Seven snaps for seven days - twenty six

Discussing books and making peg dolls at book group this week. My Women's Institute group is decorating a couple of trees with peg dolls as part of the local arts festival.

Decorations for the Tour De Yorkshire are popping up all over the place!

The results of a 'can you find me a ........' game that my friend and I played with her toddler in the park. She zoomed here and there on her scooter to find these things whilst we got to chat!

Arrived home from looking after my friend's children and 12 week old puppy to the most glorious sky.

Mr Dog pondering on the possibility of another biscuit.

Enjoying the contrast between the grey sky and rain clouds and the jolly Tour De Yorkshire T-shirt bunting.

Yummy afternoon tea and knitting at my friend's house for her birthday celebrations.

Fashions of 1923

My friend has a fabulous collection of paper ephemera, maps, old books, old ledgers, magazines, catalogues, letters, comics etc, some of which she uses in her beautiful works made from paper. You can view some of her work here: A thousand paper wishes. Do take a look, she makes gorgeous things.

A while ago she lent me a catalogue and a couple of magazines that she thought I might be interested in, which she found in a flea market and were too beautiful to cut up. They are all French, two of which feature the fashions of 1923 and one which features fashions of 1912. I thought we could look at the 1923 ones today.

Le Petit Echo de la Mode was a weekly French fashion magazine founded in 1879. The last issue was published in 1983. If you are interested in fashion history take a look at this site which has a collection of these magazine covers to browse through. The 1940's and 1950's ones are really beautiful.

The dress on the far right is called Papillon. I love the large bow at the back and how the the material of the skirt is repeated in the sleeves.

These are, from left, Esmeralda, Huberte, Martine and Claude. Martine is the one for me, I like the two plain bands of ribbon and then the long, sweeping feathers.

On the second row on the far left is some sort of house dress/robe/dressing gown. I would feel very glamorous in this.

I would have the one on the right, I like the scalloped edging and the sun hat.

I particularly like all three dresses at the bottom of the page but if I had to choose just one it would be Jeannette, in the middle. I like the way the plain fabric at the sides drapes away to show that lovely print.

The colour illustrations are especially beautiful. The rust coloured dress with the sailor tie neck and all the fabulous fringing does it for me. If I was a small child I would have that cherry print dress like a shot.

These are all a bit marvellous. However, mustard dress with mustard shows and a print parasol is mine!

I think it would have to be the green suit, especially if I could have the accessories as the hat and bag are gorgeous.

 Not that keen on either of these outfits but it is a lovely illustration.

With a name like Highlander I have to choose the one on the left!

A little knitted jacket. I can't follow a French pattern but I think the instructions are all there.

I must be having a thing about print as I like the outfit in the middle the most. It looks very comfortable yet stylish.

The chrysanthemum covered robe please!

Any of the three on the right would do for me.

I like the suit on the far right, plain with patterned lapels, cuffs and band round the jacket bottom.

If you are in the mood for more 1920's fashions take a look at my Pinterest board.

Seven snaps for seven days - twenty five

I had great fun at our Women's Institute meeting on Monday night as we were learning to belly dance! Everyone was very excited to dress up in the beautiful, jangly, hip scarves. We learnt a whole dance!

I mentioned before that I was excited that my orchid had new buds forming. Here is the first flower, such gorgeous colours.

In under two weeks the Grand Depart comes to my area as part of the Tour de France. This new graffiti is of local women Sylvia Plath on a bike.

More and more decorations are appearing. This is tissue paper Tour shirt bunting in the window of a local shop.

My lovely friend kindly donated some of her vintage knitting pattern collection to me. These are just a few of the goodies in this generous gift.

Sorting through my recent charity shop haul, getting these vintage sheets and pillow cases ready for the wash. Such lovely autumn colours.

I went to a local vintage fair on Sunday and found these 1950's magazines which I then spent the rest of the day reading. I am sure that they will feature on here again!

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Seven snaps for seven days - twenty four

Gosh, it has been a bit busy this week and I am late with these snaps! Only six too!

The apples are forming. It is looking like there is going to be a good crop of apples from our tree this year.

Making the most of frozen peas and frozen beans to ice my achy shins.

After a bit of deliberating I found the perfect vintage buttons to go on my cable cardigan.

I love peonies. These ones have managed to not be trampled by the dog racing around the garden.

I spent most of the weekend sewing up my cardigan. This is the first stage, before the sleeves go in. The colour is better in the first picture.

I learnt about bees! My friend keeps them and she was taking part in an Open Garden Day so I went along with my knitting and found out about the goings on of a beehive.

Tip top summer tops

I realised that I have a big gap in my wardrobe where some warm weather appropriate tops should be. I have some t-shirts and vests but nothing at all in the knitwear department. My go to outfit is a dress and a cardigan so some summer cardigans are definitely needed. I also have a few lovely summer skirts that are just crying out for a lacy knitted jumper to go with them. As I am having a period of knitting for myself rather than other people (which I am really enjoying!), I thought I would work on filling up this wardrobe gap.

So, I spent a very happy time going through my patterns and pulled out everything that looked like it would fit the bill and that wouldn't need any resizing or tricky yarn finding to make it become a reality. These are what I found:

Lady's cardigan

Isn't she particularly glamorous?! Fabulous hair. Lovely shape, short cardigan, flattering V neck and lacy stitch pattern so that it would be cool.

Lady's jumper

She is so happy to have this jumper! Pretty stitch pattern, sweet cap sleeves, stylish neckline, nice bit of deep rib.

Summer cardigan and jumper

I like both of these. I like a nice rib pattern, the cardigan has a fabulous collar and I like the neckline on the sleeveless top.

Jumper with bead trimming

This is a pretty fitted jumper which looks good with a skirt. It is knitted in a lurex fleck which I wouldn't bother with but I do like the beaded neckline.

Lady's summer jumper

This pattern photo is lovely. I like the square neckline and the short sleeves. The lacy, trellis pattern is interesting and pretty.

Sleeveless jumpers

Four lovely tops to choose from here. The same basic shape but each has a different stitch pattern and I like all of them.

Quick to knit jumpers and cardigans

Another multi garment pattern and again I like them all. However, the cardigan would probably be a bit on the warm side for what I want so it is the two lacy jumpers that I am interested in. They both have a deep band of rib which would give a flattering fit.

Lady's jumper cardigan

This is a very good shape, it fits so well. I like the deep rib button band and neckline. She is very glamorous too, maybe it will rub off on me if I knit this one!

Easy knit jumpers

I love the shape and the lacy stitch but I can't decide if I would find the high neckline a bit irritating if I was hot.

Lady's jumper

I wouldn't be snuggling up to that man in the bad blazer if I was her. This jumper has a pretty scoop neck and an attractive pattern.

Three delightful economy garments

I particularly like the jumper on the top right. Again it has a pretty scoop neck, nice little sleeves and a cool lacy pattern.

Summer jumper

Isn't she lovely with her nails and her pearls?! This looks like a perfect summer jumper to me.

Lady's summer jumper

More pearls! A pretty boat neck. I imagine she is wearing a pencil skirt, which suits this jumper.

Ladies' economy jumpers

These are gorgeous and the photo shows you how nice they will look with skirts! A scoop neck and a V neck, both lacy but with different patterns. I really like these.

Figure trimming jumpers

Three tops to choose from, with mock cable panels, with lacy motif panels and with lace insertion panels. I think I like the lacy motif panels most.

Summer jumper

Excellent hair flicks! I like the pattern, the boat neck and the sleeves.

Summer jumper

The pattern states that this jumper only takes 8 hours to make so I think I will have to try this one to see if it is true. The neck and sleeve edging is really attractive.

Lady's summer jumper cardigan

I like everything about this one which is a very good job as I am making it at the moment! I happened to have exactly the right yarn in the right quantity in my stash so it was meant to be! I have completed the back and am shaping the armholes on the right front. If you wan to follow my progress do pop along to my Facebook page.

Do you have a favourite tip top summer top?