Charting Progress

When coming up with new patterns, after the sample-making comes the writing-up and charting. And that sums up my week in a nutshell!

I love the design process, from the germination of a sketch and noodling around with yarn, through testing and development, creating, explaining it coherently, editing, and eventually publication... Yes, I love it all, except sometimes the tight deadlines!

But although I feel I have achieved a lot this week, I am unable to share any of it with you, because it all remains confidential.

However, there is something exciting which I can share: a pattern I designed has been printed in 'Inside Crochet' Issue 58- published today. It was quite a fun make, based around a Nordic theme. Excitingly, it is even featured on the front cover! This is such a gorgeous issue of Inside Crochet, and I completely want to make everything else that is featured!

This is a snap which I forgot to share last week: my trophies from Hampton Court. I'm going a bit linen-nuts, I think inspired by the crochet trimmed napkin workshop that I ran. My plan is to make a set of mis-matched napkins for at home: they will be lovely in the garden while the weather holds, or will brighten up wintry meals of comforting soups and warming stews. Or, at this rate, I will be lucky if they are ready for next summer! 

The Sunday Supplement

No prizes for noticing that I did not blog on Friday! That was of course because I was working at The Handmade Fair at Hampton Court.

Much of the week therefore disappeared into a lot of orange paper bags:

Bow tie pieces were cut, napkins made and sorted, bobbins wound... plus worksheets written, samples finalised, and everything packed into the correct bag. It felt a bit like wrapping up presents at Christmas (which I love), and with everything packing into my newly acquired granny-style trolly I did feel a little like Father Christmas. Pity there was no reindeer to help me out!

Having been awake since 3 (thanks, epic storm), when I finally arrived at the fair at 9:30 I was a little grumpy to find that absolutely everything was outside in the fresh air: portaloos, open-sided marquee for teaching, a little dampness in the air... I did not think it boded well! Despite the obvious sign that all the areas had been referred to as 'tents' I somehow had not been expecting a festival. Judging by the amount of people in heels, I was not the only one. 

The lovely ladies in the Prima tent made me more than welcome, and once I had found my groove I started to have a really great time. Christina, Linda and the rest of the lovelies were rushed off their feet, yet still found time to offer me water (it got pretty hot in those tents).

I was pleased that the chaps were well represented in my classes. 

Newbies to really fine crochet coped so very well!

Everybody loves pretty flowers.

Saturday was spent at the Calico Cat Craft Fair in Hythe. A wonderful day spent with fellow makers, with plenty of shoppers through the door of delightful St Michael's Hall. Plus an order for a shirt, hurrah! Although it may be a while until I can dedicate a few days to that!

I am so lucky: spontaneous gifts often find their way to me, thanks to somebody lovely!

We designated it #cutedogday, as there were such a lot of gorgeous pooches about. These two were up there with my favourites.

Strangely, somebody walked past clutching this gorgeous old painting, of Mermaid Street in Rye. I couldn't tear my eyes away form this little domestic vignette. I felt that it most likely ought to have been behind glass in an art gallery, so to be able to take the painting in my hands and peer at it held close to my face was a really special treat. 

Sparks-Flying-Friday... & Saturday

This week has been all about crochet. I'm working on a big project with an extremely tight deadline, hence I am crocheting like I have never crocheted before, and I can be a pretty intense hooker when I get involved with a project. 

In fact, I have crocheted so much that my hands and wrists ache, and my eyes are feeling the strain. But I have to admit that I have loved every stitch. Part of me really loves the challenge of working to tight schedules- perhaps you never really know what you can achieve until you are tested. 

I had to go for a walk for the sake of my sanity this morning, and I decided to wear the little silk dress that I made a few weeks ago, so I've pictured it here. I'm very pleased with it, and it is really comfortable. Despite being voluminous it is still practical (I'm all about practicality- see my shoes :-) )

After the Holidays...

Ah September, the gateway to my favourite season. I love the autumn, and this year it promises to be an exceedingly busy, but ultimately really rewarding few months. 

I am already immersed in a couple of large projects, which will have to remain confidential until they are published, but they are just a small corner of what I will be up to. 

Something I am pleased to share with you is that I will be teaching some workshops at The Handmade Fair on September the 19th, at Hampton Court Palace, no less. The Prima events are sponsored by Laura Ashley, so I have some of their lovely silk dupion for the bow tie workshop, in gorgeous muted unisex shades (watch out chaps-I-know, you may be getting the samples for Christmas!). 

I have also been accruing a range of pretty napkins on which to add crochet trims. No doubt the preparation of individual equipment packs and worksheets for everyone will be a mammoth task (as it always is), but I'm sure it will be worth it. 

Last Sunday I met with my lovely ladies at 'Sewing Rescue', where they all accomplished several tricky samples, including a zip and buttonholes. They were keen to make the zippy pouch, so that's what we will do in the next session at the end of the month- putting their newly acquired knowledge to work! 

My skirt course starts again next Wednesday, which I am looking forward to as it has been such a rewarding one to teach in the past. 

So what with a craft fair, a theatre trip, and no doubt a whole load of other unforseen things happening, and probably a whole bunch of things I have forgotten to mention, September is looking pretty full. And then there is October: Ally Pally, some designs which I really need to finish sampling and put down on paper, another craft fair... it will probably be Christmas before I even know it, but I'm certainly not complaining. 

If you are Canterbury based then do consider going to the Knitting & Crochet social on Saturday, 1st of November from 1-4pm at St Paul's Parish Centre, just opposite the Burgate. It will be £4 entry, to include tea/coffee and cake and a chance to meet some like-minded stitchers for a chat.