Peggy's workbox, Memory cafe activity

 Two sewing boxes were donated to Connect café before it was closed due to the building being unsafe. We opened one of the in the café and had a lovely afternoon picking through the contents and reminiscing about mending tight and stockings, hand sewing and also about the shops that were in the area 40 or so years ago.

An idea sprang up from this, would this be an interesting thing to take to the local memory café to spark some conversation? I was volunteered to take this on as I have family ties to the area and also lived and worked there in the eighties.

I have taken the liberty of adding a few older items to the boxes, a Sketchleys sewing kit ( they had a shop in the town) some old sock kitting needles, french knitting doll and old threads from my own collection.

and inside them

and a few extras from my stash

there are paper bags to open, tins to explore and hopefully conversations to have about knitting and sewing.

We had a lovely time and I've been asked to go back in the New year. I may have some easy weaving projects tucked away that will be popular including a round loom that can be passed around the table for people to weave a row or two.

a bit of this and that :-)

Hi,

Its turning out to be a crafty week, a bit of sewing, a bit of lace, hopefully a bit of spinning at some point. Plus I have men working in the garden which is weird, unfortunately it puts me on edge slightly. Even though they are all very nice and doing a really good job, the fact that they are there has disrupted my routine somewhat.

The good thing is that even though there are five of them, all but one drink tea with one sugar so drink making isn't too complicated.

On the sewing side, I've been making simple drawstring bags for keeping things together and also decided to come up with a solution to my DPN collection ! I said last week that I needed to organize things, here's the result. the inside pockets are a very high count, close weave linen that been hanging around for a few years. I have tested it with the needles and they do not work there way through. The outer is a thick cotton which again was rescued from my stash.

I will make another for larger needles in due course.

I have also found a mask pattern on the internet that includes a nose wire and filter pocket. The nose wire being the most important feature as we both have issues with masks slipping and glasses fogging up.

They plan is to make several and I'm using ties cut from an old stretch fabric dress which is way too big for me. This got me thinking about the masks I wore in 2016 when the doctors were trying to work out what causes my cough.

and here is the 2020 version

I'm also maybe 2 stone lighter !!

.

On the knitting front I've finished some wristies in BFL/Swaledale and started to find out how to knit cables.

I've also got my lace pillow out, two reasons, I wanted to get a photo of my new bobbins in use and I'm practicing ready for next week when I will be picking up my new glasses !! I am so looking forward to being able to see some of the finer patterns.

It may be strange but when I was studying C&G in embroidery etc, it was making the samples that I really enjoyed so I'm just going to have a strip of lace on the go from time to time and change it for a new one every so often :-)

and finally, a small amount of spinning...

so have a great weekend, enjoy the sunshine today in the UK or whatever the weather may be where you are ( Friday 31 July) and I'll post again next week xx

What If? lace experiment continues

Its cold outside and I don't fancy getting wrapped up to go out so I will be clearing the decks and getting the embellisher out again especially as I have found some bags of fibre previously buried at the back of the cupboard.

I foolishly left my credit card by the computer for the last two weeks and for some strange reason I felt compelled to use it.LOL So much for the credit crunch!! Anyway, I have a strict maximum bid limit on e-bay and really fancied buying some old bobbins to go with my small vintage sewing tools collection.

Now I have the bobbins which are well used and worn but feel good in the hand, I needed a challenge to try them out so I drew an ATC size, shape, closed my eyes and drew lines down through it, grabbed a bag of threads from the drawer (eyes closed) and allowed myself a thicker thread to match. Freeform lace here I come....what do you think, will it work?



I quite like working with the old bobbins, they are comfortable in spite of the imperfection.

I'm off to dig out the embellisher, enjoy the remainder of the weekend!!

Old sewing tools

The big cupboard sort out continues so I thought I would post quickly about some of the older items.

This sewing case complete with knitting needles and cotton reels was found at a car boot sale, the assorted lace bobbins, rug tools and wooden knitting needle holder were found in a small antique/curio shop in Lincoln last year. The owner admitted that he had no idea what they were and was quite happy for me to take anything sewing related for a very small sum.
My late MIL s sewing box, just as it came to me except for a few buttons which have been used.
A collection of bone and bone handled stilettos, one is carved and opens to reveal a baby ones inside purchased in Scotland a few years ago. lace bobbins that are over 100 year old, bone tatting shuttle and assorted packets of needles.
Knitting stitch/row counter, advertising item maybe, cost me all of 20p at a car boot sale
Mother of pearl thread holder, sewing case, needle case assorted scissors and needle packets.
Fortunately, most of these items are small and inexpensive and give me great pleasure, some even get used from time to time.
By the way, I think winter has finally arrived as it is snowing outside,!!

Quiltie and shopping

This wonderful quiltie was waiting on my doorstep when I got home. It was stitched by Sue Krekorian from unlimited textiles group- Thanks Sue.

This stall was spotted on the market at Dignes Les Bains, lots of useful wooden thingies

Couldn't resist buying a FRENCH french knitting doll and the other item is a wooden sewing case, your needles go inside the bobbly bit, your threads on the outside then it slides into the wooden cylinder and the screw top is your thimble.