I had a wonderful time on Saturday at the Pop Up Wool Show in Port Sunlight. It was great to have space to spread out and give people room to see the different designs. Even so, there were a few times during the day when waves of people that came through and some folk had to wait or come back later to be able to get to see the stand! If you came and said hello, just had a quiet browse or even bought something – thank you! The visitors were so friendly and appreciative of the time and effort that goes into the designs and putting the stand together.
Graham from Coastal Colours did a fabulous job with the organising and it was reassuring that there was help on hand if needed to get stuff up and down the steps at both ends of the day. I’ll definitely apply to be there again next year!
My most popular pattern at last year’s Pop Up Wool Show was What Do Points Make? This summer throw-over attracted plenty of attention again this year, but the most popular pattern accolade was won this year by Jo March Scarf. I’m hoping to see some brioche scarves in the making appear on social media in the coming months.
I’ve starting knitting my own version of Lichfield. I’m knitting it in the colour of the original sample, Rosehip (the yarn is Pure DK from West Yorkshire Spinners), partly as I had some balls of yarn left over from the sample and partly because I really like it! This is Size 7 (of 10) and I’m now on the home straight with the back having completed the armhole shaping. It’s an inset sleeve design so the sleeve seams sit at your shoulder bones, hence what looks like some major decreasing from the full back width. This is one of the interesting things about grading a pattern for different sizes – whilst the full back has a range of 94-190 stitches, after the underarm shaping the stitch count range is only 80-104 stitches. People’s shoulder width doesn’t vary half so much as their chest measurement!
I’m also on the home straight with my sock design – my size 3 sample will be finished later today and the size 2 one will be started. You can see in the close up how the optional extra gusset decreases work – this helps you move down a size (or even two) between the leg and the foot if needed. I’m also pleased to say that the sock now has a name! Say hello to ‘Bodelwyddan’. This is where Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is situated and, as the socks have been designed as part of the fundraising for those who are being treated for breast cancer there by Treasure Chest YGC, and as 50% of the pattern price from sales in October will be going to this fundraising, this seemed a really appropriate name.
That’s all for today – I’m at Mum’s, and there’s a cup of tea and a game of scrabble with my name on it. I’ll have lots to tell you about Yarn Gathering next week. Until then, take care, K x