pincushions

In search of fabric

Fabric – that’s what I’ve been searching for recently. So many items need lining and I was desperate for something interesting to finish off my designs. Luckily, it was time for one of the highlights of the year: my annual trek up North to visit the Harrogate Knitting & Stitching Show with my sister, Helen, where there was bound to be fabric galore.

Helen and I have been crafty co-conspirators since our teenage years, so it’s always a chance to spend a whole weekend chatting about knitting, sewing, patchwork, cross-stitch, embroidery and more, and planning future crafty projects. We are even thinking of running a craft weekend in her village next year. It’s a gorgeous setting, so watch out for more of that in the New Year.

Welbeck Abbey crafters

Before the trip to Harrogate, though, we spent a lovely afternoon at the Welbeck Abbey Christmas Craft Fair. As well as all the items on sale, lots of the artists workshops were open to look around. I particularly loved the set-up at Hope & Elvis… Don’t all these beautiful chairs just make you want to sit down and get sewing?

As a bonus as we left, there was a glorious wintry evening sky and a fantastic sunset colours, which will definitely be used as inspiration in the future.

Yorkshire bound

The next day it was a drive up to the spa town of Harrogate in Yorkshire. Helen’s currently making some gorgeous abstract machine embroidery pictures, so it was straight to the button and bead stands. So much choice – it’s like being in a sweet shop as a child!

Fabric galore

I needed fabric to line my little crochet bags and purses, and luckily we spied a pack with cute and quirky animal prints in fantastic colours… Look out for some creations heading to my Etsy shop soon…

I also couldn’t resist these gorgeous prints by Angela Daymond.

It was lovely to have a chat with designer Louisa Harding on her Yarntelier stall, and to have a closer look at her delicate lace shawls… Another project on my to do list, I think…

We left laden with purchases, slightly footsore, but excited to put our goodies to use.

What a lot of bargains!

The next day was all about charity shops just outside Chesterfield… I’ve been turning little china cups and vases into cute crocheted pincushions/storage pots and am always on the lookout for bargains. And what a haul we came away with! Look at all these gorgeous little pots and glasses I came back with.

They’ll eventually be turned into pincushions like these – there’s even storage at the bottom for a few hooks, buttons or other small findings. They, too, will be over on my Etsy shop very soon if you like them…

Beads and more fabric

The Aladdin’s cave of a charity shop also yielded up some fantastic necklaces and a bracelet, which will be dismantled for the stunning ceramic beads.

But the bargain of the day had to be at least  four metres of Sanderson Suva fabric for just £3!!!

All in all, a fantastic trip. I’ll be back there again next year!