Ahhhhhhh what a HApPy Morning I've had! I've been at my favourite cafe in town for my weekly "knit and natter" session, and oh I'm sooooo glad to have these precious mornings back in my week again. It generally becomes too hard for the majority of us to meet during the school holidays due to our Little People, so we didn't get together over the summer holidays at all. But now that school has started again, the weekly cappuccino+crochet mornings are back :: yyyaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!!!!! I've soo missed it.
I added a few more deliciously bright stripes to my growing baby blanket, sipped my chocolately frothy coffee, nattered and rippled the morning away and found myself almost squeeeealing with the pleasure of it all.
Delicious.
I took the above photo when I came home at lunch time :: I'd dumped my bags down in the hallway before making a hasty dash upstairs for the loo, crikey I nearly peed my pants, I was that desperate. When I came back down, the sight of my three bags there at the bottom of the stairs made me stop and smile, they looked so....well HaPpY! Yes, Happy Bags, thats what they are.
Aside from my wooly ripples this morning, I'm very happy to report that some extra Wooly Happiness came my way today too. On my way home from the cafe I popped in to a couple of the charity/thrift shops, still on the lookout for a suitable wooly jumper to back my two crochet cushion covers (do you remember them from earlier this summer?) I've been looking most weeks as and when I've been in town and had time to spare, but nothing had appeared until today.
In the second shop I went into, I suddenly spotted it :: the Perfect Wooly Jumper.
I can spot a true woolen jumper a mile off, they look totally different from acrylic or cotton garments.
The colour of this one is just perfect for what I want. It's a slightly deeper purply pink than the above photo shows, and looks and feels fabulous. Its originally from the Edinburgh Wool Mill (always a good source of Quality Wooliness), and is a lovely blend of lambswool and angora, with a small 10% nylon added. And best of all, it had been reduced in price, so only cost me £1.60 :o)
Just to remind you, these are the two crocheted covers that I made with the left over Rowan Pure Wool yarn after I'd completed BB.....
...and here they are nestling with the new/old wooly jumper. Don't you think that this jumper looks as if it were just made to be chopped and stitched and turned into Cushiony Goodness? It matches my crochet colours beautifully.
And of course now I get to play with my buttons too...oooooh my heart is all fluttery and jumpy at the thought of button-arranging and cushion-making.
I've already made three cushions using recycled jumpers for the backing, and I think it works out really well. So I thought I could use this opportunity to write a tutorial for making up cushions this way, as I've had several requests for this information just lately. Hopefully I'll be able to do it over the next few days ready to share with you next week.
Seems like a good thing to do :: I want you all to enjoy some Wooly-Buttony-HaPpiNeSs!!!
How could you NOT want to give it a go?!!!!!!
:o)
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Edited to add :: the felted pink/purple bag that I use as a handbag (top photo) was made by textile artist Laura Brittain (Laura Brittain Handmade Originals) and is one of my favourite things...I tried to search for her on the internet to give you some more info about her lovely bags but could find nothing, I'm sorry, I did try!
Lovely colourful photos today! Something beautiful and bright for the rather gray day we are having here. Thank you for sharing and brightening my day!
Posted by: Louise | September 17, 2009 at 04:13 PM
I cannot wait to see the cushions when they're all done, and the tutorial!
Posted by: Amanda | September 17, 2009 at 04:14 PM
Beautiful!!
The bags are so lovely. I love that on the right, it looks like it's felted, am I right? Wonderful colours!
Today, I had, as usually, my "attic24-bag" with me when I went to the shops. It was totally admired. And as always, I gave your blog adress to one of them, so that she too can make one. This isn't the first time that happened. And everyone that looks at your blog, just loves it!
Thanks for sharing so much beauty with me and all the rest.
Hugs :-)
Anna xxx
Posted by: Anna-Karin, Sweden | September 17, 2009 at 04:33 PM
Such lovely photos today...they truly are happy colors. Thanks for the tutorial can hardly wait for it as well as to see your cushions. Thanks again for the inspiration!
Posted by: Jen Gough | September 17, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Lovely happy bags! a beautiful colourful post. Can't think about cushions just yet, still studying the ripple pattern!!!! noelle x
Posted by: noelle | September 17, 2009 at 05:08 PM
Hurray - lovely sunny day and gorgeous sunny pictures. I can't wait for jumper-to-cushion conversion instructions - I've made 3 cushion 'fronts'and assembled the perfect jumpers to back them with but so far haven't been able to put the two together. Lucy to the rescue (again!)
Posted by: Chloe | September 17, 2009 at 05:10 PM
I'm sooo pleased you will be showing us how to make these jumper to cushions, I have been gagging to make some for ages but as i'm not really a sower I had no idea how to do it. Can't wait for the instructions T xx
Posted by: Tania | September 17, 2009 at 05:21 PM
What lovely bright colours, they are so cheery.
Posted by: Julie | September 17, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Lucy, I have a square pillow form just dying to be covered with an attic24 bright and happy crocheted front, and a recycled jumper back, so your tutorial will be perfect timing! Now, just to decide on what to crochet for the front - a ripple? Mini squares? Or big happy colorful square? Decisions, decisions! :-)
Posted by: Rona | September 17, 2009 at 05:32 PM
A Tutorial would be great - I collect wool sweaters for different reasons - but am always willing to try something new with them - YAY!!!
Posted by: Heather | September 17, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Isn't it funny how happiness is so infectious? Your happiness made me happy too! And I love the colours you use for your crochet!
Posted by: Penny Peberdy | September 17, 2009 at 05:44 PM
nothin' says "lovin" like crochet and thrift shop finds!! Looking forward to the tut on making the pillow backs.
Posted by: melissa | September 17, 2009 at 05:45 PM
The colors are gorgeous and I LOVE that crocheted bag!!!!!!
I am looking forward to your tutorial. I'm sure it can be used with knitted covers too, right?
Darn, how I wish I could crochet!!
Pretty colors...thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Martha | September 17, 2009 at 05:46 PM
Lucy O., your posts with your humor and color, make me smile. I love the blanket made with the small squares. They look like fleur-de-lis when the square is left small. And congrats on your new child and the post on your feelings was wonderful. Thank you, thank you, you're one of the best bloggers out there.
Posted by: Ghana | September 17, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Lovely colour jumper and perfect for backing your crochet cushions.
I so wish there were a group of like minded friends near me so we could go for a crochet cafe morning!
Posted by: Lorraine | September 17, 2009 at 06:08 PM
A rainbow of bright, happy colours for one especially bright happy lady!!! Thank you for sharing. I needed a colour fix today.
Posted by: alisonb2 | September 17, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Gorgeous! I can't wait to read your tutorial, I'm sure I'll be making a couple of these myself soon. Love it.
Posted by: Tanis | September 17, 2009 at 06:47 PM
colours, happy bags, yarny goodness ... *yum*
can you back both covers with the one jumper?
Posted by: Heather | September 17, 2009 at 06:47 PM
Loved your blog as always. Love the felted bag - did you make it? The wooly jumper will be just perfect for backing the cushions and I look forward to seeing the finished results. I have been keeping my eyes open for some woolies to cut up and felt but so far it's been all sumeray cottons - hopefully now that autumn is here I will be able to find some too!
Jane
Posted by: marigold jam | September 17, 2009 at 06:52 PM
Heather, yes you can if the jumper starts out big enough (preferably a dress size 14 or bigger, to make an 18" inch cushion cover)....cos I use the arms as well as the front and back.
Am planning on doing a full photo-tutorial on making these, so much easier to take a load of pics than to try and explain with words.
xxxxxxxxxx
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colours, happy bags, yarny goodness ... *yum*
can you back both covers with the one jumper?
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Posted by: Lucy @ Attic24 | September 17, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Hi Lucy,
Its my 2nd post and I am so thrilled to have the "Now Know How" to post you a comment....funny isn't it because its so simple. Anyway, I don't have a blog but would love to send you pictures of what I have made. In fact, I just finished making a pillow but its in the closet because I don't know how to sew. I am SO HAPPY today to learn that you are going to do a tutorial on how to make the pillow. Many many thanks!!! Liz
Posted by: Liz | September 17, 2009 at 06:55 PM
Yes, please! I would love a simple tutorial on how to make the cushion back from the woolly goodness of a repurposed jumper. Thank you so very much for all your generosity in the explaining of the how-to's of your various projects. You are a most kind and giving person! I don't often comment, but, I do check in daily (for almost six months now) into your colorful world. I love it! Love your words, your works, and your wonderful photos. Thank you!
Posted by: Rita RC | September 17, 2009 at 07:01 PM
Lucy ~ lovely and clourful pictures as usual ~ I love the photo of your shopping bags sitting in your hallway, they look very Happy Bags indeed and very You! Love your cushion covers too and the idea of using a woolly jumper for the backing. I've nearly finished my colourful crochet cushion cover but have decided to just join the two crocheted sides together ~ you can get a sneaky preview on my blog if you have the time to have a little peek!
Posted by: Jackie | September 17, 2009 at 07:12 PM
Lovely jumper find. I've been pondering a cushion for a while so a backing tutorial would be fab. I've said it many times already but I do really love your tutorials. I always find them so straight forward (a refreshing change from the majority of crochet patterns which make my mind boggle!).
Glad you've got your knit and natter's back in your week too. Sounds like a fab way to spend some time.
xMx
Posted by: Marie | September 17, 2009 at 07:29 PM
Love the bags, and the jumper is the perfect shade for the cushion covers. I was wondering if there is an e-mail address that I could contact you at. I would appreciate it. thanks.
Posted by: Jennifer | September 17, 2009 at 07:33 PM