Wartime Farm Sleeveless Pullover, Fenella and Susan Crawford

I feel like I have weeks and weeks of blogging and podcasting material thanks to Unravel. I'm on about day 2 of recovery though so today is an indulgent, lingering kind of post about all things Susan Crawford. 

I've always loved to see Susan's booth at shows. It's a wonderful setup full of gorgeous samples, books and yarn but the thing that strikes me most, without fail, each and every time, is that I step in and feel like I'm in someone's sitting room. She brings wallpapered walls and period pieces to display her vintage inspired finery and the effect is not lost on me. I feel the crowds disappear and wish I was wearing a string of pearls EVERY TIME. I'm transported to another era and my mood is instantly lifted. 

Susan always looks the part, showcasing her designs and more often than not a fabulous, authentic hairdo too but I'm afraid to say it was her husband that stole the show this year. He was modelling the Wartime Farm Sleeveless Pullover that Susan designed, complete with hat and tie. This picture will give you an idea of why I sighed every time I looked down the hall and saw him in that booth of charm and wonder. I longed to show my Grandmother; I felt like I could hear my Grandfather humming 'We'll meet again' each and every time I saw him. (Which my Grandfather does interchangeably with 'Here We are Again' and it's a habit I adore)

(c) Susan Crawford

If you haven't heard about this wonderful sweater and the project surrounding it, you really should go and take a look. In the wake of the popular Wartime Farm BBC TV series, you can now knit your very own authentic Fair Isle Sleeveless Pullover, modelled on a 1938 original and as worn by Alex Langlands no less! For each pattern sold, a £2.50 donation will be made to the Women’s Land Army Tribute Campaign to help raise money for a permanent memorial to these forgotten ladies and their untold toil during the World Wars. There's a kit available featuring Susan's wonderful yarn that she's developed to help you achieve the most authentic garment possible. 

Talking of yarn, I was mid interview with Susan when I spotted this little bit of deliciousness peeking at me.....

'Myrtle'

This is Fenella, the newest recruit to Susan's unique yarn range. Susan understands that vintage inspired patterns require vintage inspired yarn as the modern day equivalents often don't behave like their predecessors. With this in mind, Susan has been working with British Wool supplier John Arbon Textiles to develop a yarn range that will allow knitters to create garments with authentic colour choices and achieve that perfect fabric. 

Fenella is a 2ply that knits as a 3 ply, a weight that many vintage patterns call for but has all but dyed out in modern milling. Available in 124m (135yds) per 25g, this is 100% pure new British wool, (70% Exmore Blueface, 30% Bluefaced Leicester). It's amazing and I'm currently pondering what it wants to be when it grows up. I guess I will have to indulge myself by curling up with one or two of Susan's inspirational books and see what I find eh?

All in the name of research and recovery. Obviously. 

Unravel and everything after

Sleepily I'm typing in a sun spot of the house, pondering a gorgeous weekend. This weekend was a big one to say the least. I might be over tired as a result but Unravel was completely worth it this year. What a rush!

Highlights for me:

- The Sweet Georgia girls completely fangirling Victoria from EdenCottage

- Susan Crawford's stylish booth and winning smile

- Fyberspates new yarn, Cumulus, sitting like little tribbles at the stand

Plume by Lisa Mutch in The Uncommon Thread yarn

- The way my shawl was an instant point of conversation each time I made a new acquaintance. 

- Coopknits just next door with her explosion of pompoms

- Eliza Conway gleefully telling me stories of vintage knitting finds and the wonderful reactions they cause. 

- Emily from Tincanknits campaigning for me to attend Edinburgh Yarn Festival (haha)

Knitted Stuffed Heads!

- The knitting decorations

- So much banter, good will and fun from all the vendors. It was truly a brilliant event.

I'm going to be blogging about a few things I brought home and editing 2 podcasts worth of audio this week because sometimes you just don't want something to be over. 

Although my fourth cup of tea begs to differ. 

Still

Sometimes amongst all the chaos, the constant movement and the endless (endless) work, you need to stop and be still. Taking time for yourself is always hard but it's something I struggle with even more as a mother of an oh so Playful Tot. However, unless we take risks we don't know where our boundaries lie right?

I've been scrunched up into myself lately, brow furrowed and just living for the afternoons in with the Tot, rolling around on the floor and completely lost within each other. I've loved it. With Unravel coming at the weekend though and so much social strength needed to cope with crowds of people and banter, I knew I needed to push myself a little. 

With a trusted friend I tried something new..... Art, lunch, let the girls run wild and then? Stillness. 

I wonder if it will stick?

Episode 49: Big Love

Show notes:

Will you be at Unravel? Unwind?
A big thank you to Michelle from BC Yarnings for helping out with prizes. We love you!
Are you joining us for the BIG LOVE ALONG? There will be prizes from our sponsor Inspiration Knits as well as Whimzy yarns. 

The winner of Scrumptious Collection Volume 3 is Knitterlynina. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Off the Needles

Pyrite Socks by Carol Feller in Juno Fibre Arts Buffy Toughie in the 'Wanderer' Colourway.

On the Needles

Hickory by Cecily Glowik MacDonald using Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky.  

Simple by Alice Plummer in some rather special handspun


Future Knitting
Dancing Socks for the Big Love along. Candy Skein Yummy Fingering in the Rainbow Fruit Chews colourway. Gratuitous stash link. 
Jeck Socks with CarbonSoup of the Fibre PigeonHole podcast. 
Unravel plans abound. My queue!!

Songs:

Fly, Fly, Fly by Adrina Thorpe, available on Noise Trade
Ce Jeu by Yelle , available on Noise Trade

New Articles!

Not one but TWO magazines arrived on my doorstep yesterday, heralding the news that two new articles were just published. Great stuff.

The first is about Anna Maltz, a fabulously talented designer that I know as a friend but who also happens to be involved in lots of fun things, including the Ricefield Collective. You can catch that in the most recent issue of pom pom magazine.

The next is a feature about the lovely Asti and her set up with Juno Fibre Arts. I had the pleasure of visiting Asti last summer and really enjoyed writing this article for The Knitter. You can find that in Issue 67.

Happy reading!