As readers of this blog will by now know, I like to include a photo especially if it involves colour. So this was taken in Norfolk a couple of weeks ago - but more about that below.
Firstly, some news about upcoming events. I'm teaching a workshop at Stag & Bow, 'purveyors of craft, history and haberdashery' in Forest Hill, south London on Sunday 7th October from 10am - 2.30 and there are still places available. The workshop will include demonstrations of the finishing techniques used in A Handknit Romance, such as knit and crochet edgings, beading and embroidery on knit. I will have samples from the book with me. See here for more information.

Then, from October 11th - 14th I will be at the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace, London on the Tall Yarns stand - selling copies of A Handknit Romance. I will have samples from the book and am happy to chat about them and the book. I will also have the Persuasion cardigan (see previous post) and pattern.
AND I will have some new designs which I am working on at the moment! More about them nearer the time -  but think 'colour'!
The above photo was taken at Blakeney Point a National Nature Reserve in Norfolk.
'Wide open spaces and uninterrupted views of the natural and dynamic coastline make for an inspiring visit to Blakeney, at any time of the year.The moving tides, covering pristine saltmarsh or exposing the harbour, combined with the varying light of Norfolk's big skies, create an ever-changing scene.Blakeney Point, a 3-mile-long sand and shingle spit, is a paradise for all kinds of wildlife.'(from the website)

It was a friend's birthday and his wife rented The Watch House (seen here) for a surprise party. The Watch House is a remote building on the saltmarshes of Blakeney and has been used by coastguards, smugglers (maybe), the army and the Girl Guides over it's 190 year history. It's a small, very basic building, with a great upstairs room accessible only by ladder which can be used for bird-watching. As you can see from the photo (taken as we were leaving at dusk to walk 45 mins along the beach in the dark to the nearest car-park. The small dot of colour next to the house is the barbecue - the only source of light for the people staying there, as there is no electricity!) An absolutely beautiful spot, you really get a sense of what is meant by the 'big skies' of Norfolk.

Finally managed to finish writing the pattern for my new cardigan design! So let me introduce you to Persuasion Cardigan (named after the Jane Austen novel - which I happen to be reading - and suggested by a  Ravelry group member who thought the shape very 'Regency') it is now available to buy from Ravelry, and it will be available from the website too, when I have time to sort it all out. These things take an awfully long time to do - if you want everything to look good, and if - like me- it takes ages to switch your brain from one thing (writing patterns) to another ( using photoshop)!
Anyway, here are a couple of images of the cardi modelled by my gorgeous niece Kayleigh. More to follow soon (and on the Ravelry page)

Well, Fibre East - like Woolfest - turned out to be a success, despite horrible weather! It was mainly mud this time, inside as well as outside the tents. However, this didn't put anybody off - it was just dirty feet after all - and it was again lovely to meet everyone who visited the stand, (especially those who bought the book!).

This is my small corner of the Tall Yarns stand, with the Lace Blouse reknitted in Juno (see Support page), but with swatches of Tall Yarns Cash lace fine and Cash/silk lace pinned to it, as either of these could be used too.
Meanwhile Linda at Tall Yarns has some lovely shades in the Soliloquy Sock Lace, with which I've knitted my new cardigan.

For everyone who's waiting for the cardigan pattern to be put on here, many apologies, but I'm still waiting for it to come back from the pattern grader. I will give more news next week.And for those who haven't yet seen it - here is a preview.

Meanwhile, here are my feet at Fibre East. I'm wearing the shoes that I bought for the model to wear in the photoshoot for A Handknit Romance. I wanted to tone down the overwhelming prettiness of the garments with some funky shoes. I bought the shoes in my size (UK 7) thinking that the model would have similar sized feet - but it turns out she had size 5's (I think it does show!)

Fibre East

Just a very quick post to say that I will be at the Fibre East show in Bedford this Saturday and Sunday(14th and 15th June) on the Tall Yarns stand, selling copies of A Handknit Romance. I will have some of the items from the book with me and will be glad to recommend yarns from the stand that can be used as substitutes to knit them.

Had a great time at Woolfest - despite torrential downpours! The show itself is held in a huge livestock shed outside Cockermouth (which I didn't actually get to see). Mixed in with stallholders selling yarns, fleeces, books, patterns etc. were sheep and goats - which sounds weird, but was really nice.
The people at the show were all in good spirits and very friendly, and excited just to be there.Plus I sold nearly all my copies of the book. Hurrah!
I stayed with friends in Penrith and on Sunday we drove to Ullswater in the Lake District, where I took these photos. Beautiful landscape, despite the constantly changing weather. The clouds in this photo look as if they're painted.

And here is a picture of the Ullswater ferry.

 

Photos of the new cardi design (shown at Woolfest) coming very soon!

Firstly, some news. I'm going to be at Woolfest in Cumbria on June 22nd and 23rd, a festival celebrating all things wool-related - featuring spinning, dyeing, knitting - and sheep! I've never been before and am intrigued - apparently people come from abroad to this show. Partly, I'm sure, because it is in such a beautiful part of the country.
I'm going to be on the Tall Yarns stand - I used their Baby Alpaca Cashmere 4ply sock yarn for the Lace Shrug in my book - and am designing a new pattern for a cardigan in their Soliloquy 3 ply sock lace to go with the Lace-edged Camisole.
I will be selling copies of A Handknit Romance and will have some of the garments from the book with me. So if you are at Woolfest, come along and see me!

Lucy Hammond (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Lucy Hammond (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to the Royal College of Art Graduate Fashion Show. This is because for the last few years I have taught a one day workshop on hand-knitting to the first year fashion knitwear and textiles students as part of a project for Rowan Yarns. The two students featured here were both in the class last year and I was delighted to see how fantastic their final collections were. They both happened to be delightful too! I love Lucy's use of colour and the felt hats shaped like 1920s flapper bobbed hairstyles. I'm sure they're both destined for great things - and I wish them well.

 

Rachael Hall (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Rachael Hall (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Just a quick reminder that I will be at Loop in Islington this coming Saturday. I am taking a workshop based on embellishment techniques from my book A Handknit Romance,  from 1-5pm (I believe there are still places available) Before (from 12.15) and afterwards I will be in the shop and available to answer questions and sign copies of the book.

Meanwhile here is a gratuitous photo of the Jubilee celebrations, taken by me on the Thames on Sunday. I was lucky enough to be at the Oxo Tower - tickets only! - and had a great view of the river. Unfortunately I forgot to charge the batteries in my camera, so this is one of the only photos I got - before the flotilla arrived. The crowd are looking away from the river - at a giant TV screen to the left. The lady in the crown was not - as far as I am aware - a member of the royal family.