Field Day

Yesterday was a great day. Firstly off to knitting group, where we had our Secret Santa swap. Lets just say that I am a very lucky girl...

Handknitted by the very talented Adrienne, I received a beautiful Mulberry silk scarf.  Snuggly soft, gorgeous colours, incredibly worked.  It's a little lighter than the photo shows.

I’d brought the sock to get some help with short row shaping – and forgot the pattern.  No matter, I’d also brought the yarn for the Louisa Harding mittens which were being knitted up as a potential Christmas gift for someone – but forgot the size 4 needles which I needed to switch to at the end of the rib.  So not the most successful knitting morning.

At noon we headed off on our little field trip, suggested by Jen.  After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to catch the 14 bus (the first one taking us only one stop from Tottenham Court Road to Centrepoint, as the idiot driver neglected to mention that we were almost at the terminus) Pauline, Adrienne, Jen, Caroline and I went off to South Kensington, to Christies.

What fun!  The staff were all charming (really really posh, but very sweet) and didn't bat an eyelid at our little gang traipsing in to the viewing for the 20th Century Textiles Sale.  They loaned us a catalog, let us wander around, answered endless questions, were intrigued by the fact we all know each other through knitting, and (mindblowingly for myself and Pauline) allowed us to take photographs!  Go and look at her blog to see the civil war quilt.

I adored these.
A PAIR OF LATE 19TH CENTURY PATCHWORK COVERLETS
comprising a child's coverlet of various printed cotton hexagonal patches,--44 x 31in. (112 x 79cm); and a smaller doll coverlet of the same fabrics,--12 x 15in. (30.5 x 38cm) (2)



The slightly squished hexagons measure about an inch across, and there are hundreds upon hundreds of them, all put together with the tiniest whip stitches.  No doubt some of those scraps are from favourite dresses, original recycling.  It's amazing how bright the colours are, and how daring the patterns - like the 'green fried egg' one in the middle photo.

Adrienne was particularly interested in a job lot of lacemaking paraphenalia and two sewing boxes, and she noticed that one had a secret drawer. 

Haven't you always dreamed of finding a proper secret in a real secret drawer?

As soon as I took it out and saw the inscription, 'Will', engraved on the front, I knew what it was. A mourning locket, which I think became popular in Victorian times.  Inside it contains a picture of Will, and a lock of his hair as a token of remembrance.  The woman at Christies was as suprised as we were.  It made me think - why was this hidden away, secreted in a sewing box?  Perhaps it was an unrequited love, or one that was snatched away too early, as he looks quite young to me. 

After all this excitement we had to make for the V&A and its fabulous cafe downstairs - I hope Pauline took photos as I know my little camera and my photographic ability wouldn't do it justice.  Well fed, we had to make a detour to the shop which has such fun presents, then went upstairs to the the newly opened textiles room and marvelled at lace, fabrics and silk weaving.  A grand day out, indeed.

And now, two hours later than intended, I must get to quilting! I got as far as pinning last night...

Comments

[leslie]

love that quilt! i made one similar for my daughter's bed, just strips of pink fabrics, a pink explosion really. thanks for commenting on my blog (our gvl t-shirts) we were really happy to get positive feedback, we had so much fun making them!

[GiGi]

Great post! That scarf is beautiful and the locket - I love the kind of historical treasure that could become a book or movie!

[JeanieB]

Sounds like you had a wonderfully crafty day out - good for the soul!
My two sisters and I, we live in different parts of the UK, arranged a day of charity shop rummaging in Southport recently - with lots of coffee and cake of course.
Field trips are important :-)