Monthly catch up - October 2026

After my great trip to Yorkshire this September I decided to have a solo date to watch Sense and Sensibility at my local cinema.

It was fun when I walked in, having it all to myself! It did fill up before the film, but it was fun while it lasted.

I took (of course) my knitting with my, a nice simple tank top and I got so much done, just going round and round, whilst watching such a great film from beginning to end.
 

My little beloved fluff ball, had her own holiday as my Mum so kindly looked after her.  It was so so adorable when I got home, did my weekend tradition of sitting in the snug to read and she put her paw on my shoulder and went to sleep.

I had the Monday off to finish of my break perfectly, and of course went to that special place Slimbridge.

It brings me so much peace just walking around.  When I got there and for a few hours there must have been three primary school groups visiting, such a brilliant idea.  But by 3pm it was like you had the place to yourself it was so great and I am so blessed it is only thirty minutes drive from home.

For my course I need to produce two peg loom pieces.  Not something I have ever done before.

The mixed materials I used I had bought while at Yarndale.  I have to admit it was hard to get so many strands over the pegs at it just got tighter and tighter, but I love the finished piece which I have made into a brooch.

I took my DSLR camera as I do love to use that as well as my phone to take pictures as you really have to just concentrate on the subject as I have the camera on purely manual settings.

I love how the Mallard image turned out, seeing the colours so clearly. 

At 4pm I headed to where the Flamingo's are housed, aren't they just the most stunning creatures!

For the second weekend in October I had the great pleasure of attending as an exhibitor my first ever craft show with Tetbury Wool Fair thanks to my good friend Bonnie from A Happy Crow. 

I am so happy, in so many ways to have my van, not least from the fact that Bonnie had a lot of items to take, which thankfully fitted happily in the back as the bed was laid flat.  My three bags tucked in behind the seat.

I was such a lovely moment to be able to display not only my knitting designs as samples which was a great help for people to relate this to the patterns that I had for sale.  Along with the gift cards that I had produced.

Anne was my first ever physical customer and I was so happy she was.  I told her how nervous I was and I shall not forget her kind words she said as she left of "I am so glad you came", having purchased one of my shawl patterns to make.

Another really kind customer came back to show me the yarn they had purchased specifically to make the purple shawl in.  

Craft shows are such a brilliant way to meet new people and it is such a great feeling when someone loves your work. 

The third weekend of the month I really wanted to get out and get some fresh air, have a walk and enjoy a good view.

So I headed to Cleeve Hill which just a short drive from home.  Not unsurprisingly the car parking spots were busy, but I managed to find that one spot, and with knitting and walking boots ready I headed up the hill.

It was a very clear and windy day as you can see from the Steam train that runs from Cheltenham racecourse to Broadway.  I do so love hearing the sound of the train and when they blow the whistle even though it is a few miles away, you can hear it so clearly.

As someone who just loves colour, and is completely inspired by nature, autumn has to be one of the best times for inspiration, just so many colours just on this one tree!

I also took my first dip into dyeing my own yarn, and goodness it is such a thrill to see the finished product that I am so looking forward to do dyeing up so much more.

 

I finished three coasters with some of the yarn I dyed, doing each one differently, my favourite is the diamond shaped one.

These will be going for sale at a craft fair in December. 

Another thing I absolutely love is a clear night.  I woke at 4am and looked out, and wow the sky was so clear.  It blows my mind seeing the stars and just so brilliant they were so bright.

On Friday I had a shock looking out the window.  In the UK we have had storm Austen, with lots of rain and strong winds.

I did not however anticipate my Paracantha bush which had been growing for over 15 years covering the wall at the bottom of my garden would blow over!

But not to be defeated, albeit it will take me several weeks of cutting and sawing to dispose of the bush in the garden wheelie bin.  I shall plant up some pot plants and pop in some bulbs to fill the gap, and I can now hang up a hanging basket on the bracket my Dad put up nearly 20 years ago as it was behind the bush and I'd completely forgotten about it. 

My last weekend of this month involved a stunning walk in the Cotswolds.  All be it super windy, but now it is the beginning of knitwear weather, which is obviously something I absolutely love!

 

Yorkshire September 2026

So back in 2013 I had my first trip up to Skipton to attend Yarndale.  A huge yarn and craft event held in the cattle market at the end of September.

I have since attended, I believe twelve times, so only missing a few years.

It is incredible to think that people literally come from all over the world, as they have a map of the world and visitors can place a bin on the map to show there home country.

I shall write more on this shortly.

Over the years have stayed in a mixture of accommodation.  For the first two years I stayed at Woolly Sheep Inn, which was perfectly located as an easy walk from the train station, had nice rooms to stay in and the food was delicious.

Since then I have stayed in a mixture of holiday let cottages, it is amazing how many are available in the town.

But this year I wanted a change of scene and opted to stay just a few miles out in a lovely village of Embsay.  It is only small with a population of 2000, which suited me perfectly.

After the four and half hour drive up, I unpacked and before sitting down headed straight out the door for a walk to the nearby reservoir, it was an absolutely glorious later afternoon.

The next day was Yarndale, so I had a nice leisurely walk to the venue, having parked the van in a side street I knew well, having stayed nearby for the previous three occasions.

I had booked my ticket for 10am as they had a staggered time option to try and break up the entry which was good.  It was initially and for a good few hours, still very busy, which is great for the stall holders.

The event has many talented yarn dyers, along with a mix of different crafts.  This year I was purely looking to purchase items for my course, needing acid dyes and something different to use for peg looming that I need to create.

It was lovely to catch up with my good friend A Happy Crow who is a yarn dyer and is kindly letting me share a stand when they exhibit at Tetbury in October.

It is nice to see sheep up close and I love the little peg dolls, I purchased one a few years ago which I keep in my bedroom.

Over the years, Yarndale, do a different charity event to raise money for a variety of causes.  They then exhibit the relevant items which is always a very impressive display, the crotchet mandala's where from a few years ago, but still look so impressive blowing in the wind.

It is always interesting to see what "styles" are popular, I really like the fact that the slip over is popular as I am currently knitting one.  I did these, the bottom two and top right all on John Arbon stand and the top left on Pixie Yarn.

On Monday I decided I wanted to venture out in the van, but not too far.  So I headed a few miles up the road to Bolton Abbey.

 

The drive was very impressive, huge open expanses of views.  I of course took my knitting and sat in several locations to knit.  I did love the post box topper they had in the village.  I was so so lucky with the weather it was glorious, I mean just look at that sky.  I just wish I'd waited a little longer to get the clouds over the Abbey!

 

 

I am sure their must be thousands of pictures of the Abbey, but it is always lovely to take your own I find.  I sat and people watched for quite some time with the view of Abbey as the backdrop.

 

 

I also went for an explore and came across this brilliant bridge, I have never seen anything like it and a water fountain in memory of Lord Cavendish.  The view overlooking the river to the Abbey is so worth it and they have a perfectly placed seat you can use to enjoy it.

 

 

On Tuesday the weather was a lot cooler and overcast, so I headed over to what turned out to be an absolutely fascinating museum, which I still can not believe is free, with donations optional.

 

The grounds of Cliffe Castle Museum are lovely to walk around and it was fun taking different pictures of the fountains.

 

 

Inside, oh my goodness there was so much to see, from the architecture to the exhibitions, my blog just does not do it justice, but give you an insight into it.

 

It was then a half an hour drive through Keighley and across the moors to the Hebden Bridge.  A town famously known to be a creative, bohemian culture with  a large LGBTQ+ community.

 

It was a nice town and I did purchase some really lovely new jeans, but I have to say I have been to nicer towns. 

 

Wednesday was a day of using Alltrails walking app which I have had for months, but never used properly.  I have to say I really enjoyed it, and having the app really helped, as if you went off track it would notify you.

 

 

The route started in Grassington and the weather was low cloud and very fine rain.  Passing through the spectacular Linton Falls and then heading across fields, and down quiet country lanes, but over oh my goodness so many stone styles! 

 

But you could then just see in the landscape the weather literally changing and the sun coming out across the landscape it was very special.

 

Perfectly located at the half way point is The Red Lion where a much loved drink was had.  The walk then followed the River Wharfe along the Dales Way back to Linton Falls and up to Grassington.

 

 

I stopped off for a delicious Earl Grey Tea, and cheese scone with clotted cream and the most delicious chutney, before sitting briefly outside the pub that features in one of my favourite tv shows All Creatures Great and Small which is now in it's seventh season.  The village of Grassington features often in the show, along with the stunning Yorkshire countryside.

 

Before heading home the next day I took my knitting and headed back to the reservoir to sit and take in the huge expansive on uninterrupted countryside and sounds of nature and water.

 

I am now on the hunt to find something as spectacular and quiet in the Cotswolds, which currently I have not yet found, but am determined to, as peace and quiet and nature are my true happy place. 
 

 

 

Monthly catch up - September 2026

To start the month off, even though I already have plenty of knits on the go I cast on a second "The Painted Path" Cowl.

A new design I have created and just love it so much I wanted to see it worked up in a different colour way.

The new colourway uses yarn from Pigment & Ply a subtle shade of blue/green using 70% Baby Alpaca and 20% Silk and 10% Cashmere, so you can imagine the softness!

I am pairing this with Meadow Yarn 100% Merino yarn in the colourway "We walk the jewel" it has so many shades of blues and greens and hints of other colours running through it.
 

My first cowl/poncho, was knitting using Birdstreet yarn wine coloured yarn called "Dietrich" which is 70% Yak, 20% Nylon, 10% Merino and I have paired it with The Dye Shack75% Merino 25% Nylon variegated yarn called "Dark Rainbow".  

The accessory can be worn like a poncho across the body, or a cape which keeps your back and neck toasty warm, or rolled up into a lovely cowl just perfect ready for the chillier times.

Not only does the pattern work perfectly if you use two contrasting colours, but it has added interest within the pattern itself with lace panels in different areas and a real fun, reversible collar. 

My dear friend Bonnie from A Happy Crow modelled it beautifully for me and absolutely loved it.

 

I had a lovely Saturday at the beginning of the month as Birdstreet Yarn organises a group knitting and games afternoon in a village hall in Bristol.  Seventy talented knitters come along and Birdstreet yarn bring along a selection of their yarns and always have another independant yarn dyer to also sell there yarns.  This time it was my good friend James Makes Yarn so it was a double bonus to catch up with him and see so much stunning yarn on display.

I am now working on my second version of my cowl pattern, this time using Meadow Yarn  as the variegated yarn and Pigment and Ply  as the solid colour.  I absolutely love how the colours are blending.

 

When I was away this year in Dorset I bought three more pictures from a local artist on the sea front at West Bay.  They are sold by the son who takes gorgeous photographs of the area and his Dad had done the paintings.  This picture was the last one he painted as he passed away a few years ago.  I just love how the light shines on it in the morning and lights it up.

 I do so love a good sky.  Thursday morning at 6.30am did not disappoint!

The design for the shawl was based on Barricane Beach,  Woolacombe with so many different textures to the rocks.

 

For those that follow me know, I take my knitting to as many places as possible, and based on the size of this project it was knitted in all the following places!

• Clevedon
• Malvern Hill 
• Stroud
• Blenheim Palace
• North Wales, alot of locations
• Slimbridge (of course!)
• Cleeve Hill, Cheltenham
• Brean Sands
• Forest of Dean
• Newport
• Hidcote National Trust
• North Devon

So when I say I take my knitting everywhere, I was not joking!

 

As part of my studies I am now on to Module six, yeah half way through!

Within this module there are many many elements! So I am working my way logically through it.

The first part is research and the knitting two pieces under the title of "extreme knitting".  So using 25mm needles and Chunky tube yarn, which is filled with Polyester I created a lovely pastel coloured piece, which has worked out perfectly as a head rest on my sofa. 

 

I love photography and experimenting with taking black and white to show the different textures.

 

The second weekend of the month, was an unusual one for me as I 100% stayed local.  Combining doing some college work, reading and completely embracing the literal five minutes my angel came and laid on my lap.  She is a very aloof  kitty, so time spent where I get to have a cuddle is always welcome.

 

I also attended the weekly craft club at Kiwi Fruit is cute, where a whole mix of crafts from, knitting, sewing and this beautiful embroidery, were happening.  I can so see the Pixies living in the little house, it's just adorable.

 

 

The absolute pleasure of going to Little Flock at the beginning of the month, is that John, a professional photographer takes pictures of any knit that you bring along.

 

This was my Painted Path one off shawl that I designed. 

I am now halfway through my course and am on to my second sample for "extreme knitting" samples.

For this I have combined gorgeous yarns that have all been gifted by my amazing Mum and will be turning it into a lovely rug for the tiled floor in my conservatory. 

Goodness we have now reached the third Sunday in the month!

Literally no idea where the time is going!  But it involved an absolutely lovely craft club meet up and spotting these absolutely adorable miniatures that where for sale in the shop. 

The very clever Sam had finished her stunning embroidery.

It was an absolute given as soon as I saw Nath in this jumper they had made that I would be getting them to pose for a picture, which they always so kindly do!

I am so happy with my second piece of "extreme knitting".  Using 25mm needles and five strands of yarn.

I created the snugliest, warm lap blanket, that does not confirm to the standard rectangle, but flows round and had different shapes to it.  I also absolutely love the colours, they are so me, as a friend pointed out. 

For the last week of this month I was in Yorkshire, so I have done a separate blog for this.

Catch you in October!