FO Friday......A Wee Envelope Jumper.

Happy Friday, everyone. I've finished the Wee Envelope Jumper!!!!! It is so cute!!! After a few false starts, joining the back and front yokes, I whizzed through it. It is knit in the round and there is no seaming at all with this pattern, just picking up a few stitches.

If you decide to cast on this gorgeous baby sweater by Ysolda Teague, all I would say is read the instructions carefully and if it says join with first stitch, think about which exactly is the first stitch ( I joined the last stitch) or picking up stitches along a certain row not along the edge like I did, that's where I went wrong not reading instructions properly. The above photo shows you how the jumper is supposed to look like once you've started the back yoke. I'm sure everyone else won't have a problem anyway, it's just me, I'm going to blame my fuzzy head and warm weather ;-)

Once you're ready to start and join the right sleeve to the back yoke it will look twisted, that is correct, I knit it flat and obviously didn't get the envelope opening. This is how the front should look like once you start knitting the sleeve.

I hope I haven't made this knit sound complicated, it really isn't, it was just me not reading and following instructions correctly. I'd never knit this construction before and when I emailed the pattern support with a photo asking where I'd gone wrong, I had a reply within an hour putting me back on track. Once explained it clicked straight away where I'd gone wrong, I just need to go button shopping now to finish it off.

I know this pattern will be one I keep going back to time and time again, I've already decided the yarn and colours for the next one in a bigger size, the pattern goes up to an age four year old. I love that there is no seaming, it makes for a quick knit, once I'd finished the yokes and sleeves, the body didn't take long at all. I used Kettle Yarn Wimbledon Sport in Blue Pictcies, it's a beautiful, soft squishy yarn in 100% superwash merino, perfect for baby knits.

We've had another couple of birthdays this week, it was Paige's birthday on Monday, she's my youngest daughter and she turned 19, where do the years go??????

It was a beautiful sunny day, so we decided to take a picnic over to Bantock Park. She had a lovely time, it was nice as her sister and partner were still down visiting, her gran and grandad, Aunty and all her cousins were there to celebrate with her.

Wednesday, it was my sister's birthday, this time we took a picnic over Telford Park, we were going to take this cutie over to the play area but it was so hot, we found a spot under a big shady tree and didn't move. She was happy playing with her new frisbee or flying disc as she kept correcting us.

I managed to just sit and get some knitting done, I love to knit outdoors, it makes me happy and with this wonderful weather we are enjoying in the UK, I'm getting plenty chances of doing exactly that.

I had to share this photo with you, this is my dad and baby nephew, it was all too much for them and they zonked out. I love this photo, it makes me smile every time I look at it, my dad said he wasn't asleep, he was resting his eyes. Yeah right!!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend.

xxxxDebxxxxx

 

A Visit to Bantock House......

 

Good morning, how was your weekend? I've had a fairly busy one, I was out with friends on Friday evening and an Hen Night on Saturday. It's like buses, I don't go out for ages then I get two offers together, just like the two proverbial buses turning up!!!!

I haven't been well this week and on Sunday morning, I just wanted to go out for a walk and get some fresh air and as part of Camp Aloha Friends, one of our tasks was to go for a walk in our local area. I love where I live as we have lots of surrounding countryside but also I can easily get to a few cities within 40 minutes including Birmingham, which I love too visit.

After sitting in my sunny conservatory, drinking my morning coffee and reading a magazine, we decided to drive to Bantock House and Park. I can't believe I've never visited this beautiful place before, it's only a 15 minute drive from our house and have gone past it many times as my friend lives two minutes away from there.

As we pulled into the driveway we could see the beauitful Bantock House which was built in the 1700's and was originally named New Merridale Farm. We drove onto the carpark and spread out in front of us was a children's playground, an outdoor gym, a golf course, acres of fields, a nature trail and manicured gardens.

We walked around the perimeter of the fields, then followed the paths through leafy, wooded nature trials that then lead to the gardens. The gardens that surround the house were designed by Albert Bantock who inherited the house from his Father, Thomas Bantock who bought the house in about 1864.

On the death of Albert Bantock, with no children to pass the house onto, he bequeathed it to Wolverhampton Council, who still run it now and renamed it Bantock House in honour of the family. The Bantock Family use to breed Highland Cattle on the grounds but the only sign left of this, is a sculpture outside the house made by a local craftsman Neil Watt.

There are plenty places to sit and relax around the grounds and watch the world go by, we sat in the pretty Rose Garden that was scattered with benches. Some of the benches were underneath wrought iron arches with fragrant climbing roses twisting around the poles. I could have quite easily sat there all day, reading or knitting, relaxing with the fragrance of the roses and lavender.

This cheeky little fellow came to day hello, he wasn't shy, Mick said he was staring me out as I was taking his photo!

This is the sundial in the Rose Garden, an English garden wouldn't be complete without one.

The sunken garden behind the house is called The Dutch Garden, this and the other gardens were restored by Wolverhampton City Council in 1998.

By this time we needed some refreshments and headed to the tearooms which were in the courtyard near the house, we took our drinks outside, we have to make the most of our summer in the UK, and sat surrounded by lavender. Lavender is my favourite flowering plant, I love the colour and the fragrance, it just reminds me of those warm, sunny days of summer from my childhood.

After we'd finished our drinks, we had a look around the house, this wasn't like any historical house I'd visited before. As we entered there was a very welcoming young man who asked us if we'd visited before, as we hadn't, he took us into the Great Hall, gave us a brief history and told us that we could sit on the furniture, open drawers, look through the family documents and read through the many books and notebooks left lying around on the tables. I found one written by the Lady of the House that had many notes but one made me laugh, she had written they must replace a dish that had been "disastrously dropped by cook the previous evening"! There was also an entry of a dinner party menu for ten, I found this fascinating, that you could actually touch and be so close to this little bit of history.

This is a very family friendly place to visit and one of my favourite rooms in the house was the large light and airy Nursery, they've set up a large round table for the children to sit and colour as well as a traditional Edwardian school desk that they can sit at. There was a large rug in one corner that children can sit and read the many books, a dolls house to play with and my favourite thing of all!!!! A chest of dressing up clothes, traditional Edwardian children's clothes!!! Such fun!!!!!

I had a wonderful few hours here and did I mention that all this is FREE!!!!!! What a great place to come with the family, it is open all year round, there are a couple of donation boxes around which we gladly put some money in. We have plans to go back soon as a family and take a picnic, some games and golf clubs for those who want to have a game. Once you are in the park, you wouldn't believe you were on the outskirts of Wolverhampton city. When I told my family and friends where I'd been not one of them had visited it and a few who'd never heard of it. If you live in the Midlands, passing through or visiting I would highly recommend stopping off and taking a look for yourself.

We will definitely start looking at more local attractions and I encourage you to do the same, sometimes we take it for granted what is on our door step. I would love to hear where you like to visit that is local to you.

 

Here are a few treasures I picked up from the garden paths, Melody who is one of the teachers at Camp Aloha Friends and she has encouraged us to look at the beauty around us and pick up a few of mother natures treasure along the way.

Did you like the Polaroid photo above? Well, this is another childhood memory, my Mom has lots of photos of us taken with the original Polaroid camera. I love the retro look of them and though you can still buy them the film is really expensive. I've come up with an alternative, I take my photo using my digital camera or phone then change them to Polaroid with an App called Instant. I can't stop playing with this great App, there are lots of different filters and also texts so you can 'write' the whos, where's and what's on your photo.

I've printed all my photos from yesterday out Polaroid style, ready to add to my journal. Another great App if you are a fan of Instagram is Instasize by Munkee Apps, it lets you post full size photos from your phone rather than just square. It works great with the Instant App.

Thank you for stopping by, have a great week and I'll be back soon. Don't forget to let me know where you love to visit, if you don't want to leave a comment, you can always email, there's a link on my sidebar.

xxxxDebxxxx

Happy Easter......No FO's but a new test knit.

 

Hello my friends, I've got no Finished Objects as is usual for my Friday post but I wanted stop by and wish you all a Happy Easter. This sweet little bunny is one of Mary Jane's Tearoom's patterns, her name is Daisy, you have seen her before but thought I'd share her again as she's perfect for Easter.

Over the long weekend, I will be doing a test knit for Sarah of Crafts from the Cwtch's new pattern, due to be released at the beginning of May. It's called Seafoam Shawlette to Shrug, you can see Sarah's finished one here and here. I'm using the same colour yarn, A Fine Fish Yarns "Roller Disco", as my Crocus Socks but in a pure merino base, it's beautiful to knit with and perfect for a shawlette.

It's a one 100g skein project using a 4ply yarn, it's such a clever pattern, you can use it as a scarf, a traditional shawl or a beautiful shrug with buttons, for over dresses and little tops. I cast on last night and have done quite a few rows of the stocking stitch, it grows very quick. I already know this is going to be a favourite and I'm sure you will love it too, one size fits all from 5 years to adult by how you block it.

I hope you are having some of the sunshine we're having in the Midlands, I love relaxing in my conservatory with the sun shining through the windows, no tv just listening to the birds sing, drinking tea, reading magazines and knitting. I think this will be where I'll spend most of the weekend!!!!

The sun was shining on Wednesday so I packed the picnic bag and headed to Bridgnorth with my family, it was glorious, sat by the river watching the kids play.

This is my lovely family, Mom, Dad, my sister and her kids, including my youngest daughter and her boyfriend.

Olivia insisted that the "big kids" played football and play frisbee which she called flying disc, she has us in stitches with what comes out of her mouth.

Adam missed the picnic as he fell asleep but started on the bread sticks once he woke up.

I managed to read my Mollie Makes and knit on my stripy socks.....then it was time for ice cream.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your long weekend.

xxxxDebxxxx

 

A Day in Stratford Upon Avon.

 

Hello my friends, I hope you've had a great weekend, today I have spent a fab day with my friend Pinda at Stratford Upon Avon. She had never been here before so I was tour guide for the day showing her all the sights.

Our first stop was to Sew Me Something to see my lovely friend Gilly, it was so nice to see her again and of course I had to make a little purchase of some gorgeous MillaMia yarn and the latest Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino pattern book.

We walked through the old town, past Shakespeare's Birthplace, browsing the many shops.

I always like to have a look around The Nutcracker Christmas shop, who doesn't like Christmas all year round?

We went to a great little cafe called Fourtea's, a traditional 40's style tearoom, with lots of little vintage touches, like an old radiogram playing 40's music in the background and waitresses dressed in 40's uniform.

Look at the menu!!!!!! It's the style of an old ration book, the sandwiches were so nice and their homemade pickle was gorgeous.

Don't you love the old fashion counter? I bought a replica Make Do and Mend booklet issued by The Ministry of Information in 1943, there are some very interesting tips in there!

We then spent an hour relaxing by the river, watching the world go by, I even managed to get a bit of knitting done.

We then took a short walk to Bancroft Cruisers, where we took a 45 minute cruise down the river and enjoyed an afternoon tea.

I look rather pleased with myself on this photo but I was looking forward to tucking into those scones and cream!!!!

The scenery wasn't too bad either, I highly recommend this river cruise company, I've been on a couple of different ones but this one has been the best, by far.

It has been a wonderful day, the weather was kind to us, it's what we both needed and look forward to visiting again. Have a good week and I'll be back soon.

xxxxDebxxx