cold fingers

 I'm sorry that this post is a little late but we have been busy moving things around so the gas men can install a new boiler which involves rerouting pipes etc and trying to destash as we go. 

So far I've reduced the contents of the airing cupboard by more than 50 percent and managed to take a car load of stuff to the tip/recycling centre. Three boxes are sat in the porch ready to go to the charity shop and I will have more to send in the next few weeks.

However, I did get to take a day out just over a week ago to visit the newly reopened Ruddington Frame knitters museum. They have acquired another building which now accommodates the new cafe and shop which also links access to the chapel exhibition space,

The main reason for visiting was to look at the current knitting exhibition and check out the refurbishment of the workers cottages.

Many of Jen's pieces are worked with metal wire which makes them 3 dimensional.

Other parts of the exhibition included knitted lives, where people had been given the opportunity to knit a square ( or not) to put on show,

Typically I forgot to take a photo of the empty card and the reason !!

A stroll round the rest of the museum reminded me of the terrible working conditions that existed, the knitting frames as so close together that you sometimes wonder how people actually got to them to work on them.

You also have the opportunity to have a go on a sock machine and explore some of the museums collections.

The workers cottages have been renovated to show the living standards of the workers and the managers office.

I took the opportunity to sign up as a friend of the museum so I can visit again and receive updates on the progress,

That's about it for now, the workmen have got all the doors open and it feels like about 5 degrees in here so I'm off to get a cup of coffee to warm my hands up xx

Its been quiet

Hi,
Confession, I've not really done a great deal except work and sleep!! At the moment we are both on a count down to our next holiday in a few weeks time and I suspect that I will blog about it at length when we get back.
I've found that more and more I am using this blog as a diary for myself. It documents my fibre adventures, my fleece purchases and our travels which although restricted at the moment do to circumstances .
Last weekend I made an effort to try and sort out my desk and succeeded in going from this

to this

not completely clear but a lot more organised!! I've also made a start on the caramel fleece, breed unknown. There's not a lot of vm in this one but it is slightly cotted, I tried to pull it apart when wet but it is a challenge.

but the combed nest are beautiful and soft. I think this is one to process whilst watching a film on a dark dismal night !

 I did find a couple more balls of hand spun from 2 or 3 years back so I'm knitting this...

possibly portland and jacob? anyway its just a quick knit to keep my fingers busy :-)

Have a great weekend x

a little more knitting

Hi,

I've been trying to knit up some of my handspun into hats :-)

Why Hats? well simply because I can remember the pattern easily haha. knit 4 inch of this, 5 inch of that. then shape the top!!!! I hope to get back to spining in public so I need something to show what can be made with even the thicker bumpy yarn plus if anyone wants to buy one I won't refuse!! three of these are from fleece I've prepped myself, one is from a merino blended colour tops (spun maybe 5 years ago) and the green one from the scrap bag!!

Back to 2015

a couple of feathered friends.

Bobbin along

On Bank Holiday Monday I joined the other volunteers at The Framework Knitters Museum for their Workers Play Time event. Usually I take my spinning wheel over to the museum but this time they asked if I knew anyone who did any other sort of craft. I admitted that I did know how to make bobbin lace and offered to put a display together with lace pillows where people could have a go for themselves.

It has been a while since I touched my lace making equipment and I spent a few evenings working on a strip of Torchon lace just to get the feel for it again, after all, no point trying to show people how to do it if I've forgotten the basics myself!!

I found my old samples and remounted them into a proper display book and found a couple of small canvas that came with easels in a local discount book store and used them to display different types of bobbins. Because I have given away/sold most of my completed pieces, I took along a couple of pieces of  bobbin lace that I had rescued from a charity shop and I hope that the original owner approves of them being used for this purpose.

The green bookmark is one of the pieces

and the hankie in the foreground is the other

Spinning was represented along with quilting

rag rug making

and natural dyeing.

The sun stayed out, the local community choir entertained us and a great day was had by all.

Victorian Christmas at Framework Knitters Museum

Yesterday my friend Angela and myself found ourselves back at the Framework knitters museum in Ruddington giving a spinning demonstration as part of their Victorian Christmas event. No, we didn't dress up partly because we don't have costumes but also because it seems to classify spinning as a lost art only seen at reenactment days.

We made ourselves comfy on the balcony of the old Wesleyan chapel where the collection of knitwear is housed including Queen Victoria's stockings that were recently featured on the Antiques Road Trip programme here in the UK.

The examples of Framework knitwear are quite stunning.

 

 

During the afternoon we were entertained by the Ruddington Comminity Choir ,  and the Maids of Clfton Morris dancers

 Children were entertained by Father Christmas and story telling in the old workshop, I was taken with the knitted Christmas decoration made using the sock machines.....

.........Hot Chestnuts and crumpets toasted by the fire!

As darkness fell, the lanterns were lit creating a magical place for children to come to visit Santa.

I hope you all had a good weekend x