My latest crochet pattern for Woman's Weekly and why grey is full of surprises

I'm really chuffed to finally be able to show you my latest crochet design for Woman's Weekly Magazine.

It's been a true labour of love. I sketched ideas around Christmas 2014 before digging my crochet hook into the final item around February of this year.

My original sketches for what I'd envisioned

I finally handed the finished garment in at the end of the summer and let me say, it was an incredible feeling. I was really proud of it and am beaming now that it's finally made it to print!

This delicate shawl is worked on a 2mm hook. © Woman's Weekly

I've been playing around with fine crochet threads for a few years now. I adore the look of fine yarns in both knitting and crochet, so as soon as this brief came my way, I couldn't wait to get going.

I was particularly happy that the Knitting Editor opted for this cool grey. I adore grey.

Last year, I produced these fine crochet hanging decorations for Christmas © Woman's Weekly

Grey is and always has been one of my favourite colours for two important reasons.

Firstly, it's surprisingly easy to wear. Far more interesting than black, in garments it layers nicely with most colours and creates interesting colour combinations, than black never could.

Black's too easy to wear to the point of being predictable. We all do it. And it's not very nice to crochet with, because it's incredibly dark and impossible to see what your crochet hook is doing.

My favourite baby booklet of all time. I bought it with pocket money when I was about 13 and still knit from it today.

Secondly, it's an excellent unisex shade. It's a wonderful choice for baby knits and a refreshing alternative to sickly yellow or dull white (I really dislike white actually), especially these icy silvers I've shown you so far.

I must have knitted my fiance at least 15 things in grey over the years (although saying that, he only really wears grey, navy and black), but I know it's what he likes so there's really no point in me trying to push something more flamboyant on him. It wouldn't be worth my knitting time!

Here he is in the grey sweater I did him for Christmas last year. A nice easy-care (man-proof) Opal sock yarn.

I've always felt that we can mentally recolour items much more easily when the original is photographed having been made in pale, soft shades.

My felted brooch designs are great fun at crochet workshops © Woman's Weekly

Wishy-washy colours make me feel a bit ill - clear, cool shades are more my sort of thing.

A colour consultant I saw a few years ago sussed out which colours would suit me. Thankfully she confirmed that I was on the right track with the colours I already like to work with and wear, labelling me a 'clear winter' pallette.

For example, I've never worn gold, only silver and platinum. Gold just doesn't feel right when I put it on. Too warm!

Crocheting with wools is always a fiddly business. Fabrics can come out very dense and heavy, so I also prefer the finer yarns in life (namely DMC Petra and Anchor Freccia, or thinner).

As I mentioned earlier, I feel the same way about knitting. I just don't enjoy rigorous hand movements around big hooks and needles and I generally don't like the untidy finished fabrics. They don't stand up to the test of time, either.

A photo posted by Ash (@ajax_spraynwipe) on Nov 17, 2015 at 11:50am PST

I love the sky. Every time there is a meteor shower I drag Ben outdoors at 4am to see them. It makes you feel very small.

In the daytime London is very grey, but I like it. Moody clouds tell a story.

They're never really grey though. Whirls of purples, blue, orange and red. I could honestly stare at the clouds all day. There's a lot going on there. Totally mesmeric. I hope you try it and enjoy it as much as I do.

So enjoy my new pattern I do hope some of you give it a go. I've got it in mind for my future bridesmaids for sure! Happy crocheting everyone.

Read more of my crochet antics at Woman's Weekly's crochet page.

Behind the scenes at Sarah Hazell's house, a KAL, and what Wovember means!

Sarah Hazell is, always has been and always will be, my mentor. I look up to her no end, and I was delighted to be invited for a sleepover last weekend!

But before I dish dish dish, allow me to regail you of how our relationship came to be.

Back in 2007, a select few Rowan Design Consultants gathered at a secret location (well, Hatfield) for initiation into the world of workshop tutoring. Learning with me was Margaret Rowan, Jenny Stilwell, Anne Makepeace, Sara Thornett and Sara Hayton [who since, sadly - has mysteriously vanished].

Sarah (above, right) was always a hugely popular workshop tutor

A 21-year-old me was paired up to be mentored by Sarah and I was completely enamoured with her. She's so cool, bubbly and ozzes passion about the craft. She lends a real sense of fun to her classes. I was totally inspired to be just like her.

A bubbly personality that runs through her whole house, right down to glassware!

She taught me to embrace my knitting strengths [ahem, socks if you haven't noticed] and to be proud of my passion for fibrecrafts, encouraging me to beam it outwards instead of hiding it from my peers in deep embarassment.

I learned a great deal from her and owe her my entire career really. Look at me now!

Sarah's (centre) exlusive poncho designs for Coats AW 2014

After years of working in the same circles, but at opposite ends of the country (she's from up Brummie and I'm a Londoner), opportunitied to work together were rare and we finally had the chance to teach a Christmas weekend knitting retreat together in Yorkshire in 2013.
 
My mum came along and the retreat was a total sellout. Let me tell you, it was such a giggle!

The following year I joined Woman's Weekly and waved goodbye to workshops of old in exchange for something shiny and new. I thought that would be the end of lovely Sarah and me, that I'd never really see her again.

I've always loved Sarah's bold and daring sense of colour

But boy was I wrong! We've been in touch more than ever and last weekend I was whisked off my feet after a workshop in Birmingham and was taken to knitting heaven! Eat your heart out Kaffe, this quirky knit studio is an ambience to be reckoned with.

The house is filled with fibre from floor to ceiling, on both floors. There is yarny greatness everywhere. It was very calming. It just felt... right. Comforting.

The whole studio is one big mood board

The entire living room [as well as other hidden spaces around the house] is devoted to design and bursting with brainstorms of yarn, inspiring images and colours.

There's a reason I call her Aunty Sarah [including when I answer the phone in the office]. She's always teaching me new things, this time introducing me to Wovember, which I'd never heard of!

Essentially Wovember runs through November [shocker!] and encourages the usage and wear of 100% wool. Well she's embraced this with both knitting hands - and designed a whole bunch of lovely things to encourage you to get involved. Meet the Slow Comfort collection;

Colour Block Hat pattern from Sarah's Slow Comfort collection

These 100% Blue faced Leicester hats are a kit which costs only £15 and are simple to make with a bold block colour change and some delightful travelling stitch textures. BFL has always been my fave sheep [dorky, but true] and if you find it a touch rough, just wash it in some of your favourite hair conditioner. It's yummy.

I must have said 'I like the blue one' like, 50 times. But... I like the blue one.

Sarah's daughter Phoebe rocks the yellow with her warm skintone and berry lips

The yellow and grey are nice too but my pale yellow-beige pallor isn't great with yellow - makes me look yellow! Bit jealous of the model really.

Modelled by the absolutely ruddy gorgeous Phoebs Hazell!

Picture it with me, knitters - there's lush knits tucked into every corner, including this above bad boy here [not Phoebs, the poncho!]. Knitted in Wendy Ramsdale yarn, Sarah's announced her first KAL which begins on the 28 November in the Ravelry Group. So get your butts in there and join in!

You can get your kit from the warm and welcoming Slow Comfort collection on sarah-hazell.com.

...there may even be prizes, who knows [well, I do - and there are!].

So yes, this was the reminiscent wooly Wovember goodness that wrapped up a drizzly weekend teaching in Brum. Like a big warm fuzzy cuddle. I had a wonderful time and I can't wait to come back up. And if that's not enough to make me desperate to go back, look who lives there, too!

Oscar is one of the two friendliest, happiest dogs I have ever met. The other is his sister Millie (not pictured)

Before I sign of though, all this talk of gorgeous Phoebs and fairy godknitter Sarah, it wouldn't be fair for me not to mention Sarah's other half, Paul.

....You're not so bad yourself, Paul. :) xxx

Happy Wovember, everyone!!

I taught myself Peyote Stitch to make a Pam's Poppy

So far this Autumn I've been on the Woman's Weekly Magazine tour bus to every end of the UK! We've taught in Manchester, Exeter and Glasgow so far and I'm off to the Birmingham NEC tomorrow.

I can't honestly decide which of the shows has been my favourite so far but Exeter has been the most inspiring.

It was in Exeter I bought a kit to make one of the baubles from the good people at The Spellbound Bead Co and I was instantly addicted. I'd never done anything quite like it before and the instructions were so easy to follow that I assumed I was a total natural.

I finished it quickly and wasted no time in hopping straight on their website, driving the poor retailer completely batty with my incessant questions and multiple purchases.

These included a kit for a Pam's Poppy. The pattern and bead pack which are sold separatelty came to a total cost of about £25, including a £10.50 donation to The Royal British Legion. As soon as I read about the proceeds going to charity, I thought it was an excellent idea! Indulging in my most recent obsession, for a good cause? Done!

There are several colourways available on Pam's website including the classic red

I'm ashamed to say I haven't knitted anything bigger than a baby cardigan for charity [that I can think of] since I was about 10. I just prefer to make things for people I know, and have very little time. But I had a rare few weeks without any design work, so I went for it!

My big-headedness was short-lived - the parcel turned up and I was instantly flummoxed. The list of materials included a whole bunch of gadgets that I hadn't even heard of and stated that the maker ought to already be familiar with 'Brick Stitch' and '3D Square Stitch' which, I didn't have a bollocking clue how to do.

...but I'd paid for the kit and I had three weeks before Rememberance Sunday to get it made.

I do like a challenge.

I'm very proud to say that I taught myself these obscure required stitches using only PDFs from Spellbound's webpage. I'm good at learning from written instructions - far too impatient to deal with the suspense of a long introduction on a homemade video tutorial with questionable lightning and focus. No. Thank you.

The first thing the Brick Stitch PDF told me was not to go straight into the main project but instead to practice, so I found some blue thread and transparent size 9 Guttermann seed beads and had a fiddle.

After an hour or so I was feeling confident so I put down the pink and started sorting through my Poppy beads.

Each poppy petal is made from the centre outwards towards each edge

So above is my first EVER row of Peyote or Brick stitch which I'm pretty sure are the same thing. The instructions told me to start at the centre point of the thread and wind the remaining thread [having been pre-stretched] onto a thread keeper. I don't know what that is nor do I own one, so I've improvised a thread thing from an old yarn label.

The tension on my first petal was very floppy and loose but soon firmed up with practice

I really loved the mixture of transparent and opaque beads - the brown beads are pearlescent (called 'AB' in bead-talk which I believe stands for Aurora Borealis) as are the transparent red and I'm not sure if you can see it in the picture but there is also some opaque red beads mixed in.

The first petal took a few nights to make but in the end I was whipping one off in about two hours

The poppy consists of 6 of these petals which are later joined together to form a ring.

The larger beads underneath have no purpose except to make my picture look pretty

I didn't need any fancy gear like pliers or tweezers but I did invest in a bar of beeswax as the instructions recommended, to 'condition' the thread. Addind a thin layer of yummy-smelling beeswax to your thread helps to prevent knots and holds the threads in place much firmer.

If I did it again I'd go for a slightly lighter green thread as the Emerald Nymo I chose was a touch on the blue side

The leaf was a touch fiddlier - I left a very long thread [as it was bigger and the instructions didn't tell me how much to leave for this] and no amount of wax could stop it tangling as I worked but joining in and fastening off new threads is unbearably fiddly - so I opted for that instead.

Then all that was left to do was to join the circle to the lower edge of the leaf and stitch the green portion to the red portion before adding some funky black stamens in the centre, et voila!

I pinned it on first thing this morning [having finished it last night] and wore it on the commute into work but because itterly fed up with the upper petals flopping downward. Argh!

Perfectionist as I am, it drove me bananas!

As soon as I got to work I plugged in the glue gun and added a few strateigic blobs to the reverse (which dry 3D and firm) and glued some thick felt in strateigic spots to act as scaffolding - inclduing the reverse of the leaf.

Last year, volunteer beaders around the UK pooled their talents and worked towards a giant commemorative beaded poppy wreath made up of these poppies. To think of the man-hours where mine took me 3 weeks, I'm in utter awe.

I am so proud to have been part of #pamspoppy Centenary Memorial Reef Project by volunteering to make a few of these stunning beaded poppies! #royalbritishleigon #pamkirk #poppypam #beads #war #worldwar #100 #100years #centenary #delicabeads #delica #beadwork #britsh #poppy #poppies #flower #beadworkersguild #yumyumbeads

A photo posted by Charlotte Leggatt (@violetrose84) on Feb 5, 2015 at 12:37pm PST

All the other poppies I've seen that people have made [and they've made lots - there was a couple on display at Ally Pally at various bead stands] are dead flat. Now I know Poppies and Poppies most certainly are not dead flat, so I've added a curve to my petals using the aforementioned glue gun blobs.

I am proud to be taking my Poppy with me to the NEC and although I'm about 10 days late of the 'official first day to wear your poppy', I will be brandishing mine with pride in honour of Rememberance Day right up until the 11th.

I'll continue to wear it every year until it falls to pieces [as a first attempt that may very well be tomorrow, but let's see!] but do remember, if you are crocheting a new poppy this year or digging out an old one - even wearing a Pam's, make sure you put some money in that pot.

Coats AW 2015 Fashion Show Highlights - With Video

Yes, well.. I guess smart phones certainly are more smart than I'd realised. I've been working a great deal in video with my day job so I'm really thrilled to present to you my very first home filmed and edited video about my favourite subject matter; Autumn/Winter handknitting fashion trends and NEW patterns. *rubs hands together*

Designed by Jennie Atkinson, I'd only ever seen THAT DRESS in white - so what's in the video below was a real surprise!

What a better way to get back into the swing of knitting trends than a trip to the Alexandra Palace Knitting & Stitching Show, making a direct beeline for the Coats fashion show. Below is a very short video, but it contains a few of my total favourites including THAT. DRESS.

Also, excuse the cheesy music!

The models were excellent - not silly skinny which is a real put-off for me and my mum, because we can't tell what garment's really going to work with our body shapes (yes, I took me Mam, she's my personal knitting advisor and comes with me everywhere big knit decisions need to be made).

Although I automatically deflate at the mention of Patons, (as a bit of a yarn snob I feel it's the automatic response to any non-luxury yarn brand) I ought not to. It's an outdated response to a brand that's been given a new lease of life in my eyes. I even designed my Hello Kitty cushion for Woman's Weekly using their plush Merino Aran. A really luxurious yarn.

A photo posted by Woman's Weekly (@womansweekly) on Jun 24, 2015 at 1:54am PDT

I loved the Patons collection bar the super-chunky stuff. The rest was wearable and simple, unfussy.

There was a really fab neckline that popped up on one of the lightly textured men's knits. I just can't decide whether or not the fussy men we all knit for will be comfortable in it. It's definitely younger. But I'm leading towards a yes. And I did feel Patons had shaken it up a bit, it all felt younger. More for Freddie. Not so old-fashioned and outdated.

I'm calling it the 'will he, won't he' neckline. I would!

Following that, the Rowan Yarns collections began and they most certainly didn't disappoint.

The styling was understated with a truly classic, timeless edge to it

I particularly enjoyed the style of the Boho Chic collection from Rowan, it was just so easy-to-wear. I generally like to wear knits I can layer up with other colours and you could do that with nearly all of these. It's  more practical way to wearf handknit fibres which can be overly warm indoors.

If you only buy one book this season, Boho Chic's the one to go for in my opinion. There's something for all ages to wear and make with different yarn sizes and styles, and it's a good spread variety of different techniqes and yarn thicknesses (including knits-in-no-time Brushed Fleece which, looks tacky on the ball but knits to a really luxurious fabric. Don't poo poo it!

 

This sleeveless hoodie is a stylish twist on a classic look

I look to the Autumn Winter Rowan Magazines for two things; texture and colourwork. Nobody does either of those things quite like the body of designers that Rowan yarns work with. Unless you coun't y'know, trad fisherman's knits and all knitwear designers of the 1975-1990 knitting era. Not the same though, was it? Er.... no.

That's why we turn to Rowan.

Note the reverse Fair Isle on the man's knit. Better practice my stranding!

I missed what the main yarn on the ladies' sweater was but I was very pleasantly surprised by the ingenious yarn mixing that was happening in the colourwork section of the show - this was a gentle variegated yarn reminiscent of Rowan Tapestry mixed with a deeper shade. There's also a coat which uses a smooth-textured yarn with a Chenille for the contrast colour. Daring!

The super-chunky knits got away with some bold textures without looking or feeling heavy

I did have a very excellent and enjoyable visit to the fashion show and strongly recommend those of you who weren't as lucky to be there take the time to have a wander around the Rowan website. I'll definitely be pursuing the stripy Kim Hargreaves sweater in the above video
 and amseriously considering getting married in THAT DRESS.

I respect Jennie very much for being bold enough to design something showstopping allbeit a high cost to knit. I can't wait to see anyone who gets around to making one. I've got my Kidsilk Haze to knit my wedding dress - just gotta save up for the beads now!

Freddie x

Revealed - the things I just couldn't leave at The Knitting & Stitching Show 2015

These really are my top picks of the amazing craft products that I was lucky enough to see on show at Alexandra Palace last Friday. I could not leave these purchases there to go home with anyone else, they were made for me, me, MEEEEE! I'll let you look though (but not touch!!!).

It was a really lovely day on Friday - we were uncomfortably warm after hiking up the hill to the show.

Well I came with my Mum. We both decided to take out a very specific amount of cash to keep to a personal budget. Unsurprisingly, it didn't last. First foot through the door (literally), we dipped into the Colinette stand. Likely rubbing our hands, gleefully. I don't rightly recall.

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on Oct 11, 2015 at 4:27am PDT

At last years' show, we started at the very same stand and I spotted the yarn I wanted, an instant attraction. Shade name; Adonis Blue.

I contained my excitement and announced that if the blue was still there waiting when we'd walked the whole show, I'd buy it. Take it as a sign. A dabble in the art of self control.

Having exhausted every inch of the show and with aching feet, we returned to the stand and I was gutted. Lost - my cool blue had clearly gone home with the WRONG person. Although Mum did find this lost yarn for me for Christmas, I learned a lesson from this experience. I realized that self control is not all it's cracked up to be (not if you're a knitter, anyhow). So this year, I started my spree with a cheeky purchase, a pair of skeins of Colinette Point 5 for a chunky snood.

Two skeins of Colinette Point 5 in colourway Mardi Gras. Dyelots don't match but hey, it'll make life more interesting.

Mum had treated herself to a rather large bag of Colinette scraps (on her debit card I might add - budget out the window, and early on!) we moseyed down the centre aisle and stumbled across a stretch of sparkling beads, at a stand called Ilona Biggins.

The staff at this stand really didn't want to sell me anything. It was very disappointing actually.

Everything I touched, they barked at me,'far too expensive for you'. Disheartened, I sheepishly asked for a string of beads for one of my trademark chokers that were less 'Pat Butcher' in size than those on display (not in those words, obviously). That was when they took great pleasure in informing me that 'just because they were smaller wouldn't make them cheaper'.

My string of freshwater pearls. Can't wait to learn how to turn them into a necklace!

After a few more minutes' prickly awkwardness I eventually got it out of them - they didn't have the beads I wanted. Regretfully however, money did change hands as I'd feared they'd be the only place at Ally Pally selling freshwater pearls (they weren't).

I fell in love with a beautiful pearl necklace in Jersey a few months ago (selling for around £80) and refused to believe that I wouldn't be able to string my own (brave words I know, but I'm sure the Twitterverse will support me).

After Ilona, we hit the Coats fashion show - more about that another day. Lots to talk about there.

They weren't the only beads I bought - as beads were my main agenda.

Every time I attend a craft show these days, I manage to squeeze in a casual stop at my favouritest bead designers, The Spellbound Bead Co. This trip was no exception.

I'd dug a real hole in my purse - browsed their website constantly for 2 weeks and called ahead with a thoroughlly considered order for a great many bauble kits. On the day I made an instant beeline for them and didn't even need to browse. It's lazy, I know. But I got want I wanted.

Probably too many bauble kits for any one mortal. Note the smashed one at the front. D'oh!

Well, almost. One of them smashed on the way home. The prettiest one, too. Hopefully Spellbound will take pity on me and send me another bauble. Fingers crossed!

Picture from spellboundbeads.co.uk

The beading madness didn't stop there. Oh no. Next stop was trusty Bead Spider for the choker beads Ilona Biggins' staff had convinced me didn't exist (ahem, they do) and some goldstone beads.

Goldstone is cheesy once you know that it's just glittery glass - but the beads sure do look pretty, and I'm a magpie for sparkle. The ones that caused all the trouble were a string of Lapis Lazuli beads - a delightful naturally occuring royal blue stone peppered with veins of real silver. Gorgeous. Can't wait to string those.

All that glitters - The darker goldstone beads contain synthetic sparkle where the lighter natural Lapis Lazuli beads contain flecks of real silver.

Couple of other knitting buys - I had to try the KnitPro Zings. Why 'have to'? THE COLOURS! Gorgeous.

These colour-coded chrome delights look to be my salvation from their snaggy cousin, the KnitPro Karbonz DPNs. I don't usually go for mustards but actually that golden shine should contrast nicely wth the dingy manly-coloured yarns I knit most often. Here's hoping.

These cost-effective colourful chrome needles are a bright and fun addition to any knitting project.

The final bit of kit I bought, I had to hunt for. And there's a story to explain why.

A few years back, Vicki Walker taught some workshops with the Woman's Weekly team, and made quite an impression on them. Legend has it she was knitting socks (magic loop free) with teeny, tiny circular needles. And making it look very easy.

Tooting my own horn here, but I have taught sock-specialist workshops for over a decade now and swear blind that DPNs are the way to be. Those teensy weensy flimsy 2-inch tips from Hiya Hiya are surely a complete and utter nightmare to work with. They appear distinctly anti-ergonomic.

In the office we've debated the subject a great many times so Woman's Weekly Technical Editor Tina asked me to hunt some down for her to settle it. once and for all. I'll keep you posted. God help me!

I didn't manage to get a pic of those fiddly needles, but instead - here's my haul.

The blue thing is a beading mat that cost 90p. No, you may not have a chocolate. Mine.

I think that's all I got - I think. There is chocolate (you are obliged to buy some snackfood at craft events of this magnitude, it's the law!) and one of the Spellbound kits is most definitely NOT a bauble, but a pretty beaded choker in 'Scarab' oily blue-black hues. That'll be a lovely treat to make!

There is an awful lot to say about my experience of Ally Pally this year so please be aware this is a blog post simply unveiling the contents of my shopping bag. I'll write others about some of the other delights I had the pleasure of seeing while it's still fresh in my mind, in the hope that the invigoration I'm currently feeling can be shared with those that weren't able to be there.

Thanks again for reading, happy knitting everyone! Or urm... beading!

Bye! xx

The 17 crafts that made me who I am today

Growing up, I spent every other weekend at my grandparents' house. My parents had divorced when I was a baby and Mum worked very long hours so it gave her a break, and there was always something fun planned for us to do. My brother was into video games so spent most of his time upstairs with the uncles, I'd mostly stay downstairs and craft or bake with my Nan.

I was thinking about it at Stitching, Sewing and Hobbycrafts Exeter a lot; if it wasn't for these craft weekends, I most certainly wouldn't have grown up into the avid crafter I am today. But I'm not sure anyone is still doing most of the crafts I did back then! Here they are.

1. Scraperfoils

#takienudy #veryboringday #lazyday #lazymonday #badweather #scraperfoil 😴👌⛅

A photo posted by Marta Pawelak (@maartit.a) on Sep 7, 2015 at 5:28am PDT

These are sheets of firm cardboard covered with a brass or silver coloured foil which is then overlaid with a black waxy substance. You scrape away a printed design with a special scraper tool that comes with them to reveal a shiny design, usually animals. You end up with black scrapings everywhere but they look amazing!

2. Seed Art

Photo from http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_fullxfull.213876759.jpg

This is interesting because I've actually made this above design. We used to send off for kits to a lady who designed them herself, there would be an outline for you to fill in with a certain seed type in an instructed pattern and then when the glue dried we'd varnish over the top with clear nail polish. They looked amazing but kits are incredibly hard to come by now.

3. Quilling

I love @senaruna's beautiful vibrant paper quilling so much - http://t.co/qk57xT9Pam pic.twitter.com/K0MONCpBsu via @colossal

— Jenny Lloyd (@jennyariane) September 10, 2015

We weren't very good at this one if I remember rightly. Had all the gadgety tools to shape pre-cut paper strips before glueing them side-on to cards. You can create some amazing designs really easily.

4. Hama Beads

A photo posted by Lili (@2doigtsdidee) on Sep 27, 2015 at 10:57am PDT

I miss these SO much and tried to use them in my art therapy work a few years back (they transpired to be a huge choke hazard so it didn't last). You arrange coloured plastic beads on a pegboard before melting them all together using an iron over some special greaseproof paper. Unsurprisingly my favourite beads were the clear glittery ones and the glow-in-the-dark beads. Hours of fun.

5. Bead Loom

Image from museumofplay.org

Another one that was a touch too fiddly for me, I wasn't very good at it but definitely had a go at a good few rows of bead looming, a combination of weaving and beading using sewing thread and a very small needle.

6. Flower Loom

A photo posted by sandra howse👱💖 (@sandracatladyx) on Jul 26, 2015 at 9:22am PDT

 

One of the many knitting kits I ended up with contained one of these cool flower looms. They were great fun to make but did end up looking tatty quite quickly so I don't think I have any left. Surely someone out there is still making these?

7. Fimo

A photo posted by Birdseed Keepsakes (@birdseedkeepsakes) on Sep 28, 2015 at 2:00am PDT

Fimo is one of the best craft inventions ever IMO. I'll still be using it to make my wedding cake topper when the day comes but at age 8 I'm pretty sure my repertoire only included fridge magnets and card toppers.

8. Transfer Foils 

A photo posted by @elisalani on May 7, 2013 at 12:46am PDT

We found these being demonstrated at a craft show at Syon Park and I remember being really excited about the shiny finish so we picked up a kit and took it home. You use a glue pen to draw out a design which dries sticky but clear, before rubbing a tranfer foil over the top in your chosen colour. When you remove the foil, the design remains. Great stuff. I think you can even still get them.

9. Long Stitch

Cornish Fishing Village in longstitch by Twilleys #longstitch #twilleys http://t.co/6rCTspiJoS pic.twitter.com/lV9gfxDH42

— Happy Cross Stitcher (@HappyXStitcher) March 11, 2015

The good thing with long stitch is that it's easy. It's one stitch, it just involves 'painting by numbers' with your stitches to fill all the painted-on outlines on a mesh fabric until the design is completed. They were OK but I didn't love the finish so I won't be going back to them.

10. Plaster Of Paris

Picture from AngelicaScalliwags.com

I don't physically know how we did this because as I've got older I've developed a huge aversion to touching anything chalky (it could even have come from this, actually). We did this one a LOT when I was reaaaaallly little. I vividly remember filling a noddy mould with plaster of paris mixture, revealing the hardened noddy and painting him in with poster paints. There were some Beatrix Potter characters too, I'm sure.

11. Punch Embroidery

Picture from webstercraft.co.uk

I've never come accross anyone who knew what I was talking about when I talked about this. You use a long pen-like tool with a hollow needle, thread yarn through the middle of the needle and punch holes through to the reverse of the fabric where you leave a loop of yarn behind as you resurface. The finished effect is like a towelling, raised area on the reverse of where you're working which is the side you show everyone when you've finished.

We experimented with different fabrics, including my Uncle's old postman shirts. Thanks, Bob!

12. Glass Painting

I vivdly remember the first of two variations of stained-glass craft I had fun with growing up. I went over to my dad's flat (I couldn't have been older than 5-6) and we did a kit that started as a metal outline of a giraffe. We filled the outline with beads of coloured 'glass' on a baking tray, and then baked it in the oven. The beads then melted to fill the spaces, and we hung them up to catch the light.

Then years later, (more like age 11) Nan gave me a colouring-in style translucent parrott to paint using those Pebeo glass paints, which stink. That was more like the picture you see above and had lovely deep rich blues and greens.

13. Sewing Cards

Picture from imnop.com.au

There definitely weren't any needles involved with this one. I remember doing them using a shoelace with a child minder when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I eremember having a panda shape and I think a dinosaur may also have been involved.

14. French Knitting

Stuck for something to do with the kids this half term, how about some funky craft? I'll show you how to do French Knitting in this fun video. Enjoy! http://t.co/ezxTMt9vBA #frenchknitting #kidscrafts #upcycling #allages

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on May 24, 2015 at 10:16pm PDT

I don't really remember what we did with the finished stretches of knitted cord that we made. I think we made some place mats at some point. It used to grow magically after I went to be, and before I got up in the morning. We called it 'the knitting fairy'. I still go on to teach people how to do this now and am always shocked that people haven't tried it before!!

I also tried finger knitting but between you and me, it's rubbish. Just makes long lengths of tangled yarn. Not a fan.

15. Pinflair

A photo posted by Theresa Reilly-cooper (@theresareillycooper) on Sep 15, 2015 at 2:37pm PDT

This was another one from the Syon House craft shows and shops which are now all gone (I think). I didn't know anyone else ever did this, but they caught my eye in Exeter and I ended up buying 5 kits for Christmas decorations. The kits contain a dense polystyrene shape which you then pin sequins and beads to in the instructed pattern. Over the years Nan and I also made sequinned spider decorations and Fabrege eggs (and both those kits are still available today, much to my joy!).

When Nan underwent a double-amputation some years ago, many of the items we'd crafted together were lost, as she was rapidly forced to move from her family home of many years to a smaller, wheelchair-accessible flat. I bought these kits so I can make her some new ones as we're both very nostalgic about our crafting time and I honestly think she'll love them. Cross fingers!

16. Pom Poms

A photo posted by Wonky Bobbin Crafts (@wonkybobbincrafts) on Sep 27, 2015 at 5:27pm PDT

Pom poms to me as an adult are utterly pointless EXCEPT for use in embellishing handknits including the all-important wardrobe staple, the bobble hat. But we spent many a Saturday morning making the hugest pom poms known to man and they were very pleasing to the touch. We tried stripes, shapes and allsorts. Using only rings of cardboard and oddments of yarn.

OK now comes the big one so drumroll please....

17. KNITTING

A photo posted by Germs!!! (@gilbertbean) on Jun 23, 2015 at 2:45pm PDT

>Mum taught me to knit in between night shifts so I'd stop playing with her complex 80's Intarsia projects while she was asleep. You can imagine the mess. But Nan translated knitting patterns for me so that I could learn to make toys, and boy did I make toys. I insisted on making toys for everyone I knew. At age 12 I knitted one of the Jean Greenhowe nurses you see above for my grandfather who had, at the time succumbed to Asbestosis. But this was just one of at least 50 other toys (mainly Jean Greenhowe and Woman's Weekly/Alan Dart) I made and gave away, I very rarely kept any for myself. I didn't want them.

They took AGES back then. Where now I can happily whip out a toy in a week or two, back in the day they'd take several trips to Nan and Granddad's which added up to months and months on end. I'd take my knitting bag on long car drives to visit relatives, trips to the Isle of Wight and stays with childminders and aupairs.

Once I knitted so hard on Christmas Eve (10 hours I think it was, solid) to get gifts done that my right hand just ceased to work, and went on strike.

It was all worth it though and now I can call myself a pro knitter, with all of the above random crafts safely stored in my skull for when I want to come back to them. I often do. At the moment I'm big on cross stitch and beading but I'm sure it's not long before I flitter back to one of the others on the list.

Keep crafting, remember it is good for you and a great bonding experience for you and your loved ones. Look at all the memories it's made for me.

What I got up to at Stitching, Sewing & Hobbycrafts, Exeter 2015

Well I'm not one to under appreciate my day-to-day job. I'm very lucky that I'm able to engage in discussions and activities related to knitting and crochet pretty much every minute of every day. I love it!

So when I was asked to get myself down to Exeter's biggest autumn knitting and craft show to teach a few workshops with Woman's Weekly Magazine, I was delighted!

Although we had bigger plans to begin with, uptake was a touch lower than we'd hoped (probably because we'd never been there before). We ran two knit/crochet workshops - Fair Isle and Intarsia on the Friday, and Crochet on the Saturday.

Now for the colourwork day, I've previously found that leaving the tricky stuff until after lunch is a bad idea. Everyone's at their brightest first thing, so we kicked right into Fair Isle and  spent the morning learning the technique, reading charts and literally getting to grips with one of three yarn holding styles.

In the afternoon I introduced the ladies to the art of Intarsia and tried something new - letting everyone pick an initial to work on. I thought it might be a bit more fun than a geometric shape. It worked - and as you can see, by the end of the day everyone was happy with what they'd learned.

The nicest ladies in the whole world learned #Intarsia and #fairisle with me on Friday and this is us proudly showing off the initials they made. #knittingworkshop #colourwork #knittedinitials #stitchhobbyandcraftshows #ichf #womansweekly #sirdar #countrystyledk

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on Sep 27, 2015 at 11:15am PDT

The day was light-hearted and fun with plenty of giggles. With just 6 participants it felt very intimate and we all got to know each other really well, so ended the day with a couple of silly piccies and a few hugs goodbye. Don't their Sirdar squares look fab? I for one was really chuffed.

It must have been good because two of the ladies came back to learn to crochet with me on the Saturday which is a trickier course but was just as much fun.

I was lucky to have a half-hour each morning for a quick wander around the plethra of vibrant and inspiring knitting and craft stalls. Well I say lucky, but I spent much more than I'd planned to!

So by accident I've bought the hardest possible #beading kit from @spellboundbeadco . Fingers crossed mine turns out like this! #christmasbeading #beadingkit #beadedbaubles #stitchhobbyandcraftshows #ichfevents

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on Sep 27, 2015 at 11:22am PDT

I was first introduced to The Spellbound Bead Co. at Ally Pally last year. They have a lovely elegant set-up for their stall. When you walk in you are whisked away, surrounded by a halo of glittering beaded baubles and sparkling hanging decorations. It's something else!

I remember thinking to myself last October that I'd really love to be able to bead something like that, but didn't feel confident at the time so I walked away. They look really fiddly. But on seeing them again I couldn't help myself, and treated myself to what I later learned were two of their most intricate kits. I may be asking around for help when I get around to making them!

Because #selfstriping is how they roll in #Exeter #handknits #noro #ichf #stitchhobbyandcraftshows #knittersofinstagram

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on Sep 27, 2015 at 11:08am PDT

I was in good company, where at other shows I've been to there are so few knitters - more paper crafters and quilters, and accomplished dressmakers that really overshadow my tiny repetoire of seing skills.

These two ladies caught my eye and immediately made me smile. It seems I'm not the only person who goes to these shows proudly sporting one of my very own handknits. These two had picked what I can only imagine is one of their boldest handknits from the wardrobe just for this occasion. And they looked wonderful. I think we can all see which stand they are eyeing up!

We arrived on Thursday night to set up for Friday's workshops and were really organized so I had time for a quick nose-around just after the show closed. I didn't get very far and was utterly dazzled by the sock yarns and rich colours on Sara's Texture Crafts' stand.

I nervously approached the fleece and started to fondle when my mind was cast back to two christmasses ago. I'd messaged a lady on Etsy about what I needed to buy from her to learn to spin my own yarn. She produced customized kits for people but was very curt with me and for one reason or another I'd been offended by her manner and cut off communication.

Watch out world, I'm going to learn to make... YARN! #unstoppableknitter #ichfevents #spinning #bluefacedleicester #dropspindle #yarn #fleece @sarastexturecrafts

A photo posted by Frederica Patmore (@freddiebj) on Sep 25, 2015 at 3:18pm PDT

Now I've always wanted to learn to spin so I had a chat with the guys on the stall and they gave me some great advice and really built up my confidence. The next day they brought me a spinning kit containing some yummy BFL fleece and a drop spindle, (did I mention that Blue faced Leicester is my ultimate favourite fibre?), patted me on the back and sent me out into the world of spinning. I can't wait to give it a try.

I've just arrived home this evening and have had such a wonderful time, it really is the best of the ICHF shows I've been to outside Manchester. I'm also heading off to Glasgow, Birmingham and London Excel before the year is out, so do pop by and say hello. I have some wonderful guests coming to teach with me including Karie Westerman, Katherine Lymer, Sarah Hazell, Vicki Walker, Bev Hodgkinson and many more - so you're in for a real treat!

Hopefully I'll see you there. Don't miss them!

Freddie x