Had a great time at Woolfest - despite torrential downpours! The show itself is held in a huge livestock shed outside Cockermouth (which I didn't actually get to see). Mixed in with stallholders selling yarns, fleeces, books, patterns etc. were sheep and goats - which sounds weird, but was really nice.
The people at the show were all in good spirits and very friendly, and excited just to be there.Plus I sold nearly all my copies of the book. Hurrah!
I stayed with friends in Penrith and on Sunday we drove to Ullswater in the Lake District, where I took these photos. Beautiful landscape, despite the constantly changing weather. The clouds in this photo look as if they're painted.

And here is a picture of the Ullswater ferry.

 

Photos of the new cardi design (shown at Woolfest) coming very soon!

Firstly, some news. I'm going to be at Woolfest in Cumbria on June 22nd and 23rd, a festival celebrating all things wool-related - featuring spinning, dyeing, knitting - and sheep! I've never been before and am intrigued - apparently people come from abroad to this show. Partly, I'm sure, because it is in such a beautiful part of the country.
I'm going to be on the Tall Yarns stand - I used their Baby Alpaca Cashmere 4ply sock yarn for the Lace Shrug in my book - and am designing a new pattern for a cardigan in their Soliloquy 3 ply sock lace to go with the Lace-edged Camisole.
I will be selling copies of A Handknit Romance and will have some of the garments from the book with me. So if you are at Woolfest, come along and see me!

Lucy Hammond (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Lucy Hammond (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited to the Royal College of Art Graduate Fashion Show. This is because for the last few years I have taught a one day workshop on hand-knitting to the first year fashion knitwear and textiles students as part of a project for Rowan Yarns. The two students featured here were both in the class last year and I was delighted to see how fantastic their final collections were. They both happened to be delightful too! I love Lucy's use of colour and the felt hats shaped like 1920s flapper bobbed hairstyles. I'm sure they're both destined for great things - and I wish them well.

 

Rachael Hall (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Rachael Hall (http://thestylecolumn.com/)

Just a quick reminder that I will be at Loop in Islington this coming Saturday. I am taking a workshop based on embellishment techniques from my book A Handknit Romance,  from 1-5pm (I believe there are still places available) Before (from 12.15) and afterwards I will be in the shop and available to answer questions and sign copies of the book.

Meanwhile here is a gratuitous photo of the Jubilee celebrations, taken by me on the Thames on Sunday. I was lucky enough to be at the Oxo Tower - tickets only! - and had a great view of the river. Unfortunately I forgot to charge the batteries in my camera, so this is one of the only photos I got - before the flotilla arrived. The crowd are looking away from the river - at a giant TV screen to the left. The lady in the crown was not - as far as I am aware - a member of the royal family.