The Traveling Stitch

The Big Bus Tour

We were out there all morning, touring London from the top of a bus, seeing more of it than I've ever seen before.  The view going North on London Bridge was just splendid in the sunlight, today.  I didn't take  pictures.  I just wanted to soak it in, and I foresee a week in London in my future. 

I haven't said much about our group.  We are a diverse bunch:  a French translator and primo roommate; a computer whizz; the famous designer; a retired social worker and a full contingent of authoritative retired school teachers to keep us all in line.  Somehow, we've managed to finish the trip without killing each other, or causing an international incident. 

We tried to figure out what the high point of the tour was, and it was difficult to come up with a "favorite".  I liked it all -- the literary stops, the workshops, the yarn opportunities -- all grand.  I have a list of places where I'd like to go back, and more things I'd like to do.

Tomorrow, we head for Heathrow and Toronto tomorrow afternoon, then on to Dallas and home.  I'll have more pictures to show, more tales to tell.  Maybe Tuesday?

Good knitting,

MEM

Big knitting needles at the K&S Show.

Friday Night in London

We spent another half day at the Knitting and Stitching Show, and I've spent the day trying to decide how best to explain it.  It's probably best to say from the start that it is HUGE!  The famous "Traveling Judy's," whose judgment I trust in such things, assure me that in terms of actual size it is about four times the size of Stitches.  They hasten to say, however, that in terms of knitting -- it's about the same. 

Trouble is, all the crafts are mixed in together.  You can't just take in the knitting wing, and maybe look up the braiders elsewhere.  They're all mixed up.  I don't mean that to imply that we knitters shoulld shun the beading or stumpwork folk, but it would make it easier to pursue one's own interest. 

Thus, a handfull of pictures just won't do it justice, but I tried to take some representative shots today, (in between buying a few lovely little thingies,) so we'll just make the rounds.

There are fashion shows.  This one was a showcase of the yarn marketed by "Elle", a South African company.  They bouncy young models did their best to highlight the garments knit from Elle yarns.

I'm not sure what the hats signified, but they all wore them.

Men's styles weren't neglected.

There were a number of young women in the crowd, and the hooted and whistled at this model, named Dylan, who seemed to enjoy it.

There was plenty of "art knitting," also known as "knitting gone wrong"!

This was a winner in the student designer contest -- a different take on cables.

This student contest winner was a study in gauge, starting from a huge gauge at the hem, to the proverbial "bullet-proof" gauge for the bodice. 

This was the display at the booth of one of our old friends from "Scottish Skeins and Skerries Tour" days -- Jamieson's of Sandness.  It's official now that they have cobweb lace yarn available, and I'll be trying it out.  I'll report, later.

One of our tour members happily enhancing his stash.

Items made with the new laceweights.

A sweater.

We got reacquainted with Eva Lambert of Shilasdair, located on the Isle of Skye.

The Debbie Bliss Booth.

Ms. Bliss herself (purple jacket, turned away).

Batik:

Japanese Embroidery.

Braidmakers.

The Feltmakers were popular.

There were many, many young girls from school there in their uniforms.  One of the finest parts of the show for me was moving around and talking to some of them.  In general, the school girls were there for the knitting, although a few were interested in beading and sewing.  Those in attendance came in many different stitching stripes.  A few of the school girls did say that they came only because their teacher had them come.  Loads of them sat down in the "Relax and Knit" area and learned for the first time, taking a scarf home with them, in many instances.  All of them won't be determined knitters, I'm sure, but a fair number will.  Some of this table full of girls may go on to be a great knitter or designer, who knows?

Tomorrow's our last day in London, and i'll be doing the tourist thing.  There should be some pictures tomorrow night.

Good knitting,

MEM

The London Knitting and Stitching Show

Last week, we went into the highways and hedges, compelling folks to sell us yarn.  This week, they've come to us, in a manner of speaking.  Whatever kind of stitchery you want, (or don't), chances are excellent that it is represented here.  Sometimes, I think the definition of stitchery is used pretty loosely, but it's all there.  This post will be just a broad overview, with more details on the yarns and knitting, tomorrow.

The line was formed before the stalls even opened.

We waited patiently for the doors to open.  The stalls in this area were primarily for the many guilds whose demonstrations and goods abounded.  There were numerous skilled craftspersons.

Bobbin lace making was prominent.

And the beautiful result:

Some pretty bobbins:

The handknitters were there, of course.

Quilters:

Japanese fabrics:

A multitude of stalls awaited us in The Great Hall.

There was yarn in pilse, stacks, shelves, baskets, boxes -- any spare receptacle!

The battery's complaining, so more details tomorrow.

Good knitting,

MEM

Colinette and Beyond

On Monday, we loaded up the coach and headed for Cardiff in Southern Wales, with just a couple of stops on the way.  In the morning, we arrived in the small village of Llanfair Caereinion in mid-Wales for a visit at the mill shop of Colinette Sainsbury.  Our coach driver said the baggage compartment became niticeably heavier there. 

I think the main descriptive term used regarding this stop was -- "overwhelming".  It was a kaleidoscope of color -- everywhere.

There was more:

And then this:

And of course, this:

And don't forget this:

Now you know, Colinette isn't usually my cup of tea, but even I was able to enhance my stash a bit with enough of her Skye yarn for three vests:

The great lady herself didn't deign to come out and talk with us, but we didn't hold it against her.  After eating our sack lunches packed for us by the hotel, we headed to Cardiff in earnist. 

But then it was tea time.  For tea, we stopped at the former home of the late Laura Ashley, now a 5-star hotel.  Sir Bernard Ashley has started a fabric printing business (completely apart from the Laura Ashley, Ltd.), and we were able to see the digital fabric printers at work, and the shop.

The shop:

Inside:

The hotel:

The tea consisted of yummy fruit scones with clotted cream and black current jam, tea and coffee.

Idle knitters enjoying their tea:

There were still some flowers left in the garden.

And a few roses were left:

So, stuffed with scones, we went on to Cardiff, an interesting multi-cultural coastal city in Wales.  There weren't a lot of fiber opportunities there, but we enjoyed a free day, and some fantastic seafood. 

We parted with Janet, one of our group members, this morning.  She had joined the group in York, and stayed until today, when she had to leave to oversee her household moving arrangements.  Janet is a most interesting person, and we all thoroughly enjoyed having her with us.  She left us with the following poem:

(With Apologies to W. Wordsworth)                                                                                          

• I wandered lonely as a cloud
• That floats on high, o'er vale and hills,
• Till all at once I met a crowd
• With quite fantastic knitting skills,
• Within the bus, upon their knees,
• Winding and casting on with ease.
• Continuous as the spider spins
• Her web, so intricate and fine,
• Each member with her knitting pins
• Produced a favourite design:
• Socks, jacket, scarf or sweater warm
• In yarns of varied shade and form.
• In Yorkshire dale, on Cumbrian fell,
• In Welsh cwm we met sheep and oats
• And swiftly learned the way to tell
• Their different shapes and fleecy coats
• The magic which a spinning wheel
• Can wrest from wool so rough to feel
• As I head north, each one of you
• Will flash upon my inward eye.
• I only wish that I could view
• The dreams in wool I saw you buy
• So, many blessings as we part --
• You're firmly knitted in my heart.

Copyright 2005 Janet Paine, All Rights Reserved -- Used by Permission.

The poem was enclosed in this delightful card:

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

So, missing dear Janet, today (Wednesday) we made our triumphal entry into the Great City -- London.  It's my favorite city in the whole world.  It's a bit rainy but that won't deter us a bit from our foray to Alexandra Palace tomorrow, and the Knitting and Stitching Show.  I'll report, as usual.

Good knitting -- particularly in London!

MEM

Little Nell

We ended our saga abruptly yesterday, with Bob, who likes to drink dirty water out of puddles, getting ready to show off his daughter, Nell.  Here she is:

Shes adorable, and extremely friendly.  Nell's just starting her training, attempting to follow in the paws of her illustrous father, Bob, and her mother Gwen, another top notch herd dog.  She loved being petted and ooh'd and ahh'd over by the group.

After bidding adieu to Nell and Bob -- oh, and their master too, we headed for Llandudno (pronounced something like "Chlandudno"), a coastal resort town in the Victorian mode. 

We stayed in a lovely old hotel where the food and service were wonderful.  You could walk out by shops, and go on the beach. 

There were several places in the old "Grand Hotel" Mode.

When I say "Victorian", I really mean it.

Even Agnes was affected by it...

"Help me -- I'm surrounded by chintz!"

There were a number of old tapestries right in the hotel.

In spite of the waning season, they hadn't neglected the flowers.

Speaking of tapestry:

Sunday was a free day, but we had the option of going to the Elizabeth Bradley shop on the Isle of Anglesey.  It was formerly Ms. Bradley's home, and has been turned into the shop, since she has retired elsewhere in the area.

One of our group is an avid needlepointer, so he was in absolute heaven, here.

The view from the front door:

After our visit at Ms. Bradley's, we had a lovely dinner, then went to a rehersal of one of the traditional Welsh mens choirs, whose name I can neither pronounce nor spell.  They were readying songs for a competition in Ireland, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. 

Next:  On to Colinette and Elanbach.

Good knitting -- all around.

MEM

Over Hill and Dale

We're back online after a couple of days without wireless.  On Saturday morning, we loaded up our stash enhancements and with the help of our intrepid coach driver Dave, Sr., we headed for Wales.  Just in case you think you've seen every possible shade of green -- you might want to check out Wales.  I've noticed shades I never before knew existed.  It is the land of green, streams, sheep and unpronounceable names. 

For lunch on Saturday, we stopped at a place called Ewe-phoria, where they were ready for us with a lovely lunch of broccoli and stilton soup. 

It was a rustic setting, and we enjoyed recorded music by a traditional Welsh male choir, as we ate.

After lunch, we proceeded to the "theater" where we were introduced to several breeds of sheep, common in Wales.

This is a Herdwick sheep.

The hardy Welsh Mountain Sheep. (He was very friendly.)

The lady in front is a Hebredean sheep of a very ancient breed.  The youngster in back of her is her five month old mixed breed son.

A much nicer fellow than he appears to be.  I don't recall the breed.

The show lasted about 45 minutes, and things got quite tense.  Agnes took quite a shine to a couple of those rams, and I was relieved when we could go outside and watch Bob the dog.  She was really embarrassing.

She won't let me out of that silly knitting bag.  I'll never meet a fine young ram in there.  I had to try and make a break for it!

Agnes

Thankfully, there was plenty to do outside watching Bob the dog.  Bob is 10 years old, and his master's favorite herding dog.  He doesn't work every day, now, and may someday retire, but he loves to work -- like all herd dogs.  Here he is in action:

He could really put the sheep wherever his master indicated.  Bob has won every sheep dog competition except one.  He never touches the sheep.

He can separate out a particular sheep and bring it to his master.

Close-up of Bob.

Bob's a work-a-holic according to his master, however, he's had time to produce a lovely daughter, Nell.  I'll show you her picture tomorrow, because I"m out of battery.

Good knitting,

MEM

All Wordsworth -- No Daffodils

Plenty of other late season flowers here in Cumbria, though.  Trust the British to have plenty of flowerpots and window boxes, etc.  Every time I think I've seen the real "Last Rose of Summer," here comes another one.

These two stragglers were particularly noticeable in a garden where all the other flowers had gone.  They hung on a little longer.

After breakfast, we headed for Grasmere, and Dove Cottage.  I've always been a bit more interested in Dorothy Wordsworth, rather than William, personally.  Dorothy's diaries are splendid.  Dove Cottage didn't disappoint me.  Many of the furnishings of the illustrious inhabitants are still there, and everything has been kept closely authentic.

Our tour guide was literally bursting with information about the property and the Wordsworth's.  She reminded me how many literary lights shown there from time to time.  Southey, De Quincy and Coleridge, for starters.  Of course, photography wasn't allowed, but that's fine.  I have the pictures in my mind. 

We trundled on past several of the still, quiet lakes, to a tiny town of Calbeck, where the Wool Clip, a collaboration between about fifteen wool-centered small producers and artists is located.  After a wonderful country lunch (leek soup - yum!) we invaded the Wool Clip shop itself, fondling the yarns and choosing our purchases for the day.  I was relatively frugal today, so there's no particular stash enhancement to photograph.

We were off the coach and ready to fondle wool, like a streak!

The local knitters had some of their goods out for sale.

Even some for little folks.

They had their locally produced and hand-dyed yarns available for sale:

The proprietors of the Wool Clip just finished a great event called"Woolfest" and they are very encouraged that their work can continue.  They originally formed the cooperative when the price of wool went so low that they couldn't afford the production costs.

Here's a colorful jacket made of local hand-dyed yarn:

Back on the coach, we motored back to Kendal and our wonderful hotel.  Inspired by sufficient time to try the pool, I suited up and made for the fitness club, only to find that the water was over my head!  I don't swim in the pool, I run and do water aerobics, but it just doesn't work when one is submerged.  So, I drug myself out of the water and into the steam room, where I wallowed for quite awhile, letting my bones soak up the heat.  Ummm!

Tomorrow, we make for Northern Wales, and communications there are uncertain.  There could be a couple of days with no posting, but we'll see.  They may be just as well connected as anyone else; we just don't know.  If not, I'll surface again by Monday, certainly. 

We're going to a place called "Ewephoria," where we'll see sheep dog demonstrations, so I'll take a bunch of pictures.  Agnes is eager to see them.  She's been so foul, I put her 'way down in the knitting bag today.  Maybe she'll behave herself tomorrow. 

Good knitting -- all around,

MEM

Seen near Dove Cottage:

Thursday's Jaunt

We've had another eventful day, this time in lovely Cumbria.  In North America, we call it "The Lakes District."  The weather wasn't particularly hospitable today,, but it could have been worse.  We had mist, but not much outright rain. 

This morning, we had another fine workshop with Jean Frost, one of the most knowledgeable and generous teachers around.  We talked about finishing techniques, and focused specifically on adapting and adjusting the pattern to the individual. 

The workshop room was big and airy, and it came complete with refreshments and fresh flowers.

There was plenty of natural and artificial light. 

Even Agnes was pleased with the venue.

Someone asked about Agnes.  She came on staff at the LYSOH when I found her on Shetland in 2001.  She's never very pleasant, but I keep her around.  No, she's not Wensleydale.  Her locks aren't nearly long enough, but don't tell her I said that.

I took a break at the end of the class to work out in the gym here at the hotel.  Oh yes, I did, and it felt wonderful.  After a lovely lunch, we headed for the other side of the mountains and Mary Bell's Crookabeck Farm.  She has a  herd of angora goats

and a mixed herd of sheep including the native ancient breed Herdwick, with a few Wensleydales thrown in.

The Herdwick are particularly hardy sheep, that can stand the winters very well. 

Mary has a small farm shop, where she sells her mohair yarns, among others.  She also has locally woven and knit finished garments, wraps and blankets for sale.

Her mohair yarns were silky and just as soft as you'd expect.

I imagine that in summer, Crookabeck Farm is just brilliant with flowers, lambs and loads of kittens.  There were a few flowers left, but they won't be there for long, now.

She had a large winter vegetable garden in, so there will undoubtedly be plenty of good soups to eat.

Once winter sets in, Mary will have a lot of work replacing what we were able to liberate from her shop.  The sheep and goats were growing coats as fast as they could, and as a matter of fact, they were "making arrangements" for additional kids, even as we were visiting.  There should be plenty of kid mohair next year.

In case you wonder what happened to the lace scarf that was supposed to be showing up in the pictures, there is some work going on.  Not as much as should have been probably, but there is some.  Agnes is no use at all with it.

"She hasn't hurt herself on this one, I can tell you."

Agnes

We wound through the mountains, past Lake Windemere, eventually coming back to the hotel, where we enjoyed a lovely dinner and a quiet evening by the fireside in the pub, and that's all you need to know about that. 

There was a little uproar last evening as a couple of our senior members went for a late evening swim in the lovely pool.  They got out at about closing time, took off their suits, showered, and started upstairs only to find that the elevator was turned off.  So, they made their way outside, around the gardens and into the front entrance clad in nothing more than their raincoats!  And they'd seemed so dignified.  You just can't always tell about people, here they were fledgling flashers in the making!

Good knitting -- anywhere,

MEM

Copyright 2005 Mary English Morrison, a/k/a Little Yarn Shoppe of Horrors.  All Rights Reserved.

If This is Wednesday, It Must Be Cumbria

Today was packed with fun.  We started about 0830 from York, coaching past the River Ouse, where Virginia Woolf filled her pockets with stones and drowned herself.  (Cheery, huh?)  Eventually, we arrived in Thirsk, which will be well known to fans of "All Creatures Great and Small," as the home of James Herriott.  We went to the Herriott museum, which was actually quite nice.  Here, you can see the veterinarian himself (or at least his wax self) scanning the newspaper whilst he awaits another patient:

Here's a well-laden early twenty-first century scullery table:

That was all well and good, but then the real fun began.  We traveled on through the Yorkshire Dales to Swaledale, home of the Wensley Dale Sheep Shop.  I confess that I had completely overlooked the possibilities for this stop.

I suppose I thought that we'd see something sheared, but all the shearing had been done and the lovely wool was all dyed, spun and ready for purchase.  I was able to help with that part.

"I coulda' told you she couldn't be trusted in that wool shop."

Agnes

I didn't do a lot of damage.  Since I happen to already have Aran weight Wensleydale, I decided to focus on the lovely DK weight they had.  These will do sweaters or vests:

You can see the lovely sheen of the wool.

And this:

I love celery.  The color, not so much the vegetable.

They have wool in every stage of preparation from clip

They had the lovely wool in all stages of preparation from the clip to the skein:

To the finished product:

Beautiful cardigans, pullovers and hats knit in the shimmery wool.

They carry brilliant jewel colors in fingering weight, DK, and Aran weights, and yes, they do mail order.  I'll be putting up a resources list in the next few days, of weblinks for some of these spots. They have lovely color cards available.

 

But that isn't all.  We got back in the coach, driven by the ever patient and long-suffering Dave, and went on to the Village of Hawes, home of the Dales Country Museum.

This lovingly prepared little museum was a slice of life in the Dales.  It wasn't just about knitting, but the knitting was there.

This year is the 100th birthday of Marie Hartley, one of the authors of the book "The Old Handknitters of the Dales."  They had a special exhibition of her art, and several of her books for sale. 

In addition to the special festivities, we were given a private showing of the knitting sheaths used by the famous Dale knitters, not to mention the "Terrible Knitters of Dent."

Some are plain, some fancy.  The various Dales developed shapes of their own.

They had some knitted items:

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour through the museum.  Not only did we have the session with the curator Fiona:

The Judy's want their friends to know that they had a particularly good time today.

Fiona is in the pink shirt, left of middle.

We traveled back through time to see a lady kntting with her knitting sheath:

Isn't she sweet?

Here's a look at how she does it.  She sticks the sheath down in her belt, sticks the needle in the sheath, and knits away.  Interesting, huh?

After the museum, we traveled to Kendal, in Cumbria, where we'll have another workshop with Jean Frost in the morning, and wander through Wordsworth country.  Hoperully, we'll see more lovely pheasants, like we did today.  They were everywhere in the fields.  We saw the York horse, carved into a hill.  I'll tell you more about the first knitting workshop, since we didn't get to do that Monday. 

Good knitting -- wherever you are,

MEM

Copyright 2005 by Mary English Morrison a/k/a Little Yarn Shoppe of Horrors -- All Rights Reserved

Rowan Adventures

Yes, the traveling LYSOH is up and running in the UK as of right now.  Hunting "hot spots" isn't always as easy as it sounds.

Ok, we'll cut to the chase.  After breakfast, we traveled by our private coach to the small town of Holmfirth, where Rowan Mills Ltd., is located. 

This is the motherload, home of Magpie, Kid Silk Haze and Yorkshire Tweed.  Originally started as a source for rug yarns, the enterprising owners moved into the yarn market.  Now it's owned by Coats Spinning, and they are the design source for Rowan, Jaeger and Patons U.K.  This building is not a working mill, nor do they sell much in the way of yarns here.  They had a small section of close-outs, discontinued colors for sale.  We made do.  There are loads of books for sale.

Jane Crowfoot gave a workshop on Beading, and I actually beaded something.  I didn't think it would be too interesting for me, but I sort of got into the swing of things, and actually may complete the small bag I started.  The workshop is very well lit and spacious, very conducive to learning something new.  Ms. Crowfoot and her assistant were most hospitable.

They fed us quite well at lunch and were very attentive and receptive.   Crowfoot is their design director, who manages all the Rowan representatives in the UK distributor stores.

Here's the display of the full line of Rowan and Jaeger yarns, and most of their current books. 

This is their current Paton's UK display.

Happy knitters petting yarn.  Jean Frost, our master teacher in the foreground.

Jane Crowfoot (right) tries to quell the enthusiasm for yarn petting and get the class started!

When I asked about her name, Ms. Crowfoot divulged that she is not a Native American, as one might think, but that her name is derived from a type of buttercup flower, found in UK.  I was pretty sure from her strong British accent that she wasn't descended from Crazy Horse, but I had to ask.

A gorgeous Kaffe Fassett quilt.  Almost makes me want to take up quilting, again.

A modest addition to my stash:  Summer tweed in green, several colors for swatching, Matchmaker Fine Merino Aran, and Matchmaker Fine Merino Dk in lavendar.  These were all discontinued colors at a ridiculously low price.  We beat out the Vogue tour, which won't be here until next week.

Some current designs, displayed.

There were flowers everywhere, live and cut.

After a half day workshop, we went on our way with light hearts and heavier knitting bags.  Tomorrow, we leave York to travel through the Yorkshire Dales over to Cumbria (Lake District).  On our way, we'll stop at the museum of the Old Handknitters of the Dales.  I don't know how much photography they'll allow, but we are scheduled to be shown their collection of antique knitting. 

We headed to Upcountry, which I thought was going to be an exemplary yarn shop, but I was disappointed.   Not disappointed enough to fail to purchase the yarn for my jacket project, but disappointed, nonetheless.  It was tiny and very jumbled.  Much like a yarn rummage sale.  We managed, though.

More tomorrow.

Good knitting,

MEM

Copyright 2005 by Mary English Morrison a/k/a Little Yarn Shoppe of Horrors.  All Rights Reserved.