Knitting and Stitching Show 2011

Today, I went to the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. I go every year and normally really enjoy it. This year, however, the crowds, always very large, were unmanageably enormous and it was almost impossible to move, see things, look at anything, or hear yourself think. A victim of its own success I suspect. The huge throngs did rather spoil my enjoyment I am afraid. However, it did prove just how popular crafts, particularly knitting, have become. The show was full of knitting stands and a lot of luxury yarns which would suit one or two skein projects best simply because the cost of making a garment in them would be prohibitive. The Black Sheep were there with their huge pile of discounted yarns, but I couldn't find anything I liked enough. Which is a pity as I have two new patterns that I wanted to knit, both needing aran weight yarn and I'd been really hoping to get some yarn to start at least one of them over Christmas.

Knitting was particularly well represented at the show, together with small crafts such as beading, paper crafts, embroidery and, to a lesser extent than usual, cross stitch. Quilt stalls also seemed to be thinner on the ground and the button stalls seemed to only have plastic and wood buttons, no glass or metal that I noticed.

I found the sewing stalls disappointing, perhaps because I was particularly focusing on getting two pieces of navy trouser fabric and although I found four garment fabric stalls, none had navy trouser weight in a suitable fabric type. Rosenberg's, normally a place I can absolutely guarantee to get trouser weight fabric, hadn't nearly as much fabric on the stall this year because this was the third show he had done back to back. I was particularly disappointed because I do love his fabrics and had rushed there first hoping to sort out the SWAP items nice and early so I could concentrate on getting buttons and finishing items for the garments. As you can see, I didn't come away from Rosenberg's empty handed, but neither piece is the navy blue trouser weight that I needed for the SWAP.



The purple is 100% virgin wool, french, and whilst a definite bargain, was considerably more expensive than I would normally consider . I got 1.75m of this, to be sure I can get a jacket out of the length without having to scrimp. The colour will work with black, grey and navy so it should be able to work very hard in the wardrobe. I have tops that will work with it, and some fabrics to make more tops if they are required later. So, whilst an investment piece, it will hopefully repay me in cost per wear.



The red is also 100% wool, a much denser fabric, and is destined to become a jacket to replace my existing red one, which has been very well loved and now looks considerably past its best. This too will work with existing items very effectively and there are fabrics in stash to make more tops to work with this one also.


Also shown in the photo are the remainder of my purchases.

The beads will adorn three different shawls. I have the yarns in stash already for these.

The knitting needles are Knit Pro Harmony and are the last few needed to give me a full set of all the sizes I am likely to require. There are two sets of double points, and one set of tips for my interchangeables. There are also two spare cables for my interchangeables, 120cm and 150cm, as well as a set of cable connectors to use to lengthen the shorter cables by attaching them together.

The skein of yarn is Araucania Botany Lace and will become a shawl. I really, really love this yarn and although I wasn't supposed to buy any more lace or sock weight yarn, this one really did have to come home with me. I was very, very good. As you can see, I stuck to my promise not to bring home more sock yarns. And I can tell you this was very hard to stick to as there were a lot of sock yarns that wanted me to adopt them.

After the show, I went up to the local quality fabric shop and got the two lengths of navy wool/poly blend trouser weight which I needed for the SWAP. One is plain colour but has a noticable weave pattern. The other is navy with a pale pin stripe, consisting of three lines close together, then one line further away. I didn't take a photo because navy doesn't photograph under artificial light particularly well.

PS. Fabulous news. On checking the photo, I find the needle tips are not in the photo. I seem to have lost them. I presume I've dropped them somewhere in the show since I've searched the car, the bags (including the one that I put into the kitchen bin which was covered in mushroom peelings), surrounding area... no luck. Will investigate in daylight, but think they are gone. :(