Flutterby Patch

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!

Chaos in the sewing room

My life has been completely disrupted this week by the decision to have new spotlights fitted in the kitchen. Before lights can be installed some new electrical wiring must be done under the floor of the room directly above. And which room is above the kitchen? My sewing room! In order to lift the floor boards the carpet and hence all the furniture must be removed.

  
  
  
So now the entire contents of my sewing room is stacked in the hallway and what a jumbled mess it looks, albeit quite a colourful mess. 

All my craft books have left their shelves and are balanced in haphazard heaps and the sewing room is out of bounds for the next few days.

As there is no sewing happening at the moment I decided it would be a good opportunity to share a few books with you. I enjoy all my craft books so this little selection is chosen completely at random

This is a great favourite, 'The Book of Good Needlework'. It dates from the late 1930s and is typical of the period.

There are lots of embroidered tablecloths, tea cosies, tray cloths, napkins, cushion covers and dressing table mats. Everything in it reminds me of how my granny's house used to be and fills me with nostalgia.

'Samplers from the Victoria and Albert Museum' (Clare Browne and Jennifer Wearden). There are some superb samplers illustrated in this book that have inspired me over the years to stitch several of my own, but sadly nothing anywhere near as good as those in the book.

Who can resist dolls? I can't! 'The Dolls Dressmaker' (Venus A Dodge) and 'Making and Dressing Dolls House Dolls' (Sue Atkinson) both have wonderful illustrations that have tempted me time and again to create tiny garments.

By contrast I would never attempt to make any of the exquisite dresses in 'Fashion 18th - 20th Century'. The 700 pages (in full colour) reveal some of the most beautiful garments you'll ever see. The close-up details of the fabrics, embroidery and embellishments are mouth watering. Imagine wearing wonderful dresses like the ones above, but imagine the weight you'd be carrying around!

This isn't a close-up of the decoration on the dresses shown above but recent work delicately stitched with hand-dyed silk ribbon and thread. Isn't it sumptuous? It can be found in 'A Perfect World in Ribbon Embroidery and Stumpwork' by Di van Niekerk. Instructions are included!

I've always loved the brightly coloured clothing worn by the Andean peoples of South America so I couldn't resist buying 'Andean Folk Knits' (Marcia Lewandowski).The 35 traditional patterns include a variety of bags, mittens, gloves, socks, hats and other accessories.

'Journals' (Pam Sussman). I knew I wanted this book as soon as I saw it. In contains some very inspirational ideas for making the prettiest journals from fabric, thread and a variety of embellishments. It makes me want to be a student again in a classroom buzzing with creative ideas and innovation.

I'm an avid collector of books about calligraphy and illuminated lettering. It formed part of my exam syllabus when I was at school and I've been enthusiastic about it ever since. I love the feel of a pen in my hand and making marks on paper with ink. I marvel at contemporary penmanship where lettering is used as an art form. This book 'More than Fine Writing' tells the story of Irene Wellington and the way in which she transformed modern calligraphy. How I should love to have a talent like hers.

'Painting with Gouache' (Michael Saunders) has recently joined my bookshelf. I haven't painted with gouache before but I'm assured it is a very versatile medium and there are various techniques I want to try. For example, it's possible to cover foreground areas (flowers in this case) with masking fluid in order to paint the background. When the background paint is completely dry you simply rub away the masking fluid to reveal the white flower shapes ready for painting. I'm really eager to give it a go.

But enough about craft books. Through my letterbox this week popped a lovely little mail order catalogue for clematis. I bought a plant from this company last year and was very pleased with it so I might treat myself to one or two more. The days are lengthening, birdsong is distinctly chirpier and the garden is beginning to beckon. But the weather isn't quite kind enough yet to spend long outside and so I content myself with browsing through catalogues and making numerous plans.

Meanwhile, I have some lovely clematis coloured wool and (keeping well away from men who are doing the rewiring work) I am knitting a little something and hope to have it ready to show you by next week. Watch this space (or should it be 'watch this blog').

Until next time,
Eli

Happy families and a pin cushion winner

I'm sure we've all seen enough snow scenes for one year but I thought I'd just share this little picture with you before I move on to other things. It hung in my bedroom when I was a child and looking at it always fills me with a warm glow, even though its a frosty subject.

The clever artist is of course Mabel Lucie Attwell and her many pictures of cute chubby children have always appealed to me.

This week at the Flutterby Patch there has been much knitting by a warm fireside and numerous cups of tea and warm snacks. Hot buttered toast is excellent comfort food; not that I need comforting as I've been quite content in my snug little world. I love fruit preserves and honeys of all flavours and am currently enjoying some marmalade from 'Duchy Originals'.This is the company that was started by HRH The Prince of Wales in 1990 to promote organic food and farming. The marmalade is tangy, chunky and delicious (just like homemade!) 

Cosy firesides and hot buttered toast never fail to bring back memories of my childhood and the many hours I spent playing with my sister and two brothers. Dad would be at work whilst mum was always at home with us; always busy, always caring, always there.

In our rather unpredictable world it's reassuring to indulge yourself with a tale or two about happy families and what better than the stories of Milly-Molly-Mandy. Written and illustrated by Joyce Lankester Brisley in the 1920s and 30s they are gentle tales about a happy little girl who lives with her extended family in 'a nice white cottage with a thatched roof'.

Here is Milly-Molly-Mandy with her family.

This is the wonderful cottage kitchen which is always a hive of activity.

And here is Milly-Molly-Mandy with her friend Billy Blunt leaving on a fishing expedition. Just look at the way she is holding that slice of bread in her mouth while she closes the door. Don't you remember doing the very same thing?

In this story Milly-Molly-Mandy's best friend comes to stay for the night (today's expression would be 'sleepover'). She is known as little-friend-Susan which I think is such a sweet name to call a friend.

The Milly-Molly-Mandy books that are currently being printed have new, full colour illustrations but happily they have remained faithful to the originals. I don't usually like updated illustrations in old books but these are really rather nice and its wonderful to know that children are still enjoying the books 75 years after they were written.

With thoughts of Milly-Molly-Mandy and happy memories of my own carefree days fresh in my mind I decided to knit a happy little character to add to my ever growing collection of 'Dottie-tots' (the family of little woolly dolls that inhabit my home).

And here she is, with her skipping rope. I used to be a great skipper. I skipped to school, skipped whilst at school and then skipped all the way home again. I must have skipped hundreds of miles all told. By the way, I've named this new dolly 'little friend-Susan' because I think she looks as if she'd make a faithful friend and probably lend me her skipping rope as well!

As today is Friday 6th February it's time to select the lucky winner of the wrist pin cushion.....

So here we go. The winner, as selected by the on line Random Number Generator this very morning, is .......... number one
 

Congratulations goes to Teasel at I Dream of Sun who was number one in the comments list. I will be contacting her to obtain her address so that I can pop the little pin cushion in the post as soon as possible.

Very many thanks to you all for taking part. As always it seems such a shame you can't all be winners but I truly value your friendship and the time you take each week to visit my Flutterby Patch.

Hoping you all have a happy weekend

Until next time,

Eli