Monday 9 November 2009

Autumn Garden


I seem to have been rather busy recently without having anything much to show for it, the picture is of the last of the veg out of my garden and now the garden is definitely looking rather sad (and soggy!) I've been planning on planting some veg for the spring but it has either been cold or rainy and I am a terrible fair weather gardener. So for now am sticking to knitting, everyone is getting socks for christmas and they seem to be taking over my life! Must finish some of my own projects, but then there's christmas cakes to bake and another birthday cake next week, thank goodness have already done xmas puds and mincemeat already.

Monday 21 September 2009

Sometimes it feels like the days go past so quickly without my realising it, it's only in the garden that it becomes obvious that I have been rather lazy! I spent the whole morning pulling weeds and mourning the loss of 2 of my bigger pumpkins which have gone soggy and horrible, I now only have 2 left so there'll definitely be fewer pumpkin pies this year! But on the plus side I've got more tomatoes and cucumbers than I know what to do with, tonight I will be trying out a very tomatoey pasta sauce and thinking about what to do with all the rest of them!


I decided early on in the year that everyone would get a handmade christmas gift this year, I really should have made a start on these earlier , but I have managed to finish my first pair of socks, the pink ones, and am 1 sock into a pair of green ones (escalator socks on ravelry) for one of the men in my family, only about a hundred socks to go!


I also thought that I would make a special gift for my mum, I decided on an afghan and after looking at and rejecting so many patterns I finally chose the Tree of Life Afghan, I was influenced mainly by all the lovely pictures of other peoples finished projects, but from a picture it really is hard to get an idea of size.... it is huge! I'm even reducing the length slightly and it is still going to be massive, but it is lovely and thats what matters. The picture is of one of the sets of trees from the 1st tree section, I'm currently up to the 2nd tree section so still a long way to go and then all of the border to knit and sew on. So with an enormous afghan to finish, loads of socks, oh and a steggie jumper for my son I think I will be knitting continuously until christmas morning (but I cant complain as I do enjoy it!)

Saturday 8 August 2009

Finally my garden is growing and growing, I have baby butternut squashes and huge cucumbers, both of which I've never grown before so am feeling decidedly pleased with myself :)



The cucumbers taste good too, tho have to remove that prickerly skin




My tomato's have finally started to ripen and I have peppers! I am especially pleased about the peppers as I bought the two tiny plants in a dying state for 15p!

And finally the pumpkins, which like last year are starting to take over the garden, no amount of staking will keep them in, but they are getting huge already.
All I need now is some pumpkin recipe suggestions as we have still got 2 pumpkin pies in the freezer from last year.

I've been drawing out lots of new knitting designs and now need to go on a yarn hunt, I need something lovely and woolly and soft for a blanket design am working on, have yet to find the perfect yarn. In the mean time I've nearly finished my radiating star blanket (ravelry link) and have finished one of my summer sox which I need to get on with as they will be a birthday gift for my mum.

Friday 24 July 2009


We've all been ill, a household of ill people is never pleasant and my poor garden has been neglected, but due to the rubbish rainy weather it has survived (and so have we).

My first ever carrots tasted the best, we've also had loads of peas, spring onions and lettuces. I'm currently thinking about recipes for my beetroots which I'll be pulling up this weekend.
To cheer us all up I've been making puddings, classic British puds like trifle, lemon meringue and treacle tart, there is something very comforting about pudding and these classics are the best, though I have been adding my own little twists, I may share :-)

In the past couple of days I've also been working on some silly knitting projects, knitting when ill just doesn't work for me, I end up ripping back more than I've actually knitted, so silly things are the best for an addled brain. I've just got to finish some seaming and I'll have finished my first new project... road-kill dog!

Wednesday 1 July 2009

All Grown Up Socks


The weather has been so nice that I haven't been near the computer, but my son has still been wearing his socks! he informed me that he wanted 'socks like daddys' and I thought that I would share the pattern as it is super easy and worked well. If you would like a PDF copy of the pattern then click here :)

These socks are very stretchy and can easily be lengthened or shortened so will fit a child aged 3 to about 7. They are great for using up oddments of sock yarn and knit up so quick that second sock syndrome is never an issue.

Materials:
The pair use a total of 150 – 200 yards of 4ply sock yarn, about 40g. The socks in the picture are made with Paton Diploma Gold 4ply in iced green (CC) and Sportico in slate gray (MC).
One pair of 2.5mm DPN’s.

Size:
Heel to toe is 6.5” (16cm) unstretched, but can be easily changed.

Tension:
32 stitches and 42 rounds to 4”

Abbreviations:
MC, main colour; CC, contrast colour; K, knit; P, purl; k2tog, knit 2 stitches together; SSK, slip slip knit; P2tog, purl 2 stitches together; Sl1, slip 1 stitch (purlwise unless otherwise stated);


Pattern:
Cuff
Cast on 48 stitches, distribute over needles and join in round.
Leg of sock is worked in P1, K3 ribbing as follows:
10 rounds MC
6 rounds CC
6 rounds MC
4 rounds CC6 rounds MC
2 rounds CC
8 rounds MC.
If you want to make the leg longer, then can carry on in MC until desired length.

Heel Flap
P1 stitch onto previous needle.
Row 1: Sl1, k22, turn, (put remaining 25 stitches onto spare 2 needles or stitch holder).
Row 2: Sl1, P22
Repeat these 2 rows eight more times.

Turn Heel
Row 1: Sl1, K14, SSK, K1, turn
Row 2: Sl1, P7, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 3: Sl1, K8, SSK, K1, turn
Row 4: Sl1, P9, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 5: Sl1, k10, SSK, K1, turn
Row 6: Sl1, P11, P2tog, P1, turn
Row 7: Sl1, k12, SSK, turn
Row 8: P13, P2tog, P1 (15 stitches).

Instep
K15 stitches of heel, pick up and knit 13 stitches down edge of heel, work 25 stitches of pattern, pick up and knit 13 stitches up other side of heel (66 stitches).
Knit 7 place marker (new start of round). Rearrange stitches so that there are 21 stitches on 1st needle, 25 pattern stitches on 2nd needle and 20 stitches on 3rd needle.

K 6 rounds, continue rib pattern on needle 2.
Next round: Needle 1 K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1; Needle 2 work rib pattern; Needle 3 K1, SSK, K to end

Next round: Needles 1 & 3 K, needle 2 rib pattern.

Repeat these previous 2 rounds 5 more times.
Continue with out decreasing until the foot measures 3½cm less than the total length of the child’s foot.

Shape Toe
Change to CC and end of rib pattern on needle 2.
Round 1: K on all needles.
Round 2: Needle 1 K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K; Needle 2 K1, SSK, K to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1; Needle 3 K1, SSK, K to end.

Repeat these 2 rounds five times, the repeat round 2 four more times (14 stitches).
Rearrange stitches and kitchener stitch end of toe.
If you have any questions please ask :-)

Thursday 11 June 2009




June is turning into a damp squib here, overcast grey and rainy so my garden has been rather neglected (but well watered!) I have at least had plenty of time for knitting. I've nearly finished my ruby red scarf from Victorian Lace Today, the picture is terrible tho.






But my knitting time has mostly been occupied by my trying to create some summer socks, the yarn can at best be described as lurid, but the feel of this regia cotton is lovely and great for summer. Took me three attempts to get the shape and pattern how I wanted it to be, but they're progressing well now, or at least I hope they are!



I'm also working on a design for a bolero / shrug and I bought some patons jet in Kemps sale for 79p a ball! The design hasn't got any further than on paper as yet but I can't resist a sale, so I really hope I bought enough.


I have also finally written up my pattern for the All Grown Up Socks and will upload that today too.

Saturday 30 May 2009



This time a cake for my dad's birthday with sugarpaste pale yellow carnations, I took the photo's before I cleaned up the cake box lid that the cake is sitting on so it looks a bit messy around the edges. You can also see my finger indentation in the front of the cake in this pic which I did remember to sort out before I gave it to him.
This was another fruit cake as all my family seem to prefer them, I sometimes wish that they'd like a sponge instead as they're a lot easier to ice!
I was so pleased with these carnations as they are something I have never made before, but they worked brilliantly and actually looked like what I intended them to look like (which quite often isn't the case!)

Thursday 28 May 2009

Holidays and Cakes



We've been away on holiday, it was lovely and we even got sunshine for the whole week, which is never a given in England! Arrived home to find my raddishes had had a growing burst, my first vegetables from the garden this year which am ever so pleased about.




It was also the other half's birthday yesterday so I made an iced fruit cake, am making my sister's wedding cake next year so have been experimenting with different icing types recently, this cake was done with sugarpaste covering and modeling paste flowers, was pleased with how it turned out and it tastes great!
I've really wanted to start the Goddess Knits Aniversary KAL but am lacking yarn, it requires 1900 yards and I definitely don't have that much 2ply in my stash, nothing at my LYS (which is very acrylic orientated anyway) so have been looking online for something lovely but not too expensive. To keep me busy I've started the Victorian Ruby scarf from the Victorian Lace Today book with some Forsell 3ply I inherited, its knitting up quite quick but I do hope it looks better once blocked as it currently resembles a dishrag! I've finally finished my son's socks and as soon as I get him to model them I'll write up the pattern, so pleased with how they've turned out and they're a super quick knit.

Monday 11 May 2009

Luna Moth Shawl

I have finally finished my Luna Moth Shawl and I love it, it turned out really well considering I was concerned about whether the yarn that I was using would work. The yarn that I used was Sirdar Escape DK which is 51% wool and 49% acrylic but it actually blocked quite well and hasn't sprung back too much.


My only problem was running out of yarn, I bought 4 balls from a closing down shop and I wish that I could have got hold of another, but never mind I still love the finished article and the colour changes are lovely.



I now only have one project on the go (apart from sewing up a penguin which I keep putting off) which is my son's socks, just one toe to go! I need a new project but not sure what, I think should prob be more socks as I have a pile of sock yarn and not much else in any quantity. I am currently trying to think of projects for small amounts of yarn, I have been given some odd balls of odd yarn and I hate to let anything go to waste. I think that my next few projects should all come under the title of 'what to do with odd balls of icky acrylic and fashion yarn'!

Saturday 2 May 2009

Today is evidently 'World Naked Gardening Day' there is even a website about it, evidently 'apart from swimming gardening is at the top of the list of family-friendly activities people are most ready to consider doing nude'. Well, I have got lots of gardening done today, but not nude, my garden is rather overlooked and I didnt want to shock the neighbours! Actually I'm not too sure if I actually fancy gardening in the nude, but I suppose it saves getting more clothes covered in dirt.

Tuesday 28 April 2009

Choo Choo Beanie

I am a little bit addicted to 1930's-1950's magazines, especially crafty ones and just love the very cute children's clothes of that era, little knitted jumpers and jackets with animal / vehicle / pattern motifs are my current favourite. So below is my take on this trend, a knitted beanie with trains running all around. It's an easy pattern and knits up super quick.


Materials:
2 x 50g Balls DK yarn in different colours (I used Patons fairytale colour 4 me in white and a part ball of sky blue acrylic I inherited.
1 pair 4mm DPN’s

Size:
Made to fit a 3 year old boys head. I am currently working on another for a 2 year old using 3.75mm needles

Tension:
24sts to 10cm

Abbreviations:
MC, main colour; CC, contrast colour; K, knit; P, purl; M1, make one by picking up loop between stitiches; k2tog, knit 2 stitches together.Any instructions within brackets should be repeated the number of times stated after the brackets.

Pattern:
With MC cast on 95 stitches and join in the round.
1st Round: P all stitches
2nd Round: K all stitches
Repeat these 2 rounds twice more.
7th Round: P.
8th Round: k7, M1 (K9, M1) 9 times, K7 (105 sts)
K 4 more rounds.
Change to CC and k 2 rounds.
Work the 14 rounds of the chart pattern, there are 7 repeats of the pattern.

K 2 rounds in CC.
Change to MC, K 8 rounds.
Crown Decrease:
Next Round: (K19, K2tog) repeat around.
Next Round: K
Next Round: (K18, K2tog) repeat around.
Next Round: K
Repeat these 2 rounds reducing the number of stitches knitted between K2tog by 1 each time until you have 80stitches.
Next Round: (K14, K2tog) repeat around.
Next Round: (K13, K2tog) repeat around.
Continue in this manner, reducing the number of stitches knitted by 1 each round until you have 20 stitches.

Break yarn, thread through remaining 20 stitches and weave in ends.

Suggestions:
When working the pattern section be very careful not to pull the yarn too tightly, or once completed the hat will look distorted and won’t fit!

If you would prefer this pattern in pdf format then either click here or email me VerilyVintage (at) aol (dot) com.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Socks and Hats


I've been having great fun in the past few months designing and creating some of my own knitting patterns. It started with a hat for my son, he wanted one with trains on, this is the original swatch, though my son insisted on a blue hat in the end. But ever since I started with this hat I've been coming up with more and more ideas and I now have pieces of paper and little swatches everywhere!

At the moment I'm working on a pair of socks for my son as he wanted 'socks like daddys'. When I started searching for a pattern for his socks I found lots of baby sock and hundreds of lady sock patterns but not much for a 3 year old boy, so I've been knitting away and writing the pattern at the same time, I've nearly finished now and I'm quite pleased with them. These socks have already gained the nickname of 'all grown up'.

I now have the conundrum of what to start on next, although I should probably finish my Luna Moth Shawl that i started the other month, it is going to be quite a heavy version and I've decided that if I like it when complete am going to make a laceweight version too as it really is very pretty. I just have to stop myself from starting anymore projects!

Thursday 16 April 2009

Herb Garden

The cat took its revenge... I covered my veg beds in netting and the cat pooped in the middle of my grass! This morning I had a civilised chat with the cat, well it was more my begging of it to go poo somewhere else and the cat staring at me like I was a loon, but here's hoping that the cat might take pity on me.

I have filled my mini greenhouse, there are seed trays full of all sorts of herbs, plus some sunflowers and brussel sprouts, if everything comes up I shall have to start giving them away, I think I was a bit over-zealous in planting. I seem to have got dirt engrained (is that how you spell it?) in my hands, nothing is removing it, someone recommended alcohol but not sure if wine would work and I am not going to try it with good port!

Have just been trying to work out if I can upload a pdf onto here and it really doesn't look like I can, ah well. I shall try to get my new hat pattern on here somehow this weekend

Tuesday 7 April 2009

Garden Pains

At last we've had some quite nice weather, so I've spent the last few afternoons in the garden planting seeds, but am now suffering. I don't know if there's such a thing as gardeners shoulder, but if there is then thats what I've got, majorly ouch!

But the good side is that I've planted loads already, rhubarb and peas in the ground, spring onions and carrots in big pots and cucumber and pumpkins in the little greenhouse, fingers crossed that they all survive. This will be my third attempt at cucumbers, first year what must have been an army of snails ate them all overnight and last year they produced no cucumbers, I'm probably doing something wrong, but not entirely sure what! My best produce last year was definitely my pumpkins, they were massive and took over the garden, but made great pies!

I've got loads more seeds to plant but its supposed to rain for the rest of the week and I have terrible pains so for now it will have to wait.


I wish wish wish I knew how to stop next doors cat from pooing in my garden, its all been dug over ready for planting and the damn cat thinks it should poo in it, I've read lots of suggestions, like zoo poo and chilli seeds but neither is good for me with a small child. Am currently considering high power hose or a spud gun!!!

Friday 3 April 2009

Pondering

I rather like the word pondering although I have no real idea why, but it is exactly what I have been doing this morning.... pondering on what to write in my first post. But I guess an introduction to myself and what this is all about is as good a start as any.


I decided to start this blog as a sort of virtual crafty diary, I love to make, bake and grow and I shall use this as a way of documenting and sharing my crafty ways!

The name verily vintage is because I am a little obsessed with vintage crafts, especially old recipes and anything to do with knitting, i like attempting to recreate something old even if I only have a photo or description.

And finally... my mission is to keep this up and keep it interesting, oh and to stop fiddling with the colour and setup (am a terrible computer geek)

;;