Addison Embroidery
at the
Vicarage

The snowdrop belongs to the genus Galanthus from the Greek gala meaning milk and anthos meaning flower. In spite of it seeming such an English flower, it originates from the more southern and eastern parts of Europe and was possibly introduced by the Romans. Some say that soldiers in the Crimea were so delighted by them that they dug up the bulbs and brought them back to be planted in their own gardens – a sweet but I think unlikely story for any but the odd plant hunting soldier, especially as the Crimean snowdrop is a bigger plant (and therefore fatter bulb) growing to about 12″/30 cm, which is more than twice the size of any snowdrop I’ve ever seen.

Altar frontal for Ipsden Ch. Oxon: snowdrop (hand embroidered by Mary Addison)

At the moment I’ve not completed much embroidery as there’s been lots of admin and toing and froing, in part because my bank account was hacked into in New York (!) Thanks to my frugal pattern of spending only one of the 6 or 7 attempts to withdraw money was honoured and the bank has reimbursed even that. (I have my suspicions about a ticket machine on Paddington Station which asked for my pin number twice). Then the cable to charge my Apple Mac stopped working and I discovered I had hardly any yellow embroidery cottons just as I’d sketched out a little group of primroses. But at least one trip to Reading has sorted out the latter two problems, even if the cable for my Apple has set me back £65 (I hazarded a guess of £40, while the vicar opted for £35 with a vague feeling that I was nearer.) So, just a simple out of season snowdrop finished for this post.

Debbie Bliss’s 2 colour raglan sweater in Baby Cashmerino

Not having knitted for half a lifetime, it was with some caution that I picked up knitting needles recently but the lure of Debbie Bliss’s patterns for toddlers was so great that I decided to risk it and have a go. Being a novice I did a sample 10 cm/ 4″ square to test my tension. This turned out to be perfect except that my casting on was a bit loose. Fortunately I was staying in Islington at the time and dropped into Loop to ask for a bit of advice. I think the assistants (in an admittedly busy shop) were slightly horrified at so basic request but looked much relieved when I whipped out my sample patch and in two shakes of a lamb’s tail were able to show me how to make a much firmer casting on. Thank you Loop, there’s nothing worse than falling at the first hurdle.

Nanny with baby wearing Debbie Bliss’s design for a 2 colour raglan sweater

All went smoothly until the neck band when confidence left me and I had to ask knitting advice at home. A very kind parishioner came and sat with me and while she read out the instructions and cast an eagle eye over me I did the knitting until all the stitches left on needles and safety pins were securely on the one needle. I then paced the room while she check counted I had the correct number, which much to my surprise I had. Phew. The neck rib was a doddle (apart from the fact that in one place my k1 p1 became k2 p1 but I just made sure that I did the same for each subsequent row, deciding that a little visible mistake is a very good check on unnecessary striving for perfection.) I then ran into a similar problem as I had in the beginning (too loose casting on) when I realised my casting off was too loose – after a bit of internet research I came upon the simple solution which was that the as the rib was k1 p1, I should cast off in knit and then pearl alternately. Simples.

Majoring in sewing rather than knitting, I was surprised at how long it took me to sew the jumper up but although mattress stitch was very time consuming, it has produced nice flat seams which I’m rather pleased with. The jumper fits bouncing baby perfectly and goes over his head easily which should be helpful when an extra layer is needed – the mild autumn giving way to a colder spell and along with it those niggling viruses that make the cheeks red and raw. The Baby Cashmerino is very soft to handle and will be lovely and warm without any scratchiness that can really irritate tender skin.

The jumper I made shown above is in Citrus and Light Blue, while the one in the pattern book (see below) is in Citrus and Duck Egg Blue. (In spite of the similarity, the above baby is ours, while the one below is a model in the knitting book.)

Now, what shall I knit next?

Debbie Bliss: 2 colour raglan sweater from Baby Cahmerino 5 (2013)