The weeks are galloping now. Have you noticed when the sun shines the world turns quicker and the months fly by? I love it when the sun comes out and nature starts to look all the more colourful, don't you?
Buxton Wool Gathering was great fun last week and I loved every minute. If you came to say hello then thank you so much. It was so lovely to meet yarn friends and make new ones. Held in the lovely Octagon Room in the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton, the gathering was light, spacious and with lots of lovely vendors. I had a great time. When we all come together we know how to talk good yarn!
It's so exciting, and I am so appreciative when customers bring their newly finished projects to show me - I really love it! Look at these beauties using singles and mohair!
Anglesey Coastal Path mohair and singles above and Mamie's House combo below - two of my favourite colourways this Spring.
Trouser legs were pulled up to show me socks and phone photos shared. It's so lovely, as is this beautiful Hitchhiker shawl using 4ply Merino High Twist. 100% Merino high twist yarn has a stunning drape and is a perfect option for a fingering weight shawl, one skein goes a long way.
And of course, it's such hard work for us yarn traders that each evening Julie and I had amazing ice creams and Queen Julie even took the cold waters on the Sunday in her knitted crown - I love friends that really make an effort!
If you like to have your diary full of yarn events to look forward to then the next Buxton Wool Gathering is Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th May, 2024. Add to calendar!
If you missed Buxton and and can't wait until 2024 and are local to the Manchester area then I will be in Chorlton this Saturday coming, 20th May. Chortlon is such a vibrant community in Manchester and the market offers a great range of artisan food and crafts, held once a month I love to be there.
Knitting andMindfulness We are all aware of the benefits of knitting and crochet for our mental health. It relaxes us, soothes the busy mind and lowers the blood pressure, as well as many other cognitive brain benefits. You may have seen the recent TEDx by James McIntosh. If not, then it's definitely worth a watch. I have also linked a playlist of TED Talks for the fibre arts lovers - I am making time to watch these beauties very soon.
I am an avid Radio 4 listener, and while dyeing last week loved hearing the history of the antimacassar and crochet in the English / Caribbean home. The Caribbeans started crocheting colourful antimacassars in the UK, post Windrush. Previously they were plain and neutral colours. I love hearing how travel and migration influences the changes in our crafts, homes and lifestyle. It's a great episode if you too love fashion and interior design history.
Event News Here's a little line up of where you will find me between May and June.
My next biggy is the Cumbrian Wool Gathering - I am so looking forward to this event. Held at the J36 Auction Centre in Milnthorpe in the Lakes, it is a beautiful opportunity to make a trip with friends in the Lake District and shop all things yarn and woolly. I have links below to the event if you would like to buy tickets in advance.
What’s on your needles? If you are ever thinking of what to make with boucle, or want to make a knitted accessory, then here's the perfect solution - the knitted clutch bag. One of my lovely customers made two little clutch bags from one skein of boucle recently and was kind enough to give one to me to use as a sample. I am so thrilled and so excited to have this little bag. Gemma used Petiteknit's Teddy Clutch pattern to knit the bags. The pattern comes in two sizes and Gemma used the small size pattern for the bag shown below. You need a clutch frame for the opening. I really like this look, it's very like the old fashioned doctors' bags or carpet bags.
Lily Kate France's bag pattern Boulevard is another fabulous boucle bag pattern that I recommend you take a look at. Both pattern links are in the resources below and feel free to have a mooch at the boucle I have available too.
I met Tate last year and her work is so exciting. She loves knitting and crochet and has recently invested in a knitting machine. Tate has designed her own pattern to make this skirt using my boucle in the Victoria Harbour colourway. Thanks for sharing Tate!
My Worth the Fuss Shawl by Louise Tillbrook was finished in time for Buxton - hurray! This is a one skein pattern for showing off zebra yarn. I will definitely be making more using this pattern - it's super versatile and amazing what you can make from that single skein!
Debbdesigns is an avoid sock knitter and recently designed these fun socks using my sparkle sock yarn. I do love a sparkle sock - they just give you that oomph when you need it on a dull day, don't you think? Thank you Debra!
Another dedicated sock knitter is Helen. Helen is fab at colourwork socks and she introduced me the the cuteness that is Stoneknits. However her most recent pair below are using my blue Toddbrook Dam Adventure Sock yarn in the Wild Angelica Socks design by Runningyarn.
Tech Editor and Test Knitters If you are a designer looking for a Tech Editor please feel free to get in touch and I can connect you with a Tech Editor who is available to work. I also have a contact who is looking for test knitters to test a new sock pattern - if you are interested please let me know and I will share contact details, thank you.
Sprng Gift I have a couple of packets of the wonderful Plantitude sunflower seeds to gift with orders. There's still time to plant seeds and join in with the sunflower growing fun if you like. I am happy to enable growing pretty colours in your gardens which attract the bees too!
I am taking some family time and have promised to close my laptop for the week of Sunday 21st to Sunday 28th May.
Any orders placed in this time will be posted Tuesday 30th May, after the Bank Holiday.
This week I will be sending parcels Monday, Tuesday and Friday only.
So, until next time, enjoy the sunshine and some fabulous knitting / crochet time. Aren't we lucky we have craft in our lives?
