We would walk miles just to have a picnic, or to play on the bales in the stubble fields”
Harvest time seems to get earlier every year. When we were children, in a village surrounded by agricultural land, harvest was something I really looked forward to. The excitement of seeing the first combine harvester arrive in the field behind our house, the clouds of dust emanating from it as the crops were cut, and the joy of seeing the baler drop perfectly rectangular straw parcels across the land, is something I’ve never lost.
This year however, I seem to have missed much of it. The many acres of winter barley around our home have been cut, the straw baled and taken away. The wheat harvest followed swiftly and there now doesn’t seem to be many fields where the crop is still standing. And it’s not even the end of August yet! I know our unpredictable weather means farmers are working through the night to safely gather the crops, during any window of opportunity. And they have large-scale, sophisticated machinery compared to the scythes used by my ancestors. But on a personal level, I do feel it seems to be over way too quickly.
Photoshoot of new beret pattern rekindles memories
I always aim to get photos of the latest Charlie’s Aunt creations in a ripened corn or barley field but have only managed it once. This year, I missed the boat (or combine) entirely but did manage to catch the bales before they were stacked and carted away to be stored for livestock bedding.
But, if I stand in a newly cut stubble field, close my eyes and take a deep breath, I can still rekindle the feelings of harvest, not least the celebrations around that time. Traditionally marked on the Sunday nearest to the ‘harvest moon’, Harvest Festival was in late September or even early October. We would take produce, grown in the garden by dad, to a church thanksgiving service attended by the local farmers. The bounty was then distributed across the community.
I can also remember attending a harvest supper, or ‘hawkey’ as it was known, in one of the neighbouring villages. We all gathered together around long tables and ate wonderful hearty food, such as apple pie and custard. Great for a sociable child who constantly looked forward to autumn!
Location for the Nedging Beret photoshoot
To mark harvest in my own way, I’ve just brought out the new Nedging Beret PDF pattern. It’s a serviceable style, reminiscent of the 1940s hats I so love. I made one up in a gorgeous harvest/earthy toned dogtooth tweed and trimmed the flap with vintage buttons in a beautiful burnt gold.
We photographed it in a field accessed by a footpath behind our home which takes us directly across the meadows towards the Lavenham road. My cousin and I trod this path many a time, on route to a picnic or simply to play on the bales in the stubble fields. The farmer wasn’t always pleased but it was a different era, when outdoor play was entertainment, rather than surfing the internet.
On one occasion, I remember my sister, and our cousins building a huge pile of loose straw and putting it under the old ‘hollow tree’ – an oak that had been struck by lightning and provided endless hours of climbing fun to most local children. We would then take it in turns to jump out of the tree using the straw to break our fall. Simple joy, but activities that kept us ever mindful of the seasons, and the local environment.
The place where we took the pictures is not a million miles away from the field where my descendants farmed in 30s and 40s, and I really don’t think this beret would have looked out of place then. It’s a timeless, classically simple retro style with an air of nostalgia, but thoroughly up to date with current fashions.
New retro beret sewing pattern details & kits
Nedging Beret features a simple flat unhemmed bow, or a tab that can be trimmed with a vintage buckle or buttons. The band can be worn tucked up or on show to give two very different looks. This autumn, I’m offering full kits for the beret in soft cosy plain woollen fabrics or in hardwearing country tweeds. Some of the kits feature one-off buckles and fabric combinations so would make lovely (dare I say it) Christmas gifts for sewers with a Charlie’s Aunt-style hankering for the past.
Coming soon…new pieced small messenger bag pattern
You will also see in the pictures (including above) a small messenger style bag which is fast becoming one of my favourites. It is made from several fabrics pieced together and can be fashioned from fairly small pieces. I made this one with some vintage Handwoven Harris Tweed and corduroy, trimmed with a vintage ceramic feature button.
You could make this unique bag as a gift, or use some heirloom scraps of fabric to create a special, but useful, keepsake. The pattern, named Walberswick, will be available in October, so watch this space for updates! I hope it will become a firm favourite for Charlie’s Aunt fans.
Happy harvest!
Emma xx
