Wednesday 9 June 2010

Can You Tell What It Is Yet?

As you all know I like to do a bit of knitting occasionally. I am not an expert by any means but I do like to do something once in a while that is a bit different. At the quilt show in Malvern there is a stand called The Knitting Parlour and she has some lovely stuff. I spotted this pattern and thought I would have a go. It is an old pattern dated 1968 by Elizabeth Zimmerman. It is knitted all in one piece and she gives you little pep talks at certain stages just to ask if you are still following!!! I managed - just. The next one will be better.

Have you sussed what it is?



When you have finished the knitting the pattern says to pass it to a friend and challenge them to make a garment out of it. I took it to Apple Quilters and had a bit of fun with it.

This is what it turns in to.... a very sweet liitle baby jacket. I have just to sew up the shoulder seams. That is the part I hate and luckily for me my friend Jill loves that part so she does it for me. Next time I will use something much more appropriate for a baby jacket!!



On Sunday we decided to go to Barrington Court. It is a National Trust property near Ilminster in Somerset. The weather forecast was a bit iffy and it kept clouding over as if to rain. This little display greeted us. I am not sure why as there was nothing there to say what it was for. At least it would have come in handy.



This is my favourite part of the house and gardens. There are roses around each archway and they are quite beautiful.



The inside is fascinating too with all that old timber on display. It is a work of art in it's own right.



There are two houses standing next to each other and I am not sure the reason why. They are very different in style. This one has the most interesting roof. At first glance they look like chimney's but they are not.





I love this oval window. The perfume from the roses was just divine.



This fence post is so old and weathered that you can see every grain line.



Remember me saying that I am clumsy, well... Mick sent me off to pick up a geranium at the plant sales. It was a very unusual pretty colour and the only one. At first he said no as it wasn't cheap. As I picked it up I managed to knock off the only flower head on the plant and had to very sheepishly hand it over at the pay desk. Luckily there was another flowerhead forming and in a few days will have a pretty flower again. The rain held off and it turned out to be a very pleasant day.

I haven't very much to show in the way of stitching at the moment. Believe me though, I am working very hard to try and finish some things off and then I will have my own little on-line exhibition. Things are coming together now at Apple County Quilters and there is a bit of excitement in the air. I am sure Ann will do a great job of the organising and setting up. Having done this role I can tell you it is no mean feat. Anyone in the vicinity can come and see us at Bradford on Tone Village Hall, 26-27th June, 10am till 4pm. All proceeds are to go to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Klosjes total 115.

Happy Stitching

Love Shirley.x

EDIT - Sorry for the confusion, I have written this post badly. I knew what the baby jacket looked like as I had seen the sample and there is a tiny picture on the pattern. The mystery is to give it to a friend and confuse them. The piece of knitting really is a very odd shape. A bit of mystery knitting sounds like a good idea though. Rolf Harris used to have a saying when he was indulging in his artwork "can you tell what it is yet?"

9 comments:

  1. How cute is that little jacket! What a great idea, a mystery knitting project.
    I can see why you loved the first photo of Barrington Court, the roses look beautiful framing the arches. What a beautiful old building.

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  2. Love very much this baby jacket.What size is it please ? I understand right: you don't know before what will be your knitting ???
    Your photos are fantastic as always !

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  3. Thank you for your delightful post! Wonderful photos and the mention of Elizabeth Zimmerman warmed my heart! I fell in love with her designs many years ago and love to follow her daughter (Meg Swanson) website Schoolhousepress.com just for inspiration! The mystery baby jacket was a clever idea...and fun!

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  4. I love all those photos of your surrounds and I enjoyed the umbrellas. The knitting was interesting, is that like a mystery quilt?

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  5. Cute little baby jacket..no little ones in our family anymore..
    Loved the photos , such a pretty place with all the roses over the arches..
    Ah Rolf Harris..I grew up just a few streets from him in Bassendean...West Australia..
    Julia ♥

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  6. Great photos of Barrington Court, loved the mystery knitting concept and such a neat little jacket as well!

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  7. The baby jacket makes a delightful change to what we term normal baby clothes.
    DH and I had a wonderful holiday in June about 11 years ago- We really enjoyed the gardens,NT properties and especially Barrington Court.

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  8. Love the baby jacket Shirley, I'm all for non traditional!Thanks for sharing the photos of Barrington Court with all those great architectural features.

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  9. Great photos I love the oval window with the white rose. It is perfect knitting weather here, I should get mine out.

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