Knit and Wine

Tuesday 24th May, 7.30-10pm.

Join us for a glass of wine or two or three! Nobby's Nuts de rigeur.

Now we are six

Cup cakes and candles to celebrate Jolie's sixth birthday and with Betty, our oldest and most glamourous customer, who came to our very first Knit and Chat and who has supported us from the very beginning.

More lovely long standing supporters from the Tuesday group; Julie,

(Dany), Betty, Karen and Anne Marie. Thanks girls and also to Jennifer, Naomi, Carolyn, Ria, Janice, Debbie and Beryl who were also there and to Pam who couldn't be with us this week.

Nearly there

Linda's beautiful Baby Alpaca throw is near completion. Lots of mattress stitch to go and then just the four mamouth borders to knit. It will be worth it, can't wait to see it finished.

Little Bo Peep

lost her sheep and didn't know where to find them!

Plum and Ivy went missing this morning - they trampled down a fence and went for a wander round the village. They were eventually spotted by Chrissie in a very beautiful garden in Totts Lane, standing on the patio looking at their reflection in the patio doors. Rod, Annie, Sydney and James all helped to catch them - eventually in the greenhouse. What a commotion. James had to sit on Ivy for about half an hour until the farmer came to fetch them. They are back in Wood End 'til we get the fences fixed....not easy this animal husbandry, particularly with a broken leg! Many thanks to Rod who found he was pretty good at sheep rustling - pictured above with Sydney (and Plum) and a well earned cup of tea.

Ta daah!

He's finally wearing it! I have been at Finishing School with my broken leg and have at last completed James' jumper. He was a reluctant model, but I snapped him unawares from my new home on the sofa.

Sheepish

Meet the new arrivals who have come to reside in the back garden over the summer. They are Plum and Ivy - names to reflect their gastronomic preferences. (Plum was originally called Parsley as in Cow Parsley, but seeing as she consumed a small plum tree in less than a day , we quickly changed it).

The ewe lambs (Poll Dorsets) are now installed in the garden at the rear of Jolie and are happily munching away (the remaining trees have now been protected). They have been loaned to us by Peter and Yvonne Gear from Highbury Farm, Wood End, which is about 2 miles from us. Peter and Yvonne have a flock of over 600 sheep and sell their lamb/sheep related products at local farmers' markets. Details are on their website http:www.highburyfarm.co.uk

Highbury Farm have had some fleece spun into wool on a 100yr old spinning machine at a mill up in Yorkshire. It is 100% pure wool and knits as a dk. We are hoping to stock some of this locally grown wool at Jolie when the next batch comes down from Yorkshire.

At the moment there is only the natural 'sheep' cream colour, although they are hoping to add a grey fleece too. I knitted my 'cake, tea or me' teacosy with it and found it very satisfying to use and especially as it was produced so close to home.

What a week

Aaah, I fell down the stairs last Tuesday evening and broke my leg. I have been stuck on the sofa for days, but a great excuse to watch the whole of THE wedding. And wasn't it lovely? Kate looked beautiful and the dress was just perfect.

We celebrated at Knit and Chat, of course.

A great chance to use the Royal tablecloth.

Karen finished her red white and blue bunting for the day.

Kathleen (a blog follower over in Spain), made this great Kate and Wills patriotic quilt to commemorate the occasion.

I have to say I have been spoilt with good wishes and gifts. Jennifer brought me a 'mussy tussy' from her garden.

Linda baked wedding day macaroons, which were delicious,

and brought me some beautiful tulips to brighten up the room.

I have some pretty cards too. I love the lamb (that'll be me soon) from Karen, and Libby hand made her pretty card.

I had a new bright pink cast put on today, but am looking at another 4- 6 weeks recovery. This one is a bit lighter, so I'm hoping to be a little more mobile. Oh but the frustration - I can't get up the steps into the shop, so Linda is doing all the work in there. At home, well, they are doing their best. Phil's cooking is actually really good, qiute a revelation, but the laundry has come off the line looking like it belongs to Quasimodo!

Happy Easter

The Williams and the Taylor families exchanged Easter baskets on Easter Day over coffee. A certain theme going on here we thinks.........we both had little square baskets filled with goodies - predominantly chocolate bunnies.

Wow! This is the shop window of Down Memory Lane in Spring Road, Letchworth GC - just round the corner from Dany's sister Venice's house. An Aladdin's cave of all sorts throughout the year, but big time on Easter.

Ollie picked some wild flowers for our Easter breakfast table.

Knit and wine

Join us on Tuesday evening 26th April. 7.30 - 10pm.

Unfortunately Doris can't make it this time.

Liberty Belle

Libby has tidied her bedroom over the Easter holidays. Tres Jolie we think.

Fair Rosalind

Rosalind opened her presents at Knit and Chat on Thursday..... a pretty jug and glasses for outside drinks on Easter day perhaps? - Rosalind's actual birthday. Have a great day. xx

Sshh!

At last, Kim Hargreaves latest book Whisper has arrived just in time for Easter.

There are 21 beautiful feminine designs in summer yarns including 4ply Siena, Handknit cotton dk and Kidsilk Haze. We love this lovely reversible tunic with full sleeves (above).

The colour palette is classic and muted. Very pretty indeed. Another winner from Kim - worth the wait!

Doctor or vet?

Carolyn's animal production line has increased. We had a newborn Mustang at Knit and Chat today. By next week his saddle should be finished and his own crochet blanket.

Kusmi quick

Kusmi Sweet Love tea sent from Hellie in Paris is very delicious. We've been making Chai tea lattes with it at Knit and Chat and they're pretty good.

I made yet another tea cosy over the weekend from Debbie Stoller's book Stitch and Bitch Nation. The original pattern is for 'Coffee Tea or Me?', which I didn't quite understand on a teapot...

Lovely Sandra (ex air hostess) put me right. Coffee, Tea or Me? was a saucy novel published in 1969 and is the unihibited memoirs of two lusty young airline stewardessess.... so there you go. (He'll probably choose the cake anyway!)

'Modern' vintage

Linda and I have fallen in love with this 1950's kitchen cabinet. It was made by Stoneham of Deptford and was the height of sophistication at the time. I have done some research and discovered it is a 'Cambridge' kitchen cabinet. Stoneham still make kitchens and are now based in Sidcup, Kent and have a royal warrant as furniture makers to the Queen.

This one is in immaculate condition and has obviously been cherished over the years. It still has a little egg box, a 'fridge' compartment and a thermometer on the front, cutlery drawer, a pulldown worktop and this fabulous original orange Fablon inside. We've been playing 'house' all afternoon since it came into the shop.

It could be straight from the pages of Modern Vintage Style, a new book out by Emily Chalmers.

Softly, softly

Back to knitting again. Mary made these beautiful little bootees for her great grandson who is on the way. Knitted in Rowan's alpaca cotton and felted at 60 degrees in the washing machine, we think they are truly gorgeous. I think he will be having more than one pair.

Maddox

Ok, so what the hell does this have to do with knitting? It doesn't really, except that James (with white guitar) is Dany's son and still waiting for his jumper...... Maddox, his band, played a live session on 'BBC Introducing' on the radio last week. Check out this little clay animation video of one of their tunes; 'First time, One time, Last time' made by friend Alex http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFft7qn5l6Q

A knitter's home companion

This charming little book by Michelle Edwards is a collection of short stories, patterns and recipes. Beautiful photography and lovely illustrations by the author, it is " a sweet reminder of the power and compassion that we can express with two sticks and some string".

Pictured with Karen's fabulous fair isle jumper which has used quite a lot of 'string' and even more love.

Good eggs

These little x 4 egg boxes are great for giving out a few new laid eggs as gifts. http://omlet.co.uk

Hippy dippy crochet day

We held a special '70's crochet flower workshop for Michelle and Paula on Saturday. Linda showed them how to make some fab daisies, roses and leaves in all handknit cotton.

We had wagon wheels and party ring biscuits with morning coffee and prawn cocktails for lunch with cheese and pineapple on sticks. And of course - Black Forest gateau at teatime!

Thanks to Julie for lending us her extensive '70's music collection - we were kept in the mood all day long!