Back at the beginning of February, it was finally time to cash in on a Christmas gift bought for me by my beloved. You may have noticed I am rather partial to all things crafty. I can sew, I can quilt, I can crochet, and all sorts of other things besides. One glaring omission seemed to be the fact that I couldn't knit. I've pondered for years whether I wanted to learn. Did I really have time for yet another hobby? But back in my Den languished numerous vintage magazines and patterns full of the most desirable knitted garments. What's a girl to do but give it a go?
So one fine Saturday morning, off I set to Islington and that mecca of knitters, Loop, in Camden Passage. I have visited the shop quite few times before so the prospect of attending a beginners' knitting course here had me salivating.
One can't help but stop and ponder the delights in the window. I pretty much fell in love with this knitted bird. Maybe next Christmas?
I spotted a new creature designed by a textile artist I much admire and whose work you may well recognise, Julie Arkell. She also teaches workshops here, not everything is solely yarn related.
It was a treat to be let inside before the shop actually opened for business. I headed downstairs which is where the workshops are held. It's an inspiring place with lots of whacky and wonderful yarny creations on display and a large table for the seven of us to sit around. A pair of needles and a ball of yarn awaited us. Yikes! Our teacher was to be an American young lady named Meghan Fernandes (she also publishes a knitting magazine which you may know of, called PomPom). She was to prove an excellent teacher and the group being small, had enough time to give us individual attention. I was the only person who actually had zero knitting experience. Oh! Everyone else had at least had a go and ranged from the novice to the too-good-to-be-on-a-beginners'-course.
I was distracted by a rather yummy barkcloth cushion on the bench at the end of the table, accompanied by a fine ripple blanket.
I found it quite ok to understand the way one knits and purls. It took me a little while to get used to how to pass the yarn through my fingers.
Over the space of two Saturdays (three hours each time), I also managed to cast on and off. I did find it harder when I got home though. I could still manage the stitches most of the time but what I have found really hard is knowing how to correct a mistake. If you are a crocheter, you will know that if you go wrong, you simply take out your hook and unravel the yarn. Easy peasy. But with knitting? Oh dear. That seems a whole different ball game. I couldn't bear for any element of my knitted thingy to go wrong and it was most frustrating not knowing how to put things right and be able to move on. Aaaarrrgghh!
Luckily, above me there were two floors of yarntastic delights to soothe and inspire me.
I pondered what my first project might be. I liked this scarf, at least I knew I could manage the crocheted edging! Ultimately, I didn't feel confident enough to actually start a project and felt I needed more practise. Although the shop is chock-full of the most gorgeous yarn, I also didn't think it was sensible to buy anything expensive and fancy to practise with. It's not as if I am short of yarn at home!
It didn't stop me looking though.
Look at that divine rug! I think it may be the work of Nathalie Lete?
Yarn, yarn, yarn.
I did buy a book to help me on my knitting quest but I must confess, that I have not attempted to knit for weeks. Naughty. One thing I am finding hard is that there are so many other things I can do which I am better at and so give me instant gratification. I have been really busy with quilt commissions recently so that has been one thing keeping me away from the needles. I've now finished this gorgeous large Liberty Tana Lawn quilt save for adding a name patch and will post it out this week.
I have been baking for the Sport Relief efforts at school. I can bake, oh yes indeedy.
I've been baking even more to entertain some friends. We had a little afternoon tea together which was oh so nice.
And we are decorating yet again. This time it's just a little teeny tiny room on the first floor, I call it the "throne room". You probably get my drift. Teeny it may be but it's still hard to get it done on top of everything else. It has meant, however, that I've tried another little crafty project for the first time. One that has turned out rather well. It's created a little flurry of excitement on Instagram, I think it's fair to say.
I've promised to post a little "how to" in the near future so when the room is finished, hopefully not too far off now, that's exactly what I will do.
Toodle pip for now. Xxx
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