Regular visitors to the Mr Darcey website
will be wondering what has happened to the newsletter
over the past few months?
Such a lot has happened in a very short while,
it's hard to know where to begin!
First of all the 'posh shed' is now up and running
and filled to the brim with yarn!
It is so lovely to have the yarn
r
neatly arranged on shelves instead of
having to scrabble 
through boxes
to find the right colour
The eagle eyed among you will have noticed
that some of the yarn is now available to buy online
(see side menu)-especially the beautiful Fair Trade Manos Yarn!
I will continue to add various ranges as time allows
- so far it has all been thanks to number 2 son
who is still job hunting but has kindly helped out with the
uploading for the website -thanks Laurie!
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My next news is that my first collection of knitting patterns
has just been published.
Designed exclusively for Artesano , the Mother Goose collection
for children (0-5) is knitted in Superwash merino
and most of the patterns have been designed
for quick easy knitting.
The yarn comes in a lovely range of bright colours
and best of all, for busy mums,
it can go in the washing machine!
The patterns and yarn are featured in the menu to the right
(slight hiccup here as my computer is at the menders
with all the pictures and files so I will be adding the details
to the menu as soon as the laptop is home!!)
and both can be ordered online.
Since then, I have had an amazing few weeks,
with designs being accepted for all kinds of knitting magazines,
both here in the UK and abroad.
2 of my designs will feature in the Verena Spring issue
and 2 in the summer issue.
Verena is the biggest knitting magazine in Europe
and the English Language version
is available in America -so fame at last!
It is a beautifully styled magazine and I can't wait
to see how they have photographed my garments.
Keep an eye out also, for more of my designs
in Let's Knit, Yarn Forward, Knitting and The Knitter.
Artesano have also commissioned further exclusive designs -
the first in Manos Wool Classica,
which should be available early next year.
In the meantime Knit Today contacted me
and asked me to join their 'Ask The Expert' panel
so my first commissions for them will be in the February issue
(unfortunately they needed a photograph of me
for their introduction and as I hate having my picture taken,
I didn't have one to hand and
I had to get one of the knitting girls to take one -
everyone else was trying to make me laugh
so the resulting portrait is very jolly!)
So, as you can see, I have been knitting 24/7
over the past few weeks, to get all the samples and
garments knitted up and patterns written
and checked and double checked (who would have thought
that there would be so much maths involved!)
I hate seeing badly written patterns and I spend a lot of time
at the Knitting Circle helping people decipher their patterns
so my aim is to write patterns that are clear and easy
to understand -so any feedback about the patterns
would be gratefully received.
The Knitting Circle continues to grow and
there are now nearly 50 people on the book
-a lot more than the 2 we started with, in August last year
- not everyone comes to every session (although some do!!)
-some come to the morning session,
some to the evening session and
some people just come when they can!
We are having another festive get together (as we did last year)
when we welcome other craft groups to join us
at Cool Contours
for a 'Knit A Decoration' session
( 2 this year -one in the morning Wednesday 8th December
and one in the evening Wednesday 15th December
so that everyone can come along)
-there will be wine and nibbles and hopefully a lot of fun!
If you would like to come along
then do e mail me (mrdarceyscottage@btinternet.com)
Workshops
A small but very select group, joined me earlier this month
at Cool Contours to discover the delights of Peg Looming
and by the end of the day had managed to create
some lovely designs.
For those of you who missed this one,
there will be a chance to sign up for a workshop next year.
Thursday 13th January
Knitting a Heart Heirloom Blanket -
at Bay Tree cottage in Farthingstone (www.btcworkshops.co.uk)-
this is an ideal way to try out some new stitches and techniques
without having to struggle with a whole garment.
There will also be 4 follow up evening sessions
to help you along with your project.
Saturday 5th February
Freeform Knitting and Crochet at Cool Contours (www.coolcontours.co.uk)
The third time this course has run but
we still have people wanting to try something
a bit more creative with their knitting and crochet
-everyone who has been so far has become totally hooked
on the technique and the finished hats and bags
have been fantastic!
Thursday 15th September
Knitting a winter shrug/wrap -at Bay Tree Cottage
-time to create something beautiful to wear
when the weather gets a bit colder.
-Knit an easy shawl in kid mohair and then
let your imagination go wild with beautiful yarns
threaded through your shawl.
4 follow up evenings to help you to finish off your project.
Events
With all the design work going on,
I haven't been able to attend as many events this year
but coming up:
Thursday 18th November
Ladies Day for Marie Curie at Collingtree Golf Club,
Northampto then in the evening Marton Craft Evening (near Southam)
Sunday 21st November
Southam Christmas Craft Fair
Thursday 25th November -Sunday 2th November
Reveal - Henley on Thames
Saturday 27th November/Sunday 28th November
Victorian Christmas at Ragley Hall near Alcester
Wednesday 1st December
Charity Evening at Barn Farm Plants, Wardington
Thursday 2nd December -Sunday 5th December
Reveal - Henley on Thames
Saturday 4th December
Adderbury Christmas Market
Sunday 5th December
Contemporary Craft Exhibition at
The Warwickshire Exhibition Centre