Woolfest!

Today Lizzie and I went to a fantastic fibre event in the English Lake District where we were dazzled by the vast array of gorgeous yarns and fibres, and thoroughly warmed through by the friendliness and laughter of all we met, both old friends and new. I spent much more than I had intended, mostly on books, vintage knitting accessories, and yarn!

The highlight of the day was when we found the Timbertops stall. My spinning wheel is a Timbertops, made in 1980 by James Williamson, maker of all Timbertops wheels until his retirement 3 years ago when it sadly seemed that Timbertops wheels would cease to be made. Luckily in the last year another craftsman, Clive Jones, and his wife Joan, have taken up the gauntlet and are starting production of the wheels up again, guided by James and Ann (James' wife). All four were at the show together today, and I was delighted to be able to chat with them together. I also spent some very magical minutes spinning at a Timbertops Leicester wheel while James span at a Timbertops Beaver beside me. I think we both passed the keen-eyed appraisal of the spinning master, his wife!!

The photo below shows James and Ann at either side of Joan and Clive, with yours truly sat in worshipful adoration beside them!

Wish List

Just to let my spoiler know that I have updated the wish list in the sidebar to the left here. I've stuck with inexpensive items that would be appropriate for the small kits we are doing this swap.

Summer Camp!

Well, I've arrived. Got all my knitting gear, and lots of graph paper for designing some new knits. Yes my fellow witches and wizards- I am a design junkie!! Latest efforts include these gloves which were modelled at UK Ravelry Day just over a week ago now. My dear twin-sister (Lizzie Wychwood) knitted the silk ones featuring roses, while the red ones were knitted by a kind Ravelry volunteer. I've called the design 'Flower of the Nation Gloves' as they are themed for each nation in the Union (England, Scotland & Wales), each featuring the national flower - roses for England, daffodils for Wales, and thistles for Scotland (I can't show you the Scottish version as they wre sadly delayed by Royal Mail and didn't make it from the volunteer knitter to the fashion show.





Meanwhile I'm still designing and knitting up preemie hats for SPEW. My latest is based on the wonderful aquatic plant, gillyweed. The roots of this have tiny water bubbles clinging to them, which is what I've worked to emulate in this design:



Lastly, I've got to tell you all that I had the immense pleasure of meeting a wonderful American wizard called Jared Flood, aka Brooklyn Tweed, at Ravelry Day. The pink cheeks you see in the picture below tell the tale of how much firewhisky we had consumed by the time this photo was taken!!





TTFN!!