Today it has rained all day. We have had light rain, heavy rain, drizzle, misty rain, torrential rain, and above all extremely WET rain!! I just love our English summers! So, what to do but put away all those lovely summer floral fabrics and have a rummage in my box of blanket scraps. And Humphrey emerged! He is adorable, based on a vintage pattern from the early 1970s (when even I was very small!). I have adapted the pattern though, and wasn’t able to resist giving him a chain stitch spiral for a spot on his haunches and detached chain stitch claws. His eyes are French knots and his nose is also embroidered.
He reminds me a bit of Ben when he’s trying to look cute. (Usually when he’s been up to mischief!) And if you’d like the pattern to make Humphrey, you’ll find the free download on Bustle and Sew as usual. He’s on the “More Free Goodies” page.
I’ve been having a bit of a doggie couple of weeks here – recycling my old Scotty template to create the London Scotty version of the Sweet Pleat Tote you can see above. I think it works rather well and it’ll be for sale on my stall at the Nostalgic Mix Fair in Totnes on 9 October, together with a number of Humphreys and lots of other goodies – having a bit of a clear out of my cupboard in time for Christmas.
Off to choir now – first session of the autumn tonight – not sure how in tune we’ll be, but it will be great to see everyone again. Sew long all …
Those are both absolutely lovely.
They are both beautiful! I love that bag lots and lots.
Kandi x
Well I am definitely going to have to make him!
Julie xxxxxxx
I am going to make Humphrey,he's so cute!
Love the fabrics too.
You have done a marvelous job! I am really inspired with your work.
Hi!
I was googling “Bonzo Hound” to see if I could find the old book he’s from, and I got to your page. Your Humphrey is lovely, by the way!
I made my own Bonzo when I was at school in England in the seventies (my family then moved to Spain, where we’ve been ever since). I must have been around 10-11, and as you can see, sewing was definitely not my thing. I would have much rather been playing football with the boys. In fact I was so bad that the teacher actually had to step in and finish Bonzo for me on her sewing machine, and the ears never did get finished at all. 😀
I recently restuffed him so that he can stand again. I hope you like him, in spite of his …erm … rustic look. 🙂
I’m going to try to use html code to embed the pic, but if that doesn’t work, copy and paste this into your browswer to see him: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vJUQ6Vwsg7Q/U9JRhUwU3yI/AAAAAAAAtGs/WcV_enRmf5w/s1600/bonzo4.jpg
Bonzo the Bonzo Hound
I’d really appreciate it if you could let me know the name of the original 70’s book, so I can hunt for it online. Meanwhile, I’ve downloaded your pattern, and hopefully the next Bonzo I make will be a little more sophisticated. 🙂
Thanks very much!
Maryanne
Hi Maryanne, thanks for your lovely comment – only just spotted it as it’s on an old post. I can’t remember the name of the book I’m afraid, have hunted but it seems to have disappeared. So pleased you enjoyed making your hound. xx
That’s ok; thanks for trying anyway!