Flutterby Patch

Blue Monday - 'Blue magic'

As I'm such a fan of blue I'm participating in 'Blue Monday' this week watched over by Smiling Sally.

 

'Blue Magic' is the name of these sweetly scented grape hyacinths that are currently blooming on my window sill. I suppose I should call them by their official name which is 'muscari' but I think grape hyacinth sounds so much prettier and old fashioned and my granny always used it.

Such a delicate little flower, but just look at those sturdy stems!

Each flower head is made from dozens of tiny bells. This particular variety has frilly white edges. After years of cross breeding grape hyacinths can now be found in numerous colours and sizes. You can see a selection below (taken from an old catalogue).

 
  
   

Here in England they bloom from mid March through to mid May and are perfect for naturalising in woodland or grassy areas. Best of all I like to see them along the front edges of flower borders (just like my granny had them) or as companions for pot grown daffodils and tulips.

This autumn I should like to plant a variety of muscari bulbs around the garden and so will have a great time pouring over catalogues making my choices. Here in Britain the perfect place to discover new varieties of any plant is at one of the RHS Flower Shows held around the country. I should one day like to visit the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in London but it is many hundreds of miles from my home in the Lake District and so I shall content myself with the excellent TV coverage of the event. Closer to home (but still a 200 mile round trip) I have the RHS Tatton Park Show in Cheshire (21st - 25th July). The thrill and excitement of seeing so many different plants, and the opportunity to buy a selection for the garden, is a very exciting prospect. There are several RHS Shows every year held in a variety of venues around the country. For more information visit the RHS website.

If presented with a huge selection of blooms I wonder if I would favour blues above all other colours? Yes I probably would!

Blue is a colour I love and if you are familiar with my blog you will know that I've been an avid collector of blue and white china for many years. It could have quickly found its way into every room but I try to limit it's spread.

This is the dining room dresser and you can see from the reflection in the mirror that blue and white has spread to the mantel. 

Viewed from another angle you can see even more blue and white on the wall.  If you are a lover of blue and white china then you must pop over to Rhondi's blog Rose Colored Glasses. Her home is overflowing with the lovely stuff and I confess I could quite happily steal it all from her! Wonder if she'd notice!

Today it seems is a blue day. This is the view from my window. The lake is reflecting the clear azure sky and even the dusting of snow we had yesterday seems to have adopted a blue hue.... Blue indoors and out...just the way I like it!

Until next time,

Eli

A stitch in time

If there's one thing that makes me sad these days it is the fact that most little girls don't get taught to knit as they did in years gone by. I found this little knitting cutie in one of my early Mabel Lucie Attwell annuals and just look how enthusiastically she is attacking her task! The endearing verse that accompanies the illustration can be found underneath....I love it!

I may not being seeing you just for a bit,
I'm ever so busy - I'm learning to knit!
And while I am thinking it ever such fun,
I'm wondering if it will ever be done.
For I'm making a scarf for Daddy you see -
So I'm as busy as I can be.

My immediate thought was that it was a shame she wasn't knitting a scarf for her teddy bear as a daddy-sized scarf is a mammoth task for such a little person.

Making a scarf for a teddy or dolly is the ideal way for a young child (girl or boy) to learn. You only need a few stitches on the needle; plain garter stitch rows are best and of course you can have a wonderful array of rainbow shades to stripe it with.

This little furry fellow is my childhood teddy. My mum made him for me from scraps of mohair fur fabric that a friend had given her. She didn't have a pattern but simply made him up as she went along. His paw pads are made from an old brown velvet curtain. I named him Honey Bear as he was the colour of sweet runny honey when he was new. Years of fading and dust have mellowed him of course but he's still very precious to me.

My knitting has advanced a bit from making scarves for teddies but it hasn't advanced very much. I still like a selection of rainbow shades from which to choose and I always keep my patterns simple and so consequently most of them can be knitted by any child who has already learnt the skills.

So what did I make with the pink and green yarn I showed you in the last post?

All those scrumptious shades turned into this 'easy to make' little tassel doll.

She is reinforced and so is strong enough to become a light pull, but I'm guessing she'll enjoy swinging from a door knob or key as she will be able to smile sweetly at everyone who passes.

The pattern is very easy to follow and, as always, I've added illustrations for every stage. The PDF pattern for her can be found in my Etsy shop. I'm keen to make a variety of coloured tassel dolls and each will have a different theme. But that will have to wait a while!

Knitting is such a cosy fireside activity and so portable as well; I'm very glad my mum taught me when I was young.

Enjoy your weekend.

Until next time

Eli   

Which colour?

Didn't we all have fun choosing a name for our various blogs. I know I did. Typically I changed my mind several times as my poor frustrated daughter will testify (she'd agreed to design my banner!) Eventually I opted for the name 'Flutterby Patch' as it perfectly describes me. I regularly flutter from one thing to another with great enthusiasm, a trait I know I share with many other bloggers. Let me give you an example of my fluttery character....

This morning I decided to begin my next knitting project and needed to find the right yarn. I have a large stash of mouth watering shades and so I knew my choice would be difficult. Perhaps a colour wheel could help.

So I spent the next 20 minutes looking through my various craft and homemaking books for a colour wheel. I knew I had a picture somewhere but this example is all I could find (I should have tried looking on line).

Whilst looking through my various homemaking books I took out this Laura Ashley book.......Big mistake as I forgot all about knitting and was swiftly diverted to room redecoration.

It was published in 1995 and some of the decorating hints and tips look a little dated by today's standards but it contains many wonderful coloured pictures.

These gorgeous neutral and natural shades immediately inspired an idea for a knitting project (more of that in another post).

This morning's dusting of snow has all disappeared but there is a chill wind and so these reds were a welcome sight......... I fell in love with some gorgeous red floral curtain fabric in the Laura Ashley shop last week and am currently trying to decide which room to re-decorate so that I can use it.

Warming yellows and I'm thinking Easter and springtime! My knitting project could certainly have an Easter theme.....more in a later post!

Show me green and I think of the garden. It will be so nice to get out in the sunshine again........ Break off here to water the indoor potted plants.

And on to blue. I love it! I have collected blue and white china for many years.

 Just look at this dresser weighed down with the lovely stuff.

No, it isn't mine I'm afraid, it's a pic from the book.

By now knitting was far from my mind and it was time for a warming mug of coffee, a blue and white mug of course. The picture behind was done by local artist Meg Falconer and I fell in love with it immediately I saw it. It hangs on my kitchen wall and is the perfect foil for the blue and white china I have in there.

The inscription around the edge of the picture dates from the 9th century and I find it very evocative. It reads..... 'I have tidings for you. Wind high and cold. The sun low, short it's course. Cold has seized the birds wings'.

So, did I make any decisions about which colours of yarn to use? Well...I thought I might choose green and pink!

Perhaps I'll return to the knitting after lunch. I'll let you know how I get on!

Until next time,

Eli