Scrap Happy February
Cone
This is the star of this month’s scrappy knitting…
.
.
Shetland
…retrieved from the “cast-offs” bin from the Beehive Woolshop…
.
.
Useful and Ornamental
…and using a pattern for the “Ends of a Lady’s scarf” from the Lady’s Book of useful and ornamental knitting and netting Work, published in 1847…
.
.
End
…I knit a sample scarf end.
.
.
The Rhyme
Using the same yarn, I tried my hand at knitting a “stocking in rhyme” from the Jennie June Series of Manuals for Ladies – Knitting and Crochet – a guide to the use of the needle and the hook (1885)…
.
.
the Stocking
…and here is the result…It is a very shapely stocking withal. When I started knitting it, I thought it would fit a very wide and very long leg, but of course I was used to knitting ankle-length socks. These would go up over the knee and be held up with garters!
.
.
Workshop Poster
All the Victorian knitting samples (including the pink “middle of a Lady’s scarf” from last month’s Scrap Happy) are in aid of a workshop on Tea and Knitting in Victorian Times that I am co-teaching this weekend:
.
.
ScrapHappy is a group of bloggers (links below) who post monthly about using up scraps! All genuine scraps are allowed, and any material. Blog posts are published on the 15th of the month, and I love to see what people are doing with bits and pieces saved from the scrap heaps! If you think you’d like to join the group, contact Kate or Gun who devised and run it – their blogs are the first two links below:
.
.
Quimper Hittys 
Lovely pieces. Must have taken forever!
I feel like I was preparing forever! Every crafty thing I have done for the last couple of months has either been Related to Victorian knitting, or caused me to be riddled with guilt because it was not! And the stocking went on, and on, and on…
That sock is most impressive! And the lace work of the scarf beginning… really lovely! I love knitting with Shetland!
Thanks! The Shetland stocking was very satisfying, and especially soft and beautiful after blocking it!
Wonderful work! What fun your workshop looks to be. You are a gifted teacher.
I am happy to say that everyone appeared to enjoy themselves – it was a dull afternoon, but the scene in the workshop room was cosy and friendly, everyone working and chatting – lots of fun!
I’m so glad.
the cover of the Ladies Book gave me a wonderful laugh with “one hundred recipes” for polka dresses and toilet covers etc. Good luck with the workshop, nice that you are teaching together.
I think every Lady should have at least one polka dress 🙂 The workshop went very well – and it was great to have the moral support and knowledgeable assistance of a knitting expert.
oh my! are you going to knit a second stocking and actually wear them, or was this just for the fun of following the poetic pattern?
I did knit a second stocking down to the heel, (on steel needles!) but I donated both the finished and unfinished stockings to Ross Bay Villa. They are now on display in one of the historically accurate furnished rooms! It was amusing to work the pattern – I wasn’t sure it would work out, but it did! I was glad that I have knitted so many nowadays socks though, because it meant that I could puzzle out some of the funny turns of phrase!
Lovely lace Kjerstin! And I bet those socks will be great in a Canadian winter! (as long as you have garters!)
I love the stockings actually – I may perhaps make myself a pair…possibly in a more exciting colour or stripes! Victorians were very fond of stripes and had many colours to choose from. I also have some patterns for contemporary knitted garters (in garter stitch naturally!)
I remember my mother talking about knitwear being ‘fully fashioned’ which I gather meant it had all the shaping as your stockings do. I rather like the idea!
We had no idea, as we began the stocking in rhyme, what it would end up looking like! It was a revelation, and lots of fun to try. I am sure it helped that I have knitted many many nowadays socks!
I think sock knitting is addictive!
That yarn is gorgeous and making beautiful projects.
The yarn was much softer and more appealing after blocking! I made a second stocking and left it on the needles so people could feel the difference. I was lucky to get the end of a cone of Shetland wool to play with on this project, it made up beautifully and was the right yarn for these Victorian projects!
a beautiful poster and such interesting projects. I am certain the day will be a great experience for all the attendees. you are a very good teacher!
I love the poster too! I am hoping to get one to keep now that the workshop is over! Ross Bay Villa has asked us to offer the workshop again as it was sold out very quickly and had a waiting list! And I think we all had fun…so I think we could easily do it again!
Nice post! 🙂
Thanks very much!
what a beautiful post, I loved all of them. Thank you, Love, nia
Thank you so much – I really enjoyed working with the authentic yarns and old patterns. I read some passages from the old novels of the time, while people counted and knitted, and the rain spattered outside onto the windows. It was a nice experience!
You are welcome dear Hitty Lady, I can almost understand you. Your explaining sound so romantic too. Actually I can see the view, because I am not far from this. In the past, in the cold Winter days, and fire place, with cats, … Thank you, this was so nice and so good. Have a wonderful day, Love, nia
Impressive historical knitting samples – wow!
It was a fun workshop, with knitting and reading quotes out of Victorian stories to pass the time, all very cosy while the rain pelted down outside.