Welcome.

Welcome to the Willow Knits blog.

I'm Anne and I'll be using this blog to let you know what is happening with Willow Knits during the year.

I'll include which Farmers' Markets and shows I'm going to be at, what I'm working on and general news and events plus a little about myself.

If you want to buy one of the scarves or some of the yarn featured, just look in our etsy shop (to the right of the page) or contact me and I'll reserve it for you.











Sunday 22 December 2013

Now I can relax?

Just got  back from a very pleasant market at Harpenden, my final event before Christmas. I cancelled the one at Royston as soon as I saw the weather forecast for Saturday (rainy and windy all day!) Much better today - after driving through some heavy showers on the way there, the sun came out and stayed out, so there were plenty of customers in the town and everyone was in a good festive mood. I'm full of ideas for new ranges of scarves for next year.

I'm having a winter sale in the online shop from 26th - 10% off.

Now to start cleaning the house in time for our Christmas visitors! 

Monday 9 December 2013

November-December update

Well, I knew it had been a long time, but I've just seen that I last posted on October 17th and have missed out November entirely!

Since then, I've dyed and posted the third instalment on this year's yarn club and I hope people like it. I've tried a different approach this year, by thinking of a base colour and trying it in different strengths and combinations, so each month's club yarn is a toning set rather than a collection of different colours. The final set of the third instalment, which was based on turquoise as the dominant shade, is now in the shop.   


I particularly like the Plum & Jade colourway on the far right - I think it will be added to my repertoire!

November sales were a bit varied - in particular I was really busy at St Albans Farmers' Market, but only took about a third of what I was expecting to do at Harpenden Christmas Carnival, which is usually the best market of theyear. Other stallholders felt the same, so I'm glad it wasn't just me, but it was disappointing all the same. Anyway, in contrast December has got off to a storming start - Ware was really good and I had my best market ever at St Albans yesterday. My bank manager will be pleased!

I'd like to wind down for Christmas, but can't do that not just yet as I've still got three fairs to go to - I'm at an event in Wanstead Village (London E11) on Saturday and then two final markets the following weekend - Royston on Saturday and Harpenden again on Sunday. Let's hope they're just as busy as the previous December events have been!  

Thursday 17 October 2013

October Update

I was going to call this "into october", but as we're already half way through the month "october update" is probably better. It has been rather quiet this month for sales, which is a bit disappointing - the new craft fair I went to in Ware was very quiet in spite of being well publicised and in a very pleasant location and I had to abandon St Albans market as it was just too wet to even unpack. I'm at Harpenden market in a couple of weeks' time - let's hope that makes up for it all!

I've dyed the second round of my yarn club and am really pleased with the combinations. I won't say more about the colors, as I don't want to spoil a surprise for the members, but some will be finding their way into my normal rotation of colorways.

I've just sent off my application for Wonderwool Wales 2014. I really enjoyed the show last year and hope I'm successful in getting in again.

More later, and some pictures, when the weather improves enough for photography.

Sunday 29 September 2013

September update

Now that the dust has settled a bit, I can update with what has been happening in September.

Things have been overshadowed by the death of my brother-in-law after a short illness. Sadly he had undiagnosed lung cancer and by the time he got any treatment, there was nothing anyone could do. RIP Michael.

Although we have mainly been occupied with organising the funeral and now clearing his house, I have been to a couple of my usual Farmer's markets (Harpenden and St Albans) and have dyed the first instalment on my yarn club. I'm trying a different approach this year and, instead of doing a selection of colours, I'm dyeing five toning shades, so that they can be used in a project together. The first instalment was blues, and there's a spare set for sale in the shop - picture here:

I also attended a workshop last weekend on victorian style knitted lace run by the Knitting and Crochet Guild - it was so interesting to learn a new skill. I had seen in books how very fine steel needles were used and it took some getting used to - my hands ached after the session, as the needles (1.25mm) were so much thinner than those I'm used to! However, the lace you can make is lovely - crochet cotton is used for yarn - and makes beautiful edgings and trimmings as well as small gift items.

I'm starting a new market next weekend at Ware, run by Artisans of Ware www.artisansof.co.uk and am looking forward to it. It's indoors and a late morning start, which is a bonus!

Saturday 21 September 2013

Into September

Just a quick note - I wrote a post and then seem to have lost it all before I published it!

Never mind - I'll be at Harpenden Farmers' market tomorrow, my first one here this season. The weather forecast is good and I'm looking forward to it. Once I get back, I'll write more about what's been going on in Spetember... 

Monday 26 August 2013

August update

I've just signed up for my first CAL (crochet along) on Ravelry. The pattern ( www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-circles-scarf ) is a lovely scarf designed by the talented Valerie Bracegirdle and she used mini skeins of my yarn for her prototype. I've got one and a half skeins of Silver Berries in my stash for personal use, so I thought I'd join in, expand my crochet skills and make something nice for myself.

Here's the yarn:


I'm starting to think about my September (and beyond) markets and am getting autumn/winter stuff on the needles. I've got a new yarn for this season, which is a nice and bright space-dyed wool-acrylic mix in three colorways. I've used a chevron design again (my favourite!) and I'm pretty pleased with the result:
 
The colors remind me of liquorice allsorts - my favourite sweet - and the scarves will be going out starting with my October markets. 
 
I'm starting a new market this year in Ware, the Artisans of Ware craft fairs, which begin for me on  6th October. It looks like a great venue - indoors too, yay! I went to a college in Ware for a while and it's a nice town, not too far from me. September at St. Albans is my first though on the 8th. I've been off for a couple of months and it will be nice to get back - fingers crossed for dry weather. 
 
I've taken the plunge and joined Facebook too www.facebook.com/WillowKnits so there's another way to keep in touch with people.

 

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Fibre East 2013

I'm just begining to recover from a busy weekend at Fibre East. The bags are unpacked and the banking is done, so it's time to review.

Firstly, I like the new venue as I can drive there in just under an hour and so didn't need to stay over and it was easy to find and park etc. I was in one of the marquees, but as they were on hard standing there was no tramping about in mud and there was penty of room for everyone to get round and see the stands. There was heavy rain overnight on the Saturday and some water did run through, but I and the people nearby had the put everything up off the ground or in plastic storage boxes, so no damage. Other weren't so lucky and had stuff in cardboard get damp.

I set up on the Friday afternoon, so I wouldn't be in a rush on Saturday morning and would be all ready for the customers when the show opened.  The only thing that struck me was that there were many different rooms and it did take a while for everyone to filter through and I'm not sure that everyone got round it all. My sales were actually down on last year by about a third, which is of course the bottom line and I was a bit disappointed. I did think that I would be up on last year as the weather was so bad then that people must have been put off attending. Saturday was busier than Sunday by a long way. Many of the other traders I spoke to had the same experience.

It must be difficult to find a venue where you can get so many traders under one roof though as at Wonderwool Wales and I think people will get more used to the school's setup for next year.

However, I don't want to sound as if it was a negative experience - I enjoyed the weekend, met some great people, stallholders as well as customers, and was very impressed with the efficiency and good humour of the stewards, not to mention the bathroom facilities!   

Here's some pictures of my stand and I've added the bolero pattern to my Ravelry store (I'm AnneWillow there):


Tuesday 23 July 2013

I've been Culled!

Just a quick post - I normally steer clear of being even the tiniest bit controversial, but I'm just going to vent a little.

I've been removed from the one team on Etsy that I really enjoyed being on for not being active enough! They do have a point, I should have made some treasuries to promote team members' work - which is lovely by the way - and been a bit more active in "liking" and "favouriting" their items. I always thought "favourite" items were those that I was actively considering buying, but apparantly not - I should have used it as a promotional tool and not included former team members, not really comfortable with that.

It would have been nice to have had some warning though - I was just settling down to read through the previous day's chat, and maybe post a few comments, when I got an email saying my inactivity meant I was selfish, ashamed of my team mates and was therefore being removed!

I do feel a bit cut off, but of course I'll get over it. I have real life, with husband, family, friends, a job and a business, so I shouldn't be too cut up about an unpleasant email from someone I've never met and am never likely to. Vent over - I feel better already and can carry on getting ready for Fibre East. Set-up is on Friday, so I've got plenty to do.     

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Knitting & Crochet Guild Convention

I've just got back from our convention weekend in Derby - what a great time! There was so much to do and every moment had an activity, workshop or talk.

We stayed in the Hallmark Hotel, which was so convenient as it was just two minutes walk from the station. I decided to go by train this year and I'm glad I did. It was the hottest weekend of the year so far and it would have been quite an ordeal to have driven up and back. I don't do well in heat - I'm more of a winter person and love snow!

Fortunately the conference room we were using was air conditioned and comfortable. It was great to meet people I already knew and to get get chatting with new people too. I did a workshop on hairpin crochet - a new technique for me, which was interesting. I'm glad I tried it, but it's probably not for me although you can make some beautiful fabric with it. As well as workshops there were interesting talks on aspects of the Guild's collections of patterns and garments, plus two outside speakers on (loosely) knitting related topics (ceramic tile designs and the olympics sports clothing). I enjoyed these - I don't think the weekend should be exclusively focused on technical details of knitting & crochet, although those are of course the main interest of the members.

We also had an exhibition of items from the collection called "in the nursery" focusing on children's wear, shawls and toys. some very old and all beautifully worked and inspiring.

Last, but not least, was the "show and tell" session, where members brought an item they had made and told everyone how they had made it and then passed it round for everyone to see and feel.    

I'm all unpacked now and can get back to getting ready for Fibre East. I'll dye the last batch of yarn tomorrow and then start getting my checklist of things I need to take with me up to date. At least, as I'll be commutng this year it won't be a disaster if I forget something initially.

Thursday 11 July 2013

July update

July already and I'm getting ready for a weekend away in Derby for the Knitting and Crochet Guild convention and AGM. It should be most enjoyable - workshops, talks, a show and tell and plenty of knitting and crochet chat, all in a plush hotel. I would have liked a pool too, to get a swim in before breakfast, but that's just me being picky!

Then in two weeks' time, there's Fibre East. With the change of venue, I can now commute from home in under an hour, so no need to stay over anywhere. Both hotels in the nearest town had terrible reviews on tripadvisor, and I mean terrible - you'd be better off sleeping in the car than staying there -  so I think I've dodged a bullet! I've been dyeing plenty and have just got one more colour to go. As ever I would like to have done more, but I think you just have to stop and make do with what you have. No-one will know what I haven't brought anyway.

I'm taking a new colour, Storm, that went well at Wonderwool, picured here. One skein is in the Etsy shop and I've got four more of a new dyelot to take with me to Fibre East.


There's been a lot of talk on Ravelry about theft at shows, both of stock (yarn and kits) and even a display shawl. I know people will steal anything, but it's very hard on small businesses where losses have a high impact on profit and it seems very personal. I know I'll be keeping an eagle eye on my yarn. From doing the markets, you do get a "nose" for people who don't seem "right". I always make sure I engage with them as soon as they come to the stand and never leave them unattended. They usually get the message and clear off. I had a scarf stolen at St. Alban's a few years ago, when I did let myself get distracted by another customer - never again! I started my working life in Selfridges department store and the training I got there has always stood me in good stead.    

And, yes, even as late as the seventies, it was pretty much like the TV show!

Wednesday 26 June 2013

June Update

As usual, lack of blogging here means that I've been very busy!

June at St Alban's was, like May, reasonably busy after a quiet start. I didn't sell any of my cushions, new or older, which is a shame as they're fun to make, but I can't spend time making something that doesn't sell well. I did sell three of my cotton scarves though, so I'll have to get going on replacing them for September. I've put the remainder in my etsy shop until then, but so far not many people have even looked at them. I often find this - things that sell well at the markets just sit on etsy and vice versa!

I've started dyeing for Fibre East now and have done a couple of solid colours so far -cranberry red and duck egg (a pale turquoise). I'm dyeing the variegated ones next week to replace those that have sold out. I rather over-estimated how much I would sell at Wonderwool, so I've got a reasonable range already put by. The mini skeins went well ,so I'll try and build up a stock of them.

I went to the Kaffe Fasset exhibition "A life in Colour" last week as a birthday treat for my mum. It was truly inspiring. I hadn't realised that he also quilted and his use of colour is what really sets him apart. I would like to quilt, but I just need more hours in the day to do everything! I have seen his books on knitting and tapestry, but to see the items "in the flesh" and close up was wonderful. I will have to get my tapestry out again! How lovely for him to spend his life doing something that he finds such a pleasure - something to reflect on for us all.

I also went to Hampton Court for a day out with my husband, I loved how the tudor and later parts of the building meshed together. it was so big, it must have been like a self-contained village when it was operating as a palace. Sadly it was too windy and cold to look round the gardens too, but they alone would take a full day - we will have to go again to see them.

Back to winding and skeining silk now!  

Wednesday 29 May 2013

Fibre East is coming

Still cold and almost wintery here, but my next parcel of silk has arrived from India and I'm getting ready to start dyeing for Fibre East at the end of July.

Mainly I'll be doing some old favourites, that I sold out of at Wonderwool, but I've got a couple of new colour combinations running around my head, that I'll be trying out, plus some other colours that customers asked for.

I've also got St. Alban's Farmers' market in June (9th) to make some stock for - I've got a couple of new cushions to take, plus I'm trying to get some more colours in my cotton scarves finished. As usual the "summer" is upon me before I'm really ready!

I'll be away from the market in July and August, so I should really think about getting stock ready for Christmas!

In the meantime, I'm going to the Kaffe Fasset exhibition in June with my mum as her birthday treat - we're both looking forward to that, it should be so inspiring.

Monday 13 May 2013

Busy again - into May

Well, I still feel tired after Wonderwool, but am now getting back to normal. The next focus is Fibre East in July. I didn't apply for Woolfest (june), but might consider it next for year.

The yarn I had left is mainly in my Etsy shop now, with a smaller amount kept to take to Farmers' markets. I've got to order some more yarn and have a list of colours that I want to dye. It's funny how the colors that sell well online or in other areas didn't go at wonderwool, but others that I thought may stick went straight away. I was pleased that the new lace-weight yarn seemed popular and I'll be ordering some more in time for Fibre East.

Since getting back I've had several online orders and a busy morning at St. Alban's Farmers market yesterday - my bank manager will be pleased!

Fibre East is at a new (indoor!) venue this year and will be near enough for me to commute from home, which will be great. Nice as it is to stay in a hotel etc. nothing beats your own bed for a good night's sleep.      

Wednesday 1 May 2013

My First Wonderwool

I set off last Friday and had a really interesting journey across the country to Wales. By the time I got to Oxford, the sun had come out and it was a pleasant drive on A-roads to Builth Wells. I had never been to the Cotswolds and Herefordshire before, but was impressed by how scenic they were, especially Herefordshire. As I got up into the higher ground near Hay on Wye, it was almost alpine with rushing rivers, steep wooded slopes and spring flowers in bloom at the side of the road.

I got to the showground in about six hours, including breaks, and got checked in and unloaded very quickly - the organisation was so good and everyone very friendly, which took a bit of getting used to after living in London for most of my life! Down here, if someone you don't know engages you in conversation they're either a lunatic or it's a prelude to stealing your bag!

The hall was huge - a bit like an aircraft hanger - but the shelling was up and I soon found my space and got going on setting up. It didn't take as long as I thought it might, but I had planned the stall layout beforehand and everything was packed in the order it would be needed. (Obsessive? - I like to think of myself as precise and organised!)

I had one moment of surprise when I unwrapped a new dummy that I bought and found it was male and not female. Luckily it was only a torso and was to exhibit a scarf, so I don't think anyone noticed the difference.

Here's pictures of my stall all ready to start trading.


 

After setting up I found my B&B, The Cedars, and checked in. I was made very welcome and soon met the other guests, who were all Wonderwoollers too! Some were customers and some stallholders and it was nice to chat over dinner. I was travelling alone and thought I might have ended up spending my spare time watching tv in my room, but it turned into a very jolly weekend.

After a hearty and tasty breakfast on the Saturday morning, I set off for the showground. After a bracing walk in the wind and drizzle, I got there with time to visit the bathroom and get a coffee before the show opened to the public. ("easy walk", my aunt Fanny!)

I had one customer virtually straight away - a lady I had passed the time of day with on my way throught the car parks and then had a small moment of drama, as my credit card terminal decided to stop printing. I followed the toubleshooting instructions to re-set the battery, but it then shut itself down and told me to re-charge it, so I was without it for the rest of the day. Doh! as Homer Simpson would say.   

However, the customers followed and seemed happy enough to use cash or cheques. People were friendly and chatty and it was nice to spend the day talking about yarn and knitting. The people on the next stall were kind enough to hold the fort for me while I took a break when necessary and all-in-all the day went well. I understand that last year there was pilfering from some of the stalls, but I didn't see any of that or hear of it this year.

I managed to re-boot my card machine overnight and got to the showground earlier. It was nice to have walk round before it opened and take look at the other stalls, as well as seeing the animals. I drove this time so I could load up after the show - much more comfortable. Sunday was busier - contrary to the traditional view that it is usually the quieter of the two days and I was very pleased with the sales. I gave out loads of leaflets and people seemed to like the yarn too. I also met a lady, Cat Thomas, from one of the etsy teams that I'm on, which was very pleasant. She's writing a crochet book, which sounds like a lot of hard work, especially on the illustration and proofreading side, but will be a great accomplishment once it's finished.

Back at the Cedars, the other guests had mostly left, so I ate my dinner in splendid isolation, which was quite relaxing. I couldn't face a long drive on top of a full day at the show, so I stayed an extra night and came home on Monday, after doing my banking in Builth before I set off.

I'm unpacked now, but still feeling tired - the next focus will be Fibre East in July.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Wonderwool - almost ready

Well, since I last posted, the dyeing is all finished - I can't do any more as I've run out of yarn! I keep thinking that I'd have liked to have included another few colorways, but as I've been laying it all out to do my final stockcheck, I think there's actually plenty to make a nice colourful display and, as I've said before, no-one will know what isn't there!

I'm spending the day packing before setting off early tomorrow morning - my aim is to get to the showground about lunchtime and get set up reasonably early. This gives me time to buy anything I've forgotten in the town before the shops shut!

I'll take plenty of pictures and blog about my expeiences whrn I get back next week.

Back to sorting and packing now!

Sunday 14 April 2013

April update

Once again - time has flown by since I last posted and lack of blogging means that I've been very busy!

I've just got back from St Alban's market, where I actually felt warm for the first time this year! It was fairly busy and I sold a couple of my wooly scarves, plus a mohair, which was pleasing as this was their last outing until September and I'll now move over to summery yarns (cotton and silk).

I've nearly finished my dyeing for Wonderwool - I've used nearly all the yarn I bought and have done what I hope will be a nice selection of colours. It's hard not to dye all colours I like myself, but I've bitten the bullet and done some that I really don't like (lilacs especially).

I'm now concentrating on the labelling and packing - just a little less than two weeks to go. I'm looking forward to it and it will be an adventure!

Wednesday 20 March 2013

March update

How time has flown by since I last posted!

February in St Alban's was very, very wet and so fairly quiet. I moved stalls, as my usual place had a cover that was full of holes and drips were coming through onto the "counter". I'm so glad I did, as it gave way at the end of the market and a huge deluge of water flooded over the stall - it could have been all over my stock! Harpenden was better, although so cold!

March is nearly over now, but it still doesn't feel like spring - we had snow at St Alban's a couple of weeks ago, but a busy market in spite of that. I'm at Harpenden again this Sunday and am just hoping that we won't get rain! That will be my last one there until September - I just go to St Alban's all year round.

I'm getting a bit stressed as I'm getting ready for Wonderwool. I has a delivery of yarn from India held up in customs for a week or so - entirely my own fault - while I applied for an import number from HMRC. It all got sorted out reasonably quickly and I've now got the yarn and am dyeing it, but I'm about two weeks behind my rather ambitious schedule!

I'm sure it'll all come right in the end and as long as my stand looks well stocked, no-one is going to know what else I had hoped to bring...... I keep telling myself that and just keep dyeing!  

New colour of lace yarn (Lilac blossom) just added to the shop - the heavier weight yarn is being stockpiled for  Wonderwool.

Friday 8 February 2013

February update

Well, January was a lot busier than I thought it would be! I was looking forward to hibernating a bit and getting on with some personal knitting - mainly a fair-isle pattern hat for my husband in his rugby club colours-  but business got in the way - which is good!

I went to St Alban's Farmers' Market in January and was expecting it to be fairly quiet so soon after Christmas, but it was really busy. Strangely, Harpenden market, at the end of the month and after payday, was quiet - so it's difficult to plan! I was fairly busy online as well, selling quite well in my new year sale and making my first lace-weight sale. I've now got a couple more lace-weight skeins in the shop and will be dyeing more as I work through my plans for Wonderwool. 

It's just hit me that I have only about 10 weeks to get all the yarn ready for Wonderwool, so I've done a stocktake, made a list and started dyeing. I did the first colorway yesterday - bottle green, a surprise hit at Fibre East last year - and will start stockpiling.

I'm off to St. Alban's on Sunday (10th) - the weather forecast is for rain and sleet, so I can't say I'm looking foreard to being outdoors all morning! I'd feel warmer of course if it was busy - last year was, so thermals on and fingers crossed!    

Thursday 10 January 2013

Starting 2013

A rather belated Happy New Year to all  - I can't believe we're already nearly half way through January - it feels as if the Christmas celebrations are only just finished!

I'm back doing some dyeing again and have added some laceweight silk yarn to my range. It takes the dye slightly differently from the heavier weights and tends to come out a couple of shades lighter, but I'm pleased with the results so far. I've donated one skein to Bianca Boonstra in the Netherlands, who is writing a book of shawl patterns and wanted yarn for the samples. I'm looking forward to seeing it made up - the book should be published later on this year, but I think there will be some sneak peaks on Ravelry. I've got just got one skein for sale at the moment - 123g of winter berries, pictured on the right in my etsy mini.

I've got my first Farmers' market of the year at St. Alban's on Sunday - unfortunately snow is forecast, so i don't know if it will be busy, but I'll get the thermals and heavy boots on and give it a go!