Woolfest 2014

This Friday and Saturday saw Woolfest in Cumbria for an amazing tenth year, having been a few years back with Maisie I was taken back by how much this event has grown since.
I'm sure it will only grow as well as the wooly fleeces it provides. I've got some of my highlights below, where you there if so what were yours?

Brinkley Looms a cornucopia of beautiful colours and unique easy to set up looms. Which is now on my crafty wishlist. I've always wanted to take up weaving and have had a small go on my friends loom but the size/storage was always a factor. This could easily be done at home and stored upright when not in use.

How can you not love a stand attended to by a large crown wearing chicken, Sewsister were doing felting demonstrations and had a wonderful selection of kits and fabric. We all ended up buying from this stall. 

Easyknits was just a full rainbow of yarn to choose from and I'd love to own one of every colour, I must make room in my stash before I go to Woolfest next year. 

 Not all sellers were wool and fleece, these beautiful baskets really catch my eye.

The Natural Dye Studio had a beautiful palette of vibrant colours but in softer tones, with a selection of patterns to go with your yarn. They also produce a yearly mystery blanket club where the yarn for the entire project is delivered to you and then you get a pattern a month to follow until completion. That may well be another wish list addition. Instead I left with a bag of mixed yarn and dreams of a shawl by Autumn. 

Workshops and demonstrations were around every corner, here is Thread of Life tutoring on the art of crochet, a personal favourite. 

There is something magical about watching people spin, it's something I'd love to master one day but this lady just made it look so simple. 

Giant knitting produced on giant needles, these were amazing but I have images of my kids battling it out with these beauties, the end product looked great and it's a great way to use that stash up. 

I spent waaay too long stood in Spin City watching this lady demonstrate spinning on way are the most beautiful looking spinners I've ever seen. There beauty alone was nearly enough to get me giving it a go, but I resolved not to till I get rid of my already here stash.  

Mulberry Dyer stood out for me as it had such lovely chatty owners, thankfully it's the type of event that's used to people spending far too long touching the product. I especially liked their colour organisation, and only wish my own collection looked so neat.

Bunting, bunting everywhere.
Knitted, crocheted, sewed it really added an extra element to the festival feel of the event.

Okay I was very restrained buying only one quarter of fabric, a mixed pack of Natural Dye Studios yarn and some Tussah silk yarn, the pattern was free with the yarn. I can't wait to get making with them.

Have you added to your stash this weekend? What did you by?

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas my true brought to me...

Twelve Balls of wool....Yes 12 balls of wool....

I would love enough wool to knit myself a full size item of clothing, maybe a shrug or tank top but never have enough pennies for the outlay and I'm always worried with how long I take to make things the dye lot will have gone if I need more.

This looks like a interesting blend & I love the colour, it can be bought from The Life Craft for the amazing price of £2.99. Hint hint.

However if that's too much this would be lovely for a Spring Shawl the colour way is Sea Urchin and it's hand dyed by Abstract Cat Crafts on Misi, amazing deepness of hues & only £12.

Well the build up to Christmas has well and truly started, I've hopefully given you some great ideas for gifts. Now go shop, but remember Christmas is about family, food and relaxation.

Amanda.x.

Five Pom Pom Rings.......

Okay so there's six rings but I wouldn't mind an extra one, would you? As a crafter I love crafting gadgets and pom pom makers are top on the list of cool ones, these are just examples of the ones in my local 

wool shop but they can bought in other styles, sizes and shapes. 

Yes shapes the one at the bottom makes heart shaped pom poms. I have some basic round ones already but pom poming is addictive and easy for all ages so if you're stuck what to buy for your niece or crafting friend for Christmas, one of these and a ball of basic wool will score you high brownie points.

That's if you don't keep it for yourself.

Happy Yuletide.

Amanda.x

First Crochet Workshop

When I say first crochet workshop I mean the first I've ever taught, eek, it was so scary. 
I think I'm pretty good as a public speaker & talking to people on a one to one basis but when it comes to actually showing 6 other people how to do your craft it's really mentally taxing.
I understand why my Nana had a hard time trying to teach me as an insistent 5 year old at her knee, I think learning crochet is a lot about muscle memory, the ebb & flow of wool through your fingers is something which becomes remembered by your hands and happens when your brain switches off.  But learning those initial skills is hard work, and you have to concentrate on every little loop.

The workshop took place at Weft Craft Studios run by the lovely Mhairi below, who played with my pom pom maker all night instead.

I find it fascinating watching peoples hands working with fibre, and I loved the age range of all the ladies attending, and that some of them actually finished a lovely little flower for their coats by the end. 

The lovely ladies and I at the end of the night, I hope they had a lovely time and as my computer won't let me attach their refresher worksheet to their email I think I'll post a how to guide on my blog.

So would anyone else like to crochet along?

Amanda.x.

An actual crafting post

I haven't actually wrote about any projects I'm working on for ages, mostly because my time as been eaten up by one particular item.

I think this back shot looks really interesting, I love seeing the insides of handmade items, and am usually the person in a shop turning things upside down or inside out.

This was an idea for a cushion front, I wanted the colours to be country kitchen inspired.

Its taking a lot more time than expected sewing all those squares but the texture is beautiful and undulating, I can't stop touching it, now all I have to do is choose the backing fabric. Red linen or vintage style flowers.

What do you think?

Amanda.x.

for the love of Ripple

Well I've not blogged for a while and this is the reason why

I'm obsessed with crocheted ripple design, although in my eagerness to skip ahead I started a mammoth throw first (craft madness sometimes takes me over)only for it descend into chaos and have to be frogged, when sanity reined me back in I thought making a cushion first would be a better testing piece. And there it is in all its almost finished glory, I love this colour combination its so warm and snuggly, and you just can't help stoke those curves.

If you're interested in taking your crocheting to waves there's some great tuition guides and beautiful blogs on the subject at Attic 24, Rosie little things and The Purl Bee.

I'll update soon with the finished result.

Although this is a new skill for me I don't think it can be taken off my goal list as its just an extension of crochet which I knew how to do already.

What are you crafting? and are you hoping to learn a new crafting skill this year?

Amanda.x.