Tuesday, 29 January 2013

A quickly cobbled cockade....not a post title that you will come across too often!!!

Glad that 'Prejudice and Pride' was of interest - tea making and all!

Thank you also to dear Pam for your cockade enquiry - because of this 'proper' work is yet again delayed as this morning I thought that I would tackle the ancient art of cockade-making (I hate to give the impression that I am all thin air and no substance.....I have quite a bit of substance thank you very much!).



As 'cockade-making' is not within my usual sphere of 'skills' (guarded use of word) I did a search and found this handy link here:

To my chagrin I found that I did not have the handy dandy (Jack-a-Spandy) Ikea cork board required so made do with the underside of our 1970s place mats....handily made from cork!  I did a little ferreting around and found that I did indeed have a reel of grosgrain ribbon....phew....that nearly put the kibosh on the whole thing!




I have recently bought a new camera (separate post about that) and still finding my feet/eyes with it so not the best photographs.  I know that SOMEWHERE in this house is some World War One red, white and blue ribbon that I was going to make the smaller central cockade with.  I really cannot spend the entire day cockade-making (!) so decided to use a 1970 Suffolk Puff (!!!) instead ( I handily have a bag full of these made from a great mix of 70s fabrics).  What a combo!  The button sorting for the middle took a fair while but AS I CANNOT SPEND A WHOLE DAY sorting this out  I finally settled for a plain old black button.

I do not like these photos so have made them very small...

I confess to spending a little bit of time trying to find an old French copy of Victor Hugo's book for background interest that I KNOW IS HERE SOMEWHERE...but settled for some 50s Paree fabric and the cockade jauntily placed on the lovely little straw bonnet that I have not photographed before but whittle on about here...

Decided that these photographs were not the best so tried different backgrounds....yet another time waster....


I fancy that should I go to see 'Les Miserables'  (unlikely)  I will wear my cockade and take some knitting along....

'Allons enfants de la Patrie....'

PS: Sorry lots of shouting  and too much 'handily' usage - I put it down to Mr Sandman being here again today....

PPS: Off to make lavatory seat covers...

PPPs: Just in case the 'Cockade Police' are monitoring this I know that a Suffolk Puff is not the same!

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29 comments:

  1. Jane and Lance Hattatt29 January 2013 at 16:40

    Hello Jenny:
    Your PPS. is noted!!!

    Now, on to the more serious business in hand - the making of a cockade. This is of course of special interest to us as we have long thought of developing a home industry for the manufacture of such popular, everyday articles and so have found this post essential reading. Ours will, naturally, be produced in red, white and green, the colours of the Hungarian flag, to appeal to the, as yet, untapped market here.

    Now, by the way, do you have any spare buttons?

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:52

      Red, white and green it is - I can see the dear Hattatts sporting one each as you attend your next concert!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  2. Greenorchid29 January 2013 at 17:06

    This looks mighty fine Jenny but also mighty fiddly... sadly I do not own enough pins to try this one so will have to admire from afar!!
    Cx

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:57

      Thank you kindly as always Cass
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  3. Unknown29 January 2013 at 17:06

    Hmmm, a knot of ribbons worn on a hat...I did have to look it up, but I like the one you made! :-)

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:57

      Good for dressing up a la Revolution!
      Thank you for your kind words
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  4. Anne29 January 2013 at 17:14

    I have to confess Jenny I had never heard of a cockade before so you have enlightened me!

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:58

      There is a whole world of cockades out there waiting for you Anne - basically they are not dissimilar to the old rosettes that you used to get on sports day years ago!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  5. Ashley cramp29 January 2013 at 17:19

    Lavatory seat covers....inspired!
    D x

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:51

      I thought and hoped that you would appreciate that Ms Daisy - I am in talks with Ms Kidston........
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  6. Streetcomber29 January 2013 at 17:45

    Whatever next? Loo roll covers? In the shape of a crinoline lady?

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  7. RetroSandie29 January 2013 at 19:01

    Well, my dear, you've given me a good laugh! So cockades are for hats? I'll bet we, in the crafting world, can find lots of uses for cockades of all kinds and colors! I think I remember my dearest grandmother making them so many years ago. She is where I get my love of making *stuff*! Ok, we need to see the lava seat covers, too!!! Ooh! Make a super large cockade to fit!!! Yes??!!! :D

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:50

      Indeed RetroSandie - lovely to read about your grandmother. Cockades all round I think!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  8. Unknown29 January 2013 at 19:33

    Hi Jenny,thankyou for your enlightenment on the subject of cockades.I do admire the effort you put into your posts.You must be fit as a fiddle dashing around the house gathering all your things to put together to photograph,you make me feel tired just thinking of all that activity!!I'm a little worried about lavatory seat covers!!Are you quite sure you need one?'bye for now Pam.

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:49

      Dear Pam - you do make me laugh. Be careful now as I might be sending you a seat cover in the post and then what will you do!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  9. Shirley Hatfield29 January 2013 at 20:41

    If I recall rightly...I just saw Russell Crowe as Javert hastily pinning one to his jacket or shirt in Les Miz...cockades seem very French don't they? I hope you will post that "lavatory seat cover."

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:48

      Thank you for the information Shirley - so Russell is ahead of the game sporting his cockade.
      Setting up 'Cockades R Us' this very afternoon!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  10. the linen cloud29 January 2013 at 22:17

    Oh I have a vague memory of an old lady friend of my mums having a furry toilet seat cover ... is that the look you're going for ... love the cockade by the way ... toodle pip ... Bee xx

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:47

      I love your tentative reply about seat covers Bee - along with furry dice I think such items are destined for a come back!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  11. wendyroomcreations30 January 2013 at 09:07

    I can't make up my mind whether I need a cockade or not, not that that has ever stopped me making things before. I am very appreciative of your clear instructions, thank you. Will you be doing a similar workshop on loo seat covers? Something else I don't need but I'm always happy to learn new things. Philippa xx

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:41

      Have a go at cockade making - I think that it you wish a perfect cockade then it might take a while but a quick cockade did not take too long
      I am working on loo covers as we speak....
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  12. Anonymous30 January 2013 at 11:07

    Loved Les Mis at the theatre, so tried to read the book (in English) - failed miserably (and I'm not often beaten, heaven knows, I've even read War & Peace) - but Victor Hugo is my nemesis. I don't think I'm a natural cockade maker - I'll just enjoy looking at yours instead.

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:40

      Thank you wondrissima
      I think some of us are born to cockade making and some of us have it thrust upon them.....
      I remember embarking upon War and Peace as a teenager - I was going through an angst phase at the time!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  13. Vintage Sheet Addict30 January 2013 at 16:21

    Perhaps I could commission you to make me a loo seat cover, I had rather a nice one in the 80's.....but then didn't everyone?! Oh and those lovely little mats in front of the loo, great for catching.....well you know so I don't need to spell it out! Very neat pleats! :) x

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:38

      Oh dearie me
      I think that those mats retained a certain 'odour'.....

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  14. Barbara30 January 2013 at 16:21

    I must confess Jenny I had not heard of a cockade but I do now. You have made a wonderful job, all those pleats, all those pins.
    I have a new camera.....it's charged up but that's as far as I've progressed. Why do they make things so complicated and hard to work - or is it just me? :)
    x

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    1. The Custards31 January 2013 at 08:38

      Thank you dear Barbara - I admit to not knowing as much about cockades as I pretend to!
      Slowly getting to grips with camera - I with you on the complicating knobs - and I hate reading instructions!
      Keep dry today
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  15. Catherine4 February 2013 at 10:07

    love the cockade thingy, i have tons of old ribbon which i never how to use, so now everyone i know will be getting one( not quite as neat as yours) for their birthdays!! Thanks Cat x

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