Happy Easter

John Arbon Textiles at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival

Since I last wrote I have visited Wales twice and Scotland once. I first visited the Edinburgh Yarn Festival about 4 years ago and I returned again in March for another look and I thought the event had really improved: queuing outside in the freezing cold was kept to a minimum as we all trooped in quickly and although tickets had sold out for the day, there was plenty of room to move around and view in comfort. There were also plenty of places to stop for a coffee break. 

Di Gilpin at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival

My visit to Wales was all to do with the latest addition to The Knitter's Yarn team. I have always been surrounded by dogs (usually cocker spaniels) but when my last one died I decided that my lifestyle was not suitable for another pet....playing golf can often take up a whole day! However, my daughter has been after her own dog for many, many years and was extremely specific not only on the breed, but on the colour. Needless to say, 'shaded cream long haired miniature dachshund bitch puppies' are extremely hard to find!! Having agreed that since our business was based at home, Alice could have her own dog, we have been on a long search to find her and having checked out the litter the other week, we drove back down to Aberystywth on Thursday to collect her. What a beautiful pup she has turned out to be.....she did not cry once on the 6 hour journey home through the torrential rain. Alice slept on the sofa near her on the first couple of nights but, much to our surprise, she didn't cry so the puppy is now happily settled downstairs in her own place for the night. It has been so cold that I knitted a little sweater for her in Rowan's Brushed Fleece  which then had to be partially redone as it was enormous.

In fact, whilst we are aware how small she is and she has a bell so we hear her coming, we had a bit of an awakening yesterday of how she is perceived by other animals. Alice took her outside for toilet training and this big black and white cat appeared. When we brought 'Puddle' (not my choice of name but that too was determined many years ago!) back into the house the cat suddenly appeared at the French windows and gave the puppy a definite death stare! Of course, having seen cats run off with squirrels and rabbits I have a feeling that Puddle could well have been next on the list so she is now safely in the harness whenever she goes out to avoid being the next prey!

 I have lots of knitting at the final stages at the moment including an Erika Knight 'Porcelain' sweater in Studio Linen which will be a great everyday wear should the sun ever decide to come out. I have also knitted three very simple striped and moss stitch cushion covers in different colours which just need to be sewn up and then they will be ready to sell as kits. These cushions make excellent use of Erika Knight's 25g balls of British Blue wool and her Vintage wool.. These knits should all be ready to show in my next newsletter along with a lined carry blanket for my niece's baby expected in May. Taking a break for a couple of weeks has put me slightly behind schedule but the weather has not enticed me out of my winter woollies yet.