Day 2

With so much frightening stuff happening in the UK at today, I am very glad to be slightly separated from the real world at this retreat, we only have mobile reception up in the car park. So I can’t just sit and watch the news channel, so although in the greater scheme of things what we did today is probably not very important, I need it as a form of escapism and self care.

We started off with a wonderful completely adaptable shrug pattern designed by Margaret O’Mara (Crochet Classroom) made up by joining crocheted diamonds into a tumbling block formation. I just managed to finish one block in the workshop (90mins)

Second up we had Jane teaching us Tunisian Crochet Intarsia, no photos yet as I haven’t quite finished my sample, look out tomorrow for an update.

After lunch it was my turn again and I had a great time sharing how I take one border double filet/intermeshing/interlocking pattern and using a mirror as an aid creating all these patterns and samples.

I will take some better close up shots of the samples when I get home.

There is more to day two but I’m starting to drift off, more tomorrow.

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We’ve arrived

I know it doesn’t look impressive but that small hall contains some of the best crocheters I know and I have the privilege of spending the rest of the week with them sharing different skills and techniques.

I started us off this evening with just a simple ice breaker.

Just really simple recycling idea for plastic bottles, they are really good veichles for experimenting with different stitch patterns as they are basically a tube of crochet with a few eyelets.

I am looking forward to more workshops tomorrow and a rare treat of a cooked breakfast which is greatly enhanced by me not having to do the washing up afterwards.

It has been a mad couple of weeks but they have been wonderful, between going to Becca’s for a fantastic roast with the family on our anniversary, to a wedding of some old friends (more about this on another post), school uniform purchasing (shoes still to go) and of course sewing ends in on the samples for my workshops, doesn’t it always take longer than you think, I am ready for our four days away in the countryside.

I have packed, only 5 bags so far, there is still time for a bit of editing in the wool department, it’s been the same for the last eleven times I’ve been, I probably, at the very most crochet 100g of yarn over the twelve workshops but seem to end up packing a small suitcase full as I always want to be prepared for any eventuality. And then there is all the notions and hooks, reference books (as you never know if you are going to be asked an obscure crochet stitch question), note books oh and of course some clothes, this of course is before any supplies for the workshops I’m teaching. All I can say is thank heavens I’m not going to try and get there by train (thank you Ruth).

Amongst all this craziness there has been a little crafting, I’ll be able to share a lot more when I return as a lot of the crochet are samples, but there has also been a little bit of sewing.

Charting

Today I went old school and had to hand draw some crochet charts.

I usually use Stitch fiddle which is a great basic little programme, you can use the basics for free but for €3 per month you can use all the services, but unfortunately I wanted to use some very unusual stitches which they don’t have, they are always happy for any suggestions but I’m on a deadline. In the past I have used the crochet designer App which is a slightly more advanced programme, I think for crochet designers it would be great but I found it didn’t flow naturally but they have now brought out crochet designer 2 that looks a lot more user friendly and when I have a little more time I think I’ll give it a go.

I did finally get my charts done although I still didn’t find a universal symbol for one of my stitches so have had to be a bit creative, right off to scan them in and drop them into the worksheets.

Planning

So today has been about fine tuning for the Belsey Bridge Crochet retreat, I love this trip every year, it’s pretty intense, twelve workshops in roughly three days is pretty good going, we start straight after breakfast and the last workshop finishes at about 9:30pm, we do give people a couple of hours break in the afternoon, me I go and lay down in a dark room.

Well I have the privilege this year of being only one of two people who know what the workshops are, one of the long standing traditions is that each workshop is given a cryptic title so you never know what’s coming next, which means I get to work out the running order, trying to keep it evenly balanced throughout the day. The other job I have is the designated seating, we are really lucky at Belsey Bridge conference centre we have enough room in our hall to each have a table so we can leave all our things out for the four days and not have to pack up and move after each workshop, so you are sat next to the same people for the week. Its taken me most of the day to finally be happy with my seating plan, I know from experience that a workshop can be ruined by being seated next to the wrong person, in my case thankfully it was only for a couple of hours on that occasion, so I hope everyone is happy with the final results.

I am looking forward to the fresh air and the great company and will enjoy spotting the rabbits from my bedroom window.

Seven years and counting

Well seven years and one day since me and my OH exchanged vows in a beautiful garden on the Isle of Wight.

What I will always remember is the way all our friends and family came together to make it such a glorious day. It always gives me a sense of hope as it reminds me that there are people that have the same sense of community, of coming together to make things happen out there. I know I’m just a hippy at heart but sometimes I need reminding that the world isn’t all terrible.

New book

Exciting post today

This was my second attempt at getting my hands on this book, the first attempt ended with me being sent a Spanish text book and after a little tustle a full refund.

What I love about the book are the beautifully clear photos which I know will help me with a couple of stitches I’ve found in other books but haven’t been able to quite follow the instructions. To be honest I am having to be very good because all I want to do is break out my embroidery hoop and work my way through all the stitches, maybe that can be my reward for finishing all my Belsey Bridge Preperation.