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!
Not just wooly happiness but wooly wonders. Very cute.
Posted by: Quotes About Happiness | June 06, 2011 at 04:23 AM
Such inspiring projects... You are very talented
Posted by: Despina | March 08, 2010 at 02:22 PM
Wonderful job!
Bravissima!
Ciao.
Francesca
Posted by: FUX | September 27, 2009 at 09:36 PM
I LOVE the Happy bags :o) and the bright cushion covers and buttons are so jolly.
I think that tutorial might come in handy one day too :o)
Posted by: sumea | September 23, 2009 at 02:08 PM
LOVE love love love LOOOvE EVERYTHING!!
thea.
xx
www.forthevisionaries.tumblr.com
Posted by: theaxx | September 23, 2009 at 01:15 PM
It would be most kind of you with a Tutorial on those lovley Pillows. I enjoyed your patterns very much.
Kind Regards.
Posted by: Linea | September 22, 2009 at 08:02 AM
Hey Lucy,
What a great idea for the backing of the cushions, can't wait to see the finished products. I have taken up a new hobby ... dress making. It was my sons matric dance (that is the dance they have when they are finally finished with their school career) and was horrified at the prices of the ball gowns (little sister got invited by brothers buddy)so I decided it was time for a new chalenge!! BUT one thing is forsure.... I will never give up my chrocheting!!! You inspire me all the time Lucy THANK YOU
Jannine (South Africa)
Posted by: Jannine Samons | September 20, 2009 at 06:52 AM
So glad you are going to post a tutorial on how to turn a jumper into a backing.I've looked at previous posts but have been unable to see how to attach front to back.I can't wait to turn my cushion front into a proper 3d cushion rather than the arm cover for the sofa it has become.I feared it was going to be another 'never to be finished project'! Thanks in advance for your help ,and again for all your inspirational photos.
Posted by: Dette | September 19, 2009 at 03:56 PM
A tutorial comes in handy. I've had a jumper prepared to turn into a cushion for months! =)Can't wait.
Posted by: Elena, Moscow | September 19, 2009 at 06:56 AM
Thank you for your lovely colourful posts - find myself looking to see if you've added anything most days! Particularly feel the connection with the lovely North of England and also the colourful creativity - back to my knitting now (can't stop now - your blog inspired my to start again......)
Posted by: Anne H | September 18, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Hi Lucy, love the bags and tutorial would be lovely as I have jus sstarted my second ripple cushion cover but have not worked up enough courage to back the first one I made. My lovely husband is home today and I was just telling him that you are expecting he said who and I siad Lucy from Attic24, he misheard and said no wonder she's expecting if shes 'at it 24'. So maybe a bit more crocheting in future would prevent certain bloomings. Ha ha, I love your little knit and natter oh how I wish there was one in my town, maybe I should staart one. Take care of yourself
Posted by: jennie | September 18, 2009 at 02:13 PM
haphaphappyfridaytoyoutoo
snap ~ my blog is about just that today
^_^
Posted by: chocolategirl64 | September 18, 2009 at 12:45 PM
i love your works!!!!
Posted by: Eszter | September 18, 2009 at 12:05 PM
I was in John Lewis in Oxford Street on Weds and there was a knit and natter group in the restaurant there, it looked so wonderful all ages and types, just knitting ,chatting and laughing. They gave me itchy fingers so I had to head off to the fabric dept! whoops how did that end up in my bag?
Louise x
Posted by: louise @ Thirtyfive Flowers | September 18, 2009 at 09:58 AM
OOH sight of those buttons makes me weak at the knees! I admit i am obsessed !
Posted by: dotty daisies | September 18, 2009 at 09:50 AM
another nice bright and cheerful post today hunni. I'm glad you had a lovely time at your knit and natter. It's nice to get back into the swing of things after the summer holiday's isn't it.
Those cushions are gonna look fab have you got anywhere specific in mind to put them?
I can't wait to take a look at your tutorial.
take care
(((hugs)))
Posted by: karen smith | September 18, 2009 at 09:49 AM
Lovely colours Lucy. In fact I'm detecting a lot of pink in your photos lately ... any connection to the bump I wonder?
Posted by: Emma - Dotty Mays | September 18, 2009 at 09:05 AM
although ive only just recently discovered your blog i have to say again how lovely it all is and how it inspires me.Im a novice to crotchet and im trying in vain to master your ripple pattern just somehow it doesnt look like yours when ive finished.Im not giving up though i will get it right.Again want to say what a joy it is to read your blogs. :)
Posted by: susan | September 18, 2009 at 08:41 AM
As soon as I read your post I'm all fired up to get crafting, though my crochet it hopeless. Its only 8.30 am, maybe a bit too early but I can't wait, your bag and cushions are just gorgeous.
Posted by: Jennyff | September 18, 2009 at 08:32 AM
Oooh can't wait to see your tutorial!! and what you do with all those lovely buttons! xx
Posted by: Petit Filoux | September 18, 2009 at 08:19 AM
Hi Lucy,
Nice choice of woolly jumper, such a lovely colour. I did a search for laura brittain textiles and she popped straight up and you where underneath her.
Posted by: Judith | September 18, 2009 at 07:44 AM
You bags as colorful as you are !
Will love a tutorial to make cushion with a jumper at the back ...Your tutorials are just so crystal clear that I managed to crochet 100 "Summer Garden Grannies" and never held a crochet beforehand !!!
Posted by: Miss Butterfly | September 18, 2009 at 06:32 AM
Oooh....I want some Wooly-Buttony-HaPpiNeSs!!! Would love to see your tutorial for backing the pillow with some felted goodness. We live in Maine, USA, and I can usually find lots of nice wool sweaters in our local thrift shops (it's so cold...lots of wool sweaters). So much so, actually, that I've stopped going because I only have so much storage, lol!
Posted by: Tina @ Squirrel Acorns | September 18, 2009 at 02:08 AM
Wow, you got a real deal on that sweater! I made your bag this past week, but it went all wrong, going to do it over...
http://luboost1.blogspot.com/2009/09/make-sure-you-listen-carefully.html
Posted by: Erica K | September 18, 2009 at 12:51 AM
Aaaagh - just saw bad typo - so sorry to clutter your comments but can't leave without saying that I really do know it is 'hear', I promise!
Posted by: Tracy | September 18, 2009 at 12:47 AM