Christmas is Coming!!

I have had a very busy few weeks, Christmas shopping, not finished yet, knitting for work and crochet for the snowflakes, sorting through my massive stash of wool and trying so hard to get rid of some, but no, its not happening yet.

I have just found my Christmas knitted wreath for my door, I made it last year for Lets knit magazine and I love it.

Its a simple pattern and if anyone would like it please get in touch.

I went to the Ideal Home at Christmas exhibition. I enjoyed it but I was a little disappointed that there weren't more christmas displays. I needed ideas for my table but there was nothing like that. But I still spent money.

I bought a set of window heart lights 

 Dont you just love the colours in this chair, if and when we get our knitting shop we will have a few scattered around the shop.

I had a lovely weekend away with my family in Keswick to start my Christmas shopping.

We had our first snow fall and it was magical. This is the view from our flat we had hired for the weekend.

My sister, niece, daughter and my dad. 





As always i had to find the knitting shop. It was full to the top with wool and habby items, I love having a rummage in shops like that. The sad thing is I didn't buy anything this time, not like me at all !!

There were some fabulous shop windows and lots of sheep and sparkly things to look at these are just some of my pictures !

 

An amazing cheese shop  were I bought a bottle of elderflower gin for my niece.

 

 This little chappy had a lovely warm knitted coat on, it was freezing up North.

As a young girl we had a telephone like this in yellow, don't you just love this one ?

I definitely had an amazing time and I  managed to spend some money and buy a few presents. It got me into the festive mood.

I have also been busy making snowflakes for my local park in Stretford. The book I use has the most amazing design, well worth buying. 100 Snowflakes to crochet by Caitin Sainio

I hope that you are all busy making things for your family and friends for Christmas. If you are still looking for anything knitted or crochet check out my Etsy Shop - Helen Ardley Knits. I will also have Hank and Skein items for sale on there until the beginning of next year when we will be starting our new shop. So lastly a few pictures of knitted things you can buy !!!

From Sarah and myself we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !
Thanks Helen I wish I could have come to Keswick it is one of my favourite places/ 

Our First Event !!

First of all, it seems like such a long time since Helens last post in October and we have certainly been busy! We decided to do a craft fayre at Islington Mill in Salford, Greater Manchester www.facebook.com/islington.mill
The event was Ladyfest, www.facebook.com/ladyfest.manchester.94 and we had a most interesting and enjoyable day. 

Stall set up and crochet hook out!

We were glad the giant needles didn't fall from the display!!

we were really pleased with how our kits looked

We only had a small space but it looked good

It was so good to be working alongside creative people

Karousell Hand made bespoke bag stall was next to us

Some of our wares!

Made by Felicity hand screen printed art & Fashion
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MadebyFelicityUK?ref=ss_profile

Felicity trying her hand at crochet!

The White Mandala Found & Fashioned Textiles
http://thewhitemandala.tumblr.com/

Brilliant- Anna does face painting!

email: anna.fraser.allen@gmail.com face painting - any event

Chelsea is Face Box Boutique travelling around festivals in a
re designed horse box/photo booth take a look!
www.faceboxboutique.com

Just some of Chelsea's fabulous items

Our good friend Karen makes fabulous bags
Shop at Karousell on Folksy & Etsy
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Karousell?ref=search_shop_redirect

As you can see there were lots of talented crafts people at the event which was well attended. I cannot emphasise enough the fact that the products which we all sell are handmade and designed by ourselves. Helen and I write the patterns which are in the kits which we sell, they make lovely gifts at reasonable prices, we do not buy mass produced items for sale they are all handmade by us. The same goes for all the fabulous ladies around us. Take a look on facebook and at etsy shops etc. and maybe do just some of your Christmas shopping with us lovely ladies!

Helen and I are hoping to have an Etsy shop set up before Christmas but in the meantime we will be happy to take orders via emails to hankandskein@gmail.com. We will put some photos on Facebook.

Oh Did we mention it was very cold at Ladyfest there was
no heating on at the Mill but Karen & Helen stayed warm in
our fabulous scarves!!

Until next time, stay safe but have fun!

Hank and Skein is getting bigger !!!

Well this week I have not stopped knitting, mostly for the magazines I design for, but also for the event Sarah and myself will be attending in  November. 

We have been busy designing and putting together knitting kits and knitting and crocheting extra cowls and scarves to sell at 'Ladyfest'  https://ladyfestmanc.wordpress.com/ take a look at the Blog page. We are really looking forward to being part of this great event!

This is our crochet denim scarf kit in our new organza bags.

Amazing crochet scarves that we will be selling in different yarns and different colours.

We have also been working on chunky winter cowls in an amazing array of colours.

Table mats, extra chunky, extra Funky !

Beautiful crochet cowls or crochet kits with all the different yarns you can use to make your own.

All of these are for sale, we will be putting them on our facebook page, but keep watching as we are also going to be opening an Etsy shop.

Alongside these we also have a brilliant knit kit for children 'Two Faced Ted'. It has everything inside for your child to knit the Ted, needles, yarn, buttons, stuffing sewing up needles, it is perfect for beginners. 

All of these are for sale so if anyone is interested then please get in touch, message us, ask any questions, we are more than happy to help. 

Yarndale and a Finished Project!!

Hello!! Well I have so much to share with you this week. First of all... I have now completed my Hubbies jumper and he loves it!

He looks very handsome in it but was too shy to model it!

I am so pleased with the finished jumper

I am now, I believe a 'Finisher Completer' at last!!

I was inspired to get on and complete my outstanding projects when I attended Yarndale 
http://yarndale.co.uk/ last month. I find it so inspiring to see all those wonderful creative people, so full of ideas selling fabulous products. 

Helen and I discussed the blog and I was initially going to show you pictures from the show, however I have seen so many pictures on instagram and other blogs that I decided to show you my purchases! So, here goes!

As you can see I was quite restrained but let me take you through them.

I had told myself before attending the show that I did not need any yarn (this had to be my mantra for the show). I did very well and only purchased one ball which I have definite plans for (Watch this space in a few weeks). Like most of us knitters I have a huge stash and I decided to look through it all before heading off for Skipton, this was a novel idea for me as I am usually an impulsive purchaser. 

My first purchase! Can't wait to cast on

 Toft was my first stall to call at. I just love their displays every year and Edwards Menagerie was top of my purchase list. I am not by nature a toy knitter but I feel that these are so much more, and make lovely gifts for children and grown ups alike. I follow Toft on instagram @toftalpacashop  https://instagram.com/toftalpacashop/ and have really fallen for all the knitted creatures. I always love the free postcard patterns too and cannot wait to get cracking on this years fabulous shawl pattern. You can find them at http://www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk/

How cute is this little fellow?

 Well after a good walk around I came upon the Sue Stratford stall, as mentioned earlier I am not a toy knitter but anyone who attended the show must have gasped as they saw her Christmas displays. I of course had to purchase her Mini Knitted Christmas book (It will use up my stash) and I hope my tree will be adorned with the stunning items in there this year. Sue was also giving away a postcard knit, which is this adorable mouse who sits in the palm of your hand! Divine! He has been in lots of pictures this week and gets a guaranteed awww.. from all who meet him. Sue also has some lovely kits, take a look at her kits and books at http://www.theknittinghut.co.uk/

I have often looked at the pompom magazine so I made a purchase
and found lot's of lovely patterns and articles inside

I like a publication which is fresh and up to date and I felt that pompom ticked the boxes. You can subscribe at http://www.pompommag.com/ they have a podcast too.

I always visit the needle man and this time was no exception

 The needle man (The name that my Friend Julie & I have for him) has the best display of knitpro needles and is always an important stop at the shows, and I even got my only ball of yarn from his lovely other half, I can't wait to cast the wool on my fab new needles! You can fin them at: http://www.knitproneedles.co.uk & http://www.knitting4fun.com/

You can never have too many buttons

 The button lady is my next favourite stop, you can never have too many buttons but I was very restrained this year with this small selection. Find their fabulous collection at http://www.textilegarden.com/buttons-intro.htm 

I cannot wait to block socks on these beauties!

 My absolute must purchase this year was sock blocks and after much walking around I finally settled, you guessed it, on the first pair that I saw ( I liked the humour - with the bones). I bought these from a lovely gentleman and you can find them at http://www.fivemoonsyarns.co.uk/

The catering was great as usual and to add to the whole experience we had music to entertain us too. All in all a great weekend was had.

Thank you to the Ukulele band that entertained us when regrouping for coffee

Thanks to the laughing alpaca and his lovely friend! A huge thanks to all involved in organising Yarndale, a fabulous exhibition for woolly folk!

And finally thank you to the publicans of Skipton for their hospitality

Thank you for taking the time to drop by and read our blog. Helen & Sarah xx

Until next time it is goodbye from me!