After sleeping like babies everyone was ready to embrace a new day, and what a fabulous day we woke up to! We were greeted with bird song, blue skies and bucket loads of sunshine.
After a hearty breakfast with, what seemed like gallons of coffee, everyone set to work almost immediately eager to finish colour swatching to begin the actual project. Another mornings hard work gave us a feast for our eyes, just look at all those amazing colour combinations! I think you will agree that they are all pretty spectacular…n’est-ce pas?!?
Other hotel guests were looking on in total awe as ‘the girls’ nimble fingers worked their magic with needles and yarn, and were most puzzled by our language as they couldn’t make out if we were German or in fact Welsh…quite funny at times!
Lunch was soon upon us and then Sian arrived with boxes full of books. Books about Llangollen, the general area, Wales, stories about sheep, paintings, song and poetry, and…surprise…books about knitting!! Isn’t it fantastic when the book shop comes to you? No surprises then when I tell you a good number of purchases were made.
Free time afternoon meant that Claudia and I bid everyone farewell and taking the scenic drive home took in some blustery fresh air with some breathtaking scenery saying hello to some of those lovely creatures that provide us with a never ending supply of woolliness!
I might do another sun dance tonight just in case!
I always love to spend a day with other like minded knitterly friends. What could be better than a whole day having fun with beautiful yarns and notions, eating yummy cakes, laughing with friends and learning something new on the way. I am sure you agree that it is very close to perfect!…
…and as I like to share experiences, techniques and other stuff you might find useful, it gives me great pleasure to present you with topics, dates and venues of my workshops for 2013 – first half.
For the first time there are two lists: The first are the workshops that will be held here at Glanrafon House, these can be booked by sending an e-mail to heike.gittins@gmail.com. The second are the workshops I am teaching at other venues, book these by clicking on the links provided.
Come and join others in Making Loops…
Loopy Workshops at Glanrafon House – 2013
Design your own shawl – Sat. 26 Jan. 2013
This workshop is aimed at knitter’s who would like to learn how to create their own shawls. During the day you will develop your basic understanding of the way a shawl is constructed and you will learn to understand how basic lace stitches are formed. I will help you to design your first shawl and by the end of this day you will be knitting a beautiful piece of your very own.
Please bring a 3.25mm circular knitting needle (80cm long), sewing kit, note book and pen.
My Norfolk Shawl design
Working with colour – Sat. 20 April 2013
This is the perfect workshop for knitters who are interested in sharpening their colour observation in design. The course inspires you to better understand the harmony of colour by working with a range of light and dark colours in contrasting tones. The experience gained will give you confidence to use your own personal colour scheme in any future knitting. No complicated techniques will be used during this day.
Please bring a selection of knitting needles, sewing kit, note book and pen.
Samples of working with colour
The Magic of Moebius Lace – Sat. 22 June 2013
During this workshop you will learn how to knit a true Moebius loop cowl/shrug. Using my own devised cast on I will show you how to knit one of these magical figure of eight shawls with no beginning and no end. You will work on a simple, yet effective, lace design of mine during this day. After learning the cast on and having mastered the first round, you will be on your way knitting eternally around the edge of this magical loop.
Please bring a 4mm circular knitting needle (must be 100cm long), sewing kit, note book and pen.
Moebius Lace Loop
Workshops run from 10.30am – 4.30pm
Cost: £ 40 per person
Inclusive: A full day’s tuition, all workshop notes and a free pattern designed by me. All materials needed during the day and plenty of refreshments for body and soul.
On Saturday at lunchtime I got on a train and travelled to Newcastle upon Tyne to teach a workshop on Continental Knitting at my dear friend Anne’s yarn shop.
The Knit Studio
I don’t think that the term Yarn shop is quite right for this amazing Alladin’s cave of yarns, fabrics, books, notions, fibre and a whole lot more. This has got to be one of the most invitingly comfortable yarn shops there are. I don’t know of any others where the ceilings are so high you could abseil from them, or the sofas are so squishily soft that you don’t ever want to get up again…actually I don’t know of any other place that has huge sofas like this at all. It is enormously hard to leave again and I really want to have a sleepover upstairs (only to be reached by climbing a ladder) in the midst of all those yummy yarns that are stored there. But I digress…
I was there to teach 12 eager ladies how to knit continental style, and eager they were indeed.
Doing the Continental
more doing the Continental
Everyone was incredibly quick in learning the knit and purl stitch and before long needles were flying at quite some speed. Normally the day’s project doesn’t get started until after lunch, but not with this group. Oh no…they were on their way speedily and progressing well.
The Project
By the end of the day we had a few over half finished and beautifully knit cotton facecloths on the table. It is always a pleasure to teach but even more so when the group is so keen and doing so well. Keep practising girls, remember what we said:”A little continental a day keeps the boredom away!”.
Thank you all for making my day so enjoyable and thank you Anne for extending such a warm welcome and looking after us so well. I can’t wait to come back in October. 🙂
