Knit for Victory: The Cape.

 

 

Hello everyone! Remember me?

 I have been feeling rather sorry for myself over the past couple of months, and still am rather. So, as you can imagine, blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

Seeing as I have totally missed the whole “Happy Christmas” and “Happy New Year” wishes on here, I hope and trust you all had a good’un anyway. My Christmas whizzed past and, as usual, ended up in a blurry mess of exhaustion. Then there was New Years… well, that was simply non existent!

 Not been up to much myself, so have little to report on great and exciting happenings. I have, however, finished one of my ‘Knit for Victory’ knits… Hurrah for a positive!

I’m extremely pleased with the outcome and swiftness of its completion. I’m pretty sure it took me a week to knit, and I’m in no doubt that it could have been finished in a weekend if I had set my mind to it!

To be honest, there’s not much to write about. The knitting went smoothly and the sewing up was a doddle! Unlike my other KforV knit, which is a right pain in the never mind.- honestly, I have never had so much trouble with sewing a knitted up before!

The only troubles I remember encountering were to do with the tension (the astrakhan yarn from my stash came up a tad too fine in comparison to the original), and a dodgy row (I was such a plonker and did two rows the same, and only noticed three inches later!), but apart from that, it was easy-peasy.

The whole garment was knitted in Stocking- stitch with garter stitch boarders, and comprised of only three pieces- the hood and two sides.

 

 

I was rather impressed with how the cape knitted up. The main part is just two pieces with a centre back seam. There was something very pleasing with the shoulder shaping- I loved how a flat piece of knitting was transformed into a boxy marvel with just a few decreases here and there!

Oh and I totally forgot to take a snap of the hood. Mind you, it was just a long strip of knitting, so hardly a visual treat!

 

 

 And the finished article...

 

I chose some super vintage glass buttons from my stash for the neck fastening. I decided to use something a bit more special for this just to lift the whole thing a wee bit- well, otherwise it's a bit bland being all black!

 

All in all, I'm extremely pleased with my little cosy cape. I consider it a great success (in my eyes!) and have plans on doing another when funds permit.. It's just so nice to have something that actually has turned out how it should. Of late I have had so many knitting failures! (more on these at a later date!)

 

Little Miss Pixie Hood! Oh how I love the hood!

 

 

Anyway, that is enough from me.

Hope you are well ....

 

 

Your

Tickety xxx

 

Everyone Needs A Grumpy Snowman!

Seasons Greetings Everyone!

This year I have finally got around to making a rather dashing Snowman for my festive table decorations!

He has been on my ‘to make’ list for years, but I usually so get bogged down by other tasks associated with the ‘Merry Season’ that I soon forget to make these silly things that appeal to me so.

The idea for this little chap was found amongst the pages of a 1951 magazine, and it was love at first sight!

Known simply as Mr Snowman to passers by on the street, but ‘Frank’ to his loved ones (well, just me!), and LAC ‘Frosty V’ Snowman to all his RAF Chums!

 

Like every well dressed snowman, he owns a dashing fedora, woolly ‘comforts’ scarf (probably knitted from the ‘Knitting for the RAF’ booklet!) and  a side cap for when he’s at ‘work’!

 

I particularly like his little cap and matching scarf...

 

 He was super easy to make, though perhaps a little fiddly to do whilst perched on a bed... so if you decide to make your own Snowman (???), I suggest you have all the materials laid out in front of you on a clutter free table!

 

 I'm afraid, the scanner has been put away, so I took some dodgy snaps of the instructions instead!

 

 

 

In the making and  next to the tree of tat on completion!

 

 I'm afraid I didn't make him as grumpy as the one pictured (didn't have the heart to!), and I didn’t make him a pipe because he says smoking is bad for his complexion!

 

I know I haven't given you much time to make him, but if you do feel you have a few hours spare for such a task, then I would love to see your results! You could even post the pics on my facebook page! :)

 

So, from the little man and me...

 

Happy Snowman making!

 

 

TTFN

 

Tupps and Frosty V

xxx

Daddy’s in the R.A.F

Today’s R.A.F Friday came into my possession on three separate occasions.

You see, I have a favourite dealer that I just cannot pass without flicking through the box of old piccies  (me and old photo's- oh I get lost in them!), but it has come to my attention that the photos must get filtered, so groups and ‘familiar faces’ pop up on each visit! In this instance, the photos have appeared a bit like an unfolding story, with a new family member appearing on the scene each time. It has taken me several moths to reunite this darling family....

1.

Finding 'Daddy'...

 

Naturally I gravitate towards dashing airmen, and thought I had found the crown jewels when I spied these two!

 

2.

Mummy and Baby makes three...



When I found this snap, I rather excitingly announced to myself, "This must be Mummy! It's the same rocky whatsit in the background" and sure enough it was!

I'm even beginning to think that this may be their garden... :o

 

We three...

How cute? Mummy is perfect, Daddy has the best curly top EVER and Baby is cute but hilarious!

 

 

 

Mummy is such a beauty- love her turban and coat- those lapels!

And what about ole grumpy chops? I told you. Hilarious!

♥



One stylish mode of transport parked up near the rocky whatsit,

and another of Mammy and her babbie chick (again, pulling a face!).

 

3.

Then along came Brother and Grandma too...

The same babbie chick waving at Daddy?

 

Oh look! Little babbie is all grown up! Can't see what she is clutching though, but she is wearing a lovely little Fair Isle cardigan.... And the little chap in the natty romper is the newest addition to the clan! 

Oh and we mustn't forget Grannie! How she looks like the little chap- not sure is she's the Ma of Mummy or Daddy though- thoughts?

 

 

So there you are chums, a little play in three acts!

Cute family, eh?

You never know, more pictures might appear for me to add to the album, but we shall see...

 

 

Cheerio for now and

all the best for the weekend

 

Tupps x

 

 

 

***

RAF Fridays so far...

A Hankie For A Sweetheart

Wings for Victory!

Reflection of a Sweetheart.

A Flying Visit!
A Lucky Strike

Two Airmen and a Camel.

The Real Deal

The Apprentice and the Sweetheart.
R.A.F. Friday Christmas Special

R.A.F War Pictures

Nothing but Patches

It's a Piece of Cake

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...

 

 

The Not So Practical Pattern...

 



Blimey, it has nearly taken me 12 months to finish this set!!! I’ve just looked up on facebook to see when I actually started it and, apparently, I started it on the 1^st of January… Speed is obviously not a forte of mine. ;)

 

I must admit that the slip spent half the year shoved in box after several failed attempts of trying to complete it. All in all, the slip was rather a traumatic make for me!

 First of all, I had finished the slip perfectly (honestly, it was rather beautifully made compared to my other ‘attempts’!). I had done the hem, edged it with lace, and then tried it on only to discover it was about 4 inched too long and that it swamped me ‘up top’… it was, in my eyes, a disaster! I’m beginning to think that you didn’t need to add extra for the seam and hem allowance after all!

So, after having a mini fit, I took the scissors to hem, lopped off the 4 inches, unpicked the pretty lace (which was a nightmare) and put up the hem again- though, in the end, I decided to leave off the lace.

Then it spent a few more months in the box of doom until a couple of days ago when I decided, once again, to tackle the top ‘alf.  And after another failed attempt to sort out the bodice, I enlisted Ma’s help to fit it properly. When in doubt, call for Mummy!

The centre bodice detail and the new hem...

(really should have pressed the bodice... oops!)

 

 

My very pretty 10p lace!

 

 I’ve lost count of the amount of times I had to unpick those ruddy French seams to get it to fit properly!

 

 

A close up of my new powder puff hankie- I love the green and pink combo! 

 

 

Haha, not very lady like pulling up my slip like that. Ah well.....

 

Oh and let me now introduce the biggest knick-knacks in the world!

 

 

Aren't they peachy?

 

Now, the knickers were a little less troublesome, but not without their own issues.

After comparing the pattern pieces with some of my other pairs of French knickers, the mother and I decided not to add some of the seam allowances and also forgo the two (yes, TWO) dreaded plackets. In hindsight this was a mistake, but more on that a little later.

 

I'm rather fond of a knicker with a yoke. I think it makes them look swishy!

 



Right, the problem point! Now because I knew best and thought the pattern looked huge compared with the others, I decided I could get away without having any plackets at all and just have them with a bit of elastic at the back instead (the pattern called for elastic and two plackets) but....

I totally fluffed up the fact that elastic can only stretch so much, and when I got it fitting perfectly in the waist, I found I could no longer get the darn things off! (me struggling must have looked a real picture!)....

 

So in the end I compromised with the 'perfect' fit, as I couldn't face unpicking to put in a placket, and now have a pair of knickers that are too big in the waist.  Well, at least I can now get them on and off- which is a plus with a pair of undies, no?!

 

 I honestly dread the elastic failing on these knickers! :o

 

 I finished the knicker legs off with lace- adopting a method that I found on my first pair of vintage knickers. Rather enjoyed doing this bit... not so keen on the top stitching part, but it was quick and easy, so one mustn't grumble too much. ;)

 

So, what do you think? I know they wouldn't win any prices for skill or neatness, but I'm happy to finally have them in a wearable state!

Have you been making any vintage undies recently? I have plans on making more sets and also have another slip and knicker set residing in the box of doom, so I'll be back with more at some point in the future... possibly in another 12 months! ;)

 

Cheerio for now,

 

Your Tupney xxx

 

 

 

 

 ***

Sensible undies v. Swishy?

Posing in me sensible undies- 40's blue bloomers,

CWS woollen vest (bought at the weekend), and 40's woollen stockings.

What a catch, eh!