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

So Did The Skin Treatments Work?

Well the answer to that question is yes, really. Some of the stuff from Salcura was incredible to the point where I don't now think I could live without them. Let me break it down a touch so you can see what I'm on about;

Salcura Antiac Range

Salcura produce a whole range of products which conatin their Antiac formula, a mixture of natural essential oils and other goodies deisgned to combat acne. I've been having real spot issues on my face and chest for the last 6 months now, I'd guessed that it was a side effect of hormonal contraception but I'm not really sure. So I thought I'd give it a go.

After 3 weeks of  continuous use

I tried the Antiac face wipes, skin spray and a concentrated serum. These again, all contain the same active ingredients but are just different ways to apply the product.

I didn't love the spray - I found the act of spraying myself in the face to feel quite strange so although I used it the most over all the other products, I did find the application felt strange.

I found that effects were only visible if I applied Antiac religiously at least twice a day, and I used the face wash as well in the morning which felt really good on my skin.

The spray itself leaves a slightly sticky residue which I also didn't like, but you don't seem to get that with the wipes or the serum. As you can see I definitely had clearer skin but if I forgot to apply one of my twice-daily applications it felt like I was starting all over again.

It's a high-maintenance routine but it does work. My favourite products were definitely the face wipes, the wash and the serum.

Salcura Bioskin Dermaspray

Eczema I've had pretty constant since changing schools at age 6. They promised I'd grow out of it, but here I am nearly 30 and it's still flaring up every other week. I get Eczema the worst up my arms and in my scalp but if it gets really bad, I end up with it all up my back. Horrible.

I always keep my nails long so if I scratch in my sleep, it can be a massacre! All I can do to stop it starting is avoid stress and avoid cow's milk (which is impossible because it's in EVERYTHING). I do quite like Goat's Milk (which grosses everyone out at work so nobody nicks it!) and other milk alternatives but it's pretty inevitable so I thought I'd give the Salcura Bioskin range a whirl.

Under closer observation I found that I'd used the Dermasprays before - I was introduced to them at The Allergy Show in London, by a very querky and intriguing demonstrator at their stand and just HAD to try the stuff.The spray itself works wonders, it soothes and with frequent application can help patches of eczema disappear comepletely.

...but not every time. It definitely helps but I'm not confident enough to rule out my steroid creams completely.

My arm - during Zeoderm/Dermaspray treatment

This time I tried it in combination with the Zeoderm moisturiser (which I found out contains a mineral from Volcanoes called Zeolite). I applied it to patches on my arms and after a few days using it 1-2 times a day, the skin looked so much happier and smoother and that horrible grey dead skin look was as good as gone.

I went away to Liverpool a few weeks ago and really noticed the prickling pain, cracked skin and soreness creeping in because I'd forgot to pack both items. I don't know how I'd do without them now.

They even do a concentrated serum just like they do with the Antiac (much, MUCH easier to apply to my scalp than an aim-and-shoot spray). So do give their stuff a try, it's so soothing and re-instills flexibility and moisture to bad patches of skin.

A couple of personal favourites

Over the Summer I also noticed huge patches of eczema turning up on my neck. I was out with the fella face painting at the school where he works and he pointed out a huge erruption up my neck. At first I thought I was just allergic to the sunscreen (I mean, there's so many weird chemicals in there, that's easily the first place I'd jumped to) but then when I went out again wirthout any it did it again.

Eczema that came from the sky!

We worked out it was being caused by the sun. It wasn't sunburn, just big patches of particularly painful eczema that would come and go depending on the weather.

When I asked them about it, I found out that Salcura made a spray specifically for this sort of skin irritation and give it a go. It did soothe and calm it down but it did take some Zeoderm moisturiser to start to get it going. And it worked.

I was so happy with the stuff, it stayed in my handbag for the rest of the summer.

The other thing I really like is one of their handcreams. Those of you that know me, will know that I am often demonstrating knitting with my hands on knitting videos. So I have to keep them in good nick. It's turned me into a real diva when I come to break a nail, actually.

From time to time I geet a bit of dishydrotic eczema on my hands - it starts with itchy bumps and then all the skin peels away and looks tried loads of handcreams, including Salcura's Winter handcream which I didn't really like the smell of. When I saw they'd done Summer and Spring handcreams I had a read of the ingredients and thought that maybe I'd get on better with one of those.
completely gross. I've

I went for the Spring handcream which contains Basil and Coconut oils and I was really happy with it! It dramatically reduces my bad hand breakouts and has a really tasty, light aroma. It absorbs instantly and I now use it every day. It's great on nails and cuticles, too.

So that's my journey, everyone! I hope I haven't missed anything and if you do have any bad skin questions please let me know. I've been through it all I think!!!

Thanks for reading. Freddie x