The Year Ahead...

So ...it's already nearly 3 weeks into 2013 and this is my first post of the year! If I'm quiet on here tho it invariably means I've been busy in the studio or going out & about. 2013 was a hectic affair and I have learned so much including:

• building a website - twice!
• Establishing & maintaining (to some extent anyway!) this blog
• establishing a programme of knitting & crochet workshops at Hazel Court in Swansea
• putting on our first exhibition with fledgling creative textiles group Stitches Coven
• designing and self publishing a few fyberknitics patterns
• attending the Textile Study Group summer school
• signing up for the City & Guilds Certificate in Embroidery with Distant Stitch
• held my first fyberknitics craft stall at Moira Folk festival

I've been sure to try and squeeze in a bit of free time - as well as working on my own designs I enjoy using other designers patterns from time to time. In the hectic run up to xmas I made these Sweet Robin Wrist-ees by Tiny Owl Knits as a gift for my good friend Jane. These were a real fun knit designed by Stephanie Dosen, musician, knitter and author of the recently published Woodland Knits, a collection of whimsical & fun designs that are characteristic of this designer.



So that was last year, and 2014 looks like it will be no slouch either. I'll be busy finishing some new knitting designs I've been working on, and have got a new programme of knitting & crochet workshops lined up at Hazel Court. February kicks off with Crochet from Scratch which is already almost fully booked. I'll be repeating a few topics for those that missed out last year, such as Tackling Intarsia and Lace Knitting, but a number of new workshops will also be available including Custom Knits, and an improvers crochet workshop that introduces beginners to working in the round to make various shapes & motifs. Designer & tutor Alison Crowther-Smith is back by popular demand in May to introduce us to shibori knitted felt in the form of her wonderful Bump Bag project - details to follow soon on the fyberknitics website.

Copyright Alison Crowther-Smith 2013

I've also plans this year to further develop the website to provide a  variety of learning resources  for all things stitched & knitterly so watch this space.....


On the creative textiles front 2014 will see me carrying on with my City & Guilds coursework, working for the Stitches Coven exhibition in the summer, and also produce a piece of work for the Itchy Fingers creative textiles group which I am also now pleased to be a member of - I'll tell you more about these in future posts.

I'd also love to hear about any of your hopes & plans for 2014 so do leave a comment below :-)