
I have just got to stop going to Wool and knitting shows.
Last weekend, I was at the Waltham Abbey Wool Show.
The thing about events like this… many of the stall holders are real crafters. They spin their own wool and hand dye it – often with natural dyes, not commercial chemicals.
And they take such pride in what they do.
I think it’s important to keep these traditional crafts alive, and to support the people who work with such skill. Otherwise, the time will come when these crafts are lost to us.
My writer chum Jean Fullerton (who I totally blame for taking me somewhere I was bound to spend money) remembers and writes about the time when knitting was just what everyone did. A lot of people couldn’t afford shop bought clothes and jumpers – so they hand made them.
These days, hand-made often means expensive and shop bought is cheaper than buying the yarn and making it yourself. Hand made also seems to be associated with unfashionable and old. But that couldn’t be further from the truth…

And of course, it’s all about creativity. It’s like writing- but I’m using my fingers in a different way to make the thoughts in my head into something real. And like a book, everything I make is distinctively mine – good or bad – its something that only I have done and it says something about me.

The other thing about knitting is it relaxes me. That’s one of the reasons I had to Quinn, my heroine in The Wild One, does it too.
Unfortunately my phone camera had a meltdown at the show and I don’t have as many photos of the event as I would like… but I do have lovely yarn and handmade lanolin soap.
I also had a lovely afternoon chatting to people on the stalls. Do go and check out the fab Chilean yarns and hand spun pure English wool and the soft shiny silk yarns… and maybe you too will get the knitting bug.
I have a feeling this is the kind of Oops moment that is going to happen again. See you at the next one.
Comments
4 responses to “Oops.. I did it again (again)”
As you know, I already have the knitting bug, plus the patchwork and quilting bug, and the crochet bug, and at my U3A Crafting Together group I will shortly be getting the rag rug bug. Dormant at the moment I also have the cross stitch bug and the canvas work bug, so no hope for me then, not that I mind.
LOL. I still have that lovely quilted lap top bag you made for me ages ago. I still use it too. My newest laptop is a perfect fit. 🙂
Janet, I know the feeling. I used to knit most of my daughters’ woollies when they were young. Love working with colours. I’m equally eager these days with any card making designs and supplies! I find writing and craft addictive, creative and calming. Also play an electronic keyboard – love getting lost in music. We need these other outlets after a writing day.
I’m just starting to move into colours. I use a lot of variegated wools too – I love the way they make their own colour patterns. J X