This year will be only the second year since 1996 that I havent been to a “Knitting and stitching show”, run by twistedthread.

I went to the shows when I lived in Dublin, as they were the primary source of stash for me in a country that had very few bricks and mortar shops that were designed for crafts (and cross stitch in particular).  Most of my shopping was done on the internet, so shows like this were a great opportunity to meet vendors and producers, even if many of the UK based shops decided not to make the effort to come over for the week. (although I’m sure that I saw Mary Hickmott there at least once, bless her!)

I returned to the UK in 2006 and went to the first couple of shows they did there. It was the first time I got to meet many of the UK based designers and producers – I do remember chatting with a guy on one stand, only to realise that it was Bill Greenoff, when his wife Jane came round the corner (someone who looked appropriately shamed when I expressed disappointment at her stopping her magazine, since it was one of the few that made it over the water to Ireland).

However, this year (2009) they are not producing a show at the NEC for (and I quote) for the following reasons:

“Normally we also stage The Knitting and Stitching Show at the NEC, Birmingham but this year, to avoid overstretching our commercial exhibitors, we have decided to postpone the next NEC event until 2010. This will help ensure that the quality and size of our other events remains as vibrant as ever.”

I dont know if this is a good or a bad thing.  Probably a good thing.  I didnt go last year as I had more than enough stash to last me another year. I didnt buy much the year before – much of what I did buy was out of guilt – for much the same reason (though having a freebie ticket helped!).  Anyway, twistedthread are doing a show up at the NEC next week (Festival Of Quilts).  I’m going to a couple of the social events, dont know whether I’ll go to the show itself – I’m not a huge quilter – yet! – and all the tutorials are already booked up.

And therefore a round up of the wips that a currently sitting out there that may need daylight to help me out (because try as you might, daylight simulation bulbs are never the same really are they?)

Anyway, I’ve been dabbling recently with the Anchor kit for “Queen Nefertiti”, and not done too badly, but gotten a bit bored. Searching through my WIPs it seems I got a little bit further with the equivalent for “King Tut” before abandoning, so I’ll have to finish that at some point.

I did a status review of “The quiltmaker“(lots of dark blue, and black, and in looking only to remember why I hadn’t completed it…..quick drop into www.sewandso.co.uk to order some DMC (cos the local shops dont stock), and onto the next pattern.

Celtic Christmas is almost done, but still needs some work, especially around the beading.

Have decided to work on the Mary Hickmott pattern “Pride of the peacocks” which is coming along nicely.  Somewhere (I dont know where!) is the “Beautiful Balloons” which is nearly done too.  Is that not enough?

Balloons, originally uploaded by Nordie.

Knew I wouldnt stay away from stitching for very long!  Back to doing this kit, which I started several months ago, but put down in favour of the Lavendar and Lace item.  At one point I had lost the key to this, but managed to get another copy from the distributers.   After working on the latter on 18 count for so long, to move back to this one, which I think is on 14 count is a bit strange – the stitches seem so big in comparison!

Well I went to the Knitting and Stitching show up at the NEC on Saturday 18th September. I hadn’t planned to go there this year, mainly due to a combination of too much stash and not enough money, but when a complimentary ticket was dangled in my direction, I couldn’t exactly say no!

Got there about 1, had a quick scoot round to get my bearings, and then took my time going round again. Met another stitcher I know there as the person to snag the other free ticket going around and when both our heads were buried in the Mary Hickmott buckets! Noticed how many of Hickmott’s I’ve completed (1 !) and how many are still WIPs (~3 !).
Ended up buying a kit one of peacocks although I didn’t really need too. I also picked up some pretty pearlesent threads to play with later, and that’s all I brought -  I did a rummage in the Black Wool Stands, as they normally do some great discount Anchor and DMC kits,but nothing took my fancy.

A lot of the space that was given over to sellers last year were now taken up with the display stands, some of which were very good, and showed output from Needlework students etc. I did notice that a lot of stands that I expected (e.g. Singer, etc) weren’t there this year and whilst I had been looking for something specific (a stand with DMC for example), I couldn’t find it. As someone who’s been to these shows now in Birmingham and many in Dublin, I was a little disappointed with the show this year.

There were also quite a few book stalls. I’m sure there’s been that many at other shows, but when there’s not other stitching stands to “hide” them, then they are more noticible.  And there were several stands that were selling storage boxes (I had the sneaking suspicion they were the same company!), as well as several glitter stands that were new.  What exactly has glitter got to do with knitting or stitching?!

I’m annoyed, because somehow I’ve lost the key to the Hickmott “Balloons” pattern and dont know how to get another copy.  I belong to a number of cross stitch groups, and may put a plea out to them, but hold out little hope. I still have the pattern mind and a half completed kit, so dont really want to buy another pattern.

Meanwhile I’ve been doing some knitting of a scarf that I will send over to Ireland when I have a couple more done.  The sales are on at the moment so I’ve been able to pick up some wool really cheaply!

I’ve also been working on the L&L “The Wedding” and making some progress there, which is good and I’ll post up pictures when i’ve pressed it.

Well, yes I am still out there!

Not an awful lot of crafting going on recently and certainly nothing to show for myself, at least today.

I’ve nearly completed my second balloon on the Hickmott design, and will be posting a photo soon. I did start knitting a scarf for the Simon community in Galway, but decided that the wool/needle combination wasnt good enough to produce something warm and wearing enough, so I ripped it out. I may go looking for other wool on the weekend to see if I can find anything more appropriate. I have needles up to 5mm, so can take something quite chunky I think.

Found the following blogs recently Tanglledangel and Teaandcakes both from women on Stitchnbitchie. I am so jealous of the stashes they get!

My ipod died the other week, and I replaced it with a video ipod. Still on the look out for decent podcasts, and Isobel for one has a list of Knitting podcasts that I might check out. Always still on the lookout for cross stitch ones though!

wip0028, originally uploaded by Nordie.

How far I’ve got in the last week or so on the Hickmott “Balloon” kit. Only a couple of froggings, from where I’m not paying attention, but we’ll get there.

Meanwhile, I’ve had to stop myself getting too excited and dropping all current WIPS in favour of knitting a couple of scarves! At the moment, scarves are all I can knit, but there is a charity drive that the Irish Stitchnbitch crew are starting to take part in on behalf of the Simon community, who are one of the charities to look after the homeless in Ireland.

I’ve decided to take a short break from The Wedding, due to my inability to count (!), and have decided to do some work on the much simpler “Beautiful Balloons” designed by Mary Hickmott.  A completed version is attached below as an indicter of what I’m trying to do