Stepping out of the Attic

In my day to day life I spend much of my time alone, either at home or in my studio at Coopers Cafe. I don't mind this, not at all, in fact I really adore my quiet life and love that I can pretty much organise my days as I please. Having said that, I do enjoy a little change of scenery from time to time and every so often I like to step out of my solitary Attic life and engage with other creative yarny folks. Sometimes it's just for a day, and sometimes it involves an overnight stay away, and it always, always makes me feel very excited.

As part of the Stylecraft Blogstars team, I am fortunate enough to get a twice yearly invite to spend time at the mill enjoying a concentrated amount of yarny chat and pleasure. I look forward to it so much, it's guaranteed to be inspirational on so many levels, and it's always huge fun getting to spend time with other crochet and knitting bloggers/designers who have become good friends over the years. I've lost count of how many times I've visited the Stylecraft mill now, but it never fails to impress. It's huuuuuuge! A tall, solid building, steeped in history and full of character. We get to ride the cranky old industrial elevator right to the top floor which is where the design team work, and where visitors are made to feel very, very welcome.

I was there a few weeks ago, on a blustery, wild and wet weekend here in Yorkshire. We were gifted the pleasure of an overnight stay in a nearby hotel so it was only a short jaunt to the mill on the Saturday morning. I adore walking into this light and airy room with its wooden floors, rustic brick walls and huge windows with glorious views over the surrounding countryside. But it's always the yarny colour which steals the show every single time, oh it's just fabulous!! I didn't take many photos on my camera, but I did snap a few pictures to share on my Attic24 Instagram Stories which I thought you might like to see.

We generally begin the day with a cuppa and a bit of a show and tell sesh which is always a gasp-worthy event. There is so much talent gathered around the table as you would expect from a giddy tribe of colour-loving yarny designer types.

Lucia {Lucias Fig Tree blog} had three blankets to show us - you can see two of them above look. She is holding up her "January Blues" blanket, and on the table is her completed "Havana CAL" blanket. Both show her exuberant love of colour and pattern and are absolutely breathtaking in real life.

Phil {The Twisted Yarn blog} shared her recently finished knitted picture. The word "picture" doesn't remotely describe the magic that came forth from her needles to create this intricate yarny waterscape. Honestly, this girl is a genius with pattern and yarn, and this is a truly unbelievable work of yarn art. You can read more about it {here}

The morning moves on with a full presentation given to us by the Stylecraft team which tells us about the seasons ahead (in this case we are looking at Spring/Summer 2019). The start of the presentation gives a general overview of the trends which will be featuring in both the yarns and the garment and accessory designs. I am fascinated by the idea of "trend forecasting", and even though it isn't something that carries any weight with regards to my own projects, I just really enjoy seeing sources of inspiration, creative trains of thought, background stories and ideas, and general creative workings in action.

Stylecraft shared two trends which they are using to inspire their yarns and pattern collections this coming season.....want some inside info on what these are????

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Tribal Eccentric :

"a clashing soft & strong colour palette that focuses on vibrancy. This palette has hints of folk-inspired colours reminiscent of tribal textiles that temp a new rhythmic dialog that oozes mystery. Loose lightweight shapes that dance with playful spirit, layers of lace boldly smudged with strong textures that incorporate exuberance and energy."  

Does't that sound amazing? I love how the words and the colours conjure up an overall feeling so that you can begin to picture what sort of knitted garments and decorative details might come from these ideas.

Radiant Romance :

"A sumptuously soft palette of pastels that give a watery fluid feeling. Blush pinks blend with soft lilacs and periwinkles to create a feminine romance that lead into stronger fresh pigments that bring together a more interesting perspective for the use of colour. A compelling blend of man made and natural fibres teamed together with open pointelle structures, simple elegant silhouettes that drape beautifully against the body."

Oh yes, I can imagine this, can't you? It sounds dreamy!! 

The remainder of the morning is spent oooohing and aaaaahing and squishing a huge pile of delicious new Stylecraft yarns. Some of these are absolutely brand spankin' new to the market, and some are additional colours added into existing ranges. It all feels very exciting I can tell you, like the best kind of secret inside intel! I've already shown you the new Special DK colours, and my friend Helen wrote a great blog post outlining the other yarn newbies if you wish to see what they are ((here)).

After lunch we are treated to an informal creative workshop led by one of the Stylecraft team. In the past we've learnt how to do basic Tunisian crochet, how to work colour pooling (which I failed spectacularly at) and how to make Dorset Buttons (LOVED doing these). During this last meet up we learnt how to fold and stitch our own notebooks which was surprisingly therapeutic - it's lovely to make something useful which also has major decorative possibilities I think. We were told in advance that this is what we would be doing, and encouraged to create a cover for our notebooks which are A5 size (like a piece of A4 printer paper folded in half).

I decided to make some little crochet flowers and leaves and stitch them to some pretty pale pink wool felt - I really like how my idea took shape and must make time to finish off the stitching. My handmade notebook is currently sitting on my desk looking forlorn and bare, it needs it's floral cover *adding to my to-do list*

Our next Stylecraft Blogstars meet up is in July and promises to be very special indeed with some extra special tea-party-shaped celebrations. I'm already excited for it, I told you I don't get out much.

Very occasionally my life seems to get extra busy all at once, and hot on the tail of the Stylecraft weekend I found myself packing up all my blankets and preparing for another trip away from the Attic. This time I was heading in the opposite direction out of Yorkshire and into Cheshire, to a shop that I have wanted to visit for many years.

Black Sheep Wools is a fabulous local yarn shop - well, truthfully it's very much more than a shop and is known fondly as The Craft Barn. Sara who owns and runs this well established family business asked me if I would like to be a guest there, to hang out with my crochet blankets and spend the day chatting to customers and eating cake.....what's not to like about that invitation?! With the exception of my role at Yarndale it's not often that I choose to do these kind of events as I am generally a quiet, introverted type and busy public things are a challenge for this solitary Attic dweller. 

I needn't have worried though - I was made to feel so very welcome as soon as I walked in the door, and surrounded by colourful yarn and my beloved blankets I very quickly settled in and felt at home.

The other great thing about the day was getting to spend it with my good friends - those two cheeky rascals with me in the photo above had agreed to come and keep me company for the day. On the left is Emma Varnam and on the right is Christine Perry (AKA Winwick Mum), and they came to Black Sheep Wools to be very famous doing author-ish things and signing their books alongside me and my blankets.

photo credit : Emma Varnam

Emma is probably best known for her Cute Crocheted Animals but she has recently published a brand new book called  "Crocheted Succulents", which as the name suggests is a brilliantly written and humorous project book designed to help you crochet your very own indoor yarn garden. You can read more about the inspiration behind the book on Emma's blog ((here))

Many of you will know Christine already as she is responsible for my own personal sock knitting journey and I know many of you have also taken up sock knitting using her fabulous beginners tutorials. She published her second sock knitting book last Autumn and visitors to Black Sheep Wools were able to tap into Christine's vast knowledge about all things Sock related.

This was the calm before the storm (well less of a storm and more of a tidal wave of yarn enthusiasm) - we were all set up and ready for the day to unfold.

Oh, it really did unfold in style! The day was tremendously busy from start to finish with a huge number of ladies (and gents) travelling to see me and my friends, and to enjoy the hospitality and charm of the award winning Craft Barn. When I say charm, I'm really meaning yarn with a side helping of tea and cake (there is a cafe actually inside the Craft Barn, how perfect is that?!). It's one of those places where you could happily spend a whole day - in fact Sara encourages you to stay as long as you feel like and there are squishy sofas and little knitting/reading/crochet nooks dotted all around the shop. There is also cake, did I mention that? I sampled not only the most delicious home made Yorkshire Ginger Parkin, but also a generous slab of the most divine Coconut and Lime cake which hit the sweet spot like you wouldn't believe.

It's hard to describe the true scale of Black Sheep Wools, but when they tell you it's the UK's largest yarn shop they aren't exaggerating - it's humungous! I took the above photo to show you the racks of Stylecraft Special DK, don't they look scrumptious?

This is the Rowan Flagship area - Black Sheep carries a large number of different yarn brands, from familiar favourites to more unusual and exclusive choices. There's Christine and Emma look, taking advantage of the sofa comfort at the end of a busy, busy day.....we were all a little exhausted I have to say!

At the start of the day, my crochet blankets (all fourteen of them?) were folded oh-so-neatly on the table, stacked and draped in a way that made me feel rather proud of all my years of blanket making. They always look so good when I see them all together, a happy fiesta of colour and pattern and cosy comfort.

By the end of the day, the table ↑↑↑ resembled a glorified rummage sale (albeit a colourful, creative one), and it did make me laugh! My blankets received a lot of love and touchy-feely admiration and I was so happy to learn that a good many ladies decided to set off on a new blanket journey of their own, inspired by my creations. I met some truly beautiful people at Black Sheep Wools, so much kindness, kinship and good spirit. Bravery too, I heard first hand how colour and crochet has helped people rise above life's worries and struggles. I felt humbled and so grateful for this wonderful yarn community I am lucky to be a part of.

So if you took the time to come and see me there - ((THANK YOU)) - I had such a wonderful day.

Here we are look, a little weary at the end of it all, but very happy smiles all round.

Sara, Emma, the Attic Lady and Christine.

If you are ever up north and in the Cheshire area, I can highly recommend a detour to this wonderful shop (directions and practical details are HERE). Don't forget there is tea and cake as well as yarn....you won't be disappointed with either and you will be made very welcome.

Last week I took some time to write up a little Q&A interview for Black Sheep Wools, gosh I did get a bit carried away (sorry-not-sorry) and wrote rather a lot of long winded answers to some really great questions. I talked about many things, including the start of my crochet journey and the very first project I ever made (granny squares for my first blanket, shown above).

If you fancy a read, I suggest you maybe grab yourself a cuppa first and settle yourself somewhere comfy...!!

((Black Sheep Wools and Attic24 interview))

Thanks so much for reading, I hope I haven't bored you too much?! 

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Comments

[Bonnie]

All those Stylecraft Balls at The Craft Barn!!!! I can only order them online here in Australia so I just wanted to jump into that picture and squish them and see them all ‘in person’. I enjoy these yarny blog posts so much. Thanks for sharing Lucy 😊

[Laura Walker]

I tried to 'subscribe' to your blog by clicking on the link (above where it says "powered by typepad") and it takes me to a weird page full of computer code (I think?). Is there another way to follow your blog? I'm in the USA also, and don't know what 'typepad' is, but if I need to do some extra steps, please let me know. Thanks!

[Kristine Schipp]

#craftycath said it before I got here - Lucy, you're an inspiration to thousands... I doubt they'd follow you if you were boring. Boring is LACKING inspiration... you're like one of your blankets, huggy (as long as it's ok!), colourful, softly comfy, brilliant, an adventure in meandering and inclusive. Love it all, and you. Keep on keeping on xxx

[lisa cullen]

HI Lucy

It was lovely to meet you on Saturday and see all your blankets up close. I am glad your family had not been left without any squishy loveliness while you were out and about but bet they were glad to have you and the rest of the blankets home

Lisa xx

[Angela - Southern USA]

Sounds like a wonderful time and so inspiring I'm sure! Have a fab weekend! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Mary W]

Thanks for sharing what seems like a really fun day with plenty of inspiration. I see a picture of a dream blanket that you have made - it is a wavy pattern of greens and browns but is mostly hidden behind the Attic 24 Black Sheep pamphlet. Is it also shown again in the second to last picture with the 4 women looking so happy? It isn't all green and brown but has some purples, also? That is a blanket I would love to make - wonderful waves of color but I would choose only greens and browns. If possible could you let me know about this blanket? Is is one of your CALs? Do you have instructions? A list of colors? Oh my it is certainly my dream blanket.

[Elise]

Sounds like you've been very busy! I just placed my first order of Stylecraft yarns at your recommendation and I can't wait to try them! They have so many beautiful colors! You are never a bore and I love reading your blog!

[CJ]

What a wonderful couple of days away. The Craft Barn looks absolutely blissful. Yarn, cafe, cake, more yarn. Happy sigh. Glad you had a good time.

[Postcard from Gibraltar]

Black Sheep Wools is a short hop from my parents home, and gets a visit whenever I’m over for a visit. I put a pin in the map there for Gibraltar! So glad you had a fun time there.

[sew]

Delighted to meet up again after all this time, Lucy. My granddaughter was very impressed that her Grandma knew someone famous!

[Jacqui]

I see an Attic24 blog and stop everything as I just have to read it NOW ha ha
Such a lovely post again! How do you do it?
I haven't got time to do the links but certainly shall later so exciting...
Planning a corwall seasidey themey blanket using the sweet pea pattern as I love it so much.
Thankyou for your lovely blog

[Fiona M]

What a fabulous day out at Stylecraft! I love that red jumper that looks like it's made from granny squares, on the dummy in the second Stylecraft photo.
Do you know anything about it? Looks like something from a Gustav Klimt painting.

[Shelley Corcoran]

Hi Lucy, loved your interview so much. Fabulous read. Thank you for sharing so much personal information. So generous! So addicted to everything you do. Amazing!

[Linda Lovick]

Loved this! Thank you so much, Lucy ❤️ xxx

[Lizzy Dillingham]

I don't crochet but I love your blog, your color sense and ideas inspire me always. I do have a question, on the Romantic trend palette, I do not see watery soft pastels and blush pinks [isn't blush pink a very pale hint of pink?] , instead I am seeing rather clashing brights and two dull neutral battleship greys. Very confusing, is it my monitor

lizzy?

[wendy]

Fabulous Lucy just fabulous so thoroughly enjoyed xoxo

[Janet Bennett]

How I loved reading your blog Lucy, you always set my heart a'leaping and a'dancing what with all the colours and the vibrancy and the yarny bliss! Thank you for sharing your life and your thoughts, they are always uplifting and touching and they often move me very much. There must be many who would say the same, cheered by your blogs. So again, thank you. :-) xxx

[Donna Philpott]

I agree exactly with Crafty Cath, above.

[Sue Floyd]

Hi Lucy! I'm in the USA but this yarn shop sounds fabulous. I just love your descriptions! Your blogs are always wonderful. Thanks for all you share with us.
Sue

[Julie Harrison]

Great to meet you at Black Shbep, the place was buzzing. You were just off for a well needed lunch break when we chatted. Great to meet Emma and have her sign mu Cute Crocheted Animals book. I finally plucked up courage to have a go at socks and, with Christine's help, chose sticks (including a round stick) and some very bright stripey yarn. Shan't let the socks get in the way of my Moorland though! Hope you lovely ladies enjoyed a glass or two of wine together that evening! Again, great to meet you all xxx

[Michelle]

It was a joy to meet and chat with you and visit the shop for the first time. I live so close to the store as well, it's just convincing the husband to keep taking me back.

I'm glad it was a good day for you, there was little doubt the store had a good day everyone was loaded up with lots of colourful yarn goodies.

[Winwick Mum]

What great fun we had - and what a busy day! That cake was very well-deserved! :) xx

[Crafty Cath]

never boring - always inspiring :)