I spotted this dress in our local press this week.  A crochet dress in a gorgeous summer shade with even more gorgeous summer flowers.  You don’t see crochet dresses around that much.  Remember Cate’s Blanket dress?   I think this one wipes the floor with it!  (not that you would wipe the floor either using or wearing this dress). 

Source: Fibre & Clay 

It was made by Fibre and Clay which is a fabulous yarn store in Knutsford that I have mentioned many times on here.  They were celebrating the RHS Tatton Flower Show which is on their doorstep, as it had it’s first Ladies Day this year!  The store also had Pimms and cupcakes at their knitting group that day.  Oh how I wish I’d been there!!

(Oh and I didn’t examine too closely but I think there is some nude underwear under there!!)

3 Happy Hookers

Today I have had so much fun making a mess in a public place!  It was my first experience of yarn bombing, and a first of my partners in crime: 2 Sarah’s and Kathy! 

I know it’s not good to just cut to the chase, but above you’ll see one of our finished pieces on the back of a bench.  One of the Sarah’s had to leave by the time this was taken but from left to right: moi (yes really! I must have had a good day if I’m happy to show a pic of li’l old me!), Sarah and Kathy. 

The basic plan was to cover a bench or the back of a seat in the Waterside Plaza in Sale, south Manchester.  We had some panels already made by others and a few other bits and pieces.  My contribution was a pretty little piece made to look like a lawn with daisies on it.  

My favourite image from the day

• Realising one of the trees had no leaves on it and crocheting some to make it look better.

• The look on people’s faces when the realise what you are doing.

• Stopping  for tea and cake and more crochet at Bean and Brush (where Sarah works) and deciding to decorate their tree while we were there.

• Plotting the next time!!

We did learn a few things too!  Mainly that next time we will do it without being part of another event.  Today there was a community event being set up while we were doing out thing.  We got the impression that everyone thought we were there as part of the event, and thought we would stay to teach people to knit and crochet, which was never our plan on this ocassion.

And one other lesson, we spent a lot of time standing and admiring our handiwork!  That probably isn’t the idea so next time we plant the bomb then get out of there, or at least stand back at a discreet distance and watch!

Supplies

Preparation!

Tree cosy (and it matches Kathy's cardi)

Public crochet

I whipped up a pocket for leaflets and Sarah gatecrashed an art class to make a label!

The day wouldn't have been compete without tea and cake (and more crochet)

After tea we anonymously passed by, and loved people hanging around our work!

There has been a lot of talk of yarn bombing recently.  It keeps popping up when I least expect it, but then I guess that’s part of what it’s all about! 

First my cousin’s shop, The Dress Exchange in Kilmarnock, got yarn bombed in the cutest way by the Pixie Knitter, who leaves pretty knitted gifts around the area in the dead of night!:

(Picture courtesy of The Dress Exchange)

Then a last minute night away in Hebden Bridge brought colourful knitted bunting, cakes and pom pom hats all over the town centre:

Within days of that I ran into local crafty gal Sarah from The Art of Moodling who is planning some yarn bombing, right here in south Manchester on 23rd July!  So get those needles and hooks out and dig out any old yarn that you just haven’t found a use for!  Details are on Sarah’s site, or drop me a line.  I can’t wait to share pics and details from the ‘bomb’ itself!

…that I got this show back on the road!  Anyone missed me?  Anyone noticed I’ve been gone?

Time really does fly doesn’t it!  All that time ago when I was last here I had just got a temporary job working on the UK Census 2011 and as soon as that started I was in a complete whirlwind (or more like a twister, earthquake and avalanche rolled into one) that didn’t let up.  However, I absolutely loved the work and it finished a couple of weeks ago.  I am rather sad that it finished but it did me a lot of good and it was a great experience doing something so different from what I’d done before and it has definitely put me back on the right track!

Back now to job hunting, crochet, time to myself, crochet, catching up with neglected friends and maybe even a bit of housework!  Well, maybe not the last one there!

This is just a quick hello to ease myself back into things.  More will follow with crochet, colour, usual tales of craftiness and of course buttons and tea!  There will always be buttons and tea!!