into temptation. As luck would have it, the day I was there the courtyard was being prepped for filming, not sure which film but the prop looks rather interesting. 

The tour was led by the lead curator Edwina Ehrman and started at the very modern conservation studios. Gorgeous articles were being restored for separate exhibitions.

 Stunning collection of newly restored shoes.

Exquisite piece of Asian embroidery being cleaned. Painstaking and very slow task which will take the next 6 months. You can instantly see the part that has been already clean, it's the very bright patch at the back.

This beautiful dress has not been worked on as the curators are still figuring out the best way to do it. the dress is very fragile and ripped in few places, the netting used to be white.

                The very impressive storage places where all types of textile, fashion and tapestry are kept.

                                Extraordinary dress made out of rubber, stunning but very heavy.

                                                               Very interesting waistcoats.

This dress was worn by young Queen Elisabeth II on her first official visit to France. The stunning embroidery depicts harvest.

Clothworkers’centre instantly evokes calmness and serenity, it is very clear to see why it is such a perfect place to study.

Newly restored fabric library.

The V&A owns the largest collection of rare fabrics which are often loaned out to other museums, some of them are permanently framed and others are framed on request.

The reception of Blythe House is the home to the most impressive collection of cartoon memorabilia, which is just epic!!

Just a small part of the collection.

Blythe House is open for visits by appointments only, there are tours organised as well, for more information just go to their website: http://www.vam.ac.uk/page/c/clothworkers-centre/

It is trully worth a visit!

Anna x

For the love of peplum

'Cove' has been knitted at super speed, not intentionally but it just happened, a lot to do with it is that it's knitted in Rowan Creative Linen, yarn which I'm slightly in love with and always seem to knit with it very quick. 'Cove’ is designed by Grace Melville and it's from Rowan magazine 55 

 Original 'Cove'

I made quite few changes to the jumper from original pattern. First being the yarn, I have used Rowan Creative Linen (which I had in my stash) instead Rowan Softknit Cotton and Summerspun, as suggested in the pattern. 

Creative linen is 50% linen and 50% cotton, it’s wonderfully raw , has a great drape but it lacks bounce, due to that I decided to make the jumper a size smaller than the size I would usually make.

The next change were the sleeves; I prefer three quarter length or cup, and the sleeves in the pattern were just a bit too in between.  I didn't make any great calculations or difficult adjustments, just cast on with 3.75mm needles number of stitches that were at the widest point of the sleeve (in my case 61). I knitted 2 x 2 rib for 13 rows using only single colour. Then I continued in sequence until sleeve measured 26 cm and finished shaping of armhole as in the pattern.

The body of the jumper (from armhole shaping to peplum) is longer as well, again no particular shaping, apart from the one stated in pattern after which I  just knitted straight until 24 cm or two repeats of stripe sequence.

 My version

 The pattern suggested knitting the peplum separately and sewing it on, I  joined back and front pieces together and picked up 182 stitches with circular needles all along the cast on row, then increased on every other stitch (273 stitches). Too be honest I should have increased on every stitch, as I would have liked for the peplum to flare out lot more, but I wouldn't have had enough yarn and as I was using yarn from stash, to buy more would have defeated the point of downsizing my mountain of yarn . The peplum is finished off using lace cast off, for a nice stretchy edge. 

I’m extremely happy with how ‘Cove’ came out, even though the colours are not really my first choice, I always go for greens, reds, pinks , but it’s nice to have  change with a bit of lilac.

Anna x

A bit of everything...

It has been a week of Country Living Fair. I never attended one of their fairs 

before and what a surprise! Just amazing! It was held in BDC in Highbury and

Islington, a very beautiful centre, very clean and well maintained.

Every stall was better than the other, you had kitch, vintage, crafty, French to

English kitchen all very, very country Darling…….. Totally worth a visit.

I was there with The Creative Sanctuary team and their lovely stall, selling kits by all their tutors (including me of course).

The best part for me was my crochet class; I thought 31 ladies and 1 gentleman to crochet a flower in 60 min! I never thought a class of this size in such a short amount of time and it was the most fantastic experience!  I had a microphone (felt a bit like Madonna, just a shame didn’t get any semi - naked dancers) I was also being filmed. I was so nervous that at first my hands couldn’t stop shaking but as soon as I got into the swing of things everything went swimmingly, my class went away with lovely little crocheted flowers and I even got applause at the end.

A pattern for one of my favourite corsages that I ever designed is in this month’s SimplyHomemade magazine (issue 41). I absolutely adore to accessorise and have created many items to add certain oomph to my outfits. You can wear the most boring dress but add a corsage or collar in a bright colour and the whole look is instantly lifted. This corsage is one of my best loved ones, as its big, bright and instant statement maker. The flower is crocheted in the lovey Rowan Kidsilk Haze (photo in Candy Girl sh.606) and leaf knitted (photo in Jelly sh.597). 

‘Angelite’ is finished!! It took me a while but I did it! The design is by Martin Storey from Truesilk Collection and is knitted using Rowan Truesilk. The yarn is brand new addition to Rowan’s yarn family and is 100% Mulberry Silk. It was just amazing to work with; quite slippery so wooden needles are a must. It was also prone to slight snags, which to be honest did not bother me at all as they were so slight and did not spoil the look of the garment.  

 I have knitted the jumper 5cm shorter than the pattern stated as I wanted it to sit better on my waist. Being a larger lady I must make the most of what featured I have and enhancing my waist just makes me look and feel better.

 I usually knit or crochet cropped or very long cardigans, shrugs, and shawls as those are what I look best in. I tend to stay away from jumpers as they never suited me, but I have to say that ‘Angelite’ is a very pleasant surprise and I’m very happy how she has turned out.  In light of my newly discovered love for jumpers next of my list is ‘Cove’ by Grace Melville from Rowan mag 55, I’ll change the yarn from recommended to Rowan Creative Linen and make the peplum more gathered. 

Anna x

Happy ( not quite yet) Valentines....

I'm sure you all have noticed that Valentines day is almost here.....and if you haven't, have you been living under a rock?? Everywhere you go everything screams Valentines!! All the cynics out there keep saying that it is a silly holiday invented by card making companies, ehhh so what?, we have a day for everything these days why not for love?

For the past 10 years February has been a very difficult month for me for personal reasons and I would avoid it at all costs if I could, and this year is no different. So in an attempt to cheer up my self and others around me I have designed this lovely ring/brooch.
It is very simply to crochet, you can make it as big as you want. You can make plenty of them and cover yourself in them, or you can give it to someone who's feeling a bit down....spread the love a bit :)

All you will need is some Rowan Kidsilk Haze or Debbie Bliss Angel. You will hold the yarn DOUBLE through out, I usually take a strand from the outside of the ball and one from the inside, you will need to rummage a bit to find it, but to be honest any scraps of DK yarn will do.
I have chosen three colours but you can make each heart in one colour, after all it will be your heart you must make it as individual as you like
3.5mm (US E/4)
14 x medium 5mm beeds (again, any would do)
Ring base if you would like to make it into a ring or brooch back if you want to wear your heart as a brooch.

Abbreviations
ss - slip stitch
st(s) - stitch(es)
ch - chain
ch-sp - chain space
htr (US hdc) - half treble (US - half double crochet)

Large heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 13.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next 4 ch, miss next 2 ch, 1 htr into next 4 ch, 3 htr into next chain, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into each of next 4 ch [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 4 ch, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 3 htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 3 htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 5 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 5 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Medium heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 11.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next 3 ch, miss next 2 ch, 1 htr into next 3 ch, 3 htr into next ch, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into each of next 3 ch [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 3 chain, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 4 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next 4 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Small heart
With 3,5mm (US E/4) and yarn held DOUBLE chain 7.
Round 1. 3 htr into 2nd chain from hook, 1 htr into next st, miss next 2 chains, 1 htr into next st, 3 htr into next chain, work each chain on opposite side of foundation chains, 1 htr into next chain, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next 2-ch space, 1 htr into next chain, ss to begining of round.
Round 2. ch 2 (counts as 1 htr),1 htr into base of 2 ch, 2 htr into next 2 htr, 1 htr into next htr, miss next 2 htr, 1 htr into next htr, 2 htr into next 3 htr, 1 htr into next 2 htr, [1 htr, 2ch, 1 htr] into next space, 1 htr into next 2 htr, ss to to beginning of round.
Fasten off

Join hearts together by placing them on top of each other and sew in place. Attach beads to the smallest heart by sewing them in place.

You can make the hearts bigger by chaining more chains and crocheting additional half trebles, the number of chains should go up by two, so from the biggest one, the next one up would be 15 chain, 17, 19, 21 and so on. If you are making more chains you will have to add rows as well.

Enjoy

Anna x