At one of the most recent photoshoots for A Stitch in Time Volume 2, one of Charlie's friends at university who is also studying film, kindly offered to video the day and then turn it into a short film for us. Scott Willis, our wonderful film maker, travelled down from Edinburgh on the day of shooting in March and spent the day quietly filming us. He has since spent many hours editing the footage into a marvellous visual treat of the day. I do hope you enjoy it.
A Stitch In Time Photo Shoot from Scott Willis on Vimeo.
The garments shown, as I'm sure you're going to ask, are all in Volume 2 and in order that they make an appearance they are:-
Sirdar 1035 (yet to be named!) in Skein Queen Blush, shade Vintage Gold - 1940s
Helen Shrug in Excelana 4ply, shade Alabaster - 1930s
Tri Cable Cardigan in Shilasdair Cashmere 4 ply - 1930s
Pretty for Everyday in Rowan Cashsoft 4ply (also in Excelana 4ply) - 1940s
Glamorous Evening Top in Knitshop Mulberry Silk - 1950s
Pretty Frilled Jumper in Jamieson & Smith 2 ply jumper weight - 1930s
The Jan Sweater in Excelana 4ply, shade Powdered Egg - 1930s
There is a glimpse of Dinah's Lacy Top in Rooster Baby, shade Ice Gem -1930s
Then Sirdar 1035, Jan Sweater then back to Sirdar 1035
At the very end you can see Pretty for Everyday in the background and the garment on the cover shot is Cryscelle in Knitshop Mulberry Silk - 1930s. Phew!
The two models appearing in the film are the wonderful Theodora Burrow and fabulous Lola Valentine. The hair and make up artist is Catherine-Elizabeth who can do the most amazing hair I've ever seen. Others present are myself, Charlie, Gavin and Inny.
I want to take the opportunity to thank Scott once again for a fantastic production. He's only just finishing his first year - he is going to be so good!
I'm off to watch it once again, so
for now
Ruby xx
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Friday, May 20, 2011
Italia!
Last week was a very exciting week. Gavin, Charlie and I set off for Italy to spend the week with Woolly Wormhead and her family just outside Sant Archangelo in the North East of Italy.
With four avid photographers, Woolly, Tom, Charlie and myself all armed with our cameras at all times, there have been a LOT of photos to go through. In the end, I've chosen a small selection for the blog that I think sum up our time there.
The camp we stayed at is known as the Mutoid Camp, which is the base for a group of sculptors and artists who make the most amazing pieces out of scrap.
The sculptures are larger than life and are dotted all around the camp.
This first sculpture is by the lovely Lou, who made us very welcome on the first night of our stay, inviting us to a barbecue she was hosting. Later in the week, Lou was to get married. Unfortunately we had to fly home on the morning of the celebrations which was a real shame.
This huge 'man' is one of a number done by another camp resident, Debbie who makes incredibly detailed and intricate sculptures, particularly for their scale.
This huge beast stands at the entrance to Woolly's plot. Its scale can't quite be appreciated here but it is over 10 feet tall. Many of the sculptures on the camp have been done as communal projects so I unfortunately don't know the details of the artists for all the works I have shown.
Gavin and I slept in Barp which Woolly used to use to get around in. Charlie was in a separate trailer
and Woolly, Tom and Aran were in the 'silver decker bus'
Sant Archangelo is a beautiful, Italian town, which has built up around a walled centre.
This is the view from about two thirds of the way up the hill
This it the beginning of the ancient walls rising above the town.
And of course amazing typically italian streets. I love the shades of green and pistachio, coral, pink and terracotta all blending into each other in this photograph. High up one of these winding streets is a small museum - a button museum! It is a fabulous museum with buttons from 1700s through to current times, and with a huge number from the 1920s-1940s which made me very happy.
The owners made us extremely welcome offering us iced tea and cake whilst we studied the collection and even had a small range of 'overs' from between the 30s and 50s from which I purchased a small number! I'll share these another time though.
One of my favourite day trips was our visit to San Marino, which is only 30 or 40 minutes from Sant Archangelo and rises up on the horizon in front of the camp. It is apparently the oldest republic in the world. It is also very wealthy and very, very pretty. Cars are parked part way down the mountain that is San Marino and then the rest is done on foot. The views are spectacular, stretching across Italy in all directions.
The streets though are very, very steep so I would recommend good walking shoes!
Three year old Aran made light work of all the steep climbs! However you are rewarded at the top with some very nice restaurants and cafes to sit, recover, eat and drink - I'm good at that bit.
Back at camp there was some work to do as Woolly had photography to do for both her forthcoming Bambeanies booklet and also a retrospective she is beginning to work on. I couldn't resist getting involved and taking some photos of Woolly's work myself. A particular sculpture features heavily in Woolly's photos, which is known as the Time Machine - a result of a collaborative project by the Mutoids.
It has many parts, sides and shapes which Woolly has used to great effect. I actually managed to catch her at work when she wasn't looking!
As you can see from the photo above, Woolly persuaded Charlie to do some modelling for her. I took a couple myself in an attempt at Woolly Wormhead style -
I will most definitely return to Italy. It was everything I hoped and more, but most of all I want to thank Woolly, Tom and Aran for making us so very very welcome and sharing their little part of Italy with us.
for now
Ruby xx
 |
| Woolly, Tom and Aran off to a wedding - copyright susan crawford 2011 |
With four avid photographers, Woolly, Tom, Charlie and myself all armed with our cameras at all times, there have been a LOT of photos to go through. In the end, I've chosen a small selection for the blog that I think sum up our time there.
The camp we stayed at is known as the Mutoid Camp, which is the base for a group of sculptors and artists who make the most amazing pieces out of scrap.
 | |||||||
| Copyright susan crawford 2011 |
The sculptures are larger than life and are dotted all around the camp.
 | ||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | ||||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
Gavin and I slept in Barp which Woolly used to use to get around in. Charlie was in a separate trailer
 | |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | ||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright charlie moon 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
And of course amazing typically italian streets. I love the shades of green and pistachio, coral, pink and terracotta all blending into each other in this photograph. High up one of these winding streets is a small museum - a button museum! It is a fabulous museum with buttons from 1700s through to current times, and with a huge number from the 1920s-1940s which made me very happy.
 | |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright woolly wormhead 2011 |
One of my favourite day trips was our visit to San Marino, which is only 30 or 40 minutes from Sant Archangelo and rises up on the horizon in front of the camp. It is apparently the oldest republic in the world. It is also very wealthy and very, very pretty. Cars are parked part way down the mountain that is San Marino and then the rest is done on foot. The views are spectacular, stretching across Italy in all directions.
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | ||||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 | ||||||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| Me - copyright woolly wormhead 2011 |
 |
| Charlie - copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| Gavin - copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
It has many parts, sides and shapes which Woolly has used to great effect. I actually managed to catch her at work when she wasn't looking!
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 |
 |
| copyright susan crawford 201 |
As you can see from the photo above, Woolly persuaded Charlie to do some modelling for her. I took a couple myself in an attempt at Woolly Wormhead style -
 |
| copyright susan crawford 2011 - hat woolly wormhead |
 | ||
| copyright susan crawford 2011 - hat woolly wormhead |
for now
Ruby xx
Friday, May 06, 2011
Pre-order update and Pattern Preview
Due to the popularity of the pre-order offer on A Stitch In Time, Vol 2, we only have a few left where mini skeins will still be part of the pre-order package but I'm happy to announce that the new offer will be:
A signed copy of A Stitch in Time Volume Two
A Susan Crawford project bag
Discount vouchers
PDF preview pattern
All still for £30 + £4 P&P to anywhere in the world.
I'm also holding postage costs down for as long as possible but as we subsidise the postage costs I can never guarantee how long that will remain the price, but for now...
A couple of days ago I released this adorable pattern to all the wonderful people who have kindly pre-ordered A Stitch in Time Volume 2 and this is the pattern that any new pre-orders will also receive as a PDF - "The Jan Sweater"
Jan is knitted in Excelana 4 ply using the shade Powdered Egg. The original design is from 1938. It features a classic boat neck and deep ribbed welt. The lace pattern is very easy to follow particularly as the body is unshaped between the welt and the underarm.
Front and back are worked the same, all in all making this a great introduction to vintage knitting. The boat neck can be left fully open as shown on the photos, or it can be sewn up to suit the wearer's preference.
Photographed, is the beautiful Faye, who modelled for me for the first time recently and was an absolute joy to work with, instinctively understanding the clothes and the eras they were from.
The ear rings and brooch both belonged to my grandmother Ruby, as did the watch that you can just see in the first photo. The scarf and skirt are both vintage finds.
Don't forget there are a handful of pre-order packages left that include the mini skeins if you really wanted to get your hands on those, but I think that Jan makes a very good replacement. Don't you?
for now
Ruby xx
A signed copy of A Stitch in Time Volume Two
A Susan Crawford project bag
Discount vouchers
PDF preview pattern
All still for £30 + £4 P&P to anywhere in the world.
I'm also holding postage costs down for as long as possible but as we subsidise the postage costs I can never guarantee how long that will remain the price, but for now...
A couple of days ago I released this adorable pattern to all the wonderful people who have kindly pre-ordered A Stitch in Time Volume 2 and this is the pattern that any new pre-orders will also receive as a PDF - "The Jan Sweater"
 |
| Copyright Arbour House Publishing 2011 |
Jan is knitted in Excelana 4 ply using the shade Powdered Egg. The original design is from 1938. It features a classic boat neck and deep ribbed welt. The lace pattern is very easy to follow particularly as the body is unshaped between the welt and the underarm.
 |
| Copyright Arbour House Publishing 2011 |
Front and back are worked the same, all in all making this a great introduction to vintage knitting. The boat neck can be left fully open as shown on the photos, or it can be sewn up to suit the wearer's preference.
Photographed, is the beautiful Faye, who modelled for me for the first time recently and was an absolute joy to work with, instinctively understanding the clothes and the eras they were from.
The ear rings and brooch both belonged to my grandmother Ruby, as did the watch that you can just see in the first photo. The scarf and skirt are both vintage finds.
Don't forget there are a handful of pre-order packages left that include the mini skeins if you really wanted to get your hands on those, but I think that Jan makes a very good replacement. Don't you?
for now
Ruby xx
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