1942 Chocolate Cake (eggless) - Jennie On The Kitchen Front

Afternoon all!

I seem to be running out of spare time every day now, so I'm all behind like a duck's tail.

We'll get on to the cake now, rather than me blabbering on - That said, I've been busy knitting, just a trim to knit to finish off a new jumper. I have a huge pile to sew up too, I'll get round to it one day.

To cake!

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1942 Chocolate Cake

8 ozs self-raising flour
4 ozs sugar
4 ozs margarine
1 level teaspoonful bicarbonate of soda
1 heaped dessertspoonful cocoa powder
vanilla essence
water

Sift together flour, bicarbonate and cocoa.

Put sugar, margarine and 1 gill (1/4 pint) water in a saucepan, bring slowly to the boil, continue boiling for 1 minute.
Turn out into mixing basin, leave until lukewarm.

Gradually stir in flour mixture, add a little more lukewarm water, about 1/4 gill, to bring the consistency to that of sponge batter, add flavouring essence.

Bake in a greased 7-inch tin, about 1 hour.
Heat the oven at Gas 5, lower to Gas 4 when cake is put in, lower to Gas 3 about 20 minutes later.

Sprinkle with sugar for serving (optional); vary by running round with a teaspoon a narrow border of jam.
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When I took mine from the oven it was cooked, the skewer came out clean three times, although when I was eating it I did think it could've done with an extra five minutes as it only just done. I think I have a problem with the oven though as everything is taking a little linger than expected. So just check it and maybe give it some more time.

But overall I like this cake, it tastes a little of cake batter, which probably has more to do with needing those extra few minutes. But it is a really nice moist sponge, and the lack of eggs isn't noticed.

I hope you enjoy making and eating this as much as I have. Hopefully I'll have another recipe for you next Friday, though if my oven packs in it may sandwich fillings!

Until we speak again

Jennie

1942 Fruit Cake (no eggs or milk) - Jennie On The Kitchen Front

Good morning all!

I'm having a bit of "Disaster Day" today, so stand clear, if I go down, I'm taking you with me!

Words are escaping me today, so blogging isn't really a good idea is it? Never fear, a recipe is here!

Before setting off to your kitchen, I have to warn you, I did have an issue with this one. So although I'm putting the recipe up, I am going to remake and rewrite the recipe. Though this is perfectly edible!

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1942 Fruit Cake (no eggs or milk)
"A moist, rich-tasting cake, the kind a man likes"

4 ozs national wheatmeal flour - I used plain wholemeal
4ozs self-raising flour
1 level teaspoonful baking powder
1 level teaspoonful bicarbonate of soda
3 tablespoonfuls sugar
1 tablespoonful red jam - I used strawberry
4 ozs margarine or lard - I used margarine
2 teaspoonfuls mixed spice
4 to 6 ozs fruit, any kind or mixed - I used raisins, dates and a pinch of sultanas
1 gill water, short measure - 1/4 pint

Clean the fruit in flour; if raisins or dates are used, chop them.

Put the sugar, jam, fat, fruit and water into a saucepan, bring slowly to the boil, continue boiling for 1 minute; stand aside until cool, but not cold.

Mix the two flours, baking powder, bicarbonate and spice in a basin, make a well, gradually add the lukewarm mixture and mix well.

Put into a greased 6-inch cake tin and bake for nearly 2 hours, moderately slow oven for 1 1/2 hours, then slow oven for about 25 minutes longer. After about 3/4 hour, when cake is nicely brown, cover with paper to prevent burning.

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Right, this is where I went wrong. I put the cake in at Gas Mark 4 (180 C / 350 F) and turned it down to Gas Mark 2 (150 C / 300 F). It did catch on the top, so what I am going to do next time is either turn the oven down to Gas mark 3, turning down to Gas Mark 1. Also, after 1 1/2 hours, I will test to see if it's cooked.

The cake came out looking a little burnt, however, the actually cake inside is moist and really scrummy. So, just be careful with your temperature and timing... Everything you should normally do then! :) 

It is nice though, I've yet to test it on a man, so if you make this one, could you let us all know if a man does indeed like this?

So, I'm off for another slice and a cup of tea. I'll be back next week, I am trying to find the time to write between recipes, maybe I should write everything on Fridays and schedule them...

Anyway, till next time

Jennie

Treasure In The Sewing Room

Good morning folks!

Well, just about, it's firmly heading towards midday and my to-do list is rather long, but I need a quick break between vacuuming and sorting out the washing.

As you may know, I sell vintage sewing patterns over on Etsy. In the whole process of getting the patterns online, they're checked, photographed, popped into little bags and labelled, before finally being listed in the shop.

I, as many stitchers do, have found little bits of joy inside the envelope alongside the actually pattern; a wartime pencil, pieces of fabric, an aerogramme even. But my favourites finds are newspaper, with juicy stories of runaway teens heading for Gretna being the best.

However, if the paper can be dated, it just adds to the joy of the pattern. My latest listing is one such joyous pattern. There are three pieces cut in newspaper, seemingly nothing to do with the pattern inside (which is complete).

I did a quick search online, to discover the stories are from 1943

These include the death of Mr John De Havilland, Colonel Graham West awaiting his "Bader legs" and my personal favourite; A mention of oranges!

There is also a crossword, completely unanswered! How anyone could pass a crossword by without having a go is beyond me.

I actually feel a little sad to let the pattern go, but alas, it's a size too big and I already have plenty of patterns I keep saying I'm going to adjust... It just doesn't happen :)

The pattern, should you be interested, is available here.

Well, that's all for now. I'm not sure I'll be posting before Friday. But I will be back on Friday for Jennie On The Kitchen Front. This week I'm trying to decide between biscuits and cake, ooh, the decisions!

Until then

Jennie

1942 Ginger Cake - Jennie On The Kitchen Front

Is it already Friday? Well, if it is, then it's Kitchen Front day for us!

This week I've made a ginger cake, well, it's actually a tray bake by todays standards. Never mind what we'll call it, it's ginger and it's cakey.

Before we start, the recipe does say to use a Yorkshire pudding tin, measuring 8 1/2" by 5 3/4" - I don't have a tin this size, so instead used the smallest tin I could find, which is about 8" square. It still works, so no complaints from me.

This ginger cake has a subtle flavour, should you wish to update it, you could always drizzle the top with lime icing.

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Ginger Cake - 1942

4 ozs Plain Flour
4ozs Self Raising Flour
2 ozs Lard - I use veggie Baking Fat
4 ozs Syrup
2 tablespoonfuls Sugar
1/2 teaspoonful Bicarbonate of Soda
1 teaspoonful Ground Ginger
1 teaspoonful Mixed Spice
1 Small Egg
1 gill Milk (1/4 pint)

Stir together lard (fat), syrup and sugar in a saucepan over low heat until melted.
Do not boil, wait until lukewarm before using.

Beat egg and mix in milk.

Mix dry ingredients, make a well.

Pour in syrup mixture, mix.

Gradually add the egg/milk mixture.

Stir until smooth.

Put into a greased tin.

Bake in slow oven, Gas Mark 3 (160 C / 325 F) for 45 minutes.

Cut into 18 squares for serving.

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Well, that's the recipe. Of all the wartime recipes I use, this is one of my favourites, it turns out well and is a nice treat with some tea or cocoa.

So now I'm off for some lunch, then I might just find room for another piece of cake!

Till next week

Jennie

Digestive Biscuits - Jennie On The Kitchen Front

Hello Biscuit Lovers!

First up, I'll give you the grim news that we lost 5 of our 6 hens to a fox on Monday. Bright, sunny afternoon too, foxes only usually turn up on grim days and at dawn around here. But this fox was different, he was the size of an Alsatian and quite aggressive with Ma, who stepped outside and found him in the garden - He got away, but he must've been been waiting around for us to step inside as we were later in for dinner than usual.
We're all devastated by the loss, they were all wonderful, cheeky, adorable girls, and will be very much missed - Rose, Ruby, Doris, Iris and Annie.
Mary somehow survived, she was found hiding in an overgrown patch of garden. She's alright, shaken and missing her sisters, but now she has a big brother in the form of our cat, Charlie. He's become very protective of her.

I could talk about the girls and boy for ages, but I shall get onto the recipe now.

This week I thought you might like some biscuits. So, are digestives alright for you? These aren't like the well known branded ones, more like a cross between those and oatcakes. Learn from my mistake though, I don't have any table salt, I only had rock salt, and I didn't pound it up very well. So use table salt if you can, rather than having lumps of salt in the occasional mouthful - Like salty roulette!

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Digestive Biscuits - 1942

Makes about 24 if a 2 1/2 inch cutter is used (I rolled a little thin and came out with 28)

6 ozs Wholemeal Flour
1 oz White Flour (plain)
1 oz Oatmeal
3 ozs Fat - I used a veggie Baking Fat
1 Dessertspoonful Sugar
1/2 Teaspoonful Salt
1 Teaspoonful Cream of Tartar
1/2 Bicarbonate of Soda
A little Milk and Water to mix

Mix wholemeal and white flour, salt, cream of tartar and bicarbonate.

Rub in fat.

Add oatmeal and sugar, mix again.

Gradually stir in a little milk and water to make a stiff dough.

Knead well.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness.

Stamp out rounds with a plain cutter.

Border the biscuits all round with small holes, making these with a skewer; similarly prick a small inner circle of holes.

Cook on a baking sheet in a moderate oven, Gas Mark 5 (190 C / 375 F) for about 20 minutes.

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I hope you enjoy these, I'm trying to resist their charms until I put the kettle on next... About 5 more minutes then!
I'll leave you with a quote from Ma, when a couple of hours before making I said "I hope they're alright". Ma replies "Well, if they're not, chuck some chocolate on them" - Thanks Ma!

Any requests for next week?

Until I next post

Jennie

Jennie On The Kitchen Front - Little Fruit Cakes

Hello all, I am indeed back with another recipe. I am intending some posts for other things beside baking, but as yet, I haven't gotten around to it.

This little recipe is from 1943. The cakes in question are not the light and airy ones you may be expecting, but are quite tasty, and not very sweet at all, indeed, I'm intending on splitting them and having them spread with butter and jam. I say that, but with half of them gone, I'm not sure it will happen :)

I've just realized what they remind me of, blueberry muffins... without the blueberries! Though you could use some more exotic dried fruits if you wish

Here's to it then readers:
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Little Fruit Cakes (1943)

Makes one dozen cakes.

6 ozs flour (plain)
Pinch of salt
3/4 teaspoonful baking powder
2 ozs margarine or half and half margarine and lard (or baking fat) - I used all margarine
2 tablespoonfuls sugar
2 tablespoonfuls sultanas or small raisins - I used sultanas
1 reconstituted dried egg - I used 1 fresh egg
About 1 gill of milk (about 1/4 pint)

Halve sultanas or raisins.

Mix flour, salt and baking powder..

Rub in fat.

Add and mix in sugar and fruit.

Stir in beaten egg and enough milk to make a mixture of stiff drop-from-the-spoon consistency.

Fill into 12 greased queen cake tins or patty pans.

Brush with milk.

Bake in a moderate oven, gas mark 6 (200 C/400 F) for about 20 minutes.

I hope you've enjoyed this recipe, now I'm off to polish off another cake with some tea

Until next time

Jennie

Jennie On The Kitchen Front - Chocolate Rocks

Hullo!

Welcome to the first installment of my new cookery feature, here on the old bloglette.
I'll be rummaging through my wartime magazines and testing the recipes, before writing them up here.
I won't be changing the sugar/fat quantities, but I will be providing suitable alternatives where it's needed - Such as using baking fat instead of lard for us veggies, and using fresh eggs when the original recipe calls for reconstituted dried egg, though I will say if dried egg is mentioned.

So let's get started. Here is the first recipe, 

Chocolate Rocks from 1943

Makes 16

1/2 lb Flour (plain)
Pinch of Salt
1 Heaped teaspoonful Baking Powder
3 ozs fat - half and half margarine and lard/baking fat
3 ozs Sugar
1 Tablespoonful Cocoa
1 egg (or one reconstituted dried egg)
A little milk
Vanilla Essence (optional)
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Sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and cocoa.

Rub in fat.

Add sugar.

Mix to a stiff dough with the egg and a little milk, about 3 Tablespoonfuls. Add vanilla (if using).

Place mixture in 16 small heaps on the greased baking sheet (I use baking paper on a tray).

Bake in a quick oven, gas mark 7 (220 C / 425 F) for 15-20 minutes.

Personally I think these are a nice mid-morning treat with a cup of tea, and not too greedy on the fat and sugar ration. I hope you'd enjoyed the first recipe, do tell me if you try them out and also if there's anything in particular you'd like to see a recipe for.

Until next time,

Jennie

P.S. Apologies for the photos, the big bad black cloud was coming over fast when I was making these!

The Spectator And The Slipper Slops

Hullo!

I know, it's been so long since last I spoke (thank Gawd you say). Well, I've found myself 40 minutes to spare and it's all yours!

First up, thank you for filling out that shoe survey I'd previously posted - Very helpful indeed. I forgot to photograph other shoes as the thank you, however, I did take some awful snaps of a pair close at hand. I'll give you the goss after this snap.

I fell in love at first sight with these lovelies. Oh go on then, you've talked me into it, here's another.

I'm not sure the laces are original though, or I've just never seen subtantial laces on vintage shoes? Anyways, the goss about the shoes? Well, I fell in love with them and duly bought them and fussed over them at home. Then I had to go out and left them, came back a few hours later and had another look, and discovered something delightful...

Yipee! A utility mark on the soles. When I'd first found them I thought they were late 1930s, but this has latened (if that's a word?) them a bit. At least I loved them before I discovered they're utility and didn't buy them just for that mark, like I have before. It's a bit like falling for a man, and then finding out he's a muti-millionaire... No, it hasn't happened for me yet either!

The shoes aren't the best of fits for me however, they're rather narrow, and my feet are rather average. Wouldn't these be great reproduced? I'd buy a pair, would you?

What else has happened... My afternoon camomile tea smiled at me.

I caused myself great injury laughing, seriously, you know when you laugh until your tummy aches? I carried on long after and was in agony all night - I don't have any photos of that though :)

I've been undertaking the November Vegan Challenge... Though I discovered just how little dairy is in my regular diet anyway, but in the past few days I've begun to really miss eggs, not in cakes or pancakes or anything so fancy, but boiled egg sandwich. I think Ma has really enjoyed me not eating eggs, she hates the smell of eggs cooking.
Ma was also on the challenge, though managed to slip up when she forgot that a potato & cheese pasty has cheese in it... And then again when she has her weekly cappuccino with her friends-wot-don't-lunch, and then with the slice of cheesecake she has whilst out shopping with her friend - I don't know how she does it!

I'm already fed up with Strictly, how has Mark been saved so many times? Especially when it was between him and Fiona! Grrr, it makes me so angry. I gave up watching a few years ago because I realised it must be fixed when I heard that Alesha Dixon was going to be a judge on the next series before she'd even won it. So I gave it up and decided to give it another chance this year.
Anyway for my tuppence I'd say Natalie will win it, she can do no wrong with the judges. If she doesn't win, I'll go a day without chocolate as punishment!

I got new slipper-slops - Not vintage at all, but so cosy!

Very unflattering to my calves this snap, but thankfully I'm a practical(ish) girl, I put comfort above looks at home.

I'll have to go soon, my back is aching. Being perched on a sofa with a laptop isn't comfy.

I was thinking of moving my blog. I'm constantly having problems with Blogger, it won't allow me to edit anymore and I'm just fed up that I can't dip in and out. Is WordPress any good? Would you follow me there? Do you love me enough?

If there are any spelling mistakes I can only apologise, I can't edit it!

I'm off to make dinner in a minute, then it'll be all done and I can have a sit down with a film. What's for dinner? Carrot, butternut squash and chickpea stew with cous-cous.

Ah, go on then, one more snap, then I've got to go. It's not a good snap, but I like how bad it is, and it has a shoe in it!

Anyways, bye for now. I'll be back shortly, and by shortly I mean within a week, not my usual 2-3 months!

Jennie x

The Airman, The Mugs And The Soldiers

'Ello Ducklings!

Five months since my last post, but I'm back now, and I'm excited to get going again.

We'll start off today with a little round-up of Christmas. It was a quiet-ish affair, but I did get some lovely things, including a yard of Jaffa Cakes! They do count as one of your five-a-day, along with Jammie Dodgers...

I knew I was receiving the next two pieces as I hinted towards them, then imagine my surprise when I unwrapped them!

One more for the collection?

And this... I was really excited about this one as I've yet to see another one, even though they obviously do exist - It'll turn out that all you lot own one!

Awarded to me for services to vintage!

Then it was on to New Year's Eve - I spent mine with Mama, Auntie J., Uncle B. and their friend, G. We spent a few hours chatting and have a gay old time, before hopping into the car to head off to the free fireworks display in Saundersfoot - I really can't believe that they wouldn't charge for a such a good display... Though I'm not complaining!

We got into the car to return at about 12.15 ish, as it was getting a bit rowdy (screaming drunk teenagers... charming) and this was on the radio, much to our delight - Sing along now!

We came back here for tea, and more chat, then I finally made it to bed around 2.30am! Before I donned me jim-jams, I had a really good chat with Uncle B. about The South Wales Borderers in connection to some "tat" I own - There's more discussion to be had, but there will be a dedicated post on all this... Watch this space!

Then, yesterday, it was my Burpday - Again, many hints led to a wonderful present:



At last!

 This may shock you, but I've never seen the first series - I wasn't allowed to watch it on the telly-box! I'm four episodes in.... Naughty Lady Mary, such a straight character, but what a story! Safe to say, this should keep me quiet for a few hours!

Also, before I forget, and whilst I'm rounding up everything... I was at the last of the antique fleas the other weekend and picked up a few goodies, less than last time though. The time before I found myself eleven handbags, this time, just three! Plus skirts, a Christmas card (which led to the South Wales Borderers discussion) and plenty more.

Anyway, this past time, I picked up these:

Maybe one more then!

This was in a £1 basket... £1! Could I really walk away at that price? Then I found this beauty:

1918 Peace Mug

And the back:



Presented in Cardiff!

 I've also paid a visit to one of my favourite antiques shop - I was talked into some sales, but I had to leave so much as his prices are bit high. But I picked up these two lovelies:

WW1 postcards

The one on the left is dated Jan. 31st 1918 - I'm having a spot of trouble reading it, so I'll have to get back to you, but it does mention their boy, Stanley (I think).

Oh, back to the flea, this photo caught my eye, as did the soldier in the bottom left - What a smile!

Bottom left - Swoon!

And back, once again, to the antiques shop - I realise I couldn't just edited this all, but I'm lazy today! What do you think of my new young man?

What's the word I'm looking for, dashing?

I fell for him months ago, but I really prefer to have my pictures ready-framed... I gave in and he agreed to come home with me - Should I re-phrase that?

I should've snapped the back for you. It's stamped with 'V.G. Studios - 9, Kendoa Rd. - Clapham. S.W.4.' and written on is 'D. Brown - Tanned slightly - Air Force' - It's a good size snap too, with the board around it - Just need a frame!

So, I think that's me done for the day. In the next month or so we'll have a chat about the South Wales Borderers, Christmas cards, soldiers, museums and a dream about Rorke's Drift (I kid you not!).

Anyway, I've had a lovely time, I hope you're still awake!

See you soon

Jennie xx

In The Oh So Charming Kitchen - Wartime Chocolate Biscuits

It's finally here! I'd intended to write this before lunch, but then soup-making got me distracted (red pepper, tomato and kidney bean - yum).

I don't know what to call this feature... Suggestions on a postcard to: Jennie Charm, c/o Charming Towers, Charmsville - I wonder what the Post Office would do with that?

Anyways, I am getting awfully distracted again, today I have the attention span of a... Ooh, look, a fox!

I'm a firm believer in having something baked for the weekend, and in these "tough times", an economical recipe is just the ticket.

I've adjusted this recipe as the original just didn't work, and that's not fair when you're desperate for biscuits!
These make spongy biscuits, a little cakey even, but so simple, and so lovely with a cuppa.

Recipe:

2 oz Margarine
1 oz Cocoa
4 oz Plain Flour (plus extra for dusting)
2 oz Sugar (plus extra for dusting)
1 Tablespoon Golden Syrup
1 1/2 Tablespoon Milk
1/4 Teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Essence

Pre-heat your oven to about Gas Mark 6 (200 c), line some baking trays with baking parchment and dust a clean surface with flour.

Melt the margarine and golden syrup, turn off the heat then add in the other ingredients and stir until a glossy dough is formed. If it's too sticky, add more flour - Too dry and crumbly, add more milk.

Turn out onto your floured surface and roll out to about 1/2 cm thick and cut into rectangles (or squares, circles...) and place them onto your lined trays. Prick the tops with a fork and dust with a little sugar (optional).

Bake for about 15 minutes, until they are firm, but the tops are still a little springy.

Once cool, then can be sandwiched together with chocolate spread or jam, or maybe even a little whipped cream!

They can, of course, be eaten as they are. They make excellent dunkers.

I'm afraid I don't know how long they last in storage, as they're usually grabbed straight off the tray!

I hope you enjoy. I'll try and think of what to make for next week's installment... Ideas?

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, I had a plan, but it involves an early morning... We'll see!

I'm off to grab another biscuit before my tea's gone

Jennie xx

Two Balls More

A Sunday post? Why yes me dearies, I find myself with a weekend completely free following the confusion over the weather. Had we been expecting good weather, I would have been out today for sure, and possibly yesterday, but the fine weather rather caught me out!

So I've been sorting through my knitting, and rushing myself to finally get that middy jacket finished so I can wear it - But I ran out of wool (again), so I once again picked up a 1938 number which I last worked on last year.

I ran out of wool and so ordered two balls more, but they were a different shade. The shade I had been working with is no longer available. I'm on the second sleeve, I really don't want to un-run it all and start again with the new shade. So I started knitting with the new shade, just to see how noticeable it would be, I'll let the picture speak for itself!

Why's this come out on it's side? Bah, one of those days!

Do I go round with a "faded" sleeve or re-knit? There is also a collar to knit, my knitting advisers, this one's up to you!

On the subject of not enough wool, I also ran out of wool on a 1936 cardigan, again, on the second sleeve! So I'm just going to ask, does anybody happen to have two balls of Wendy Kintyre (aran) in green? The code on the wool sleeve is 161 6678

Although, if I'm going to ask for wool (which I would, of course, pay for), the original brown wool I was using was Patons Diploma Gold 4-ply, colour 04218 - Which is available, but in a lighter shade (as shown), the one I was using originally, has a reddish hue to it, and little flecks of chestnut running through it. It also goes much better with the orange I'm using for the motif.

In my defence, I did weight both lots of wool before I started knitting, but it still wasn't enough, sigh.
So, just to reassure me, do tell me you have also come across this "not enough wool" problem.

So that's my story for the day, I'm planning on a spot of baking later in the week, chocolate biscuits alright with you?

So I bid you a relaxing Sunday afternoon, and wish you well for the coming week. I do have some outings planned for next week, and their indoors, so no worries about the weather!

Pip-pip

Jennie x

Canteen Girl

'Ello Ducklettes,

When do you decide a collection is already too big and doesn't need adding to?

That's my question for the day. This comes after planning to use my Woods Ware this weekend - The weather's not looking good, so the picnic is not going to happen and that day out on Monday is looking doubtful (it's an outdoor event with fields and walking involved), so I thought it'd be nice to bake a cake and use my favourite crockery...

But it was packed away, so Ma being the intrepid explorer went under the stairs into the cupboard to go and find the two boxes of Woods Ware - Two boxes later and some was missing, so back into the cupboard she disappeared, and found another three boxes! Five boxes jam packed with plates, bowls, tureens, cups...

Even with 21 dinner plates, 18 cups and 5 tureens (and the rest!) I still don't have a full collection :(

It doesn't look like much when it's neatly stacked, but I'm dreading the thought of re-packing and re-housing it all.

The one thing I'm really missing (apart from coffee pots, toast racks, egg cups...) is the guide/brochure to identify the various pieces. I saw one for free online, but didn't save the picture and can't find it again (!), so some of the pieces are, as Toyah Willcox sang, a mystery!

I'm trying to decide whether or not to open a canteen... Any vintage factories need a canteen, plus girlie to run it? Have Woods Ware, will travel!

Anyway, I thought you might like to see it all it it's glory before it goes away until Christmas! I'll show you the cake when I've baked it, plus the other treat I have in store.

Have a lovely evening,

Jennie xx

Let's Make A Date In Our Notebook

First thing first - The weight of the 1949 Really Charming jumper is 6 oz, making Brittany's guess of 5.5 oz the closest. I can't believe how much wool it took, I'm feeling a bit cheated by the promise of it only taking 4 oz... never mind

But moving on from that is this cardi. Beautifully named the Date Maker, from 1946. I made this one up in red wool, which cost me just £1... I found a jumper on a £1 rail in a charity shop, the cable work was fantastic, but it was one of the most shapeless jumpers I've ever seen - So I bought it knowing something could be done, in the end, unrunning it was the best option.

I'm afraid I'm only doing "on the hanger" snaps right now, I'm in no mood for posing. It does look better on... I promise!

Any fans of "The Notebook" may recognise this one too, Ally wears a red Date Maker on her first date with Noah...


Awful snap, but just look at her cardi!

The buckle I was going to use was half the size required, but then I found this creamy one along with a black one in a chairty shop for 20p... 20p for two! I'm not sure whether to replace it at some point, we'll see how it goes.

If you too would like to knit a Date Maker, the pattern is available here, for free!

I'd better say my good-bye for now, work to do, tea to drink!

Good-Bye

Jennie xx

Really Charming In 1949

I find myself getting fustrated quite often when it comes to finding my next knitting project - I have a huge shelf (or 5!) filled with patterns, yet I always find myself back online looking for something else. But towards the end of January, I found a booklet lurking underneath everything else - The claim was that the jumpers contained within would only use 4 ounces of wool. Then I found "The Jumper", aptly named "Really Charming". When you name your blog "It's a Charmed Life", you really want a jumper to match, right?

So there you have it, I liked the name of the jumper, and the small amount of wool required, so I knitted it... I daudled quite a bit as I have so many other things on the go, but none the less, it's finished:

Apologies for a less than beautiful snap, it's a bit dull here, and I was so excited just to finally take a photo I didn't bother setting it up, or weighing it!

Place your bets, does the jumper weigh 4 ounces? I will be weighing it and letting you know next time, there will be no prizes but you will be entitled to feel smug if you get it right :)

I'm so taken with this booklet I'm already planning on the next project. Pink, I think.

Oh, and just in case you're interested, the booklet wasn't dated, but I found an advert in there for a Summer school starting in July 1949 - Good enough for me!

That's about all I have to say for myself today, just to let you know I'm alive and have finished something (at last!). I have finished the cardi, but have yet to take snaps. Now I only have six knitting pieces to finish!

So I'll say good-bye now, wishing you all a lovely day

Jennie xx

Vintage Finds

Alright there my lovelies?

Charlie is settling in nicely, he must be fairly happy as he's already come home with two mice... Well, I think the second one may have been a vole, but I was too busy squeeling and trying to get away to really take note!

Anyway, enough of that. I'll show you some of my best finds over the past few weeks, starting with this picture:

This reminded me a bit of the wedding mirror I have, so I had to get it... To match..
It has a chain to hang it up, like the many crinoline lady mirrors I have... Did I say many? Yes I did!
I thought this was lovely and seasidey, and I just can't turn down vintage...

Yesterday I was punished with yet more rain, but it was fine rain, which to me is worse, it tickles and gets in my eyes. But one charity shop came up with this:

A Radio Times cover! I don't get the Radio Times, and this is too big for TV Choice, but how could I say no? Please excuse the creases, I was so excited to show you, I haven't washed or ironed it yet.

That brings me on to  another item, which comes with a question...

This is a Matita suit which although fits me, is a little too big, but it fits my mannequin like a charm! My question is: Does anyone know anything about Matita? I've searched, but haven't found anything, other than a few adverts.

This actually brings up another question, do I sell? It's a horrible moment when you realise a fibreglass body fits into your clothes better than you do!

So I hope you're all well, and see you next week, when I'll have hopefully finished the 1934 Chevron jumper... Don't hold your breath!

Jennie & Charlie xx

P.S. I'll also tell you all about my gorgeous new dentist!