Knitting,spinning, dyed yarn and fibre, felting and crochet too
Last years show was one of the wettest on record and was literally a wash out for many of the traders. This year it looks like the sun is paying us visit and I may well need a sunhat & suncream. The East Sussex Guild Weavers,Spinners & Dyers will as usual be demonstrating their skills with members from other local guilds. We will be in a marquee near the alpaca show.
I will be there on Sunday demonstrating needle felting and broomstick crochet.
The show is also open on Bank Holiday Monday.
Due to the aweful wet summer we had last year and then the snow at lambing time it has been a really bad time for the sheep farmers in this country. Although I have had a trickle of fleece throughout the winter I underestimated how much fleece I would need to see me through til this years shearing. I have been frantically contacting people to find out if they have fleece and have procurred a little every now & then but really not enough to sustain the business.
This year I plan on buying masses, not all at once, I haven’t the storage for that but if I can get a steady supply throughout the year and have a good stock by autumn there should be no shortage of curls in the shop.
I have learnt to be quite picky about what I want in a fleece and what is a good price, bearing in mind the farmer needs to eat too.
This year there should be Masham, Lincoln Longwool, Wensleydale (both black and white), Wensleydale x’s, Teeswater, Blue Faced Leicester and other breeds that will be suitable for needlefelting.
I have some fabulous Galway in stock that needlefelts easily and is perfect for the inside of any creation. I’ve yet to dye it but it’s a huge fleece so it’s worth a try.
Don’t forget I can dye to your requirements and with so many different fleeces in stock I’m sure I can please most people!
Next week I will be at Spring Farm for shearing day, not that I need to add to my stock of fibre, there are still many colours available to buy, just ask. I can supply it from the animal or washed.
Here’s looking forward to a very woolly 2013!
Come along and learn how to make your own felt bowl and needlefelt eggs. Using hand dyed merino and natural white the vessels are pretty and useful, certain to brighten up the home.
Monday 4th March 2013 Workshop time ; 7pm – 9.30pm at Brighton Road Baptist Church. Places are limited so book early, either through me or the Make website.
We will make a few needlefelt eggs to pop inside too!
Just a couple more seasonally packaged mixed fibre ‘crackers’.A perfect gift for anyone starting out on their felting journey. Lots of colourways to choose from in the etsy shop.
Places still available at Made in Lewes, at the Needlemakers, on the following workshops
NEEDLE FELTED CHRISTMAS GARLAND
Wednesday 21st November from 7-9.30- £25.00 per person (2 places for £40.00)
Create your own eco friendly and unbreakable felt garland to decorate your tree or your door.
No previous experience required, suitable for all ages.
I will supply all the necessary ingredients, you bring imagination and enthusiasm!
We will be using Christmas shaped cookie cutters so if you have a special one please bring that too!
BUILD YOUR OWN SNOWMAN
Sunday 25th November 10am-3pm £48.00
Some experience beneficial but not essential! We will build a snowman/person using clean sheep wool. Use as a table decoration or place in the window. Knitting or crochet skills useful to make hat and scarf for snowman but not necessary.
All ingredients supplied but feel free to bring favourite yarn/needles.
There is a cafe on site but feel free to bring packed lunch.
Please email me knitwit95@gmail.com to book you place on any of the workshops. Or phone 07845143664.
Still reeling from the amazing event, this year over 7000 people made their way through the Corn Exchange to investigate all the fantastic goings on.
Last year I set up a make a ball event which was amazing, thinking I’d like let more visitors have a chance of learning to needlefelt I made over 100 balls thinking it would be fun (and quick) just to decorate the balls. Super Hero’s seemed like a good theme and thanks to my son the table looked amazing, covered in super hero posters there was lots to inspire everyone. I had made a few samples too.
With 3 volunteers we used up all the balls by the end of the day and had inspired many youngsters as well as quite a few not so young! I couldn’t have done it alone, my volunteers were literally thrown in at the deep end as I wasn’t quite myself having had a melanoma removed from my face just 2 days before! I was supposed to be resting!
I was staying in a little B & B in Kemp Town so had to get a taxi to take my huge box and just as big suitcase to the Corn Exchange where helpful volunteers were ready and waiting. All through the day we were plied with fresh water and a well received lunch.
Once again there was no let up, people just kept on coming! Needles kept on breaking, a few injuries were sustained (some from my helpers?) but the fun kept on happening!
Too pooped for the after party I caught the bus back to the B & B and ate my breakfast cereal before collapsing in a heap!
Thoughts for next year on a postcard please……
I’m preparing like mad for this years’ extravaganza in the Corn Exchange, Brighton. With over 50 interactive maker stalls, including mine, it is shaping up to be bigger and better than last year. Last year we made felt balls, this year I’ve made the balls which visitors will decorate in the likeness of their favourite super hero or anyone else! Comics will be available to use as inspiration.
Free entry to all, some workshops will be free but mine will cost a little. I will also have bags of fibre and spare needles to purchase.
My little car is being used to dry all the washed fleece that I need to make them as well as the balls. I think there are about 50 in there so far.
I have had a go at decorating my own ball, not sure what it’s supposed to look like but I had fun doing it anyway! I’ve called him ‘Felt Man’
As a special favour to my eldest son I created this second octopus for someone he knows in Florida. It will be part of a nautical inspired and themed nursery for a special little boy.
Over 80 buttons are sewn on to him so he’s not a ‘toy’ suitable for a little one but future mini octopi will be.
I called him stumpy because one of his legs is shorter and fatter than the others. He is sitting on my handmade rug/chair cover woven with Cheviot fleece.
Finished in record time, I’m usually still knitting the night before the show. I spun up and plied 108m of Jacob wool into a DK weight yarn for the basket of this tea cosy and odds ‘n’ ends of dyed Wensleydale for the crocheted flowers. Sewing the 30 or so flowers on was time consuming but then when you spin the yarn to make something it does take time! I have many vintage knitting patterns and this was really appealing, I changed it slightly and crocheted the flowers rather than make them with the tool it recommended. Voila, one very sweet tea cosy for a little tea pot! Guaranteed to keep the tea hot!
I’ve been dyeing fleece and yarn ready to take to this event which is the biggest one I’ve ever done! Last weekend at The Hop farm, Paddock Wood the weather made people stay away so I’m hoping that this weekend it is rather less damp. I’m sharing a space with my mate Lamingtonlass (Sheena) in the Access the Countryside area just off the Blue Gate. We’ve both been very busy preparing for this so hopefully we’ll sell out!
The East Sussex Guild Weavers,Spinners and Dyers will also be there near the alpaca show so all in all it wil be a good show.
