wildacres

Wildacres Workshop at Puddleducks

Puddleducks, Ardee
| Elanor

I had a whale of a time at my first ever workshop last Saturday. The ladies who took the class were utterly charming, and keen to show me Ardee, which had it’s annual Turfman Festival on. Brilliant!

Ardee Turfman Festival
Ardee Turfman Festival

Clare is the owner of Puddleducks and she’s a busy lady! As well as running the yarn cafe, she makes and sells yummy jams and chutneys. I loved this notice on her van:

No Yummy Jam is Kept in this Van Over Night
No Yummy Jam is Kept in this Van Over Night

This is Puddleducks (looks really inviting, doesn’t it?):

Puddleducks, Ardee
Puddleducks, Ardee

This is a pic of my class in progress – I had knitted objects all over the place by the end – practically hanging from the chandeliers, so they were!

Class in Progress!!
Class in Progress!!

Clare put on a fab spread for us (Nommy!)

Le Feast!
Le Feast!

And look at these dinky little cupcakes! Perfect size really, as I could have 2!

Mini Cupcakes
Mini Cupcakes

I really enjoyed my first foray into Workshopping, and I definitely learned lots from how it went and the huge pool of knowledge that was in the room. I’m already thinking about what to put in the next one!

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Driving from Dublin to Ardee for Wildacres Workshop in Puddleducks, Aug 3rd, Want a Lift?

| Elanor

Hello Dublin knitters!

My car. Not.
My car. Not.

I’ll be giving a very cool workshop on Aug 3rd in Puddleducks in Ardee, Co. Louth next Saturday (3rd Aug). See my previous post

If you’re thinking about coming, but don’t know how to get there, fear not! Your tame designer will chauffeur you there herself! So long as you don’t mind arriving half an hour earlier so I can set up. Let me know! At mo I have three empty seats. Save the environment! Come to my class!

 

Image from http://crazyfunspot.com/30-most-expensive-stylish-and-lavish-cars-of-the-world/

Make your knit your own – Workshop at Puddleducks, Ardee

| Elanor

I am delighted to announce I’ll be running a workshop in Puddleducks in Ardee, Co. Louth on Saturday week (August 3rd).

We’ll be using Wildacres as the workshop pattern.

Wildacres
Wildacres
There are many ways to make your knits your own. First and foremost, once you understand all the information set out in the pattern, you can plan how you want to change it. The next step is to choose whether to substitute the yarn type and colour. There are also many techniques for modifying as you go or working decorations into or onto your piece. This class will go through the pattern, teaching you the standard pattern elements so you can change what you want to make it unique. We will cover:
 – Choosing yarn
 – Elements of a pattern
 – Changing it up
 – If there’s time, surface embellishments (beading & embroidery).
Wildacres is knit in the round. There will be an opportunity to learn to knit in the round if you have not tried this before.
Materials for Wildacres: leftover DK yarn and 4.5mm circular needles (80cm long) (or size required to get gauge 20sts x 28rows / 10cm over st st)
Optional: If you have them, please bring a st st or ribbed square or even an old knit that could do with some “je ne sais quoi”!
This workshop costs 45 euro and is being hosted by Clare of Puddleducks.ght lunch and refresh
A light lunch and refreshments are included in the price.
Ring Clare with any queries
+353-86-4066526
Puddleducks is a craft cafe (with lots of yummy cakes in both of the most important varieties… yarn cakes and chocolate!)
Puddleducks, Kells Road, Ardee, Co-Louth

spaces are limited and a non refundable
booking deposit of 25 euro is required.

Colour-In your own Wildacres

| Elanor

One of my testers had a genius idea when she was starting Wildacres. She printed out the schematic and coloured it in to see how the yarns she had chosen would work. You can see it on rav here.

I thought it was such a good idea that I have supplied a picture here for you to colour in too!

Please feel free to download/print out this image and plan your own Wildacres.

I had fun colouring some in using one of the basic paint packages on my computer.

 

Wildacres Wild!

| Elanor

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!

That’s me lookin’ like a twit, cos I can’t model for toffee.

I’m so excited about this pattern. I spent AGES calculating yardage(metreage) estimates. I’ve had 11(!!!) testers try it out and the pattern is lookin’ goooooood.

This baby will eliminate your DK stash. You’re going to be buying MORE DK so you can make extra capelets. It’s warm, practical, and it’ll go with everything. Cos you can make it in one colour, three colours or as many colours as you like!

I’m so enthusiastic about this one, I’ve even taken out ads!

So go on, give it a whirl, ‘cos honest to betsy, this pattern is so well written (I’ve had such great help), you’ll be using it for years.

Hugs ‘n’ kisses for my lovely tech editor Steph Boardman and testers rwilliams, ting-ting, gothknitty, msoyster, shan79m, whatifknits, winemakerssister, marjos, podruha, puddleduckproduce, and anniepuffin.

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Unravel 2013

| Elanor

Had a marvellous time at unravel today. Met lots of wonderful people and so many lovely compliments on Wildacres.

Wildacres Preview
Wildacres coming soon

It’s in the final stages of testing so it will be up on ravelry soon, soon, soon.

Here are some detail shots:

Wildacres - Shoulder view
Wildacres – Shoulder view
Wildacres - Front top
Wildacres – Front top
Wildacres - detail
Wildacres – detail

How You Doin’?

| Elanor

I’ve been up to no good! I have organised some tech editing on two more patterns and I have outsourced some knitting for the first time. I’m about 3 weeks away from releasing a dinky little hat and a great bit mofo of a blanket. I’ll give you a sneak peek of the blanket schematic:

can't tell you the name cos it's a surprise
can’t tell you the name cos it’s a surprise

I guess I could have just left it as a blank rectangle, but that wouldn’t have been very nice of me.
So, I’m VERY excited about things slowly, glacially, moving forward. I have the next 6 months planned out and they’re HECTIC. Expect the following:

  • Roxbourne hat, made from yummy, scrummy Fyberspates Scrumptious
  • Can’t tell you cos it’s a surprise for a friend blanket as schematic above
  • A multicoloured, fabulous, stash-busting marvel of a cowl/shawl/collar that I’m calling  Wildacres. Due November, it’ll look great over your clothes as a winter warmer. Here’s a pic of it in progress:
Wildacres sneak peek
Wildacres sneak peek
  • Then over the course of the winter, I’m aiming to get a boob-lovin’ tank sweater, some simple socks and an elegant little cushion out of my head and onto your needles. Fingers crossed, eh?

Cue little happy dance.

Luv ya! Happy knitting!