I've just enjoyed a few great days away at the Glasgow ICHF show. The photo shows how busy we were! The girls took the idea of the Picknit very seriously and came armed with donuts, chocolate brownies, biscuits, drinks etc.
I laughed for 3 days and enjoyed the company of friends old and new - thank you all for making this such a great show.
The public were great - this was a show where people came to buy crafts but still they wanted to knit and crochet. Technical questions were asked - I really must try to remember how to knit loops! The joy was in seeing people coming back for their 4th or so visit. People we taught to finger knit a few years ago have moved on to master knitting and came to learn crochet. It is a real challenge to come up with new ideas to inspire them further.
The range of talent on show from the volunteers was fantastic, some superb lace knitting, socks, crochet jackets, scarves, own designs, complex pattern work etc. I opted for playing with Austermann's Fancy Mix to make shawls of ultra simplicity that would be wearable for the glam xmas parties that I don't go to! They'll be donated to Mum to raffle off for charity prizes at her dancing events.
The laundry has finished so it's time to repack the case and head to Wales! Next event is Cardiff on Friday but I'm sneaking in a few days with family on the way!
This is where you will find photos of my Ally Pally haul of goodies
I've decided not to show them on the blog as a) I can't cope with trying to load all of the pictures, b) I don't want to be accused of leading anyone into temptation and c) if a picture paints a thousand words - there is a book here!
Suffice it to say not all of it is for me, some of it is planned as xmas and birthday gifts for friends. Some have already been posted without taking photos and one lot has nearly been knitted up into a Victorian Shoulder shawl.
The Qiviet is my present to myself to celebrate my grandmother's life - a few months ago Mum gave me some money to buy myself something to remember Gran by. I thought about it for a while but nothing spoke to me until I saw this yarn and the patterns. Gran loved making lace, she always had knitting and crochet on the go and as it would have been her birthday during Ally Pally I decided that she was sending me a message!
The stash pile was Dawn's - how well we all know her!
Some people will do anything to get themselves noticed!
What is the collective noun for a group of scumblers?
These women created some of the most fantastic work I saw at the show
I had to record Prudence and Xenobia's first meeting, I'm in total awe of the skill these women have and the ease with which they share it. Ladies you are welcome back on my stand anytime!
The back of Sheila's waistcoat, I first saw this at the KCG AGM and was fascinated to see how it has developed over the past few months. I loved the butterflies and flowers and the gleam of the yarn.
Finally - other people dropped by the stand to make their "confessions"
anyone recognise this lot and want to name it's owner?
Dare I even take photos of my purchases? Will I buy more yarn in the next two weeks as I head off to Glasgow and Cardiff for two more shows?
This is a long overdue photo of the 2nd package from my SP11 pal - thank you so much for all the yarn. I love the dishcloth cotton and take part in a regular cloth exchange - this bundle will keep me going for at least a year!!
The baby yarn will also be in demand as I'm going to be an Aunt again in January if everything goes to plan.
There was chocolates but you didn't think they'd last this long did you?
One of the real perks of working on the stand is that I get to meet interesting people. This year it has been really encouraging to meet up with the people who were strangers last year. They came to revisit the stand, to sit and knit / crochet and to learn new techniques. Along the way they also ended up teaching others, it is so encouraging to think that we have been able to help others find the joy in playing with fibers.
This year we were very fortunate to have Prudence Mapstone volunteer to work on the stands for a couple of mornings - my regret is that we were so busy I didn't get chance to learn from her. Prudence is well known for her scumbling so it was with real joy that I was able to take a photo this afternoon of a group of magnificent women each wearing true works of art.
During the day I kept glimpsing a woman in the crowds wearing some intriguing crochet wear but wasn't able to get close enough until nearly the end of the afternoon when she stopped by the stand. Sue asked if she could take a photo, the lady agreed. Sue then asked her name and she said Xenobia Bailey - an artist who's crochet work I have admired on the net. I'm hoping she will stop at the stand again tomorrow so I can see more of her work.
A few more purchases today but very restrained really - patterns; a ball of sock yarn (not to knit socks with) and 2 skeins of Yak. It was hard trying to explain to Matt that I hadn't bought everything in the bulging bag that came home with me and that tomorrow I need to take a suitcase to bring everything home.
Anyone else hear the loud bang as I blew the budget today?
I only bought a few skeins of yarn but the quality was superb. I now have Qiviet; handdyed mohair; 50% baby alpaca 50% blue faced leicester chunky and some more mulberry silk. I refrained from the yak until I can go to the bank again.
The Relax and Knit has been mad and we have virtually run out of kits. At one stage today there were 55 youing people all sitting down and knitting - it was a real delight to see and a great compliment to the volunteers that the young people wanted to stay with us.
Well the set up is done for Ally Pally and I'm exhausted!
I managed a quick walk around to get my bearings and now have a list of 42 stands I must stop and shop at! Not bad as my self-imposed rule is never to buy at a show what I can either source locally or by reputable mail order company.
The Relax and Knit stand has moved - we are in the main hall on Stand G15 and it is the biggest space we've ever had - wonder how long it will take me to fill it.
I'm very happy with the end result of my Hap Shawl. I used the pattern by Sharon Miller from her Shetland Hap Shawl book. I deviated though on the yarn and went with the Kauni as I really wanted to see how this would work out - I have to say I love it!
i've already worn this quite a few times and had some good feedback but still have no photos of me wearing it!
I made the mistake of wearing it to work one day and everytime I left the office I came back to find it missing - "borrowed" by my colleagues. Please ignore the fact that the blocking is slightly wonky and try to get a look at the striping on the central section - I was pleased to find that the stripes worked out so symetrically.
The hair stick came from a lovely stand at one of the shows and makes the perfect pin to hold the shawl closed. I already bought 4 different sticks but think I may have to buy some more this weekend at Ally Pally
Ever get the feeling that there's a problem somewhere in the chain? My laptop has developed a nasty habit of closing down on me after 10 minutes of use even after it has been charged all night.
My body is doing something similar, no matter how much sleep I get I feel tired and ache. Hope I find my mojo by Thursday for Ally Pally. We're in the Great Hall this year so shopping should be easier, I may have to keep the volunteers on a tight rein.
My SP11 managed to get a package to me despite the UK postal strike - photos will follow later, I've already emailed her to say thank you!