Hap Stretcher - Part 1.

I have long coveted a hap stretcher - a device used for over a hundred years in Shetland for blocking shawls. Although Kate Davies has information on her website about making one, my efforts to find a local maker amounted to nothing and, after helping a friend block several shawls on her wall, I decided to take the plunge and buy one from Shetland while the exchange rate was reasonable. My decision was helped by Paparwark, the company that makes them, changing their design to enable packaging in 1, rather than 2 metre lengths.

It took about 3 weeks to arrive, economically, safely, conveniently packaged. 

It emerged from the box a compact, smooth and elegant piece, taking up much less room than I had anticipated. It included one sheet of instruction.

Part of my reasoning in investing in this (at a time when I do NOT have a shawl to stretch!) was that it could be borrowed, and used by friends and acquaintances in their own homes at their leisure, rather than requiring a specially designed wall, or, in my case, crawling around on a carpet.

I soon realised that the box it came in was much larger than the compacted pieces and, dare I say it, a bag was called for!

I searched online for padded cotton quilting in Adelaide. There wasn't much available. Two Spotlight stores had it in black only, so I drew up a diagram, measured what I would need, and took myself off to one of them and bought what I thought was a generous 1.5 metres. There was only 2 metres on the roll, but the sales assistant didn't try to strike a deal on the remainder, just cutting what I asked for.

When I got home and laid it out, I realised it would need to be lined. The polyester padding on the back would tear in constant contact with the wood. It would have been simpler to cut 2 and back it with the same - which I could have done if I'd bought the 2 metres! C'est la vie. Instead I used the error margin I had built in to line the centre panel where the wood will mostly touch, and lined the rest with black linen. I added a pocket to hold the instructions.

I began with the intention of using large buttons to secure the bag. As I progressed, I decided these may pop open from the weight, and ties would be better. I had plenty of ribbon but thought woven strapping would be stronger, so, after more measurements, drawings and another online search, set off for a (different) Spotlight store for 25mm woven braid, to create 4 or 5 ties over the width of the bag. Buttons could hold the end flaps down.

I was hoping for red braid. The only red they had was 38mm, a bit harder to tie, but not impossible, so 4 metres came home with me. As I was driving home, mulling it over in my mind, I realised buckles would be better than ties. The only buckles I had were a couple of old shoe buckles - so more online searching at home. I soon realised I was well out of date.  The buckle search brought up clip fastenings for seat belts and backpacks - of course! I prepared to head off to a hardware store - until I discovered they supply either 25mm or 50mm buckles. No 38mm! I found what I needed at CamCords in Victoria, ordered them and received in today's mail.

So I have spent the afternoon wrapping and unwrapping the hap stretcher, testing lengths and placement - working it out as I go. A lot of trial, and not too much error. I broke one needle but didn't have to undo anything (so far so good!). My little Janome worked hard. I haven't stitched anything quite like this before, but it seems to have worked.

It fits over my shoulder and is comfortable to carry.  A few friends have asked what the hap stretcher looks like assembled, and I have to admit, I haven't as yet put it together. I got carried away with storage and carrying!  I admit it's a bit odd, but I can't face wielding lengths of wood to construct a 2 square metre frame in my apartment, on my own, and then taking it apart again.  With a bit of luck, however, a friend and I will assemble it later this week. 

I promise to take a photo!  One day Hap Stretcher Part 2 will no doubt include a shawl!

Odd Bunch Pouch

In a hunt through my wool stash last week I came across a collection of gauge samples I have worked over the years, more in the past than recently as I now work much smaller, less complex samples, and often undo them once they've served their purpose.

As I was in the process of using things up, I put them aside to see what I could do with them. This is the result.

The first sample  was for a cardigan I made myself in the 1990s (and still wear).

The pink to the right was a jumper for my own daughters when they were children.

I don't remember the pink and green to the left. The multicolour one below was a jumper for Jim.

In addition there were three plain samples for which I have no memory.

I pieced these together by hand into a misshapen pouch, found a piece of jolly chicken fabric with which to line it and added a zip.

I'm not sure what I'll use the pouch for, but I'll find something for it one day. It isn't the sort of thing I could give as a gift to anyone! It reminds me of the vegetable Odd Bunches now available in supermarkets - a great idea.

In my view, perfection is over-rated.

Makes this madwoman happy!

Baby Blanket 1

 Before Christmas, the Guild put out a request for some knitted baby cardigans for the Guild shop, preferably in white. Over the Christmas break I used some of the white cotton I had been using for the Shetland Wool Week hats to knit a baby cardigan, using a pattern I had from Bendigo Woollen Mills. The pattern had 7 sizes, so I picked the middle one. It turned out to be what consensus at the Guild said was for a two-year-old!

I didn't have enough white yarn for another, but made a couple in the smallest size in cream and ecru. 

It turns out that what the Guild shop is doing, is putting together Baby Welcome packs.They have a couple of knitted blankets which they are pairing with some basic clothes.  

Once I understood the goal, I got more targeted. I'm currently working on an aqua cardigan to accompany a green-blue knitted blanket they have in stock

I also dug out the squares I was crocheting towards the end of 2020- with a view to using up the same 4 ply cotton.  I had 53 completed squares - and another 45 of the centre circles. I had planned to keep going with the squares until I had used up all the yarn, but now decided to create a baby blanket  for the Guild  with what I had.

I tried joining the squares using some of the cream cotton (left). It looked, I thought, OK.  

However, I also found some rolls of white/blue/pink variegated knitting cotton which had, I think, belonged to my mother. 

That, I thought, looked really good. So this week I have been busy crocheting around the squares, and creating a baby blanket from 56 squares, laying it out on the floor as I went to get the best combination I can.  

I didn't undo the ones with ecru borders. I will make a second blanket using the centres I have left.  The variegated pastel works really well, but so will other things.                                 

It took quite a bit of time to do the individual, then the total border - most of the Adelaide Cup weekend. The result pleases me.

I worked a border around the whole thing in the variegated cotton. It is about 110cmx91cm.

I decided against stretching it much  by blocking, given it will need to be washed many times in its life and no mother has time for blocking. Instead, I washed it and spread it to dry flat on my table.

After 24 hours I moved it to a drying rack to get airflow underneath. 

I have a cone of 3 ply wool/acrylic mixture which I'm hoping might knit into a cardigan to go with this blanket, and an idea about a bag to contain them. 

Hopefully I will report on progress soon!

Banksia Cushion 2

As I indicated last time, I decided to work my last Dijanne Cevaal print into a cushion for myself. I had another fabric from Missy Rose that I had bought with this in mind. I had to source another 60cm cushion, which took a bit of searching. Those that were easily available were mostly feather, which I didn't want. I've decided I prefer firmer filling. Eventually I found what I was after at Adairs.

I had chosen a range of threads - mostly DMC Etoile, plus some variegated stranded specialty threads, a bit of linen and some gimp. The Etoile really came into its own. Photos unfortunately don't show the glints and glimmers that are there in reality. I began with the Banksia itself - a different variety to the last one but still a pleasure to work.

The first cone I worked in a pinky-red variegated cotton, using black Etoile in the centres. The pink is a bit of a cheat, since cones don't usually retain much of their red colour. Artistic licence.

The other one I worked in more realistic colour, surrounding it with dark green slightly glittery leaves. 

I really enjoy working with gimp, and used three different ones on stems.

I am particularly pleased with the black I used on the brown cone.

For variation I used olive greens on the right hand leaves - older and drier.

Finally, I quilted the background down with reddish linen thread, to  blend with the background, and found some black braid to frame the embroidery.

Colourwise it is bolder than my other cushions.     

Needless to say, I'm delighted.          
        

Banksia Cushion 1

 

This is a 60cm square cushion I have just finished for a granddaughter who is setting up a shared home with a friend.

The embroidered motif is one of Dijanne Cevaal's prints, purchased some time ago. 

When I bought it, I envisaged introducing a lot of texture, and purchased a variety of beads, some quite large, to use. When I came to create it, I decided such hard textures would be uncomfortable in a cushion, and restricted myself to threads. 

The fabric is Banksia Mini, from Missy Rose - a limited print. I had only ordered a half-metre, so needed to cut it to form a border, rather than appliquéing on to the print.

I used a range of threads from my stash, many of them special orders or runs given to me as gifts. The stem is a very narrow braid from the Painters Threads Collection.

To integrate the embroidery into the background, I quilted it down with running stitches in a similar green to the stems on the background fabric.

I am very pleased with the result - achieved in my usual way of working it out as I go along!

I have one more of Dijanne Cevaal's Banksia prints. I've now begun one more cushion for myself! I can't claim I need another cushion, but I do have room for it - justification enough!

When you're on a good thing...

The 90 stars bag worked so well I decided to try a variation, this time for a 20th birthday. While 20 figures are a lot less than 90, I decided to make these all different sea creatures - so increased the challenge, while reducing the number. I had enough of the shells fabric left to make the front of a bag. This time I tried a different construction. I cut two large rectangles, one in the shell fabric and one in a brown linen, joined them, then folded and stitched down sides and a base - a much simpler technique. Because I was experimenting I did the construction first, then the embroidery.

For the most part that worked well. It is a neater result on the corners than I get cutting separate strips for the sides and bottom.

Great care has to be taken in mounting it into a hoop to embroider. It is easy to catch an extra edge of fabric under the hoop, as I discovered to my detriment. 

To begin, I made a sketch of 20 sea-related things I might include. This acted as a rough guide, rather than a blueprint.

I began with a leafy sea dragon.

Then worked whichever took my fancy. 

I really enjoy creating these little figures. It's fun to work out what might fit the project and how to create it. For these I mostly used linen thread, but a bit of variegated stranded as well.

Construction was relatively easy because I had the exterior before stitching. I tried a couple of linings, but settled for the same cotton I had used for the 90th birthday bag, since I had enough and the colours work well.

The back is a light brown linen, one handle is in the linens, one in the cotton lining.

I think it's a useful bag with a bit of a story.

I ordered some more half-metres of Ink and Spindle linens while they were on sale. I seem to now have enough for another 16 bags! Better get designing!