WOODFEST WALES 2012

We recently took The Knitting Tent to Woodfest Wales and what a wonderful time we had. We met lots of new friends and met an old one from my wood turning days. We had one day of really bad weather but it didn't manage to put a damper on our fun. There were lots of things to do, so nobody got bored, Ani even got kissed by a parrot!

I particularly enjoyed watching the Axe Men, who put my feeble efforts at chopping wood to shame, and the wood turners. Welshy and I bought some new paints and a burnishing cream to try, so I can't wait to get started using them on more wooden crochet hooks, I just wish the weather would get better.

Here's a few photos to enjoy and we all can thoroughly recommend a visit to Woodfest Wales next year.

Green Peaks Eco Festival Video

Our roadie, Ryland, found this video and I thought I would post it on here. Watch carefully to see if you can spot the knitters.

Green Peaks Eco Festival 2011

Looking Ahead in 2012

It's that time of the year again when we are look forward to a long hot summer, spent travelling around the country teaching people to knit, crochet or spin. We are hoping to do at least 4 national festivals and as many local events as we can cram in. So if you know of anything happening that would benefit from a hefty dose of knitted love, than please get in touch.

We know we'll never get rich from this, as we only charge enough to cover our expenses and buy a little drinkie or three, and we guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Exhibition for The Knitting Tent

We we first started out with our knitting and crochet workshops, one of our members was involved in a community project which evolved into The Knitted Garden. Many people contributed and it was proudly displayed everywhere we went.

Now the garden has moved away with one of the knitters, I think that it's time for a new exhibit. After spending several weeks wondering what to do, I came across The Hyperbolic Coral Reef and loved it so much that I decided to do something along those lines.

This is too big of a job for Ani and me to do on our own, especially as we would like to have something on show in 2012, so we would love it if everyone would contribute something, even if it's just a small shell. It can be knitted, crocheted, felted, paper mache (which is ideal if kids want to get involved too) or any other medium you like, the only limit is your imagination. I intend to photograph each piece to put in a book, so if you do get involved please attach a label with your name and any other information you want to go public (ie your business details, if you're a crafter) and this will also be in the tent for people to peruse at their leisure.

So if you fancy making something from under the sea, please feel free to do so and then contact me for the deliver address.  I've been so carried away by this idea, that I've finished two corals in one day.

Green Peaks Eco Festival 2011

We were recently very lucky to be invited to take part in the first Green Peaks Eco Festival in Derbyshire. It is a beautiful site and you can find more about it here http://www.knockerdown-inn.co.uk/

We were situated in the Earth Field, amongst spinners, masseurs, willow weavers, upcyclers and, best of all, the cake and coffee tent.

After a slow start, we got our first pupils. Sadly we had to concede that crochet certainly wasn't for one of them but the other was naturally gifted.

Here are a couple more photos of some of our new knitting friends, all of whom helped to make the weekend very special indeed.

 Despite having some very talented pupils, special mention has to go to our two star pupils.

The young man on the left of the photo had even spun his own fleece, with the help of the lovely ladies from Chorlton Craft Workshops, who then sent him over to us to learn to knit it up.

Despite Ani and I working very hard, with Ryland and Welshy helping out behind the scenes, we still had time to have a good mooch around the site and even have a bit of fun dancing our collective arses off to Dub Pistols on Saturday night. If you ever get the chance to see these guys I recommend that you do, you will not be disappointed. We even took part in the making of a video by our lovely Transition Town neighbours.

Here are a few more random photos (taken by Welshy) of the rest of the fezzie.

 All in all it was a brilliant little festival, thanks to the organisational skills of Tez, Aimee and Maria, and I recommend that everyone should try to get there next year. If you do, don't forget to call in and say hello to us in The Knitting Tent.