Knit and Stitch Show

Finally, a few moments for some Alexandra Palace show-and-tell. Thanks for the Johnny well-wishes. It took 4 doctors, 2 nurses and 2 x-rays to confirm his arm isn't broken. And he's using it again. Phew. Just don't ask how many hours I've spent in medical establishments this week...

At least I had my mind pictures from Sunday to sustain me (if no real ones - photography was seriously frowned upon at many many exhibits, so I abandoned my camera and tried to commit everything to memory instead). My favourite new find of the show was Caren Garfen.
Her work was full of domestic motifs (toilets, irons, hoovers), silk screened onto cotton and hand embroidered with the finest of fine threads. It was the quiet, self deprecating wit that caught my eye, and the sense of a shared joke. Pinny-humour if you like. But such exquisite workmanship.

I think well known to others, but not to me was Julie Arkell. I'm filled with enthusiasm for papier mache - must get to ripping strips soon.

Her work is described in her book as 'very English'. I'm not too sure exactly what the commentator meant by that, but I love the colour pallete (bright, but slightly muted), the use of found objects and the whimsical with an edge, which prevents the pieces slipping over into cute.

Not that cute isn't good - Rebecca Shreeve's Quirkles were unashamedly cute, brought off with panache and the most gorgeous soft fabrics.

More grown up appeal from Clyde Olliver, who stitches on slate. Fabulous.

And the shopping, oh yeah, because there was plenty of that going on. And some pretty scary shoppers to contend with - there's nothing like a stash-builder with their quarry in sight for getting the elbows out! Some temptations, I could resist - a pumpkin teacosy kit, sadly beyond my skills and a great selection of Mini Boden fabrics, which would have sat and sat before I decided what to do with them.


But there was still a lot of shopping going on. I found some gorgeous linen thread and linen pieces by fog linen work sold through Selvedge objects.

Sashiko thread, from Euro Japan Links. I love the matte finish of this for embroidery.

Some yarn for a simple little hat project I want to try.

And a whole load of needle felting supplies. It's something I've been wanting to have a go at for ages, so when I saw a starter kit being demonstrated, I just had to have one. Believe me, I was all about lack of spending restraint that day! It's a good thing the cashpoint was out of action, or the damage to my bank account may have been severe.

And it wouldn't have been anywhere near as much fun without the redoubtable company of Caroline. In fact the only downer of the day was the absence of Monica who was stuck at home with her little barfers, chained to the washing machine. Why is it that time spent with blog-chums passes in the wink of an eye? It was only the tiredness of my feet which convinced me we had spent the entire day having fun. But we really did.

Comments

[Jo]

I love the linen thread - I must have missed that. Not that I know what I would do with it, but it's lovely anyway. And as if that would stop me...

EJL is one of my favourite stands and I always come away with something I really don't need, but that's the joy of it. When did need have anything to do with it?

[Lesley]

I bought a needle felting kit at the NEC K&S show and it's great fun - just make sure you have the first aid kit ready first time you use it!!

[sarah]

I'm glad your son's been given the all-clear now- sounded scary.
It's a good job you didn't take him to the K&S show because the elbows were well and truly out! It put me off my shopping mojo- I just managed a few buttons!
I liked the housewife humour too- I thought it was really well done- not too obvious or in your face but with a lot of style.

[Dragonfly]

I bought the needle-felting starter kit too! Plus the wooden holder to (hopefully) save my fingers and thumbs from too many injuries!

[Bev and Ollie O]

yes, what does "very English" mean, I do hate stereotypes. But the photos are great. Glad also to hear that your little boy's arm is recovering, bet you're so sick of hospitals!

[lazylol]

Oh I'm drooling over all the lovely stuff!
(thanks for reminding me about the girl guides Hostess badge - that was one I'd forgotten!)

[Sarah]

Glad Johnny is okay and using all his appendages again.

And Ali, if your thinking you're capable of knitting a hat (which you absolutely are! Hats are great beginner projects.) I have to tell you're absolutely capable of that tea cozy too. Really, I can tell from looking at it that it not all that dissimilar from a hat. Wish I could've been at the show with you so I could've subjected you to some peer pressure.

[Junie Moon]

I'm so glad Johnny is okay and getting back to being a normal little boy.

What amazing finds you made--I've been buying linen threads, too, and using them on my embroidery projects. Love that stuff!

[janet clare]

Sounds brilliant- thanks for the new 'names' to check out! I have loved Julie Arkell for ages.

[picperfic]

I don't remember seeing any of that apart from the Selvedge stand and then I was tird and thought they were just selling the magazine. I didn't realise you weren't a competent knitter, you never said, lol....that tea cosy pattern is a classic and isn't as hard as it looks ;^)So glad your little man is on the mend!

[driftwood]

glad the arm wasn't broken and he's feeling better. love seeing all your purchases, can't wait to see what you make with them

[Joanna Butchart]

that thread looks amazing. Glad you were able to go and glad you had a fab time. Er what is needle felting photos please. DO not tell me about medical establishments i will practically be living in one next week. Glad the little one is in one peice

[weirdbunny]

Glad you had such a good time, that pumpkin teapot is so funny !

[Rose Vintage]

I loved the K/S show, it was the first time I've been and it was just fantastic but boy did my feet ache at the end of the day!