I don’t know about anyone else, but I am not terribly sorry that August has arrived and the end of summer is in sight. Usually summer does not seem long enough, but this year there has been too much of it. I do not do well in the heat and my garden is a sad sight, especially now that the hosepipe ban has been put in place. People wander into the shop and leave again, too hot to even think about wool and who can blame them? Luckily my shop is such a cool space – generally about 10 degrees below the outside temperature in summer. We will not think about what it is like in winter!
This blog is my monthly, ‘what’s on’ round up with a little glimpse into September for good measure. Firstly, our Social Stitchers Sessions this month are on the following dates:
Tuesday 4 August 11am to 1pm
Tuesday 11 August 2pm to 4pm
Saturday 15 August 2pm to 4pm
There will not be a Tuesday evening session this month. I have decided to stop doing evening sessions for the time being, as they are not terribly well attended and the shop is not very cosy in the winter months! I am planning to start up a monthly evening session in another venue, such as a pub, but am having trouble deciding where would be good. If you have any suggestions, let me know!
We still have spaces on the courses we are offering in August.
Learn to Knit Socks on Double Pointed Needles starts on 8th August – this is a four week course of one hour sessions from 4 to 5pm on Saturday afternoons. You will learn to knit a sock on double pointed needles – we will guide you carefully through the process from the cuff to the toe and once you have mastered it, there will be no holding you back!
Learn to Crochet Granny Squares starts on 29 August – over three hours on a Saturday morning you will learn how to crochet a granny square – one of the key elements of crochet – once you can do one of these, there will be no holding you back!
We are also hosting a Drop Spindle Workshop, taught by the fabulous Theresa from the Spinning Barn on 5 September. This is your chance to master the ancient art of hand spinning – a technique which has remained the same since antiquity. It would be great if you could join us!
From August, we are introducing a new ‘Help with my Knitting’ option. If you would like help with a tricky bit of knitting, we will need you to book a time with us which you can do by email or phone. This will usually be on a Friday or Saturday when there are two of us in the shop. The first hour will be free, but if more time is needed, we will charge £20 per hour.
On the 10th August the much-needed works to our roof are commencing. This means that there will be scaffolding up outside the shop, and we apologise for any inconvenience. Both the Yarn Shop and Fakenham Gallery and Framers will be open as usual throughout – so please do not be put off. The works mean that the rain (when it comes again) will no longer be dripping on Shane, and the roof is being felted and insulated, which I very much hope might help with the temperature in winter although I may be being too optimistic.
In Fakenham, we have the Fakenham Arts Festival going on all August – there are so many lovely pieces of art in the shop windows of the town and various events have been planned by Active Fakenham who are organising it. Also, a reminder that the monthly Fakenham Food Market is on Saturday 8 from 9.30 to 1.30. Come and sample the delicous treats that are available, from cake to gin!
Looking a little bit forward, Mandy and I are planning all sorts of fun from a Winter Retreat at the end of January to a special Christmas Luxury Box of Delights which which will be delivered to you in time for Christmas. There will be our annual anniversary party and a Christmas Cast On. We have Stephen West’s Mystery Knit Along in October and I am lining up some new ranges for the Autumn/Winter season as well.
However, my grandma always said that you should not wish time away. So I hope you enjoy whatever you have planned for August!
