All sewn up! Professional finishing techniques

...at Spun in Huddersfield. Choosing the right seams, picking up stitches, necklines and bands, bind-offs, cast-ons and grafting amongst other things. Lots to do!

A lovely group of ladies as always and lots of banter.



It was exciting to see Lydia's progress on her knitted wedding dress (which is fantastic).(No photos of course in case the groom should see them!).

What was interesting was the first sample. These swatches are all knitted with the same yarn, same stitches and same needles, just 3 different knitters. Even tho' I am, at best, a reluctant swatcher, it certainly makes you appreciate why it's important!

Conferences weren't like this in accountancy!

Julia and I were the lucky delegates from our Guild at the Association of Weavers, Spinners & Dyers (or AGWSD!) Conference and AGM in April.

 

It was in a beautiful setting at York University - student accommodation is a bit more plush than I remember it!

We squeezed in a trip into York sampling some very nice local ale at the Yorkshire Terrier, one of the oldest hostelries in York and a visit and chat with the lovely ladies at Ramshambles.
 


We also did a spot of shopping, the highlight of which had to be the Fudge Kitchen - without question the nicest fudge I have ever tasted.


The food at the University was lovely (I stopped counting the calories after the first full veggie brekkie!), the lectures were great. I didn't manage to take pictures of everyone's work but here are some fascinating mudcloths with emotive names such as "the jealous husband's teeth"

And, not to be outdone, there is also a print representing the jealous woman's teeth!









The Conference dinner was fab.
 

The evening was concluded with the absolutely charming Abbey Belles ladies a cappella singers.


And a nice surprise was a pair of socks knitted with yarn dyed on my Summmer School course in Edinburgh - how cool are these?


The Association does a great job promoting our crafts and the AGM and Conference are well worth attending if you have the opportunity.

And not forgetting a huge thank you to the members of York & District Guild for organising the event :-)

Felting fun with friends :-)

What could be nicer? A lovely day of felting, chatter (and cake!) at Guild. Julia, Vicky and I got stuck into making some felted purses,

 

 Vicky did some fab spinning (her bag has a matching handspun strap)
 

and Julia was doing some weaving courtesy of Janice, for her to felt later.


I "may" have become the lucky new owner of a loom - an 8-shaft Harris no less! Thank you to Vicky and Lisa (and to Julia for an awesome piece of sneakery as we manoeuvred it into the workshop without Pete noticing!). I'm looking forward to getting it up and running as soon as decorating and shows are out of the way. Piccies to follow when I get it set up!