Janie's Friday Feature Welcome to this week's Friday Feature Newsletter - the Janie Crow equivalent of a Sunday supplement magazine.... I hope this newsletter finds you all well and happy and that you have some great plans for the weekend. The weather is particularly miserable here in North London today, so I hope it is a bit brighter where you are. When it is a bit grey and rainy I find it quite hard to feel motivated and I have to admit that the idea of the settee and the company of the TV is quite alluring at the moment, but this weekend is in fact set to be quite busy because of two really exciting things:  Thing One: My new JANIE CROW web site has officially gone live today! The site it is not totally up to speed, but I am so desperate to show it to you that I decided it should go live regardless - I hope you will like it! You can find more information about the new site in the 'What's New' feature lower down this email. Thing Two: I will be taking over the Instagram feed at Simply Crochet Magazine from tomorrow morning through to Sunday evening, which means I will be busy sharing images and stories for the weekend. Please do drop by to take a look! This week I had planned to take a look at the new fashion trends for spring and had wanted to give you an over all view of what will be in and what will be out this year. There is one key trend that I really want to write about, partly because it relates so well to my yarny world, but also because I have always been a big fan of DENIM. Sadly though, with all that has been going on with the new web sites and all the catching up that needed to be done after our trip to Vogue Knitting Live, I have decided to schedule this piece in for a future newsletter. Don't forget that the colouring in competition closes next Friday, so you only have one more week to get your entry back to us in the post. The overall winner will receive £150, a yarn pack of their personal colour design, they will have their colourway included in a revised Delft pattern AND they will be featured in Simply Crochet magazine. The two runner up prizes are the same, but will receive £50 each. I think these are pretty great prizes, so, if you like a bit of mindful colouring in and are looking for something to do over the weekend, why not download the entry form (after reading the competition guidelines) and get colouring in! I hope you will enjoy five minutes away from what you are doing to take a short break in my company whilst you read through this week's newsletter - as always, if you have anything you want to say or contribute please hit reply and let me know!  
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Gift Ideas for crafters....
A few months ago Sarah wrote a great article on giving hand made presents and one of the things she focussed on is whether or not gifts that have taken a lot of time and effort are actually appreciated by the recipient. Along this same theme the guys at Crochetzine, an Instagram based free crochet magazine, have written some great posts over the past week or so about making items to gift at Christmas. I really recommend you head over to see their page if you are considering making a last minute gift before you pick up your needles or hook as they offer some great tips and advice as well as some fabulous little projects that you might want to make including the lovely little crochet stockings shown below, which, despite being designed for Advent, would work really well as decorations on the tree or the Christmas table, or as the wrapping for other small gifts.
If you're looking for something nice to give a yarn loving friend then you might want to take a look at some of the many subscription style gifts that are around.
One of my favourites has to be Little Box of Crochet, which you can find by following this link. Amanda Bloom and her fabulous team have a wide selection of wonderful boxes you can choose from, ranging from beginners boxes to 'Not so' Little Boxes, all of which contain the items needed to make a fabulous crochet item alongsdie some lovely extra surprise gifts. You can start the subscription this month and receive a really exciting looking box that includes all you need to make a beautiful design from Toft. The site also includes and area for gift subscriptions and links to purchase past boxes.
If you want to treat a really serious yarn lover who also happens to have a penchant for sock making then how about taking a look at the Triskelion Sock Club? We are massive fans of the Triskelion range, which is hand dyed by Caerthan Wrack - a man famous for his wonderfully deep and luxurious colour palette. You can find details of the sock club here, or, if you would rather just invest in one or two skeins of Triskelion yarn, then you could take a look at our range of Gofannon 4ply which is dyed by Caerthan exclusively for Janie Crow and comes with a free pattern for my Emily shawlette, which is shown above.
If you want to find an extra special gift and know someone who might want to wear a stunning piece of knitted or crocheted jewellery, or you fancy really treating yourself, then head over to the Mahliqa web site to be wowed by some amazing hand made jewellery designs. I am a huge fan of Suraya's work and am so pleased to say that she will be coming to the studio next year to do a workshop - details of this will be posted early in the New Year so keep a look out for more information soon. The image above shows one of Suraya's incredible hand made pieces, but you can also find kits and stitch marker sets on her lovely web site.
If you fancy knitting a slightly silly item to either gift or decorate your home, how about making one, or both of these brilliant hand knitted sprouts or Christmas puddings by Sincerley Louise. I love them!
If you want to be smug like our Sue and make a pom pom wreath then you can find a tutorial I wrote a few (4!) years ago by following this link to my blog. Making pom poms is a great stash buster and they are still bang on trend. You can find pom pom makers (which make this fun task even easier) by following this link.
Crisis at Christmas.
I am very much a believer that Christmas should be about spending time with family and friends and generally being a bit nicer and more thoughtful towards others rather than getting caught up in all the commercial hype that seems to surround so many things these days.
Many of us are in the nice position where we have warm houses and supportive friends and family, but there are are many people who don't have this luxury, so my number one tip for the ultimate feel good gift is to donate a gift of either your time or money to those who really need it.
Many of us are in the nice position where we have warm houses and supportive friends and family, but there are are many people who don't have this luxury, so my number one tip for the ultimate feel good gift is to donate a gift of either your time or money to those who really need it.
The charity Crisis do amazing work here in the UK at this time of year and for just over £28 you could reserve a place for a homeless person at a centre this Christmas. For less than £30 you can help the charity provide a warm welcome and good company, three nutritious hot meals daily, including a delicious Christmas dinner, a bed for the night if needed and a chance to shower and get clean clothes. The charity also aims to provide a health check and treatment from a doctor, optician and dentist, expert help with mental health and addiction problems, advice on housing, employment and benefits and for some a way out of homelessness for good through Crisis’ year-round training, education and support.
Important information!
Here is another reminder that you need to subscribe to a new mailing list if you want to continue to receive the Friday Feature Newsletter in 2019.
We are introducing 2 new web sites in order to make our business clearer, more customer friendly and easier to understand. Both web sites will continue to be managed by us and both will sit under the same 'umbrella'. The new retail web site, which launches this week will be called Just Knots (our prototype log is shown above) and Jane's brand web site will continue to use the Janie Crow name.
Because of new laws introduced earlier on this year we have to make a clear definition between the mailing lists for the 2 new web sites, so when the Janie Crow brand web site is relaunched in January it will send to a new mailing list rather than this one. If you want to continue to receive the Friday Feature newsletters and any other information relevant to me and my designs, then you need to sign up to a new mailing list.
If you follow this link or click on the bird image above you will be able to sign up. We will add this link to this newsletter every week until the new Janie Crow web site is up and running. Until then the Friday Feature Newsletter will continue to come from this mailing list.
Because of new laws introduced earlier on this year we have to make a clear definition between the mailing lists for the 2 new web sites, so when the Janie Crow brand web site is relaunched in January it will send to a new mailing list rather than this one. If you want to continue to receive the Friday Feature newsletters and any other information relevant to me and my designs, then you need to sign up to a new mailing list.
If you follow this link or click on the bird image above you will be able to sign up. We will add this link to this newsletter every week until the new Janie Crow web site is up and running. Until then the Friday Feature Newsletter will continue to come from this mailing list.
It's nearly the weekend!
What are you up to this weekend? I hope you have some exciting plans! We are heading into town this evening to visit the Sky Garden, which is London's highest (free) public garden. If you don't know about this amazing looking place then head over to the web site for more information - I will let you know what it is like next week and will share some images, so long as it isn't too dark!
Our trip into town this evening will most likely be the only venture out for us this weekend, other than to do a spot of food shopping or nip quickly to the gym, as I am hoping to have some much needed time at home. The tree is up and it is beginning to feel very Christmassy, so hopefully we will line up some festive movies and light the fire. I have a crochet deadline looming so I am looking forward to ensconcing myself on the sofa for 2 days pretty much straight.... my idea of heaven!
Whatever your plans I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Our trip into town this evening will most likely be the only venture out for us this weekend, other than to do a spot of food shopping or nip quickly to the gym, as I am hoping to have some much needed time at home. The tree is up and it is beginning to feel very Christmassy, so hopefully we will line up some festive movies and light the fire. I have a crochet deadline looming so I am looking forward to ensconcing myself on the sofa for 2 days pretty much straight.... my idea of heaven!
Whatever your plans I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Janie's Friday Feature
Welcome to this week's Friday Feature Newsletter - the Janie Crow equivalent of a Sunday supplement magazine....
I remember as a child how painful the lead up to Christmas could be in regards to wondering whether it was ever going to really happen - days felt like weeks and weeks like months as I wished and wished for Santa to get a move on! These days however, my life is the exact opposite and I am now constantly wishing that the pace of life would slow down and let me take a breather... I know I am not alone in this wish, but hope that you are managing to enjoy the lead up to the Festive period.
So here I am finally with another Friday feature - This week I have written a short piece about the art of Freeform crochet. I hope you will enjoy it.
I remember as a child how painful the lead up to Christmas could be in regards to wondering whether it was ever going to really happen - days felt like weeks and weeks like months as I wished and wished for Santa to get a move on! These days however, my life is the exact opposite and I am now constantly wishing that the pace of life would slow down and let me take a breather... I know I am not alone in this wish, but hope that you are managing to enjoy the lead up to the Festive period.
So here I am finally with another Friday feature - This week I have written a short piece about the art of Freeform crochet. I hope you will enjoy it.
Free your mind - free your crochet!
I looked up the word 'freeform' in the dictionary and it is defined as 'not conforming to a regular or formal structure or shape' and in regards to crochet this is a perfectly apt description as, not only is the practice of freeform crochet unconformist in that you don't follow a pattern, but the shapes created in the process are also (mostly) irregular and asymmetrical.
When I teach freeform crochet workshops the thing that most participants struggle with initially is the fact that I do not provide them with any patterns - it seems that the prospect of sitting and crocheting without a single piece of written instruction to refer to is incredibly daunting. I completely understand that - as crocheters we have spent a lot of time mastering the skill of reading and understanding pattern instructions, so to suddenly be without a point of reference can put us immediately out of our comfort zone.
I start my workshop with an exercise on blindly choosing yarns - I tend to pile a load of yarns up at the centre of the table and suggest that participants choose in a totally ramdon way - again this is something outside of our usual practice - indeed, for many of us it is the process of choosing the shades that brings much satisfaction.
Within the structure of the Friday Feature newsletters Sarah has written some great articles on mindfulness and I think this is something that freeform crochet has a close relationship with. When I teach this method I suggest that people completely empty their minds of what they are aiming to achieve before they start the process of working some crochet. This can be scary, but honestly it is fabulous to see what people achieve. To illustrate what I mean better, have a go at this short exercise:
Find a selection of crochet hook sizes and have them at the ready.
Go through your stash and pick out a selection of yarns - don't think about the colours, textures or weights you are picking and try not to analyse your choice.
Put the yarns on a table in front of you and when you are ready close your eyes and pick a yarn from your pile.
Quickly choose the hook size that you think matches the weight of the yarn and begin to make a chain - make as many or as few chain as you want, then slip stitch to make a ring.
Once you have a ring, using any combination or stitch heights, start to fill the ring up with stitches - you might start with trebles, or double trebles, you might decide to add in some areas of chain or turn mid way. Don't crochet with the same colour for too long, simply pick up another yarn and start working - you do not need to finish the round or row in the same shade and can dip in and out of using any yarn weight with whatever size hook you fancy.
What you are trying to ultimately achieve is a way of working without thinking or making decisions - you may think this goes against what I said about the relationship between freeform crochet and mindfulness in that I have just pretty much suggested that you should work in a mindless way, but what you are attempting to achieve within the framework of this exercise is a focus on the act of crocheting rather than a focus on the end result.
I start my workshop with an exercise on blindly choosing yarns - I tend to pile a load of yarns up at the centre of the table and suggest that participants choose in a totally ramdon way - again this is something outside of our usual practice - indeed, for many of us it is the process of choosing the shades that brings much satisfaction.
Within the structure of the Friday Feature newsletters Sarah has written some great articles on mindfulness and I think this is something that freeform crochet has a close relationship with. When I teach this method I suggest that people completely empty their minds of what they are aiming to achieve before they start the process of working some crochet. This can be scary, but honestly it is fabulous to see what people achieve. To illustrate what I mean better, have a go at this short exercise:
Find a selection of crochet hook sizes and have them at the ready.
Go through your stash and pick out a selection of yarns - don't think about the colours, textures or weights you are picking and try not to analyse your choice.
Put the yarns on a table in front of you and when you are ready close your eyes and pick a yarn from your pile.
Quickly choose the hook size that you think matches the weight of the yarn and begin to make a chain - make as many or as few chain as you want, then slip stitch to make a ring.
Once you have a ring, using any combination or stitch heights, start to fill the ring up with stitches - you might start with trebles, or double trebles, you might decide to add in some areas of chain or turn mid way. Don't crochet with the same colour for too long, simply pick up another yarn and start working - you do not need to finish the round or row in the same shade and can dip in and out of using any yarn weight with whatever size hook you fancy.
What you are trying to ultimately achieve is a way of working without thinking or making decisions - you may think this goes against what I said about the relationship between freeform crochet and mindfulness in that I have just pretty much suggested that you should work in a mindless way, but what you are attempting to achieve within the framework of this exercise is a focus on the act of crocheting rather than a focus on the end result.
The pieces of crochet made when working in a freeform way have become known as 'scumbles'. This is a term used by Prudence Mapstone, a designer who many consider to be a pioneer of this technique - you can find her web site by following this link.
You can see in the image of an example of Prudence's freeform crochet above that colour and texture play a big role in her work and that fashion yarns such as eyelash and bucle fibres can create a real impact when used in a freeform way. I am sure you can also see that Prudence clearly makes decisons about the end result she is aiming for early on in the process of crocheting rather than working in a mindless way like I suggest, but this is because she has already honed the skill of working in a freeform way and is looking to create items that she can showcase.
The thing about freeform crochet is that you create someting that isn't replicable, so attempting to copy someone else's freeform scumble pattern for example goes completely against the whole point. You will find lots of tutorials on Youtube, but most urge you to follow their pattern or their way of working, whereas I am urging you to play with your crochet.
Why not use some time this weekend with a hook and some yarn and simply have a play! Don't have in mind something you want to make or an end result, just sit and enjoy the process of crocheting with an empty mind.....
You can see in the image of an example of Prudence's freeform crochet above that colour and texture play a big role in her work and that fashion yarns such as eyelash and bucle fibres can create a real impact when used in a freeform way. I am sure you can also see that Prudence clearly makes decisons about the end result she is aiming for early on in the process of crocheting rather than working in a mindless way like I suggest, but this is because she has already honed the skill of working in a freeform way and is looking to create items that she can showcase.
The thing about freeform crochet is that you create someting that isn't replicable, so attempting to copy someone else's freeform scumble pattern for example goes completely against the whole point. You will find lots of tutorials on Youtube, but most urge you to follow their pattern or their way of working, whereas I am urging you to play with your crochet.
Why not use some time this weekend with a hook and some yarn and simply have a play! Don't have in mind something you want to make or an end result, just sit and enjoy the process of crocheting with an empty mind.....
Important information!
We mentioned in this week's regular newsletter on Tuesday that we are in the stages of building 2 new web sites. We are now aiming to have one of them up and running by the end of this week or early next week so long as everything goes to plan!
Please be aware that due to the potential switch over this week the web site may go down for a while. We hope this will not be for very long, but please be patient with us if you are trying to browse the site this week. We will send another mail-out just to warn when the change over is happening.
Please be aware that due to the potential switch over this week the web site may go down for a while. We hope this will not be for very long, but please be patient with us if you are trying to browse the site this week. We will send another mail-out just to warn when the change over is happening.
We are introducing 2 new web sites in order to make our business clearer, more customer friendly and easier to understand. Both web sites will continue to be managed by us and both will sit under the same 'umbrella'. The new retail web site, which launches this week will be called Just Knots (our prototype log is shown above) and Jane's brand web site will continue to use the Janie Crow name.
Because of new laws introduced earlier on this year we have to make a clear definition between the mailing lists for the 2 new web sites, so when the Janie Crow brand web site is relaunched in Janaury it will send to a new mailing list rather than this one. If you want to continue to receive the Friday Feature newsletters and any other information relevant to me and my designs, then you need to sign up to a new mailing list.
If you follow this link or click on the bird image above you will be able to sign up. We will add this link to this newsletter every week until the new Janie Crow web site is up and running. Until then the Friday Feature Newsletter will continue to come from this mailing list.
Because of new laws introduced earlier on this year we have to make a clear definition between the mailing lists for the 2 new web sites, so when the Janie Crow brand web site is relaunched in Janaury it will send to a new mailing list rather than this one. If you want to continue to receive the Friday Feature newsletters and any other information relevant to me and my designs, then you need to sign up to a new mailing list.
If you follow this link or click on the bird image above you will be able to sign up. We will add this link to this newsletter every week until the new Janie Crow web site is up and running. Until then the Friday Feature Newsletter will continue to come from this mailing list.
It's nearly the weekend!
We have been so busy with shows and events this autumn that we have almost forgotten how to use our leisure time, so we are hoping to remind ourselves of what life can be like outside of the realms of Janie Crow by getting to grips with some Christmas preparations this weekend.
I am wondering if it is too early to put up the tree - what do you think? I am always eager to get it out and decorated and they say that statistically people who put their tree up early tend to be within the happier percentage of the population, so perhaps this year would be a good one to test out this theory?
Whatever your plans I wish you a happy weekend!
Whatever your plans I wish you a happy weekend!
Janie's Friday Feature
Phew! Here I am finally with a Friday Feature Newsletter after weeks of shows, events and travelling. Well - I say here I am with a Friday Feature, but as I am sitting at the dining table at home at 8pm on Friday evening writing this, it in fact looks likely that when you read this it will be Saturday, but never mind, I am here at last! And I've missed you!
It has been a mad month with lots of things going on, but now I am so pleased to be back home and back at the studio in the lead up to the Festive Season. We have 9 weeks until we head off to New York for Vogue Knitting Live so I am really hoping to be able to settle down to some new design work and sort out lots of things that have been rumbling away in the background for the last few months.
You may remember that a few weeks ago I told you that we have some exciting plans for Janie Crow going forwards into next year. Part of this plan involves a new retail web site and a new design based brand web site for Janie Crow. We will be revealing the new changes to you over the next couple of months - we are really excited about the new sites and of course we hope that you will like the changes we are making too!
This week, after our trip to the Netherlands a few weeks ago and our final residential workshop in Bournemouth last weekend, it has been a case of catching up with everything, but hopefully from next week we will be able to find more time to concentrate on building the new sites and putting all the wheels in motion for our changes. As I already said, I am really hoping to find some time for designing and have been working on some recolouring of existing designs. Of course, in true yarnaholic fashion, I have also decided to launch into making a 'Crochet Between the Lines' shawl using Scheepjes Whirl in my 'spare' time! (yeah right!) I am using Peppermint Patty Cake and Turkish Delight yarn cakes (shown below) and I am already in love with it!
I have to admit that the colours did start off looking a bit like an Elf's stockings as I was working both balls from the centre and ended up with red and dark green working in stripes at the same time, but I have now switched it so that the green is taken from the outside of the ball and it is looking much more promising. If, you have not been introduced to the wonders of Scheepjes Whirl or the genius of the Crochet Between the Lines pattern, by Tammy Canavan-Soldaat, then I urge you to have a look at the links I have included in this paragraph and If you want to read a great blog post about choosing your yarn shades and getting to grips with the designs then head over to Tammy's blog here. The light is really dingy and yellow here in the kitchen tonight, so I will share some images of my progress when it is brighter and I have more than 20cm of crochet to show you!
It has been a mad month with lots of things going on, but now I am so pleased to be back home and back at the studio in the lead up to the Festive Season. We have 9 weeks until we head off to New York for Vogue Knitting Live so I am really hoping to be able to settle down to some new design work and sort out lots of things that have been rumbling away in the background for the last few months.
You may remember that a few weeks ago I told you that we have some exciting plans for Janie Crow going forwards into next year. Part of this plan involves a new retail web site and a new design based brand web site for Janie Crow. We will be revealing the new changes to you over the next couple of months - we are really excited about the new sites and of course we hope that you will like the changes we are making too!
This week, after our trip to the Netherlands a few weeks ago and our final residential workshop in Bournemouth last weekend, it has been a case of catching up with everything, but hopefully from next week we will be able to find more time to concentrate on building the new sites and putting all the wheels in motion for our changes. As I already said, I am really hoping to find some time for designing and have been working on some recolouring of existing designs. Of course, in true yarnaholic fashion, I have also decided to launch into making a 'Crochet Between the Lines' shawl using Scheepjes Whirl in my 'spare' time! (yeah right!) I am using Peppermint Patty Cake and Turkish Delight yarn cakes (shown below) and I am already in love with it!
I have to admit that the colours did start off looking a bit like an Elf's stockings as I was working both balls from the centre and ended up with red and dark green working in stripes at the same time, but I have now switched it so that the green is taken from the outside of the ball and it is looking much more promising. If, you have not been introduced to the wonders of Scheepjes Whirl or the genius of the Crochet Between the Lines pattern, by Tammy Canavan-Soldaat, then I urge you to have a look at the links I have included in this paragraph and If you want to read a great blog post about choosing your yarn shades and getting to grips with the designs then head over to Tammy's blog here. The light is really dingy and yellow here in the kitchen tonight, so I will share some images of my progress when it is brighter and I have more than 20cm of crochet to show you!
In this weeks newsletter I am focussing on the new knitwear trends for the winter. This is in relation to fashion rather than interior or making trends, but I am going to try to link to things that you could craft yourself as an alternative. I hope you will enjoy it.
Woolly Trends for Winter!
You don't have to look very far to find out that one of the key trends in knitwear this winter is knitted cables. Think traditional Arran sweaters with lots of great big fabulous cables and tons of bobbles. Think oversized and slouchy sweaters or cardis worn with jeans, but also tailored and neat tops worn tucked into pleated skirts over sequined dresses. The look is everywhere and it is easy to find wonderful patterns that totally sum up this lovely trend. You can also find a great video on YouTube, which illustrates this look perfectly by following this link.
Kim Hargreaves's new book 'Pale' totally refects this lovely trend and you can find more information and images of the 21 knitting patterns in her book by following this link or clicking on the image below
You might also want to take a look at the new Pom Pom magazine, which also features some really innovative designs that have clearly been designed in line with this trend. Knitters have been going a little bit bonkers about the Nightingale sweater by Norah Gaughan (shown below) so, why not see what all the fuss is about by following this link and taking a look at the new magazine preview images.
Fringing and eyelash style knitwear is also really making a move on the catwalks this winter. I know many of us shudder a little when faced with these kinds of yarns on the shelves at the yarn store and you do run the risk of being in trouble if you stand too close to an open fire or a lit cigarette in one of these garments, but trust me, furry style/fringe type knitwear is totally in!
Knitted oversized dresses and cardigans remain very fashionable too. Grandad knits with elaborate intarsia and soft teddy bear fur type textures were seen on many winter 18/19 catwalks with many garments worn in bright colours either off the shoulder or belted at the waist.
Knitted oversized dresses and cardigans remain very fashionable too. Grandad knits with elaborate intarsia and soft teddy bear fur type textures were seen on many winter 18/19 catwalks with many garments worn in bright colours either off the shoulder or belted at the waist.
Fairisle continues to be bang on trend and yoke sweaters that feature colour work even more so. If you haven't already come across the designs of Boyland Knitworks then you really need to take a look as the designs are wonderful. I particularly like Sunset Highway sweater which is shown in part below.
Boho looks also continue through to the winter with gradient yarns and mixtures of colours remaining at the heart of this look. Quite a few designers featured cut and patchworked styles, with the key colours being red, plum, fuchsia and tan, indeed many fashion forecasters have started to say that brown is the new black, so whether you choose peanut skin orangey brown or more camel tones - brown is definitely THE colour of the season.
I am so pleased that it seems blanket wraps and capes are to stay at the height of fashion this season. I adore this look and am really pleased that it has stayed in for another winter. Big soft blanket wraps are so incredibly handy as they can be stowed away in your bag if you're a little too warm or wrapped over your winter coat if it is particularly chillly - the one I had last year spent most of the winter either on my back, in my bag just in case I needed it or next to me on the sofa in front of the TV! This year it seems that the blanket wraps have got even bigger than last year, with many of them shown draped and tucked into belts. There are some great examples in the image below from the Vogue web site - you can click on the image to read more about the trend forecasts.
New! Summer Palace Blanket
Following the success of my Summer Palace wrap design, which was released a couple of months ago, this week we have put a blanket version of the design on the web site on a pre sale basis.
Following the success of my Summer Palace wrap design, which was released a couple of months ago, this week we have put a blanket version of the design on the web site on a pre sale basis.
In light of the article above I am now thinking that either version could work really well as my winter wrap/cape tucked into a belt, so I might have to steal them away from the studio for a while to test out that theory, especially as it is set to get colder here this coming week! Or I could just stick to the existing wrap version shown below?
It's nearly the weekend!
So, (for me anyway) it is now past 11pm and it has taken me a full 3 hours to sort out this week's newsletter, thus it will most definitely need to be known as a Friday newsletter on a Saturday - I hope you will forgive me for it's tardyness!
Over the course of this evening I have (as usual) been distracted from my original mission and instead been taken down a few rabbit holes looking at the winter trends and thinking about what little delights I might want to add to my wardrobe this year! I have been kind of considering a fashion diet for 2019 - my good friend and fellow Blogstar Emma Varnam has spent the last year on a Fashion Fast (you can read about it on her blog here), but as I don't actually buy all that much new stuff anyway and as a fast might involve me having to think about my yarn purchases too I think a true fashion diet may be a step too far for now. I do love this time of year though in regards to looking at clothes. I love that all the sparkly party dresses are appearing in the shops alongside cosy looking winter coats and boots and I REALLY love it when the new ranges of brushed cotton PJs and fluffy warm slippers make an appearance!!!
I am looking forward to a weekend at home at last and not only am I home, but it looks like all of the Crowfoot Clan may actually coincide within the house at some point - something that is a bit of a rarity these days! We do have plans for an early morning sprint to IKEA to pick up some new shelving for the studio tomorrow, but apart from that the weekend currently holds few plans.....
What will you be doing this weekend? I would love to hear about it, especially if you have something crafty lined up. All being well I will get to spend some time on my Between the Lines shawl and I hope we will light the open fire. It's the simple pleasures in the end isn't it!
I will be back next week with a piece about the art of Freeform crochet as requested by a few of you - I hope you will join me.
Wishing you a happy weekend lovely people!
Over the course of this evening I have (as usual) been distracted from my original mission and instead been taken down a few rabbit holes looking at the winter trends and thinking about what little delights I might want to add to my wardrobe this year! I have been kind of considering a fashion diet for 2019 - my good friend and fellow Blogstar Emma Varnam has spent the last year on a Fashion Fast (you can read about it on her blog here), but as I don't actually buy all that much new stuff anyway and as a fast might involve me having to think about my yarn purchases too I think a true fashion diet may be a step too far for now. I do love this time of year though in regards to looking at clothes. I love that all the sparkly party dresses are appearing in the shops alongside cosy looking winter coats and boots and I REALLY love it when the new ranges of brushed cotton PJs and fluffy warm slippers make an appearance!!!
I am looking forward to a weekend at home at last and not only am I home, but it looks like all of the Crowfoot Clan may actually coincide within the house at some point - something that is a bit of a rarity these days! We do have plans for an early morning sprint to IKEA to pick up some new shelving for the studio tomorrow, but apart from that the weekend currently holds few plans.....
What will you be doing this weekend? I would love to hear about it, especially if you have something crafty lined up. All being well I will get to spend some time on my Between the Lines shawl and I hope we will light the open fire. It's the simple pleasures in the end isn't it!
I will be back next week with a piece about the art of Freeform crochet as requested by a few of you - I hope you will join me.
Wishing you a happy weekend lovely people!
Welcome to this week's Friday Feature Newsletter - the Janie Crow equivalent of a Sunday supplement magazine....
As usual it has been all go here at Janie Crow this week - At the time that this email will drop into your inbox I will be at the Breidagen Show in Holland where I am joining the Stylecraft Blogstars for a couple of days. I will be teaching 2 'Crochet with Beads' workshops and 2 shorter 'Mystical Lanterns' mini workshops, for which there may well still be some tickets, so check out the web site for more information. If you are coming to the show, then make sure you come along and say hello! Do also be sure to check out my Instagram page so that you can keep tabs on me and my fellow Blogstars to see what is going on - I am getting a little better at remembering to post images on there!
The Netherlands is a really growing market for us in regards to crochet, so we will be heading back out there in a couple of weeks time to exhibit at the KreaDoe show in Utrecht, so it would be fabulous to see you there too!
Last week I spent a pretty bonkers couple of days at The Knitting and Stitching Show here in North London, where I was lucky enough to be given part of the Black Sheep Wools stand. Thank you to those of you who came along to say hello and see the new designs - it was wonderful to see so many of you and to hear your crochet stories.
As usual it has been all go here at Janie Crow this week - At the time that this email will drop into your inbox I will be at the Breidagen Show in Holland where I am joining the Stylecraft Blogstars for a couple of days. I will be teaching 2 'Crochet with Beads' workshops and 2 shorter 'Mystical Lanterns' mini workshops, for which there may well still be some tickets, so check out the web site for more information. If you are coming to the show, then make sure you come along and say hello! Do also be sure to check out my Instagram page so that you can keep tabs on me and my fellow Blogstars to see what is going on - I am getting a little better at remembering to post images on there!
The Netherlands is a really growing market for us in regards to crochet, so we will be heading back out there in a couple of weeks time to exhibit at the KreaDoe show in Utrecht, so it would be fabulous to see you there too!
Last week I spent a pretty bonkers couple of days at The Knitting and Stitching Show here in North London, where I was lucky enough to be given part of the Black Sheep Wools stand. Thank you to those of you who came along to say hello and see the new designs - it was wonderful to see so many of you and to hear your crochet stories.
One of the things I love about The Knitting and Stitching Show is that it attracts so many high profile knitters and crocheters who come along to do book signings, talks and demonstrations. I was chuffed to bits to finally get to meet Norwegian designers Arne and Carlos (above) and it was great to catch up with old friends and new alike at the UK Knitting and Crochet Awards - I will post some images of this in a few week's time.
This week my lovely friend and yarn aficionado Juliet Bernard has put together some words about her recent trip to The Shetland Wool Week. Juliet has also shared some more fabulous pictures and information about her trip on her blog 'A Kingfisher Morning', which you can find by following this link. You can also find an interview with Juliet on the Knitting and Crochet Guild web site, by following this link.
The Shetland Wool week is a huge event in the knitting (and yarn) calendar and the event is growing year on year with people travelling from all over the world to attend. Having been to Shetland a few times now I know first hand how beautiful the islands are and how friendly the people, so if you are thinking of a trip, then Wool Week is a perfect time to go. Next year will be the 10th Annual Week and it will run from the 28th September to the 6th October. You can find more information by following this link to the official web site.
I won't be flying home from Holland until Sunday, so I am really looking forward to my Dutch weekend away. I have only ever driven through Holland on my way to Germany, so I am excited about spending more time there. I have it in mind that it is a country of friendly people who understand the importance of craft and are taught it from an early age. I am also hoping that the food is all that I think it will be - I am thinking chips, mayonnaise and lots of apple pie! Oh and beer, but for now I leave you in the capable hands of Juliet and her lovely piece about Shetland Wool Week.....
This week my lovely friend and yarn aficionado Juliet Bernard has put together some words about her recent trip to The Shetland Wool Week. Juliet has also shared some more fabulous pictures and information about her trip on her blog 'A Kingfisher Morning', which you can find by following this link. You can also find an interview with Juliet on the Knitting and Crochet Guild web site, by following this link.
The Shetland Wool week is a huge event in the knitting (and yarn) calendar and the event is growing year on year with people travelling from all over the world to attend. Having been to Shetland a few times now I know first hand how beautiful the islands are and how friendly the people, so if you are thinking of a trip, then Wool Week is a perfect time to go. Next year will be the 10th Annual Week and it will run from the 28th September to the 6th October. You can find more information by following this link to the official web site.
I won't be flying home from Holland until Sunday, so I am really looking forward to my Dutch weekend away. I have only ever driven through Holland on my way to Germany, so I am excited about spending more time there. I have it in mind that it is a country of friendly people who understand the importance of craft and are taught it from an early age. I am also hoping that the food is all that I think it will be - I am thinking chips, mayonnaise and lots of apple pie! Oh and beer, but for now I leave you in the capable hands of Juliet and her lovely piece about Shetland Wool Week.....
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Shetland Wool Week 2018
For a whole year I have been looking forward to attending Shetland Wool Weekwith my friends and this event was one of the most uplifting and inspirational I have ever been to.
It’s really hard to sum up the experience in words because the whole week was full of memorable moments, amazing workshops, talks and drop in events, but here goes.....
The first thing you need to know is that you should book your accommodation now if you want to be part of next year’s event – it gets booked up pretty quickly.
The first thing you need to know is that you should book your accommodation now if you want to be part of next year’s event – it gets booked up pretty quickly.
The second thing is that it is really worth taking out a premium membership when they are released in 2019. As well as the goodies you get the full timetable in advance so that you can plan all the events you want to attend. When bookings go live there is a real scrum for tickets, so having your wish list ready is essential so you don’t miss out.
That’s the ‘housekeeping’ out of the way.
Once you land in Shetland by air or sea you can expect a very warm welcome. We decided to arrive a few days early so that we could explore because the scenery is quite stunning.
That’s the ‘housekeeping’ out of the way.
Once you land in Shetland by air or sea you can expect a very warm welcome. We decided to arrive a few days early so that we could explore because the scenery is quite stunning.
Everywhere we went we met people in the official Shetland Wool Week hat. It was a great icebreaker and a chance to chat with some of the hundreds of people that travel to the islands from all over the world.
There are lots of places to shop for Shetland goodies such as fudge and chocolate and, of course, yarn! We visited Jamieson’s (shop and factory), Jamieson and Smith and the Makers Market for really unique yarns.
I was lucky enough to get a space on three really excellent workshops, but it’s not just about the teaching. There are drop in events all over Shetland held by local knitting groups who throw their doors open to you. The skills of these ladies (and they are mostly ladies) are astonishing and it’s fascinating to watch them using their knitting belts – they knit so fast, barely looking at their work. Everyone was happy to pass on tips and answer questions.
Then there’s the cake! In Shetland they have 11 O’clocks, 3 O’clocks and 8 O’clocks, which all involve copious amounts of tea and the most delicious homemade cakes. Some days I ate cake 3 times – well, it would have been rude not to!
We had the most brilliant time, so if you get the chance to go don’t think twice. You won’t regret it.
Juliet x x
We had the most brilliant time, so if you get the chance to go don’t think twice. You won’t regret it.
Juliet x x
It's nearly the weekend!
Next week Sarah will be here with a piece about making and giving hand made presents. I can't believe just how fast the Festive Season is approaching, so I am really hoping that Sarah has a few speedy tips for gift making.
I always have big plans this time of year, which mostly fail to materialise on the 'Big Day', but one thing I do tend to get sorted are my knit and crochet related tree decorations and this year I have already nabbed myself a couple of really lovely things in the shape of some knitted butterfly and festive sweater decorations from Anthropologie. You can find a link to these by clicking on the images below:
I always have big plans this time of year, which mostly fail to materialise on the 'Big Day', but one thing I do tend to get sorted are my knit and crochet related tree decorations and this year I have already nabbed myself a couple of really lovely things in the shape of some knitted butterfly and festive sweater decorations from Anthropologie. You can find a link to these by clicking on the images below:
The decorations are a bit of an investment, but I know they will bring me great pleasure and the butterflies are made in collaboration with designer Max Alexander, who has forged a relationship with the store. Anthroplogie say of her:
'Sparked by a desire to always wear something wooly, even in the warmer months, Max Alexander began making knit jewellery in 2009, and expanded into the creation of large-scale knit sculptures and award-winning stop-motion animations. This season, her detailed creatures epitomize the warmth and cosiness of spending the holidays at home.'
Last year I treated myself to some decorations designed by Kate Jenkins, a knitwear and crochet designer that I love. This year she has produced the cute crochet Gingerbread Man shown below. As with the previous images, click on the picture below to be taken to the store.
'Sparked by a desire to always wear something wooly, even in the warmer months, Max Alexander began making knit jewellery in 2009, and expanded into the creation of large-scale knit sculptures and award-winning stop-motion animations. This season, her detailed creatures epitomize the warmth and cosiness of spending the holidays at home.'
Last year I treated myself to some decorations designed by Kate Jenkins, a knitwear and crochet designer that I love. This year she has produced the cute crochet Gingerbread Man shown below. As with the previous images, click on the picture below to be taken to the store.
If you are thinking of making some woolly decorations yourself the Anthropologie site has some great ideas, including pom pom door wreaths and felt garlands, so why not take a look?
If, like me, you are already beginning to think beyond December and into next year then you might be interested to know that there are still places on the Knit For Peace trip to Mysore. The workshops which take place on the trip will be tutored by Renee Callahan and you can find more information by folowing this link.
Tickets for Vogue Knitting Live in New York in January are also now live. The package tickets were released last week, but you can now go onto the web site and purchase class and market place tickets. You can view the main web site by following this link and can book tickets by following this one.
I have had an email from the President of the New York City Crochet Guild and am really hopeful that I can get to meet some of the members at the show. I have emailed the Guild President suggesting we meet up, but have yet to hear back, so if you are a member of the guild could you let me know if the email has been received? My emails can get caught up in spam settings and I would hate to miss the opportunity to meet members of the guild at the show.
Broadway actress and avid crocheter Sutton Foster has been named as the speaker at the Gala Dinner at VKLive, so I am really hopeful that the show will be a great platform for crochet design and that I will get to meet lots of NYC based crafters. If you are planning to come along please let me know - perhaps a group of us can arrange to meet up for a drink and a chat about our love of crochet and all things yarny somewhere?
As October speeds past us I am looking forward to some studio time after the next Dutch show as I am itching to get involved in some new design work. I love the anticipation of new projects, so fingers crossed that my crochet mojo is on the way back!
Wherever you are and whatever you are knitting, crocheting or crafting, as always we would love to hear from you, so do hit reply and let us know what you are up to.
Happy Weekend!
If, like me, you are already beginning to think beyond December and into next year then you might be interested to know that there are still places on the Knit For Peace trip to Mysore. The workshops which take place on the trip will be tutored by Renee Callahan and you can find more information by folowing this link.
Tickets for Vogue Knitting Live in New York in January are also now live. The package tickets were released last week, but you can now go onto the web site and purchase class and market place tickets. You can view the main web site by following this link and can book tickets by following this one.
I have had an email from the President of the New York City Crochet Guild and am really hopeful that I can get to meet some of the members at the show. I have emailed the Guild President suggesting we meet up, but have yet to hear back, so if you are a member of the guild could you let me know if the email has been received? My emails can get caught up in spam settings and I would hate to miss the opportunity to meet members of the guild at the show.
Broadway actress and avid crocheter Sutton Foster has been named as the speaker at the Gala Dinner at VKLive, so I am really hopeful that the show will be a great platform for crochet design and that I will get to meet lots of NYC based crafters. If you are planning to come along please let me know - perhaps a group of us can arrange to meet up for a drink and a chat about our love of crochet and all things yarny somewhere?
As October speeds past us I am looking forward to some studio time after the next Dutch show as I am itching to get involved in some new design work. I love the anticipation of new projects, so fingers crossed that my crochet mojo is on the way back!
Wherever you are and whatever you are knitting, crocheting or crafting, as always we would love to hear from you, so do hit reply and let us know what you are up to.
Happy Weekend!
Welcome to this week's Friday Feature Newsletter - the Janie Crow equivalent of a Sunday supplement magazine....
I start this newsletter with a hugh THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to email after our horrible experience last week - it means so much to know that you have been sending us your love and best wishes. We are pretty much sorted now and are very grateful that very little was taken and no one was hurt.
It has been a busy week here at Janie Crow and it is hard to believe that we are now heading full throttle into the autumn season. The weather has been beautiful and still a little warmer than usual, so the transition period over autumn from my beloved summer months into the winter is less of a shock than usual and it still seems odd to be thinking about cosy fireside evenings and chunky sweaters. Here in North London people seem at a loss as to how to dress due to the unusually warm weather - some people are still sporting T shirts, sandals and summer dresses, whilst others have their winter boots and jackets on - it is so strange to see such a mix as I walk through our town!
I have spent that last couple of days at The Knitting and Stitching Show here in London. The lovely guys at Black Sheep Wools have very kindly given me an area on their stand in the main hall and it was fabulous to be given such a warm welcome there yesterday. This afternoon I will be on the Stylecraft stand for a couple of hours and then tomorrow I will be back on the Black Sheep stand, which is C15/6 down by the rose window - please drop over and say hello if you are visiting.
I start this newsletter with a hugh THANK YOU to all of you who took the time to email after our horrible experience last week - it means so much to know that you have been sending us your love and best wishes. We are pretty much sorted now and are very grateful that very little was taken and no one was hurt.
It has been a busy week here at Janie Crow and it is hard to believe that we are now heading full throttle into the autumn season. The weather has been beautiful and still a little warmer than usual, so the transition period over autumn from my beloved summer months into the winter is less of a shock than usual and it still seems odd to be thinking about cosy fireside evenings and chunky sweaters. Here in North London people seem at a loss as to how to dress due to the unusually warm weather - some people are still sporting T shirts, sandals and summer dresses, whilst others have their winter boots and jackets on - it is so strange to see such a mix as I walk through our town!
I have spent that last couple of days at The Knitting and Stitching Show here in London. The lovely guys at Black Sheep Wools have very kindly given me an area on their stand in the main hall and it was fabulous to be given such a warm welcome there yesterday. This afternoon I will be on the Stylecraft stand for a couple of hours and then tomorrow I will be back on the Black Sheep stand, which is C15/6 down by the rose window - please drop over and say hello if you are visiting.
After countless false starts, this is the week when I finally get to talk briefly about Charleston Farmhouse and the nearby Berwick Church, which Andy and I visited back at the beginning of September. It seems a while ago now, especially as so much has happened since, but we had a fabulous weekend and I urge you, if you are ever down in Sussex and have the time, to go and visit. You can find my piece further down this email, along with some information about a couple of our forthcoming trips.
I hope, as always, that this newsletter finds you well. If you have anything you would like to share with us, please hit reply.
I hope, as always, that this newsletter finds you well. If you have anything you would like to share with us, please hit reply.
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Charleston Farmhouse & Berwick Church
At the outbreak of the first World War in July 1914 many young men volunteered to go to war, however in 1916 the British Government passed the Military Service Act which specified that all single men aged 18 to 40 years old were liable to be called up for military service unless they were widowed with children or ministers of religion. Stanley Spencer and his Slade counterparts such as Mark Gertler, Isaac Rosenberg and Paul Nash, were all sent to contribute to the war effort - their subsequent art and written work later reflecting their experiences of wartime. However, as pacifists, most of the members of the Bloomsbury Group were conscientious objectors of the war and so they made the decision to leave London and find work on the land rather than face the persecution that many other objectors were subjected to.
Vanessa Bell, her children, Duncan Grant and the writer David Garnett moved to Charleston Farmhouse in 1916. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, yet close to the town of Lewes, which connected to London via the train line, the farmhouse, along with Virginia Woolf’s nearby retreat ‘Monks House’ became a focal point for the Bloomsbury Group. Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant both lived at Charleston until their deaths (in 1962 and 1978 respectively) and within their time there they both produced many fabulous works of art, textile, rug and furniture designs, whilst also decorating their home and working on the fabulous murals at the nearby St Michael and All Angels church in Berwick village.
Vanessa Bell, her children, Duncan Grant and the writer David Garnett moved to Charleston Farmhouse in 1916. Surrounded by beautiful countryside, yet close to the town of Lewes, which connected to London via the train line, the farmhouse, along with Virginia Woolf’s nearby retreat ‘Monks House’ became a focal point for the Bloomsbury Group. Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant both lived at Charleston until their deaths (in 1962 and 1978 respectively) and within their time there they both produced many fabulous works of art, textile, rug and furniture designs, whilst also decorating their home and working on the fabulous murals at the nearby St Michael and All Angels church in Berwick village.
During the first world war, when the members of the Bloomsbury Group first arrived at Charleston, the land around the house was used for vegetable plots and chicken runs, but Vanessa and Duncan later transformed it into the garden of today using plans by Roger Fry as their guideline for the layout. The garden is not huge – it is walled to divide it from the original farm buildings and features a large pond, which makes a focal point for fabulous views across the garden and out onto the surrounding Sussex countryside from the front of the house. Formal beds and areas where the planting is relaxed, mixing Mediterranean influences with cottage garden planting, creates a wonderful fluid feel to the garden and you can understand why it became a great focus in Vanessa’s life in particular. Whilst the garden provided her with a distraction from her paintings and artwork, Vanessa also used her garden as a kind of canvas, almost painting her flowerbeds with ‘a dithering blaze of flowers and butterflies and apples’.
I first visited Charleston when I was studying my degree in Textile Design at Winchester School of Art. Previous to this visit I had no idea who Duncan Grant or Vanessa Bell had been or what part The Bloomsbury Group, of which they were members, had played in the story of Modern Art. I think I probably visited the house about ten years after the death of Duncan Grant in 1978 and just a few years after it had been purchased by The Charleston Trust, part renovated and opened to the public.
With no expectations of what I was going to see and no prior knowledge of any of the many inhabitants of the house I remember being absolutely blown away by the surprising beauty of the interior décor. Each visit since has not disappointed and I always feel quite emotional about visiting.
In the past and in times of neglect, many areas of the house suffered with damp, which meant that lots of the hand painted surfaces had peeled and flaked. The house is now run by the Charleston Trust and they have spent many years renovating it, along with the surrounding gardens, to their former glory so that the house appears as it did in the 1950s, with reproduction carpets, rugs and textiles specially made to replace originals and many walls and pieces of furniture carefully returned to their for prior beauty by skilled craftspeople.
With no expectations of what I was going to see and no prior knowledge of any of the many inhabitants of the house I remember being absolutely blown away by the surprising beauty of the interior décor. Each visit since has not disappointed and I always feel quite emotional about visiting.
In the past and in times of neglect, many areas of the house suffered with damp, which meant that lots of the hand painted surfaces had peeled and flaked. The house is now run by the Charleston Trust and they have spent many years renovating it, along with the surrounding gardens, to their former glory so that the house appears as it did in the 1950s, with reproduction carpets, rugs and textiles specially made to replace originals and many walls and pieces of furniture carefully returned to their for prior beauty by skilled craftspeople.
My CAL style project Bohemian Blooms was inspired by both the house and gardens and the murals painted predominantly by Vanessa and Duncan within the nearby church at Berwick. The patterns are available within a book, which features more information about my design inspiration and many step by step images.
Photography is prohibited within the Farnhouse, so to see pictures of the house decor I urge you to head over to the official Charleston web site.
Photography is prohibited within the Farnhouse, so to see pictures of the house decor I urge you to head over to the official Charleston web site.
Annie Sloan at Charleston
Annie Sloan is considered one of the world’s most respected paint and colour experts, she brings decades of knowledge – and plenty of style – to her hugely popular line of decorative paint, 'Chalk Paint' and with books, brushes, stencils, and fabrics, her inspirations are transforming more and more homes every day.
“Annie Sloan is one of "Britain's most influential female designers." The Telegraph
“Annie Sloan is one of "Britain's most influential female designers." The Telegraph
Annie discovered the Bloomsbury group of artists and their country retreat, Charleston farmhouse, whilst she was studying Fine Art. When the opportunity arose for her to collaborate with the Charleston Trust to create a unique range of Chalk Paint colours, it was a dream come true for Annie...
Annie's collaboration with Charleston has seen her create three distinctive paint colours inspired by the incredible home of the Bloomsbury group. Each of the colours are named after local places which the artists would have known and are inspired by elements of the highly decorated rooms within the British farmhouse.
Please note: All wording and the image above have been copied from the Annie Sloan web site. You can find more information about the paint ranges and Annie's inspiration by following this link to the web site.
Annie's collaboration with Charleston has seen her create three distinctive paint colours inspired by the incredible home of the Bloomsbury group. Each of the colours are named after local places which the artists would have known and are inspired by elements of the highly decorated rooms within the British farmhouse.
Please note: All wording and the image above have been copied from the Annie Sloan web site. You can find more information about the paint ranges and Annie's inspiration by following this link to the web site.
Breidagen & KreaDoe
Towards the end of next week I will be travelling out to Holland along with a group of fabulous Stylecraft Blogstars to attend the Breidagen show in Zwolle in The Netherlands. I have only ever driven through Holland briefly on family trips to Germany, so I am really looking forward to visiting for longer.
The Breidagen show takes place from Friday 19th October to Saturday 20th and I will be teaching some mini workshops while I am there - you can find a list of all the workshops by following this link.
During the last week of October and the first week of November Andy and I will be exhibiting at The KreaDoe show in Utrecht. We are really excited to be taking Janie Crow to this show, especially as we are told it is one that appeals to crocheters in particular. We will be launching a blanket version of my new Summer Palace design in 2 colour ways at the show. I have put a sneeky peek image of the design below.
Kits for the new blankets, which are made using Stylecraft Life DK, will be available on our web site from the middle of November and the pattern only option will be available in the spring.
It's nearly the weekend!
Last night I attended the British Knitting and Crochet awards where I picked up the 'Highly Commended' award for Crochet Designer of the year. It was a lovely event, which reinforced the sense of community that the knitting and crochet industry has and I am really proud to have picked up this award. I will post some images as soon as I have some, but in the mean time I want to thank you all again wholeheartedly for your votes and kind wishes.
As I mentioned in last weeks (belated) newsletter, tickets for the workshops at next year's Edinburgh Yarn Festival go on sale via their web site tomorrow. You can view the classes by following this link.
This week the class lists for the Vogue Knitting Live New York show have also gone live and I am so excited to see our little bird logo on the exhibitors page - eek! VKLive have also released details of their VIP style packages and you can find these by following this link. General tickets for classes and the market place will go on sale soon.
We are looking forward to the weekend and all it has in store - as I already said, I will be at The Knitting and Stitching show on Saturday and then will be enjoying a home based day for most of Sunday. If you are coming to Alexandra Palace then I am sure you are set for a great weekend - if you have other exciting plans that you would like to tell us about, then do hit reply and let us know!
Next week I am very pleased to say that I will be posting a great article written by Juliet Bernard about her recent trip to Shetland Wool Festival. Juliet had an absolutely fabulous time and has given me access to lots of great photos - so make sure you don't miss it. Much love until then....
This week the class lists for the Vogue Knitting Live New York show have also gone live and I am so excited to see our little bird logo on the exhibitors page - eek! VKLive have also released details of their VIP style packages and you can find these by following this link. General tickets for classes and the market place will go on sale soon.
We are looking forward to the weekend and all it has in store - as I already said, I will be at The Knitting and Stitching show on Saturday and then will be enjoying a home based day for most of Sunday. If you are coming to Alexandra Palace then I am sure you are set for a great weekend - if you have other exciting plans that you would like to tell us about, then do hit reply and let us know!
Next week I am very pleased to say that I will be posting a great article written by Juliet Bernard about her recent trip to Shetland Wool Festival. Juliet had an absolutely fabulous time and has given me access to lots of great photos - so make sure you don't miss it. Much love until then....
Janie's Friday Feature on a Saturday!
This is a speedy email to apologise for the fact that you have not been sent a Friday Feature Newsletter for the last 2 weeks and to quickly update you on a few things that are happening over the next week or so......
Last week we were at Yarndale and the lead up to the show was so busy that the Friday Feature Newsletter didn't materialise. This week we have had a bit of a personal disaster in that our home was broken into on Thursday evening so Friday was spent clearing up the house rather than sorting out a newsletter. Thankfully very little was taken, but in the space of the 4 minutes that the burgulars were in our home they did manage to make a huge amount of mess!
I know that I owe you a newsletter which focuses on my recent visit to Charleston House - this will now be scheduled for next Friday, but I wanted to write a quick email today to thank all those of you who drooped onto the stand at Yarndale last week to say hello and to remind you all that we will be at The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace next week - you can find more information about this below.
Today is also the day when the lovely guys at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival release their class lists for next year. I will be teaching 2 workshops and the listings of all workshops will be live on the EYF web site at 4pm this afternoon. You can book workshops next Saturday the 13th October. The link to the EYF web site is here.
I hope that wherever you are you are having a nice weekend and I look forward to getting back to normal and being in touch again next week. If you have anything you would like to share with us, as always, please hit reply.
This is a speedy email to apologise for the fact that you have not been sent a Friday Feature Newsletter for the last 2 weeks and to quickly update you on a few things that are happening over the next week or so......
Last week we were at Yarndale and the lead up to the show was so busy that the Friday Feature Newsletter didn't materialise. This week we have had a bit of a personal disaster in that our home was broken into on Thursday evening so Friday was spent clearing up the house rather than sorting out a newsletter. Thankfully very little was taken, but in the space of the 4 minutes that the burgulars were in our home they did manage to make a huge amount of mess!
I know that I owe you a newsletter which focuses on my recent visit to Charleston House - this will now be scheduled for next Friday, but I wanted to write a quick email today to thank all those of you who drooped onto the stand at Yarndale last week to say hello and to remind you all that we will be at The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace next week - you can find more information about this below.
Today is also the day when the lovely guys at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival release their class lists for next year. I will be teaching 2 workshops and the listings of all workshops will be live on the EYF web site at 4pm this afternoon. You can book workshops next Saturday the 13th October. The link to the EYF web site is here.
I hope that wherever you are you are having a nice weekend and I look forward to getting back to normal and being in touch again next week. If you have anything you would like to share with us, as always, please hit reply.
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The Knitting and Stitching Show
We are so excited that the lovely folks at Black Sheep Wools have allowed us to take over an area of their stand at the forthcoming Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. The show starts on Thursday the 11th and runs through to next Sunday the 14th October. The Black Sheep stand is in the main hall by the large stained glass window.
We will have the new Royal Garden blankets on display at the show alongside the new Summer Palace Wrap and will also be taking all my other blankets, books and patterns. I will be on the stand on Thursday and Saturday, so it would be lovely to see you if you are visiting the show.
There's still time to book your ticket to take part in one of the workshops at the show, but you need to hurry as they only have a limited number of places remaining.
The Knitting & Stitching Show offers one of the biggest programmes of specialised textile workshops in the UK. There are over 230 classes to choose from, all taught by leading experts in their fields. Sessions include dress-making, upcycling, applique, shisha embroidery, wet-felting, screen printing, shibori and many more.
Advance bookings for the workshops cease at midnight on Sunday 7th October (tomorrow). Remaining workshop tickets can be purchased at the show, but they recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Our lovely friend Luise will be teaching a couple of really interesting knitting workshops - 'How to Knit a Small Sphere' and 'How to Knit a Beaded Button Cover'. You can find more info by following this link. The fabulous Jo Smith will be teaching at the show too and she still has a very limited number of places left on her class programme.
The Knitting & Stitching Show offers one of the biggest programmes of specialised textile workshops in the UK. There are over 230 classes to choose from, all taught by leading experts in their fields. Sessions include dress-making, upcycling, applique, shisha embroidery, wet-felting, screen printing, shibori and many more.
Advance bookings for the workshops cease at midnight on Sunday 7th October (tomorrow). Remaining workshop tickets can be purchased at the show, but they recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Our lovely friend Luise will be teaching a couple of really interesting knitting workshops - 'How to Knit a Small Sphere' and 'How to Knit a Beaded Button Cover'. You can find more info by following this link. The fabulous Jo Smith will be teaching at the show too and she still has a very limited number of places left on her class programme.
Yarndale 2018
We had an amazing time at Yarndale last week. As always it was a really exciting show and there was a lot going on. It was really great to get to say hello to so many of you and it was lovely to hear about how much you are enjoying the newsletters.
I think the show had grown in size yet again this year and I was especially excited to discover that the yarn company Scheepjes had a stand there - not only that, but they had also invited a group of their amazing bloggers along to meet and greet people on the stand. It was as lovely as always to see our friend the lovely Dedri Uys along with designer Carmen Jorissen (pictured above) and I was beyond excited to finally get to meet the amazing Rachel Carmona (aka Cypress Textiles) who is one of my crochet heroes - if you don't already know about her work then you need to head over to her web site for more info - her Instagram feed is also fabulous!
You can find some images taken at the show on my Instagram feed by following this link.
It is the weekend!
I am feeling a little out of sync today and keep having to remind myself what day it is. The weather here in North London is pretty dismal, so it looks like it is shaping up to be a couch potato kind of a day, but that's probably a good thing after the stress of the last 36 hours or so and given that we have a lot going on next week and over the forthcoming months - when things are busy it is always so nice to know that the weekend offers the comfort of home.
Hoping you are having a fabulous weekend whatever it is you have planned....
Hoping you are having a fabulous weekend whatever it is you have planned....
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