'Flaming June'
-lovely warm sunshine but with the added misery of hay fever!!
-difficult to knit with streaming eyes!!
What a busy few weeks !!
Spring is when the Fashion students are getting their
Final Collections ready and there are always very tight deadlines!
This year I did 2 men's chunky jumpers for Rina -
one with a huge , loose cowl neck
and one with laddeer stitch so that it looked ripped!
I had a frantic last minute e mail from Emma
wanting a face embroidered onto a jumper ....
-with only 4 days to do it
and get it back for the Final Presentation,
I only managed a few hours sleep but got it there in time
which was just as well as Emma's Collection was picked
to go forward for Graduate Fashion Week in London!!
WELL DONE EMMA!!!!!
BUT the tutors decided that the face needed to cover
the front of the jumper so again with only a few days
to get it done, I had to knit up the design and swiss embroider
so that Emma could then applique the finished picture
to the front of the jumper -but we did it!!
And the photos for the Graduate Fashion Show can be seen here-
http://www.catwalking.com/GRADUATES/Grad_10/BA_shows/shows/Birmingham/gradba.html
Hopefully I will soon be able to post more photos of
Rina's and Emma's work, with their contact details.
In the meantime I have knitted 3 pieces for Rowan -
a beautiful fitted jacket witha peplum, a cotton baby blanket
and a t shirt top in their new recycled cotton yarn -
currently on the needles is a Martin Storey design
for a cabled man's jacket.
Exciting news on the home front, as now that the blackbirds
have fledged, the car port could be demolished and
base put down (thanks to the Mister!)
ready for Mr Darcey's Wool Shed.
Shed duly arrived last week and JP is busy
adding more insulation and lining as I write
to keep my balls of yarn safe and dry!
(Although if this morning's disaster is anything to go by....
JP cheerfully sawed the table in half while cutting the MDF!!!!)
... in all seriousness he is doing
a grand job!
When the painting is finished (thanks to the Mister and Lol!!)
it will be a quick trip to IKEA to get the shelves and
then I can begin a massive stock take, before decanting
boxes and boxes of yarn to their new home -
hopefully all labelled and priced!
And then the family can have the house back,
without mountains of yarn falling on them
and a divorce will have been averted!!
Once the pattern folders, knitting magazines and
knitting books have been moved over, all that is left
is to add a rug, chair and table and I
will have a lovely space for everyone to come and browse
patterns and yarn to their heart's content!!
Ragley Hall
Thanks to all my customers at Ragley Hall -
a grey day on the Sunday meant there were less visitors
but Bank Holiday Monday was frantic and
it was my best show ever!
Burford
What a wet day ! which also kept the visitors away but thanks
again to my customers who braved the torrential downpours!
Bay Tree Cottage Open Day
Lots of visitors to Bay tree Cottage's Open Day -
no doubt drawn by Jenny and Annie's wonderful cup cakes!
Mr Darcey's Knitting Circle
The Knitting Circle continues to grow, with some people
coming in the morning, some in the evening and
some coming to every session!!
- projects vary from cardigans and jackets,
to waistcoats and childrenswear, scarves and shawls -
but whatever the project there is always
plenty of advice and encouragement available !
We only have to sit looking out over the fields
as the sun is setting, to realise how lucky we are
to have such an inspirational place to meet.
And the sheep in the field next to the studio, keep a close eye
over the fence - curious to see what we are all getting up to!
Wednesday May 12th saw a packed studio as the
Knitting Circle invited Byfield Craft Group and
Boddington Knit and Natter Group to a coffee, cake
(thanks to everyone who baked or brought along cakes!)
and 'knit a necklace' morning.
It was amazing to see
the different interpretations of the pattern
in all colours and shapes ......
(well done Clare for inventing the oblong bead!)
We also had an e mail from Sophie requesting premature
baby clothes as her friend's baby decided to arrive
at 29 weeks while they were on holiday in Portugal -
so some of us took a break from our usual knitting
to make tiny tiny clothes!
I am pleased to report
that the little chap is doing well!
We are hoping to meet again next month for a
Charity Knit morning -details and dates to be confirmed.
Details of the Knitting Circle and dates
can be found on the side menu
Mystery Blanket Evenings
60 squares and still going!
Cecilia is the first of the group to complete a blanket
-in lovely neutral shades.... isn't it beautiful???
and she has been so busy that she nearly has enough
squares for a second blanket.
Chris laid out her blanket last week and is now busily
knitting up squares to fill in the gaps.
Everyone else is at varying stages
(get those squares blocked, Joan!!)
but before long there should be
lots more creations to show you.
Details of the evenings can be found in the side menu.
Mr Darcey's Workshops
Last Saturday was sunny and warm so we flung open
the studio doors while we were busy knitting away.
This was another chance to have a go at
Freeform Knitting and Crochet
and as soon as everyone
was settled with coffee, they couldn't wait to dive
into the mountains of yarn and begin creating!
Some people worked on a bag
and others were making a hat
..yay, Nicki is crocheting!!!!
but it was difficult getting them away
from their creations, to stop for lunch ....
- as always it was worth it, as Heather had once again
provided a wonderful farmhouse lunch-
a delicious fish dish with salad and bread
followed by rhubarb fool
with the added bonus of the first of the strawberries
from the garden (thanks to Jazzy for picking them!)
There have already been requests to run this workshop again
so if you missed out this time then keep an eye out
for the next one.(Date to be confirmed)
There are also plans to run a peg loom workshop, how to knit,
and an art day for anyone who would love to create but
doesn't think they can!
If you are interested in finding out more about any
of these courses then please e mail me -
mrdarceyscottage@btinternet.com
Events
No more for this month but in July:
Saturday 17th July Summertown Oxford
August:
Saturday 7th August Canwell Show (in the Wire marquee)