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 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!
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!
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.
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
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