Fun at the Farm

Fun at the Farm

Nursery Opening Day

This week , we enjoyed the official open day of our lovely Nursery class by local Author Angela McAllister

https://www.facebook.com/angelajmcallisterbooks/

The back field of the school was turned into a farm which the children absolutely loved. From Bee Keeping, to milling corn,Tractors to Ducklings - there was plenty to experience.

The nursery is a fantastic addition to the school. There has always been a sense of 'Family' at the school , now even more so with our littlest people being welcomed in by the expert care of the nursery staff.

Judging by the smiles and excited giggles all around the field on Wednesday, my children werent the only ones having Fun at the Farm!

XxP&TxX

Working Together

As a family, we like to have a project on the go. Im quite creative and like turning my hand to different crafts and baking ideas. My Husband is a Product Design Teacher and Photographer, so there are always projects being worked on in his little 'Man cave' corner of our dining area.

The children like to get involved when ever possible. Their age and ability often limits them with big projects so we decided to simplify it a little and make something as a family they could enjoy.

We made a Teepee together for the garden which has brought all three of my children hours of entertainment since. Working together allowed them to choose their own fabrics, chose what part of the process they would get involved in and who would lead each task. 

My eldest daughter Evie was able to take the lead on some areas of the building process, guiding her little sister with threading twine through the channels for gathering. It was lovely to watch her take the time to show Annie how to place her hands and how the threading works. An important moment in their lives where they actually sat and listened to each other and made it work without adults intervention.

The project all together cost £5. I already had the material in my fabric hoard (it is huge!) , but the value of the Teepee is limitless. Their imaginations have given them new games to play in a whole new environment. 

Working together is such an important life skill. This generation of children are so swamped by technology ( which as a family we have massively rebelled against when it comes to our children ) that they are not learning basic life skills . Communication, Team Work and Imagination.

My ways may be different to the norm and what our schools are pushing upon them increasingly, but I want my children to be able to work together to make and solve throughout their lives without any device telling them the answers.

Now . If you want me. I shall be in the Teepee thinking of our next family project!

XxP&TxX

The Beautiful skirts my girls are modelling are handmade custom items from https://www.facebook.com/myHollyandIvy/

My new special piece of jewellery.

We paid a visit to The Lantern today. It's a special shop I have been taking my little girl to since I was expecting her.

She was in absolute awe today at the gem stones and rainbow makers. We decided to make our own necklaces!

My daughter chose a rose quartz. Rose quartz is said to promote unconditional love, compassion and healing. She can be quite an anxious child at times so this was the perfect choice for her. Something she feels will make her feel happier when she is uncertain. 

For me, she chose the Turquoise stone with black veins. The turquoise stone is said to protect and dispel negative energy . I thought for a five year old to want her mummy protected from bad things was so special!



Together we chose the Amethyst stone for my youngest daughter. It is said to promote calm, balance and peace. It is also said to eliminate impatience. She is a rather spirited child so this was a perfect choice for her.



It was a wonderful experience to give my daughter. She has been off from school for a couple of days and has missed her routine. We have done some alternative  home schooling in this time which she has simply loved.

Regardless of your thoughts with regards to the power of these stones, to my little girl - they mean everything. The stone necklace will hang above her bed whilst not being worn to protect her and remind her of our lovely morning together.

XxP&TxX 

Rydale Clothing

Rydale Clothing

If you follow my Instagram page, you will have seen we are acquiring an ever growing collection of these beautiful Rydale Fleeces and Gilets, 

We have most certainly turned to Rydale Clothing to kit us all out this winter. After falling in love with my boots and rugby shirts, we explored the rest of the range. The fleeces in particular are so warm with the rather chilly winter we have just experienced ! 

It is not often as family we find a collection that suits all of us but Rydale has definitely achieved this. In a practical sense, the clothing is warm, washes exceptionally well and dries quickly without losing its shape. In a style sense, its perfect. The fit is brilliant , the embroidered motifs and logos add a lovely finish to the garments without taking away from the quality of the product which so many designer brands do. 

I have been taking full advantage of the generous sales they have had, and certainly looking forward to kitting us out this Summer !

XxP&TxX

Highstreet VS Handmade

I bought a skirt this morning from a leading supermarket . I love it, it's a medium weight tapestry skirt. Unusual print. I love it and I can't wait to wear it.

Now, I make clothes as a hobby and furnishings as a side business. This seam is supposedly finished? This is hidden in the waistband. A high wear area of the garment clearly.

How are we as small businesses making textile products meant to compete with retail products yet handmade is clearly just made better

Handmade items are cut with care, seams are finished properly. If I use a fabric that will fray like this, I always finish the edges either using the overlocker or a simple zigzag stitch if it won't be seen.

I will re do this seam to ensure the garment lasts longer which I do with a lot of shop bought items.

I just wanted to share it, I spend a lot of time making my items and I couldn't leave them like this!

Il get off my soapbox now!

XxP&TxX

A Stitch in Time

If you have been following  Patterjack and Tweed, you will see that I have been looking at the generation of Make Do and Mend . Taking inspiration from the lifestyle the women of that generation with my clothing choices. 

I have been darning socks, repairing dropped hems and reworking wool into a new product. This week I have turned up the sleeves on my friends chef whites to make them fit for purpose . No more dangerous rolling up , just a nice neat finish.

I am currently working on a beautiful blanket in a colour scheme I do not usually work with. Pastel colours ! I am using up ends of balls of yarn I have been given by friends and family . The blanket will not have cost me anything but time, but will be enjoyed for years to come.

In a change of habit,have stepped away from my sewing machine this half term in exchange for more traditional hand sewing and crochet projects. Although I adore my Singer , it has been a nice break and I am now ready and raring to go back on it with some beautiful cushion orders I have received.

 It does make you appreciate the hours of work that must have gone into making clothing before sewing machines were as readily available as they are now. I know I certainly wouldn't have the patience , but maybe this should be a challenge to set my self?

XxP&TxX 

Make Do and Mend

Make Do and Mend was a pamphlet issued by the British Ministry of Information during WWII. It was intended to teach Housewives to be more frugal in the times of such strict rationing.

With pages filled with thrifty ideas for up-cycling and repairing worn clothing, the pamphlet became a household essential for the modern housewife. Encouraging women to turn to sewing, knitting and crochet meant many women took up the traditional skills as a way of life, not just a hobby.

The original trend for 'Visible Repairing' essentially was born, sewing patches in clothing, turning collars, re purposing worn clothing as childrens clothing, aprons or even rags for cleaning.  Darning and frogging back knitwear to re-knit jumpers and blankets was an every day occurrence. Penny pinching at its best , sparing all ration allowances for food where possible.

I have always been into altering my clothing, either to increase the longevity of the item, or to personalise to reflect my personality. Making my own clothing and accessories from recycled materials , charity shop buys or even re-purposed curtains is so satisfying. 

I frequently replace zips in items of clothing both for myself and for friends. A damaged zip does not by any means deem the item to be useless. A good seamstress can replace a zip quickly and it will cost you a fraction of the price of replacing the garment entirely.

Being brought up by a thrifty mother, daughter of the 'Make Do and Mend ' generation, lots of very handy tips have been handed down to me by them both. My Mother is a keen sewer, and has an ever growing Mending pile with my Father and Brother both being labourers. Not to mention my mums customers also making use of her skills in her part time role as a seamstress. 

*A turned collar -Sewn by my Mother. 

Being a fairly thrifty person, I seem to attract like minded people, my best friends both having sewing machines, an abundance of buttons and threads at the ready. I am steadily making my way through my close friends, teaching them to crochet and sew their own clothing.

We definitely have something to learn from the Make Do and Mend generation , an art I shall certainly not let die out !

XxP&TxX