Yesterday evening the chilly North wind that has been blowing all week finally dropped and I was able to sit for a little bit in my garden with my knitting, luxuriating in the golden evening light. While I was there I heard the cuckoo that comes every year to the woods near our house and watched a pair of swallows chattering on the telephone wires. I think that we can finally say that spring has arrived. Today, as I write, the temperature is noticeably warmer and I am able to have the door of the shop open without wearing six layers of clothes.
(For those who are interested, I am knitting the Summer Camp Kerchief using one ball of Knitting for Olive Pure Silk (Copper)).
The blog this week is just to remind you of what we have planned here at the shop in the coming weeks.
As usual we have our regular Social Stitchers sessions including our evening ones which we have reinstated now that the weather is a bit warmer. The dates are:
Tuesday 28 April: 7-9pm
Tuesday 5 May: 11am to 1pm
Tuesday 12 May: 2-4pm
Saturday 16 May: 2-4pm
Tuesday 26 May: 7-9pm
We have one course in May with spaces still available on it – the Introduction to Knitting Course on Saturday May 16 from 10am to 1pm. We will also be putting on a Learn to Crochet course on either 2 or 9 May as we had to cancel one today, so do let me know if you would be interested in coming along and I will let you know which date we have decided on as soon as possible.
On 2 May we are delighted to be welcoming local maker, Josie Rose and her beautiful, ice-dyed bags and accessories. She will be operating a pop up shop here all day, from 10 to 4. I hope you will come along and see her gorgeous wares.
We have decided to start the Alpine Bloom Knitalong on Saturday 9 May at 2pm. Several people have already chosen their yarns – there was much excitement about it this afternoon. I have decided to take the plunge and use my own hand-dyed yarns for it per the photos below. Our lovely Saturday girl Rowan helped me choose the colours, but I am still waiting to make the final decision. I am very much looking forward to casting on. For those of you who might be unfamiliar with the concept, a Knitalong involves everyone starting the same pattern on the same day. Once you have cast on you will work at your own pace, but it is helpful to have several other people who are doing the same thing so that any issues with the pattern, if there are any, can be easily sorted out. We hope that you will join us in this venture – I think it will make a nice summer top. It is knitted in 4 ply and needs 200g to 300g of the main colour and 100g of the contrasting one. As well as the colour work, it has a bit of lace at the collar and sleeves, so lots of techniques to play with! The designer, Caitlin Hunter, writes very easy to understand patterns as well.
I think I also ought to give you all a heads up that the shop will be closed on 2, 3, 4 and 5 June, reopening on 6 June. I will be in the Hebrides, sailing again! Here’s hoping the weather is a bit better this year.