Flibbertygibbet

My favourite four-letter word

is, of course,

S A L E

When I was out and about in Fulham the other day (Oh, how the other half - of London - lives) I noticed some rather good sales.  No, not clothes, because I'm not in the market at the moment, but for crafty supplies.  Things that I am allowed to buy.

Cath Kidston has a decent selection of fabrics on sale, at discounts of up to 50%, plus other gifty ideas in the clearance sale.  Though I must say that I think that since they went more mass market, I'm not sure that the quality hasn't suffered a little. 

The Designers Guild also has a sale on, though most of the fabric on the bolt, even if it's reduced by up to 50%, is seconds stock.  They have a huge table of remnants too, including, ironically enough, a lot of Cath Kidston classic prints.

When I was over on the dark side, I also went into Peter Jones (the Sloane Square outpost of John Lewis).  More bargains to be found, again in Debbie Bliss Pure Silk.  This time it was the buttery yellow and the lilac.  I know that this is somewhat extravagant but the fact is, I have the pattern book and there are lots of garments I fancy making.  And now I have the yarn to do it, at 50% off.  I also bought some Cotton Cashmere for T, but I hear she then 'popped into' John Lewis in town - so dangerous - and it sounds like she purchased her own bodyweight in yarn. Again.  Apparently she blames me for this, I've no idea why...

Who's still waiting for swap packages?  Hopefully most of you are sorted by now but please do let me know... this particular swap seems to have gone on for ever.  To answer the question that some people have asked, if there is another round it won't be until the late autumn as the chasing up is taking an eternity and I think I'll take a break from it.

So I did the draw for a little something to celebrate my long-gone blogiversary, and the winner is Sarah.  Email me your address, and you'll have a wee gift in return.  Hopefully before we reach the second anniversary.

And even better

On Wednesday I also managed to get to the City Quilter (round 1).  Most of these are for quilting (a pile of orders are due soon) and specifically for quilt backing, for quilts for little boys.

I also went to Tinsel Trading, and unfortunately didn't make a couple of purchases I wanted as I thought I'd be back the next day but didn't make it, and also visited their wonderful ribbon shop,

'The Store Across The Street'.  It's seriously beautiful and worth checking out.  However I would have to say that I thought it was rather overpriced, given that I found many of their ribbons (obviously not the antique ones which are worth going for) in Daytona, for literally half the price.  I know, I checked.  Though the silk flowers were magnificent.  Of course I found a couple I couldn't pass up, and they were so prettily wrapped too:

One of the best things about this trip was that there was a constant stream of fun people around - some natives and some transplants.  Pauline was working in NY that week so of course we had to hook up which was brilliant....we decided at one point that telepathy works better in NY as one of us would say something and the other would literally stop in her tracks, exclaiming "I was just thinking that!".  My favourite example being - and this will show you what a cosmopolitanish melting pot London is - when I confessed that I had been musing to myself earlier about how there were loads of Americans about and Pauline said me-too-me-too...

This is where we went for drinks and dinner that evening - Pauline will have loads of photographic evidence to show later on. (She's great, she was the official photographer for the trip).  It was hysterical - she told me that there was something unusual about the entrance to PDT, so when we arrived in what looked like a normal fast food place, I thought 'Ok...' then I was kind of mystified when she ducked off into a phone box on the left  - and lo and behold we emerged in here!  God, it was such fun.  Apparently the entry criteria is that there's space inside (that will explain how I got in) not who you are/what you're wearing - and to reiterate that, from our perch on the bar we could see the little CCTV monitor that shows the poor unfortunates who are in the fake phone box entrance hammering on the false wall trying to get in.

We drank cocktails - slightly pretentious ones, pretty much each one has some mysterious ingredient that nobody's ever heard of , like Lustau manzanilla, anyone? - and ate hot dogs.  Yum. 

Then we popped across the road for chocolate, caramel and banana crepes for dessert.  Yes, we know how to have a good time.  With extra sugar, where possible.   Thanks to the poster in the creperie, we are also fully aware of how to do the Heimlich Manoeuvre, should it be necessary. It was funny to be waving goodbye to each other in Grand Central later, as if we were at the tube at home, with cries of "See you on Saturday" - more on that later!

[Can I just say that I never thought I'd be defending the London underground but yet again I have new-found admiration for an underground network that goes around the compass points, not just horizontally and vertically; and for stations that also let you go in both directions??  Mind you, the subway is cheap, cheap, cheap.  Particularly with magical British pounds.]

It was lateish to bed and really early to rise the next day, as I went off to meet the lovely Denise (who doesn't blog - yet) from her 8am train, having first checked out of my hotel and left my luggage at Penn Station,  and we set off to really kill the credit cards.  On the way, I spotted one of the Star Wars mail boxes that Susan blogged about ages ago (Anna, check out Susan's blog too as she has a link to the Threads list of where to go in NY for sewers!)

After breakfast, it was off to School Products (I'll tell you why it's called that a bit later).  Here's Denise browsing in this huge place.  Can you spot her?  She was choosing her Koigu.

I bought this lilac merino and the variegated cashmere.  Yum.

I think we got to Purl next.  Purl, the mecca for us UK knitters.  I have to admit, it's a rather lovely experience.  Particularly for someone like me, who's a total yarn flibbertygibbet and doesn't really know what she's buying - apart from some custom colour Lorna's Laces. 

And some Blue Sky Alpaca Silk (left) for the infamous Clap. I am following Helen's lead and not using a variegated yarn, rather something soft and luxurious.  Denise bought some more sock yarn (what was it?) and I picked up some amazing stuff for Lucy from my knitting group but unfortunately forgot to take a picture. 

Some tips: 

• Purl Soho doesn't hold exactly the same stock as the internet - that stuff is in California.  They can get  any of it in but it takes a couple of days.
• The Lorna's Laces custom colours don't have the names like 'Berry Stripe' on the actual labels, just on the net (no, I couldn't figure that out) so make sure you are buying the same ones if they are for someone else (don't worry, the staff there are super-helpful)
• They don't take American Express.  I had brought an Amex debit card - like traveller's cheques but in card format - and went to the local corner store to get cash instead.

And then we had some lunch to fortify ourselves at the little cafe next door.  "Once Upon a Tart".

Before making for the No I destination: 

Oh, I really loved Purl Patchworks.  It kind of reaffirmed that while knitting is my favourite social craft, I adore sewing.  I got overexcited, natch, while Denise patiently sat down and started on her sock. 

The very first thing I requested from Joelle (yes, the famous owner of the store was there herself)  was the Denyse Schmidt 'Katie Jump Rope' bundle and you know it was worth schlepping it all around town.

There's a part of the selection, it was such fun. Joelle is very patient and so friendly.   I'm sure a lot of you will have seen the article about the shop and her beautiful apartment in Blueprint, with the quilt pattern but I didn't want to appear stalkerish and mention it.

As I was repacking the bags post-fabric purchasing so that it would all fit a little better, she spotted the lilac merino and said 'Oh, that's nice - that's not from Purl!' and I explained that it was from School Products.  Then the conversation went like this:

Joelle: I wonder why it's called that.
Woman: Oh, I just designed her book,  it's because it used to be a school supplies store.
Us:  Really?
Me: Oh, when is your new book coming out?
Joelle:  Not until September, it's called Last Minute Patchwork Gifts (I think that's what she said)
Me:  I can't wait - I was gutted that Amy Karol's book wasn't coming out until Tuesday and I go back on Monday.
Woman: I designed that one too!

It's a teensy-weensy tiny world.  Or maybe the telepathy/synchronicity thing works with total strangers too.

I must say that I am a big fan of the City Quilter and it worked well for me to go to both stores first and then back to the City Quilter as it has such a big selection.  But if I only had time to go to one location, or wanted to go somewhere to hang out, it would definitely be Purl Soho/Patchwork because they have plenty of lovely things, and the atmosphere is fab.

After all that fabric shopping we needed some sustenance (yes, that's right, all we did was shop for craft materials and eat sugar - and lo, 'twas good) and we went to Magnolia bakery, the home of my favourite cupcakes.  (recipe here) Damn, they were delicious.

We stood outside and devoured them, and then realised that through the window you could see them, making the magic and just look at those jars of sprinkles.

Ok, unbelievably there's still yet more to tell you, (and more fabric to show you) but I'm done for the day again.  Laters, ladies.

 

So good. (They named it twice.)

Oh yes, plenty of new places for my little red book this time around.

So I got to NYC on Tuesday afternoon.  In the end I was glad I didn't do the stopover option via Washington as it meant I got to fly Virgin, direct, which was very civilised.  Just so you know, when you bring your dpns on board in your purse, and the yarn elsewhere in your check-in bag, this is how much sock you can knit on a transatlantic flight. 

I checked into my (free! woo-hoo) hotel which was pretty good by Manhattan standards - check out the knitting couch in the corner:

and headed straight out to do a little light shopping before meeting my friend.

First stop Kinokuniya.  It would take a long time to browse there even if I did speak Japanese.  Instead it was a matter of pulling out dozens of spine-out books to find the right ones.  Somehow I knew when I went in there that I'd only buy two books - being modest and still thinking of the luggage allowance at the start of the trip - and some stationery which doesn't count.  You know the way.

This is the embroidery book which is just too cute, suitable for all the imminent baby presents. 

Here's a detail from the bag book (ISBN 4834724840):  I never thought I liked yoyos (or Suffolk puffs as they are also known) that much but I'm very taken with this.

And the stationery has the usual charmingly translated English.

After that I went to see a friend, M,  who manages a bar on 8th Avenue.   I haven't seen her for six years and she's now married and is expecting a baby so it was great to catch up.   Mind you, it did mean that it was 4am my time by the time I got back to the hotel to bed.  This was the view from my hotel window when I got back:

Fortified by a humongous breakfast from my favourite bagel place on 3rd Avenue,

which obliterated the need for lunch,  Wednesday was the Garment District Day.   

Mainly W38th and W39th St, and most of them. (BTW Liesl's post here gives lots of addresses - I'm cheating now and not putting them in myself).

A selection of the mountains of ribbon from Daytona Trimmings.   I loved this place.  Seriously - look at the rick rack selection...

The sales assistant was laughing at me because she could see my eyes boggling when she told me the prices, as she grabbed each of my choices and unwound it by the armful ("The thin one?  That's 5 yards for a dollar," as I of course calculated it all back to my wonderful British pounds and giggled like a loon) and I thought that the prices were amazing.  Although there was one ribbon that was slightly off register in the printing but I think that was just one.

From Lin's Trimming at 256 West 38th.

From M&J trimmings:

I didn't buy as much as normal here because I'd already made so many stops on W39th.

More bits from various places.

Ok, that gets me to about 3.30 that afternoon.  But I need my bed.  So will continue tomorrow.  Well done for getting this far.

It's been a while

So just to recap a little, class....

It's been such a long time since I blogged.  All went well with Shaun the Sheep and the rest of the knitterly stuff for the Camden Green Fair.  It was really hot and Lucy baked the world's best brownies and we had a good laugh.  We may even have taught a few people to knit. 

International Knit in Public Day was on the 9th of June and we ambled along to Trafalgar Square to watch the security guards try to get all heavy with the guys from I Knit London - hilarious. 

Though we did agree that of everyone there, ironically,  Craig was definitely the person in possession of the most dangerous needles (the huge ones from Wool n Boat, he was using them to knit a curtain).  It was fun, until we decided that us three little white girls were getting burned to cinders despite the Factor 25 so we went to the National Portrait Gallery's cafe for lunch.  Or in the case of myself and Helen, for starters as we ended up having pad thai later. 

And on Sunday we went along to the Spitalfields City Farm, to the Sheep and Wool fair, where Claire was running knitting workshops.  On the way home, I stopped in to see Zoe - who made this bag - who has a stall at the Backyard Market.  She has lovely things and I think she's there for a few more Sundays - go and see.  (and if you need any other reason, I think these people are usually there too).

Now there's something else I need to tell you is, isn't there.... um.... oh yeah. Heh heh.
New York was everything I was hoping, as ever.  Now I'm sleepy and heading to bed to deal with the jet lag.  Once I clear some of the shopping off it....

More tomorrow.

Hey, if you're still waiting for swap packages, will you let me know?

Knitting and fabric and SUNSHINE

Today was a rather nice day, all in all.  I just about made it to Knitflicks before the movie started, frantically texting Claire en route, as I was late, plus I didn't actually know where the cinema was either, but luckily it's just past the tube (and also past Electric Avenue "wooooaaah, we gonna walk down to -").  Anna was asking me what Knitflicks is about - basically once a month, the Ritzy in Brixton (just about) puts on a movie specifically for knitters and crafters where the lights are not quite dimmed.  So it's dark enough for the cinematic experience, but bright enough to see your work.  Well just about, at one point a friend, Adrienne, sitting behind me, did curse loudly and have to remove herself to fix a mistake outside in the light.  Another pal told me that her local cinema does something similar for mums and babies, with the lights keep up so little kids aren't too scared.  Or something. 

I have to admit, I was concentrating more on the work so I didn't watch the movie so much and it was such a shame because it was a stunning looking film, though even if I had been paying complete attention I don't reckon I've had understood it.  But it was worth it just for the odd glimpse of Cillian Murphy's beautiful blue eyes above the yarn. So I think Jen and I might have to go and watch it again as a card movie. Afterwards, following a sandwich and more crafting at chatting at the Ritzy, I headed over westwards to meet up with Jen and Loba.  Fabric was purchased.  Liberty tana lawn at 50% off.  I swear I'm making a dress tomorrow.

That's if I can put the crochet down for long enough.  For those of you who kindly asked after it, here's what I'm doing - draped over Shrimp.  It's because the first time I saw a crocheted blanket I really liked, it was on Green Kitchen back in September and later there was Bella Dia - and coincidentally Michelle had been inspired by a post of Jane's with a post about someone else's striped blanket... then Jane then was largely responsible for the ripple craze which I think came next.  Very complicated.  I liked the simplicity of this, plus it reminded me of a very seventies carpet in my parents' house. I need to get this one out of my system first.  When choosing the fabrics today I also went back to the first thing I'd spotted again and again, though eventually I did go for something else (it was also uncanny how all the fabrics I picked out were the more expensive ones. I've always had good taste.)  Loba is thinking of making her first quilt and it was interesting to see how my brain seems to work when it comes to choosing colours to go together.  There'll be more musings on sewing versus knitting in my little brain later. 

It has slightly scared me that Jane said she used 925g of yarn.  Oh no, wait a minute, I've just added it up and it turns out that I've bought 850g for this.  Ah ha.  That really scares me.  But I bought most of it at 15% off at the Liberty cardholder's evening, some with my measly £5 voucher. I'm using Rowan Pure Wool DK but for my next one (please, don't laugh - I've decided to make an afghan for a wedding present for a friend.  It was nearly going to be in Kidsilk Haze - until I tried crocheting with it, and thought better of it when memories of my past battles with this delightful fluffy devil's spawn came flooding back) I ordered a pile of cotton angora from ebay instead. I got 29 balls for £60 inc postage which isn't bad.  I'll try another couple of auctions tomorrow to see if I can add to that pile, and then that's going to be a ripple blanket, a proper one this time.

And I'll define what's "proper".

Calling all thrifty girls

Just to let you know...

I have been lusting after a dressform since Caroline showed us hers back in January, and Jeanie B revealed that her friend's son (not her son's friend - I think I mistakenly bestowed a third child on her) found a pristine one and passed it on to her - in fact you can see it modelling a rather gorgeous wrap top on her blog right now. 

My lovely parents and brother - mwah, mwah - are sending me some spondulicks for the birthday and I decided that it would be well-spent on a dressform.  Ok, might be better spent on the overdraft but that's not how birthday presents work, ok?  Shamelessly benefitting from Caroline's research, I decided to check out the site she ordered hers from, and found this offer - £99 which seems like a pretty good deal as I think it's the same model that's for sale at John Lewis for £185. This is a Mother's Day special, so it may be withdrawn very shortly, so get on over there!

Don't get me wrong, I love John Lewis - particularly as it's one of the last places you can buy paper patterns in London.  And in my second thrifty tip of the day, Simplicity patterns are 50% off there, and at Peter Jones at the moment.  Go and stock up.

In an earlier attempt to be thrifty, I got a dressform from Freecycle back in the summer. But the whole idea about making a stand for her just wasn't working - plus to be fair, the actual body was knackered.  So I tried.  And now I'm going to be lying in wait for the postman.

* * * * *

As Ann kindly pointed out,  there is of course the option of making your own form.  Which would be infinitely thriftier - have you guessed that my definition of 'thrifty' is somewhat elastic?) -  but as I "justified" to Ann, there are a number of reasons that it would not be a good idea for me:

1. You need a second person ideally, to help wrap you and I can't imagine subjecting any of my friends to taping me up (dammit, where's a husband when you need one?!)
   
2. You need to stand for a long time and with my "foot issues" I can't do that,  so I'd be cranky too
   
3. I decided to go for something that I liked the look of, as well as being a practical thing and the duct tape dollies are just so ugly and
   
4. I already completely failed to find something that could be a stand for Hilary so I despaired of getting one for this. 
   

Even though a custom-fit form would be amazing, I'm not sure I can cope with that reality right now.  Instead I'm going to pretend that I have a perfectly smooth albeit well padded figure - oh, and no head and one tripod leg then too I guess.... um...