I went off on a jaunt on Saturday, the sort of jaunt that involved an early start and a happy heart.
Although I am lucky enough to have lots of time during my week for yarny pursuits and pleasures, there is something very exciting about a day stretching ahead that involves other passionate, talented and creative folk who adore yarn and colour as much as I do.
After journeying on three different trains I arrived in the land of Yorkshire Mills............
....specifically this one which has become familiar to me over the past few years. Up on the top floor of this amazing historical mill is a large, spacious, light-filled room where I was lucky enough to spend my Saturday.....
....sat around this table with the rest of the Stylecraft Blogstars. What a friendly, chatty and smart group of ladies, it was a joy to share so much yarny talk with everyone. We chatted about yarn stuff (lots and lots of yarn talk), social media stuff, blog stuff, colour stuff, our current projects and everything in between. There was yarn to squish (oh so much yarn) and cake to scoff (mmmmmmm), and all in all it was very wonderful.
We also enjoyed a technical Tunisian Crochet workshop which I found very interesting, but pretty much straight away knew this wasn't something that would be in my future. I mean, just look at me in the above picture - that is how I generally look when I'm knitting, and tunisan crochet felt much the same. Note the raised-shoulders, tensed-up, no speaking, seriousness of me there. So many stitches and so many rows for so very little crochet - Tunisian Crochet, for me, is just way way too slooooow.
One of the highlights of the day was getting to see all the knit and crochet designs that Stylecraft has created to showcase some stunning new yarns and colourways which will launch this Spring. It's always so good to feel how yarn translates into stitch and fabric, how it drapes, how it feels in your hands and against your skin, how those balls make stripes, texture and pattern.
We were also treated to a glorious show-n-tell from one of our fellow Blogstars, gosh what a lot of appreciative ooohing and ahhhing was brought on by this stunning blanket made by Lucia! It is a real beauty, made using a mixture of Stylecraft Special DK and Stylecraft Batik DK, in 22 colours. You can find all the details on her blog "Lucias Fig Tree".
And here we all are....the Stylecraft Blogstars from left to right :
Jane (Jane Crowfoot), Phil (The Twisted Yarn), Sarah (Annaboo’s House), Heather (The Patchwork Heart), Julia (Hand Knitted Things), meeeee, Helen (The Woolly Adventures Of A Knitting Kitty), Emma (Emma Varnam), Sandra (Cherry Heart), Lucia (Lucia’s Fig Tree), and Kathryn (Crafternoon Treats).
We also had two laptops in situ and two lovely faces beaming at us from around the world via Skype : Angela (Get Knotted Yarn Craft) and Zelna (Zooty Owl). Sue (Sue Pinner) we missed you!
If you don't already know of the above blogs, they are all well worth a visit.
Another yarny happening that is coming very soon is contained within that luscious stripy box there on my studio table. I have been told in no uncertain terms to behave and play by the rules which means I won't be able to show you this project in all it's colourful glory until the end of the month. But I can show you this...............
....ooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Here we have 90 shades of cotton yarn, wound into the most adorable little mini 10g balls, aren't they just too cute for words? There are actually 100 shades in total, but me being me, I was forced to remove the ten shades of black/white/grey to another box. This yarn is made by a Dutch Company called Yarn and Colors, and lucky for you, you can snaffle these little dinkies up from Wool Warehouse. Like I said, these are small 10g mini's, but there are also larger 50g balls in the same colours. This is a slightly mercerised, 4ply cotton, so quite fine to work with (think 3 mm hook), but perfect for small decorative projects.
My awesome task was to choose just nine shades and design a project for Amanda's famous Little Box of Crochet....
.....and here is a sneaky peek of the colours I picked out. Lush aren't they?!
For those of you who don't already know, Little Box of Crochet is a monthly subscription box for crochet lovers. Each month, these little boxes will bring everything you need to make a crochet project designed by some very clever hooky ladies. Everything you need to know is on the Little Box of Crochet website. I am the February designer (go me!) and subscriptions for this box are open now until the 20th February - the boxes will then be posted out to you (wherever you are in the world) shortly after that. I'll be able to show you my project as soon as Amanda lets me take the gag off - I can't wait for you to see!!
And the final bit of yarny news is this - after a tremendous amount of thoughtful deliberation, frenzied sampling and irritated frogging, I've finally worked out The Edge of the Moorland Blanket. I celebrated with a mug of cream-topped hot chocolate and a satisfied slump on the sofa.
Here's wishing you a fabulous week ahead, I hope you have plenty of happy stuff coming your way...
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A lovely yarny, colourful post - Subscription re-subscribed - can't wait for my LBC xx
Posted by: Joy | February 08, 2017 at 06:42 PM
to VP: I think what Lucy means by the 'edge of the Moorland Blanket' is the crocheted edging that goes all around the blanket once all the stripes are finished - not anything to do with the edges when you are doing the stripes. If you are having a problem with that - getting them straight? - I imagine it is to do with not crocheting into the turning chain of the previous row when you reach the end of each row, or not doing a turning chain at the start of each row rather than crocheting into the first stitch. Lucy explains all this better than I can, with photos, on her tutorial.
Posted by: Kat | February 08, 2017 at 02:01 PM
I want to lie down in that box of yarny goodness!
Posted by: jen@thecottagenest | February 08, 2017 at 01:45 PM
What a wonderful day - so envious. Love the box and well done for being a contributor.
Posted by: Carol | February 08, 2017 at 07:38 AM
Gorgeous colors for that cotton! What an amazing way to spend your Saturday!
Posted by: Sierra | February 07, 2017 at 11:13 PM
Ooooh, all those gorgeous, scrummy colours! So looking forward to the Little Box of Crochet dropping through the postbox and seeing what's inside. Thank you for the sneaky preview.
Posted by: AnnieOB | February 07, 2017 at 10:17 PM
I'm so glad you've 'finally worked out The Edge of the Moorland Blanket', how about sharing this revelation with all of us who have BOUGHT you wool pack and are struggling with this!
Posted by: VP | February 07, 2017 at 10:16 PM
ooo- never heard of the Little Box of Crochet. Thank you Lucy for telling us about this. Glad you had a day to yourself at Stylecraft - looks great fun and so social.
Posted by: Charmian | February 07, 2017 at 08:55 PM
I LOVE Tunisian crochet! I picked it up last year and did mostly all my projects in Tunisian. I wanted a knit look but knitting needles and I just don't get along.
Posted by: Anna | February 07, 2017 at 08:42 PM
Hi Lucy! You're such a good girl! Not long now till the 'ungagging'! It's very hard not to spill the beans isn't it? Especially when it's such a joyous project as yours! Loads of love, Amanda xxxx
Posted by: Amanda | February 07, 2017 at 08:42 PM
Oh, I'm not a big fan of Tunisian crochet either, but have made a couple heavy pot holders using cotton yarn and Tunisian stitch. I have the instructions on my kindle if I ever want to do it again but wouldn't ever make anything very big with it. I have to tell you my adult daughter loves your blankets and the Stylecraft yarn. I made the Cozy blanket last year and am still working on the Cupcake one, but she saw the Moorland one you are doing now and wanted me to make her one of those! She wanted her own colors though, and she picked them out from Stylecraft, lots of purples, turquoise,other blues and a few greens. The pack arrived yesterday and the yarns are just beautiful. I think I'll do it with the colors dispersed randomly throughout, but she wants the Moorland stitch pattern. I'm working on finishing the Cupcake one now, I call it my Spring blanket, but want to hurry to get to the Moorland one! I have to say I love the Stylecraft yarn for this, the price is very good and I just can't find any yarn over here as good for the price.
Posted by: Barb | February 07, 2017 at 08:12 PM
One of my most fav posts in a while. Thank you for sharing your trip to Stylecraft with us. What a fun day indeed!
Posted by: Arlene | February 07, 2017 at 07:39 PM
It was a lovely day, wasn't it? I think we were all concentrating hard whilst learning Tunisian crochet. I love the colours you picked out for the Little Box of Crochet and might just have to treat myself to the box!
Posted by: josiekitten | February 07, 2017 at 07:04 PM
Delightful colours! And the Little Box of Crochet sure sounds like a lovely idea! 😊
Posted by: Marie | February 07, 2017 at 07:04 PM
Please tell the kind folks at Stylecraft to continue to support talented bloggers like yourself. I have lots of options for yarn, living in North Carolina, (home to some fine yarn companies and lovely sheep) but have become a fan of Stylecraft due to wonderful kits I buy of your designs and others like Jane Crowfoot. I first picked up a hook about 45 years ago and this is a real golden age of crochet design and deserving of the support of the manufacturing side of things.
Posted by: Katherine Baldwin | February 07, 2017 at 05:25 PM
What a fun day you must have had, I love the blanket lucia made. That box of yarny balls looks so inspiring. I can't wait to see what you designed.
Posted by: bekki | February 07, 2017 at 04:36 PM
I would love to have been there! Living in Northern France I have nothing like that here but I have now subscribed to Little crochet Box and cannot wait for the first one to arrive. My budget is tight but it had to be done. It classes as my bit of bling!
Posted by: Aly | February 07, 2017 at 02:47 PM
That looks like an amazing day out. Also, I had no idea there were so many crochet bloggers- I need to spend some time going and looking at everyone's sites. Joanne xoxo
Posted by: Joanne | February 07, 2017 at 12:53 PM
I bought a Tunisian crochet hook, read a bit about it and then thought no, not for me either. Too complicated...give me a simple crochet hook and a ball of yarn and, well, happy days!!!! I'm so pleased Amanda asked you to do LBC...perfect connection really and Im looking forward to seeing your little colorful project. 🌈
Posted by: Sandy B (Australia) | February 07, 2017 at 09:35 AM
Most of my favourite bloggers in one photo! Unbelievable! So glad you had a lovely day x
Posted by: Heather | February 07, 2017 at 08:49 AM
How lovely to spend a Saturday with a like-minded group of ladies & I can just imagine the joy of playing with all the yarn too. Lucia's rug is lovely. Will wait patiently to see what you come up with using those little balls of cotton. I must admit that the box of colour is delicious. Love, love, love. Have a good week & take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | February 07, 2017 at 08:19 AM
So pleased that you are this months designer with Little Box Of Crochet, love these little boxes coming through the post very month. My two favourite crochet "things" rolled into one. (Sorry to call you a thing).
Posted by: M waite | February 07, 2017 at 07:03 AM
I love the 'little box of crochet' idea,in this case I live in the wrong country lol. I was born in Hull, but now live in Christchurch, New Zealand. I love your patterns, thank you for all of the time you put into them.
Posted by: Heather | February 07, 2017 at 06:13 AM
How fantastic, on all fronts! Can't wait to hear and see more!xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela-Southern USA | February 07, 2017 at 12:59 AM
Wow.. what a post! *C*O*N*G*R*A*T*U*L*A*T*I*O*N*S*!* on being named a "Blog Star" and to get to go spend the day with the others at Stylecraft! WOW! I'm impressed! Can't wait to see what your secret project is. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | February 07, 2017 at 12:48 AM