The Things I get Myself Into...

Some time ago, while talking to a lady at the Historical Society, I mentioned that I might be recreating some patterns created by Mary Card, circa 1916. She said that was a great idea! And would go really well in the permanent ANZAC exhibit that was being created...

So, me being me, I got started 😄
(I'd like to point out, I had never done filet crochet before, and I /had/ to pick these as my first 😜)
One of the first problems is reading the old patterns. There is always a certain amount of "do this, and that, then cont. and see how you go"




 The first piece was taking some time to do, so started on one I originally thought would be the hardest.

I used a natural colour 20 ct cotton, with the smallest hook I have. As you can see above, next to the pen it really is quite small. I started wearing a bandaid on one of my fingers to prevent the stabbing of my cuticle.
Each leaf/petal had to made, then joined together with little petals and a first row of border before a star picot border was worked all around.

So many picots!!!
Next was a decent blocking out to make it neat and tidy for the next stage
So many picots!!!!!

 While the filet was drying, I started on the linen centre. I cut the linen to size, and took some care about pulling and cutting the threads to make the cross shape.

Next was crocheting around the linen to make the hem and a border to make it easier to add to the filet.

With several deep breaths, and no kids, TV, or appts, I crocheted the linen into the filet. Finished. Phew!
Total time approx 50 hours

Mary Card designed this d'oyley, for the pattern to be sold to raise money for the Red Cross. At sixpence a copy, the sum of 60 pounds was raised and sent to Red Cross headquarters.

I handed this recreation to be accessioned for the display. 

On to the next piece.

 I had thought that this d'oyley would be the easiest. However, the pattern effectively said "start with this many chain then follow the photo"
Fortunately I had been looking at a book buying site, and thought I might as well try - and I found that someone has been putting Mary Cards' patterns into modern terms and charts. So I bought it. And it arrived within a week!!

I got along quite well with the chart to start with. As this was also 20 ct cotton and the same small hook it was back to bandaids on finger again.

The centre section caused me some issues but got through it all.

Got the main piece finished. Onto the border. Read it. Read it again. Give it a go. Read again. Get it started...oh boy this is going to take forever. And only a couple of weeks til display.
Decision- leave for later. Start on other one.
Total time - tba

*Mary Card designed this to raise money for the French Red Cross.
"Life is mostly froth and bubble
Two things stand like stone
Kindness in anothers trouble
Courage in our own"

 I had originally started on the ANZAC soldier piece before Christmas. As the design included some tricky stitches that were very awkward to manipulate, I had decided to leave it for more time. When I picked it up again I was taking about 40 min a row.

I then did the two above pieces. After some thought, and confirming my memory of what Mary Card had written, I opted for an option she suggested. I made it without the eucalypt leaves and flowers border, and to a size that could be put on a scrapbook (for keeping news articles, memorabilia, and letters). I had a frantic 2 weeks of visitors, appts., holidays, etc, etc while trying to fit in making this whenever I could to be ready. Finally finished last Friday night. Washed and pinned it out to dry, before I handed it in to be accessioned on Saturday morning (Bit of a rush that morning too. I also had to be somewhere for spinners demo, and then a family thing)
Total time approx 45 hours
Rather proud of my efforts. Very proud that they are going into a permanent museum exhibit. I'll get to see it in the display next week. Will take photos 😃

ANZAC Project

Last year, a little inspired by the wide spread endeavour of creating poppies for installations in Australia and beyond, I wanted something a little personal for Brighton House, the home of Ipswich Spinners and Weavers. My idea was to ask for members to make their own poppy/poppies to add to a piece of camouflage netting.

The netting was so expensive I ended up creating my own, that could be dyed. I used 8 ply white cotton and made a filet crochet fabric..

I didn't want a commercial dye, nor an even look. My thought was to gather leaves, bark, lichen, etc from various groups in different areas. This should give some interesting colours.

 I told the group about the change and asked for contributions to the plant material. Johns' class was taken on a walk in the nature area of his school to find leaves. Gwens' guide unit also gathered some on their campfire night. I asked my craft group, and the historical society, if they would like to add to it.


Here you can see the fabric laid out with the accumulation laid all over. There is a lot of vegetation, but I wanted it totally covered and very mottled. With some we didn't know if it /would/ dye, so better to overdo it. We also added the nails, screws, and wire that had been found around Brighton House when it was moved to it's current site.

The fabric was rolled up and taken home by a member to boil. Mieke has the large pots and outside dyeing area.
Safety first- gloves and tongs at the ready

Photo by Mieke

Mieke took the alum soaked, plant encrusted, fabric and wrapped it in an iron soaked wool and acrylic blanket. Trussed like a chook, put into a pot to boil, then taken off the heat to be wrapped in a blanket to cool overnight.

Photo by Mieke

The next day, out of it's swaddling, ready to reveal it's colouring.

Photo by Mieke







There was some concern that the colour wasn't strong enough, but as I pointed out, the point was for it to be an earthy blend, not vibrant. The wool blend blanket is a stronger colour, and is being used elsewhere in the display room. It can be seen bottom right of photo below.
The poppies started going on, and can be added to as people make their own. There was no need to sew in the ends, as they are used to tie the poppy on, and the tails are supposed to hang behind to represent the blood that was spilt (didn't add that bit in the poster, as quite young kids will be reading it)

And here it is, in situ. I am very pleased with the results, and grateful for everyone who contributed.

Good Value

A few months before John was due, we were packing up the house and preparing it for renters. I was getting a bit stressed and the doctor put me on a weeks bed rest. If results didn't improve she would send me to hospital.
What better way to relax than to have a weeks worth of uninterrupted knitting and crochet??

John was due in the middle of summer, so most of the small items were in cotton or bamboo.  I wanted something a little bigger, and warmer, than the baby clothes I had been making, for winter.

I decided on a vest. It can go over short, or long, sleeve shirts, under jumpers, or jackets.

Using creamy, soft, white, 8ply wool, with  little dark blue 8 ply wool, I knitted a cable vest in three days (I did sleep a bit, and had other things to make...)

(John during his "No paparazzi" phase 😂 )

And I must say, from the first time John wore it at 10 months (he was walking at 9 1/2, running at 10), to the last time at 5 1/2 yo, it has lasted remarkably well - even being machine washed!

Each year it just got a little bit shorter, and shorter, on his body 😃

The vest has been such a favourite, John did cry a little when I said he couldn't wear it anymore. He cheered up when I said I would keep it for grandkids - I was giving away his baby clothes at the time...