Knitting Embellishments Workshop at Unravel 2015

December 23, 2014 | Elanor

I will be hosting a workshop on Knitting Embellishments at Unravel in Farnham Maltings this year, I’d love if you could come join me.

Start: Saturday 21 February – 10:30
Estimated End: Saturday 21 February – 12:30
Auditorium: East Wing Dance Studio 2
Knitting Embellishments with Elanor King

Admission: £26 (including same day entry to unravel)

This workshop will explore what kinds of materials can be used as embellishments and where it’s appropriate to use them. We will consider the properties of the yarn, how the finished item will be used and what decorative effect the knitter wants to achieve.

Embellishments demonstrated will include knitted-in and sewn-on techniques e.g. thrums, loom bands, sequins and couching..”

Please bring 4mm needles and Dk yarn leftovers in your favourite colours OR a pattern you want to knit and decorate as well as yarn and needles appropriate to that pattern.

An interview with Skein Queen and some yarntastic events

October 30, 2014October 30, 2014 | Elanor

In anticipation of my next pattern coming out, Corona Beret, I got in touch with Debbie Orr of Skein Queen, who dyed the yarn for it.

Debbie’s yarns are dyed with beautiful depth of colour, I fell absolutely in love with this gold Blush when I was at her open house over the summer. It was a particularly unsummery day, but we were safe from the rain with a load of scrummy cakes and even scrummier wool.

Debbie has just opened a new workshop in Newbury. Go check out the pics on her blog, it looks lovely! Here’s one I copied…

Here are a few question I asked Debbie about her new space and her plans for the future.

1. First of all, how are you? The pics of the new space look fab, has the hummingbird landed on her feet?
Thank you, you’re very kind. It’s been hard work, but I think the hummingbird has finally nested. The new studio space is the attic area of an old barn above a craft shop and is basically all my show stuff permanently set up along with many yarn storage shelves, product displays, electric skein winders and a whole area dedicated to packing parcels (plus a sofa for added comfort knitting). The dyeing is still done from my old workshop at home, about a mile from the studio.

2. What are you going to do in the new space that you couldn’t do before?
The biggest change is that I have a bit of space dedicated to retail, so if customers want to squidge the yarn in person, they can now do so. Although I have an employee a couple of days a week, it’s always best to make an appointment in advance as I might be dyeing in the workshop or away at a show and wouldn’t want to be the creator of a wasted trip.

3. How has 2014 treated you so far? I see you’ll be at the pom pom quarterly Christmas party, any other plans for the rest of the year?
It’s been a year of changes. We launched a jazzy new website at the beginning of the year, got my first proper staff member in April, have introduced much new non-hand-dyed stock, held the first ever SQ Open Studio at home in June and now have another Grand Open Day planned at the new studio on Saturday. After that is the Pom Pom party – which was a lot of fun last year – looking forward to seeing the new venue – and then dedication to clubs and shop updates for the rest of the year. And then a large glass or two of mulled wine over Christmas by way of celebration.

4. Are you planning on going to any yarny events in 2015?
So far, have only booked my perennial must-do show and that’s Unravel at Farnham. In my head I’m planning to concentrate on more shop updates to bring more hand-dyed yarn to those who can’t shop in person.

5. Finally, what’s on your needles right now and what’s in your queue?
Just cast off the bottom edge of the Lush cardigan by Tin Can Knits leaving only the sleeves to do and then… oh I think maybe a Corona Beret!

Thanks for your time, Debbie, it would be great to see another Corona Beret in your gorgeous yarn!

Skein Queen is hosting a workshop-warming party on Saturday, I can’t make it myself unfortunately, but I’d love to hear from anyone who does go! Here are the details

Then the Pom Pom Quarterly Christmas party is on the 6th of December and I’m definitely going to that! I think a whole bunch of us Harrow Knitters are, in fact.

But in the meantime, I have this beauty to work with

200g of “Oosie”, a 100% Scottish Down Cross Dk weight. Sumptuous berry-burgundy in colour. Itching to cast on, but have a few other things in the queue to get through first!

Wildacres Workshop at Puddleducks

August 10, 2013 | 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!

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:

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

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!

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

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

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!

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

July 26, 2013July 26, 2013 | Elanor

Hello Dublin knitters!

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

July 26, 2013August 8, 2013 | 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.

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.

Catchloops

Data and knitting

workshop