Flutterby Patch

Seeking colour

The snowy interlude has been lovely and produced great pics but I now long for some warming colour.

Happily, by March our rhododendrons and azaleas will be blooming again in the garden and we can look forward to being dazzled by their vibrant shades for several months.

Until then I'll surround myself with indoor colour.

I bought this book last year and what a joy it is. '100 Flowers to Knit and Crochet' by Lesley Stanfield. If you haven't seen it do try and take a look.

Her blooms are really lifelike

The book illustrates some clever ways to use them and so I'm currently experimenting with ideas.

Meanwhile, over the weekend I gathered together a few cheery shades and wouldn't you know it......

my needles produced more little smiling faces!

Until next time

Eli

Cosy knitted shoes for babies and teddies

I think global warming must have been and gone because Britain is now being ravaged by a mini ice-age. I'd almost forgotten what snow looked like as we've had very little in recent years, but the feathery flakes started falling before Christmas and everywhere has remained white ever since.

It's bitingly cold outside and so I've had the perfect excuse to stay indoors and knit.

Searching through some very old 1940s patterns that my granny once used I found the sweetest little baby slipper/shoe.

It looked so cute I read the pattern, added a few ideas of my own and knitted a sample. It would have made just the right gift for my friend's new grand-daughter if only I'd been able to find enough yarn of the same colour to knit another shoe!

And so I started again. Pale pink this time with satin ribbon bows as a finishing touch.

No sooner had I finished than a mischievous little bear arrived.

he seemed very interested in the shoes

and decided to try them for size

In he climbed

and slid right down into the toe.

Doesn't he look cosy.

As the sun goes down on another freezingly cold day

I shall remain in my cosy place beside the fire and

knit!

Patterns for the little shoes and tiny teddy are now in my Etsy shop if you fancy knitting either or both. They are done in DK yarn on 2.75mm needles (US size 2). The sole of the shoe measures 10cm (4in) from front to back so would fit a foot of similar length.

From a very cold and icy Britain, until next time,

Eli

After the raging storm

My sincere thanks to everyone who expressed concern during the recent atrocious storms that have hit our Lake District region. I was extremely touched that so many of you got in touch.

We were warned in advance that we would get 'heavy rain' in my county of Cumbria (Lake District) but no one was prepared for the ferocity and speed with which the water came down. The amounts broke all known records for UK rainfall (over 12 inches - 30cm fell in one day). The water rushed down the hillsides and into the rivers and lakes and on through the towns and villages and of course disaster struck. Many of you will have seen news bulletins of our small towns awash with muddy water that in some places was above head height. Helicopters airlifted people from their roof tops and boats travelled the streets looking for stranded householders. The water is subsiding now and leaving behind it a trail of devastation. Many schools and places of work are closed and many hundreds of people, unable to return to their homes for several months, are now living in temporary shelters. Shops have lost their entire stock and ..... Well, need I continue? I'm sure you will by now be able to visualise the horrific scene.

The thoughts of everyone are especially with the family of the policeman who was guiding people off a road bridge that suddenly collapsed due to the force of fast flowing water. He tragically lost his life and leaves a wife and four children. I can't begin to imagine how the family must be feeling right now. Since then many more bridges have collapsed but thankfully there has been no further loss of life.

As for me; I am fortunate enough to live on a hill and so have not experienced any flooding. The low ground below the house has been completely under water. The lake level quickly rose and covered the roads and so I have had no choice but to remain indoors and consider myself lucky.

This morning I braved the rain (yes it is still falling) and walked up the lane to post a letter.

There was no one about, the skies were leaden and everywhere was gloomy.

In the wood I picked my way across the many streams of water criss-crossing the carpets of sodden leaves.

The garden is of course a shadow of its summer self and I could only view with dismay the amount of clearing up that will be required when spring comes round again.

I noticed that dozens of toadstools have appeared on the lawn over the past few days and so I decided I would end with a smile. This adorable picture of a little girl gathering mushrooms is by Mabel Lucie Attwell. Don't you just love the title? 

PLEASE DON'T PICK OUR HOUSES

However, although it makes me smile, this cute scene will forever remind me of the time when torrential rain in our region devastated so many people's homes and lives. My thoughts are with them all.

Until next time
Eli