tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68596249890858698842024-02-07T12:02:01.991+00:00Things Wot I Have MadeZoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-2903858104477817152014-10-30T03:56:00.000+00:002014-10-30T04:10:05.984+00:00L'Uccello Haberdashery, Melbourne<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLrPpTFmGdsCMjnLZW0TreeJRFJ1lxmxVQJnyI13ztRdFRDXIyuiLw3TmLkPF-ODNFqOrhg1S4m3Bs7Q6hj3ItT2tHBmPCzrlAWHSQ3YRgsUDAryLjds5bmFOBIVsWXe2E7RGZsIV8-pQ/s1600/Uccello+c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidLrPpTFmGdsCMjnLZW0TreeJRFJ1lxmxVQJnyI13ztRdFRDXIyuiLw3TmLkPF-ODNFqOrhg1S4m3Bs7Q6hj3ItT2tHBmPCzrlAWHSQ3YRgsUDAryLjds5bmFOBIVsWXe2E7RGZsIV8-pQ/s1600/Uccello+c.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">L'Uccello Haberdashery</a> in Melbourne</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-wB2hoH8FM29YGraN8urv3p7kCkjIH27BnnhyphenhyphenDgd1xirSugCnNSvG5vvrXeuX9jgWYqDhHRfG6JDqTUie-9Au0uK3ZJte0YMVk1bF08gGOgU-rKwdSGKiapbxK9CqH9Mfr83vQWiJU3y/s1600/Uccello+f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
I'll start this post with a notice: I had a piece published in a recent <a href="http://www.molliemakes.com/" target="_blank"><i>Mollie Makes</i></a> (Issue 45) all about Melbourne's <a href="http://www.rosestmarket.com.au/" target="_blank">Rose Street Artists' Market</a>. It's Fitzroy's answer to Brick Lane's artsy, craftsy markets. If you fancy reading the article, it's <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/qzsuh2i00v1d6r2/MMS45.visit.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">HERE</a>. With some smashing accompanying pictures by the gentlemanly and marvellous <a href="http://www.coreysleapphoto.com/about/" target="_blank">Corey Sleap</a>.<br />
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So having read the article you've obviously decided to visit Melbourne. Once here I'd also also urge you to hop on a tram and visit what is one of my favourite crafty establishments of repute and elegance: <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">l'Uccello Haberdashery</a>.<br />
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Remember <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/melbourne-craftiness-newbies-guide.html" target="_blank">the blogpost about the Nicholas Building</a> and its role as Melbourne's hub of textiley wonder? <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">L'Uccello</a> is in there. Imagine <a href="http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/home_haberdashery" target="_blank">Liberty</a> and <a href="http://www.vvrouleaux.com/productcart/pc/web_index4.asp" target="_blank">V.V. Rouleaux</a> had a love child who - once all grown up - then eloped to Melbourne with an 19th-century French haberdasher and had yet another child.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfn7OBnJhGie5LhR8sMa7fgB_65a5lhQgqXfKoFHz3aivRldgOFO5G80adGgAYfO46qPOw0LQeqWfOnutlc61xX45enpoz2863jtwV6HqUlcLd24TvoS9b9S3CNfB0jB7RQGibUFLBL_F/s1600/Uccello+e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfn7OBnJhGie5LhR8sMa7fgB_65a5lhQgqXfKoFHz3aivRldgOFO5G80adGgAYfO46qPOw0LQeqWfOnutlc61xX45enpoz2863jtwV6HqUlcLd24TvoS9b9S3CNfB0jB7RQGibUFLBL_F/s1600/Uccello+e.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ribbons and trimmings aplenty.</td></tr>
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That would be the anthropomorphic manifestation of <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">l'Uccello</a>. It's an emporium of delight, discovery and wonder with vintage haberdashery, <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/store/sophie-digard/" target="_blank">Sophie Digard's</a> crochet pieces and knitwear, Valdani embroidery threads as well as delicious ribbons and trims... all for sale to the discerning. A day and an age ago, the owner, Kim Hurley very kindly took a few minutes to have a chat with me. Now, my original plan had been to quiz Kim about her background - window dresser, moisaicist (more <a href="http://www.wga.hu/html_m/zgothic/mosaics/4palatin/" target="_blank">Sicilian</a> school than <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_San_Vitale#Mosaic_art" target="_blank">Ravenna</a> or <a href="http://www.wga.hu/html_m/zgothic/mosaics/6sanmarc/" target="_blank">Venice</a> in case you're wondering) - and her transformation into an elite haberdasher who roams about Europe sourcing fabulous stuff from a select group of textile artists, craftsmen and antiquarians.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-wB2hoH8FM29YGraN8urv3p7kCkjIH27BnnhyphenhyphenDgd1xirSugCnNSvG5vvrXeuX9jgWYqDhHRfG6JDqTUie-9Au0uK3ZJte0YMVk1bF08gGOgU-rKwdSGKiapbxK9CqH9Mfr83vQWiJU3y/s1600/Uccello+f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-wB2hoH8FM29YGraN8urv3p7kCkjIH27BnnhyphenhyphenDgd1xirSugCnNSvG5vvrXeuX9jgWYqDhHRfG6JDqTUie-9Au0uK3ZJte0YMVk1bF08gGOgU-rKwdSGKiapbxK9CqH9Mfr83vQWiJU3y/s1600/Uccello+f.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The creative possibilities that l'Uccello affords is somewhat spectacular.</td></tr>
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Jolly good thing I did my research before I went along for the chat as someone has already written a piece on the intermeweb with the pertinent points <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/all-dressed-up-somewhere-to-go-20120309-1uofq.html" target="_blank">here</a>. And it would have been tedious for Kim to repeat all that information which is already out there.<br />
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Luckily I spotted that Kim has a passion for passementerie. Particularly metallic lace passementerie<br />
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"Passe... what?" I hear you cry. <br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passementerie" target="_blank">Passementerie</a>. You know, all the elaborate bells and whistles that used to festoon clothes in the days before the rise of polyester and the velour tracksuit? You know, fringes, galloons, gimps, rosettes, tassels and the Mighty Pompom? If you want a 19th-century interpretation, <a href="http://www.passementeries.com/warp/about.htm" target="_blank">here 'tis</a>. Today, passementerie is generally associated with furniture upholstery but Kim collects lovely pieces of brocade and embellishments made of gold and silver thread that were intended to adorn clothing. Imagine lacework but with silver, or tassels of gold. <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/267049452879711060/" target="_blank">Then attach it to your clothes</a> - or in the case of Catholic clerics, your vestments - rather than your chaise longue.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd_SRek7al7Lvtu9HVOnTs6fJLCBmtbgElhP3ardD2g6iBWhjVEgG92sJs4YaqmwRCuC8nhP75e_G-StWe8zxLGe_Ob3HHvPfjeg_VRB4f2KL_U8F3KkS0isogU98o3I0iYL_o_hlQjym/s1600/Uccello+m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd_SRek7al7Lvtu9HVOnTs6fJLCBmtbgElhP3ardD2g6iBWhjVEgG92sJs4YaqmwRCuC8nhP75e_G-StWe8zxLGe_Ob3HHvPfjeg_VRB4f2KL_U8F3KkS0isogU98o3I0iYL_o_hlQjym/s1600/Uccello+m.jpg" height="532" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few examples of antique metallic passementerie in Kim's collection.</td></tr>
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Much of Kim's collection was in storage at the time of our chat but, with sparkling eyes, she went and found a basket of various delights including some metallic passementerie, vintage fringing and embellishments. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mVI5fa8VsTWfnJ5-ouuQDWTYRE2QfnU4e0birDJfMu3IcHAYF6zYX7bvS_ZANaix3f5PpSib-hN5Jk8CfKE0qSzprLQ5CgzpyGbQo5Ad-56_ZPGJq7IGtkvjAAd7KndPnNrfoZCcxvc/s1600/Uccello+l.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9mVI5fa8VsTWfnJ5-ouuQDWTYRE2QfnU4e0birDJfMu3IcHAYF6zYX7bvS_ZANaix3f5PpSib-hN5Jk8CfKE0qSzprLQ5CgzpyGbQo5Ad-56_ZPGJq7IGtkvjAAd7KndPnNrfoZCcxvc/s1600/Uccello+l.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Basket of textiley delights and wonder!</td></tr>
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In a word... OOOOOOOHHHH. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TWdyoB7BbbTIsYQpWmTXKYYTvJCn4CiNd0fnjYN0A6r7QrkRCzS99-uBKz9DKHWXgEzNjffcGCDnlSDQBTF1hzOpK9hGFsIHQW7nQm-UyowJwJJtpSIvWTUQeDUnCJhk2WEj8ivuWzzU/s1600/Uccello+j.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TWdyoB7BbbTIsYQpWmTXKYYTvJCn4CiNd0fnjYN0A6r7QrkRCzS99-uBKz9DKHWXgEzNjffcGCDnlSDQBTF1hzOpK9hGFsIHQW7nQm-UyowJwJJtpSIvWTUQeDUnCJhk2WEj8ivuWzzU/s1600/Uccello+j.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some bobbins with the metallic thread that was used for lace-making or the construction of weightier tassels and trims. </td></tr>
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There is so much that is wonderful about such a treasure trove of textiley delights. It gives a searing <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/luccello/vintage-haberdashery/" target="_blank">insight into the collector's taste</a> - defined by personal experience, knowledge and style - as well as sends the imagination soaring with all the creative potential and permutations such a a collection holds. Finally, it probably comes as no shock to regular readers that I find the historical weight of these pieces utterly fascinating. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp12GD-NV0C4JyIhv_04iB8ercAKeVAHhy10sZw0lt19xDt6Z2ANEktNGboV6_how_JX8MmEFFCxm7lEEuzP8SoBu3ReBp0josQzqn3KJ0D5SQ75FKo6gk78iGsXU9W28abg2Fk0V_oKR/s1600/Uccello+n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwp12GD-NV0C4JyIhv_04iB8ercAKeVAHhy10sZw0lt19xDt6Z2ANEktNGboV6_how_JX8MmEFFCxm7lEEuzP8SoBu3ReBp0josQzqn3KJ0D5SQ75FKo6gk78iGsXU9W28abg2Fk0V_oKR/s1600/Uccello+n.jpg" height="446" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This two-tone <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moire_%28fabric%29" target="_blank">silk moire </a>is the sort of striking creative fodder that would set the heart of any miliner racing. </td></tr>
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The incredible skill, experience and talents of the craftsmen and women behind each galloon and tassel is not to be underestimated. Never mind the cost of the precious metals themselves that were the basic materials for the passementerie, but think of the years of training, the practice and the hours necessary to create these complex and beautiful objects. For those who could afford to decorate their clothes with such exquisite and luxurious details, such an act defined in great beauty and theatricality not only their role in society but their place as an economic and ultimately creative prop. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUdY3NfhyE0_jFbuVC_1zZsGZ1P2ZrtgChEoTM1hdKIi1Hn8rIaErNC2OCRPwI816P0hquBnoV89TYT9552qXdjqaBoNeAqVdR1JzOTtyE5dxfsnIe4nVe_bm8G-K5jBqDXnvDhQeBWG-/s1600/Uccello+g.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUdY3NfhyE0_jFbuVC_1zZsGZ1P2ZrtgChEoTM1hdKIi1Hn8rIaErNC2OCRPwI816P0hquBnoV89TYT9552qXdjqaBoNeAqVdR1JzOTtyE5dxfsnIe4nVe_bm8G-K5jBqDXnvDhQeBWG-/s1600/Uccello+g.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few more examples of metallic trims. In this instance some lovely patina'd tassel that is yet to find a home adorning a frock or suit.</td></tr>
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For example, have a look at this woven silk ribbon with the floral motif that Kim had in her basket of textiley treats:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD95Rg8VlzaX9tpybcvUj9xqwyHHFjseWpKrldeoOJSECc_JXLD2YNfRdQYab1SD-NCCRyg4wRaf2vh8LUfs3vHZ5qlSiH5Et5lfmmABLizl9ZWcekIYwrQG_yqYEg1xMINT-qJY6iMh4/s1600/Uccello+d.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKD95Rg8VlzaX9tpybcvUj9xqwyHHFjseWpKrldeoOJSECc_JXLD2YNfRdQYab1SD-NCCRyg4wRaf2vh8LUfs3vHZ5qlSiH5Et5lfmmABLizl9ZWcekIYwrQG_yqYEg1xMINT-qJY6iMh4/s1600/Uccello+d.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silk jacquard ribbon and an original jacquard design from 19th-century Lyon</td></tr>
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You see the graph paper with the flower picked out in tiny squares just underneath the woven silk? Although not the design for the ribbon in question this working sketch is from mid 19th-century Lyon and was one step in the creative and manufacturing process that resulted in textiles like the floral ribbon we can see. These two pieces in a basket in 21st-century Melbourne give us a glimpse of the complex silk-weaving industry for which Lyon was famed in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. For a taste of the rich history, there's a V&A article about one of the main silk designers
of the 18th-century, <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/journals/research-journal/issue-no.-4-summer-2012/a-portrait-of-the-raphael-of-silk-design" target="_blank">Jean Revel</a>. It's pretty amazing stuff.* That sketch you can see above though is also a small part of the history of computing. If you've heard of Jacquard silk and its <a href="http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/videos/j/video-jacquard-weaving/" target="_blank">punch-card patterned weaving technique </a>that revolutionised Lyon's silk design and production, then you're also aware of an early and important step towards computer programming as we know it today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxOb-lkV1US7chHyU07dZccGfZ6hc394WGVtc-qUtdSsi1DNWNZjt7ksIEeRS3Uc7yf6gO1xZPGKalMUS0_kOLLW9jT534qCAa6pmrZn3gRdx8Ft22o7pv_KJMLFt-EXRjTJUH3fWWpIV/s1600/Uccello+k.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxOb-lkV1US7chHyU07dZccGfZ6hc394WGVtc-qUtdSsi1DNWNZjt7ksIEeRS3Uc7yf6gO1xZPGKalMUS0_kOLLW9jT534qCAa6pmrZn3gRdx8Ft22o7pv_KJMLFt-EXRjTJUH3fWWpIV/s1600/Uccello+k.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was one of my favourite trims; a ruffly, ombre number that would look exquisite on some sort of evening dress affair.</td></tr>
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And all this innovation and beauty because a few people - well actually, an awful lot of people. Enough to support entire industries, markets and the economic backbone of cities, nations and empires - wanted to dress up in silk frocks and shirts. I don't think a preponderance of hessian sacks for millennia would have had quite such a profound impact on culture and society as we know it.<br />
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From the macro to the micro, you can still find echoes of the makers and
wearers behind these tiny objects. The patina that develops on the
metallic passementerie is not only from oxidation but the
organic build up of generations of fingers that have made and handled
the embellishments. It would be incredible to find out their individual
stories, but the strangely compelling beauty of the patina's supposed
imperfection - the dulling of the gold or silver - is often all that
remains<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28oMVEGi5fBxEMdLXZoa7P7bt6H-HkjTD10Cav351PeztyuGbaG0gVAMHKbxg9KHwxbdLqRdOnqriv1TYUvFnHE0uJFXFIPbOwi6-P1mFmRtm5UFHAiWVU8iwfONEh3Psuz9Jm_0xoK95/s1600/Uccello+h.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28oMVEGi5fBxEMdLXZoa7P7bt6H-HkjTD10Cav351PeztyuGbaG0gVAMHKbxg9KHwxbdLqRdOnqriv1TYUvFnHE0uJFXFIPbOwi6-P1mFmRtm5UFHAiWVU8iwfONEh3Psuz9Jm_0xoK95/s1600/Uccello+h.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art deco style metallic trims.</td></tr>
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If you're interested in contemporary passementerie have a look at <a href="http://jessicalight.co.uk/home.html" target="_blank">Jessica Light</a> in Bethnal Green, London. Here you have a hint of the variety and panache a centuries' old craft can have today. It's exquisite, playful and luxurious, the latter mainly due to its handmade quality. More of this, please, and less of the velour tracksuits methinks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3XND7Z8EvJxvpRBqdi8TyM0RNUMu81fjy1fL9KyJpXtYNdBaLdSsH4djelG_H_eGgJONNTKoK1N0hPNC_khhhkGIOAADbzddBuDosL6RQ1J7dw2bK-AtqNl54na5vse781odTp-X8e1j/s1600/Uccello+a.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3XND7Z8EvJxvpRBqdi8TyM0RNUMu81fjy1fL9KyJpXtYNdBaLdSsH4djelG_H_eGgJONNTKoK1N0hPNC_khhhkGIOAADbzddBuDosL6RQ1J7dw2bK-AtqNl54na5vse781odTp-X8e1j/s1600/Uccello+a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silk passementerie embellishments</td></tr>
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For those of us in Melbers though, we are rather fortunate to have the wonderful trove of embellishment and - I quote - "fancy goods" that is <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">l'Uccello</a> just on our doorstep. Enjoy!<br />
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*Oh, to have the time and access to the libraries and archives to read up
on it all! But I will have to save that for another stage of life...<br />
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<i>With thanks to Kim Hurley for taking the time to show me such an exquisite selection of haberdashery. It's always a privilege and pleasure to listen to someone who has such a passion and profound knowledge of their field. Aren't we lucky it's such a beautiful field that Kim is blessed to work in?</i><br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-20440646246927333382014-09-17T10:35:00.000+01:002014-09-17T10:35:12.713+01:00Heathered Cardigan and the Great London Yarn Crawl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zCCr0oSgxtAGiial7jCLCjOAWO26MwWOhOqnCDumR3CTII5jQpJbebVTqEeLsvbOC1_4N0Q7FLlNsd4Pc4sgqzcyUjAveKo6eS6_4_C98m7jPUFo601Md4uRW_QQXCgIcOjsrDQC3P2R/s1600/Heathered+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zCCr0oSgxtAGiial7jCLCjOAWO26MwWOhOqnCDumR3CTII5jQpJbebVTqEeLsvbOC1_4N0Q7FLlNsd4Pc4sgqzcyUjAveKo6eS6_4_C98m7jPUFo601Md4uRW_QQXCgIcOjsrDQC3P2R/s1600/Heathered+3.jpg" height="640" width="636" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heathered" target="_blank">Heathered Cardigan</a> in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/quince-and-co-chickadee" target="_blank">Quince & Co 's Chickadee</a>.</td></tr>
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It's been a while, but here's a post about <i>S</i>omething Wot I Have Made. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ZoeFWillis/heathered" target="_blank">It's a cardigan</a>. A simple, navy blue version of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heathered" target="_blank">Melissa Schaschwary's Heathered</a> in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/quince-and-co-chickadee" target="_blank">Quince & Co's Chickadee</a>. Peacoat is the hue in case you're wondering. For all it's wearable simplicity this is a special cardigan. One imbued with personal knittery significance and strong connections to the <a href="http://www.greatlondonyarncrawl.com/" target="_blank">Great London Yarn Crawl</a>. More of that later... first a look at the cardigan. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behold! A lovely, long cardigan for lovely, long people!</td></tr>
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It is in fact a grown-up version of the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/cricket-cardigan-and-twerking.html" target="_blank">fluffy angora, Hackney-hisptery Cricket</a> that I knitted for the Cherub last year. Fortunately, or sadly (depending on your view of things like how very quickly these tiny ones grow) the Cherub is now too tall for the Cricket and all its fluzzy glory so I can wear the Heathered without fear of too many Mummy - Daughter Matchy - Matchy concerns.<br />
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This cardigan has taken a jolly long time to knit. Reasons for this include:<br />
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<li>My long-of-torso-and-even-longer-of-limb structure, which meant more sleevage and bustage needed knitting</li>
<li>My knitting speed is more that of an ultra-marthon runner rather than a sprinter. Slow and steady, slow and steady... </li>
<li>Frankly, I am knackered. Who knew that mothering a pre-schooler would be even more tiring than mothering an infant? I think a lot of people out there do know this but, for fear of terrifying the next generation out of reproducing, tend not to advertise this fact. Due to knackeredness, I was lucky if I managed two or three rows of an evening before falling asleep in front of <a href="http://qi.com/" target="_blank">QI</a> or a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSovus8YNsE" target="_blank">strangely soothing documentary about jelly fish</a> </li>
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Anyhoo, having overcome these herculean obstacles I am finished. Overall, I'm pleased. No longer will I have to worry about cold wrists or an exposed sliver of torso betwixt trouser waist line and cardigan edge. The Andalusian stitch along the yoke adds a bit of texture and interest to what is destined to become a daily knitwear staple.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDv_a98VlCG0R4rfYJbs4OMk-LIz7y5FcxkCy1arXQYUbU_6VE4cBVF7xBx_nribN_Fz1eVDQKtynZZjNyRUEuQnj8P8goHtsT21Co5vTII3D3NGCPPg9OSN2eYhbp108LhvWIJwJ62Yn/s1600/Heathered+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDv_a98VlCG0R4rfYJbs4OMk-LIz7y5FcxkCy1arXQYUbU_6VE4cBVF7xBx_nribN_Fz1eVDQKtynZZjNyRUEuQnj8P8goHtsT21Co5vTII3D3NGCPPg9OSN2eYhbp108LhvWIJwJ62Yn/s1600/Heathered+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andalusian stitch detail along the yoke. </td></tr>
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Chickadee is a soft, bouncy yarn and a delight to work with. There has been some piling since washing and blocking but huzzah! for those those whizzy handheld de-piling machines. I am now free of unwanted bobblage. I chose Liberty Tana Lawn ribbon for the inside of the button band as well as for the covered buttons to give it a bit of ooomph beyond the Andalusian stitch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsUUsdqnIEiK_I6ob56vqqvcGEGOdFs1R4xCku0zP-odnJJO2vOUDR9jXSTdIRYGH1Hv-qIsx_3Q0E7jJ0eq26q1yUeP7FG5Ma23jBcbAbsKvbfl7S9Z-KHvTS7iLJFjA1QvtIGwtmPyk/s1600/GLYC+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvi6o91oR4MLejyYsZANVSrjPfpf2aFMa9pO-UedXbUC_FiD4YGNP_anDR0a7uW2km-SAyh66IfiQYdyRtBxeXASrdcJrixXe7avIhiFwUY0_CBZssW1n0hZ6f6niXDKDm2rRcUtrXeGiX/s1600/Heathered+4.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy tigers. It's a flash of Liberty Tana Lawn behind the button band. Calm yourselves.</td></tr>
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The downside? I'm underwhelmed by the wibbly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNbanlVzbxw" target="_blank">tubular bind off </a>on the sleeves and at the bottom of the waist that the pattern demands. The answer probably is that I need more practice rather than there being a problem with the cast off itself. But it is indeed stretchy as promised ensuring I won't cut off the circulation to my hands. Which is important. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wibbly tubular cast off on the sleeves and the tell-tale rib of the Magic Hoop method. Apparently the latter will disappear over time. But, behold! The length of sleeve! The resultant warmth of wrist!</td></tr>
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So, that's the cardigan bit. But what of the special significance? It's been almost a year to the day since I chose the cardigan pattern and then went off on quite a romp to acquire the yarn. This Saturday will be the 2nd Annual <a href="http://www.greatlondonyarncrawl.com/" target="_blank">Great London Yarn Crawl</a>. Essentially, it's an excuse for a whole heap of keen knittery types to gather and dash about <i>en masse</i> using London's public transport to visit an amazing selection of the Capital's <a href="http://www.greatlondonyarncrawl.com/p/shop-and-charity-profiles.html" target="_blank">best yarn, knit and crochet-type shops</a>. Keen knittery types have a rollicking day out, independent yarn shops, spinners and dyers get support and contributions are made to the charity <a href="http://www.greatlondonyarncrawl.com/2013/06/meet-our-charity.html" target="_blank">Refuge</a>. Happiness all round, methinks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWNbM3o2_N8EKWYlKgrnVhIz665c8NqAk5HNViYRQ_y_JjW_NAgrdI8kgySvHGq6HIQZAlTgMo-l6Q5xEUdw9fFkmBP0KyvQLrCbmsQstX-XpveQi6O0scPE037m38n2Y3sVo3-FIpVlJ/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yarns and projects a plenty at Nest</td></tr>
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Sadly, I won't be able to pop over the 17,000 km between Melbourne and London to partake this year's phenomenon. However, I was lucky enough to have been involved in 2013 for the first Yarn Crawl when I bought the yarn for this Heathered cardigan at <a href="http://www.loopknitting.com/" target="_blank">Loop in Islington</a>.<br />
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Pondering last year's Crawl I've realised how it's proved an important marker in my writing and knitting life. In March 2013 I was a random punter visiting <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/wool-house-at-somerset-house.html" target="_blank">Wool House at Somerset House</a> and met <a href="http://www.porpoisefur.com/" target="_blank">Rachel Brown</a> and <a href="http://champagneandqiviut.com/" target="_blank">Allison Thistlewood</a> whilst they spun away as part of a demonstration about, you guessed it, spinning. Little did I know what <a href="http://www.greatlondonyarncrawl.com/p/the-glyc-team.html" target="_blank">madcap venture they were planning</a>, a venture known by the quango-ish acronym the GLYC.<br />
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Six months later they'd corralled me; I was a volunteer leader for a group of Crawlers dashing about London like a crazed thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWNbM3o2_N8EKWYlKgrnVhIz665c8NqAk5HNViYRQ_y_JjW_NAgrdI8kgySvHGq6HIQZAlTgMo-l6Q5xEUdw9fFkmBP0KyvQLrCbmsQstX-XpveQi6O0scPE037m38n2Y3sVo3-FIpVlJ/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWNbM3o2_N8EKWYlKgrnVhIz665c8NqAk5HNViYRQ_y_JjW_NAgrdI8kgySvHGq6HIQZAlTgMo-l6Q5xEUdw9fFkmBP0KyvQLrCbmsQstX-XpveQi6O0scPE037m38n2Y3sVo3-FIpVlJ/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage+2.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WARNING: Gratuitous crafting on public transport. Including drop spindling.</td></tr>
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It was brilliant.<br />
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The results of that Saturday included a whole heap of fun, much caressing of skeins and succumbing to temptation followed by acquiring enough yarn for a cardigan as well as the chance to meet some amazingly interesting, textiley people; <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/renee-callahan-of-east-london-knit.html" target="_blank">Renee Callahan of East London Knits</a> (my patient and witty co-leader on the GLYC), Dani Sunshine of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/people/LionessArts" target="_blank">Lioness Arts</a> and organiser of <a href="http://unwindbrighton.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Unwind Brighton</a>, <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/interview-with-linda-lencovic-of-kettle.html" target="_blank">Linda Lencovic of Kettle Yarn Co.</a> and Kate Metherell of <a href="http://yarnandknitting.com/" target="_blank">Yarn and Knitting</a> to name but a few.<br />
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Until the GLYC, I'd no idea such things as Freelance Knitters existed. Now I do. And it's fantastic. <br />
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I even had the delight of writing up all our adventures <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/83aub0n1qvsgfaq/MMS34.new_news.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">for an article in <i>Mollie Makes</i></a>. <br />
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Therefore, I wish much merriment and delight to all those involved in the GLYC this Saturday. And if you're not going, sign up and make sure you can go along next year. Then knit yourself a cardigan from the yarns you buy en route. From such things are memories made.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qR_Phq1qk4jnLDYPOYoZUeOho9YtMTJeJxJlRhTyU4GoLMKbKCMiL2SqARPrXJUjUZrjcsAqCcfrv_SRgiikFTgqRCRdfjHmOSzY3xq36Va-hs9t7YVsWSXLZj1qW1BFyY_fh5EF_ULZ/s1600/GLYC+6.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qR_Phq1qk4jnLDYPOYoZUeOho9YtMTJeJxJlRhTyU4GoLMKbKCMiL2SqARPrXJUjUZrjcsAqCcfrv_SRgiikFTgqRCRdfjHmOSzY3xq36Va-hs9t7YVsWSXLZj1qW1BFyY_fh5EF_ULZ/s1600/GLYC+6.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine, cider and sock yarn at the GLYC 2013's after party. Happiness all round.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis. With thanks to my model and tall chum, Amy, and her own beautiful Cherub for gamefully sporting the Heathered (Amy. Not the Cherub) whilst I tried my best to be professional with a DSLR)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-32384309431075449312014-09-01T10:34:00.000+01:002014-09-01T10:34:32.552+01:00Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair 2014<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A veritable cornucopia of fat quarters and other textiley delights at <a href="http://www.craftfair.com.au/wp/Melbourne/" target="_blank">Melbourne's Craft and Quilt Fair 2014</a></td></tr>
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At last! A few minutes to jot down thoughts and impressions from the <a href="http://www.craftfair.com.au/wp/Melbourne/#sthash.ebMLaZTK.dpbs" target="_blank">Craft and Quilt Fai</a>r in Melbourne back in June. This is Australia's impressive answer to <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/the-knitting-and-stitching-show-2013.html" target="_blank">Ally Pally's Knitting and Stitching Show</a> so it was only right and just that I pop down to have a look.<br />
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Thus I rose early on a Saturday morning. However, the trip almost began and ended in disaster as I made my way to the World Heritage listed <a href="http://museumvictoria.com.au/reb/" target="_blank">Royal Exhibition Building</a>. This is <a href="http://museumvictoria.com.au/reb/history/the-building/" target="_blank">one of the only remaining structures</a> from that great binge of Royal Exhibitions during the 19th century, the most famed probably being that of <a href="http://www.archdaily.com/397949/ad-classic-the-crystal-palace-joseph-paxton/" target="_blank">Joseph Paxton's Crystal Palace</a> for the <a href="http://www.bl.uk/learning/histcitizen/victorians/exhibition/greatexhibition.html" target="_blank">Great Exhibition of 1851</a>. Even today Melbournians use the building for which it was designed; as a space for exhibitions and fairs.<br />
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It's also a bit similar to <a href="http://www.alexandrapalace.com/about-us/our-history/" target="_blank">Alexandra Palace</a>. Where they hold the <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/" target="_blank">Knitting and Stitching Show</a>.<br />
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Bally good thing I realised before I reached inner Melbourne that the <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/" target="_blank">Craft and Quilt Fair </a>was in fact at the <a href="http://mcec.com.au/" target="_blank">Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre</a>. It's a kinda similar name to the Royal Exhibition Building what with having the word "Exhibition" in there. It also has the same function but is of a much more modern vintage, built in 1997. Funded and supported by Victoria's (as in the state, not the former Queen) Premier of the day, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Kennett" target="_blank">Jeff Kennett</a>, this somewhat utilitarian building is affectionately and laconically known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne_Convention_and_Exhibition_Centre" target="_blank"><i>Jeff's Shed</i></a>.<br />
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Which is fine.<br />
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Except the Royal Exhibition Building and Jeff's Shed are on two completely different sides of the CBD, Carlton versus South Bank. So after a minor panic ("what other significant facts might I have missed that would thwart my mission?!") and a quick check on the intermeweb, I found my way and made it to Jeff's Shed...<br />
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And once inside, oh my. The Fair was Good. I would suggest to the organisers a minor yet significant change of name from the Craft and Quilt Fair to the Quilt and Craft Fair as there was a lot of quilty-themed stalls. Loads in fact. Oodles.<br />
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I'll start with the magnificent exhibition of quilts made by members of <a href="http://www.victorianquilters.org/" target="_blank">Victorian Quilters Inc</a>. What an array of talent, colour and beauty from the hands of young girls starting their patchwork adventures to venerable matriarchs with decades of experience behind them. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_2ob61ua2UygJwm8YlsEkhvNS-XU4Btl7zNcZ_pEGvVDy65_R7g8GXt1wNlF13mi4UBMmU2YCfmSVGgJCj7D5Lxk7XYHIYjhTf-c0LUIjuhEfYMAXOGnITQmZtV7nqrG3gkydJ0-6t5N/s1600/Craft+Fair+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO_2ob61ua2UygJwm8YlsEkhvNS-XU4Btl7zNcZ_pEGvVDy65_R7g8GXt1wNlF13mi4UBMmU2YCfmSVGgJCj7D5Lxk7XYHIYjhTf-c0LUIjuhEfYMAXOGnITQmZtV7nqrG3gkydJ0-6t5N/s1600/Craft+Fair+3.jpg" height="640" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No pressure, Willis. No pressure but that is a rather fine patchwork quilt there. </td></tr>
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In one corner were some ladies industriously sewing, supporters of the Victorian Quilters' <a href="http://www.victorianquilters.org/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=17" target="_blank">Very Snuggly Quilts programme</a>. After a bit of probing, I found this group of volunteers to be akin to the good people of <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/free-cakes-for-kids-hackney.html" target="_blank">Free Cakes for Kids</a>. Instead of cakes they make quilts, elaborate, stunning quilts for sick children at the Children's Hospital in Melbourne. As in children who may be terminally ill, suffering some terrible disease or possibly coming to terms with a life-changing disability. From premature babies to young adults, the quilters anonymously make quilts to general themes (say, girl aged 16 or boy aged 10) which are then taken into the hospital. Staff tell the Very Snuggly Quilt organisers which children and families are in need and a quilt is given. For free.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J3XNwlYSiBlxYaxhuaBY2TDrrV_z4Dem8N0pfZDnu1wo05FnjNIbfoIZ7JQpUfEcjSdkf5eJpFzvQ-7kjzIMrVaeZhmWEuD-FAotNHFWPP4XzCX4VQzNyBJZ8zYAuAttZD2vOJQXYl38/s1600/Craft+Fair+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J3XNwlYSiBlxYaxhuaBY2TDrrV_z4Dem8N0pfZDnu1wo05FnjNIbfoIZ7JQpUfEcjSdkf5eJpFzvQ-7kjzIMrVaeZhmWEuD-FAotNHFWPP4XzCX4VQzNyBJZ8zYAuAttZD2vOJQXYl38/s1600/Craft+Fair+2.jpg" height="640" width="458" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some members of the Victorian Quilters in action supporting the <a href="http://www.victorianquilters.org/index.php?act=viewDoc&docId=17" target="_blank">Very Snuggly Quilts campaign</a></td></tr>
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At one of the most stressful and vulnerable moments in a child's life - or indeed that of a parent - a total stranger creates a beautiful, soft and comforting object and gifts it. It's a precious and generous act that brings some peace and hope to the recipients.<br />
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All those examples of beautiful complexity and moral generosity were rather inspiring and I thus sallied forth into the rest of the Fair. I think the first significant point of difference between my experiences at Ally Pally and in Melbourne was how many quilting <i>kits</i> were on offer. One of my small frustrations about the various patchwork vendors in Britain was - for the beginner - their ludicrously tempting and large selection of fat quarters and bolts of fabric was generally intimidating. Staff tended to presume a much higher level of experience than I have so I would often slip away and head back to the yarn stalls.<br />
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By contrast a number of the outfits exhibiting in Melbourne had kits and some of those "make-a-quilt-in-a-section-a-month" sort of kits (a bit like Janie Crow's <a href="http://www.janiecrow.co.uk/jshop/article.php/9/crochet_club/c91476042762033b0bda3cc71cb7d43a" target="_blank">monthly Crochet Club</a>), with the promise of technical support as part of your monthly subscription. The monthly subscription is also a jolly good idea. The thought of forking out several hundred dollars in one fell swoop for a quilt kit that is probably beyond your technical ability and might sit festering away in a craft cupboard for aeons, is eye-watering.<br />
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This is all for the beginner, I hasten to emphasise. So hurrah! for the likes of <a href="http://www.blockofthemonth.com.au/" target="_blank">Patchwork Passion</a> and their Block of the Month-A-Longs and the ever-so-charming <a href="http://thecraftysquirrel.com.au/" target="_blank">Crafty Squirrel</a> of Ballarat. In the latter instance I was utterly taken by the retro palette and patterns that defined much of the Squirrel's wares. Bundles of fat quarters, cushion kits and quilt kits were all made from owner's Morgan Will's collection of vintage sheets, blankets and textiles. With the occasional faux terrarium and some Old School habredashery thrown in for good measure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFeHGBYKRgkH5T-IJhBtTylecrMQYXIoVR8TbIJ4TtbNPUZT5eWv7BQb3JzH11ebhMl5y3m-746hc89bG6pVm8qTCBCex2rwXBhTtXfRj3gv0zi4hgtwqJAmQOeWDoBtUQHvVA-9qjdX-/s1600/Craft+Fair+24.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFeHGBYKRgkH5T-IJhBtTylecrMQYXIoVR8TbIJ4TtbNPUZT5eWv7BQb3JzH11ebhMl5y3m-746hc89bG6pVm8qTCBCex2rwXBhTtXfRj3gv0zi4hgtwqJAmQOeWDoBtUQHvVA-9qjdX-/s1600/Craft+Fair+24.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Retrotastic upcycling possibilities and kits (WHO DOESN'T LOVE A FAUX TERRARIUM WITH MINIATURE DEER?!) courtesy of <a href="http://thecraftysquirrel.com.au/" target="_blank">The Crafty Squirrel</a></td></tr>
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Now, for those more <i>au fait </i>with patchwork and quilting then you were in for a treat with the fabric available from two vendors in particular: Robyn Shapiro of <a href="http://www.thestrawberrythief.com.au/" target="_blank">The Strawberry Thief</a> and Leslie Keating of <a href="http://mazeandvale.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Maze & Vale</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB9YQGKctKviOTmzxaWn5QZH2ADnR_3szXSdlaJkoOMqUT_HNJfUSXHw3ZMeIkZWuGazucQHVY2F7msWB_dc-J_3a6OAqBvIGSNZQO0YLmMwV4cSmpNA4inDE2ZynmMn7XW0OU3prvGBU/s1600/Craft+Fair+25.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEB9YQGKctKviOTmzxaWn5QZH2ADnR_3szXSdlaJkoOMqUT_HNJfUSXHw3ZMeIkZWuGazucQHVY2F7msWB_dc-J_3a6OAqBvIGSNZQO0YLmMwV4cSmpNA4inDE2ZynmMn7XW0OU3prvGBU/s1600/Craft+Fair+25.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liberty Tana Lawn aplenty from <a href="http://www.thestrawberrythief.com.au/" target="_blank">The Strawberry Thief</a></td></tr>
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The former has many, many Liberty print fabrics to delight and amaze.
Actually, those aren't just for the quilters out there but have <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/lifestylelib/your-liberty-print-projects/" target="_blank">many, many crafty and fashiony possibilities</a>. Plans are afoot for customers to buy fabric by the metre for projects beyond patchwork. Lucky Robyn has managed to take her love of the Tana Lawn and turn it into a full time job. I am in awe. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk4TE5cG4E92BcVUyImXbF4IaoT5De5E4ZYVxjVCU1FqhShYr5ZpBaBE7LBkc0PQTpvcPKE5cmWxSTheILkj56stDOQ4gIFehmJszOFv9-fVzypRRAmXLsBKpll21W_3KkFabLxufP5yd/s1600/Craft+Fair+22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQk4TE5cG4E92BcVUyImXbF4IaoT5De5E4ZYVxjVCU1FqhShYr5ZpBaBE7LBkc0PQTpvcPKE5cmWxSTheILkj56stDOQ4gIFehmJszOFv9-fVzypRRAmXLsBKpll21W_3KkFabLxufP5yd/s1600/Craft+Fair+22.jpg" height="640" width="544" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robyn Shapiro of <a href="http://www.thestrawberrythief.com.au/" target="_blank">the Strawberry Thief</a>. I know this isn't a fashion blog but do note Tana Lawn headscarf and note how chic it looks. </td></tr>
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Leslie Keating is a textile artist originally from Canada whose screen-printed linens and cottons are invoke a muted Scandinavian aesthetic. Again, <a href="http://mazeandvale.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Maze & Vale's</a> fabrics don't limit you to quilts, but you would make some pretty striking and contemporary ones if you did decide to have a go. Leslie is also running some <a href="http://mazeandvale.bigcartel.com/category/workshops" target="_blank">screen and block printing workshops</a> in Footscray for those keen to dabble in a slightly messier and paintier realm of the craft and textile world. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1J3XNwlYSiBlxYaxhuaBY2TDrrV_z4Dem8N0pfZDnu1wo05FnjNIbfoIZ7JQpUfEcjSdkf5eJpFzvQ-7kjzIMrVaeZhmWEuD-FAotNHFWPP4XzCX4VQzNyBJZ8zYAuAttZD2vOJQXYl38/s1600/Craft+Fair+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPgDso_Wjvdas8WfRetmA5iZf8U0MYwgHytPJsDyVKlo1xYgM5VlLBoslbKQ1BEqlFQ5Ga56hoeIAz6lPtqu_Np0HZhW6Pjii0d98M4dLNpq3yIKRfSHKZKihJ4IwcUjLSOXCHMfiv4uDj/s1600/Craft+Fair+23.jpg" height="320" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The delicate and contemporary prints of <a href="http://mazeandvale.bigcartel.com/" target="_blank">Maze and Vale</a>, all designed and screen printed by graphic designer <a href="http://www.lesliekeating.com/" target="_blank">Leslie Keating</a>.</td></tr>
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Another fascinating aspect of the quilting side of the Craft Fair was the preponderance of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashiko_stitching" target="_blank">sashiko embroidery</a> and Japanese fabrics for patchwork purposes. You see nothing of such stuff in Blighty. It must be pretty niche. Australia's geographical position in the Asia-Pacific might explain this craft's presence in Melbourne, but it is a marvellous surprise considering Australia's international image - thank you <i>Neighbours</i>, <i>Home and Away</i> and <i>Crocodile Dundee</i> - of a bunch of Anglo-Saxons and Celts on the beach. I must admit a worrying preponderance of golliwogs (ARGH. I couldn't bring myself to photograph any) in kit, knitted and quilt form at the Fair suggests that some awkward, un-PC cultural relics of a bygone age still remain in Australia today...<br />
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... so let's get back to the sashiko! Much more worthy of note and reflective of contemporary Australian society. My two favourites were <a href="http://maimisaki.com/" target="_blank">Mai Misaki</a> and <a href="http://www.bebebold.com/" target="_blank">Bebe Bold</a>. <a href="http://maimisaki.com/" target="_blank">Mai Misaki</a> was interesting as I hadn't come across the idea of so much taupe in Japanese fabrics. The passing knowledge I had of this vastly complex and rich section of textile history tended to reference brightly-coloured kimono material or indigo-dyed linens. But taupe? Lovely. And I suppose it makes sense that some bright spark a long time ago in ancient Japan thought, "why not leave the fabric in its natural colour? It looks better on me than indigo blue." Or some such. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD16abxCeDIezBRbkkMlBy6ov1L4xdl6CPf0j3qrFtGLOdWECzaklHt35cX2muC4_sVPd9hGralG1Vw4fAJJtp0j3NZr2yV3f_xbNfTt7yffz1DjlVCo5m9AjnpHXNCgx6FsbEHa_lfvD/s1600/Craft+Fair+26.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfD16abxCeDIezBRbkkMlBy6ov1L4xdl6CPf0j3qrFtGLOdWECzaklHt35cX2muC4_sVPd9hGralG1Vw4fAJJtp0j3NZr2yV3f_xbNfTt7yffz1DjlVCo5m9AjnpHXNCgx6FsbEHa_lfvD/s1600/Craft+Fair+26.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oodles of taupe Japanese linen on offer at <a href="http://maimisaki.com/" target="_blank">Mai Misaki</a>. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.bebebold.com/" target="_blank">Bebe Bold</a> has more of the classic indigo fabric on offer as well as many other contemporary Japanese textiles. The company's owner, Jane MacDonald, designs an number of the sashiko patterns herself, which are often helpfully printed in blocks on the fabric ready for you to stitch, cut the blocks, arrange yourself and construct into whatever patchwork project you fancy. Oh, and once washed the original white pattern lines vanish. Jolly simple yet effective.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG5h8pDLk-0ddK2NYNFClmm58XTsbvSkcdrT-7y_5ES9PLP3o9Uo2p059wmQJVh886ccPK42o2_alSqug5h794bh8JhxXBlqdILFOiF2kmjDtdtaBsXryn7U2mokfbsFA_rPmsRSdG2Qp/s1600/Craft+Fair+28.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG5h8pDLk-0ddK2NYNFClmm58XTsbvSkcdrT-7y_5ES9PLP3o9Uo2p059wmQJVh886ccPK42o2_alSqug5h794bh8JhxXBlqdILFOiF2kmjDtdtaBsXryn7U2mokfbsFA_rPmsRSdG2Qp/s1600/Craft+Fair+28.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bebebold.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=84&Itemid=142" target="_blank">Sashiko patterns and projects from Bebe Bold</a>. Jane MacDonald the owner - who originally hails from Oxford of all places - designs a number of patterns herself.</td></tr>
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Bebe Bold also has quilt kits, smaller patchwork kits, sashiko projects, all the associated sashiko tools and embroidery threads you will need as well as oodles of Japanese crochet loveliness. Ooooh, the Tulip crochet hooks! The fine cotton threads! The fringing possibilities for linen handkerchiefs the world over!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy_KEyiwtNMk9ZlXuywcDYrB0G8FCKWDdfMMFFk2GFvLRHM_YfYOj5oPG2UWa8ZetcRMSbiBFXZFcyPgTjGh_e5bgK-f4PfDDZG44rPKlZ1UDNX-15XoDqOdos4g8LmqzRbvHohtoQJQ-/s1600/Craft+Fair+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTy_KEyiwtNMk9ZlXuywcDYrB0G8FCKWDdfMMFFk2GFvLRHM_YfYOj5oPG2UWa8ZetcRMSbiBFXZFcyPgTjGh_e5bgK-f4PfDDZG44rPKlZ1UDNX-15XoDqOdos4g8LmqzRbvHohtoQJQ-/s1600/Craft+Fair+27.jpg" height="320" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some examples of contemporary Japanese crochet patterns, hooks, yarns and so forth that <a href="http://www.bebebold.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&page=shop.browse&category_id=85&Itemid=142" target="_blank">Bebe Bold</a> had on offer. I am rather taken by the fine edging on the linen hankie...</td></tr>
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Yet for all the Japanese crochet loveliness there weren't as many crochetty, knitty stalls as I had anticipated. It was late autumn when the Fair was on so I had presumed a perfect time for spruiking woolly delights. Nonetheless, the leading light of the woolier textile stalls was Prudence Mapstone of <a href="http://www.knotjustknitting.com/" target="_blank">KnotJustKnitting</a> and her freeform crochet or fibre art.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgURn3K0drtXXPwvZ5hoJCSjhUVeMW7XtFp7ug-EpdP19TmhCbTu1elBAB4pOpcV0beVqaaSt7RtQIssluTd9a8jqkcuGDY69j89nNyCZSgk7eGeitAD4mTw4jGBZYmuY8wjQHOZd-O8Ov/s1600/Craft+Fair+12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgURn3K0drtXXPwvZ5hoJCSjhUVeMW7XtFp7ug-EpdP19TmhCbTu1elBAB4pOpcV0beVqaaSt7RtQIssluTd9a8jqkcuGDY69j89nNyCZSgk7eGeitAD4mTw4jGBZYmuY8wjQHOZd-O8Ov/s1600/Craft+Fair+12.jpg" height="472" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prudence Mapstone of <a href="http://knotjustknitting.com/" target="_blank">KnotJustKnitting</a></td></tr>
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What a joyful concept Prudence's freeform crochet is. Using scraps of yarn of all weights and fibre types the aim is to crochet whatever patches and patterns come to your mind. These deliciously textured samples and motifs - called <i>scumbles</i> - can become pieces of textile art in their own right or brought together to construct functional yet striking clothing and accessories. Prudence's work has a great vivacity and exhilaration in it, born of such a simple yet terrifyingly liberating idea. She's written a <a href="http://www.knotjustknitting.com/books-prudence-mapstone.html" target="_blank">book or two </a>about this freefrom skill if you want to find out a bit more or would like a bit of guidance before you launch out on your own. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYlsQ1lq0wmKArT7bzLTFLbtrPYxiq35xBbnLD5brrC_GZQX2DGd8lADKiZXQo0R3J7VXDa1f1gG-v4nM6MImxOxwt7KEEDBEFppVIXisE19ezHzL0tmmAFrdMWAuTUYGu17Fw7TqylV3/s1600/Craft+Fair+11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYlsQ1lq0wmKArT7bzLTFLbtrPYxiq35xBbnLD5brrC_GZQX2DGd8lADKiZXQo0R3J7VXDa1f1gG-v4nM6MImxOxwt7KEEDBEFppVIXisE19ezHzL0tmmAFrdMWAuTUYGu17Fw7TqylV3/s1600/Craft+Fair+11.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freeform crochet of which there was quite a bit at the <a href="http://knotjustknitting.com/" target="_blank">KnotJustKnitting</a> stand</td></tr>
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So there you have it. My thoughts and ramblings on the Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair 2014.</div>
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But what of my acquisitions? Of course there were such things. What limited will power I have at the best of times is incinerated within microseconds by the nuclear blast of temptation these craft shows provide. It would have been rude not to have bought a quilt kit. So I did. A retro-tastic and simpleish one from the <a href="http://thecraftysquirrel.com.au/" target="_blank">Crafty Squirrel</a> and an accompanying wooden stitch-picker topped by a small doll with which to unpick my almost inevitable stitching balls-ups. Also some Liberty print covered button for the seemingly never-ending <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heathered" target="_blank">Heathered cardigan</a> I am making. Oh, and a divine mohair and merino 2-ply from Touch Yarns - acquired at the <a href="http://wondoflex.com.au/" target="_blank">Wondoflex </a>stall - which will one day become a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/banana-leaf-shawl" target="_blank">Banana Leaf Shawl</a>. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p4icPkJfxQLRc5V7dbYo-Kddgvs7n6jzK9RwI83vwyZa4OotTuFhJIShVxFk2Q1N-Yk_L4dmM2Nrc69CirLDEVKOTLjxXm7spc3Py93OOixN_pk5SlIkAE9uTTijhAf_-AdhpKBGrhKd/s1600/Craft+Fair+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p4icPkJfxQLRc5V7dbYo-Kddgvs7n6jzK9RwI83vwyZa4OotTuFhJIShVxFk2Q1N-Yk_L4dmM2Nrc69CirLDEVKOTLjxXm7spc3Py93OOixN_pk5SlIkAE9uTTijhAf_-AdhpKBGrhKd/s1600/Craft+Fair+1.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My acquisitions. Now to find the time to make the blessed things...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So, all in all, the Craft and Quilt Fair was a pretty decent way to spend a Saturday morning. I'm looking forward to next year already... <br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-51867881038754192432014-08-03T09:29:00.003+01:002014-08-03T09:29:57.798+01:00Free Cakes For Kids, Hackney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbOz9VVI3O9GUZeXOQUdsfr9Ho7UEbvXzOfTS-5enDY9xUQ3fpD0q2z2MhMAs1XikgtdNZAbDvAeVk9qSHRZ3bwTTf5phdac3bfODetQCuWZnsUSpMlUrRIQIdQcH0_irLMOOOrNH4mZJ/s1600/FCFK+-+strawberry+sixteen+cake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbOz9VVI3O9GUZeXOQUdsfr9Ho7UEbvXzOfTS-5enDY9xUQ3fpD0q2z2MhMAs1XikgtdNZAbDvAeVk9qSHRZ3bwTTf5phdac3bfODetQCuWZnsUSpMlUrRIQIdQcH0_irLMOOOrNH4mZJ/s1600/FCFK+-+strawberry+sixteen+cake.jpg" height="640" width="614" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the cakes made by volunteers of <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Welcome, welcome to the final part of the
Make and Cake Tangent here at TWIHM. So, we’ve looked at the fear and thrill
associated with my <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-great-make-and-cake-tangent-at-twihm.html" target="_blank">amateur dabblings for the Cherub’s birthday cake</a>. Next, for contrast, there was a <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/interview-with-franzi-thomczik-pastry.html" target="_blank">chat with professional pastry chef,Franzi Thomczik</a>, that went off on some interesting historical
meanders. There has been <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/franzi-thomcziks-bakewell-tart-recipe.html" target="_blank">Bakewell Tart</a> to accompany proceedings. Now I’m
shuffling along to an organisation called <a href="http://www.freecakesforkids.org.uk/" target="_blank">Free Cakes for Kids</a>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Before anyone goes all <i>Daily Mail </i>and huffy
(“Oh, the obesity amongst the youth of today exacerbated by the immoral, sugar-plying
activities of such groups! ‘Tis the End of Times!!!”) let me note that this is a
charitable organisation whose purpose is to make birthday cakes for children
who would otherwise not have one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Pause and think about it for a moment. No
birthday cake for a child. That’s a pretty huge thing and a desperately
poignant absence for a small person. Or even a big person. Think back to your
birthdays as a child; I’m sure many of you have some decent and joyful memories
of parties, presents and cakes. Oh, the cakes. Often the ones carefully crafted
by mothers, fathers,
grandmothers and so forth are the most memorable. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Why so memorable? Particularly those that
may have been a bit wobbly about the edges? Homespun, if you will? Probably
because the aforementioned familial maker of the cake loved and cared about –
and hopefully still does - the birthday child. Also the makers had the
time, the kitchen and enough extra money to bake the cake. Seemingly basic
elements that many take for granted.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Whereas Free Cakes for
Kids helps children who just don’t have some, many or all of those elements that make for a
stable family life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">I had a chat with Tessa Lidstone, chum and
press officer of <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a> in London, which provides birthday cakes for some very
vulnerable children. Hackney suffers pretty acute levels of poverty. In
2012 Hackney South and Shoreditch came 14<sup>th</sup> in nationwide a list of
child poverty by parliamentary constituency (37% of children) and 20<sup>th</sup>
in the rankings of by local authority (30% of children). If you think I’m
indulging in hyperbole here’s that <a href="http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/poverty-in-your-area">the
reference</a> as well as <a href="http://www.hackney.gov.uk/Assets/Documents/Reduce-Child-Poverty-and-improve-Family-Well-being.pdf">Hackney’s
2013 <i>State of the Borough’s Report on Child Poverty and Family Well-being</i></a>.
The latter states that, although the borough’s child poverty has been
decreasing year on year since 2007, it still comes in at number 3 for child
poverty amongst all the boroughs of London. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">However, as Tessa notes, “It’s not just
financial difficulties but also circumstance that mean a child won’t get a cake
from their family. For example mothers in domestic violence shelters might not
have access to kitchens or just don’t feel up to baking.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So there are a great number of children in
the area who could do with the treat of a birthday cake. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“What works about the organisation is that
it is a very simple idea.” says Tessa. “It’s matching up people who love baking
with children who don’t have cakes.” Volunteer bakers sign up and offer to bake
cakes in their own homes. The FCFK committee receives a request for a cake and
then sends out an email to see who is ready, willing and able to do it. Turn
around times are pretty quick but then, so it seems, are the responses of
volunteers: “[These] email requests get snapped up so quickly that<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I</i> am sometimes hard pressed to make a
cake." laughs Tessa "It’s a common complaint amongst the volunteers. But what’s amazing is
that these requests aren’t lingering.”</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b5btSABJ9VL_JfawWZ83lg-43-8ucIuO4cEAhul1NSvq20df9WMOvX1fpm45He4Fc5Ak4_HiLLXvKxgtRA6gyAZNg3ISzurNEKtS-6GvNfTi1d3CKU30TFUyR_9d0jZ2jpS3wvny-Val/s1600/FCFK+-+cake+event+-+laughing+team.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1b5btSABJ9VL_JfawWZ83lg-43-8ucIuO4cEAhul1NSvq20df9WMOvX1fpm45He4Fc5Ak4_HiLLXvKxgtRA6gyAZNg3ISzurNEKtS-6GvNfTi1d3CKU30TFUyR_9d0jZ2jpS3wvny-Val/s1600/FCFK+-+cake+event+-+laughing+team.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Members of the <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a> Committee, with Tessa Lidstone on the far left.</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But just how do these requests make it to
FCFK, never mind to the volunteers to then result into some pretty smashing
looking cakes?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“We advertise ourselves as a confidential
service.” says Tessa. What follows are requests and referrals from a number of
institutions, groups and individuals such as schools, childcare centres, domestic
violence refuges, the Red Cross or social workers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“Once an organisation has done one referral
they find it so easy that they do a lot. We try and find someone who will be
the advocate for the family and child, such as a social worker or family
support worker.” This advocate is important. Once the cake is made the baker arranges to meet them at a neutral place to hand the cake over. “The baker
will very, very rarely come into contact with the child or even the parent. We
just make cakes and don’t want to go beyond that with a baker getting involved
in a situation or (unintentionally) causing a family to feel in debt. Families
don’t want people to know about their situation.” Hence FCFK’s emphasis on
confidentiality.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwH71AQ02safu5BilUXvuyV9WrAyg718vPJlQLqtPGOJ3XTNZ5Tbchiwn4vIjsnviy6_uM3X98f1XpUrQNFOARRX70jdCBeDNQyWFcBlfk7Hv5PQjSpJqAqXVuoSE-eGW3G-3GyebmSHA/s1600/FCFK+-+buttercream+transfer.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwH71AQ02safu5BilUXvuyV9WrAyg718vPJlQLqtPGOJ3XTNZ5Tbchiwn4vIjsnviy6_uM3X98f1XpUrQNFOARRX70jdCBeDNQyWFcBlfk7Hv5PQjSpJqAqXVuoSE-eGW3G-3GyebmSHA/s1600/FCFK+-+buttercream+transfer.jpeg" height="640" width="626" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A <a href="http://www.peppapig.com/" target="_blank">Peppa Pig</a>-themed
confection with young George clutching his dinosaur. Oh, the knowledge I
have gained of popular children's culture since becoming a mother. For
the non-parents reading this, click on the link. I dare you...</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Yet once the cake arrives, be it at school,
the childcare centre or even at home “… that child for that day is the special
one.” Tessa observes. “It’s not just about the cake but it’s about how much
fuss people make of the child. As a child it does matter if everyone ignores
your birthday.” It doesn’t take much to imagine what all that lovely fuss and
attention does for a child living in otherwise difficult circumstances.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So does the child ever find out who made
their birthday cake? Who helped create the fuss?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“It’s up to the advocates and families but
I am sure that they do say it’s from this mad group of bakers who like making
cakes for people they don’t know!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Which leads on to the question, what’s the
appeal of baking for a stranger? Why not buy a cake from a shop?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">“It’s a tangible way of seeing where your
donation to your community is going. You know specifically that a child in your
area has a birthday cake because of what <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">you</i>
have done. It’s not £5 that’s gone to pay for a big charity's admin costs but it
is a specific thing.” says Tessa. “Also, those with children know how important
it is for the children to have cakes. Other bakers remember cakes that they
have had. Some had tough upbringings and didn’t have cakes. [For my family]
birthdays were always special occasions and my mum would go all out. It was a
home made cake, not a professional one or made at Tesco. The child may be too
young to realize the significance but the volunteers do.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">But in this world there’s cake, as in the
swiftly cobbled together lemon madeira or muffin variety, and then there CAKE,
elaborate and carefully crafted confections that bring extreme pleasure to both
makers and recipients. The creations of <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a> certainly fall into the
latter category. But how does the volunteer find out what themes, colours or flavours
a child likes? </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspsmqT8-6_Aw8z_1UyEgSFFolijC2sQDP94sR8p8ZW8MkLf9xudueBZBOrSPRPXXqTlbFDZgzJTd_-ENltdL3bKqUZefS0QtVvKxG0pVXM7lQ2QjipQGUj1y4ZPyGE7ULC-zBbNrSOB3S/s1600/FCFK+-+dreams+cake+rainbow+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspsmqT8-6_Aw8z_1UyEgSFFolijC2sQDP94sR8p8ZW8MkLf9xudueBZBOrSPRPXXqTlbFDZgzJTd_-ENltdL3bKqUZefS0QtVvKxG0pVXM7lQ2QjipQGUj1y4ZPyGE7ULC-zBbNrSOB3S/s1600/FCFK+-+dreams+cake+rainbow+2.jpg" height="372" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rainbow cake with an ingenious construction of cumulus clouds from marshmallows. Who wouldn't be happy with that?</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hooray for the referral form: “In it
there’s a question about what the child likes.” Sponge or chocolate cake are the standard base with lashings of butter cream whipped into some sort
of fantastical marvelousness inspired by themes. “That could be a favorite
colour. Parents’ will note the child’s preferences, maybe ask for birthday
numbers or the child’s name. Princesses or ‘something girly’ are recurring
themes. But our bakers are not creatively restricted. We are lucky that some of
our bakers go all out so they love working with the theme and they like a
challenge. It grabs our baker’s imaginations.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">So there’s a creative outlet for the bakers
and the chance to develop some skills with every baking challenge. FCFK Hackney
also offer the volunteers a baking master class just before Christmas as a
chance to enhance their talents. But there’s also a bit more to it, as Tessa
explains “We do the master classes as it can get quite lonely being part of an
organisation where you don’t meet so many people. You get an email, make a
cake, drop it off. We do social events so bakers can meet other bakers and
learn the reasons why other people are involved.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74TSM4LEf7DNUQcH5vQILjYj7oZW7qtEiBGrtL-UX5nUPNERq7M03td7gCDm9pHIauMJdck1CMoXb_RHlNtKugb8Pt-MOuzyl3F_4ZqIrxaTbgi3jPRrjs4cm3xNwHj9cno-uEf5K5zaa/s1600/FCFK+-+christmas+group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74TSM4LEf7DNUQcH5vQILjYj7oZW7qtEiBGrtL-UX5nUPNERq7M03td7gCDm9pHIauMJdck1CMoXb_RHlNtKugb8Pt-MOuzyl3F_4ZqIrxaTbgi3jPRrjs4cm3xNwHj9cno-uEf5K5zaa/s1600/FCFK+-+christmas+group.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volunteers at the <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a>'s Christmas baking masterclass. </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s not just the bakers themselves benefiting
from such classes. <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a> started arranging baking workshops with some of
the referring organisations, creating opportunities for parents, children and
referrers to all make and bake together. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">There isn’t a formal feedback process from
cake recipients to cake bakers. Yet it’s in heartwarming spaces like the workshops,
spaces where communities gather to enjoy together the simple act of making,
that <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a> are told just how much their cakes are appreciated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAmvArPMsLmPFY-1WnoI5DfgwQTaaSc6fBQ9lGFvFWQwkUuRKoGZWXirU4a1z8Pu-K_qnVXAjxww3qt1sickykXd493rltTcA30zF33xm3o1io5hTDhiUzoz9j1rpviIjWq9nDAOP7Erd/s1600/FCFK+-+workshop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAmvArPMsLmPFY-1WnoI5DfgwQTaaSc6fBQ9lGFvFWQwkUuRKoGZWXirU4a1z8Pu-K_qnVXAjxww3qt1sickykXd493rltTcA30zF33xm3o1io5hTDhiUzoz9j1rpviIjWq9nDAOP7Erd/s1600/FCFK+-+workshop.jpg" height="484" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a>'s baking workshops held in the community.</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s a special
thing this whole making and baking malarkey. I can see a PhD needs writing
about the power of buttercream as a social bond. As I’ve noted before,
ephemeral as these cakes may be, the sheer pleasure the bakers find in making
them and the joy the recipients have in receiving them is the stuff of which
memories and strong communities are made.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">And in these difficult times we need as much
of that pleasure, joy and hope as we can get.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiQtgFRaw564sA1kKf-vWL32vrtDTx9D0sG8e1qKHkgcghmAi2rqSaMe6eTGoL1CPU7bwrGDOYBLKGbj2sSdEsQJlGyQsi9_D24cu8_7UnCvXNRbZQbfJzffxgaoYFxNdWat60UrQXprb/s1600/FCFK+-+smiling+kids+with+bowl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiQtgFRaw564sA1kKf-vWL32vrtDTx9D0sG8e1qKHkgcghmAi2rqSaMe6eTGoL1CPU7bwrGDOYBLKGbj2sSdEsQJlGyQsi9_D24cu8_7UnCvXNRbZQbfJzffxgaoYFxNdWat60UrQXprb/s1600/FCFK+-+smiling+kids+with+bowl.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think the smiles in this picture sum it all up, don't you? </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">(Images: <a href="http://freecakesforkidshackney.com/" target="_blank">FCFK Hackney</a>) </span></div>
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Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-58049635789947100312014-07-04T10:29:00.000+01:002014-07-04T10:29:01.975+01:00The Bakewell Tart Recipe by Franzi Thomczik of the E5 Bakehouse<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmvvP2UsZPNnl8jjsqVLdvcg9PnPaW3nFCgMVmJjVftkRX6wIhvzvbyYZvXHRHBJeWs70ANAGSJzbUNrwsOunHeFBjoCUZg6GNX6SPQohPeUcCpolTYhJ_dcbOjjgpTP4G8dn9ZZYcGa7/s1600/Bakewell+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmvvP2UsZPNnl8jjsqVLdvcg9PnPaW3nFCgMVmJjVftkRX6wIhvzvbyYZvXHRHBJeWs70ANAGSJzbUNrwsOunHeFBjoCUZg6GNX6SPQohPeUcCpolTYhJ_dcbOjjgpTP4G8dn9ZZYcGa7/s1600/Bakewell+1.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake and Crochet. An alliterative juxtaposition emphasising how flippin' fantastic it is to make a couple of granny squares whilst enjoying a Bakewell Tart. Multitasking at its best.</td></tr>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After all that
<a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/interview-with-franzi-thomczik-pastry.html" target="_blank">talk of cake with pastry chef Franzi Thomczik of the E5 Bakehouse</a>, it was only
good, proper and right that there be some sort of complementary recipe.
Thankfully, Franzi came up trumps and offered a titan of the afternoon tea
scene. Cue….</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakewell_tart"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span lang="EN-US">Bakewell Tart</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A perfect
amalgam of tradition, jam and almondy lusciousness in tart form. Small wonder
this is a favourite amongst the pastry selection at the <a href="http://e5bakehouse.com/" target="_blank">E5 Bakehouse</a>. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The cleverness
of this recipe lies in its construction of various good things that can be used
in their own right (raspberry jam) or form the basis for other sweet delights
(shortcrust pastry and frangipane). In addition, you can prepare each element
at different stages and bring them altogether in their Bakewell Tart
magnificence at a time that suits you. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Clearly this
recipe has its origins a moment of culinary panic, when the in-laws were visiting
at relatively short notice. They needed to be impressed and shortcrust
pastry, frangipane and jam were the only ingredients one had to hand. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopefully,
you’ll be a bit better organised than the mythical first maker of the Bakewell
Tart. Franzi’s recipe is enough for 17 small tarts plus a few lemon
butter biscuity things. A delightful bonus.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u><b>Raspberry
Jam</b></u><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">500g fresh or
frozen Raspberries</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">250g caster sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2 tablespoons
lemon juice</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pile up the
sugar and raspberries in a preserving pan or large saucepan. Don’t forget to
add the lemon juice! That would be disastrous.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Place on a
gentle heat and keep at a simmer – stirring occasionally - until the fruit has
softened and all the sugar has dissolved. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Once everything is
squishy and there’s nary a hint of sugar bring it to the boiling point and boil
rapidly. Keep this up for 10 to 15 minutes or until you reach the setting
point.*</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Take the pan off the stovetop and give the jam a chance to settle for a few
minutes. Decant into hot, sterilized jars (TIP: place a metal tea spoon in the
jar before you put the hot jam in to prevent the glass from breaking) then
seal.</span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The jam will keep for
6 months.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Alternatively
you could use <b>700g of a good quality, shop-bought jam</b>. And <i>sotto voce</i> it doesn’t
necessarily need to be raspberry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
make sure it’s a flippin’ awesome jam. You wouldn’t want to undermine all that
hard work on the shortcrust pastry and frangipane with underwhelming jam.
That would be a travesty of minor proportions.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCD7JxtadRcB2a1EW93qO_vlMLue5mQ2VG531q7oHLgrm7oE0PYrDJ6Kh83_cgErMvYZDJf6RL0knvX2uF88eT726C2woB6hAKB_Ax8u9vZT93l5MYX4Y9MpBIYUgy-2T13vhyphenhyphen5YcEbrt/s1600/GH9A2618E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKCD7JxtadRcB2a1EW93qO_vlMLue5mQ2VG531q7oHLgrm7oE0PYrDJ6Kh83_cgErMvYZDJf6RL0knvX2uF88eT726C2woB6hAKB_Ax8u9vZT93l5MYX4Y9MpBIYUgy-2T13vhyphenhyphen5YcEbrt/s1600/GH9A2618E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piping the jam
into the shortcrust pastry but for the sake of washing up the piping
bag more than once, a tablespoon will do the job at this juncture.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Shortcrust
pastry</span></span></b></u><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></b></u>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">250g butter</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">375g flour</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 tsp salt</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">110g icing
sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1 medium egg</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">zest of 1 lemon</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Put all
ingredients - except the egg- in a bowl and rub between your fingertips until
a crumbly texture forms. Beat the egg then add it to the crumbs and work
through until a dough forms. Once it comes together stop working it, otherwise
it will become tough rather than light and crumbly after baking<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wrap it in
cling film and chill in the fridge for at least an hour. This will make enough
pastry for the base of 17 tarts plus extra left over with which you could make
some simple lemon butter biscuits. My, how the in-laws will be thrilled…</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><u><b>Frangipane</b></u> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">150g butter,
softened</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">150g caster
sugar</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">150g ground
almonds</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3 medium eggs</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">45g sifted
flour</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">1/2 tsp vanilla
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">extract</b></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">30g rum</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">pinch of salt </span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Beat
the butter, sugar, vanilla and salt together until pale and fluffy on medium
speed. If you are using a Kenwood or Kitchenaid, use the paddle attachment. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
a separate bowl beat the eggs with a whisk and gradually add the eggs whilst the
mixer is still running. Scrape down the bowl in between additions and make sure
the eggs are well incorporated into the butter at each stage (this helps
prevent the batter from splitting).</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Add the flour and almonds, mixing minimally, and finally the rum.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
Allow the mix to rest in the fridge for 30m before using and then bring out and
leave for another 30 minutes before piping. It can be a bit stiff to force
through the piping bag otherwise.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
The frangipane can be kept for up to a week in a sealed container in the
fridge. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-LCv5pxevNEFggk2TsoVnKATiLQC7od1BstP7BDCckW5fm1sIfBvWtNnU8BICAd4hxjuE1ACjHW5uSkjhIH_oEO4VwPoAIyLDaB7lvbwCBOe8kncI4C9FPlxG5Fdx-5mkZgtkaRGhMYR/s1600/GH9A2629E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC-LCv5pxevNEFggk2TsoVnKATiLQC7od1BstP7BDCckW5fm1sIfBvWtNnU8BICAd4hxjuE1ACjHW5uSkjhIH_oEO4VwPoAIyLDaB7lvbwCBOe8kncI4C9FPlxG5Fdx-5mkZgtkaRGhMYR/s1600/GH9A2629E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Franzi piping the frangipane atop the jam. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><u><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To construct
the Bakewell Tarts</span></span></b></u>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preheat the
oven to <span style="color: black;">170˚c.</span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roll
out the shortcrust pastry on a floured surface until it is about 2.5mm thick.
Cut out circles using an 88 mm pastry cutter. Remember, you’ll have a bit more pastry
than for 17 tarts so use the rest for some elegant biscuits.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Place
the circles in muffin trays and fill each pastry cup with 1 tablespoon of jam.
Pipe each tart with frangipane and sprinkle the flaked almonds on top. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Bake
for 25 minutes, turning half way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allow
to cool before removing from the muffin tray.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To
accompany tea, company and – for a true appreciation of the Bakewell’s
ambrosial properties – knitting.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enjoy.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">*<b>WAIT! What’s the
“Setting Point"?</b></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the moment
when the jam is ready to go into jars. You can check this moment by one of two
ways. First is with a sugar thermometer, clipped onto the side of the pan. The
bottom end must not touch the pan’s bottom otherwise you’ll get a dodgy
temperature reading. Not what you want. When the jam is in the throes of a
rolling boil, the thermometer will register 105˚c. The second, old-school Nana
way to check is (appropriately) called the “wrinkle test”. Put two teaspoons of
jam onto a cold saucer. Leave it alone to cool off for a couple of minutes.
Then gently push the jam with a finger. If it wrinkles, setting point is
reached, you’re done.</span></span><div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">(Images:
Zoë F. Willis, <a href="http://e5bakehouse.com/" target="_blank">E5 Bakehouse</a>)</span></span></div>
Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-90105364910924519562014-06-27T11:39:00.000+01:002014-06-30T11:53:52.992+01:00Interview with Franzi Thomczik, Pastry Chef of the E5 Bakehouse<style>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmrkZgtJ3cWoH174-Yj9-7WK6NuUf81JmUxCB_Y7rUVy8cE47ADpXoJZfkR_25Feu0Zl1NlqS8gCAgb51jNafphKcJGQDQkaAL_cXghyTvdWMnvFPnzKEJERXTgSqMNg71YT_2Uy5mdz9/s1600/GH9A2190E5Bakehouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsmrkZgtJ3cWoH174-Yj9-7WK6NuUf81JmUxCB_Y7rUVy8cE47ADpXoJZfkR_25Feu0Zl1NlqS8gCAgb51jNafphKcJGQDQkaAL_cXghyTvdWMnvFPnzKEJERXTgSqMNg71YT_2Uy5mdz9/s1600/GH9A2190E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Franzi Thomczik, pastry chef of the <a href="http://e5bakehouse.com/" target="_blank">E5 Bakehouse</a></span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">I’m continuing along the Make and Cake
Tangent here at TWIHM. After recent efforts or “dabblings” with sugar craft for
<a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/the-great-make-and-cake-tangent-at-twihm.html" target="_blank">the Cherub’s birthday</a>, we are moving up a notch or two; an interview with a <i>bona fide</i> pastry chef. Franzi Thomczik
is creator of cakes at the <a href="http://e5bakehouse.com/">E5 Bakehouse</a>
in Hackney, an establishment famed for its sourdough bread but also a
purveyor of cinnamon buns, opera cakes and salted caramel & chocolate tarts
beyond compare. <a href="https://twitter.com/Nigella_Lawson/status/399122163963158528">Even
Nigella</a> has sent her blessings from Twitter heaven upon the latter. And the
day I had the chance to be a guinea pig for a prototype, inhouse version of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnock%27s#Tea_Cakes" target="_blank">Tea Cake</a> – Oh, the dark
chocolate. Oh, the mallow. Oh! The berry jam! - will go down
in my personal history as a Significant Life Moment. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiT705UQsJPBRKE3XA-X_KfumN4QyqnJCp7Jz2VEwRRjnGhzFqTCU9hWXMsN37NGtbj4iBwj3kd8dG9C2gu4WS6Gc5Ih52t8PtvaWsShY87XD8531rU2BSlAq6ZtGW1pEnbEpWEo6mZ_2/s1600/GH9A2134E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiT705UQsJPBRKE3XA-X_KfumN4QyqnJCp7Jz2VEwRRjnGhzFqTCU9hWXMsN37NGtbj4iBwj3kd8dG9C2gu4WS6Gc5Ih52t8PtvaWsShY87XD8531rU2BSlAq6ZtGW1pEnbEpWEo6mZ_2/s1600/GH9A2134E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cinnamon buns. A little known but very effective cure for writer's block.</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Franzi hails from Berlin where she trained
as a Konditor. This is somewhat more than a mere baker of cakes. The emphasis
for a Konditor is on cakes’ decoration and artistic presentation. We’re talking about a profession with a fair wodge of history behind it. The trade’s origins
kick off around the 12<sup>th</sup> century with the introduction of sugar from
the Middle East, exciting, moldable and edible stuff like marzipan (thank you
Medieval Venetians for both of those) and candied fruit for sweet breads. Oh,
and it seems convents, abbeys and other religious institutions played an
important part in the development of decorative, cakey deliciousness to
coincide with religious feast days. There was a big emphasis on almonds and
honey in various forms of tart. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">For those who fancy practicing their rusty German, there's a potted history on the German Konditor Guild's (Yes! They have a guild and have done since the 16</span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><sup>th</sup></span></span></span> century) website, <a href="http://www.konditoren.de/presse/historie.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Right, dragging myself from the fascinating
medieval history – be still, my beating heart – back to a very contemporary London
where Franzi moved to. There she worked at <a href="http://www.peggyporschen.com/">Peggy Porschen</a>, the bespoke and very
chic cake maker in Belgravia, where she learnt many an additional whizzy thing
about decoration and sugar craft. However, a bread internship at the E5
Bakehouse resulted in a job offer and Franzi headed East, away from society
wedding cakes to create her own pastry section. Franzi very generously sat down
with me and we had a marvellous chat about cakes, baking and a few tips of the
trade.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD146__U4GdigyrSRFTFnpJqpnx25hNB5V94bEsB0SciWvvg-iMa3VLpzrd4uecuqd8QW8JMXbbqt8vO3_H5eA4SoienS1Cn4VC0M_QGLSTK5Yx5B2Gnn9Dtt9xamuq1hxadKwXClAGeg/s1600/GH9A2196E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD146__U4GdigyrSRFTFnpJqpnx25hNB5V94bEsB0SciWvvg-iMa3VLpzrd4uecuqd8QW8JMXbbqt8vO3_H5eA4SoienS1Cn4VC0M_QGLSTK5Yx5B2Gnn9Dtt9xamuq1hxadKwXClAGeg/s1600/GH9A2196E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cake. That is all. </i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">At first Franzi’s move East was an
interesting one. “</span><span lang="EN-US">It took time to get established here at
the Bakehouse. The tastes are so different here to West London.” But by
observing customers, responding to their requests and excitement about new
cakes Franzi soon had a very strong pastry selection. Support and creativity
also flowed from her colleagues, both bread bakers and other pastry chefs who later joined the Bakehouse. “There are so many people from all over the
world here at the Bakehouse; the variety is fantastic. I could travel the world
but everyone’s ideas are all together here.”</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Ah, there’s that theme again of international
networks influencing cakes. Curiously, these influences are sometimes unknown
to keen consumers of cake. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_brownie" target="_blank">Brownies</a> and <a href="http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpies.html#lemonmeringuepie" target="_blank">lemon meringue pie </a>are amongst the most
popular requests but so part of the baking mainstream have these
imports - hailing in their current form from America - become that they are considered English classics. In fact, “you tend to
get a lot of muscovado and treacle in classic British cakes, more nutmeg,
ginger and cardammon. It’s spicier here than in Germany where we use much more
cinnamon and cloves”.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">On another sweeping historical tangent
here I wonder if </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://past.oxfordjournals.org/content/198/1/71.short">EMPIRE</a></span><span lang="EN-US"> might have something to do with the distinctive flavours of
British versus German cakes. All that muscovado and treacle hailed from the
Caribbean sugar plantations (British). Meanwhile nutmeg, ginger and cardamom
came from – respectively – Indonesia (granted, this was a Dutch territory but
the British had Malaysia. Close enough), South China before cultivated in West
Africa and the Caribbean (British trade connections with the former and
colonies in the latter two) and India (</span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_India_Company">East India Company</a></span><span lang="EN-US">, anyone?). However, Germany was an uncomfortable mélange of independent
kingdoms, dukedoms, princedoms before concentrating on becoming a united German
Federation </span><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2803">during
the 19<sup>th</sup> century</a></span><span lang="EN-US">. There’s not too
much time for empire-building and exotic spice cultivation in those sort of circumstances. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Hence cloves in German baking. Cinammon. And butter. And
cream. And other delicious ingredients that are traditional.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s fascinating how themes like tradition and nostalgia do
play a significant role in cakes. “Yes”, says Franzi “It’s often what drives
customers’ requests. I have free rein to try new things at the Bakehouse but
you can’t reinvent everything. There is a reason you have classic cakes, like
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eccles_cake" target="_blank">Eccles cake</a>. It’s great to keep these traditional things more traditional”.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Yj0hhE43olvVSeNcOI03gy19q0fRLSO8NCJD-0A28jNNjU6Dscg0c8MjNJIgx3v8IVaRHcMUQwbzWCdMpJ5hS7yhbkVwrowwDY_vIULfLtzXQzTLQ5ap0JTwS4fwf_GmjCDDhzezHShh/s1600/GH9A2323E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Yj0hhE43olvVSeNcOI03gy19q0fRLSO8NCJD-0A28jNNjU6Dscg0c8MjNJIgx3v8IVaRHcMUQwbzWCdMpJ5hS7yhbkVwrowwDY_vIULfLtzXQzTLQ5ap0JTwS4fwf_GmjCDDhzezHShh/s1600/GH9A2323E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Franzi replenishing the pastry selection. This is always a happy moment for customers</i>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">These traditional recipes were often
created in response to the seasonality of ingredients. Seasonality,
sustainability and local provenance are key elements of the E5 Bakehouse’s
ethos so it’s all rather complementary. Once Franzi sees what’s available from
suppliers, she can plan and experiment with her pending pastry selection. In
essence, “summer is a time for refreshing flavours whilst winter is the
chocolate and nutty season with quite a bit of dried fruit.” Spring is tough
though: “People have had too much rhubarb and are over apples and pears!”</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">Ingredients have an important impact on
the freshness and longevity of a cake. The more butter and sugar in a recipe –
essentially many 'wintery' cakes like brownies, pecan pie, ginger cake – the
longer it needs to sit. The flavour needs to develop.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">However, “you must eat anything with
fruit as soon as possible and the same goes for cheese cake.” French
patissier-style cakes also fall into this category. “Choux pastry needs to be
eaten quickly as it soaks up all the moisture from the cream”.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">So there are some useful eating tips –
always gratefully received – but what about making tips? Could a mere mortal
with lashings of enthusiasm rather than years of professional training attempt
a few tricks of the trade? Of course we can. Franzi notes that “silicon molds
are really useful for making beautiful structures out of mousses and creams.
The molds are also great for freezing and baking.” If you are trying some
fruitier numbers “boil up some apricot with a bit of water and then strain it.
Use it to paint the fruit and give them a glaze”. For those of the
waste-not-want-not school of thought, “boil up apple peel and cores in water
with caster sugar for an hour. Strain it and leave it cool. Heat it up again.
The high pectin means you can use it to glaze cakes like Hot Cross Buns.”</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">But amongst the seemingly infinite panoply
of cakes available to Franzi, which are her favourite? “To make, it’s the Opera
Cake. It’s an elaborate one with butter cream and a lovely joconde all
in layers. I love making mousses and choux pastry as they create the challenge of
timing and precision. It’s the satisfaction of making something, knowing it’s
not something everyone can do.”</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTlgLLTJPcjKV5SmRq_SR2537oSwiA9DBuJetl7mwAnISq_yKD7kMZd-K168Tob2wd7vF-bXiJtIX9zcJLo42Yk0JLnJjIZyjn3aV4cY15Hn5xPOQ4leQn52X3kqh9gzo-TP0B-UBozRZ/s1600/GH9A3331E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTlgLLTJPcjKV5SmRq_SR2537oSwiA9DBuJetl7mwAnISq_yKD7kMZd-K168Tob2wd7vF-bXiJtIX9zcJLo42Yk0JLnJjIZyjn3aV4cY15Hn5xPOQ4leQn52X3kqh9gzo-TP0B-UBozRZ/s1600/GH9A3331E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><i>Preparing brownies. Who gets to lick the bowl? Actually, is that even allowed?!</i></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">It’s a funny old thing that craft and cake tend
to go hand in hand. Making things in a group as well as eating things in a
group are important glues that bind families, friends, generations and
communities together. The interesting contrast is that there is so much
passion, creativity and excitement in both say, knitting and baking a cake, yet
you’re left with a tangible relic from crafting. For years you could end up
wearing the jumper you made. I mean, archaeologists recently found two pairs of
<a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn25659-3000yearold-trousers-were-cut-like-justin-biebers.html#.U5beTi_vNAk">3,000
year-old woolen trousers</a>. </span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">There’s longevity for you.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">By contrast there is an ephemerality to
baking, beautiful and delicious constructions that bring so much pleasure to
the moment but are soon gone. Oddly though, it’s those ephemeral experiences
that can be the most intense in our memories (Exhibit A: Indecent Tea Cake
Prototype). A whiff of cinnamon or the taste of Crème Chantilly can transport
you back to a past event or place with a rich immediacy that is breathtaking.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">But it’s the process of making in both
crafting and baking that bring so much pleasure and creative joy. </span></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">And imagine having the privilege of making
and enjoying that creativity every day. To my mind, Franzi falls into the same
category as freelance knitters, indie yarn dyers and knitwear designers. They
all have that privilege. To quote Franzi, “I’ve got the dream job. I am an
absolute cake addict and when not at work, I enjoy eating cake. I pretend it’s
for professional reasons but really, it’s because I love cake”.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN03qQu6td9jFwcuzR9DWxNPRw5v5myke2YPckyAA1d-m8T4PPvS9WdLIYFAyI0bnsz7wY_GqNwX-hpQbJs2rZH_KEcMOwU7-aToLmeI_7Ccnq5X1bZW4WYnZVLb0DQtOHzj7XZO8Rhtk/s1600/GH9A2191E5Bakehouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxN03qQu6td9jFwcuzR9DWxNPRw5v5myke2YPckyAA1d-m8T4PPvS9WdLIYFAyI0bnsz7wY_GqNwX-hpQbJs2rZH_KEcMOwU7-aToLmeI_7Ccnq5X1bZW4WYnZVLb0DQtOHzj7XZO8Rhtk/s1600/GH9A2191E5Bakehouse.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Happiness is... a day job doing what you love. Bonus if that involves making cake.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">With many thanks to Franzi for her time and
generosity with this interview.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US">(Images: <a href="http://e5bakehouse.com/" target="_blank">E5 Bakehouse</a>)</span></span></span></div>
Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-35601343628894514822014-06-20T09:59:00.002+01:002014-06-20T09:59:34.070+01:00The Great Make and Cake Tangent at TWIHM<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfMU4ElcS_aNjB_vzp-SvbdmTV-qba4ZUO11_xww8dqHnC-I8MsdtZCKbt4pMSKaqKirTTx4W5cTH6aNzlMbViwq1LYcGEGCF5ySyJvr1zqSMWFEr5PuXIKQyd0yVW44j3pyoT8J2zhOY/s1600/tangent+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfMU4ElcS_aNjB_vzp-SvbdmTV-qba4ZUO11_xww8dqHnC-I8MsdtZCKbt4pMSKaqKirTTx4W5cTH6aNzlMbViwq1LYcGEGCF5ySyJvr1zqSMWFEr5PuXIKQyd0yVW44j3pyoT8J2zhOY/s1600/tangent+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let there be cake! To accompany the craft of course...</td></tr>
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The title is a bit of a giveaway. Yep, I'm going off piste here at TWIHM for a few posts and writing about a topic dear to the hearts of many a crafter, nay, many a human blessed / afflicted (delete where applicable) with a sweet tooth:<br />
<br />
CAKE.<br />
<br />
The story begins a few weeks ago when I unpacked a box of Ladybird books for the Cherub. A box that had been sitting in the familial attic for a couple of decades since I was of more cherubic maturity and stature myself. Amongst the literary delights of <i>On the Farm</i> and <i>Bunnikins has a Party </i>was this gem of a cook book.<br />
<br />
<i>Making and Decorating Cakes</i>.<br />
<br />
Ooooh, the nostalgia. Look at these baked beauties. All of the recipes seem to involve margerine. The food styling is very much of its time, replete with geometric kitchen tiles in dubious earthy hues.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl9E8EJvO7WY35kAwmp6ZEFmStwwZzgBQC2STljeUVF0ZypGxpWKaGpEg0LlZdpMj3mBqrkrf6epz8h9zOodVcAlof9d4p2pXPGxQtC2DXXvW9L8vUT4z_PRPxpE4Arb3lPy2l6i_Fs4s/s1600/tangent+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTl9E8EJvO7WY35kAwmp6ZEFmStwwZzgBQC2STljeUVF0ZypGxpWKaGpEg0LlZdpMj3mBqrkrf6epz8h9zOodVcAlof9d4p2pXPGxQtC2DXXvW9L8vUT4z_PRPxpE4Arb3lPy2l6i_Fs4s/s1600/tangent+2.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much piping. So much margerine. Lots of earthy-hued kitchen surfaces that mean you can't see the worst food stains.</td></tr>
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However, amongst the baked delights the Cherub pointed to this little number:<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcC7rzpfRztR-xgAIAaFVj0FyVT3PUbCYcMtq7CNIiWbAInZR4S3gJZMIGiROjs8-s85DZvfGpfx0ZxI3LBLNN2tB-4gq4IY3JbKKOrSJerlRXH2twtXRlfMDroknhtArTXKJcOqERwgs/s1600/tangent+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcC7rzpfRztR-xgAIAaFVj0FyVT3PUbCYcMtq7CNIiWbAInZR4S3gJZMIGiROjs8-s85DZvfGpfx0ZxI3LBLNN2tB-4gq4IY3JbKKOrSJerlRXH2twtXRlfMDroknhtArTXKJcOqERwgs/s1600/tangent+3.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As one friend pointed out, "At least it's a cake that looks like a cake rather than some sort of cartoon character or gravity defying architectural structure." Indeed.</td></tr>
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And declared that this, and only this cake, this thing of beauty, would do for her pending birthday party.<br />
<br />
"Oh crumbs" I thought (aptly). "There's a lot of piping on there. I spy sugar-crafted flowers. And what on earth is Royal Icing? That sounds scarily grand."<br />
<br />
Reading the instructions this cake demanded a couple of weeks of work from start to finish as each stage needed to sit before startins the next. A bit like knitting a cardigan really. But stickier. So the cake base itself had to mature a day or two before you could paste on the apricot jam and the marzipan layer. Leave it to settle and in a week or so's time it was ready for the application of Royal Icing and piping. Again, it needed to recover for a couple of days before placing the ribbon and finally serving.<br />
<br />
As a home baker, I'm pretty au fait with cakes. Like many a woman of my generation I have Nigella's <a href="http://www.nigella.com/books/view/how-to-be-a-domestic-goddess-12" target="_blank"><i>How to be a Domestic Goddess</i></a> on the shelf. For the Australian version but with less corsetry, there is <a href="http://www.donnahay.com.au/" target="_blank">Donna Hay</a>. I can make squidgy cakes, biscuits and slices that taste pretty good. We won't mention the lemon cheesecake that I may have added bicarb of soda to instead of cornflour and wondered why everything curdled.<br />
<br />
But presentation is not really something that these tomes emphasise. It seems you can hide a multitude of aesthetic sins with a lavish sprinkle of icing sugar or smother the thing in chocolate sauce. <br />
<br />
Job done. It's not a work of art. It's an edible indulgence that probably won't last the next half hour. Never mind two weeks to make from go to woe.<br />
<br />
What is quite amazing about this Ladybird book circa 1977 is the simple expectation that children of that era aged about 10 or so could manage some impressively elaborate cakes and their decoration. It's interesting to note that cook books aimed at adults today don't. You made the cake in one bowl? It tasted good? Brilliant. You survived. Now get back to whatever role you have supporting the market economy. There's no time for sugar craft flowers.<br />
<br />
Reflecting upon this, I thought I quite fancied the challenge. And the Cherub had asked very politely too. I also knew this challenge would be supported by a specialist cake decorating shop in the neighbouring suburb, so I wouldn't have to travel far for guidance. <br />
<br />
Thus we took the bus to the new centre of our universe since returning to Melbourne, Greensborough, where we trundled along to the <a href="http://greensboroughcakedecoratingcentre.com.au/" target="_blank">Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre</a>.<br />
<br />
Yikes. It reminded me terribly of my first foray into a knitting shop, armed with an idea but with no plan as to how I should execute it effectively. And then feeling somewhat overwhelmed and school girlish in the face of so much creativity. This too is a place where amateurs and professionals make things. Like, amazingly elaborated and beautiful things.<br />
<br />
Just out of sugar instead of yarn.<br />
<br />
For example, some of these incredible pieces. Apologies for the dubious quality of the pictures, I was <i>sans</i> whizzy camera on the day.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUlf7mv3VRE0mc_W1pe_UnR73pl4YBqC7oceXJ1JmHPtks_aoN9cN9PG-2dGWNEUl-DdDuGpsAd1TtQcgKJNa2UnGhxzroPi1aDcE-qzd9PXgeu6vM-isqkmQ9ptlqumI_4UfH0_Hr3Oh/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUlf7mv3VRE0mc_W1pe_UnR73pl4YBqC7oceXJ1JmHPtks_aoN9cN9PG-2dGWNEUl-DdDuGpsAd1TtQcgKJNa2UnGhxzroPi1aDcE-qzd9PXgeu6vM-isqkmQ9ptlqumI_4UfH0_Hr3Oh/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the impressive feats of sugar craft at the Greensborough Cake Decorating Centre. Yes. Those are minions on the bottom right. Made entirely of sugar. Want to learn how to make them? You'd probably best <a href="http://greensboroughcakedecoratingcentre.com.au/index.php?page=classes" target="_blank">sign up for one of the workshops</a>.</td></tr>
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Ten thousand hoorays for a kindly and patient shop assistant who, after politely stifling a suprised giggle when I flashed out the retrotastic<i> Making and Decorating Cakes</i>, was all help and guidance. I returned home with a piping bag, nozzles and a few other accoutrements ready. For. The. Challenge.<br />
<br />
I won't go into the details. There was an lot of sticking-out-of-tongue concentrating, maybe a bit of bodgery around the edges of the marzipan layer, the piping was possibly one of the most stressful moments of my culinary career to date, I needed a stiff drink when it was all over.<br />
<br />
But here it is. In all its glory.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-9ITu-26kU-sqSWk3Lrx9uZRrnM8Vafn9sdKGNeSklfw6SpqTQ294A9MReEs77Mg_xfEADr-QRft0Jh4F1dzz_VTu_xktqVCxDodeqxzRhGBsEJbcGRNWDGXsqEcjCJ7Q8QXox-5U5TN/s1600/Birthday+cake+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI-9ITu-26kU-sqSWk3Lrx9uZRrnM8Vafn9sdKGNeSklfw6SpqTQ294A9MReEs77Mg_xfEADr-QRft0Jh4F1dzz_VTu_xktqVCxDodeqxzRhGBsEJbcGRNWDGXsqEcjCJ7Q8QXox-5U5TN/s1600/Birthday+cake+1.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta daaaa! It's identical to the cake in the book. Really. Slightly wibbly around the edges maybe. And those candles look a but precarious but those minor detractions aside, absolutely identical. Ahem.</td></tr>
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Was it a hit with the Cherub? Yes, yes it was. Even the tiny other guests at the party were in awe of the wobbly rosettes and the less-than-well thought out arrangement of the yellow sugar craft flowers. <br />
<br />
It will be interesting to see if it sticks in the Cherub's memory. Will it prove more memorable a Thing Made By Mummy than <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/tiny-tea-leaves-cardigan.html" target="_blank">a cardigan</a>? As for me, will I return to the delights of sugar craft and some serious cake decoration? Probably not until the Cherub's next birthday and only then if I can't persuade her to have some brownies smothered in chocolate sauce instead. At least the knitting I can pick up and put down when my attention is needed elsewhere at <i>very</i> short notice (this is the way of things when mothering a small child). But this sort of cake decoration demands precision, concentration and a stretch of uninterrupted time to achieve anything. I haven't got too much of that at this stage of life but who knows what the future will bring. The topic of cake and its making is a fascinating one though and there will be some blogposts to follow that continue on this delightful theme...<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)<br />
<br />Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-69913709120844246172014-05-30T11:25:00.001+01:002014-05-30T11:25:36.742+01:00Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFkEfptNyDlmL3b6EFR_7DbIICLkccFDIgr5epGL3Cm4Ai6F3JTMOBmPeNtaKpVaA2vFe4_kdqXNLN1_1ipONXBhN0WpzJSBywMmUPiuOx2i_WeMT2X44O2KsftaI-WufYw6ABmwtDhKD/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+7.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFkEfptNyDlmL3b6EFR_7DbIICLkccFDIgr5epGL3Cm4Ai6F3JTMOBmPeNtaKpVaA2vFe4_kdqXNLN1_1ipONXBhN0WpzJSBywMmUPiuOx2i_WeMT2X44O2KsftaI-WufYw6ABmwtDhKD/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+7.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The completed Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi in Noro Aya.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It seems like a day and an age ago since I <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/what-to-knit-when-emigrating-to.html" target="_blank">emigrated to Australia</a> at the end of January. Faced with the prospect of some long-haul flying I was armed to the teeth with a wodge of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/noro-aya" target="_blank">Noro Aya</a>, a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi" target="_blank">Tiny Tea Leaves</a> cardigan pattern as well as bamboo circular knitting needles to convince airport security that I was not a potential garroter of pilots. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4SDZcyIoI3iwxAoDvhLmYEXF6eQ6nwlO4y2OToVZlw12K3if6RrHZPUECED7lg_AHlDkzYb-2A6VfHto2y34gYAKSCdWVjumEri1T1hCOw24C2gsRdvQ5YdJaEW2pFt9YcMSRMNOMbbz/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4SDZcyIoI3iwxAoDvhLmYEXF6eQ6nwlO4y2OToVZlw12K3if6RrHZPUECED7lg_AHlDkzYb-2A6VfHto2y34gYAKSCdWVjumEri1T1hCOw24C2gsRdvQ5YdJaEW2pFt9YcMSRMNOMbbz/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+2.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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Taaaa daaa! Here's the completed Tiny Tea leaves sported by delighted and (at the time of the photo shoot) industrious recipient the Cherub.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM88BAQM_HXVrGJpjWlRFtznZIOI2x8LCH85hNtNI-1fO6clyOyQn-f5P5m1RtkblVwmGoKO5YgVgnSqcv0APDtb0PcTV4alOenX12HKJWuNW8M06N8uGZ215kd85vMXhfzEHp1UH9lAJ/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM88BAQM_HXVrGJpjWlRFtznZIOI2x8LCH85hNtNI-1fO6clyOyQn-f5P5m1RtkblVwmGoKO5YgVgnSqcv0APDtb0PcTV4alOenX12HKJWuNW8M06N8uGZ215kd85vMXhfzEHp1UH9lAJ/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+4.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
She tells me that she likes the stripes. So that's marvellous news and a bit of a relief after all the effort. At first I was informed that the colours were, in no uncertain terms, "yuk". This is her special and nuanced term of indifference, which usually means I am utterly stuffed and have a snowball's chance in Tahiti of changing the Cherub's mind. Fortunately, the completed ensemble demanded different and careful consideration which resulted in approval.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtvIuhc9DIyD1r1Z9PJSTW6vlA6RC4NjRCSteiG_T7-jgKuqcQA1KpCXOZ1FQUVCBFU7oA5z85VFBzbzwAZf9hulgNRV3V0ZB8qZwr6JeD8cXFdacVWP1dpgjZjWxumyWi3QxP5zGCweR/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtvIuhc9DIyD1r1Z9PJSTW6vlA6RC4NjRCSteiG_T7-jgKuqcQA1KpCXOZ1FQUVCBFU7oA5z85VFBzbzwAZf9hulgNRV3V0ZB8qZwr6JeD8cXFdacVWP1dpgjZjWxumyWi3QxP5zGCweR/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+5.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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In all honesty thought, my world has not been set alight. Ok, I agree with the Cherub that the stripes are impressive. But whether it was the yarn - I had my doubts when I started - or the pattern or the combination of pattern with this yarn, I just don't feel this has quite worked. The mixture of silk, cotton and wool in the Aya is rather "rustic" in texture. This in addition to an already heavily textured yoke on the cardigan plus a spectacular spectrum of variegated colour and it's all...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHMG-5xIhhvbvGaM9NUoDaee7S9Fcrg4Rz4KQKGYsVzUpFvwi2S9C-0Vl9R60qTreltobKMn3bQd_LJ7nz3X0cCRE-4m11hUm-O1wm_U-LNCph4ZQczFR3jjdHvFvRaljqeRdrBaSeD_I/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHMG-5xIhhvbvGaM9NUoDaee7S9Fcrg4Rz4KQKGYsVzUpFvwi2S9C-0Vl9R60qTreltobKMn3bQd_LJ7nz3X0cCRE-4m11hUm-O1wm_U-LNCph4ZQczFR3jjdHvFvRaljqeRdrBaSeD_I/s1600/Tiny+Tea+Leaves+9.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
...a bit much. Or maybe each element is a bit lost because of the other elements, none able to stand out and say "LOOK AT ME! AM I NOT BEAUTIFUL AND RUSTIC / TEXTURED / COLOURFUL?!". Hmmm. <br />
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In addition the neckline has proved very loose, with the poor Cherub insisting that the cardi is "just perfect" whilst attempting to hoik up drooping neckline over shoulder from where it has been sitting somewhere around an elbow. <br />
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<br />
But I am a forgiving individual. I'll give the Aya another chance, soon to be incarnated in a crocheted skinny scarf courtesy of a <i>Simply Crochet</i> from May 2013. And next year I'll give the Tea Leaves another crack but in a simple DK. Maybe simplicity should have been my watch word for this project but, hey ho, when you're permanently leaving a beloved country for another it's fair to say one's mind isn't always thinking as clearly as it should.<br />
<br />
Cardigan as metaphor for Emigration. Now there's a thought. <br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-52367093314352938762014-05-15T11:21:00.000+01:002014-05-15T11:21:05.225+01:00Interview with Linda Lencovic of the Kettle Yarn Co. <style>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"></span></b></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJaZA0ViIESeBdwX6gBXdIZzhNDuWhpJuzCLrxOzDUxkhF2PFuEteXnJ2FnAmR26PmrpNMDGQH5PeiQEUWG7alCABRrxNIC4bsPDGYL60qZx7dOpPm0oprVtw1LoEFhfM7EyV2NsXACxu/s1600/Kettle_Yarn_Co_ISLINGTON_stones_and_stripes_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJaZA0ViIESeBdwX6gBXdIZzhNDuWhpJuzCLrxOzDUxkhF2PFuEteXnJ2FnAmR26PmrpNMDGQH5PeiQEUWG7alCABRrxNIC4bsPDGYL60qZx7dOpPm0oprVtw1LoEFhfM7EyV2NsXACxu/s1600/Kettle_Yarn_Co_ISLINGTON_stones_and_stripes_1.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a spot of the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KettleYarnCo?section_id=14054683&ref=shopsection_leftnav_2" target="_blank">Kettle Yarn Co.'s Islington fingering</a> - a divine silk and Blue Faced Leicester combo - knitted into the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stones--stripes" target="_blank">Stones and Stripes shawl designed by Nancy Bush</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/happiness-is-pom-pom-quarterly.html" target="_blank">Remember the excitement when the spring issue of Pom Pom Quarterly arrived</a>? Remember the thrill of all that <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kettle-yarn-co-islington" target="_blank">Islington fingering</a> from the Kettle Yarn Co. landing in Australia in anticipation of my goodself whipping up the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waterlily-7" target="_blank">Waterlily pattern</a> on the cover of the aforesaid Pom Pom?<br />
<br />
Weeellll, what with other writing ventures, knitting projects, progeny and a tentative yet suprisingly time-consuming dabble as an editor of corporate training manuals (YAAAWWWWNNNNN)...<br />
<br />
Waterlily has not quite materialised.<br />
<br />So instead of a blogpost concerning a Waterlily wot I have made (which I am yet to), I present something infinitely more interesting:<br />
<br />
An interview with Linda Lencovic, indie yarn dyer, owner of the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/KettleYarnCo" target="_blank">Kettle Yarn Co</a>. and colourist behind the nuanced hues of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kettle-yarn-co-islington" target="_blank">Islington fingering</a> <i>et al.</i> Bless her, bravely answering all my nosy questions about yarn-dyeing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-ezOm14_egruOhDtOw5_FbLYT_W2KiFGUIrZfD9BIPWHV6VnBm0GkhhoAjfwMNaHnNUw0VO4_atLjNtprf3PpCUdar9l31CcwbV49ZncsFEGyv89FakncFwuq8N_15LO667HmMNoe-K_/s1600/Linda+Lenc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju-ezOm14_egruOhDtOw5_FbLYT_W2KiFGUIrZfD9BIPWHV6VnBm0GkhhoAjfwMNaHnNUw0VO4_atLjNtprf3PpCUdar9l31CcwbV49ZncsFEGyv89FakncFwuq8N_15LO667HmMNoe-K_/s1600/Linda+Lenc.jpg" height="640" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linda Lencovic in her own <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waterlily-7" target="_blank">Waterlily</a> (by gum, that lady knits quickly). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hailing from the wilds of British Columbia in Canada, Linda moved to London in 2006 for an MA in Fine Art at <a href="http://www.arts.ac.uk/chelsea/" target="_blank">Chelsea College of Art</a>. Apparently the contemporary art scene in Canada was a bit too video-ey and installation-ey.<br />
<br />
Not ideal if one wants to paint.<br />
<br />
Which Linda did. So she came to London town and enjoyed a <a href="http://lindalencovic.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">successful career as a painter</a> until she shifted her creative focus and established the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/KettleYarnCo" target="_blank">Kettle Yarn Co</a>. Starting off on Etsy Linda's delicate spectrum of fingering, sport and aran weights has garnered much notice and well deserved comment in the world beyond the intermeweb. Linda is now popping up at textiley events like <a href="http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wonderwool</a> and her ridiculously soft skeins are stocked by the reputable likes of <a href="http://www.loopknittingshop.com/product/5724/Kettle_Yarn_Co_Islington" target="_blank">Loop</a> and <a href="http://www.wildandwoollyshop.co.uk/" target="_blank">Wild and Woolly</a>. <br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Pom Pom</a> effect has probably had something to do with this and judging by the contents of the Summer issue, will continue to do so: Linda's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kettle-yarn-co-wimbledon-sport" target="_blank">Wimbledon Sport</a> - it comes from super happy merinos - is the yarn for Sarah Hurwitz's <i>tres charmant</i> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/creamsicle" target="_blank">Creamsicle</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_itHI03bTwY6YZY7WkbiWehV-WANOlLcFgKSfd_n6xEtXCgzIxLyEmBQ2sMXCgOcKOwRnHGcviQ7D162xzLNwj7awGfBz5tn9B9JxcgN2gf9mdokPSH9oZfv-FAwMCKgkBQ8y2A3WoBT/s1600/Creamsicle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_itHI03bTwY6YZY7WkbiWehV-WANOlLcFgKSfd_n6xEtXCgzIxLyEmBQ2sMXCgOcKOwRnHGcviQ7D162xzLNwj7awGfBz5tn9B9JxcgN2gf9mdokPSH9oZfv-FAwMCKgkBQ8y2A3WoBT/s1600/Creamsicle.jpg" height="572" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Hurwitz's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/creamsicle" target="_blank">Creamsicle</a> in <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Pom Pom Quarterly,</a> Issue 9, a bobbly delight of a cardigan. <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Image © Juju Vail and Pom Pom Quarterly</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But enough of the preamble. It's probably about time for that interview. So here it is.<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">I know that you’ve a background in Fine Arts but
what enticed you over to textiles, particularly woolly knittery? </span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">I
have always been interested in textiles and my mother taught me from an early
age various ‘craft’ skills such as knitting and sewing. Like most teens I was
fascinated with fashion, designing and making garments (very badly) for years.
I was always modifying something to make it unique.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">At
the tender age of nine, I made my first scarf and then stopped knitting. I just
didn’t have the patience at that age, but a few years ago I began again after a
period of illness a few years ago. I was spending a lot of time in doctor’s
waiting rooms and didn’t have the energy to paint - all the preparation before actually painting
is rather labour intensive - so started knitting again to keep creating and
making things.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Once
I’d picked up the needles, I couldn’t stop! Money was tight so I decided to try
my hand at dyeing my own yarn. As an artist I also had the colour theory skills
necessary to create the hues I wanted. The step to dyeing for others was an
easy one and I discovered that painting yarn was as satisfying – if not more -
than painting canvases! There is something hugely rewarding about creating a
product that is not only beautiful but hugely<i> useful</i>!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Also
creating a garment in the colour I want at the time I want is bliss. I wish I’d
rediscovered knitting sooner.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Do you have any family members who have a
connection with textiley or woolly pursuits? </span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Both of my parents are very creative. My mother was born into a large family in
the French colony of Reunion. All the children grew up making their own clothes
whilst the sisters could also either knit, crochet or make lace. Meanwhile, my
father is a classically trained woodworker and I’ve learned many of my artistic
skills from both of them.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">How did you learn about dyeing yarns?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Mostly
trial and error, though I did as much research as possible to avoid recreating
the wheel! I just love to play with mixing colours and seeing what happens when
I apply them to different bases. There simply is no substitute for hands-on
experimentation!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">What is kettle dyeing? </span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">The
part of the process in which dye is set on the yarn through heating – usually
in large pots or kettles – is what is known as kettle dyeing.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Do you use chemical or natural dyes?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">I am
using acid dye as I still work in my home kitchen. Interestingly, this process
is much less toxic than dyeing with natural dyes as the so-called ‘acid’ is
just household vinegar. Most people don’t know this - I was fascinated to learn
it myself – but the chemicals used to set and create the colours in natural
dyeing can be quite toxic and require proper ventilation and a separate working
area. It’s not as gentle as people assume when they hear the word ‘natural’!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHN0-yu7MXAFFBVH7KPOGz0PURN8L6d-8qgLJa9ISSlAujfOOgxyApglpQDv0tFAMBtuSlkiSKlzlF_pArUouGLpAMMH66LPR-5bng91n-2Z0wXoxaevNocc6H7A1CXrHAedJGxfOD1nM/s1600/Wimbledon+Sport.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHN0-yu7MXAFFBVH7KPOGz0PURN8L6d-8qgLJa9ISSlAujfOOgxyApglpQDv0tFAMBtuSlkiSKlzlF_pArUouGLpAMMH66LPR-5bng91n-2Z0wXoxaevNocc6H7A1CXrHAedJGxfOD1nM/s1600/Wimbledon+Sport.jpg" height="640" width="484" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skeins. Skeins. Skeins. Luscious skeins of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kettle-yarn-co-wimbledon-sport" target="_blank">Wimbledon sport</a>. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"></span></b></span></span> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">And just to clarify, you’re dyeing the skeins
of yarns rather than the roving?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Yes,
I am currently only dyeing yarn as I haven’t tried spinning. I also do not yet
know how the colours would spin from the dyed roving. One day I would love to
try.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Is sourcing British Wool an important part of
your business ethos?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">I
have carefully sourced British yarns as the environmental impact of my business
is a huge concern. I want all of my bases to ensure animal welfare and
the lowest carbon footprint possible for the best possible quality of yarn . </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Do you choose the yarns’ fibre composition or play
with what is available?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">It
is vital to me that my blends are not only extremely hard wearing and low
pilling, but also butter soft on the skin. It’s not an easy task!</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">This
is one reason I am focusing on a lot of British Bluefaced Leicester blends. The
long staple fibers making it robust while it’s ‘Superfine’ micron count for the softest fibres –
comparable to the softeness of Merino – is perfect for the most sensitive
skins.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Do different breeds of sheep have an impact on the dyeing
process?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Absolutely. Even the
same breed of wool but from different flocks reacts differently to dye. This is
one of the things that makes hand dyeing so unique and every batch slightly
different.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBhOduh_qCwU4VebUtHxoKDUbzusJdk0CIyBHNfZpTEcqBXAzoYef94_g_msTSS-wWxrl1IfBilz_o-tLl_DD6rJvU16VzPFUliAdoOyGfrSyo2FayZVte-45btuNjJ8O0dnK7PbxqXZa/s1600/Kettle_Yarn_Co_ISLINGTON.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHBhOduh_qCwU4VebUtHxoKDUbzusJdk0CIyBHNfZpTEcqBXAzoYef94_g_msTSS-wWxrl1IfBilz_o-tLl_DD6rJvU16VzPFUliAdoOyGfrSyo2FayZVte-45btuNjJ8O0dnK7PbxqXZa/s1600/Kettle_Yarn_Co_ISLINGTON.jpg" height="576" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A version of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waterlily-7" target="_blank">Waterlily</a> in a delicate, sky blue <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/kettle-yarn-co-islington" target="_blank">Islington</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"></span></b></span></span> </span><span style="color: #222222;"></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">You seem to have a really distinctive
vocabulary of colour. At first glance the palette seems very subtle and almost
demure, but when you look closer there is an incredible depth of tone. What
inspires your colour choices?</span></b></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;">I have always been very sensitive to colour. I remember at the age of twelve having
to find just the exact hue of peach paint for my room. My poor parents learned early
on that I had a very distinct sense of style and colour. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #222222;">I
grew up surrounded by the stunning Canadian Boreal forest and am particularly
mindful of the natural world. I spend a lot of my time in London’s concrete
jungle dreaming of the sea and expanses of green! These hues tend to naturally
creep into my colour choices.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">People have been dyeing wool for millennia.
How much space is there for innovation?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">I
think there will always be something new to discover. I am also a firm believer
that ‘new’ isn’t always better, and what I hope to focus on is building on the
rich history of textile’s past. There is no point in recreating the wheel…but
how do you do it <i>your </i>way. As an
artist that is a more interesting area of exploration for me.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Any plans for the future?</span></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">World
domination. </span></span></span><br />
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">Many, many thanks to Linda for her time and generosity with this piece. If you want to see what else she is up to then you'd probably best start following her blogging adventures over on <a href="http://fromthepurlside.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">From the Purl Side</a>.</span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #222222;">(Images:
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/KettleYarnCo" target="_blank">Kettle Yarn Co.</a>, <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Juju Vail & Pom Pom Quarterly</a>)</span></span></span>
</div>
Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-64426821424607409292014-04-25T12:07:00.001+01:002014-04-25T12:07:21.280+01:00Knitted Toilet Roll Covers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQQh7fCF8a7yFhF3_GgJvDRlulLmfHkxNSr4_hwpKEl_Sp-QWR7O7QZIi93ARJPixyndn3jL_OM11YAMTsMQuK4G9jz7ReAiypQo7KQLmpV3jmvIOqI6G0FawAhL2RRuiKJjN98XhTIKx/s1600/IMG_7476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQQh7fCF8a7yFhF3_GgJvDRlulLmfHkxNSr4_hwpKEl_Sp-QWR7O7QZIi93ARJPixyndn3jL_OM11YAMTsMQuK4G9jz7ReAiypQo7KQLmpV3jmvIOqI6G0FawAhL2RRuiKJjN98XhTIKx/s1600/IMG_7476.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Because it's Friday.<br />
<br />
Because I am feeling frivolous and (truth be told) still somewhat startled by last year's birthday present... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlldzAx9J0c7Q7ncQu7_7u7wd4rtHIFzhDlyFl2feSSGd_KcadsmT2Z6GQ9aMECj1exFyc8kKzO0L5r-Wk1_UJ-hmoRB1qjEYoXQCa_95y2sKMq8xwkjNV3ylDq3hYsDCDJUS8byaugDiy/s1600/IMG_7479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlldzAx9J0c7Q7ncQu7_7u7wd4rtHIFzhDlyFl2feSSGd_KcadsmT2Z6GQ9aMECj1exFyc8kKzO0L5r-Wk1_UJ-hmoRB1qjEYoXQCa_95y2sKMq8xwkjNV3ylDq3hYsDCDJUS8byaugDiy/s1600/IMG_7479.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
...thus I thought I should share with all and sundry some of the highlights of the said birthday present.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDdfaZN0RTVlpvUCDd-GYWo0R1V6LmveNAiEZdys5XWndg9nRy-kIUJ0n2p1zsB14nl4Ke-JtXtB7MzG_NxETNs2-WULD2Ja3Cs6j6lrB7QkUnIjZvE1YvYI-NIt9w_99bEIjkj_Q6_v9/s1600/IMG_7482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDdfaZN0RTVlpvUCDd-GYWo0R1V6LmveNAiEZdys5XWndg9nRy-kIUJ0n2p1zsB14nl4Ke-JtXtB7MzG_NxETNs2-WULD2Ja3Cs6j6lrB7QkUnIjZvE1YvYI-NIt9w_99bEIjkj_Q6_v9/s1600/IMG_7482.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
A gift from a sibling who shall remain nameless. A sibling with a penchant for novelty gifts. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU8qADnKQF0oWYUMffacSbGSXr4rCtE3En9vv1JlCx5mSZswjTwbeDlE8siLjYKAVGTC2_nJ5P0yKtnhtdKLyqJMJwJ4Zvo2Undfv8QmxkkikhfKCBK4daLE8Lp9ZvqY5n_Y_36BWoHzb/s1600/IMG_7483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZU8qADnKQF0oWYUMffacSbGSXr4rCtE3En9vv1JlCx5mSZswjTwbeDlE8siLjYKAVGTC2_nJ5P0yKtnhtdKLyqJMJwJ4Zvo2Undfv8QmxkkikhfKCBK4daLE8Lp9ZvqY5n_Y_36BWoHzb/s1600/IMG_7483.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I feel "novel" is an appropriate adjective to describe this particular gift.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC3kbQI2YQ86zqFBBg_h5Ia67bFq4IJXDMpRrpV4YZcg3Xq6rqSnmFNvB2-BNvC5t5lDkY0z1fbb2FgcXns6W4dd-Fighji7WrN1xMEMSKUXHJzGTEOmq6GZRoZNEuzY_t3osaM9npcMs/s1600/IMG_7484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC3kbQI2YQ86zqFBBg_h5Ia67bFq4IJXDMpRrpV4YZcg3Xq6rqSnmFNvB2-BNvC5t5lDkY0z1fbb2FgcXns6W4dd-Fighji7WrN1xMEMSKUXHJzGTEOmq6GZRoZNEuzY_t3osaM9npcMs/s1600/IMG_7484.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I had no idea that there was a void in the contemporary interior design canon for toilet roll covers. Much less knitted ones. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG5ejMGsQEB52_FdHQTeDNDSV7_e-5VcRdCVGiIxOE7iyEYR_7dCOvZYF7SmQ8Q0-6hEoPyORrvyE4igljGWg3RuIX8mo7YDUvX9LzOaPhcBPPifwNzm24gLVD5Nh5YlfWRz504alqu9q/s1600/IMG_7487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG5ejMGsQEB52_FdHQTeDNDSV7_e-5VcRdCVGiIxOE7iyEYR_7dCOvZYF7SmQ8Q0-6hEoPyORrvyE4igljGWg3RuIX8mo7YDUvX9LzOaPhcBPPifwNzm24gLVD5Nh5YlfWRz504alqu9q/s1600/IMG_7487.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
But clearly there is. A void that had been there since circa 1979 when the last Flamenco dancer toilet roll cover (or was it a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaG1CNqYF4zq2ny1MdeG3jkjkBKOmxQjAdu-gGDZoIxffGKKvk7Siu0WJ2o2aOHc00RCyuqzqdbQtthh3heqkzYqd1Wxz34BEQTwbqhTlfXc6wmPkue56s-uSFegHMhWe1ce3QGRd939Q/s400/20080524162652.jpg" target="_blank"> Southern Belle with a fulsome skirt</a>? Either way. There was a lot of polyester involved) rolled off the production line.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5lkAR3xqFXWbEiBMNg9NskfIInIwh6nVd1ypeDQskKxzPJKNK-BX0VXoERLjkRyyROYhsvEW6e39wKMcKeSZHn0BdVhbmKbd2IP7hyHZ5FgdJ5TdKfmU0nv_NQuvT0E0Lq0CtCWOZ6MX/s1600/IMG_7488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5lkAR3xqFXWbEiBMNg9NskfIInIwh6nVd1ypeDQskKxzPJKNK-BX0VXoERLjkRyyROYhsvEW6e39wKMcKeSZHn0BdVhbmKbd2IP7hyHZ5FgdJ5TdKfmU0nv_NQuvT0E0Lq0CtCWOZ6MX/s1600/IMG_7488.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
This book has plugged that void. Today, all those who find the sight of an uncovered toilet roll too shocking - swaggering and bold in its implied function - will no longer have their sensibilities ruffled. Put away the smelling salts! Tighten up your corset again! Decorum is restored.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwOTa2Sm_AnBHeXNehAmOGIbi4GMoxO_bCqWETm_JqLtZJHMZWhaym3Fbi4bnOFBOtwL6xY4K85k71RMnCdV2C4DegZsrnrIwiTQfw_WVTVgRmRtbhp1xzsjiJfQeRZUdb9PKoP42-GjT/s1600/IMG_7489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifwOTa2Sm_AnBHeXNehAmOGIbi4GMoxO_bCqWETm_JqLtZJHMZWhaym3Fbi4bnOFBOtwL6xY4K85k71RMnCdV2C4DegZsrnrIwiTQfw_WVTVgRmRtbhp1xzsjiJfQeRZUdb9PKoP42-GjT/s1600/IMG_7489.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Now the challenge is to pick which toilet roll cover the aforementioned sibling would prefer.<br />
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I will have to find out the lavatory's colour scheme and take it from there.<br />
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Phew. That was cathartic. I feel less startled now.<br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-61344730541794911142014-04-12T01:29:00.001+01:002014-04-14T11:39:28.344+01:00Renee Callahan of East London Knit<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many vintage knitting machines at the East London Knit studio.</td></tr>
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A day and an age ago (last October in fact) I donned the wellington boots and sensible waterproof coat and strode forth for a soggy amble along <a href="http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/regents-canal" target="_blank">the Regent's Canal</a> and <a href="http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers/hertford-union-canal" target="_blank">Hertford Union Canal</a>. The aim: to reach Hackney Wick.<br />
<br />
And what a superbly bracing and beautiful amble it proved to be, enhanced by the fact that this raucous corner London was virtually silent. No mean feat for a city of eight million. Rain muffled all sound and the sheen of water on all the autumn colour on display in Victoria Park gave it an intensity rarely seen.<br />
<br />
Ah! If only I hadn't had a toddler strapped in a sling to my torso! I would have taken some photos.<br />
<br />
As it was I had to save my photographic energies for what lay ahead in Hackney Wick.<br />
A freelance knitter had generously allowed me and the aforementioned toddler into the natural habitat of her studio.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGl8I13GConzQSkOXYhFSn5LXSdYP5gVFtXUa6XhocU8Pp9IAeqVxmVOMzFlTP2fWp0OHys8-HMEjuCvWzu1IqHFAkh3AsktEgOYNt9c0LoRrspVFeww3Of-1axvl7X-xo42fsRzd5LdN/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGl8I13GConzQSkOXYhFSn5LXSdYP5gVFtXUa6XhocU8Pp9IAeqVxmVOMzFlTP2fWp0OHys8-HMEjuCvWzu1IqHFAkh3AsktEgOYNt9c0LoRrspVFeww3Of-1axvl7X-xo42fsRzd5LdN/s1600/IMG_7304.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freelance Knitter, Renee Callahan of East London Knit.</td></tr>
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I shall repeat that. A freelance knitter. <br />
Yes, such people and such professions do exist. <br />
<br />
Let me introduce you to Renee Callahan of <a href="http://eastlondonknit.co.uk/" target="_blank">East London Knit</a>. An American expat in London, Renee (like my goodself) originally studied the History of Art. In her case Early Modern German woodcuts. You know, <a href="http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/albrecht-altdorfer" target="_blank">Albrecht Altdorfer </a><i>et al</i>. Anyhoo, one MA dissertation later she wisely jumped ship... onto a foundation art course at Camberwell before taking the <a href="http://www.arts.ac.uk/csm/courses/undergraduate/ba-fashion/" target="_blank">BA (Hons) in Fashion Design with Knitwear at Central Saint Martins. </a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently
this seeming chaos of yarn and twiddly bits on a knitting machine do
make sense. Thanks be for the likes of Renee who understand such things.</td></tr>
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<br />
Soon after graduating Renee had the chance to acquire the contents of knitting studio belonging to a textile artist in Hampstead. That meant many spools of yarn in a vast spectrum of colours and a number of knitting machines came under Renee's charge. And, she freely admits, a spool or two of mystery yarn whose provenance is excitingly dubious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreCeoZzXa6upHZu1adlTBgCaWAh-r5pZ3eU3Urff1_my4Hzl7LBa6JPmRJopZwpYs7nmoGYOeKq9Rj6PUnrbuBsYBWxbtU5NMwXt0zJk7_oNmzjKBetB-xw0uhkIY4taVwXgd6sysCqi8/s1600/IMG_7309.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreCeoZzXa6upHZu1adlTBgCaWAh-r5pZ3eU3Urff1_my4Hzl7LBa6JPmRJopZwpYs7nmoGYOeKq9Rj6PUnrbuBsYBWxbtU5NMwXt0zJk7_oNmzjKBetB-xw0uhkIY4taVwXgd6sysCqi8/s1600/IMG_7309.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much yarn. Here the greens are gathered together...</td></tr>
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<br />
Thus armed, Renee began her career as a freelance knitter.<br />
<br />
But what, precisely, does that entail? Picture the scene: A designer has a bolt of inspiration. THE VISION, a key piece for their next collection. A jumper! Some sort of melange of yarns, colours, texture the like of which has never been seen before. Which is all very well and good but said designer isn't quite sure how to make it a reality. Knitwear is a very different beast to fabric garment construction. There's all that technical, well, <i>knitting</i> stuff to deal with. And what about sourcing the perfect yarns that would produce the closest drape or sheen to that in THE VISION? <br />
<br />
Cue Renee. Or rather, cue phone ringing or email arriving in the studio and much discussion about THE VISION; the practicalities, the technicalities, the sourcing the yarn, the deadline and the cost. Renee then has a ponder, a play, occasionally dismantles and then develops the piece. As well producing as the completed knitwear required for a collection's show, she also has a role as a teacher of sorts to the designers. Explaining how this knitwear malarky works, why something may look stunning in a fabric but somewhat <i>meh</i> once knitted if not completely impossible to construct... in effect how to make any future VISIONS as feasible as possible. <br />
<br />
That's the main part of Renee's freelance knittery life. A pretty varied and terribly interesting one, wouldn't you say? Some of her past work is also rather fascinating as it gives a glimpse of how the intellectual property of a design is bought, sold and distributed around the world. Have a look at Renee's <a href="http://eastlondonknit.co.uk/swatch-gallery.php" target="_blank">swatches</a>.<br />
<br />
Clearly, I'm not talking about about those <a href="http://www.swatch.com/au_en/home.html" target="_blank">Swiss watches </a>that almost all of us wore in the 1980s and 90s. No, no, no.<br />
<br />
These knitted swatches are unique combinations of stitches, colours and yarns put together to make the front half of a small jumper. The rights to these combinations are sold - through independent swatch companies who commission the swatches' development - at trade shows like major knitwear fest <a href="http://www.pittimmagine.com/en/corporate/fairs/filati.html" target="_blank">Pitti Filati</a> or directly to fashion labels. The freelance knitter is paid for their efforts if a swatch is chosen and the swatch then goes on to become legions of completed jumpers or maybe the pattern inspiration for other pieces that in-house designers can use.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIDHX-8zAtgl4RgvUx2NzLwCbqU3UhXah-W3zHp5DztaKFXMMmkflxlmxY_A2LcyEBG4JBDAdrQnRk7D9OGV2Zp-kHriBgixcnul52-g7xDfIX2CZF5WtgpCxlgyhyphenhyphentHcPDCf5jFGOYOX/s1600/IMG_7308.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIDHX-8zAtgl4RgvUx2NzLwCbqU3UhXah-W3zHp5DztaKFXMMmkflxlmxY_A2LcyEBG4JBDAdrQnRk7D9OGV2Zp-kHriBgixcnul52-g7xDfIX2CZF5WtgpCxlgyhyphenhyphentHcPDCf5jFGOYOX/s1600/IMG_7308.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...whilst the yellows congregate next door...</td></tr>
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It's captivating stuff, seeing the network / economic behemoth that brings the creative and technical developments of one person in a studio to an awful lot of consumers.<br />
<br />
Now from the macro to the micro and a return to the studio where Renee creates her own work and designs. The <a href="http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/eastlondonknit" target="_blank">East London Knit personalised scarves</a> have a corner of Not On the High Street. All of these activities are based around her knitting machines but a recent foray into the world of hand knit design is proving exciting. <br />
<br />
For example, there is Renee's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/asterisks-shawl" target="_blank">Asterisks shawl</a>, * the first of what will be a monthly release of new patterns. Her blog, <a href="http://eastlondonknit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">EastLondonKnit Shows & Tells,</a> is also a space for musings, observations and takes her teaching to an audience beyond fashion designers. Say hello! to her very useful tutorials on more complex techniques like a <a href="http://eastlondonknit.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/a-tubular-cast-on-for-double-knitting/" target="_blank">Tubular Cast On</a>. Oh, and when she finds herself at a lose end (!) there's a bit of tech editing going on, essentially proof-reading other knit designer's patterns and ensuring the final work is indeed what was intended in the written pattern.<br />
<br />
I feel quite dizzy at the variety.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EzewstYV2B3gdlpgOuOyhUiSgRIHoY9QKuHE1SaZ2b9OInV_Hw8dCc-xkeVqQQ44any-bvlTxkJiASsmOFIjBqtHrTiizqWZumIzXNNEMDTkHR6Gup2bCX7Z6NqsFG8IKR3bMexF7EFF/s1600/IMG_7310.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EzewstYV2B3gdlpgOuOyhUiSgRIHoY9QKuHE1SaZ2b9OInV_Hw8dCc-xkeVqQQ44any-bvlTxkJiASsmOFIjBqtHrTiizqWZumIzXNNEMDTkHR6Gup2bCX7Z6NqsFG8IKR3bMexF7EFF/s1600/IMG_7310.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the purples lurk happily together in another corner.</td></tr>
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But, but, but... unless one happens to be part of the <a href="http://www.missoni.com/gb" target="_blank">Missoni</a> dynasty, the sort of knitwear and textile development that Renee loves is not the easiest to make a living out of. And this after many years of study as well as technical and creative experience. As Renee comments,<br />
<br />
<i>"The
skill and time involved with actually making things with your hands is
very much undervalued today." </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6cmXIH72NgDyk27lnTuYo4fyZmmWZh3aRAhCVYnk6nvhTR2mOdsJH53Z56M9cQ-a4BgLTcJtSTldaL25t4KRoZsQsMLVZwqaMDusDqJjh4nm4ARqxglMmcTcGygPiw3k2s_kb7t9dZ-1/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6cmXIH72NgDyk27lnTuYo4fyZmmWZh3aRAhCVYnk6nvhTR2mOdsJH53Z56M9cQ-a4BgLTcJtSTldaL25t4KRoZsQsMLVZwqaMDusDqJjh4nm4ARqxglMmcTcGygPiw3k2s_kb7t9dZ-1/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sample of Renee's work. A multimedia knitted dress incorporating a polaroid photograph.</td></tr>
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This is a theme that has been popping up on the blog; modern society's seemingly relentless push for immediate and cheap consumer goods - usually, but not limited to, fashion - that undermines much of what makes a cohesive and healthy society. Or indeed, undermines the possibility of skilled and creative individuals to survive and thrive. So why struggle on? <br />
<br />
<i>"I think having people who make things
is important in general for the facilitation of skill and understanding,
and specifically for me, making things is paramount to my understanding
of the world and what it is to be human." </i><br />
<br />
Hear, hear. When that creative force, that need humanity has to make, is snuffed out... then we are truly stuffed. Let's try and avoid that eventuality and be a bit more supportive of those with a breath-taking depth of knowledge, skill and expertise. All those in favour!<br />
<br />
Aye!<br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis)<br />
<br />
* What an appropriate moment for an asterisk and an
observational aside. It seems to me that shawls are making A Come Back. I
think there are two reasons for this. First, they are a much larger
canvas than a scarf upon which to show off patterns, colours, lacework
and (obviously) your superior knitting skills.<br />
<br />
Second,
they are so dreadfully useful. Cold neck? The shawl becomes a bundly
scarf. Cold shoulders? Cue warm shoulders covered in something more
elegant than a jumper. Unexpected sleeping child whilst out on a jolly?
Shawl becomes a blanket. Oh no! It's raining! I've just had my hair
blow-dried but forgot my umbrella! Drape shawl over recently coiffed
tresses and then you look like <a href="http://ilclandimariapia.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/il-foulard.html" target="_blank">Audrey Hepburn / Sophia Loren / Jackie O</a> sporting a woolly sort of foulard. <br />
<br />
See what I mean? More shawls for all, please. Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-1381217888593199502014-03-15T10:19:00.000+00:002014-03-15T10:19:00.013+00:00Happiness is... Pom Pom Quarterly<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOciHYpaj8FEav1M6JAYSM1I3cYhPM03mV2FROKlEjvg5VWtPnArTy0FoeX5yt6gmw4V2OboNuzYBhcUGnnEiZx1ey7G4-QUrCNo9lQG0chIHYFczPAGfOfvEFirkhatXXTZ0bJGPYysfN/s1600/pompom+1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOciHYpaj8FEav1M6JAYSM1I3cYhPM03mV2FROKlEjvg5VWtPnArTy0FoeX5yt6gmw4V2OboNuzYBhcUGnnEiZx1ey7G4-QUrCNo9lQG0chIHYFczPAGfOfvEFirkhatXXTZ0bJGPYysfN/s1600/pompom+1.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happiness is ... Pom Pom Quarterly and enough of Kettle Yarn Co.'s Islington to make the lacy knitted top on the front cover.</td></tr>
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Rumour has it that spring is springing in the Northern Hemisphere after a dreadfully soggy winter. Crocuses, daffodils and jonquils are appearing. Cue the sartorial rejection of dark, moody, wintery blacks, browns and navy blues and the enthusiastic embrace of soft pinks, refreshing lilacs and pale mint greens. The sun is shining and everyone is on a Vitamin D high. Who could possibly want to sit indoors and knit?<br />
<br />
Well... there are an awful lot of things in the current edition of <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Pom Pom Quarterly</a> (Issue 8) that kinda make you want to linger on the sofa. Just for a moment or two. Whilst you order the appropriate amounts of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KettleYarnCo" target="_blank">Kettle Yarn Co.'s Islington</a> or <a href="http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double-knitting-1-c.asp" target="_blank">Jamieson's Spindrift</a> for - respectively - the cover pattern of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waterlily-7" target="_blank">Meghan Fernandes' <i>Waterlily</i></a><i> </i>or <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/confetti-8" target="_blank">Sonja Bargielowska's <i>Confetti</i></a>. You might already have the yarns and juuuusssttt need to pop the relevant needles and notions into a bag. With the yarn. And a picnic blanket and perchance some champagne and sandwiches in a coolbox.<br />
<br />
Because then you'll find yourself a comfy, sunny spot in a corner of a park or field and get ready to knit in and amongst the blooms. <br />
<br />
Thus you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Knitting <i>and</i> the springtime outdoors whilst looking terribly picturesque. <br />
<br />
It is marvellous to see how Pom Pom has developed in the past couple of years. <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2012/07/pompom-quarterly-review.html" target="_blank">From the slim notebook style of Issue 1 </a>(five patterns and a couple of articles. Oh and a cocktail recipe. Yum.) we have a substantial periodical by Issue 8 (eight patterns, more designers from all over the world, more articles and a recipe for Bergamot Chocolate Biscuits. Boom). The images and styling have also sharpened up by combining the photographic skills of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/juju-vail" target="_blank">Juju Vail</a> and <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/story/" target="_blank">Lydia Gluck's</a> whimsical illustrations.<br />
<br />
I was chuffed to see Anna Maltz of the <a href="http://ricefield.co/maker/anna-maltz/" target="_blank">Ricefield Collective</a> - <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/the-ricefield-collective.html" target="_blank">an early interviewee of TWIHM</a> - making an appearance in Pom Pom as both a designer and subject of an article about the Collective. Her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solja-2" target="_blank">glorious <i>Sólja</i> </a>is on my big To Do List once I have knitted an item of clothing for someone (i.e. me) <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/cricket-cardigan-and-twerking.html" target="_blank">larger than a three-year-old</a>.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03l9pWLvoFAQAoBh_vAJZMbo1LwQvHrgzK2fk90TIpBo3TE7cdePnEgCT66JgbD6Cw0oyXApZRNW03AMFeV4oi_jKGI6mTXgRQfJtkvFnPavRLpX2E3RstNwFRERy61XP4lNyXhcl7Qan/s1600/pompom+8.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03l9pWLvoFAQAoBh_vAJZMbo1LwQvHrgzK2fk90TIpBo3TE7cdePnEgCT66JgbD6Cw0oyXApZRNW03AMFeV4oi_jKGI6mTXgRQfJtkvFnPavRLpX2E3RstNwFRERy61XP4lNyXhcl7Qan/s1600/pompom+8.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna Maltz's <i>Sólja</i>. Fair Isle colourwork with a decidedly modern feel. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The anticipated <i>second</i> knitted item of clothing for someone larger than a three-year-old (which will come after the first, a navy blue version of a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heathered" target="_blank"><i>Heathered </i>cardigan</a>) will be the <i>Waterlily</i> pattern gracing Pom Pom's cover. I have enough of the Islington required - in the suitably named hue of "Pom". I am an English woman in Australia these days, dontcha know - and will launch very soon.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIIC7kGq_g75BO5PfxAT9YpDSTafMdCi8Vv0_EGpZTwgQNIq5sQvbTeR19o8EJI5OXZKbGl_JDFc2ntU5m4uDifvnAgmza034XeamdgawB7aNUSCHgYGSKNFIerFsnvd89jvJQBMax0H_/s1600/pompom+5.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIIC7kGq_g75BO5PfxAT9YpDSTafMdCi8Vv0_EGpZTwgQNIq5sQvbTeR19o8EJI5OXZKbGl_JDFc2ntU5m4uDifvnAgmza034XeamdgawB7aNUSCHgYGSKNFIerFsnvd89jvJQBMax0H_/s1600/pompom+5.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovely lacework. Ladybird is optional.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It was a rocky start, however, with the Islington. The skeins arrived in the post. Eeeee! The excitement! The skeins were so soft, smooth and like pastelly green gossamer. Would you expect anything less from a combination of silk and Bluefaced Leicester? I had to start unravelling asap.<br />
<br />
Which I did. Using two door knobs instead of the patient and strong arms of an unenthusiastic volunteer for a long session of hand winding.<br />
<br />
Catastrophe. The resultant knots looked like the visceral remains of some sort of eviscerated squidy, octopussy, woolly thing. I could not photograph it. It was the stuff of nightmares and took a couple of days to rectify. Ho hum.<br />
<br />
Thus I went out to <a href="https://morrisandsons.com.au/" target="_blank">Morris and Sons</a> to buy a couple of bits of technology. I don't really doooo technology. I am now the baffled user of a hand-me-down iPhone after years of a black and white Nokia. The iPhone was somewhat thrust upon me in a moment of exasperation at my backwardness by the former owners who now have handsets so sophisticated that you could probably use them on the Star Ship Enterprise.<br />
<br />
Which leads me back to the bits of technology. A Japanese made and designed...<br />
<br />
Skein Holder and Wool Winder!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkgUwpQTlQrQlddb-uA0DY4R70IpGhSLqFlJtMMR9qwcRqammhB8Cyr0pC3pj0Z149nJ7Sd0ep-V4HoSyToStDkoaVLQsPF7HHCDTB45VruMlCMuPM9bq4elOSL6XYFlZiX6zxEyOTnnB/s1600/Winder+1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkgUwpQTlQrQlddb-uA0DY4R70IpGhSLqFlJtMMR9qwcRqammhB8Cyr0pC3pj0Z149nJ7Sd0ep-V4HoSyToStDkoaVLQsPF7HHCDTB45VruMlCMuPM9bq4elOSL6XYFlZiX6zxEyOTnnB/s1600/Winder+1.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at the quality plastic! This is a thing that will become an heirloom piece, handed down the generations to bring joy to all crafty ones.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ooooh. Behold! Are they not things of beauty? And they spin. And unwind skeins and make balls of wool. It's strangely meditative. Probably not unlike using a <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/crafty-magazine-and-drop-spindles.html" target="_blank">spinning wheel or drop spindle</a>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5zyby2gBLNTnHydIQsF_1l71pLpxGI0h7Em5qiw9qgOvkXisy_z_cdazCLq6RcBH1_FWuNVCE4-Xr_-PZSKe4QmhPUObPwgrqKj_c3nrnhYO0v3EZyH2PpTw7CMxWJEiy35ujNj4b8a3/s1600/Winder+3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5zyby2gBLNTnHydIQsF_1l71pLpxGI0h7Em5qiw9qgOvkXisy_z_cdazCLq6RcBH1_FWuNVCE4-Xr_-PZSKe4QmhPUObPwgrqKj_c3nrnhYO0v3EZyH2PpTw7CMxWJEiy35ujNj4b8a3/s1600/Winder+3.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">La laaaaaa! La la la la laaaaaaa! Do do do doo doooo! Ahem. Did you spot the opening bars of the Star Trek theme tune there?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The skein holder in particular looks like it could have been in one of the early Start Trek episodes. <a href="http://fromthepurlside.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Linda Lencovic of the Kettle Yarn Co</a>. even suggested adding a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribble" target="_blank">tribble</a> or two for authenticty.<br />
<br />
Cue a scene from the Start Trek episode <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trouble_with_Tribbles" target="_blank"><i>The Trouble With Tribbles</i></a>.<br />
<br />
WARNING : readers who deem a young William Shatner the Bees Knees might need to steel themselves before watching the following clip. He emerges from a sea of glorified pompoms. It's ever so slightly gratuitous. I think I know where the inspiration for the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasKmDr1yrA" target="_blank">blush-inducing Mr. Darcy wet shirt moment</a> in the1995 version of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i> came from.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/rQ6LC-olw9Q?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
But there can be no disputing the results of the new bits of technology. In the case of (wo)man versus machine when unwinding skeins I offer you Exhibit A.<br />
<br />
I think the machines have it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKYsayrOWIYfKqnbaoCpr9rRsBawWvLTR0Rx5M_HrkNU3XI0GdlTHYLFPHBGKSPScTj4YL6rjOdWP5Edxta3RM2A-18zR8hO8-9T8hrPBJiCZ4MnkgIxJIbNvbSGn3ShDkvOnABGSdn8f/s1600/Kettle+Yarn+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKYsayrOWIYfKqnbaoCpr9rRsBawWvLTR0Rx5M_HrkNU3XI0GdlTHYLFPHBGKSPScTj4YL6rjOdWP5Edxta3RM2A-18zR8hO8-9T8hrPBJiCZ4MnkgIxJIbNvbSGn3ShDkvOnABGSdn8f/s1600/Kettle+Yarn+3.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Machine ball (left) versus woman's ball (right). </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And aren't I lucky it's the start of autumn here in Melbourne (Ok. So it will be in the high 20s today but the nights are getting cooler)? That gives me six months before spring arrives to get <i>Waterlily's </i>lacework bang on.<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)<br />
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Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-61608804465548578832014-02-21T10:33:00.001+00:002014-02-21T10:33:12.206+00:00A Crochet Collar<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgTVCasd4y9CvV7eXV4Req_oXGkDEXINnHFY5-vJvdllXObH4cLGdTpvZ3wCLMyFl5l5rYUrc7Rbp5ZMBziv-X6CJ3Em3_StQIbezvYARL-0IbnRfSDjBAhSAReqvwGdMgiFysRBa9Vuu/s1600/IMG_8390.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYgTVCasd4y9CvV7eXV4Req_oXGkDEXINnHFY5-vJvdllXObH4cLGdTpvZ3wCLMyFl5l5rYUrc7Rbp5ZMBziv-X6CJ3Em3_StQIbezvYARL-0IbnRfSDjBAhSAReqvwGdMgiFysRBa9Vuu/s1600/IMG_8390.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I'm doing quite a bit of knitting at the moment, what with cardigans for progeny, cardigans for me, temptingly beautiful lacework'd T-shirt thingies on the cover of <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/product/issue-8-spring-2014-print-digital/" target="_blank">Pom Pom Quarterly</a>...<br />
<br />
But I do like a bit of crochet. I love the fact that if you muck things up it's a simple case of taking out the hook, pulling the yarn and the stiches out before inserting hook back into relevant loop.<br />
<br />
JOB DONE.<br />
<br />
None of the soul-destroying moments of desolating realisation that you will <i>never</i> be able to get back the next two days of your life when your knitting needle slips out of a row before falling in awful slow motion and crashing like a cymbal upon the floor. It's bloomin' fiddly putting all those stitches on without twisting or dropping or splitting in half. Which is a pretty good incentive to be a very, very precise knitter with lightening quick reactions and some decent needle stoppers.<br />
<br />
But back to the crochet. There's none of that faff. However I've been off the wagon for a bit so thought, before launching in to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/texture-throw-2" target="_blank">Erika Knight's chunky textured throw</a>, I should get my hand back in. Cue a charming project of French-inspired loveliness in <a href="http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Simply Crochet</i></a>, issue 34 I believe it was...<br />
<br />
A collar.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vvx2C-O-7vlxcBBQgeIbS40yEK2fUD7bnnB1Jx0GvH45FIounWeYrZQkWrDj_0tOmtXDsvq2jUecSdM6auIkcHTncDAQgo_gxZbB6t6yCRAwEkir6iB2oqIYLXZnr4gEek3qwhHxh2Wq/s1600/IMG_8388.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Vvx2C-O-7vlxcBBQgeIbS40yEK2fUD7bnnB1Jx0GvH45FIounWeYrZQkWrDj_0tOmtXDsvq2jUecSdM6auIkcHTncDAQgo_gxZbB6t6yCRAwEkir6iB2oqIYLXZnr4gEek3qwhHxh2Wq/s1600/IMG_8388.JPG" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
Something that can make a simple T shirt or turtle neck a thing of beauty.<br />
<br />
I'd bought some Rowan Cotton DK at <a href="http://hoophaberdashery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hoop Haberdashery</a> (machine washable. The cotton yarn, not Hoop. But ease of machine washability is key to any sort of garment associated with a person under the age of 15. And mothers too. It's amazing how mucky we get.) and instead of the floral motifs suggested in the <a href="http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>Simply Crochet</i></a> pattern went with buttons instead.<br />
<br />
So you can see the final result at the top of this post. It was a lovely, easy and quick piece to make. I should possibly have made it smaller or waited until the progeny was big enough to carry it off more like a collar rather than a lapel, but hey ho. Thus is life.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtctlkhzqI0X2ivXzs88Gar__3d9jHKEUG7lzRuiBzA_eckfBOeviMQlfoEajeRLnueCGMXbtbiRTTLXVrRpMc2bbe2hWU9GEhyoz1_KLw4sYH2vgWtM7NWs7o04Q8Kznv4ELMUzgopaOG/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtctlkhzqI0X2ivXzs88Gar__3d9jHKEUG7lzRuiBzA_eckfBOeviMQlfoEajeRLnueCGMXbtbiRTTLXVrRpMc2bbe2hWU9GEhyoz1_KLw4sYH2vgWtM7NWs7o04Q8Kznv4ELMUzgopaOG/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis) Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-24592538336269990442014-02-12T09:36:00.000+00:002014-02-12T09:36:06.024+00:00Melbourne Craftiness : A Newbie's Guide<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EBCCjUqtoSfpkCTEnNYU164NRPas2psUZ-QoBRBcvMkU3mgReWuu7bpGQzEHg7IGGoDmMrI4ZnenZyH-6n3gGRx67W9mox4V6xWI8enfoeQOoRubD73hF6RwsjbUmMzn4EAeTLd97zKO/s1600/Buttonmania.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0EBCCjUqtoSfpkCTEnNYU164NRPas2psUZ-QoBRBcvMkU3mgReWuu7bpGQzEHg7IGGoDmMrI4ZnenZyH-6n3gGRx67W9mox4V6xWI8enfoeQOoRubD73hF6RwsjbUmMzn4EAeTLd97zKO/s1600/Buttonmania.25.jpg" height="640" width="488" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For the romantics amongst you; Happy Valentine's Day. For the crafty types; Buttons!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Well, Tuesday morning proved to be satisfyingly enjoyable. One of those rousing, jolly and buoyant sort of mornings that comes from meeting lots of passionate and creative types. Most unexpected as I'd popped out into Melbourne's CBD on a quest for some 3.75mm 80cm circular needles in anticipation of a stunning pattern on the cover of the current edition of <a href="http://www.pompommag.com/" target="_blank">Pom Pom Quartely</a> (of which more in another post).<br />
<br />
On the Pom Pom website I'd spotted - seconds after I'd placed the order to send the mag from Blighty down to Melbers. Gah - that one of their suppliers in this Antipodes is <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/" target="_blank">L'Uccello Vintage Habedashery</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Building" target="_blank">Nicholas Building</a>. This is one of Melbourne's rather striking 19th- and 20th-century edifices, built in 1926 with a confidence not that dissimilar to the sort of thing happening in North America at the time. The building's location on the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane is significant as this was the heart of the garment industry and today it still houses (as I found out) a number of fashion and textile studios, ateliers and boutiques.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsu5XWdq_RKwctUJ7pSewoX5nKAONwrHHuongwtr8r6dx_JewXSKPcpj1xSfgYSRwTlpV2zbPHN6pbk-cn-pwM_JhKk1WBFliLrsB9Wk31K5Wc9iB4_VjZoerTdPO3UBvQvCicrC6CoBS/s1600/Nicholas+11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsu5XWdq_RKwctUJ7pSewoX5nKAONwrHHuongwtr8r6dx_JewXSKPcpj1xSfgYSRwTlpV2zbPHN6pbk-cn-pwM_JhKk1WBFliLrsB9Wk31K5Wc9iB4_VjZoerTdPO3UBvQvCicrC6CoBS/s1600/Nicholas+11.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Nicholas Building, corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Lane in Melbourne. A mini Mecca of crafty and textiley marvellousness.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm pretty<i> au fait </i>with Melbourne as I lived here for four years in the mid noughties. At that time however, my stomping grounds were Carlton and the <a href="http://culture-communication.unimelb.edu.au/study-areas/art-history-and-art-curatorship" target="_blank">Art History Department</a> at Melbourne University as well as Brunswick when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moran_family" target="_blank">gangsters like the Morans</a> were taking ungentlemanly pops at each other on Sydney Road.<br />
<br />
Yeah, things have changed somewhat in East Brunswick since then - super, super chic and trendy these days - but the art historians still gather around Carlton.<br />
<br />
Another factor that contributed to my recent lack of nouse regarding where to go for knittery was that, simply, I didn't knit in the mid noughties. I do now. Hence Tuesday's quest for needles and a mission to find a haberdashery.<br />
<br />
Obviously, this being Melbourne and the capital of coffee, I partook of a flat white in one of the CBD's laneways. Here's a picture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4itwAwnBBg4LicBS5l3KFd5cvSXeoE7XcKi_a0Lnw7M4fdddLpN9xVDYXSIdSSEj7pw7vUbLETV6b4BlW4N290_bExDaWf2jp53MkE1GhoEnHdIQQUv5K5LWS_Cs0exLKRZltzn3a9nu/s1600/Central+Place+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4itwAwnBBg4LicBS5l3KFd5cvSXeoE7XcKi_a0Lnw7M4fdddLpN9xVDYXSIdSSEj7pw7vUbLETV6b4BlW4N290_bExDaWf2jp53MkE1GhoEnHdIQQUv5K5LWS_Cs0exLKRZltzn3a9nu/s1600/Central+Place+01.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Place. One of a number of CBD laneways with an abundance of cafes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nice vibe, eh?<br />
<br />
Thus, suitably caffeine-charged, it was onwards to <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/page/about-us.html" target="_blank">L'Uccello</a>, through the very striking stained glass arcade of the Nicholas Building, past the retro clothes store where I may have bought a very ill-advised mini skirt in the past, and onwards... and upwards...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qUrwPbAGltTx8f_MaA9DJrrUL8N5A03oWKMaLTI2pQA7Ba0WyVrnO3l9L6aHXSr7wCfhNaR8K0BmPjdsiunsn2w_OC8uPG5HdhqF5KULAW2_JevgXo_j9tkSXeawlFc_0e9Oh0_1akwQ/s1600/Nicholas+16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1qUrwPbAGltTx8f_MaA9DJrrUL8N5A03oWKMaLTI2pQA7Ba0WyVrnO3l9L6aHXSr7wCfhNaR8K0BmPjdsiunsn2w_OC8uPG5HdhqF5KULAW2_JevgXo_j9tkSXeawlFc_0e9Oh0_1akwQ/s1600/Nicholas+16.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stained glass arcade of Nicholas House. Could a couple of shopping mall property corporates take a bit of inspiration from this, please (WESTFIELD. I'M LOOKING AT YOU)?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Oh. My. Gosh.<br />
<br />
Not only was there the wonder of <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/page/about-us.html" target="_blank">L'Uccello's</a> (Liberty Tana Lawn aplenty, lashings of fat quarters, <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/store/sajou/" target="_blank">Sajou thread </a>as well as exquisite crocheted textiles by French designer <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/store/sophie-digard/" target="_blank">Sophie Digard</a>) but <a href="http://www.buttonmania.com.au/" target="_blank">Buttonmania</a>, <a href="http://kimonohouse.com.au/?page=index" target="_blank">The Kimono House</a>, <a href="http://annodominihome.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Anno Domini Home</a>, Harold and Maude and the Aladdin's cave on level one of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marias-Beads-and-Trims/106144426081803?sk=info" target="_blank">Maria's Beads and Trims</a>.<br />
<br />
So much craft. So much creativity. Such wonderfully inspiring crafty types. Honestly, I spent a couple of hours chatting to the various owners. Kate Boulton of <a href="http://www.buttonmania.com.au/" target="_blank">Buttonmania</a> has been in the button trade for 19 years. Of course there's a button trade, there has to be a button trade, but it's just not something I'd ever really thought about. Until Tuesday. It's a fascinating world of colour, texture, provenance and creativity. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7FjAFXBnAOHLbmwtkwVcjz8TQkzkqAfiUgY51nX9leRTH3Cn6vpWavv9ewx854tjezqVkiU7CIZ6UaQiYdMLKS694fy5PR4CGxSDqYPGq0tPolLLv8-QZphp3G9PsvXhkiusQ4gjjYE5/s1600/Buttonmania.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7FjAFXBnAOHLbmwtkwVcjz8TQkzkqAfiUgY51nX9leRTH3Cn6vpWavv9ewx854tjezqVkiU7CIZ6UaQiYdMLKS694fy5PR4CGxSDqYPGq0tPolLLv8-QZphp3G9PsvXhkiusQ4gjjYE5/s1600/Buttonmania.23.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buttonmania. See that cupboard smothered in dots? BEHOLD. The world's most amazing button drawers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There will be a blogpost pending about Kate. And then another one about Leanne O'Sullivan, owner of <a href="http://kimonohouse.com.au/?page=index" target="_blank">The Kimono House</a>. So you want to take up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sashiko_stitching" target="_blank"><i>sashiko</i></a>? Or maybe Japanese silk embroidery? How about some <a href="http://www.ikebanahq.org/whatis.php" target="_blank"><i>ikebana</i></a> in your life? Or maybe you need some more washi tape. And a stunning lilac cotton kimono to wear as an summer dressing gown. I do. And now I know where to go.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjQWvptdPF_tKUKL4757VD7D7fAb4I7Jknvz9TLXWI7s8DlJpx_G1IGoNOOuLjdWAGvX6nHSfF9UQi-CtRtdm_50h4zAHl6JyIq05pZ-pzIaQZSk4SfYVWWEToRVJcQBfYEQQxk3ZgiAK/s1600/Kimono.01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZjQWvptdPF_tKUKL4757VD7D7fAb4I7Jknvz9TLXWI7s8DlJpx_G1IGoNOOuLjdWAGvX6nHSfF9UQi-CtRtdm_50h4zAHl6JyIq05pZ-pzIaQZSk4SfYVWWEToRVJcQBfYEQQxk3ZgiAK/s1600/Kimono.01.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kimono House. Where do I even begin? It's just magnificent.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The conversation with Andrew Delaney of <a href="http://annodominihome.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">Anno Domini Home</a> was thought-provoking. His work involves taking found textiles - hospital blankets, old doilies, curtain backing - and creating gothic-inspired, 19th-centuryish (I don't want to use the word "Victoriana". That has dubious hints of trouser legs for pianos to protect the sensibilities of corseted young women. His pieces have none of that. Fortunately) sculptures and objects. At first there's something disconcerting about the lifeless callico mannequins and doilie'd skulls but then you look at their beauty and soon the stories start. The stories behind the materials, the stories Andrew creates around his objects and the stories and memories that visitors bring to the works.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFLKLh2tllTEBlDCSHML49qXv7QVh6fje7l4GkUIIUvSF2FZDZkKQfy0bVOfDJyhc8bR7K6tozfPP0dkSFJUVbWLi7mEPZoIeZd8tXjJidn8qoayUiI5tqwvhwslCpEcAz4Lfphy64HCv/s1600/Anno+Domini.02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFLKLh2tllTEBlDCSHML49qXv7QVh6fje7l4GkUIIUvSF2FZDZkKQfy0bVOfDJyhc8bR7K6tozfPP0dkSFJUVbWLi7mEPZoIeZd8tXjJidn8qoayUiI5tqwvhwslCpEcAz4Lfphy64HCv/s1600/Anno+Domini.02.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embroidered heart sculptures made from found textiles at Anno Domini Home. I've got my eye on the black doilie'd one at the bottom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wonderful.<br />
<br />
And just a taste of what I found. I will write more later but for now I am sure you're on tenterhooks regarding the 3.75mm 80cm circular needles. Just where does one go in Melbourne? It turns out <a href="http://luccello.cart.net.au/page/about-us.html" target="_blank">L'Uccello</a> were able to send me on my way to <a href="http://morrisandsons.com.au/c1/" target="_blank">Morris and Sons</a> on Collins Street.<br />
<br />
Oh my. I think I need a sit down. So. Much. Yarn.<br />
<br />
And I forgot to take photos. Gah.<br />
<br />
But who knew a <a href="http://morrisandsons.com.au/c1_365_1935/" target="_blank">worsted merino wool</a> could be so silky? Be still my beating heart.<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis) Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-31569157735795506162014-01-20T19:39:00.001+00:002014-01-20T19:39:17.511+00:00What to knit when emigrating to Australia?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZJfwCGBVSxI4by8Teke10akDXj0e5LJsjrrQokjA4Yi-TO0CMDabufUsfHBu4yD9GBLOBZKH8h-gF7q5S0QnppUuOTGxvaMYrHm7oW1BIKJEAqY6bpc36PS-MQlnzp-RQf2jumZthvl9/s1600/IMG_8422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZJfwCGBVSxI4by8Teke10akDXj0e5LJsjrrQokjA4Yi-TO0CMDabufUsfHBu4yD9GBLOBZKH8h-gF7q5S0QnppUuOTGxvaMYrHm7oW1BIKJEAqY6bpc36PS-MQlnzp-RQf2jumZthvl9/s1600/IMG_8422.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australia, ho!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So tomorrow (Tuesday, January 21st 2014) I am emigrating to Australia. Hence symbolic stuffed kangaroo with joey in pouch plus 8mm knitting needle.<br />
<br />
But back to the point; I'm emigrating. Sounds terribly 19th-century, like I'm packing up the Highland croft, bundling together my worldly possessions in a woolen blanket before getting on a boat for four months and landing on the other side of the planet.<br />
<br />
Change "Highland croft" to "flat in Hackney that housed an embarrassment of stuff" and "four months on a boat" to "three seven-hour flights" and it's pretty much an identical experience. Really.<br />
<br />
This is happening for all the usual and rational reasons that seem to gain currency once one has progeny. More space, more sunshine, good education, better lifestyle choices (what on earth is a "lifestyle choice"?!) and the chance that said progeny will do exceptionally well in any sport other than darts.<br />
<br />
The brain is totally on board with all of this. Of course. Which brain wouldn't be? Shame the heart hasn't got the memo yet.<br />
<br />
But enough of the self-indulgent doubt. Let's focus on the important stuff... what will I be making enroute and when we first arrive amidst the chaos of finding a house, a job, a car and a new life?<br />
<br />
I am prepared with bamboo hooks and needles. Less chance of getting stopped by security as a potential garroter of pilots with metal circular needles. But what of the yarn?<br />
<br />
As we're leaving a Northern Hemisphere winter (albeit a soggy and mild one) to a Southern Hemisphere summer (did you see the frighteningly hot 40+ degree in Melbourne last week?) methinks the 16 balls of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/rowan-cocoon" target="_blank">Rowan Cocoon</a> - a lovely merino and mohair mix in a chunky yarn - intended for a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/texture-throw-2" target="_blank">crocheted blanket by Erika Knight</a>, might be a bit much.<br />
<br />
Actually, I feel a bit hot and bothered just thinking about it. Good thing I've got some <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/noro-aya" target="_blank">Noro Aya</a>, a combo of cotton, silk and a touch of wool with which I'll make a cardigan for the cherub. Those air conditioned rooms can get a bit chilly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpP302zTNcJVULZ1BFxvRA-Nk5NbOC0oaC-A4t0-JYqCekLdZPWOZgcyv-CokIaiAkZy_A8KOjGAqcvDcIbxRf4kz2JWgrwtHly6pK7XKehYIaPM3LKzCXhkz-_TQ15nTmZVbdPDPxzVX/s1600/IMG_8405.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpP302zTNcJVULZ1BFxvRA-Nk5NbOC0oaC-A4t0-JYqCekLdZPWOZgcyv-CokIaiAkZy_A8KOjGAqcvDcIbxRf4kz2JWgrwtHly6pK7XKehYIaPM3LKzCXhkz-_TQ15nTmZVbdPDPxzVX/s1600/IMG_8405.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scruffy looking balls of Noro Aya. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've already launched with that one, using a pattern called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tiny-tea-leaves-cardi" target="_blank">Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi</a>. The difficulty is the silk and cotton in the Aya means there's very little give with this yarn so it can be a bit of a wrestle at times. It also has an odd tendency to go all twisty (see picture).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjxtqgIH6T8Zrb3EVJ7Ui5zCUwwAms2hSFPZNmhh512wjhYdBe0vottqLeyHV09WYdKWEfgiWfLvt2UE3qQY_2VkiES8oG3veXTg5V_n0ZsMHcMV3lQA2F9gCTrRg4rAEUeSbC7G-fjQJ/s1600/IMG_8418.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjxtqgIH6T8Zrb3EVJ7Ui5zCUwwAms2hSFPZNmhh512wjhYdBe0vottqLeyHV09WYdKWEfgiWfLvt2UE3qQY_2VkiES8oG3veXTg5V_n0ZsMHcMV3lQA2F9gCTrRg4rAEUeSbC7G-fjQJ/s1600/IMG_8418.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisty wierdness with the Noro Aya. Any thoughts on why?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The colours are stunning though and I do like the slightly rough texture it produces when knitted up. I'll report back once it's complete. So far the cherub is yet to give her blessing but hopefully I'll win her over when it's finished.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjHyIOCFHQBCiC7WrCgm59Z5JC3C62wbiKE8ITpujvUKwG9wZ2mowYDNaBU0zYtRaB6neQp7sKBLjuKR_H8TtUtZ10nAHAR-ODXwqZuS3n-5dCn_SpJqQSYleMkWmXX2qVXOtHCyifoaL/s1600/IMG_8406.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjHyIOCFHQBCiC7WrCgm59Z5JC3C62wbiKE8ITpujvUKwG9wZ2mowYDNaBU0zYtRaB6neQp7sKBLjuKR_H8TtUtZ10nAHAR-ODXwqZuS3n-5dCn_SpJqQSYleMkWmXX2qVXOtHCyifoaL/s1600/IMG_8406.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have lift off with the Tiny Tea Leaves Cardi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Should the touch of wool in the Aya prove too sticky and bleh on the hottest and most humid of days - stopover in Singapore, I'm looking at you - I've got some balls of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/rowan-handknit-cotton" target="_blank">Rowan Handknit</a> cotton. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgpGrNdxoetysMAqXMs0EPzT13y85dqblGQAdpAEJSJg9K5YctX3ljwZk-OV26s8wzy-2Ez3CDIsDPJjqt8J80QcZ1QpVJJwRMtzdcM3DgM7UrtQIxTu0B4mCo36gG5LcgmJ2pwTU6dU1/s1600/IMG_8341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgpGrNdxoetysMAqXMs0EPzT13y85dqblGQAdpAEJSJg9K5YctX3ljwZk-OV26s8wzy-2Ez3CDIsDPJjqt8J80QcZ1QpVJJwRMtzdcM3DgM7UrtQIxTu0B4mCo36gG5LcgmJ2pwTU6dU1/s1600/IMG_8341.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Squishy, squashy balls of Rowan Handknit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Because I <i><b>need</b></i> more bunting in my life. And I don't want your bog standard triangular variety, oh no. I want curious crocheted floral astral bunting like wot I saw in <i><a href="http://www.simplycrochetmag.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simply Crochet</a> </i>Issue 13. <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u><br /></u></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhst_v1NstqsoaGl4XV6DVxXrXv3lDTaYflHohhetI0TBjmzZLkcWAC5sMQRvwA6HXq7_UbHBX8s0kood39hrBqxXZzcq3Zodhks_uAFzio2L99eCrJK9G95JvU-9ReMOUCPUhzr6dprcqg/s1600/IMG_8387.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhst_v1NstqsoaGl4XV6DVxXrXv3lDTaYflHohhetI0TBjmzZLkcWAC5sMQRvwA6HXq7_UbHBX8s0kood39hrBqxXZzcq3Zodhks_uAFzio2L99eCrJK9G95JvU-9ReMOUCPUhzr6dprcqg/s1600/IMG_8387.JPG" height="640" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curious thingamymawatnot style bunting in <i>Simply Crochet</i> last month.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Only once hung decorously over furniture wot we do not own yet, will the new Antipodean gaff - once we've found a gaff - start becoming home. Hopefully.<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-54272831809832518482014-01-12T20:39:00.000+00:002014-01-12T20:39:40.432+00:00The Curse of the Bandana Cowl<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFj8f72aYZao_Uqf-5P07-wyG7dUrtYfxBiOT_UiDK4vevPhUfs0444Phco9HscMceZF4b6tuOFzWnU_zoDASdjix7QRxUZ5vU3FfGCzZZ9hqwZbKlKt_otpWVpJfEET8LcOYdO6ud_3/s1600/Malabrigo+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjltFj8f72aYZao_Uqf-5P07-wyG7dUrtYfxBiOT_UiDK4vevPhUfs0444Phco9HscMceZF4b6tuOFzWnU_zoDASdjix7QRxUZ5vU3FfGCzZZ9hqwZbKlKt_otpWVpJfEET8LcOYdO6ud_3/s1600/Malabrigo+9.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Purl Bee's Bandana Cowl in a Malabrigo Worsted. Oooh. Pretty Colours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'd been admiring <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2011/10/11/sweet-stitching-with-erin-bandana-cowl.html" target="_blank">Purl Bee's Bandana Cowl</a> for a good long while.<br />
<br />
I thought this would be a decent project to try my yarn acquisitions
from the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-knitting-and-stitching-show-2013.html" target="_blank">Knitting and Stitching Show</a>; the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/malabrigo-yarn-worsted" target="_blank">Malabrigo Worsted</a> and the
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/garnstudio-drops-big-delight" target="_blank">Garnstudio DROPS Big Delight</a>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe_AoJsJIrfEm2JVC04yPv5c_8RzjuLf6nC7_ED2ROT2yV7p02HdaNGJhGczdF16zbhQAAzu4ofRy7aRKSnHYU3ricoCOKBvCHmc1jDyhMaRVljyZZ5I9DgLAtSdnF9oEcDpu9frx-KrQ/s1600/Garnstudio+Big+Delight+01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDe_AoJsJIrfEm2JVC04yPv5c_8RzjuLf6nC7_ED2ROT2yV7p02HdaNGJhGczdF16zbhQAAzu4ofRy7aRKSnHYU3ricoCOKBvCHmc1jDyhMaRVljyZZ5I9DgLAtSdnF9oEcDpu9frx-KrQ/s1600/Garnstudio+Big+Delight+01.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garnstudio's DROPS Big Delight sitting and minding its own business before undergoing some traumatic knitting attempts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bandana-cowl" target="_blank">The Bandana Cowl</a> is one of those patterns that's the basis of 5,600 projects on <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/account/login" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> and is sitting, waiting to be made flesh in 7,500 queues. Comments abound that suggest this is a pretty whizzy project, a decent one for a middle-ranking knitter. Stuff like "I whipped this up in an evening whilst also cooking a 10-course meal that included an assortment of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amuse-bouche" target="_blank"><i>amuse-bouches</i></a>". Thus a mere mortal such as my goodself should probably manage the cowl within a week. Surely?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflp-8nBWFKOdIi-tMX-gADyRv-FDfhhcVPp067e6-F_fkd4eAvurdXYFf4PDCtZR2ZZ8dsOFUBbRm0DdlJyb6Pia-lvGlvShpFrfTVuKj6PNX76L0l1EpJxUxGaEF3CTA3AgI3OKg9KaA/s1600/Malabrigo+Worsted.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhflp-8nBWFKOdIi-tMX-gADyRv-FDfhhcVPp067e6-F_fkd4eAvurdXYFf4PDCtZR2ZZ8dsOFUBbRm0DdlJyb6Pia-lvGlvShpFrfTVuKj6PNX76L0l1EpJxUxGaEF3CTA3AgI3OKg9KaA/s1600/Malabrigo+Worsted.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malabrigo Worsted. So bouncy and a delight to work with. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I had plans to give a varigated lilac number as birthday present for the end of October. Thus I launched in mid October. Ballsed it up. Launched again a week later. Crashed and Burned. Frogged. Launched again. Argh! <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9RAwbhejbQOLdnBcCkmF6mwoteIAumS38grasGgZw8yJ1P3Auwy_brcyXpo5TlAe3wVDGIQXyB-7G3LZdL0m7y2NkVMEJNOlnQGvFk3A0_8tmo2XGu1WV1L3ifSGWMQhhQGS6pUxhv2I/s1600/Bandana+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9RAwbhejbQOLdnBcCkmF6mwoteIAumS38grasGgZw8yJ1P3Auwy_brcyXpo5TlAe3wVDGIQXyB-7G3LZdL0m7y2NkVMEJNOlnQGvFk3A0_8tmo2XGu1WV1L3ifSGWMQhhQGS6pUxhv2I/s1600/Bandana+1.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta daaaa! Lilacky, DROPS cowl. Looking pretty good considering the 10 attempts. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
10 times, people. 10 TIMES before I got this right. DPNs, magic loop, circular needles then I cast on correctly before was thwarted, <i>thwarted</i> by the short rows. There may have been dark utterances of an earthy vernacular that turned the air blue. This was supposed to be a simple thing, which I was not managing, but by golly, I would not be beaten.<br />
<br />
If there is one thing that knitting is teaching me it's patience and a need for precision. If it's not right, pull it apart and start again. Don't try and wing it. This isn't a PhD thesis for crying out loud. Someone will immediately notice the mistake in a knitted project. They'll probably miss the incorrect footnote in Medieval Croatian. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNDYimiFhD5ieBVG04TFmLq9G4mswYbzw38AYtcGQVsQerYiJ2xOfVXp7jSJHVyJt7QVhAC0wZzqm80gSBQtNKw1RPdSrqJgrgNosU465zGjVmX2Nixj7tF1cKImPpJkfv6OI4HRohvho/s1600/Malabrigo+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNDYimiFhD5ieBVG04TFmLq9G4mswYbzw38AYtcGQVsQerYiJ2xOfVXp7jSJHVyJt7QVhAC0wZzqm80gSBQtNKw1RPdSrqJgrgNosU465zGjVmX2Nixj7tF1cKImPpJkfv6OI4HRohvho/s1600/Malabrigo+7.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? It's even a lovely bit of knittery from behind. Ooooh.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And so I tried again. The 10th time proved the charm and I finished off the cowl in 4 nights. So the birthday gift became a Christmas present instead. Since December 23rd I've finished another 3, two more in the DROPS Big Delight and one in the Malabrigo. I've half a ball left of the Big Delight so might make a spare one for future gifting purposes... and may even attempt to cook a 10-course meal with <i>amuse-bouches</i> at the same time.<br />
<br />
Maybe.<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-82692094294854771842013-12-24T10:58:00.000+00:002013-12-24T10:58:51.363+00:00The Bake and Crafthouse, Cranbrook<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA9S42g28tPjNskk-J3jzg1fKpJloumPD0zwdIkKzEMEBxDmfXNAsV_j3daB7z4MUvt2QJDi3eMCEw5oCtX-5nBnt8DZxYxTnDmamAHXjzL0p9JiVaQgw2rGkIBPN2qXZawV2AgtLoYB3/s1600/Bake+and+Crafthouse+Cookie+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguA9S42g28tPjNskk-J3jzg1fKpJloumPD0zwdIkKzEMEBxDmfXNAsV_j3daB7z4MUvt2QJDi3eMCEw5oCtX-5nBnt8DZxYxTnDmamAHXjzL0p9JiVaQgw2rGkIBPN2qXZawV2AgtLoYB3/s640/Bake+and+Crafthouse+Cookie+Logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baking and crafting all under one roof.</td></tr>
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As it's almost Christmas so here's a post to bring cheer and delight. Toddlers wot bake and craft thanks to the wonderful setting that is the <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bake and Crafthouse</a> and the gentle auspices of Kate Alsanjak.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tFSVnP5NU1uNx0CfRFiqYW1eOAeWPAPE7FnU5uUZ_3YxKSsRuyXz1MWPE_yjbxf3k1oJxP-OmzgHMa-o3nuIfuO9cL3b7sXHHZ-Xr2S6ofGz022bCSrcU4fg0qEwdnA4BQWaOlzFtMHp/s1600/Interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tFSVnP5NU1uNx0CfRFiqYW1eOAeWPAPE7FnU5uUZ_3YxKSsRuyXz1MWPE_yjbxf3k1oJxP-OmzgHMa-o3nuIfuO9cL3b7sXHHZ-Xr2S6ofGz022bCSrcU4fg0qEwdnA4BQWaOlzFtMHp/s640/Interior.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, we're in a crafting space. The bunting is the giveaway there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kate is a graduate of St Martins and after working for <a href="http://www.caramel-shop.co.uk/" target="_blank">Caramel Baby & Child</a> as well as a stint in textile development for <a href="http://uk.burberry.com/" target="_blank">Burberry</a> (AMAZING), she decided to set up her own crafty space in the Wealden town of <a href="http://www.cranbrook.org/" target="_blank">Cranbrook</a>. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVFtV4QgQtmxzQNd2zfoYePqUuKCLWaRKwODgU_OX0ovPZ5IGoFDqJpApJZbAGauM8spgdV13VX2pwkd9RiAlwvW2vEt0oSLx1aPYw_bqjIdl5LN9fI0z7CjhFg3i_w4I2v5URuIIhkY_/s1600/The+Bottlers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="497" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGVFtV4QgQtmxzQNd2zfoYePqUuKCLWaRKwODgU_OX0ovPZ5IGoFDqJpApJZbAGauM8spgdV13VX2pwkd9RiAlwvW2vEt0oSLx1aPYw_bqjIdl5LN9fI0z7CjhFg3i_w4I2v5URuIIhkY_/s640/The+Bottlers+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The baking space at the <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bake and Crafthouse</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The House is part of an old brewery. It caters for all ages who want to revel in the joys of creating and making. During term time there are <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/classes/classes.html" target="_blank">regular classes</a> for primary school children and evening events for adults. The toddler class is a particular triumph though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnrLoPQ6U3aD9DTPYvgEyfjU-SMZDL2mAOxhGGn7rl9NLFCZiP28xQqBBJ87g6opsVs5OMtzS9r3CgGwkXfLrFqsIOqZaVVunO3ZOK1JlPKdnOSgELwr0clx4y9spDuVJaWpXx3ipPSf6/s1600/10.Dec.2013.10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnrLoPQ6U3aD9DTPYvgEyfjU-SMZDL2mAOxhGGn7rl9NLFCZiP28xQqBBJ87g6opsVs5OMtzS9r3CgGwkXfLrFqsIOqZaVVunO3ZOK1JlPKdnOSgELwr0clx4y9spDuVJaWpXx3ipPSf6/s640/10.Dec.2013.10.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shhhh! Industrious mixing is happening.</td></tr>
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In one hour the wee ones get to mix and make a marvellous mess that will - after a stint in the oven - emerge as some sort of delicious confection. These photos show the creation of Christmas cupcakes. One mother said, "I've discovered how to make baking at home a much happier experience for myself and my daughter. PREPARATION. I'll get everything weighed and measured before we start and it's meant there's no stress at all. Mess, sure, but no stress". Hear, hear.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2J4IjvnM5EB2ML5880UT8wVgNs7_A1rXpMYo1afBNEHkGLGHR25EsN-w11N1izDbmCow5FRWyVgNYzBUx_Q8KEpnnVHqRUGuF32xV15WDc85A5cWdquk2nVd8oI1vLZAxWYM8JVvK1j_/s1600/10.Dec.2013.16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2J4IjvnM5EB2ML5880UT8wVgNs7_A1rXpMYo1afBNEHkGLGHR25EsN-w11N1izDbmCow5FRWyVgNYzBUx_Q8KEpnnVHqRUGuF32xV15WDc85A5cWdquk2nVd8oI1vLZAxWYM8JVvK1j_/s640/10.Dec.2013.16.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flour, everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />But what to do whilst we all wait for the cakes or biscuits to bake?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FTicXziOc_Fzcn0UdnVF0vaqNLIxNF7ICHpHfCj2CWU6VpLz_sJD28W1moaEjuH07pU4YkTXcGqwChqUPUz2hTWgPoSsAS28UkNXcjINkQK86bQlbRGQguI0v9NUHwFVw3mTTg5B11KC/s1600/10.Dec.2013.20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FTicXziOc_Fzcn0UdnVF0vaqNLIxNF7ICHpHfCj2CWU6VpLz_sJD28W1moaEjuH07pU4YkTXcGqwChqUPUz2hTWgPoSsAS28UkNXcjINkQK86bQlbRGQguI0v9NUHwFVw3mTTg5B11KC/s640/10.Dec.2013.20.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So. Much. Mess. So. Much. Joy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Cue the crafting. The last class of the autumn term involved Paper Craft 101: sticking paper stars onto little triangles of brown paper...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpQDHqqdmMMYKK0tl9xOhvRwkoi2ls-rpoLKC0OM9AGwjBL3sEVF4FJ4icTW6Vp2UGmlR_RICK2pfhUZrjl-tvGECjoCSuwsl7_l4MpAqdP_CBUvf3yyAqJoObmP4uyk2JSL2J431m4CP/s1600/10.Dec.2013.28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpQDHqqdmMMYKK0tl9xOhvRwkoi2ls-rpoLKC0OM9AGwjBL3sEVF4FJ4icTW6Vp2UGmlR_RICK2pfhUZrjl-tvGECjoCSuwsl7_l4MpAqdP_CBUvf3yyAqJoObmP4uyk2JSL2J431m4CP/s640/10.Dec.2013.28.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paper Craft 101</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
... before sewing them together to make a dingly dangly Christmas decoration. Simple, sweet and the source of much joy for the tiny ones.<br />
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What I found fascinating was how individual each toddler's taste and eye was. One little girl <i>only </i>wanted light green stars on her triangles. Another alternated dark green with light whilst the wee one below decided to have a rectangle in the mix. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL84eJPgEuy3AhQWZrTTzuBwd7OWKvs9Q-4JqFGt2oCKdBjI80q0bTfeIJJER4ZEfoub7il8SAR9p4VitkS07pI1Ck5RDeYco6tfmXqMqZekc_75NTbUYinZb1_fz-fi6YkOUCavkNtCkG/s1600/10.Dec.2013.33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL84eJPgEuy3AhQWZrTTzuBwd7OWKvs9Q-4JqFGt2oCKdBjI80q0bTfeIJJER4ZEfoub7il8SAR9p4VitkS07pI1Ck5RDeYco6tfmXqMqZekc_75NTbUYinZb1_fz-fi6YkOUCavkNtCkG/s640/10.Dec.2013.33.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dingly dangly Christmas decoration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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These little ones found such pride and contentment in making and defining their own style. It's not easy for us mothers to let go sometimes, to let our children just try things their own way and experiment. Every time I do, simply watching and only supporting when asked to (not saying it's easy. It's jolly hard sometimes) I am humbled by what these children create and the pleasure it means for all.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjFZl2-LAwAU_OqSJpNZYLO4cK3zi3f5ZYC2Or3RgmMoJjnxoXemHR5rlhrX1BkW5KIyZ3DOvngPzLZ1jeS_uKOLrwchDRE-iG429Ej6iyRhPHL5Z5Y_k1Zjp4F98bh2GzKmIJTj_1-dD/s1600/10.Dec.2013.37.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMjFZl2-LAwAU_OqSJpNZYLO4cK3zi3f5ZYC2Or3RgmMoJjnxoXemHR5rlhrX1BkW5KIyZ3DOvngPzLZ1jeS_uKOLrwchDRE-iG429Ej6iyRhPHL5Z5Y_k1Zjp4F98bh2GzKmIJTj_1-dD/s640/10.Dec.2013.37.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooh. Sparkly decoration for Christmas cupcakes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And all of this is accompanied by tea and - once baked - cake! It is actually a suprisingly tough thing to pull off, an activity that brings contentment for children and mothers. Both parties can spot a mile off people who claim they get on with children (but really don't) but will also revel in the presence of someone who genuinely cares for and thinks about tiny ones. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxoex5_tzwgsHIwk2cQiBvdijrahow_j0ZA0oGBPCzF7HP1JxBkufsK4BVe7VEZzVVwbvyRi-b4VBlgMtxIsDiYu9ZV6lP8sUU7bzl8XNzg78k0dmGnf6htmGvNYnkJv7SDf2H26VHGB6/s1600/10.Dec.2013.51.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyxoex5_tzwgsHIwk2cQiBvdijrahow_j0ZA0oGBPCzF7HP1JxBkufsK4BVe7VEZzVVwbvyRi-b4VBlgMtxIsDiYu9ZV6lP8sUU7bzl8XNzg78k0dmGnf6htmGvNYnkJv7SDf2H26VHGB6/s640/10.Dec.2013.51.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kate Alsanjak of the <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bake and Crafthouse</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So all hail Kate Alsanjak and the<a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/index.html" target="_blank"> Bake and Crafthouse</a>! She's helping the next generation of creators with a calm and loving hand, giving them (and their mothers!) the confidence to enjoy the simple act of making.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeOYQfaW1YzCIbGgIfIcpscFo9ZonKqkabqByQ_Qa8nz-W9Oyq9idCfq423zLWY54mARkOkpd8-mMgGWJZ9jmV7NlB4fSWXO71RCf-T7IZSlYEqiA_1IVy1AunTGVMG8CSxZ6mz-pDRbV/s1600/10.Dec.2013.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeOYQfaW1YzCIbGgIfIcpscFo9ZonKqkabqByQ_Qa8nz-W9Oyq9idCfq423zLWY54mARkOkpd8-mMgGWJZ9jmV7NlB4fSWXO71RCf-T7IZSlYEqiA_1IVy1AunTGVMG8CSxZ6mz-pDRbV/s640/10.Dec.2013.53.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Merry Christmas to you all.<br />
<br />
(Images: <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/index.html" target="_blank">Bake and Crafthouse</a>, Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-3477830038201068692013-12-15T17:26:00.003+00:002013-12-22T20:14:41.485+00:00Craftacular Hath Been<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHsuctsbiNgC8MxauBSK2cvCyCQW1JmCqboIVrbMBBJe1fcv0iZ5xxzN_0K4CcnrVwp_mNlbAtxF8msrgSFKkcmQx5fbTYFsCiPnh5iRwYaFteAflf9qkPpLDC9V8qsSLNFmktJeQylY9/s1600/IMG_8013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVHsuctsbiNgC8MxauBSK2cvCyCQW1JmCqboIVrbMBBJe1fcv0iZ5xxzN_0K4CcnrVwp_mNlbAtxF8msrgSFKkcmQx5fbTYFsCiPnh5iRwYaFteAflf9qkPpLDC9V8qsSLNFmktJeQylY9/s640/IMG_8013.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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Well now, what a marvellous way to spend a Sunday afternoon. And as it was in the run up to Christmas (traditionally a period called Advent, I believe) it proved a useful way to gather up many gifts in one fell swoop. <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/craftacular-cometh.html" target="_blank">Huzzah for Craftacular</a>!<br />
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It was a good balance of hip and homely. I think the picture above of the <a href="http://shoreditchsisters.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Shoreditch Sisters' WI</a> Christmas tree juxtaposed with bokeh'd elegant types sums up the vibe. There was a good range of objets d'art on offer, all produced by local artists and crafty types. Workshops created spaces for making and proved a healthy complement to the all the stuff that one could buy.<br />
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Any quibbles? Just one. The raffle was online only. So no frenzy of raffle ticket lines for me nor the slightly thrilling thought of possibly losing the winning number because it got lost somewhere in the bowels of my handbag.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmC117xH6Hk5neQnvumfl9FAb9OTJIm5KCDeBa6SrKI0duGONf7b2HZYEzbRXgegSsq6WhX4_h22XP8Pz00hUBzfr_Wq0RJZztvXr3If9aCdi663cxVZ-1l0MKtGVbbUrML7WFC_RHMMzr/s1600/IMG_8020.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmC117xH6Hk5neQnvumfl9FAb9OTJIm5KCDeBa6SrKI0duGONf7b2HZYEzbRXgegSsq6WhX4_h22XP8Pz00hUBzfr_Wq0RJZztvXr3If9aCdi663cxVZ-1l0MKtGVbbUrML7WFC_RHMMzr/s640/IMG_8020.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craftacular London in Bethnal Green's York Hall, December 8th 2013.</td></tr>
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There was such a good range of works from ceramics to textiles to jewellery that there isn't the space to write about everyone. So I'll just keep to my personal favourites. Here we go:<br />
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<a href="http://georgiabosson.co.uk/" target="_blank">Georgia Bosson </a>started
a theme of strong colours and confident patterns in the textiles that defined Craftacular. With the unexpected mixed media addition of
perspex stitched on to her origami-inspired cushion cover. Originally trained as an
embroiderer in Manchester, Georgia recently came to the wonderful world
of screen printing. Although there's the opportunity to print patterns
<i>ad infinitum</i> Georgia made a conscious decision to limit print runs in
colour ways. Thus there's no chance of an awkward "Oh! But I've got
that cushion cover too!" moment when visiting a chum's residence for
high tea. Rather an envious "Oooh" may emit forth from sulky lips when the exclusivity of said cushion cover is announced.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTIbnqoxtX4SyIiIf7MxxY_emCCpOIl2b7XapJrDaNzmRcryZeJjgA4xJbJyhG7FSgAh68PJR2MvF6HCdjKrnXdd1AolQmAz3Pd4ljwalRjsceC3rcP1clby-NtTdkQyMAoetu3sbDVuI/s1600/IMG_8034.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmTIbnqoxtX4SyIiIf7MxxY_emCCpOIl2b7XapJrDaNzmRcryZeJjgA4xJbJyhG7FSgAh68PJR2MvF6HCdjKrnXdd1AolQmAz3Pd4ljwalRjsceC3rcP1clby-NtTdkQyMAoetu3sbDVuI/s640/IMG_8034.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cushion cover worthy of cushion cover envy. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PS2VlFrCjSkzc408f7FlFJwijYRkTQKdZic7qA5r3gbE_9dqMIPEPyPuBiNq6TZSzCb-p4XZNKBG0Gi1IKeqNbeOaAab2TccdTC0P_GA-MmN8TXTGZ0gE05cLCY2AjKXf7bsB5AIzcQN/s1600/IMG_8035.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PS2VlFrCjSkzc408f7FlFJwijYRkTQKdZic7qA5r3gbE_9dqMIPEPyPuBiNq6TZSzCb-p4XZNKBG0Gi1IKeqNbeOaAab2TccdTC0P_GA-MmN8TXTGZ0gE05cLCY2AjKXf7bsB5AIzcQN/s640/IMG_8035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bright and bold prints adorning Georgia Bosson's tea towel packs. </td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.kanganarora.com/" target="_blank">Kangan Arora</a> and <a href="http://www.jonnasaarinen.co.uk/" target="_blank">Jonna Saarinen</a> had a joint venture stall. Jonna's "hundreds and thousands" adorning cushions, tea towels and trays worked magnificently with Kangan's bright and bold hues. And the pom pom fringing was a triumph. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY1R9ps436K-d2VPh7U_dqPZuMODqo0V0v3mKzPvnnsJ_nO5e07C61tmDLAdjJSji_zKs8LFFvkrXh-uIQoXDz6H5kcCO_w8pQS1d0nunyN6ybAS7LRGEkDe4K4hP5IyF2jeFWaznEqr2/s1600/IMG_8047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY1R9ps436K-d2VPh7U_dqPZuMODqo0V0v3mKzPvnnsJ_nO5e07C61tmDLAdjJSji_zKs8LFFvkrXh-uIQoXDz6H5kcCO_w8pQS1d0nunyN6ybAS7LRGEkDe4K4hP5IyF2jeFWaznEqr2/s640/IMG_8047.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kangan Arora and Jonna Saarinen put together a fun collection of soft furnishings and other delights for the interior.</td></tr>
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From textiles to jewellery now and I was keen on the stuff by <a href="http://www.bobbinandbow.com/" target="_blank">Bobbin and Bow</a>. Not only was there a whimsical Victoriana / Edwardiana feel to the work BUT maker Karolina Merska is <i>another</i> art historian who left the world of academia and has embraced all things crafty and beautiful. YES. I approve muchly.<br />
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But back to the jewellery; Karolina dyes found and acquired lace motifs in bright hues before setting them as statement pieces. Her stall presentation was also stunning, simple but effective thanks to the basic principles of complementary colours (art history again) and the use of old books. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09DuGOWmTsodYykoKEEKIiy4ZJ0sSjKzgbcLrTiBXhk0W8KWQDnUHpD0dQUhzJ5rL_dUDCTsIft_rOY5zNdBErqT1XHP-ycMuhFpFuL3qakdMQzf86nQS6xbzl1yipOjmB10aue8HJz2V/s1600/IMG_8049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09DuGOWmTsodYykoKEEKIiy4ZJ0sSjKzgbcLrTiBXhk0W8KWQDnUHpD0dQUhzJ5rL_dUDCTsIft_rOY5zNdBErqT1XHP-ycMuhFpFuL3qakdMQzf86nQS6xbzl1yipOjmB10aue8HJz2V/s640/IMG_8049.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple but effective jewellery and stall presentation by Bobbin and Bow.</td></tr>
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Continuing the jewellery theme we move from haberdashery to porcelain. Quite a contrast in texture and look. Ceramicist Jade Gallup of <a href="http://www.madebymememe.com/" target="_blank">Me Me Me</a> originally trained as a sculptor before finding her métier in smaller creations. Here pastel colours contrast with striking geometry and linearity in brooches and necklaces whilst other works include tiny 1970s-esque toys or chunky gemstones.<br />
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And I love the fact she deploys the "I" word in her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/people/jadegallup?ref=owner_profile_leftnav" target="_blank">etsy spiel</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconography" target="_blank">"Iconography</a>", people! <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aby_Warburg" target="_blank">Aby Warburg</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erwin_Panofsky" target="_blank">Erwin Panofsky</a> would be fascinated by how artists of today reuse and reimagine the images, symbols and icons of the past, helping pass on these visual echoes to new generations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRvw85qoqwfMDGv-kYhMRjxUCongTN_BVHOLHe2px7abup-JXR61F3GndLMoaoZ0qGPJ2OJLVYZPoQgPZfCNgQdB3IS9LmGC3oxPRnNKd1XCqBgbKLn7ANnEdry1DfJO9_F1gYlhO5h7Y/s1600/IMG_8041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRvw85qoqwfMDGv-kYhMRjxUCongTN_BVHOLHe2px7abup-JXR61F3GndLMoaoZ0qGPJ2OJLVYZPoQgPZfCNgQdB3IS9LmGC3oxPRnNKd1XCqBgbKLn7ANnEdry1DfJO9_F1gYlhO5h7Y/s640/IMG_8041.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Geometric ceramic jewellery by Jade Gallup of Me Me Me.</td></tr>
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Ahem. Sorry, got a bit carried away there.<br />
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Back to Craftacular and the <a href="http://generalpattern.net/" target="_blank">James Brown </a> stall. Witty, informative and striking prints abounded and - I do agree with the comment of one customer - it was distinctly masculine. For, <i>quelle surprise</i>, this craft scene is somewhat dominated by women. Which is fine, but we do tend toward different sorts of aesthetics and subject matter to chaps*. How many men do you really know want statement tea towels and crocheted hair clips in their lives? Not many I reckon.<br />
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So it was refreshing to find pieces made by local chaps that other chaps will appreciate and us womenfolk will approve of too. And listeners of <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/" target="_blank">Radio 4</a> will be salivating at the prospect of a map showing where the mythical regions of the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shipping_Forecast" target="_blank"> Shipping Forecast</a> actually are. "<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/coast_and_sea/shipping_forecast" target="_blank">Dogger</a>", anyone?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIABgkRX_-KOBaL4KL4F5NvJrGgvhK_nYdKREhf6BjorrDm57CIbSemdhBwy8TJTaOkUvqcf9EHB6V2_BwQrbdVRV3kiWMgARTnPIIGRwdcAugm3_9FEAiRAYxjcZRQFPNq12FxKYhmOnj/s1600/IMG_8037.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIABgkRX_-KOBaL4KL4F5NvJrGgvhK_nYdKREhf6BjorrDm57CIbSemdhBwy8TJTaOkUvqcf9EHB6V2_BwQrbdVRV3kiWMgARTnPIIGRwdcAugm3_9FEAiRAYxjcZRQFPNq12FxKYhmOnj/s640/IMG_8037.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Brown's prints. Informative and appealing.</td></tr>
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Next up, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DuvetDays" target="_blank">Duvet Days.</a><br />
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Amazing. Just, amazing. Take kids duvet covers from the 1980s (Hellloooo <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wscI-8_ZhU" target="_blank"><i>My Little Pony</i></a>/ <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na8ThDftsKk" target="_blank"><i>Thundercats</i></a> / <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLS2N9mHWaw" target="_blank"><i>Transformers</i></a>!) sourced from ebay, charity shops and jumble sales...<br />
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... then turn into early 1990s inspired crop tops and trousers.<br />
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LOVE IT.<br />
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And if you're not brave enough to sport a crop top, word is there are plans afoot to make children's clothes out of said duvet covers. Little girls' shift dresses out of a Transformer cover?<br />
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As I said. Amazing. Just, amazing.<br />
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And of course there was Christmas-themed baked treats provided by the <a href="http://bakeandcrafthouse.com/" target="_blank">Bake and Crafthouse</a> of Cranbrook. Yuletide "huzzahs!" all round, methinks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DmtOE4ygJzwWuwRJg0ULjO3cFiZ41urDxZiTi9fcIT6Pt2tCjR2XZFb_1eEXGHFcstUf9ZsJ2eMLW_nfxb4Hb5rwnxgGgM5KA5xtzqrpo0kkUkkHxkaE0uYX3OL-uENmTp2ce4PIT-cq/s1600/IMG_8056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9DmtOE4ygJzwWuwRJg0ULjO3cFiZ41urDxZiTi9fcIT6Pt2tCjR2XZFb_1eEXGHFcstUf9ZsJ2eMLW_nfxb4Hb5rwnxgGgM5KA5xtzqrpo0kkUkkHxkaE0uYX3OL-uENmTp2ce4PIT-cq/s640/IMG_8056.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas baked treats from the Bake and Crafthouse</td></tr>
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*Cue comments of heated outrage about gender inequality or casual generalisations but it's too close to the Christmas holidays for me to respond with any vim and vigour. I'm sleek and round with mince pies at the moment and it's not event the Third Sunday in Advent yet. I'll see if I can find a peer reviewed article and possibly create a footnote at some point in 2014.<br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-4608432461076702422013-12-04T11:44:00.003+00:002013-12-04T15:35:14.921+00:00Craftacular Cometh<br />
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In the early, early days of this blog I found a crafter happy to eat cake, drink tea and answer a few questions I had regarding craft, creativity and the binding of generations and community through making. Nothing too weighty there then...<br />
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That crafter was <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/Chloe-Burrow-Merry-Bobbins.html" target="_blank">Chloé Burrow of the Merry Bobbins</a>. Today she's organising <a href="http://www.bust.com/craftacular/about-london.html" target="_blank">BUST Magazine's London Craftacular</a>, this Sunday Dec 8, 12-6pm at Bethnal Greens' York Hall. I would expect nothing less of Miss Burrow to organise a Craft Fair of superlative quality and academic pedigree. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeDl_NG4THD1gxHbq7DbAKOe70z3iBDdVMd47b3AypwUPXE6MwXlvYeYVt186LhNkuWjUNKvyWJZ1kSKHlhi5yvpZja4tJllq1hVXcquNhp1unNM05-wP9MfGMinUtMleJGwcxvXYACJe/s1600/_MG_3916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeDl_NG4THD1gxHbq7DbAKOe70z3iBDdVMd47b3AypwUPXE6MwXlvYeYVt186LhNkuWjUNKvyWJZ1kSKHlhi5yvpZja4tJllq1hVXcquNhp1unNM05-wP9MfGMinUtMleJGwcxvXYACJe/s640/_MG_3916.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Craftacular at York Hall, Old Ford Road in Bethnal Green</td></tr>
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Let me explain: one of <a href="http://www.bust.com/info/about-bust.html" target="_blank">BUST Magazine's</a> founders is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debbie_Stoller" target="_blank">Debbie Stoller</a>. Armed with a PhD in psychology 'twas she who articulated a way in which Feminism and traditional (read: <i>oppressive</i>) "feminine" pursuits e.g knitting, crochet and handicrafts <i>et al </i>could live happily together. You've heard of Stitch and Bitch, I presume? She's the woman who started it all, reassuring us that we didn't need to burn our knitting needles and reject generations' worth of skill and knowledge in order to be a Feminist. <br />
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And fortunately, if you want to be a modern-thinking woman who fancies taking up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macram%C3%A9" target="_blank">macramé</a>, you don't need to burn your bra either. Relief all round methinks.<br />
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Anyhoo, appropriately BUST established a Craftacular in oh-so-hip Brooklyn yonks ago and luckily decided to set up shop in oh-so-hip-as-well-as-slightly-self-deprecating East London. This is a craft fair where some super smashing design talent - both established and new kids on the block - can show us all just how good they are. And we can purchase some Christmas Presents Beyond Compare for Our Loved Ones in one fell swoop. I do like that.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXpw-dTh94h1jUEZfKDuznIvUhA1mhTVYVM_eoINIDR-TwHwYU7I3hK7lXUw35uOLfMqQ_pdhvGdJlPVAo7HDcF2AqSfHm9MH8B7nr1KXbYKjH5Evil6CjErRBtxbF7tU8QmrK-EaH_ZZ/s1600/Bust+Craftacular.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXpw-dTh94h1jUEZfKDuznIvUhA1mhTVYVM_eoINIDR-TwHwYU7I3hK7lXUw35uOLfMqQ_pdhvGdJlPVAo7HDcF2AqSfHm9MH8B7nr1KXbYKjH5Evil6CjErRBtxbF7tU8QmrK-EaH_ZZ/s640/Bust+Craftacular.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cushions made out of vintage tea towels. YESSSSS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Amongst the designers present will be famed types such as the Poet of Papercraft, <a href="http://robryanstudio.com/" target="_blank">Rob Ryan</a>, whilst the marvellous <a href="https://www.tattydevine.com/" target="_blank">Tatty Devine</a> has given prizes for the raffle (more of which later) and delights in goody bags for ten lucky recipients. There will also be a space - the titillatingly punn'd BOOBTIQUE - for sustainable fashion as well as workshops led by the likes of <a href="http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabrications</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/makethriftlondon" target="_blank">Make, Thrift London</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmK9N2i8k44Ypi27k1BYMr4OIRx_ahZJNdgxcssXMPdEOSwV9yZ7gXdqtTnWVffUNu8o-NVjzBSqcUskrKGvqMYPkHAQhS8WOnd6-GQHhlpLWw47WLU9HtPDDE4DLGAICf9ZvTmgRuVL/s1600/Bust+Craftacular+Rob+Ryan+and+Shoreditch+Sisters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VmK9N2i8k44Ypi27k1BYMr4OIRx_ahZJNdgxcssXMPdEOSwV9yZ7gXdqtTnWVffUNu8o-NVjzBSqcUskrKGvqMYPkHAQhS8WOnd6-GQHhlpLWw47WLU9HtPDDE4DLGAICf9ZvTmgRuVL/s640/Bust+Craftacular+Rob+Ryan+and+Shoreditch+Sisters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob Ryan and the Shoreditch Sisters branch of the Women's Institute. Modernity, tradition and a papercraft guru all around one table. Only at <a href="http://www.bust.com/craftacular/about-london.html" target="_blank">Craftacular</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And there's a raffle. I do love a good raffle. There's the adrenalin-charged thrill of it. Good thing I'm not allowed near the <a href="http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/gee-gee" target="_blank">gee-gees</a> these days otherwise I'd be in penury. Fortunately, there's small chance of penury and a greater chance of a prize with <a href="http://www.supermarketsarah.com/" target="_blank">Supermarket Sarah's</a> BUST Craftacular Raffle draw. <a href="http://www.supermarketsarah.com/" target="_blank">Click on through to buy your tickets here.</a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPJ5BPQOGqGSwVAdiKql9xpzcC904WN9cBXubBrszdk-lKR6Wjka2C5hYN_xZxA3xxj2uQQHkpZVRl2wo95B_iYKpC2WW_patpkwkXZRrUA6RQrdEknsqkWfz3MqZn68bXg66MXwJXtFE/s1600/BUSTCraftacular_Raffle_wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPJ5BPQOGqGSwVAdiKql9xpzcC904WN9cBXubBrszdk-lKR6Wjka2C5hYN_xZxA3xxj2uQQHkpZVRl2wo95B_iYKpC2WW_patpkwkXZRrUA6RQrdEknsqkWfz3MqZn68bXg66MXwJXtFE/s640/BUSTCraftacular_Raffle_wall.jpg" title="" width="536" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.supermarketsarah.com/" target="_blank">Supermarket Sarah's</a> yuletide display of prizes for the BUST raffle. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oh, and there will be music. I don't get out much after 6pm these days, so any chance of daytime boppage is always gratefully received. Ideally something that's not too vigorous. Like medieval dancing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/JiE17pvisBg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Which leads me on to my final point... I'm going! See you there. I can't wait to see what Miss Burrow has waiting for us all. <br />
<br />
(Images: <a href="http://www.bust.com/craftacular/about-london.html" target="_blank">BUST Craftacular London</a>) Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-60126291563226311192013-11-20T21:18:00.002+00:002020-12-05T09:38:05.022+00:00Cricket Cardigan and Twerking<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t5d6C0aRNf6s4k7seCWA3OTzMZKcfL8SXv6sMfR4iAEpNyTDUfKlNdXabk9YYQ46jamN6ncsOlumbp6dsOWR17fJdLq1AkRQTGTJ0dKGNtQl4FSwmkqR-nf7hDTHxHOiDvGPLYtkoTJz/s1600/IMG_7665.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_t5d6C0aRNf6s4k7seCWA3OTzMZKcfL8SXv6sMfR4iAEpNyTDUfKlNdXabk9YYQ46jamN6ncsOlumbp6dsOWR17fJdLq1AkRQTGTJ0dKGNtQl4FSwmkqR-nf7hDTHxHOiDvGPLYtkoTJz/s640/IMG_7665.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A fluffy cardigan. Not bad for a first attempt, even if I do say so myself.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ta da!<br />
<br />
It's been a while but at last here is...<br />
<br />
SOMETHING WOT I HAVE MADE.<br />
<br />
Remember the fluffy angora tension squares that became part of the decor of <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/what-to-do-with-tension-squares.html" target="_blank">Upsy Daisy's bijoux apartment</a>?<br />
<br />
Well, the remainder of the yarn became the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" target="_blank">Cricket Cardigan</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WpC0K5z2uN1d2TfqyEf4_N7P5K7Ysa1VEDpek9Xh7dgxZf4VNg5z2uP9uX0WRBrqbfyr5A8XoxzqF6y8Kabms8AuKi503aHAe18STkwxibhHNJqQE0hcEBnkq1i0K0j0nEyfONSIOVt_/s1600/IMG_7681.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WpC0K5z2uN1d2TfqyEf4_N7P5K7Ysa1VEDpek9Xh7dgxZf4VNg5z2uP9uX0WRBrqbfyr5A8XoxzqF6y8Kabms8AuKi503aHAe18STkwxibhHNJqQE0hcEBnkq1i0K0j0nEyfONSIOVt_/s640/IMG_7681.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oooh. I do like that textured yoke. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It looks suitably retro and sweet. Perfect for a toddler. Ok, so the buttons are a bit wonky. I may have forgotten to use a larger needle when I bound off the ribbing on the cuffs so they're a bit tight. And the neckline has gone a bit loose and "hangy" (is there even such a word?) in recent days.<br />
<br />
However, I put the hangy neckline down to the fact the cherub has been wearing said flufftastic cardigan almost nonstop since it was finished. Huzzah! How satisfying and timely considering we're due a frost-bitingly cold snap in the next day or so. A wintery autumnalness is coming. <br />
<br />
What's also kinda fab is that fluffy mohair jumpers seem to be the thing amongst the local hipsters of Hackney so the cherub has unwittingly become a trendsetter.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTujI07oPz-r-zCEAnV1zT2QkSxiDzdZpm74kWGPHVOy8-t17_tdo4X5qkdCgXHMnC3viA1DItfpk7kvRxuX8ifirhWTCFlZqU1w1wb0KwLAmjB2gAsZZQej8XZyhQwWQZ37NXnKL7GR3S/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTujI07oPz-r-zCEAnV1zT2QkSxiDzdZpm74kWGPHVOy8-t17_tdo4X5qkdCgXHMnC3viA1DItfpk7kvRxuX8ifirhWTCFlZqU1w1wb0KwLAmjB2gAsZZQej8XZyhQwWQZ37NXnKL7GR3S/s640/IMG_7672.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite unwitting hipster in all of the People's Republic of Hackney sporting the trendiest of fluffy knitwear.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><p>
Much to her un-trendy mother's amazement.<br />
<br />
Long may her trendsetting in sensible woollen clothing continue, well into the teens and <i>beyond</i>. I've been observing the late teen antics of poor Miley Cyrus and the consternation her recent "twerking"* has caused. My biggest concern is that due to a lack of knitwear and - occasionally - even clothing, she must get terribly cold most of the time and probably lives in constant fear of catching 'flu or a kidney infection. I do hope my daughter will forever embrace the sensible path of warmth, for health reasons if not sartorial ones.<br /></p><p> <br />
*On an aside, to emphasise my lack of trendiness I had to ask a chum recently (who is <i>not</i> a mother of a toddler and knows what's happening in contemporary popular culture) what this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twerking" target="_blank">"twerking"</a> is that people have been getting all het up about. Once it was explained, I was baffled. How exhausting it must be for all these young ladies to twerk when you could be having a cup of tea and knitting a cardigan instead. <br />
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</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5y07vNbqclhzs3rK96LQ8A02J3ngq2Ny1GQJpnR3w3FtEvIjLWUlhcx0FL2U-rUcVZrEnDEsm-bv50iiNmjLQMBEpNegPNBBt-B-qpk_Jm-Mj6LAnowUP7HSbOBufaGZtS8mXpkXjAu5/s1600/IMG_7663.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5y07vNbqclhzs3rK96LQ8A02J3ngq2Ny1GQJpnR3w3FtEvIjLWUlhcx0FL2U-rUcVZrEnDEsm-bv50iiNmjLQMBEpNegPNBBt-B-qpk_Jm-Mj6LAnowUP7HSbOBufaGZtS8mXpkXjAu5/s640/IMG_7663.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why twerk when you could watch a blocked cardigan dry instead?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I prefer <a href="http://www.barrycryer.co.uk/" target="_blank">Barry Cryer's</a> definition in this week's <i><a href="http://www.isihac.net/index.php" target="_blank">I'm sorry I haven't a clue</a> </i>on Radio 4 (ah, Radio 4. The main reason I'm completely oblivious to what's happening in contemporary pop culture);<br />
<br />
<i>'Twerk: something that happens in Yorkshire between 9am and 5pm.</i><br />
<br />
Genius.<br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-71247008671243228952013-10-31T13:44:00.002+00:002013-10-31T13:45:01.166+00:00Crafty Magazine and Drop Spindles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ijbQhFocSMzFcxMWg6JRgtU_VCUpX0LvG1YubO12__O9T45nloGYpszIBTJPnCmgPgL1QNcR2cnUY0G3RTsqLHnNRgbym9_uy4fviJ_lieByB0GbetvrkW7okm-auHnOym7kBMLsoUrh/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+80.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ijbQhFocSMzFcxMWg6JRgtU_VCUpX0LvG1YubO12__O9T45nloGYpszIBTJPnCmgPgL1QNcR2cnUY0G3RTsqLHnNRgbym9_uy4fviJ_lieByB0GbetvrkW7okm-auHnOym7kBMLsoUrh/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+80.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drop spindle with some pastel-hued yarn wot I have made.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Huzzah! Another publication in print! In this instance it's a short piece in <a href="http://www.craftymag.com/" target="_blank"><i>Crafty Magazine</i></a> (Issue 7, p. 14).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrlorH-eY5HpQI6-VrNs8WaR2zNj3OJSiUMHOZwEftqJ70c_gmboROgSwuWdV6GEwd-LR0fRtqhVCvdc0RbbUMyKSw5Jk25Cl5UnY6UtqbGPJdrSfeXqMH4CIcNhciZ_ERlPSQC5Q3eiO/s1600/cm07-_page-01_-fc-uk.-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrlorH-eY5HpQI6-VrNs8WaR2zNj3OJSiUMHOZwEftqJ70c_gmboROgSwuWdV6GEwd-LR0fRtqhVCvdc0RbbUMyKSw5Jk25Cl5UnY6UtqbGPJdrSfeXqMH4CIcNhciZ_ERlPSQC5Q3eiO/s400/cm07-_page-01_-fc-uk.-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.craftymag.com/" target="_blank"><i>Crafty Magazine</i></a>, Issue 7. Turn to page 14...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhO_OiHiKVgAQY0ZUXKQrBqIamqbJYlsGNonrIPT7_jKiiAulBzuZHDjwoafsnO7y0v4IJVk4Ir3KeOOk9yBJDXKr8ObJSOw6NBYM-omd6bHgRLMp6XG00Y8HyZ2pUMwipsAecmu_CT9Z/s1600/Crafty+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikhO_OiHiKVgAQY0ZUXKQrBqIamqbJYlsGNonrIPT7_jKiiAulBzuZHDjwoafsnO7y0v4IJVk4Ir3KeOOk9yBJDXKr8ObJSOw6NBYM-omd6bHgRLMp6XG00Y8HyZ2pUMwipsAecmu_CT9Z/s640/Crafty+3.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and ta da! There's my article. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The topic? The drop spindle classes that Rachael Matthews teaches at her shop, <a href="http://www.prickyourfinger.com/" target="_blank">Prick Your Finger</a> in Bethnal Green.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt633nR6CxEOYj07sKo1sQ2T_hz9dC70ftduLQn0BGmiP3DeMagsZVU5PyMJVujkMJQTpD0MS7y2dG8ZCzFHQuDrp39ULWq3kLx_HKu4jnCxmbNkvPplx0obkWyW8L01CFwzh8E9u1IBge/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+70.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt633nR6CxEOYj07sKo1sQ2T_hz9dC70ftduLQn0BGmiP3DeMagsZVU5PyMJVujkMJQTpD0MS7y2dG8ZCzFHQuDrp39ULWq3kLx_HKu4jnCxmbNkvPplx0obkWyW8L01CFwzh8E9u1IBge/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+70.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachael Matthews</td></tr>
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<br />
But what's a drop spindle? It's a pretty simple bit of kit that involves a couple of bits of wood and a hook or two. It turns fleece into yarn by a combination of gravity, rotation and a fair bit of hand-eye coordination. Here's a picture of a spindle doing its thing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqa0CPSRid377S16rLPmoP9QmvXfPQUq-ev8WEh6Rd3l_KLib6ryfKiPHgPm9GgJW_-AEMJQiqmJx0HU81ZTT-qwFGKgU56BSMeifXfSW5SvbpIT6o_pDHEooZ8f1AmBUGH6MsnOn0uiG/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXqa0CPSRid377S16rLPmoP9QmvXfPQUq-ev8WEh6Rd3l_KLib6ryfKiPHgPm9GgJW_-AEMJQiqmJx0HU81ZTT-qwFGKgU56BSMeifXfSW5SvbpIT6o_pDHEooZ8f1AmBUGH6MsnOn0uiG/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+40.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A drop spindle in action.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These beauties have been around for millenia and the yarn that women have produced has been woven, knitted and crocheted into all sorts of things.<br />
<br />
On an aside, <i>of course</i> it's been women making the yarn. The drop spindle is the ideal thingamybob to pick up and put down in and amongst other responsibilities like children. Or cooking dinner. Or chatting with your chums. Or tending the sheep. It's about feel, technique and muscle memory rather than linear thought and intense focus. It's the perfect tool for a multitasker.<br />
<br />
For the chaps who defined Antiquity, the drop spindle was probably not so useful a tool when out hunting things or doing battle with the neighbours. I mean, could you imagine <a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0002515/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" target="_blank">Leonidas</a>, king of Sparta - or even <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0124930/" target="_blank">Gerard Butler</a> for that matter - drafting a laceweight yarn in a manly way whilst glaring down the roaring hoards of yet another set of foes? <br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='640' height='532' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdNn5TZu6R8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Nope. I didn't think so.<br />
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But back to the textiles made of these yarns. For centuries these textiles drove economies, created markets and forged transport networks that stretched across the Mediterranean world, Northern Europe, Asia and the Indian subcontinent. And may even have been amongst the economic and political factors that caused the wars in which the chaps were too busy to be drop spindling. </div>
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And imagine how these yarns helped define agricultural practices - "Whut? They
want more woolly jumpers in a part of the Antique world that I've never
heard of? We'd better farm a few more sheep then" - with the resulting
effect upon landscapes and the environment. </div>
<br />
However, shuffling on from scantily-clad and worryingly oiled-up chaps of Antiquity, let's hop along to the Medieval period. This was when someone clever in China or maybe Iran or Iraq got all technical and created the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_wheel" target="_blank">spinning wheel</a>. The wheel resulted in a considerable speeding up of the spinning process, a leap in efficiency that wouldn't find compare until the Industrial Revolution and the invention of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinning_jenny" target="_blank">Spinning Jenny</a>. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoDegUKngd767g-OfI4AlIJmcdrZMMi5fiMcMMLhpXNFoBCfUXy4UfubGPagkqH9GLNERgtZubCxWuAq6__q6fEhCbQ5PwmoskjCS4mR9PBId8HW9-sYwlgMOwD8kYMt8Huh10qNRJf-o/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+57.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguoDegUKngd767g-OfI4AlIJmcdrZMMi5fiMcMMLhpXNFoBCfUXy4UfubGPagkqH9GLNERgtZubCxWuAq6__q6fEhCbQ5PwmoskjCS4mR9PBId8HW9-sYwlgMOwD8kYMt8Huh10qNRJf-o/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+57.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Spinning Wheel. A technological leap in the production of yarn and a useful narrative tool for many a fairy tale.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
From 1764 onwards spinning became more and more of a hobby with yarn and textile production turning into the preserve of factory production lines. The craft faded but was not entirely snuffed out. Today cool, hip groovy and arty types like Rachael are leading a revival. Look around and you'll find the most amazing range of dyed fleeces - have a peep at <a href="http://www.porpoisefur.com/" target="_blank">Porpoise Fur</a> for some magnificent neon combos - to create bespoke yarns in any weight you desire. There's also something very therapeutic about the spinning wheel, for both body and soul. I'm not sure if it's the whirring of the wheel, the rhythm of your foot combined with the teasing out of the fleece but when it all comes together, you quickly find yourself reaching a meditative and contemplative space. <br />
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Oh, and you're making something. Which is always satisfying. <br />
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What is interesting is that spinners today encourage beginners to get to grips with a drop spindle first. If you can tease out the fleece - a technique known as "the draft" - at a decent enough pace to keep up with your rotating spindle and create an even yarn then you're set for a real spinning wheel.<br />
<br />
So, a pretty simple bit of kit. But with profound economic and social impact. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqqNWWOCB722prEjt6S88goT1h5TyVHUPbSfJ5INaKiR3Yqc_gFg4vEf8qi0UxUt5tDZ2em0DgttW2PSY830Chxd-N8BODQ6IAuycMT9phAvgCMEAQ082OBC4gh7GHgBAdThh1-aO1Ztg/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+43.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqqNWWOCB722prEjt6S88goT1h5TyVHUPbSfJ5INaKiR3Yqc_gFg4vEf8qi0UxUt5tDZ2em0DgttW2PSY830Chxd-N8BODQ6IAuycMT9phAvgCMEAQ082OBC4gh7GHgBAdThh1-aO1Ztg/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+43.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simple bit of kit. Profound implications for humanity. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The more I write about this woolly, textiley malarky the more worried I get that someday I might have to write another thesis about it all. A very interdisciplinary one that includes art, history, economics, development, agriculture, gender and social studies.<br />
<br />
Yea gods. <br />
<br />
On the plus side, there would be a lot of pretty pictures. So that's nice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0faRzAZ8skDklr2XUIiE2VqbzfDHMVuJQe1ADiekvm582FEHBF16hj8AR6Q3-5G8WwCKPXWLjfr5aiCuwNEVs6fOZmvQADHtCNn98jqXIp3WXx1XAHl94XT5BQ7JIKcVQ1b6HpM7H3hD0/s1600/PYF-Z.+Willis+2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0faRzAZ8skDklr2XUIiE2VqbzfDHMVuJQe1ADiekvm582FEHBF16hj8AR6Q3-5G8WwCKPXWLjfr5aiCuwNEVs6fOZmvQADHtCNn98jqXIp3WXx1XAHl94XT5BQ7JIKcVQ1b6HpM7H3hD0/s640/PYF-Z.+Willis+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A spectrum of the yarns that Rachael and her colleagues spin on site at <a href="http://www.prickyourfinger.com/" target="_blank">Prick Your Finger.</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis, <a href="http://www.craftymag.com/" target="_blank"><i>Crafty Magazine</i></a>) <br />
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Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-72990751825352319852013-10-21T19:33:00.001+01:002013-10-21T20:03:14.156+01:00The Knitting and Stitching Show 2013<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkTTTeORUAM_aGDjXVuUNyijBKT_2GJYL5wFA6Epxu_QhHCLD-RvoZr_zPqEJRYzrxhRuq_M21gjRFDHrOBsGCu02RQrvcq2sfa_sLYuDFiQq26uWneuBKAyhfKRTJDbAp0KVHSzzw8Vu/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+33.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkTTTeORUAM_aGDjXVuUNyijBKT_2GJYL5wFA6Epxu_QhHCLD-RvoZr_zPqEJRYzrxhRuq_M21gjRFDHrOBsGCu02RQrvcq2sfa_sLYuDFiQq26uWneuBKAyhfKRTJDbAp0KVHSzzw8Vu/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+33.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.janiecrow.co.uk/jshop/article.php?xArt=9" target="_blank">Janie Crow 2013 Crochet Club</a> taster pack. Just one of the myriad of temptations at the K & S show</td></tr>
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Ooops. Has it been more than a week since the textile bonanza that is the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace?</div>
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I think it has. My, how time has flown and I think I've just about recovered enough to write a word or two and share a few pictures.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZs4pgJCKxW62KKBkCl7m2efr41jXAG7f_XsbgdQBaWdi8Co7CnHaWaa_CDlPbzUzx82O0XfOVhWfc7T9SUK1x060O2O9hZD7kJ9zeeoWRLjqITIz3rZejsFRwiIp-jIxlESFiF_BndwQ/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+28.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZs4pgJCKxW62KKBkCl7m2efr41jXAG7f_XsbgdQBaWdi8Co7CnHaWaa_CDlPbzUzx82O0XfOVhWfc7T9SUK1x060O2O9hZD7kJ9zeeoWRLjqITIz3rZejsFRwiIp-jIxlESFiF_BndwQ/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+28.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZs4pgJCKxW62KKBkCl7m2efr41jXAG7f_XsbgdQBaWdi8Co7CnHaWaa_CDlPbzUzx82O0XfOVhWfc7T9SUK1x060O2O9hZD7kJ9zeeoWRLjqITIz3rZejsFRwiIp-jIxlESFiF_BndwQ/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+28.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIBBONS. SO. MANY. RIBBONS. </td></tr>
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Overall, it was great. Textiley temptations? Tick. Nanas of Northampton body surfing on bags of bargain yarn? Tick. Throngs? Tick. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrspXNUY31e5uRw5kgq36n3eGoK3FlASwe4rjxkUXe9hUvY-RpKQ-XxQT__qaEKpJU66vfIw-4WWBINcQ8D9N6OMrewQfAOpyz9qW5MtWUvwrLy7kg4sOwBTj0KI_IJUL1ywQFxsnqEwIG/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+89.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrspXNUY31e5uRw5kgq36n3eGoK3FlASwe4rjxkUXe9hUvY-RpKQ-XxQT__qaEKpJU66vfIw-4WWBINcQ8D9N6OMrewQfAOpyz9qW5MtWUvwrLy7kg4sOwBTj0KI_IJUL1ywQFxsnqEwIG/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+89.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bargain bags of yarn before the body surfing began at the <a href="http://www.blacksheepwools.com/" target="_blank">Black Sheep Wools</a> stall(s)</td></tr>
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I will grant you, that the throngs got a bit much. I only lasted two
hours before I had to leave. Well, it was actually a combination of
throngs and too much visual stimulation. It's something I noticed during <a href="http://medievalmiscellany.blogspot.co.uk/2008/09/archives.html" target="_blank">the doctorate</a>. Even though I am trained to look at Art,
enjoy, appreciate, wax lyrical and occasionally write something erudite
on the subject... within 1/2 an hour in a gallery I'm like an exhausted
and grumpy toddler after a raucous music class involving kazoos. Odd, I know, but too much of an aesthetically pleasing thing gets a bit overwhelming and I need to retreat before I am rude to somebody.<br />
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And a Nana of Northampton wielding sharpened knitting needles does not suffer rudeness gladly. Not even from lapsed Art Historians. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZs4pgJCKxW62KKBkCl7m2efr41jXAG7f_XsbgdQBaWdi8Co7CnHaWaa_CDlPbzUzx82O0XfOVhWfc7T9SUK1x060O2O9hZD7kJ9zeeoWRLjqITIz3rZejsFRwiIp-jIxlESFiF_BndwQ/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+28.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOzYW5bDk4LsHKi1TMb1kpkZiCaRmVCeP5sJ2IA784NFTOQTp-g3rxUp5AI6AHekUJ7ASqK1Jz8KFFqg11PpfN7WxeAlatUm6-_0tMD3_15W93eo0FdGacWBiJGhWQsvwAqG46iG0V9gR/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+39.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvOzYW5bDk4LsHKi1TMb1kpkZiCaRmVCeP5sJ2IA784NFTOQTp-g3rxUp5AI6AHekUJ7ASqK1Jz8KFFqg11PpfN7WxeAlatUm6-_0tMD3_15W93eo0FdGacWBiJGhWQsvwAqG46iG0V9gR/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+39.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought you should have a virtual taste of what the throngs were like. Uffa. Small wonder I only lasted 2 hours.</td></tr>
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But before I hit the wall there were wonderful and pretty things to behold. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2g28WpSFHF9-IosnwMCMlcJjoZe2m4I20vptVWQXd_UQJMcKyvtW7-eK1UYcEgqC_et94D1B3vVYvXvS1jMo5Pl1hUXZkyNCqkNmFmEapntPGzthLbbL55CpKAB8DP_GWqTnTJuYB4-5/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2g28WpSFHF9-IosnwMCMlcJjoZe2m4I20vptVWQXd_UQJMcKyvtW7-eK1UYcEgqC_et94D1B3vVYvXvS1jMo5Pl1hUXZkyNCqkNmFmEapntPGzthLbbL55CpKAB8DP_GWqTnTJuYB4-5/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+27.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RIBBONS. FRILLY RIBBONS.</td></tr>
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I am ever so taken by <a href="http://www.janiecrow.co.uk/jshop/article.php?xArt=13" target="_blank">Janie Crow</a>'s crochet-a-long clubs. Every year she puts together a pack of yarns and send them out to Crochet Club subscribers. By the end of a few months, with drip-fed instructions and many acquired crochet skills <i>en route,</i> a magnificent bit of textile art is revealed. One year I'll find the time to join (BAHAHAHAHA! Wishful thinking, Willis...) but for now I'll just admire from afar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMnS7iQ_5FOIVcXasCAgopgxnWsxc-YYVkfxVaqh2FGNg8EF7LWoy8ICvIBxY87Rc4Xelogpo9bA4NWy7qwIR6xXeoYTbwb8T75jeWNia5SISNp-NHn8_XzGoG3IVyBXF3A6Y16aHm4Oj/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMnS7iQ_5FOIVcXasCAgopgxnWsxc-YYVkfxVaqh2FGNg8EF7LWoy8ICvIBxY87Rc4Xelogpo9bA4NWy7qwIR6xXeoYTbwb8T75jeWNia5SISNp-NHn8_XzGoG3IVyBXF3A6Y16aHm4Oj/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+32.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Moorish inspired <a href="http://www.janiecrow.co.uk/jshop/article.php?xArt=9" target="_blank">2012 Crochet Club project by Janie Crow</a>. Ooooh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGgcOYlV0JD5rJ8pwebZM4ihgRfKHhQXwMD9wy00xdbKrQoBA1wUYYR2eSyY5rMXfyaFu6skBs4eIKEvr6XVTRFzG6Jk5s7KXDU5VFn9FX-jJoCZAipvq_kJhnYspIES80Ae_YyK2EYf1i/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+37.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="426" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotsa skeins of yarn from <a href="http://www.mrsmoon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Mrs Moon</a>. </td></tr>
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There was also the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-upcycling-academy-at-knitting-and.html" target="_blank">Upcycling Academy</a>. Yayness! It was even more of a success than<a href="http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Barley Massey</a>, <a href="http://craftivist-collective.com/" target="_blank">Craftivist Collective</a>, <a href="http://www.waronwant.org/" target="_blank">War on Want</a> and <a href="http://www.traid.org.uk/" target="_blank">TRAID</a> could have hoped for. I'm especially pleased for Sarah Corbett of the Craftivist Collective as her contribution was just the tonic. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTC72d-smy1VqZull72cekdDtcC1i7nz7NwQfuQnXCmVtUFPflEu0sZo_WBeM8nZ52IlON8N8kkz2Mo8-8GBNqt12FrGuz-6MaEFrl29tYJ-uB3ImYKgDn8qJcFfGuY_K75yXxTdW5g92/s1600/Knitting+and+Stitching+MM+02.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTC72d-smy1VqZull72cekdDtcC1i7nz7NwQfuQnXCmVtUFPflEu0sZo_WBeM8nZ52IlON8N8kkz2Mo8-8GBNqt12FrGuz-6MaEFrl29tYJ-uB3ImYKgDn8qJcFfGuY_K75yXxTdW5g92/s640/Knitting+and+Stitching+MM+02.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upcycling Academy before the doors opened. <a href="http://www.rosiealltphotography.com/" target="_blank">© Rosie Allt</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebw8Vg77nJ7JDoGa4_tgHtoqY3N1NXg0NIOavJNNDnWCZGzIdK6mLE1n57xj_zcTCFS1epzHGpxyCD0TZER0gwxfvZwC5pOP7p3tKvXmCcI8h14dhydPdk7-9wCvLF1HKdmtivecRn8pI/s1600/Knitting+and+Stitching+MM+01.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebw8Vg77nJ7JDoGa4_tgHtoqY3N1NXg0NIOavJNNDnWCZGzIdK6mLE1n57xj_zcTCFS1epzHGpxyCD0TZER0gwxfvZwC5pOP7p3tKvXmCcI8h14dhydPdk7-9wCvLF1HKdmtivecRn8pI/s640/Knitting+and+Stitching+MM+01.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An important theme at the Upcycling Academy. <a href="http://www.rosiealltphotography.com/" target="_blank">© Rosie Allt</a></td></tr>
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Sarah created a small corner of tranquility in and amongst the chaotic throngs where people were encouraged not only to sign a "Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops" petition, but to embroider their signatures. This made a lovely and welcome space for making, discussion and sweet, blissful calm in the face of the frenzy. Here's hoping she will return next year. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfgRqAyxQf7D-3qM5bsrIxh9A0PWRHxAPr-EhD4T164eaOIpunsvELOzPKooSWRQ5rkI4VAW-fyax81WTV1pJKDZGVIKtxqtUzEK5QAe_xBJoUKDAeZLV04qv540bKUk87Iz-uvMGVou/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+15.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVdfgRqAyxQf7D-3qM5bsrIxh9A0PWRHxAPr-EhD4T164eaOIpunsvELOzPKooSWRQ5rkI4VAW-fyax81WTV1pJKDZGVIKtxqtUzEK5QAe_xBJoUKDAeZLV04qv540bKUk87Iz-uvMGVou/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+15.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Love Fashion Hate Sweatshops"embroidered petition from the <a href="http://craftivist-collective.com/" target="_blank">Craftivist Collective</a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OrZF-0lb3EhOzu1RmSLaIf8S15NCjkq3mvO7bzWrb0F50xLCUDusKN9uLdGfssMFa6YellMXuitV8S0kXIoRZ2L8yDT_6mWvMGwfOfceUV-NilVo3_tCl1sSWcjMjsE2aWgp-kFl2tUC/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+66.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OrZF-0lb3EhOzu1RmSLaIf8S15NCjkq3mvO7bzWrb0F50xLCUDusKN9uLdGfssMFa6YellMXuitV8S0kXIoRZ2L8yDT_6mWvMGwfOfceUV-NilVo3_tCl1sSWcjMjsE2aWgp-kFl2tUC/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+66.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jumbo knitting with recycled textile waste on the <a href="http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabrications</a> table at the Upcycling Academy. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B88fUWGYcjt7jrLXmA_EKeJda-a6SK0rr5tQbajH5DJEOXO31E6GYdxdliseWdN24OjmUPy8i11MxjcmPxbugVcXkRTIwtvryz7McpBzZalkELw6KXaPq8b9RezCInCEZb1HT3lyNnCt/s1600/Knitting+&+Stitching+40.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B88fUWGYcjt7jrLXmA_EKeJda-a6SK0rr5tQbajH5DJEOXO31E6GYdxdliseWdN24OjmUPy8i11MxjcmPxbugVcXkRTIwtvryz7McpBzZalkELw6KXaPq8b9RezCInCEZb1HT3lyNnCt/s640/Knitting+&+Stitching+40.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some intensive embellishment underway at <a href="http://www.traid.org.uk/" target="_blank">TRAID'</a>s table, part of the Upcycling Academy.</td></tr>
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But what of my own acquisitions? Below is what was meant to be a tasteful, <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/TWIHM/" target="_blank">Pinterest-able</a> still life until a small person decided that those wooden buttons would make perfect plates for a dinner party that <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/what-to-do-with-tension-squares.html" target="_blank">Upsy Daisy was planning at her bijoux apartment</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebw8Vg77nJ7JDoGa4_tgHtoqY3N1NXg0NIOavJNNDnWCZGzIdK6mLE1n57xj_zcTCFS1epzHGpxyCD0TZER0gwxfvZwC5pOP7p3tKvXmCcI8h14dhydPdk7-9wCvLF1HKdmtivecRn8pI/s1600/Knitting+and+Stitching+MM+01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu_0xZdHAxdxlZrlYYmPr8CBQdhox_KwZ1FGgnDdj0hceJ_ash2CPx9aw_pHjb-WhDF1liDIp9ct-NNAlc2xGzfvfZ-PEOQrduKmAuFtzg6HJsK_ooK1AzO4f2C4chBNJrCUZ79i6poCY/s1600/IMG_7423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu_0xZdHAxdxlZrlYYmPr8CBQdhox_KwZ1FGgnDdj0hceJ_ash2CPx9aw_pHjb-WhDF1liDIp9ct-NNAlc2xGzfvfZ-PEOQrduKmAuFtzg6HJsK_ooK1AzO4f2C4chBNJrCUZ79i6poCY/s640/IMG_7423.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Haul</td></tr>
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Ahem. I had other plans for those buttons and the stripey linen ribbon, mainly finishing off the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/what-to-do-with-tension-squares.html" target="_blank">Cricket cardigan</a> I'm making for said small person. The Liberty print ribbon is for an intended <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heathered" target="_blank">Heathered cardigan</a>, essentially a big person's version of the small person's cardigan. I know, I know. We're dabbling with <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2289298/Is-mini-fashion-creepiest-trend-Matching-mother-daughter-outfits-new-High-Street-fad.html" target="_blank">Mummy / Daughter identical dressing</a>, which is just wierd. But my planned cardigan will be in a sensible navy blue and should last a lifetime. Small person will get two months out of <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/what-to-do-with-tension-squares.html" target="_blank">Cricket </a>if she's lucky.<br />
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As for the yarns, the variegated, lilacky balls of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ZoeFWillis/stash/drops-big-delight" target="_blank">Garnstudio DROPS Big Delight </a>(Wow. What a name) acquired from <a href="http://www.handmadenest.co.uk/" target="_blank">Nest </a>will become not one but two of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bandana-cowl/people" target="_blank">bajillion versions on Ravelry</a> of Purl Soho's infamous <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2011/10/11/sweet-stitching-with-erin-bandana-cowl.html" target="_blank">Bandana Cowl</a>. <br />
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Christmas is coming, people. I need to get prepared.<br />
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Then there are the two skeins of mariney, bluey, fantabulous <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/ZoeFWillis/stash/merino-worsted" target="_blank">Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted</a>. I've no idea what they will become but, by gum, they are things of beauty.<br />
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Finally, I am now the proud owner of two indigo house aprons from <a href="http://www.changstextiles.co.uk/" target="_blank">Chang Textiles</a>. This is a company who import textiles from East Asia, predominantly indigo-dyed and batik print fabric from rural south western China. I find the myriad of shades produced <a href="http://www.katherinemay.com/?p=1232" target="_blank">during the indigo dyeing process</a> very appealing and Chang's has everything from fat quarters to batik hangings to fabric by the metre to Muji-esque house aprons.<br />
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And from these house aprons was a fascinating element of continuity from the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/the-upcycling-academy-at-knitting-and.html" target="_blank">Upcycling Academy</a>; the notion of how textiles and clothing are part of a complicated global web that connects all of modern humanity. <br />
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One of the ladies helping on the Chang stall told me that this sort of indigo fabric and the skills needed to create them are becoming increasingly hard to come by in south west China. With echoes of the societal and economic problems that forged the <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-ricefield-collective.html" target="_blank">Ricefield Collective</a>, internal migration and the increasing urbanisation of China's population means these skills are fading. Mothers are no longer passing the knowledge on to daughters. Why learn about indigo if you're working in a factory that produces a heap of cheap clothes for the West? Also, the local market for these products are vanishing in the face of dwindling rural populations. Maybe a significant international demand for these indigo textiles could mean enough women find it worthwhile to stay in their rural homes and thus ensure the continuity of both culture and community?<br />
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Here's hoping it's that simple.<br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis & <a href="http://www.rosiealltphotography.com/" target="_blank">Rosie Allt</a>)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-12699374973334939092013-10-04T13:44:00.001+01:002013-10-04T13:44:20.126+01:00The Upcycling Academy at the Knitting and Stitching Show<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPStbjBonBTPEBAnbrWkhZMGHR6VhxbApCIJw80HHGEf6W-wK2C6qkFzOXHyum4F2kZ3bYLKLwpP2-B3WoNtY6wcaZ92a074rvjcKIgklXXesRZQ4-W6JzOFYbSf6dyKrBBH1hRzl0tv3/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPStbjBonBTPEBAnbrWkhZMGHR6VhxbApCIJw80HHGEf6W-wK2C6qkFzOXHyum4F2kZ3bYLKLwpP2-B3WoNtY6wcaZ92a074rvjcKIgklXXesRZQ4-W6JzOFYbSf6dyKrBBH1hRzl0tv3/s640/IMG_7075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barley Massey, the creator of the Upcycling Academy.</td></tr>
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It's almost that time of year. The <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/" target="_blank">Knitting and Stitching Show</a>, Europe's BIGGEST textile bonanza at <a href="http://www.alexandrapalace.com/" target="_blank">Alexandra Palace</a>, is coming (10th - 13th October).<br />
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There's an overwhelmingly exciting array of stalls, workshops and textile temptations that make up the Show. So much creativity and only one lifetime per person to achieve even some of it.You'll need sharp elbows and quick wits to acquire your bargains and / or expensive delights. Oh, and do watch out for the <i>Nana of Nuneaton,</i> usually a lady of a certain age who wouldn't say "boo!" to a goose the rest of the year. But at the Show when she is unleashed... be warned. She'll be the first one body surfing across the bargain bags of yarn and has been known to deploy a well-aimed tapestry needle upon anyone getting between her and a unicorn-themed crewel kit.<br />
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So before you join the throng let me suggest you drift across to the Panorama Room. There you will find the contained, focussed and buzzing vibe that is the <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/Content/Upcycling-Academy/3_16/" target="_blank">Upcycling Academy</a>. The powers that be at the Knitting and Stitching Show realised a few years ago that as much fun as the Nanas of Nuneaton are, they will not last forever. Thus fresh blood was needed. Cue <i>Crafters: The Next Generation</i> or "Yoof", searching for inspiration, craving - often without realising it - an outlet to make things, beautiful things. However the fact that Yoofs are youthful means there's often not much money sloshing about to indulge in expensive bundles of fat quarters or £100 sets of crochet hooks.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zHcSoP2Wtt8lWtsa_z118EA8sZwTM7TNtdY1Cf6qBRrl57MS6w-QkIO2Ru0n72ZW0X721WeEpy2_RnARO4UD4VuMHciJkwsL8RqE-GzNY6loSiQE34nBZcQZ9-pOJW95gkh7HkFsVuYi/s1600/Upcycling+Academy_01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zHcSoP2Wtt8lWtsa_z118EA8sZwTM7TNtdY1Cf6qBRrl57MS6w-QkIO2Ru0n72ZW0X721WeEpy2_RnARO4UD4VuMHciJkwsL8RqE-GzNY6loSiQE34nBZcQZ9-pOJW95gkh7HkFsVuYi/s640/Upcycling+Academy_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Upcycling Academy at the Knitting and Stitching Show</td></tr>
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Hence the <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/Content/Upcycling-Academy/3_16/" target="_blank">Upcycling Academy</a>. A space at the Show where young crafters and artists can have a go at creating beautiful things... out of materials found at the back of their wardrobes or on a rack in a charity shop. A space where they can gain the confidence to make and thus enjoy the satisfaction of making. A space where they can think about the bigger implications of making versus consuming. A space to add <i>value</i> to materials, making and personal creativity.<br />
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So, with that ambitious remit the initiative was handed over to textile artist, Barley Massey.<br />
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You couldn't have a better organiser than Barley. Her shop, <a href="http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabrications</a> on Broadway Market in Hackney, is a temple to the prefix <i>re-.</i> <i>Re</i>use, <i>re</i>cycle, <i>re</i>create and <i>re</i>think rubbish. More precisely the mountains of rubbish made of garments that people believe they don't need any more. The mountains of garments that have cost a vast array of the Earth's resources to produce. For example, just think of the petrochemicals alone used in say, fertilising and harvesting cotton, then shipping it to be turned into cotton jersey, then shipping it again to get stitched into a T shirt, the power needed to run the factory to make said T shirt, then packing it up and shipping it out to the West, followed by driving it to a shop before a customer buys it for a few quid wears it a few times and then tosses it. And we are all too aware of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23415560" target="_blank">human cost of a cheap T shirt</a>. <br />
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Barley is an inspiring teacher nurturing people's inherent creativity. Why toss a T shirt when with a few snips and a bit of weaving have a stunning statement top?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtxwFSCjs7KAiwxSvLFcAlY5233mgMIbbP74WWcoScT6g1Vy5Y1DZa07W5sek5GXhieEKsqg_DAYIw-wxB0MOk9bFlwO8CSgBP5O6hxdJBnE_2PIynTtpDy2RRPnlWLErs4ch5fMjVEin/s1600/IMG_7085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtxwFSCjs7KAiwxSvLFcAlY5233mgMIbbP74WWcoScT6g1Vy5Y1DZa07W5sek5GXhieEKsqg_DAYIw-wxB0MOk9bFlwO8CSgBP5O6hxdJBnE_2PIynTtpDy2RRPnlWLErs4ch5fMjVEin/s640/IMG_7085.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statement, weavy T shirt plus skirt made out of a shirt. Love it.</td></tr>
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Oh? You've more ties than you know what to do with? Then why not make a curtain for some cupboards.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXIR0IICyOgBsRd8OnuG9vdkxWp3VabuZTsvRmSMr8QjesLr1ij35eqvshSz7jW7nVzaidBgFckXKU3o1K72K6TpU1_XKkY1XY2xBuUztbvpjckYLH49sPuAX-EyfOtZQgey2DuP2_pF7/s1600/Detail+of+kitchen+area_Fabrications.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsXIR0IICyOgBsRd8OnuG9vdkxWp3VabuZTsvRmSMr8QjesLr1ij35eqvshSz7jW7nVzaidBgFckXKU3o1K72K6TpU1_XKkY1XY2xBuUztbvpjckYLH49sPuAX-EyfOtZQgey2DuP2_pF7/s640/Detail+of+kitchen+area_Fabrications.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1970s style tiles, cupboards made of old fruit boxes and a curtain of old ties at Fabrications. Job done.</td></tr>
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And as for all those inner tubes from bicycle tires (of which there are bajillions in Hackney due to all the hipsters on their fixies)? Cue the <a href="http://fabrications1.co.uk/index.php?page=tube-cushions" target="_blank">Caught Pouffe</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7HdVPqp1RJ5XAgKxCKLgcTcjgSSnM-sdu5r5dT3ytLWPxkI3aaxx-9aqtG0jFfG9KtL2Ca9a6bRrQPagAX-Os5L_HFaQRzj_rN2awUIRZM05Vmxj4OBW4M61vzEwqs-SVW1dZkovmEwa/s1600/IMG_7091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7HdVPqp1RJ5XAgKxCKLgcTcjgSSnM-sdu5r5dT3ytLWPxkI3aaxx-9aqtG0jFfG9KtL2Ca9a6bRrQPagAX-Os5L_HFaQRzj_rN2awUIRZM05Vmxj4OBW4M61vzEwqs-SVW1dZkovmEwa/s640/IMG_7091.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouffe captured by a net of bicycle inner tubes. The seat-tester in the background can vouch for their comfiness.</td></tr>
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Inspiring, isn't it? And not expensive and it makes you think about the bigger picture. The fact that we're all part of a ginormous economic and social network that extends well beyond our immediate friends / family / high street. This also fits into <a href="http://fabrications1.co.uk/index.php?page=news" target="_blank">Barley's ethos</a> that making and craft are what help bind communities together, giving us an appreciation of objects and the people that create them.<br />
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Barley's <a href="http://www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com/london/Content/Upcycling-Academy/3_16/" target="_blank">Upcycling Academy</a> has proved a roaring success, often cited as one of the highlights of the entire Show. Since its first year legions of GCSE Textile students and their teachers have attended, never mind teenagers dragged kicking and screaming by Grandma only to find that by French knitting a jumbo necklace from yarn made of cotton T shirts they've decided to become fashion designers or professors of economics specialising in corporate responsibility / environmental sustainability / social cohesion. Working in conjunction with <a href="http://www.traid.org.uk/" target="_blank">TRAID</a>, <a href="http://www.waronwant.org/" target="_blank">War on Want</a> and (for the first time in 2013) <a href="http://craftivist-collective.com/" target="_blank">Craftivist Collective</a>, participants get involved in a production line of activities, a production line that references those which make the clothes we in the West so casually discard. By pulling apart the garments and recreating them participants are pulling apart and reconsidering the ethical and social implications of our obsession with consumption.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU3jn7WL9u-Ynw8gKLCKp1pE_y078ju5jXKnfof0ejo4QXqcZnOvmB8e_Lt0SodzwQQsVaxBX8K2YI-Mjm7SB4OFkp8qewLcQNCGY1qC4FcrDpnzU8c4ncu8kJp6N9Hh_OlLuKi_1c6I1/s1600/Upcycling+Academy_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="460" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPU3jn7WL9u-Ynw8gKLCKp1pE_y078ju5jXKnfof0ejo4QXqcZnOvmB8e_Lt0SodzwQQsVaxBX8K2YI-Mjm7SB4OFkp8qewLcQNCGY1qC4FcrDpnzU8c4ncu8kJp6N9Hh_OlLuKi_1c6I1/s640/Upcycling+Academy_10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Participants at the Upcycling Academy</td></tr>
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It's a brave and exciting venture. The Academy gives young people - the Nanas of Nuneaton of Tomorrow - the chance to be the change, restoring value to notions of creativity, community and ultimately human dignity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAIeU5e9uvXzBflUiNOcRrrm6y36O_FgK_8XnRI4s0FX2kb6TfPVs0znPunio4_QkLoO9VvfKgSYm82o0sFO8q-3Aov0dJ2pt1N4axnlTPcUVxIJcIKP4tk6SkGl0EVlHiAU56udJ0MGf/s1600/Upcycling+Academy_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWAIeU5e9uvXzBflUiNOcRrrm6y36O_FgK_8XnRI4s0FX2kb6TfPVs0znPunio4_QkLoO9VvfKgSYm82o0sFO8q-3Aov0dJ2pt1N4axnlTPcUVxIJcIKP4tk6SkGl0EVlHiAU56udJ0MGf/s640/Upcycling+Academy_13.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much creativity waiting to be unleashed upon so many unloved cotton T-Shirts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i><br /></i>
<i>With special thanks to Barley Massey for her help with this piece. It's always a delight and an inspiration to speak with her and I continue to be grateful for her ongoing support of my ad hoc attempts at becoming a writer. </i><br />
<br />
(Images: Zoë F. Willis & <a href="http://www.fabrications1.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabrications</a>)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-44781642787070299452013-09-08T20:28:00.001+01:002013-09-08T20:29:44.635+01:00What to Do With Tension Squares?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdToZXwv7W7KpNVO6vd4KphgKZdtlZnTZRi4mWwauH4ktAFphFcITonxvugbeujYq1eQN6w25BS3piU4tjlMOMA1-YytW3x8RkLjckWfC6Hdg0-bso-olPH6ubBkXAPO6uWmSNeaNmBmnF/s400/Cricket1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn is coming. It's time for a cardigan.<u> </u><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" target="_blank">© Melissa Schaschwary</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Ok. I'm taking the plunge. After years of flirting with the idea of knitting something more ambitious than a scarf or hat I'm going to attempt...<br />
<br />
... a cardigan.<br />
<br />
Granted, a small one for a toddler so that I can spot the knitting disasters sooner and have less to unravel when it all goes horribly wrong. But a cardigan nonetheless.<br />
<br />
Here's the pattern on Ravelry, the ever-so-sweet, slightly 1950s retro <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" target="_blank">Cricket cardigan</a> by Melissa Schaschwary.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguweRDfR_l1AbBaJz6mS6bqh29udnt2pRv3W9WjUFQFTTFnqodNSG0xtbX750WysgLy4QJjDQ7OcHiDfOvFxCW1orlkACwttH4esVx9Z7d0SNFqbitr1DYTcpenHbQlifCNkOvBs-LtETQ/s400/Cricket2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" target="_blank">© Melissa Schaschwary</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tbDzxKLyvejtADxVulFd4BLA247L9BbDxHljOIwxMnQ_P_ZLh1oAzY3oe-1HQoJJQcdi9ejsBgAlryiaWPUV0dlHTN4Q41e4SYQCuUNqD9Zzfi4T0Hprawj0ykL6bgy5Sq3rKY0wCRbs/s1600/Cricket3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tbDzxKLyvejtADxVulFd4BLA247L9BbDxHljOIwxMnQ_P_ZLh1oAzY3oe-1HQoJJQcdi9ejsBgAlryiaWPUV0dlHTN4Q41e4SYQCuUNqD9Zzfi4T0Hprawj0ykL6bgy5Sq3rKY0wCRbs/s400/Cricket3.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cricket-4" target="_blank">© Melissa Schaschwary</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Very classic and charming, <i>n'est pas</i>? A character from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swallows_and_Amazons" target="_blank"><i>Swallows and Amazons</i></a> or maybe <a href="http://www.enidblyton.net/famous-five/" target="_blank">Anne from <i>The Famous Fiv</i>e</a> would be sporting one of these. As for the yarn, I made the wonderful discovery of a mountain of German angora DK circa 1989 in my mother's own craft cupboard of dream (we all have such cupboards don't we? So many projects. So little time...). Here's the mountain of fluffiness:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESyRN8aVbwj8yGkjqYwnR3lpdmkE-hR5tyWTlrv4gALe5jgb9KhWmoDaRAXEBTL4dBaeQYM66-WEGmAFzx9Rl2ipDEMbNYdsZV1zI9wTstHENLDxtXMGtX76gFLJBmyss8JU0ZYPRJ04x/s1600/P1040755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjESyRN8aVbwj8yGkjqYwnR3lpdmkE-hR5tyWTlrv4gALe5jgb9KhWmoDaRAXEBTL4dBaeQYM66-WEGmAFzx9Rl2ipDEMbNYdsZV1zI9wTstHENLDxtXMGtX76gFLJBmyss8JU0ZYPRJ04x/s320/P1040755.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much 1980s angora. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And I'll be making the cardigan out of the pale blue.<br />
<br />
It's at this point I have a confession. All those hats and scarves of from the past... Yeah... I've kind of just thrown myself into them without bothering with a tension square. Bad, bad habit I know. Thus I've made two tension squares before starting the cardigan so that will be one less chance of mucking up the project.<br />
<br />
But what's the best bit? During a soggy afternoon with an energetic toddler I found a use for the squares. Ready?<br />
<br />
TA DAAAA!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEesiZiB4OGcfS-FK4InDwiOvxpIgmoN4IffkJkVVqIgzKV8UeNZbayTSuhcACZPVj-9cG-e-bh90vKKIcO4lOrVi0D9fOWznZBTJHq9QiCv37TrqeeodUD6uPpbuzhj_R7HHMIp2PI8m/s1600/Upsidaisy2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMEesiZiB4OGcfS-FK4InDwiOvxpIgmoN4IffkJkVVqIgzKV8UeNZbayTSuhcACZPVj-9cG-e-bh90vKKIcO4lOrVi0D9fOWznZBTJHq9QiCv37TrqeeodUD6uPpbuzhj_R7HHMIp2PI8m/s400/Upsidaisy2.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living the dream.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>House and Garden</i></a>, <a href="http://www.worldofinteriors.co.uk/" target="_blank"><i>World of Interiors</i> </a>and <a href="http://www.elledecor.com/" target="_blank"><i>Elle Decor</i></a>, eat your respective hearts out for your eyes do not deceive you. That is indeed <a href="http://www.inthenightgarden.co.uk/en/visit-upsydaisy.asp" target="_blank">Upsy Daisy</a> from <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Night_Garden" target="_blank">In the Night Garden</a> </i>fame, snuggled up under a blanket of cloudy softness that makes one sigh.<br />
<br />
Behold! the other square is a rug beneath a <a href="http://www.starck.com/" target="_blank">Philip Starck</a>-inspired chair and coffee table made out of a toilet roll. The other half of said roll is Upsy Daisy's bed. Her abode? A bit of book case.<br />
<br />
One bijoux, impromptu apartment for a plastic figurine. One happy toddler. One mother, surprised at her creativity under pressure.<br />
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(Images: Zoë F. Willis & <a href="http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AvrellynRose?ref=em" target="_blank">Melissa Schaschwary</a>) Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859624989085869884.post-52880246514008257542013-08-28T20:29:00.000+01:002013-10-16T20:44:43.940+01:00The Simple Things Magazine- I've been published!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvY3hpaHJ3OH4mDB5vIrYXK1ExTZuFtUfmlRdvi7auymRjxbFPp-ynxDVD1S1V6BIOZt_gQYxNLVi4Gpr5_PNLjUQvfBdX-dEKcrdcRWsgTVmmogUesvh6_9y3ipvN85ytNYNUPlLj5Hn/s1600/SIM14blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvY3hpaHJ3OH4mDB5vIrYXK1ExTZuFtUfmlRdvi7auymRjxbFPp-ynxDVD1S1V6BIOZt_gQYxNLVi4Gpr5_PNLjUQvfBdX-dEKcrdcRWsgTVmmogUesvh6_9y3ipvN85ytNYNUPlLj5Hn/s400/SIM14blog.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<br />
How terribly exciting. <a href="http://issuu.com/futurepublishing/docs/the_simple_things_issue14" target="_blank">Issue 14</a> of <a href="http://www.thesimplethings.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Simple Things</i></a> magazine is out at the moment and if you turn to pages 50-53 <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/jaxazx3teyldu0a/SIM14.expert.pdf" target="_blank">you'll see an article wot I wrote</a>. It's nothing about textiles, wool or <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/london-perfect-just-where-have-i-been.html" target="_blank">London</a> (for a change) but is all about fruit. Bet you weren't expecting that, were you?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh033mFwlBUikxceOcZDDwUuRlIW0aTsU2hLQejwJJaL2uQLKRJnLJdq6cDLYLXk6IOQsOg_80AwimaupsDugZOz-RUI84ACb3reJwFwC5UZcuDc0eZtoJD4NsW9qVYrFR3Y5KUZ4kHxYZA/s1600/karim+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh033mFwlBUikxceOcZDDwUuRlIW0aTsU2hLQejwJJaL2uQLKRJnLJdq6cDLYLXk6IOQsOg_80AwimaupsDugZOz-RUI84ACb3reJwFwC5UZcuDc0eZtoJD4NsW9qVYrFR3Y5KUZ4kHxYZA/s400/karim+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get your magnifying glass out. In the bottom left hand corner is my name... in print!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Karim Habibi of <a href="http://www.keepers-nursery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Keepers Nursery</a> in Kent was the willing interviewee and keen exponent of traditional British orchard fruit varieties. And all those stunning photos of quinces, medlars and obscure yet delicious apple varieties?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m79WYorHg4wAZB-ABuFxlwgYHLRqtjl42XeDKtT5gjgKSeICNCNt0pPX7hl0AOTsbPUISG_QL_OEGUZ2w7L9vN_v5m1WJEvQr1zgSjw-2hA5G1_fV80RFX8AUsaHCu3DvbL76KKCu4go/s1600/karim+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6m79WYorHg4wAZB-ABuFxlwgYHLRqtjl42XeDKtT5gjgKSeICNCNt0pPX7hl0AOTsbPUISG_QL_OEGUZ2w7L9vN_v5m1WJEvQr1zgSjw-2hA5G1_fV80RFX8AUsaHCu3DvbL76KKCu4go/s400/karim+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much fruit. So many ways to cook and eat them. Just where to begin?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Nope. Not mine. Pfffff! I'm just not that good (yet). They're all Karim's and it's fantastic that they're out there for all the world - well, the 50,000-odd readers of <a href="http://www.thesimplethings.com/" target="_blank"><i>The Simple Things</i></a> and 30-odd followers of <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">TWIHM </a>- to see.<br />
<br />
I must admit as fun as this blogging malarky is<i>, </i>what with the immediacy of instant publication into the blogosphere and the creative flexibility the medium affords...<br />
<br />
... it's totally and utterly thrilling to see one's work in print.<br />
<br />
Hard copy.<br />
<br />
All 1,400 words of it.<br />
<br />
Just waiting for some researcher of the future to stumble across and interpolate through some sort of bonkers postmodernist / psychoanalytical / semiotic (delete where applicable) framework. <br />
<br />
And after last year's <a href="http://thingswotihavemade.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-british-library-and-mollie-makes.html" target="_blank">2 sentence effort</a> it's reassuring to know that I've contributed just a tiny bit more to that awesome collection in the <a href="http://www.bl.uk/" target="_blank">British Library</a>.<br />
<br />
Time for another <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itw9dy-tFzY" target="_blank">Morris Dance</a> of delight with a medlar tart to follow. Huzzah!<br />
<br />
(Image: <a href="http://www.thesimplethings.com/" target="_blank">The Simple Things</a> & Zoë F. Willis)Zoe F. Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15895164260380204275noreply@blogger.com4