This week to the little ancient town of Winchcombe, in the Cotswolds, en route to the duty visit. Winchcombe is on the Cotswold Way and we planned to test out our walking muscles on a steep uphill. We climbed up out of Winchcombe, looking back at the 14th Century St Peter's Church.
Up through fields with a distictly equine flavour, until we came across these lovely young animals who completely ignored us.
At the top we reached a prehistoric barrow, Belas Knap. In this long mound were four burial chambers containing the bones of thirty-eight people. The grand entrance is also a trick - there is no way into the tomb at this point, We were very impressed by the Cotswold stone walls, with stone the depth of roofing tiles giving a fine finish.
Down through woodlands said to be the inspiration for Tolkien, we had a splendid view of Sudeley castle. We were entranced by the poppies at this field edge.
Winchcombe itself contains many ancient relics. It had an abbey, established in the ninth century, of which nothing now remains. What it did not have was a functioning tea shop. There were pubs, and there were closed tea shops, but we had to resort to a deli for an actual cup of tea.
And what is this? It's a Trauma Teddy, or my take on the idea. We finally had a wet Sunday - whoever thought that this would be a rarity? Someone at work is handing out project bags with a view to making 500 of these toys. Knitting toys is often a revelation, as the body shape emerges from the various increases and decreases. And customising the face is always fun - does it have life to its expression? I recall a great pattern for Kipper the dog.
However, the Trauma teddy pattern is for beginners - one long strip knitting the front and back just by changing colours, and then stitching up the sides and stuffing it. I moved the seams, and then knitted the head on dpns, using increases and grafting to create the snout. Looks a tad dog-like, and possibly rather grumpy. Maybe not ideal for cheering up a child in distress...
Up through fields with a distictly equine flavour, until we came across these lovely young animals who completely ignored us.
At the top we reached a prehistoric barrow, Belas Knap. In this long mound were four burial chambers containing the bones of thirty-eight people. The grand entrance is also a trick - there is no way into the tomb at this point, We were very impressed by the Cotswold stone walls, with stone the depth of roofing tiles giving a fine finish.
Down through woodlands said to be the inspiration for Tolkien, we had a splendid view of Sudeley castle. We were entranced by the poppies at this field edge.
Winchcombe itself contains many ancient relics. It had an abbey, established in the ninth century, of which nothing now remains. What it did not have was a functioning tea shop. There were pubs, and there were closed tea shops, but we had to resort to a deli for an actual cup of tea.
And what is this? It's a Trauma Teddy, or my take on the idea. We finally had a wet Sunday - whoever thought that this would be a rarity? Someone at work is handing out project bags with a view to making 500 of these toys. Knitting toys is often a revelation, as the body shape emerges from the various increases and decreases. And customising the face is always fun - does it have life to its expression? I recall a great pattern for Kipper the dog.
However, the Trauma teddy pattern is for beginners - one long strip knitting the front and back just by changing colours, and then stitching up the sides and stuffing it. I moved the seams, and then knitted the head on dpns, using increases and grafting to create the snout. Looks a tad dog-like, and possibly rather grumpy. Maybe not ideal for cheering up a child in distress...
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2 comments:
Your teddy looks just what a traumatised child would love - bright colours, and just waiting to be cuddled! The scenery on your walk reminded me of why I like the Cptswolds!
Hiya - I'm working with a group of local residents to stop some development planned along the Cotswold Way in Winchcombe and in the line of some of the views you've photographed.
Would it be possible to get copies of your photos with the poppies and the castle?
Best,
Court
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