Profile of Buttercup Miniatures - Frances Powell

Buttercup Miniatures started in 1999 with eighteen patterns from the 1930's and 1940's. There was a growing interest in this period but not many fashion patterns, I had been supplying local dolls house shops with knitted garments for a little while before moving into pattern designing. I had always been interested in needlecrafts and knitting and when I moved into miniatures it seemed natural to concentrate on this area. There were a few other knitting pattern designers around but none of them seemed to specialise in 20th Century knitting and this was just starting to become a popular era with collectors. This way hopefully I did not upset any other designers.

All the knitted designs in the range of patterns are items which would originally have been knitted and have been adapted from photographs or sketches where possible, some items have also been included as they may have been made from jersey type fabrics. The challenge was to produce miniature patterns which truly resembled the full size item. This process involves a lot of Maths as garments were originally shaped as the knitting progressed. This all adds to the interest and challenge. As an extra bonus all the patterns in the range come with a 1/12th scale knitting/crochet pattern. This allows people to make up knitting bags with half completed work in, for use in their dolls house.

On looking for items to put in room and display settings for the photographs used on the front of the patterns, I found a lack of accessories for the 1930-60 period. This led to me researching and designing these articles, some of which are available as kits, others as ready made items. Art Deco rug kits were the first items, soon followed by raffia work and in turn the nursery rug kits. The range soon expanded to include a whole range of postal items and boxed games.
Last year the pattern range was expanded to include crochet household items from the Victorian to present day and a range of stiffened crochet Christmas tree decorations including a tree top angel. These are proving extremely popular.
The range of knitting patterns took a step back in time to the thirteenth century with knitted chain mail for a knight, the horse armour chain mail is still in the design stage, at present as I am still researching different types of chain mail armour available for horses at that time.

The next range of knitting and crochet patterns will be moving back in time to Victorian and Edwardian times, although knitted items were fewer and those that existed were often knitted on very fine needles which will prove a new challenge to pattern designing. The range of fashion clothes from the 1930's to the present day will continue to be added to as well.

Research takes up a major part of the time as everything must be as accurate as possible and true to period. I seem to spend hours in the library and old book shops, charity shops are also a good source of old knitting patterns and photos. The old patterns have proved invaluable as they give measurements of the finished garment which makes the finished article look right when scaled down.

This venture into miniatures was a world away from my previous career as a teacher of Geology. I gave up teaching when my daughter Kirsten was born and looked for various ways to work from home. I turned to supply teaching in primary schools when Kirsten started school, but this was not providing the challenge I had had before of teaching to A level. Although I was never interested in History at school, (the Sciences are still more interesting), I have surprised myself by becoming interested in later years. Designing knitting and crochet patterns certainly helps stimulate the brain and provide a challenge to get things exact, it also allows me to keep my hands busy.

I have also enjoyed finding out how the computer can help with miniatures, which in turn led to the launch of the website last year. Since starting Buttercup Miniatures I have never been bored and I have made a lot of very good friends. Both my husband Gary and daughter have been very supportive and encouraging. Kirsten helps out at fairs, as does Gary when his work schedule permits.

m