Fair Isle & Steeking Workshop at Sitting Knitting

I have always been fearful of taking part in workshops.  I feel like I will never keep up and so I had never done them before.

Today, I attended my 2nd ever knitting workshop at Sitting Knitting.  The tutor for this workshop was Anniken Allis, a knitwear designer originally from Norway.

I have knitted a colour-work hat before but getting some knowledge was why I decided to do this workshop also I have never steeked anything (cut your knitting).

Here are some photos from today.

The Knitting and Stitching Show - Alexandra Palace

About this time every year Twisted Thread and Upper Street Events host the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. 
So this time last week off I went with some of my London knitting friends up the hill to Ally Pally.

It's been a few years since I went to this show, so wasn't entirely sure what to expect.  Alexandra Palace is such a lovely building.

I didn't really need any knitting or fabric stash but when has that stopped me or any other crafter?  The stalls were filled with lots of pretty things and people would stop oggle over them.  We went quite early and that was a good idea as it was busy.

I noticed this quilted bag on a stall, in the end I did buy some fabric.  

Some time ago I bought the t-shirt in the photo below.  It was made by Merchant and Mills for Uniqlo and I ended up buying fabric from Merchant and Mills.

Here it is and I intend to make another Belcarra Blouse number four.

It's always nice to be able to see products in person and more importantly spend time with friends.

My First Shawl Anniversary

Around this time five years ago I knitted my first shawl.  I could knit but had started again in order to re-balance my mind.

I was due to go home to London and thought I would search out a yarn shop.  So I found online that Loop was moving and having a party.  Off I went to Islington and found the most delightful shop full of yarn and people.  As I made my way through the shop not knowing what to buy  I came across a friend of a friend.  She was very helpful in me choosing my purchase.  I think the free Pimms helped too.  I purchased Malabrigio lace  in the Bobby blue colourway. 

I couldn't wait to cast on so I got my mum to hold the yarn  whilst I wound it into a ball.

I worked away at this shawl until I kept ending up with the wrong amount of stitches. I also found out this lace weight yarn was difficult to unpick.

This was when I decided to make stitch markers.

Then in between my games at the World  Wheelchair Basketball Championships, I would work away at the shawl.  I learnt to challenge myself as I started to knit, lace work and kitchener stitch.

Five years later the shawl is still going strong and if successful I am looking to knit another shawl at another Championships, keep your fingers crossed for me. 

Quick knits

I thought I would share the quick project I completed over the weekend.

I was speaking to someone who needed cheering up and thought  I would make something small to do so.  The Bluebird of Happiness by Sara Elizabeth Kellner, it's a free pattern on Ravelry.

I struggle sometimes reading knitting patterns and I did with this one.  The one of the reasons why I like Ravelry is you can get help from other people's projects.

My first attempt was made with Rico Essentials DK on 3mm needles.  Then I made another one again with Rico Essentials, but aran this time on 3.75mm needles.

It was an enjoyable quick knit and really cute.

Love Your Blog: Community and Interaction

Welcome back to the Poppybead crafting blog on Blogspot.  I had been experimenting with other platforms and they have not been working for me, so I am back.

Since I have been away I have still been blogging and I will transfer content across as soon as I can.  Whilst being online I have become addicted to Instagram and Pinterest.  I posted a photo asking for suggestions of crafting podcasts I could watch/listen to and the community of Instagram gave more options than I could of imagined.

One of the suggestions was A Playful Day podcast.  They are running "An Inspired 2015" and this includes Love your Blog Challenge.  I am bit late writing  about April's subjects but better late than never.

The first prompt was Community and Interaction.  I have a presence on Twitter, a page on Facebook, Ravelry, Instagram, Pinterest, a shop on Etsy & a website.  I am really appreciative of all the followers, likes and sales I have made through these through these platforms.
Something seems to be missing, human interaction!  Sometimes I love to meet people and sometimes I don't but more love.  So I through the group Handmade is Hot on Facebook,  I did my first craft fair and have been to some creative networking events.

On Twitter I found a free small business start up course, Ravelry gave me the opportunity to join some knitting groups locally and learning at work week let me find other crafting colleagues in my day job.

I don't post the same things on all platforms for instance I don't share my gluten free food ideas on Facebook, I have a separate blog as well.

For me there has been a lot of trial and error but I am still learning.  Love your blog challenge is a great way to keep learning.

Reasons to be cheerful

Before Christmas I got an email asking if some of me stitch markers could be featured in a knitting magazine.  I did have to read the email a few times to believe the contents, then I snapped up the offer.
I was really excited but didn't tell many people, I also was asked to provide a high resolution photo to be used in the magazine.

Roll on Friday 17th January 2014 and the February issue of Let's Knit was published.  I couldn't wait until I finished my day job to buy a copy of the magazine so went to the shop in my lunch break.  I started flicking through the pages and there are some lovely patterns to add to my knitting to do list.  Not forgetting a lovely article from Rachel Coopey who designs some wonderful stuff, including socks, hats & cowls.

I then got to page 39 and there they were on a page titled "Reasons to be cheerful".

This when I kept singing in my head the Ian Dury & the Blockheads song of the same name.  This page has lots of beautiful things featured and I am very proud to be part of it.  I have also had some lovely feedback from friends and customers.

The above article is the 2nd time my stitch markers have been featured in a magazine.  Below was the first time in Let's Get Crafting.

My stitch markers are at the top of page

I am very grateful to have these opportunities to be featured in magazines and hope people will check out my website & Etsy store hopefully buy my wares.

What's been happening? - Part 1

Hi there

It has been too long since I blogged on my own blog.  Before, during and after the Paralympics in London I have been blogging on behalf on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF).  

Since September I have been planning a few things such as new business cards, doing my first craft fair and building on what I have achieved so far.

My first craft fair took place on Saturday 1st December and it was enjoyable.  I will definitely do another fair at Christmas and another event with Space Hopper Events.

Some of my earrings

The stall on the actual day

Stitch Markers

Stitch Markers

Part 2 of what is happening will be on it's way. 

A Good Friday

Happy holidays everyone.


I arranged to meet up with a crafting friend and go to a little knitting shop in North London called Nest.

My friend had told me about this shop before Christmas and fell in love with it instantly.  The shop stocks lots of beautiful yarns like Malabrigo, Rico, Drops, and Natural Dye Studio.  They stock many other brands with something to suit everyone's pocket.


I didn't realise it was a knitting group day so we decided we would gatecrash or attend.  I've had my heart set on some Drops Alpaca Silk for a project I want to start and got the colour I wanted, hooray.  I also got some red bias binding and Eucalan.

Then some of the regulars started arrive and everyone was nice.  I even got some compliments about my Holden Shawlette. I have been very good and only took my socks to knit. Again people liked the yarn I used for my socks.

Sometimes you can forget there are nice people and retailers in the world but Amy and her husband are lovely, friendly people.  They also serve lovely tea and cake.  I would recommend this shop to any discerning yarn buyers to visit.

A colourful year

Three weeks ago I read another blog entitled Mellow Yellow by a really nice lady who designs beautiful sock patterns.  As I replied to Coop knit's tweet I never imagined how important colour would become this year. 

Some of the nice people who I knit with came up with the idea of "The year of colour".  Originally it was supposed to be just the craft of knitting but has now become multi crafts where each month a new handmade item will be created in that month's colour.

April's colour is yellow and some lovely yellow yarn has been purchased and cast on.  Wanting to be different I decided to make a sewn item or a piece of jewellery, then a light bulb came on in my head. I looked through my stash of yarn, beads & material and remembered the mass of yellow material I bought over ten years ago and just can't throw away.  This purse has a small amount of my yellow material to line it.

Saol Photography

I had already started piecing together some Amy Butler material squares that I had won on Ebay.

The idea was to frame the squares with yellow material and then cut another piece to then make a cushion.  Tonight I have managed to get the first half of the April yellow cushion put together.

I will blog once the cushion is finished and hopefully I will be able to share that talents of the people who spend their time with me. As I yawn and think about going to sleep I remember my sexy vesty tank top.  This was the first adult garment I ever finished knitting & it fits me.

A Different Weekend

During September and May of every year for more years than I can remember I would spend my weekends officiating Basketball games.  This has led to me being selected to officiate at the Paralympics in my home town of London, I am so honoured, excited and nervous.  So when I get asked what I am doing at the weekend my answer is usually "Basketball".


Not this weekend, I was lucky enough to win two tickets to the Fashion Embroidery & Stitch, Hobbycrafts, and Sewing for Pleasure shows at the NEC courtesy of Making Magazine on Facebook.

I posted on my Facebook page if anyone wanted to come with me & the lovely PaisleyImmy came back first. After tweeting our excitement off we went to the NEC.


These shows are like a crafters sweetshop and the two of us were extremely excited big kids.  After attending a Business Development Workshop at the Birmingham Small Business Centre, I got organised and wrote a list of the stands I wanted to visit and specific items I needed. Some of my friends and creative peers will be proud to know I stuck to my lists.


I got some lovely fabric and beads and have already made a pair of earrings and a necklace.

I have made this necklace for myself and the earrings are for a friend.  I will be getting some more of these beads as I think they are pretty and each one is not the exactly the same.

The fabric is for some project bags

 

The Russian dolls fabric wasn't from the shows but from Fibre Flurry in Hall Green.  As the weather this weekend has been glorious I thought I would get outside to top up my vitamin D and take some photos of my show stash.

I Went to the Peace Gardens

I hopefully took some good pictures as a fantastic photographer told me lighting is so important.  The Peace Gardens are a little haven in the middle of Birmingham and have given me some lovely backdrops to capture my creativity.