Vintage Needlework Ads #14

It's another saucy one. Click to Enlarge.

-Magazine Ad for Aunt Lydia's "Pa-Qel", a new form of acrylic yarn . From Woman's Day Super Special, Granny Squares and Needlework, 1982.

When Words are Not Enough

This was a regular column in a short lived craft mag from the mid 1980s:

This was one of the questions asked:

This was the drawing below:Genius.

You Need A Market Bag

I often ask myself "Do I need another reusable Market Bag?". I always end up answering myself "Yes." I love receiving them from foreign friends and they are a great thing to send away in return....but I crochet mine. They are a snap to craft and take just a few hours to complete. I like to add inner pockets, trick bottoms (so that the bag is self-containing) and special considerations for different kinds of groceries. For me, the Market Bag is a great go-to gift because it's quick and easy to make, usually only takes one ball, requires no special care for the recipient to worry about, and it does any kind of person on your gift list (note: this is an excellent thing to give someone you don't know very well. It's also great for someone you do know, but don't really like). Everyone is always glad to get a bag, and one more in the bottom of your purse can't do you any harm either.
This summer The Loop is running a new workshop for Crocheters. In one session we will make a class full of greener than green bags for our summer marketing (or we will at least cover all the bases and get most of the project crocheted).
The crochet pattern for this workshop is a classic. The format for the pattern has been in use here for over 100 years. You may come across Victorian versions on the internet, or spot a lookalike on Road to Avonlea reruns*.

The pattern is designed to use a certain amount of cotton (keeping the materials at one ball) but additions such as wider straps and an attached change purse will be covered in the class.

The bag pictured (my "Posh Nosh Fennel Carrier") used one ball of Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton DK, which has about 120m to the ball. Each colour in this line is plant dyed. This pretty blue was achieved with indigo. Indigo is the Pluto of the Colour Spectrum, poor little guy.

[From The Loop Website]Mesh shopping bags--called "filoches" in French--are a chic, practical, and environmentally friendly way to carry your produce home from the market. They're also a great introduction to crocheting in rounds. In this workshop, you'll learn how crochet can be used to make both firm, stable fabrics and open, stretchy ones--while making a market bag of your own.

Instructor: Morgan Forrester

2 hours

Tuesday, July 12th, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Thank you Chives & Ciboulette for the photo props. I was very glad to use the fennel; very posh nosh.

*Aunt Olivia crochets throughout the series, and uses a white version of these bags to carry groceries for the Dale homestead back from Lawson's. This was obviously my inspiration as are the Dales; Yorkshire and Jasper.

Welcome to Halfiax, Cruise Ship Season!

There are lots of ways to shop the city whether you're a cruiser or a native Haligonian. Remember that most small, independent stores are busy sourcing and stocking local products for visiting shoppers. It's a great time to buy products from your area that might not be available during the off season months. I pick up Maritime gifts now, to save for mailing at Christmas.

Local Artisans have been stockpiling work for this season, so expect to see new works in all the shops and galleries. Farmers are busy and are hearing back from mills, so there will be new local fibres at The Loop and lots of goodies at the Farmer's Markets. You may even need to take a bag to carry it all.

Staycationers should still do their research. Pick up the Coast Guides as well as the new local guidebooks and maps. The Loop is included in the MUG (Modern Urban Guide) and the new I Love Local HFX brochure. Watch for I Love Local HFX events online and throughout the downtown.

Spring Window

An organic tipi structure of flowers, foliage and wrapped yarn twigs, supported by metal stands, a vintage 1930s dress form base and the former holder of the World's Longest Scarf Guinness Record.

The Way They Were #1

There was something fishy going on at Classic Elite Yarns in '86

Strong branding prevails, and for Fall 2011 Classic Elite is offering beautiful blends of yarn in predominately natural colours. As always, the collection has been worked into very usable garments and accessories. They are highly wearable, even if you have fish hands to accommodate (though you may have trouble working cables).

Each new season The Loop carries a selection of their pattern books. These books are beautifully photographed and are styled in a very North East American way, which is perfect for Maritime Canadian knitting.

Vintage Needlework Ads #13

Nature Spun Yarn's 2 page spread in Vogue Knitting's 1987 Holiday Special.

Slick & Bizarre. Just how I like it.

George's Favorite Sweater of All Time #1

Careful study will reveal that George Harrison actually owned a capsule collection of similarly Fair Isley Andeany Stranded Cardigans with moss stitch collars. Let's see how often he wore them...