Flutterby Patch

The patter of furry feet

Winter is almost over and here in the English Lake District everyone is preparing to welcome the many visitors that will holiday here during the coming season. If you listen carefully you might hear the patter of furry feet; not the visitors arriving I hasten to add but many thousands of familiar looking soft toys making their way to local shops. Each one will be hoping to find a good home and travel to pastures new.

All this furry activity is due to one little rascal in a blue coat who goes by the name of Peter Rabbit. He is the creation of Beatrix Potter who lived in the Lake District for many years.

Anyone who visits the area will see Peter Rabbit peeping out of shop windows everywhere.

Peter and his cousin Benjamin Bunny are part of the large family of animals that, thanks to Miss Potter's little story books, have become synonymous with the Lake District and are now known and loved the world over. At times it seems there are more softies living here than people.

 
 
 
Above are just a few of the characters that are available in gift shops.

Apart from fabric animals, shops sell a huge variety of figurines.

There are plates in many different sizes, in fact there's enough china for a thousand banquets.

But who wants a banquet when you can enjoy a quiet tea party.

If you are a fan of Beatrix Potter's stories and fancy having a go at making some of her characters at home then I can recommend 'Toys from the Tales of Beatrix Potter' by Margaret Hutchings. Although it was published in 1973 I have checked various bookseller's lists and it is still readily available second hand.

Containing over 300 pages it has patterns for most of the characters in Miss Potter's books. There are lots of hints and tips about the best fabrics to use and lots of little extras to make as well. Sadly there are very few coloured pictures but from those that are in the book I have chosen some of my favourites.

I have made Apple Dapply a number of times over the years in a variety of different dresses. I once inserted a tiny wind-up musical movement in the back which provided great amusement for the little girl who received her as gift.
(N.B. this isn't the mouse I featured a few ago weeks ago in my blog).

Here's my favourite, Hunca Munca and her babies. Instructions for making the cane cradle are also included in the book.

Tabitha Twitchitt and her kittens are wonderful and on the right is Mrs Ribby calling to borrow some yeast in 'The Tale of Samuel Whiskers'

Who could resist Mrs Tiggywinkle doing her ironing. She has been made from thick fur fabric that has been stiffened to form prickles....very clever.

And finally here are Aunt Pettitoes and Spot seeing Pigling Bland and Alexander off to market.

There are several other coloured pictures which I haven't included here and plenty of black and white ones together with drawn illustrations.

The soft toys in the book are unique and would make special gifts to be treasured. The cute little characters (below) are mass produced in the Far East and are great for little children as they are washable. 

N.B. the patterns for these shop bought toys are NOT in the book.

As the tourist season gets ever closer these little characters will grow in number, their happy smiles greeting us everywhere we go!!

Until next time,

Eli

Dotty about smocking

As the end of February draws ever closer there is a growing feeling of optimism here at Flutterby Patch.

The weather is steadily growing warmer and one by one the rhododendrons and azaleas around the garden are bursting out of their plump buds to view the world.

Within the space of 12 weeks this February view from our patio

will have become this Maytime riot of colour.  I can't wait!

Meanwhile, indoor my frustration with the current disruption to my sewing room in ongoing and all my crafting goodies will remain stacked in the hallway for at least another few days. It hasn't been all bad however as it's given me the chance to sort through a lot of forgotten bits and pieces, many of which belonged to my dear mother who sadly passed away two years ago.

This battered old box brings back countless memories. For as long as I can remember it housed my Mum's selection of embroidery transfers and smocking dots.

Mum was an avid smocker of pretty dresses for her two girls and ironing the smocking dots onto the chosen fabric was always the first step in the procedure. She used yellow ones to contrast with dark fabric and blue ones for lighter; narrowly spaced dots for fine fabric and more widely spaced ones for heavier cloth.

Once the dots had been ironed onto the back of the fabric tiny running stitches were put through each dot so that it could be gathered ready for smocking.

Next came the fun bit. This familiar tin would be brought out and inside could be found .....

.... a wonderful jumbled rainbow of embroidery thread. This is how it has always looked for as long as I can remember and I'm not about to tidy it up. I loved helping Mum sort through the rainbow to find the best threads to complement the fabric. I'm sure my lifelong passion for colour must have been ignited by the contents of this tin.

Mum's smocking days drew to a close as my sister and I grew up, although I think she would have happily seen us both wearing her pretty creations well into adulthood. What joy there was when I gave birth to a baby girl; Mum couldn't wait to start smocking again.

She made this sweet little dress for her granddaughter when she was two years old.

So passionate was she for this craft that even the teddy bears had dresses smocked for them.

They were happy days and the fond memories I have of my Mum engrossed in this wonderful craft will  always remain with me.

Does anyone smock by hand these days or is all done by machine?

Until next time

Eli

Inspiration from Japan

If you read my last post you might be wondering if I managed to finish the 'little something' I was knitting in clematis coloured wool. Well, yes I did and you'll find out just what it was if you continue reading! But first......
 
These little cuties come from Japan and are known as kokeshi dolls. The first kokeshis were made in the Tohoku region of Northern Japan in the 19th century. Crafted from turned wood they were just a basic head and body with hand painted decoration (you'll see some examples if you follow the link above). Today they are made in all sizes and colours but their shapes have remained fairly simple. 

These cute little ladies always make me smile so I decided to try and knit a little kokeshi style character of my own. And here she is, welcoming visitors to her Japanese garden.

She stands just 6 ins (15cm) tall and is very demure don't you think? You will find knitting instructions at the end of this post.

She and I share a passion for Japanese gardens and we'd like to invite you to take a little stroll with us through the garden that we have put together using pictures from various books.

In we go through a little bamboo gate and up a crunchy gravel path beside a deliciously cool trickling waterfall. 

On towards a peaceful pool where cranes wade beside a little island topped by an ornate stone lantern.

Crossing the wooden bridge we can stop and watch the brightly coloured carp basking in the sunshine.

And finally we arrive at the pavilion. How about some tea, Japanese style?

Tea for two  

In springtime you'll be dazzled by the many coloured azaleas and rhododendrons.

Clematis scrambles

Wisteria dangles

and tall primulas sway in the breeze at the water's edge.

And just look at that pink cherry blossom admiring its own reflection. Who can blame it!

Thank you for taking the time to walk with us through our make believe Japanese garden. We hope you enjoyed your visit. Please call again soon.

Kokeshi doll pattern:

If you'd like to knit a little Japanese style doll like this it is an easy pattern to follow. The basic shape is a tube 54 rows long. I used DK yarn and knitted in stocking stitch.

Using 2.75 mm (US size 2) needles cast on 26 stitches. Knit 10 rows khaki, 5 magenta, 1 black, 11 magenta, 3 black, 6 magenta, 18 flesh colour. Finally knit 2 tog and take off remaining stitches onto a length of yarn ready for drawing up.

To form a tube gather the base of the doll and then stitch the back seam leaving the top open for stuffing. Using a suitable fibre fill, stuff the body firmly (but not so firmly that the stitches are stretched too much). Run a length of flesh coloured yarn through the stitches at the point where the face meets the dress and draw up to form the neck. Secure tightly. Stuff the remaining head then draw up the top and fasten securely. You now have your basic tube (with a neck).

The sleeves - Cast on 12 stitches in khaki, change to magenta and knit 14 rows. DON'T FORGET as you knit these rows you need to shape the bottom edge of each sleeve so decrease one stitch at the end of alternate rows (6 times). Cast off remaining 6 stitches. Knit a second sleeve making sure the shaping is on the opposite edge.

The arms and hands (both identical) - Cast on 5 stitches. Knit 8 rows. Knit 2 tog across the final row and take stitches off onto yarn. Draw up to form the bottom, finger end. Stitch arm/hands flat to the body (tuck edges in a little bit before stitching down to make the arms look more real). Position the sleeves over the arms leaving just the hands protruding.Tuck the sleeve edges under and stitch down.

To give the impression of a wrap-over dress use black stitches around the neck (see photo). I've used lazy daisy stitch for flower decoration round the hem.

The hair is done with long stitches of black yarn which completely cover the flesh coloured head beneath. I popped a little black top-knot on and held it with yarn to match the flowers.

You might prefer to use sewing thread for the features as it is much finer than yarn and will give better results (I used two strands together). The eyes are a single straight stitches in black and the mouth 'v' shaped straight stitches in red. Blushing cheeks are achieved with red pencil crayon.... You now have your own little kokeshi doll and all she needs is her own Japanese style garden!