Knit It - Such a Debonair Little Jumper

A Stitch in Time 1920-1949, Vol. 1 by Jane Waller and Susan Crawford

I have wanted  to knit something from this beautiful book for ages now, but I have not had the chance, partly due to not having any suitable wool/yarn (there are so few colour choices available in 4 ply nowadays it all seems to be baby pastel shades) and partly due to the fear of starting something that is beyond my skill level and so will most likely end up unfinished and thrown in frustration to the corner of the room.

Well, my mum has just solved one of my problems by gifting me three large balls of balls of a turquoise 4 ply wool and so with being between knitting projects at the moment I decided it was time to give on of these vintage patterns a crack! As there are so many gorgeous garments to choose from it has not been an easy task but after much debate, I have finally plumped for 'Such a debonair Little Jumper'

OK, the pattern was picked, but then I panicked a little when I realised, though I knew that each ball weighed 100g I didn't know if the yardage/meterage would be enough to cope with all that knit one purl one rib needed!! I ummed and ahhed over this for a few days then decided just to go for it, so I cast on with crossed fingers (quite difficult!!) and half way through the 40 odd rows of K1, P1, I remembered just how much I hate knitting rib - not the best jumper to start with this being the case. Oh well in for a penny....

So this is the story so far

It has taken much longer than I'd first hoped as I found I just could not get my tiny brain around the leaf pattern - I just could not see the pattern forming - so after knitting and ripping back about 6 times, though it feels like many more, I have finally sussed it, and have to say it is really quite a simple pattern when your firing on all cylinders that is!!

I am away at my parents in the Isle of Wight this weekend, so hopefully I'll get plenty of time for knitting, with the added bonus of my mums knitting advice being on hand!

Wendy x

Sew It - Peppa Pig Pillow

It was my God daughter Willows 2nd birthday party a few weekends ago and much fun was had by all. We were very lucky to have the most wonderful weather and spent a gloriously summery afternoon relaxing in the garden whilst Willow and her cousins played in and with her new sand pit, and ate their weight in cake and crisps.

On the gift front, I bought willow a book which was one of my very favourites when I was a child, The Jolly Postman. I was absolutely obsessed with this book and every time my mum would take me to the library I would return it only to take it out again! To accompany the book I wanted to make something homemade and so I hit upon a cushion cover appliquéd with Willows Favourite Peppa Pig.

~ Peppa Pig Appliqué Cushion ~

Ingredients:

1 Pillow Case

Pink fleece fabric for body

Scraps of fabric for appliqué

First I started by finding a suitable image of Peppa online, I chose this cute fairy one which I think works perfectly. I printed it out as large as I could on an A4 sheet so that I had a rough guide for cutting out my pieces.

To make the cushion I bought a child's single duvet set from Asda I unpicked the seams of the pillow case and then cut it in half to make into two cushions (the other cushion is still to be finished which will be George).

I next raided the stash of fabric scraps my mum had sent me a few months ago (thanks, mum) and created Peppa along with the bright pink fleece throw I had bought from Asda last year, which I used for her face, hands and legs! I used iron-on Bondaweb to hold the bits in place whilst I zigzagged around all the raw edges, Finally, I finished with a few buttons on her crown and wand and added some French knots for her eyes.

Lastly sewed up the sides to make the cushion, I used a tutorial (this is a good one!) to make a very simple envelope cushion cover, and I was done!

I am pleased to say that it went down really well, though my button sewing skills took a bit of a testing as they were mercilessly pulled at, but thankfully the metallic thread seems to have them held in place, for now at least!! 

Wendy x

Busy Blogging Nothing!

It's been a month since I updated this little blog and I am feeling rather guilty. It's not that I haven't had lots of blog-worthy bits and pieces to write about it's partly me being a bit lazy and having too many different things to do at the minute.

Another part of my excuse is the lack of space.  As I am sure you will notice from the Picture, this is my sewing station, beauty bureau and also my computing corner, which means only one of the above can be done at any one time - The curse of living in a shared house with only one room and a balcony to call your own.

Anyway I hope this week to catch up with all the things I have been spending my non-blogging hours on as you can see from the picture I have started two more blouses from my much loved Economy Design Pattern, I have also started a knit from the wonderful 'A Stitch in Time' which is a long process for a slow knitter like me, and I have been busily working on gifts for my Best Friends new baby which is due at any moment! Which means I had better get a move on to finish!

Wendy x

The Kitchen Front - Woolton Pie

After doing a little internet based research, I found that there are many different ways to make the Classic Woolton Pie, it seems that everyone had their own take on this classic wartime recipe. It can be made with either a mashed potato, potato pastry or a wholemeal pastry top and the vegetable filling is whatever you have available.

The original recipe was created by Savoy Chef François Latry and was named after the Minister for Food, Lord Woolton. It was used on Savoy Restaurant menus and intended to be a dish created by a Savoy chef, which ordinary housewives could recreate in their own homes whilst sticking to the rationing restrictions.

Below is the Official Housewife's recipe which was printed in the Times Newspaper on the 26th April 1941.

(Source)

The recipe  I used is from 'The Victory Cookbook' by the wonderful Marguerite Patten. This book combines Marguerite's three original books on rationing We'll Eat Again, The Victory Cook Book and The Post-War Kitchen into one much more affordable paperback book!

~ Lord Woolton Pie ~

Ingredients:

1lb each of Parsnip, Carrot, Swede, Cauliflower, Leek, Cabbage, or whatever you have

1oz of oats.

1 teaspoon of vegetable extract. (Marmite)

1lb of Potatoes to be mashed for topping.

A few Spring Onions - finely chopped.

A little grated Cheese. 

1. Boil all the vegetables until just cooked. Drain and keep 3/4 pint of the vegetable water.

2. Put the cooked vegetables into a pie or casserole dish, sprinkle with the spring onion.

3. Mix the vegetable water, oats and extract into a pan and cook gently until thickened slightly.

4. Pour over the vegetables and then top with the mashed potatoes.

5. Bake in a moderate oven until golden brown. Serve with lashings of gravy.

Though quite a stodgy dish it is really rather nice. The vegetable hating boyfriend loved it and even said he would be happy to have it again. I think the ton of gravy made up for the lack of meat!! I think I will have a go at trying to make the potato pastry version soon to see what that is like!!!

Wendy x

The Kitchen Front - Potato and Bacon Cakes

 I have collected over the past few years many pamphlets and books on Wartime cooking filled with hundreds of frugal and filling recipes that kept Britain fighting fit during the constrictions of Rationing.  I thought it was about time that I gave some of these recipes an airing and had a bash at them myself. So to begin with I have chosen to start simple with Potato and Bacon Cakes.

~ Potato and Bacon Cakes ~

Ingredients:

1lb Cooked Potatoes. 

6 tablespoons Onions - chopped. 

11/2 - 3 oz Bacon. 

2 teaspoon of Meat or Vegetable Extract - I took this to mean Bovril or Marmite? 

1/2 - 1 teaspoon of salt. 

Milk and Bread Crumbs for coating. 

Needless to say, I left out the whopping quantity of salt recommended in the recipe for my batch; what with the Bacon and the Marmite there really is no need to add more salt!

1. Mash the potatoes well while still hot. 

2. Chop the bacon and fry with the onion until both are golden brown. 

3. Add to the mashed potato with the extract salt and pepper.  

4. Mix well together and form into 8 cakes.

5. Coat with milk and breadcrumbs and bake in a moderately hot oven till firm. 

6. Serve with lightly boiled vegetables.

I cooked these up last night and I can honestly say they are really quite lovely; they go all gooey inside once they have been browned in the oven. They passed the boyfriend test so I am sure these will now become a regular in our house! I think I will have a go at the iconic Woolton Pie next, see if this one passes muster. Fingers crossed.

Wendy x