A bit of the tired-oh.

Hello! I'm lagging here, but I had to pop in and say a hello-ho and a rum-de-dum- tra-la.

This is the sort of thing that is good to say when you feel really very tired-oh, feet-dragging-oh, really-feel-like sinking-onto-the-sofa-and-watching-a good-movie-oh. With a cup of tea of course, and a complete lack of guilt too (that's harder isn't it!).

Must have been the travelling on Tuesday that's caught up with me. I couldn't blog last Tuesday as I normally would, because I was making the five hour train journey from home to Walker Books for a meeting, (I've got a page on their website here), and then travelling back five hours again to get home the same day. I was up at five in the morning, felt surprisingly spritely, got on the train, got out my knitting, and realised I had forgotten my knitting pattern. There was a moment of sheer incomprehension that I could do such a thing. I hadn't taken a book with me. But I had taken extra balls of wool, so I set about copying what I had already knitted, as the front and the back of the dress are the same in the skirt section. Hugo kindly scanned the pattern and e-mailed it to my art editor at Walker, so at least I had the pattern for the journey home. The knitting I'd done on the train to London was slightly wrong unfortunately, but never mind.

The dress I'm making is almost finished! Just the hem and a couple of buttons to sew on. Hopefully I'll have photos to show you of the finished dress, in next Tuesday's post.

I bought this copy of "The Craft of Dressmaking" by Anne Ladbury, published back in 1977, in a local second hand book shop. I feel I want to get my basic skills in dressmaking up to scratch. Even though I've made two dresses, I want to make sure I'm doing it right, and think I could probably improve on what I've done so far.

That must be Anne Ladbury, the author, on the cover of the book. I think she looks rather cool, and I love the dresses hanging up behind her, they're similar to the styles I'm interested in making. Fashion does go round and round in circles doesn't it?

Just before I go, I have to mention today's "Desert Island Discs" on Radio 4. Len Goodman of t.v. programme "Strictly Come Dancing" was the guest today, and if you've got a spare 45 minutes to sit down with your knitting, crochet, sewing or whatevering, and listen to his interview, it's well worth it, he's very entertaining. I'm very taken with his terminology for attracting females whilst out on the town: "crumpeting".

You can now listen to everyone who's been interviewed on Desert Island Discs, right back to the 1940's, by exploring the archive here. You can listen to it on i-player or as a podcast, isn't that marvellous!

Right, I'm off to make a cup of tea.

I just thought I'd type in Jack Nicholson's name, but he hasn't been interviewed on Desert Island Discs. He'd make a great interviewee, I shall never forget him flirting outrageously with his Jenni Murray on Woman's Hour a few years ago. It was wonderful to listen to, you could hear Jenni practically melting! Such a shame you can't listen to it like you can with Desert Island Discs.

Have a good weekend! Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Hen]

Thanks for the desert island discs head-up, Vanessa, sounds a good laugh. I have the "Complete Guide to Sewing" by Readers' Digest which has a lot of good info on dress making. I confess to finding dress making quite stressful. Too much of the perfectionist, and even if I make the article well, I usually find it is too big or too small, grrr. Not my idea of fun, much as I wish it was! I think the trick is to be good at alterations so that you can really tailor what you make to fit. I still have a go every now and then!
Have a great weekend.
Hen x

[kate]

Yes, that's Ann Ladbury. She was part of a team of women who did a show on Southern TV that spanned from the late 60's to the early 1980's called 'Houseparty' which I occasionally got to watch when off school sick. If I remember rightly she was a no nonsense type of lady, terribly, terribly practical in a stiff upper lip schoolmarmy manner. If you trawl youtube you can see snippets of her in 'Houseparty' - great stuff!

[Fliss]

Hi Vanessa hope you're feeling more awake for the weekend! I'm exhausted at the moment - comes with having and 8month old! Xxx

[Miss Holly]

I thrilled to know about the desert island disks!! I'm going to start listening tonight..quite a few I want to hear!!!wonderful! Thanks

[Magic Cochin]

Hello!

Hugo is a star to scan and send the knitting pattern to your editor.

Gosh I remember the sewing lady being on the telly - must have been when I was at school. I was already making all my own dresses (like my mum and gran always did). Sad to say I'm out of the habit now - but I have spotted some rather gorgeous Liberty fabric designed by none other than Grayson Perry - it's fab!

Yes I heard Len on the "DID" I was driving over from Suffolk to the Fens to visit my mum. Wasn't Len a scream! I loved it when he said he could always light a fire with the pages from the Shakespeare book :-) at least he's honest.

I'd tired too, so I'm off to put my feet up and start some challenging knitted lace!

Take care
Celia
x

[Rebecca Barrow]

So many memories of those hours stolen in front of the telly when sick off school. I learnt everything I know about sewing from Ann Ladbury! You've really taken me back there! Thankyou xxx

[Carole]

Hi Vanessa,
Oh i`m so glad you`re ok, i missed you on tuesday.
I,too remember Anne Ladbury on "Houseparty"! I used to love that program. I think you are doing really well with your sewing.
I listened to DID`s on sunday with Len Goodman (after the Archers omnibus) & it was good.
Take Care
Love Carole from Rossendale xxxx

[Jane]

Oh, Ann Ladbury and Houseparty! Happy memories of watching that with my feet up whilst pregnant and then at home with toddler daughter - distinctly remember learning how to baste an interlining into a tailored jacket amongst other things. Odd what sticks in your mind isn't it!

[Kate]

I feel your train pain- I was all prepared with my sketchbook and copies of "the Hat' magazine last weekend for a long journey there and back again...settled into my seat...not a single sketchbook or magazine to be found:they were still sitting cosily on the back of the sofa,ready for me to take with me....Len Goodman was fun, "crumpeting' is my word of the week.
If you get REALLY serious about the dressmaking,you will need an adjustable dummy ( the bees knees for getting things to fit you perfectly).I bet you get hooked and end up with one.

[Vintage Squirrel]

EVERYONE should listen to Radio 4! I have been listening to it daily since I was 22 and began working as a specialist decorative painter for my sister-in-law (see decoratescotland.com )but we pretended that our radio was permanently stuck there as it was not cool to admit that we actually chose to listen to it.....all day long!!

[Julia]

Thanks Vanessa for the DID archive reference.
Perfect for knitting to/with

[Sue]

Husband is about to take the kids out so I will listen to Len while I potter in the kitchen. I remember listening to DID when Roy Plomley used to present it.

[Louise]

I don't have one myself but it sounds like you could make good use of a Kindle for storing patterns and books..lol.
I can empathise with the frustration of forgetting a pattern..but what a lovely hubs to fax the pattern for your return journey. Rainy days have given me lots of lovely knitting time lately.

[Stephanie]

Hello Vanessa,

I hope you are feeling more awake and chirpy this weekend. You made me smile with your tale of knitting on the train. I too have been super organised when packing my sewing/knitting bag as I relish train journeys for making progress with my projects but I am so perplexed when I discover I have forgotten something as essential as a pattern.

Here comes some shameful advertising here: go check my blog out to see some stunning flower art in a French childrens' book. I think you will like it.

[Gill]

Hi Vanessa
I don't always enjoy DID (some guests choose some rather pretentious music which you feel probably isn't their taste at all but they feel it should be!!) but I did enjoy Len Goodman - a breath of fresh air I thought. I'm looking forward to seeing your next dress - next week??
Take care
Gill x

[Alice and Raymond!!!]

oh my goodness, getting on the train without the pattern! Thats like forgetting the second needle, shocking! I love that Hugo scanned the pattern and e-mailed it, what a funny story, I loved it...
Knitting adventures!
Your new dress is looking gorgeous,
have a lovely sunday XXXXX

[Sandi Lee]

Vanessa, was lovely to learn a bit more about you and what you do, I so recognise your illustrations, and so good to know it is you doing them. 5 hours is a long time in the train and especially if you couldn't do any crafting, thank goodness you were able to do something at least, even tho it was not quite right.
x Sandi

[Angel Jem]

Crumpeting, cracking term. It implies warmth and a certain unctiousness of melting butter. I wonder what the equivalent for picking up men would be... cream horning? It looks good but it's actually quite empty and unsatisfying?

[Jenni at Baa-me Kniits]

I bet that was a real OH NO!!! moment when you realised you had forgotten the pattern, there is nothing worse is there!! Well done to Hugo for scanning and emailing it...my hubby wouldn't have a clue how to do that :-)

[Quiltova.blogspot.com]

Thanks for the link to desert Island discs. I love the program, but hadn't heard Len Goodman. What a nice man. I'll certainly look up the back catalogue - hours of entertainment there.

[nimblefingerssteadyeyebrows]

Oooh, pattern-free knitting. Brave you! Glad it worked out okay. Laura x

[Homeowner Insurance Rates]

Thanks for the desert island discs head-up. I love that Hugo scanned the pattern and e-mailed it, what a funny story!

[Catherine]

I remember Angela Ladbury - she was quite a sewing guru in the 70s. I had forgotten about her, now I shall look out for her books in second hand shops. Thank you for reminding me