ScrapHappy April 2023 – Rabbit, Rabbit

Finally, a year after opening the shop, we’ve managed to get round to starting our long-planned stitching club. Once a month we’re meeting up to work on some projects using textiles. The last day in March saw our inaugural meeting of Textile Club. For our first get-together, we wanted a simple project that would allow us to chat about our interests, discuss future projects and get to know each other a bit. My friend and collaborator, Annette, found a simple template to work from and I collected together fabric, ribbons and beads from the shop’s huge collection of scraps. Everyone could then choose the fabric and embellishments that appealed and stitch by hand or on a sewing machine (electric or hand) to create their own Easter bunny. I chose a to make a sunny bunny, but there was a wide variety in the final line up:

Future sessions will also use scraps, so there should be plenty scrappy creations to share in coming months.

Back to the crochet and I also felt the need for a bollard bunny, so here he is:

All the yarn was scrap – the little chest piece and the insides of the ears used up a tiny oddment of Jacob’s wool and I think the grey may be pure wool too. The cover itself was made by Mr Snail, using an unloved ball that made its way to the shop. The pattern is Rodney Rabbit from one of my favourite designers, Kelly of Little Green Bear – do check out her shop if you are looking for animals to make.

-oOo-

I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate,  Tall Tales from Chiconia. On the fifteenth of every month lots of folk often publish a ScrapHappy post, do check them out:

Kate,  Gun, Eva,  Sue, Lynda, Birthe, Turid, Edi, Susan, Cathy, Tracy, Jan (me), Moira, SandraChrisAlys, ClaireJeanJon, DawnJuleGwen, Sunny, Kjerstin, Sue LVera, NanetteAnn, Dawn 2, Carol, Preeti, DebbieroseNĂ³ilinViv, Lynn and Tierney

If you fancy joining, contact Kate and she’ll add you to the list. It would be lovely to see more non-sewing posts, but any use of scraps is welcome.

Disreputable trousers

I used to have a high-powered job
– smart blouses, skirts and suits
wool coats, court shoes, silk scarves, cashmere
and pairs of high-heeled boots

Lots of coats and hats in my wardrobe now!

Lots of coats and hats in my wardrobe now!

But management was not for me
Nor cuts, nor staff, nor stress
So I gave it up to work from home
although the pay was less

And now inside my wardrobe
the fancy clothes are few
but there are some saggy cardies
and flowery tunics too.

The shoes I wear are flat, not heeled
my coat is waterproof
I dress for warmth and comfort
sometimes a bit uncouth

But clothes last so much longer
because when a tear appears
I simply stitch it back together
to last a few more years

I have got clothes to party in
that are new and never torn
but many of the things I wear
are very much well-worn

It’s part of being sustainable
to make things last and last
wearing disreputable trousers**
whose smartest days are past

So, don’t throw all those garments out
you don’t want your friends to see
wear them in the garden
or while you’re drinking tea

Textiles and clothes, yarn and fabric
are sources of pollution
so cut your use and buy less new
and be part of the solution

Reject the fashonistas, who
tell you to keep buying
minimise your purchases
you can if you keep trying

Choose natural dyes, organic fibres
good quality and then
repair, reuse, recycle
and only throw out when

there’s really nothing else to do
with those clothes you own,
but you’ll have made less impact
on the place that we call home

-oOo-

** This phrase came from Snuffkin’s blog post here, and thus she inspired me to write this poem

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