Marie Erdtmann - 1862

  

   

Remember I was talking about dissolving the synthetic colours in my stash, knitting them into a medium size blanket while watching TV? Well ... Here it is ... All acrylic ... Yack!

Oh! By the way, I cherish your comments. Please forgive me, I am not good at responding them but do love them and all are valuable. Please do not deprive me of them, they are the fuel of this blog.

   

  

Here is another spectacular darning sampler from the same source as the 1874 darning sampler in my possession ... The perfection in stitches makes me wonder ... Were they stitched by the same talented young lady? Probably not ... Names are different.

A good way to identify the source of a sampler, as I learn, is the names stitched on them. But speaking non of the languages - Dutch or German, I could have never guessed their origin if I had not known that they arrived from Germany.

These pictures below are high resolution. Please click on them to observe the amazing details!

Look how perfectly the mending blends into the unity of the pattern ... Fascinating!

   

 

I am DISGUSTED ... HORRIFIED !!! I detest, protest, condemn this ATROCITY !!! I deny & do not RECOGNISE this BLOODY MASSACRE!

In the meantime, you may want to sign the petition from Australia calling for an end to live animal export for this bloody feast!

 

    

My powder pink cardigan project is put aside for a short while, until I finish this VIP ( very important project ) ... It is a baby blanket for a lady to be born early December next. Now that I am in my knitting gear, I wanted a special piece for my special friends rather than just go and buy something ordinary. I am knitting it with unbrushed pure wool which makes it soft and drapery. Once finished, the blanket will have a nice lacy edging. I chose cream colour to avail usage once it completes its mission. Surely, if it still is in one piece :) The mother to be or the future lady herself can always use it as a decor at home or something to keep the knees warm while watching TV or whatever!

  

 

This spectacular beadwork and needlepoint ( Berlin Work - Late 19th or early 20th Century ) chairback is from Iowa, USA ... As to how it got there and to whom it belonged to as well as its stitcher will always be a mystery. It is quite big ( 45 x 60 cm ) and in EXCELLENT condition.

Now happily residing in its new home :)

 

  

 
Humour for a change ... Everybody knows Maxine ... This is Marvin, the male Maxine :)

  

  

This delightful old pattern was probably designed for a lace weight yarn to add romance to a shawl or stole but I am using a worsted weight yarn which makes the width 20 cm ( 8" ) and far being from romantic. I was not expecting the width to be that wide but this will not stop my me :) OK ... The plan is to knit it enough long until it makes the lower edge of a cardigan, surrounding the periphery of my butt :) So, imagine it horizontal on which I shall be knitting the upper part of the project and am also planning to add another edging at the bottom to make it even more complex :)

Below is the swatch I knitted for the upper part of the cardigan. I still need to decide the lower edging which should be a narrower pattern. Or may be just do something with the crochet. We'll see! Shall definitely inform of the progress :)

I have started another knitting project to keep me awake while watching TV and to dissolve the immense but colourful acrylic yarn stash. However, I cannot yet provide you with a picture cause it is some 350 stitches and I was only able to knit a few rows :( Will share that as soon as it starts looking handsome :)