Long live lace


The last time I went home to my parents I went on a huge search through my old cupboards for a copy of Scrap Saver’s Stitchery, which I’ve had for years. It is a great book, full of the sort of patterns that make you want to put on your frilly apron and bring out the patchwork placemats. Unfortunately I couldn’t find it anywhere, which is really bothering me as I want to make the bear changing bag for the Bunkey. Anyway, during my search I came across my old crochet basket, when I was about 11-16 years old I loved to crochet lace. I used to hunt out the little booklets of doilies (I think they are still available in some newsagents!) and make yards of filet borders. This is the basket that I lined to keep all my yarns and hooks in. I love it so much, it really brought back memories (I must have been a bit of a geek as a teenager!). The lace has all yellowed and the hooks have gone a bit rusty but I’m not going to be abandoning it to a cupboard again. So expect to see some crocheted lace joining the knitted lace soon.


Talking of knitted lace I’ve completed clues 1 and 2 of the mystery stole 3 project. I’m so behind but I really love the pattern. I’ve seen the rest of the clues and I’m so glad I joined up because it looks like a really imaginative, unique design. I’m using Lane Borgosesia in white and some tiny transparent seed beads. The picture isn’t that great I’m afraid.


I’m also knitting Bliss from Rowan 39 to use up the Calmer I had lying around (thanks for all the suggested patterns you gave me by the way). This is my current no-brain knit. I’m hoping to finish it next week as I’m on holiday. We’re going down to Devon to cat sit while my parents are on holiday. So the only downside is that I won’t get to see my Mum and Dad while I’m there, but I will get to see the sea, which as you might have guessed I miss a lot here in London. Plus I might be able to fit in a couple of rounds of crazy golf – it’s as close to a sport as you’ll ever see me get!

Thanks for the comments on the last post. It was so lovely to hear about your children. And I'm glad to know that little boys like cuddles just as much as little girls because I've got a whole lot of hugs stored up and waiting for this baby!

28 comments:

gilraen said...

I have 2 boys and they are way more cuddly than girls! Momma's Boys :D

I am looking and admiring your MS3 and thinking that mine bears no resemblance to yours. I may need to frog and reknit.............

Keep well :)

HPNY KNITS said...

lovely lace!
my son is a snuggle bug! and he is very "boy'. they are not contradictions.
:-)

Artis-Anne said...

That lace is lovely and Bliss will look great on you.
I'm sure you will enjoy your holiday to Devon even if you will miss your parents :) Relax and have fun at the seaside

Artis-Anne said...

Ohhhhhhh I just clicked on the basket and saw all your lovely lace crochet, amazing work for one so young ; so lovely that you still have the basket.
I too always used to be crafty as a child and the thing I loved the most was the dinkiest sewing machine with which I made all sorts for my bears ( I wasn't a dolly sort of girl )

Kath said...

Kendra - I have that book!! Well, it's actually the Scrap Savers Gift Stitchery but as I write I'm looking at the 'Teddy Tote' which I think may be the one you're thinking of. If you like I'll mail you a copy of the instructions, let me know at noolaf76@hotmail.com
Fantastic crochet work by the way - such a talent at that young age. Must be thouse young nimble fingers!!

Artis-Anne said...

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Linda said...

MS 3 looks lovely. The crochet basket is a nice find and to see some of your old lace.

Anonymous said...

The lace crochet is really interesting to me, I've never seen anything like it!

When I was italy I visited the island of burano which is famous for it's lace making, they use a needle and thread, it's gorgeous!

Rachel said...

Ha ha, I used to love to crochet as a young kid, too. I can still remember the odd looks I'd get during my volleyball games (in highschool), when I'd sit down in between games to crochet an afghan or something.

Don't you worry, little boys need snuggles just as much as little girls. In fact, I think they need just a tad bit more (you ever heard the saying, "the only difference between men and boys is simply the price of all their toys . . ."?

Lovely job knitting!

Seahorse said...

Your crochet lace is gorgeous. Beautifully photographed too.

I'm just off to order that book from Amazon - you're such an enabler!

Lara said...

What a treasure to find your old basket! I am sure you will keep it close to you now. Everything you have going on looks great. I started Bliss and then frogged it to knit Fifi. I still may knit it though with another color of calmer that I have in stash. I think I will wait to see how yours turns out!

Hope you and baby are doing well!

Ang said...

awww I love that lace in the basket, I was a bit of a geek as a child too. I had a scrapbook with swatch after swatch, of different sts and techniques.....sadly I no longer have it.

Have fun in Devon.

Anonymous said...

What a sweet story about your crochet basket! I'm so glad you'll be taking it home with you to enjoy again.

I hope you enjoy your holiday by the sea (I'm convinced I'd have palpitations if I ever got too far away from it) and get to see your parents a little bit. Glad you and the baby are doing well and you will be able to knit some cricket wear for him!

José said...

What a beautiful photo of you old lace, georgous!! You have been busy haven't you :)

Kyle William said...

one of my favorite (and saddest) memories about my childhood is going into my mom's crochet project and (I was young so forgive me) ripping out row after row of work - I liked to watch the stiches pop out and unravel - I am now horrified at this thought - she's quite a complicated crocheter - doing beautiful work like yours - and that photo of the lacework in the suitcase made me think of my mom's crochet sitting waiting for the bad kid to attack....

years and years have passed... and now when I visit my mom, there's a tiny part of me that guards my knitting - afraid she might rip it out just for revenge :)

Susanne said...

Hy Kendra,
what a lovely basket - it is wonderful that you still have it now. Such great crochet lace, I love it. I've made crochet things by myself, too, when I was a child, but that wasn't so special as yours.
Bliss will look good on you, I might have a look in that magazine again...
Solong
Susanne

Anonymous said...

Boys are the best cuddlers Kendra! I have a son and a daughter and when they were young, it was my son who was always cuddling with me.

Your stole is looking amazing!

Sarah said...

How lovely to find that box of history. Present day work is looking great too. Hope your holiday was lovely.

florencemary said...

Your MS3 lace and Bliss top look lovely! And how exciting to find your old crochet basket! I don't have any of my old knitting, but perhaps that's for the best as the finishing would have been dire!

Have a lovely holiday!

Badger said...

I was a teenage geek too (but it was always knitting lace for me, not crochet), nothing to be ashamed of!

Enjoy your holiday :)

belaybunny said...

I love the look of your ms3 stole, it's looking great in that colour. The crochet is gorgeous too.

artyfartykat said...

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Kate said...

Kendra, I love the lace. It is beautiful. I really must get myself sorted and order some lace weight to join in the craze!
Did you win the crazy golf?!

Windyridge said...

Love your lace. I have only done a few scarves in lace and very much enjoy doing them.

Anonymous said...

Hey Kendra, I just wanted to check in with you and make sure everything was ok.

Hope all is well!

noblinknits said...

How lovely to find some things from your past to remind you of happy times. The lace is looking lovely, as always.

Anonymous said...

A dear friend of mine crochets and makes lace out of that incredibly thin thread. It's amazing to me. Beautiful! Of course, now she wants me to knit up light, lacy, complex shawls! :) I'm slowly working myself up to them... like the lovely ones you've designed. Hope all's well with you and the Bunkey.

yarnahoy said...

Gorgeous lace work!
:)