The Perils of Joining a Knitting Group

A recent addition to our local community is a renovated victorian factory complete with creative spaces and a gallery ( I think I mentioned it previously here). Someone that I know told me that she was starting up a knitting group and wondered if I was interested which of course I was. The trouble is because my eldest two are involved in activities on Thursdays, we parents are taxi-ing or baby sitting with no room to spare. So despite it finishing past her bed time, I decided pixie face would have to come with me. The consequence? We have both become obsessed with all things knitting and crochet related. Along we trot with our knitting every Thursday, purchase our hot chocolates and sit with an interesting and eclectic mix of knitters of varying ability. It's really great to see teenagers dragged along, reluctantly learning to knit and then seeing them well and truly hooked (albeit keeping it quiet from their friends).

Now last year I vowed to work through my stash to produce more clothes. Well I have been working through my stash, but it seems utter madness to deny myself the chance of buying new yarn- particularly that of the bargain variety. My first temptation that I freely gave into was at the Greenlight Festival in Leicester- an event aimed at sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint. I hadn't anticipated wool for sale, but there was a lady selling this beauty:

It's Manos Del Uruguay.

Spun and dyed by a women's cooperative in Uruguay, even signed by the woman who produced it. This was the most expensive yarn I've ever bought at £10.50, but going to a good cause. trouble is I'm too scared to knit with it, so it's living on the mantlepiece at the moment so I can admire it and squeeze it each day- sad I know.

Then this week, being a fan of Kemps Wool Shop, I couldn't help myself, I succumbed to this gorgeous organic mix of 70% wool, 30% alpaca:

An absolute bargain at £2.50 a skein! And of course to make the postage costs worthwhile, I ordered 16 skeins- just need to find somewhere to stash them for now...

I Blame Blogland...

Having a sparse wardrobe, I decided last year that I would convert my burgeoning stash (of yarn, fabric... in fact you name it I have a stash of it) into stuff that I could wear. I'd free up drawer space AND have some funky new clothes to wear, I told myself. The trouble is, since starting to blog at the end of last year, I've been bombarded with inspiration from all the amazingly creative people out there, and I have so many ideas...so little time, but I am determined. The trouble is, as well as inspiration, also come links to fresh supplies usually on sale. It started with this from Kemp's Wools which I read about on Twiglet's blog. Well of course, once I'd made a purchase, I was on their mailing list and they very kindly let me know that they had many more bargains in need of a good home. I'm not sure what happened, but this was the result:

some gorgeous chunky wool to knit a hoodie for my little pixie face to wear on our camping trip in the summer (39p a ball!) and some absolutely divine mohair for me whose colour is even more yummy than it looked on the website (59p a ball).

So instead of my stash shrinking, it is in fact multiplying - which is why I blame blogland, nothing to do with me, it would have been rude not to make a purchase...etc.

All I need now is time and peace and quiet... well a girl can dream can't she?