Wooly Happiness

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!

 

Comments

[Quotes About Happiness]

Not just wooly happiness but wooly wonders. Very cute.

[Despina]

Such inspiring projects... You are very talented

[FUX]

Wonderful job!
Bravissima!
Ciao.
Francesca

[sumea]

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)

[theaxx]

LOVE love love love LOOOvE EVERYTHING!!

thea.
xx

www.forthevisionaries.tumblr.com

[Linea]

It would be most kind of you with a Tutorial on those lovley Pillows. I enjoyed your patterns very much.
Kind Regards.

[Jannine Samons]

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)

[Dette]

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.

[Elena, Moscow]

A tutorial comes in handy. I've had a jumper prepared to turn into a cushion for months! =)Can't wait.

[Anne H]

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......)

[jennie]

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

[chocolategirl64]

haphaphappyfridaytoyoutoo
snap ~ my blog is about just that today
^_^

[Eszter]

i love your works!!!!

[louise @ Thirtyfive Flowers]

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

[dotty daisies]

OOH sight of those buttons makes me weak at the knees! I admit i am obsessed !

[karen smith]

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)))

[Emma - Dotty Mays]

Lovely colours Lucy. In fact I'm detecting a lot of pink in your photos lately ... any connection to the bump I wonder?

[susan]

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. :)

[Jennyff]

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.

[Petit Filoux]

Oooh can't wait to see your tutorial!! and what you do with all those lovely buttons! xx

[Judith]

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.

[Miss Butterfly]

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 !!!

[Tina @ Squirrel Acorns]

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!

[Erica K]

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

[Tracy]

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!