"It's a Piece of Cake!"

If only the same could be said about my endeavours in embroidery, but then again, you can't even compare my traumatic experiences with the craft, with that of the experiences that our brave airmen (and their contemporaries) faced daily during the war...

As some of you will know, I have taken on the mammoth task of an embroidered patchwork quilt, and I made the decision early on to concentrate on everything Air force-y to start with, before I commence on the other services... to cut a long story short, I've started with anything to do with the R.A.F. and haven't got very far (an understatement!) even with a filtered target!
The R.A.F crest is driving me nuts, not helped by the fact I'm not great with embroidery (yeah I know...why on earth did I willingly choose to do this?!), and I really needed to do something a little less involved.....

Well Folks, here's my first completed embroidered patch for my quilt. I know it's not perfect, but I'm proud of it nonetheless.. dodgy stitches and all! Oh and a note to self- don't eat a Cinnamon pinwheel and work on the patches at the same time. They do not work well together and I have now got to sponge the results of that terrible partnership off my patch!

 

 

The finished patch and my famous (well perhaps not famous, but the family do like it!) Carrot cake!

***

I seem to be fated not to publish my RAF Fridays lately- my planned post for today, which actually should have been next weeks,  because last weeks edition wasn't the 'planed' post either (confused yet)... where was I.... oh yes,... today's planned edition will have to be postponed, yet again, due to dull weather Ah ell, such conditions cannot be helped and anyway, it gives me the opportunity to show of a gift from Pappy dearest. (also the inspiration for the above patch)

I've been looking for an original copy of this for quite a while and I mightily pleased pappy bid on it without my knowing. I actually had made up my mind not to bid on it (I must have been having a funny five minuets at the time!), so it was a most welcome surprise!

It's a fantastic little booklet filled with slang used by the services (on the whole)

- some are hilarious, some are rather naughty, and some are now considered not very PC, but it makes for a very interesting read, even if I forget most of them after finishing each page (my brain is like a sieve I tells ya!).

Also if you fancy getting hold of a copy, a reprint is now available of a similar publication called “Service Slang” and is only a few pounds to buy.

***

(Front Page)

IT'S A PIECE OF CAKE

OR

R.A.F. SLANG MADE EASY

For Scrambled Eggs, Line Shooters, Erks, Ships that Pass in the Night, Brown Types, Civvies, Penguins, A/C Plonks, Devil-Dodgers, Sprogs, lady-Birds, Popsies, and any Dim Types Who Are Interested.

(Here’s a task for you.... can you decode it- no prizes I'm afraid!)

 

By Squadron Leader C.H.Ward-Jackson

with drawings

by

Flying Officer David Langdon.

***

They say that the Sergeant's a very nice chap,

Oh ! What a tale to tell !

Ask him for leave on a Saturday Night-

He'll pay your fare home as well.

There's many an airman has blighted his life

Thro' writing rude words on the wall,

You'll get no promotion this side of the ocean,

So cheer up, my lads, Bless' Em All.

   The R.A.F. Trooping Song

Bless 'Em All.

 

***

 

Happy R.A.F Friday and

Here's to the next time

(hark at me going all Henry Hall on you!)

Tupney xxx

***

RAF Friday so far....

 

Mrs Pickup's

Knitting for the R.A.F

Love Is In The Air

Double Trouble

One Mans Photo's

The Rings

Here Comes The Bride...

The Other Box

The Box

Mayday! Mayday! She has bought more wings...

 

 

 



A Jacket Fit for a Wedding?

Hullo kiddies,
Tupney calling!

A while back I started a new knitting project as I was in need of a brown jackety thing to go over a 'possible' wedding outfit. Time was limited, but luckily I had four balls of dk wool lurking in one of my stashes of doom. Anyhoo, I had the wool, I had a time limit, I had the enthusiasm and I had the pattern. Hang on, wait,... don't be silly, of course I didn't have a pattern.... I can never find that 'perfect' pattern when I need to!
For some reason when I  buy wool in advance, without a pattern in mind, I always find it terribly hard to match them with a suitable pattern later on. It must be a subconscious thing of not wanting to waste the wool.... well, I don't want to take the time to knit something, only for it to look rubbish at the end, or find out nearing completion that I'm half an ounce short do I?!
(Funny thing I often feel like I'm an ounce or two short of a pound! Anyway...)

Initially on first looking for a suitable pattern I had come across a lovely 30's one, which I thought was perfect. I even started knitting it, but soon gave up when I remembered how I hate stocking stitch with a passion! I then came across a super late 30's suit pattern with a lovely jacket, which would have been just the ticket. Unfortunately it needed more wool, so this was a no no. (but now on looking back it may have been possible)
Then I  eventually started looking through my 40's knitting books and luckily I found 'the one' lurking in the renovations section.

(Hopefully by showing the original pattern first (fingers crossed) it will make me look incredibly glamorous in comparison..., though when you see the next pattern picture (blah) all illusions will be shattered)



The stitch pattern and original model.

I decided on a few changes- omitting the ribbed welt being the foremost of these changes. I felt that the ribbing wasn't really smart enough looking for a wedding, so I swapped this with the main pattern. I'm rather pleased that I did too!

Tupney found that the time taken in knitting her new cardigan and the time spent in the grocery shop queue paid off equally....

 

 

The Back-

 

(excuse the funny jumper bulge- the rib doesn't stay on my hips) Perhaps if I knit it again I might take an inch or two off the length.

(Blimey, my hair is a funny colour!)

 

It took practically no time to knit- I like thick wool and big needles.... a lot!

I chose modern buttons for this jacket because it needed more than I have in any of my vintage sets.
Originally I had chosen a different style, but after completion I found that I was one short. I'm rather pleased with these though!

 

In the end I didn't wear it for the wedding, but it didn't go unworn on holiday. Oh no, certainly not- it proved most useful indeed!

 

If you are wondering what I did wear to my aunts wedding, then  'ere you are!

  Photo's taken in my Turret room- just look at the carpets.... don't suppose the wedding was in Scotland perchance!

 

I've got two more (and the rest) knitting projects on the go at the moment, so I'll blog about my progress with those soon!

 

 

 

 

Tuppy xxx



Mrs Pickup's- a couple of snaps...

 This wasn't the planned RAF Friday, but I'm feeling rather 'meh' today, so I have dug out a couple of pictures instead (yeah I know it's not much!).

And for once (Note that I'm merrily jigging away in a happy fashion here) the lovely original owner annotated her darling snaps. "I like you lady very much indeedy".

I don't even need to consult people in the know for possible dates, as she noted that too...All this information is nearly too much for me to handle. Well, perhaps that's a little over the top, but nonetheless it's nice for once to at least know their names. Mind you, it still leaves me wondering what became of them all.

"Group on the steps at Mrs Pickup's.

Back- Dorothy and Bill.

Centre- Jack, Mona, Myself and Leslie.

Front- Roy, Bertha, Douglas, Basil and Alan.

July 1941"

(just look at all those glorious names!)

 

 

 "Leslie Shuttleworth and myself taken on the steps of mrs Pickup's.

July 1941"

 

(I'm guessing she liked Leslie!)

They look such a contented bunch in these snaps- happily sitting on each others laps, and with the girlywigs trying on their uniforms.

I presume these lads were billeted with the rather amusingly named 'Mrs Pickup'- that or the girls were.

And it is here, on Mrs Pickup's steps, that these little treasured moments were recorded on film.

***

And one last photo....

 Isn't he gorgeous?! Well at any rate, I think he is. Mammy says he's a "really beautiful boy"! But oh so young. (You know, if you disagree I am going to think there is something wrong with you!) Unfortunately I know nothing about him. Cracking teeth too- with teeth that white he would be very handy in the blackout ;)

 Haha, that was a bit random after exclaiming to know nothing about him- ah well!

This chap came from the same dealer (one of my favourites). I can never pass their stand without checking out the photos. I think such an occurrence has become noted by them because they always say “I’ve topped the photos up…”! Am I really that predictable… well, obviously, yes!

 

 

 

Well folks, thats all from R.A.F Friday this week....

I will leave you with this little ditty from one of my favourite george Formby films ;)

 

 

 

 

TaTa all and have a grand weekend wherever you are,

 

Sincerely Yours

 

TicketyBoo Tupney

xxx



 

 

 

 

***

RAF Friday so far....

Knitting for the R.A.F

Love Is In The Air

 

Double Trouble

One Mans Photo's

The Rings

Here Comes The Bride...

The Other Box

The Box

Mayday! Mayday! She has bought more wings...

Bewitched (Bothered and Bewildered)

Tickety's Tip Top Tunes

 

Hi- de- Hi,

Forgotten who I am yet?

Yet again, I apologise for my absence (well you might be glad of it, I don't know?), but I really feel uninteresting at the moment- can't think of anything to witter on about. Ah well, I'm sure things will buck up soon... I live in hope!

 

Anyway, lets not beat around the bush....

 

to the sheet we go

(Not the most exciting of sheet covers, but it sure is a pretty tune!)

and the tune.....

 

I chose Doris because; well because she's one of my favourites... Simple as that!

 

 

 

I might be back tomorrow, but then again with how I'm feeling at the moment, I may not!!!

(oh what a grump I sound)

 

 

Yours

 

Tupney x



Knitting for the RAF

What could be more perfect than this little treasure for the girl that loves both her knitting and the RAF? I can think of nothing... actually I can, but you'll have to wait till next week to see it! Still, this little booklet is quite hard to beat and just by owning it I feel a level of 'completness' in the service knitting pattern leaflet department.(still have a lot of civvy knitting patterns on my wish list mind you).. In my eyes this booklet is the tops when it comes to knitted comforts patterns!

 The cover of said booklet...

 

There were many schemes during the war to help aid knitters in producing the much needed 'comforts' for the serving troops. This one, however, was produced specifically for and by the R.A.F (hence it being shown today!)

 

The first two pages...

(they should be in the other order, but I couldn't get the pics to do what I wanted!)

 

 

These two pages explain everything you need to know about the Comforts Committee.

Registered working parties were eligible to obtain coupon free wool, and this was to be used for committee comforts and nothing else... you hear me, NOTHING Else. So it was a great boon for the avid knitter to join a registered group, as you could do your bit for the chaps and do all this knitting without touching your precious clothing coupons!

 

 

 

I especially like the idea of 'The Personal Acknowledgement Scheme'- I always like the stories told about the lucky recipients finding the hidden messages and writing back, sometimes with photos being exchanged on both sides too!

 

 

"In order that the individual member of the Royal Air Force who receives a gift made by a working party my be in the position, should he so desire, to send a personal acknowledgement, the R.A.F. Comforts Committee are prepared to supply parties, free of charge, acknowledgement slips similar to the specimen below to be sewn to the garment sent to their depot.

The Committee feel that under this arrangement a more personal contact between Working Parties and the members of the Royal Air Force would be introduced and maintained"

 

 

Forget the name of the working Party and address of the committee, I'm putting my own name and address down. I'm not letting my working party take all the credit of all my hard work. (perhaps not the right attitude?! hehe!) And anyway, I like receiving post!

(Copied from my book)

A RAF Comforts Committee badge from my collection- It's a rubbish photo and reads:-

"R.A.F. Comforts Committee- Voluntary Worker"

The Comforts Committee badges were only issued to registered parties, with one given free to each. If individual members of each working party fancied their own, then they had to apply for one enclosing a 1/- (1 shilling) payment.

Rather interestingly, the book states....

" the number of badges issued to a party will in all cases be related to the amount of work received.

Heads of parties are urged to assist the Committee to maintain a high standard for qualification. it is suggested that this might be taken as 100 hours of work for the R.A.F. COMFORTS COMMITTEE (not total work performed for all the services), with a suitable reduction for children under 14 years. "

So even within the party, you had to earn the right to wear your badge!

 

 

 

The booklet holds not only the usual essential knitteds, but is also filled with the most amazing illustrations you ever did see (just look at them!), and it is these little jewels that really do make the book quite special. The patterns are pictured plainly, nothing fancy about them, but the illustrations take over each page, depicting both humour and their relevance to the pattern. All pages have an illustration running along the base, whilst some pages also include illustrations of R.A.F personnel wearing their knitted comforts. (See above picture)

 

 

Please scroll down to see all the illustrations.

There are a lot of these, so brace yourselves....

(They were all too lovely to leave any out!)

 Tell me these aren't cute- just look at the dancing couples and the chap at the piano!

 

The two middle strips make me giggle!

The illustrations in the W.A.A.F's section



 And last, but not least... The back cover

 

The wonderful artist is a one Mr. Laurie Tayler or Laurence B Tayler (By the way Laurie is one of my favourite names for a chap -I say it's a sign!) and was Australian artist, born in 1873. Unfortunately I’m unable to find much information about him, but I do know that he moved to England in 1913 and was rather enviously proficient in different styles and mediums- do a quick search and you will find some gorgeous Edwardian oils too!

So that’s my ‘Knitting for the R.A.F.’ for you. Quite a little treasure, eh!

I still haven't knitted anything from it though (its all stocking stitch which I hate doing!). I might try one of the W.A.A.F's knitteds at some point as I don't have any chaps to knit for! ; )

Well that I think, is enough from me.

Oh and I would like to apologise for my absence of late. My computer is messing me about a lot (it's being a real stinker!), and one of the problems is being unable to get to the window on blogger to attach photos (have any fellow bloggers had this problem?), so this is the reason why I haven't been doing much! : (

To be honest you are lucky to get this post- I had to upload all the pictures using my pappy’s laptop!

Anyway, R.A.F Friday is here....

 

 

 

Tickety Boo Tupney

xxx

 

***

 

RAF Friday so far....

Love Is In The Air

Double Trouble

 

One Mans Photo's

 

The Rings

 

Here Comes The Bride...

 

The Other Box

 

The Box

 

Mayday! Mayday! She has bought more wings...

 

Show me your Colours.

And suggest a patch!

People sound the trumpets and bring out ye flags, Tupney has nearly finished her patchwork!
Yes, I have very nearly finished turning my patchwork panel into the planned cushion. All I really need to do now is to pull my finger out and do a row of proper stitching and then it's complete....- simple. Yes it is simple, but at the moment such a task seems to feel like the most arduous task ever! So with that in mind, the cushion cover has now been filled and left on my bed with only the tacking threads holding it together!

The unfinished.. i mean nearly finished patchwork cushion next to one of my messy bookshelves....
(the wonkiness of this picture makes me feel a little queasy- ahh can't look at it!)

Well anyway I digress....
Whilst taking out the remainder of my patchwork guides, a snazzy new project suddenly popped into my noggin (I was taken quite unawares as I usually think up my good ideas in the shower- it's my thinking place.. but again I digress).

***
"Tupney! How about doing a patchwork quilt with the services, regiments and units embroidered onto it?
Forget all about how the hand sewing and the tiny stitches nearly tipped you over the edge on your previous project..... Forget all about how your poor fingers felt like they were going to fall off at the end.... and forget about the fact you are rubbish at embroidery, or at least haven't mastered the art of embroidery yet... you can learn!
Forget it. Banish the lot from your simple mind.

Tupney, just remember how you were so proud of those teeny tiny stitches and remember how you felt on completing your first patchwork... the sense of achievement and how you were so happy, that after all the hard work it, in you eyes anyway, didn't look pants!!!

And one last thing dearest Tuppy... wouldn't you just love to snuggle up under a quilt that has been adorned with all the things that interest you so..... (Yes! Yes I would). Oh go on, take up the gauntlet and strive for patchwork victory!"
(said the little voice in me head!)

So folks that's what I'm going to do.... I'm making me a quilt with the services embroidered onto it!
Now, it's still very much in the planning and development stage and I still haven't quite decided how I'm going to muster this technicolour beauty(Haven't a clue on the design, size, shape of patches, etc! Oh and its going to take me years to make it! ). But one thing I am sure about is that I want as many of the allied regiments/ unit thingies to be represented, and this is why I'm bloging about it- I want your help!

My little poster says it all really (see very top). I want your suggestions. Is there any in particular you would like to see represented on my quilt- unusual and the usual suggestions very much welcome....

So go on, Suggest a Patch- it may end up on my quilt!

Well, I suppose I better go and fish out my 'how to' books on embroidery and start practising.
Wish me luck!

Sincerely Yours

Tupney (the mad woman)
xxx

Oh lummy what I have I gone and done....

 



Shine On Victory Moon

 

Tickety's Tip Top Tunes

 

 

Hello ducks, here's this weeks tip top tune for you!

 

So to the Sheet...

 

(extremely envious of her curly top!)

 

To the Music....

 

Now I'm afraid I cannot find Ivy's version on the tube, but did find this rendition by Issy Boon-

so the Issy Boon version it is!

If you ask me (go on ask me) Youtube is naff- pages and pages of rubbish. I very rarely come across any of the tunes I actually want!

 

Anyway, enough of the moaning... to the tune, again...

 

 

 

And here's a short clip of Ivy and her all girl band, just to give you an idea how her band sounded... isn't she marvellous!

 

 

 

 

Tickety xxx