The Bath Crafting Cranny

Trowbridge Folk fest: mud, wool & ale...can it get better than that?

I've been practising my crazy jigging for weeks now but even that wasn't enough to prepare me for the complication that is: mud. It does hamper a good ole dance somewhat.

The Trowbridge folk festival is a cheery, beery, foot stomping kind of event that takes place (misleadingly) in the beautiful village of Farleigh Hungerford. This year's ran from last Thursday to today.
Thursday evening was lovely but most of us were bracing ourselves for rain. And rain, it did.

It rained absolutely torrentially on Friday, brightening up to a steady downpour on Saturday, a blink of sunshine on Sunday and a blinding bit of rain this morning. (Although, now my head is peeking out of the festival bubble it seems we fared pretty well compared to some places...)

Due to the really hard efforts of the festival staff the event stayed open and - in fact - seems to add to the enjoyment of many..!

Luckily, John-the-geologist had made sure we were totally prepared so our tent and us stayed pretty dry the whole time...but lots of people had to make do with plastic bags tied in a cunning fashion to act as a waterproof jacket...

The music made up for weather: Seth Lakeman (who else can jig, sing and play the fiddle simultaneously??); the wonderful Eric Bibb; Kate Rusby (her broad Barnsley accent completely disappears once she starts singing); the lyrical genuises Show of Hands (you can see one of my favourites based on the former Minister of State Kim Howell's comments about folk music here - actually I think this was filmed when I first saw them live a couple of years ago); and this year's surprise, Gareth Pearson: 18 years old and one to keep a beady eye on...this video doesn't do his electrifying live performance justice...

The best bit though was the new wool-shop tent: hurray!

Some HipKnits silk yarn to add to the stash (below) but, for now, I've turned my flea-attention span to socks: more of that soon!

Knitting with your teeny-tiniest of needles

Shelley Mitchell from PreemiesUK wonders if any of us might be willing to help. PreemiesUK knit and crochet clothing for premature babies and you can help by donating materials, such as buttons and yarns, or knit clothes yourself and donate the finished garment.

The purpose of this charity happens to be close to my heart and I shall certainly be knitting frenetically. Some thirty years ago I was born pre-baked at 27 weeks (see photo on the right), weighting a pitiful 2lbs. (Mum said she thought she'd given birth to a guinea-pig.) My parents were told that I had only a 30% chance of survival and, if I did live, then I would be severely brain-damaged. Cheerily, I did live and seem to be doing just fine!

My brother argues that I must have some kind of brain damage as: (1) I was once willing to do a job that paid only pocket money (but I got to collect fossils for 3 years!! Would do that for free); (2) I will merrily read for a gazillion hours without looking up or breathing; and (3) I find enjoyment from wrapping lengths of yarn around sticks. I suppose he's not wrong...

Shrimpy socks anyone?

Helen is knitting socks with this wonderful wool!

50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk, 22.5% cotton, 2.5% chitin. Chitin is a protein found in crustacean shells: the wool is soooooooooo soft. I love the way I can knit with my favourite invertebrates!

It is a little painful on the purse (£12/100g ball) but one ball will knit a pair of socks (425m (463 yards)).

Get knitting @ Get Knitted

I'm always foaming at the mouth to do the Bristol-London trip and spend my pocket money on wool in the Big Smoke: but it seems the feeling is entirely reversibly-mutual! Flibbertygibbet and her gang went to Getknitted in Bristol on a Big Day Out.

Actually, it is good to remember how lucky we are to have a shop with so much stock on our doorsteps! Wool shops seems far and few between. And places like Oxford - where you might expect to find a good haberdashery - don't have wool shops.

Get Knitted have sent me a press release about their WWKIP day:

BRISTOLS LORD MAYOR HELPS CELEBRATE ‘WORLD WIDE KNIT IN PUBLIC DAY’

Saturday, June 9th was ‘World Wide Knit in Public Day’. In Bristol, the ‘Knit and Natter’ knitting club, based at ‘Get Knitting’ on Brislington Hill, was joined by The Lord Mayor, Cllr.Royston Griffey. The Lord Mayor quickly got to grips with needles and yarn! “I am amazed at the range of colours and materials available”, said the Lord Mayor. “What a wonderful emporium for all things knitting ‘Get Knitted’ is. I am delighted that these premises are here in Brislington.” He now joins the growing band of personalities who have taken up knitting! He was presented with a tie knitted by a member of the group that very morning as a reminder of his visit. A basket of flowers was presented for the Lady Mayoress by 7 year old Sunita Morgan, the daughter of the owners of ‘Get Knitted’.

The ‘Knit and Natter’ club meets on the first Saturday of each month. All knitters are welcome to come along for a knit, a natter and a cup of coffee. Anyone who would like to learn to knit is also welcome.

‘Get Knitted’ is probably the largest, specialist retail outlet in the UK for yarn and all things knitting. There is some free parking on Brislington Hill with plenty of free parking behind the shop. Knitting is a growth activity. It provides a sense of achievement and is very calming and relaxing. ‘Get Knitted’ is owned by Sue Morgan and her partner, David Husbands who live locally, and their young daughter attends the local school. “If a non-knitter acts as chauffeur for some one visiting us”, said David Husbands, “they can either sit and enjoy a tea or coffee and read a magazine, or visit the other shops in the parade – possibly get a hair cut, buy a bottle of wine or some flowers, have a snack, get fit, buy some clothes, arrange some investments, place a bet, use the launderette, or pick up a ready cooked meal – without the bother of driving into central Bristol”.