A Very Useful Visit To Harrogate

Harrogate 2017

Harrogate 2017

It’s That time of the year again!

No, not Christmas (not yet!), but the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate. This is my best chance to stock up on the obscure, the intriguing, or the plain difficult to find. It’s also a good chance to meet up with old friends (it was lovely to see Elizabeth again), and sometimes even to make new ones.

This year, as well as some sock yarn  and some tangled reel ends of silk (which are a very useful source of odd colours for odd purposes, often in quite fine thread, which might be hard to find), I spent some considerable time looking at, and finally ordering, a new worklight, which I hope will extend my working hours on those days when I can settle to it.

I also bought a couple of books, one on needlelace, which at the moment I have no particular reason for, except that I want, one of these days, to write up my Grandmama’s needlelace tablecloth. I’m sure I will find something I want to work in needlelace. The other is a book of crocheted hats. Something different to do, as a change of pace!

The most important purchases, however, were made at Golden Hinde. The Akhenaten embroidery is going to involve a good many materials and techniques I am only vaguely acquainted with. So I took with me the pricking for Akhenaten, so I could show the sizes and shapes I was trying to fill, and describe what I was trying to achieve. Soon a torrent of purls, twists, and silver plate were tumbling into my basket, accompanied by much advice from Sarah and Sue. I’m still wondering whether I will succeed with this one, but I’m looking forward to the challenge!

17 Comments

  1. Carolyn Foley says:

    I do love buying supplies at shows and I think you are very wise for putting supplies for a current project at the top of your list. I tend to buy on impulse and end up with things I have no idea what I will use them for. Truth to tell, sometimes I never use them. They are just for looking at.

  2. I am jealous of your Golden Hinde haul. Have fun with all the bling!

  3. Dima says:

    The Golden Hinde booth looked amazing on social media. Made me wish I was there in person. Love the colors you picked from there.

  4. I think you were quite restrained! I am sure I have some lovely silk threads somewhere that I bought about 20 years ago (too nice to use?!)

  5. Lady Fi says:

    Sounds like a good visit.

  6. Lin says:

    That looks like a good haul! I must try to get to a K&S next year, it’s been a while. xx

  7. jenclair says:

    I chuckled at the description of the things falling into your basket. Such fun to find inspiration accompanying the lovely materials that you can envision transforming in your work!

  8. wendy says:

    would you believe, I completely forgot about Harrogate this year! i missed it! Looks like a good haul, Sue and Sarah are so knowledgeable. We took a class with Sarah last year, she’s lovely. How’s Elizabeth? She hasn’t blogged for ages.

  9. I bet you had a great time shopping, and maybe window shopping, too. If the K&S is anything like FOQ you would also have seen a lot of fantastic work to inspire you.

  10. Lovely to see you too! 🙂

    Perhaps the needle lace book will be useful on the Amarna project as you seem to have had a few sections like that??

    I hope to get my Show post up soon too…..

  11. Terrie says:

    Such a fruitful visit with good finds and catch up.

  12. Alex Hall says:

    Those all look sooo tempting!

  13. Meredithe says:

    Wow! What a great visit and fabulous haul. So nice to get valuable advice on a project. Enjoy your goodies!

  14. Catherine says:

    What a great haul! And a timely visit too just as you need to think about where this project is taking you. I love Golden Hinde, so much beautiful stock and so talented too. Have fun!

  15. Sue Jones says:

    Treasures! I really must get to Harrogate one year. I hope the light proves worth the money. A good one is such a help in the winter.

  16. […] primary purchase at Harrogate was a new, floor-standing working light. I’m hoping it will make a difference to working […]

  17. Karen says:

    it always feels like Christmas for me whenever I go to the Knitting and Stitching show! My bank balance is very relieved I couldn’t make it this year lol