Hello, hello, and welcome to this under the wire April edition of the Making Miscellany! Today, it’s about goings and comings, prepping and planning —so put t’kettle on, and let’s dive in.
I went to Woolly Good Gathering …
And all I came back with was this needle threader and thimble!
It’s been quite awhile since I have attended to a yarn festival as a customer, and without any small people in tow, but on a sunny Saturday this past weekend I boarded the early morning train to Edinburgh with my pal Jenni to visit the inaugural Woolly Good Gathering. I had no firm shopping list, no must buys or projects particularly in mind. On the ride up, and sitting on the edge of the Meadows re-caffeinating before heading in, I tossed around a few things I might keep an eye out for: a skein of something fluffy for a spring neckerchief, a special skein of sock yarn for the next Make Socks Mend Socks prize. But really, my sole aim was to have a delightful day soaking up the inspiration and catching up with friends.
By the time we entered Summerhall—an atmospheric building that used to house a school for veterinary studies (!)—the venue was already buzzing with knitters decked out in their festival best. The knitwear alone was worth visiting for—I felt so inspired just seeing so many beautiful pieces and outfits all in one spot! The vendors were divided into three main rooms, and there really was an impressive variety of of beautiful things on offer, from Shetland wool, to small farm-to-yarn producers, beautiful hand-dyed offerings and also plenty of other fiber-adjacent loveliness. I did an initial lap of the vendors, wending my way through rooms that, while quite busy, never teetered over the edge to uncomfortable. Seeing so much—so many people, so many beautiful yarns, so much knitwear—was inspiring, and a little overwhelming, so after my initial foray I was happy to go have a sit in one of the areas the festival had set up for socializing. I listened to a lovely duo playing folk music while I sipped a cold drink, knit and caught up with friends — and ogled more of my fellow attendees’ delightful knitwear.
I think going to a yarn festival with no firm plans can end one of two ways: either with a rucksack absolutely bursting with every yarn that took your fancy on the day, or with nearly nothing at all. And for me, this time, it was the latter. I saw so many yarns that I would have happily brought home with me. Donna Smith’s gorgeous Langsoond Lace; Lammemuir’s stunning Shetland; new-to-me Annfield Farm’s 4ply Shetland; Black Isle Yarn’s mini skein sock sets (still slightly kicking myself I didn’t get one); Di Gilpin’s Lallaland; fluff at Zakami Yarns — and that’s just naming a few! I could have done some serious damage buying bags (especially the birdy prints from Harriet of Wildwood Stitches!) and nearly bought several metres of this stunning ribbon and ceramic buttons from Beyond Measure. And I also saw so many inspiring knits, some of which I recognized: a beautiful Ranunculus that reminded me that I’ve wanted to knit one for about five years; so many Corran Cardigans, which renewed my wish to knit myself a second; Thonnan Tops worn by Julie of Black Isle Yarn and my friend Maylin. Many of them, I didn’t — I’m still thinking about a beautiful brown sweater, with a graphic yellow flower colourwork yoke motif, worn by someone working at the festival (why didn’t I stop and ask them the pattern!). But it didn’t all come together to me bringing anything home. I almost bought a few things, some of which I went back for to find they had gone—and I’m glad this hopefully means the vendors were having a good show!
But really, I looked around at the beautiful yarn, and the beautiful knits, and kept being reminded of beautiful fiber I have sitting right here at home, waiting to be knit (much of it, incidentally, from vendors who were at the show!)
I absolutely think it’s fine to buy with no immediate plans to knit (I’ve spent most of my adult life doing this). I absolutely love supporting the small businesses that travel to festivals and sell their wares—it’s hard work, with an uncertain payoff. But I also absolutely have a superfluity of yarn I’d like to knit with, and not much time to do it. And so I decided rather than buying more yarn to put in a box at home, I’d file away the things I really liked, and hope they’ll be there when the perfect project comes along for them.
Despite coming home with an empty bag (and camera roll—I was too happily overwhelmed to remember to snap pictures), I returned with a head full of inspiration and a happy heart—for me, the festival really did feel like a gathering, and it was wonderful to get to spend time with fellow knitters and friends. Definitely one I’m putting on the calendar to visit next year — maybe wearing some makes inspired by this year’s festival. See you there?
We’re going to America…
… and I’m in holiday making and planning overdrive.
Somehow, in just over a week, we’ll be setting off for the airport for a much anticipated trip back to the United States. I’m so excited to spend time with my family, introduce my siblings to my littlest girl and meet my wee nephew. In between all the logistics—sorting out citizenship and passports and visas—and heading up the Family Holiday Procurement and In-Flight Entertainment Office—how many pairs of shorts does a 4 year old need? Do we have the requisite sunhats and sandals? How many snacks and activities will it take to keep two small children relatively comfortable on a plane for a number of hours I prefer not to think about—I have been devoting a fair amount of processing to two very important questions: what makes can I finish that will be useful on the trip, and what projects will come with me.
If you’ve ever been to the north of England, you might know that summer is relative concept; that some years, you could never break out a pair of shorts and be just fine. The same cannot be said of the valley in which I grew up, where you can blink and miss spring, so quickly does it give way to toasty summer temperatures. So even though we’re still packing woolly hats for weekend walks, in just over a week we’ll be plunged into a Virginia summer. Top of my making list has been some summer dresses, mostly for my eldest (little H has plenty of warm weather hand-me downs) to take on my trip. For these, I’ve turned to a tried-and-true pattern, the Molly Dress by Two Stitches Patterns. I’ve made up two for my eldest, and a third using leftovers for the little one.
I picked up the fabric on a a trip to our local sewing shop with my eldest, right before it (sniff) closed, where I asked her to pick some fabrics she liked for summer clothes. In addition to the above rainbow jersey and a cute cactus jersey, she loved this lightweight floral dobby. If the sewing gods are with me, it’ll be made up into a Geranium Dress before we go (she says nervously).
But before I get to it, I’m finishing off a pair of linen Bobs for me, and I’ve just traced pieces for some Rose Shorts which I’m (fingers crossed) squeezing out of a remnant of chambray. In a dream world, I would make the Dune Tanks I’ve been planning for about two years, and maybe some summer tops for the girls … but I’ve got my sewing table full as it is!
Which just leaves the question of what knitting to take with me for three weeks of holiday. In days gone by, I would have spent considerable time thinking about what projects to take on the plane, but I think I will be, ahem, otherwise occupied. (I’ll still put a sock WIP in my carry on … just in case.) I’m currently thinking yarn for a spring kerchief, which I’ll knit as a mini KAL with my mom (looking forward to spending some time knitting together!), a little gift knit that I won’t write about at the moment, and a few balls of the above stashed Yarnadelic to make a start on a new Newsome cardigan. But there might be some eleventh hour changes to the plan.
Between all this planning, I am occasionally doing some knitting! My Paul Klee sweater is divided! After working a bit on the body, I’ve started the sleeves — I plan to finish them off first, so I know just how much yarn I’ve got for the body. I’m still tossing up between taking it along or leaving it to finish on my return … I guess I’ll see how much knitting is left in it this time next week!
Phew, if you’ve made it to the end, thanks for spending a bit of time with me today! I’d love to hear about what you’re working on, or your favourite holiday making, in the comments or hit reply to this email! And if you know someone who might enjoy my monthy making missives, why not forward it on to them!
Oh and before I go, with warmer temps on the way, I’ve been reaching for some of my favorite socks— my summer shorties— more and more. I’ve even noticed a, if not stream, a steady trickle of other knitters grabbing copies of my two shorty patterns, which I designed nearly two years ago. I remain really proud of these designs, especially the little short-row shaped cuff (no sock slippage)! I’m having a small sale on my shorty patterns to celebrate spring (no coupon required) that I’ll be promoting on Instagram when I get around to it. But as a thank you for being here, I’d like to offer you a discount on any of my (small!) collection of sock patterns, should you be after a new sock project. Use code THANKS25 on Ravelry to get 25% off all my published patterns.
Now, back to the sewing machine!
xo Katherine
I wondered what the new yarn show was like as had wanted to go but had already planned a trip way down south to see my family. Thank you for painting such a good picture of what it was like and maybe next year that weekend will be free for me to go. It’s a rare occurrence for me but I remember one woolfest just enjoying the sights, sounds, textures, people, music etc and my focus was less on buying that year - I was also helping a friend on her stand for a couple of hours which a lovely experience too. I have been known to come away with a number of new beauties for my stash wondering where I will find room for it and time to knit it but that year I enjoyed a different focus like you have. Enjoy your family trip and knitting with your lovely mum too. xx
Wishing you and the whole family a wonderful time in Virginia, with temps just warm enough to need those shorts and sundresses!
Just used your fabulous short row cuff on my sock tube shorties. Love it! And I’ve had Newsome on my list for years. Are you knitting the original bottom up or the top down version?