February Knitting Adventures

Towards the end of February, I headed to Farnham to meet my friend Amanda at Unravel, a fibre festival.

Unusually for us, we were only window shopping! I am knitting from stash this year, but very much admired Dusty Dimples yarn and made a note for future shopping! :)

The Pompom Quarterly stand had some beautiful samples on display.

The Shifty on the Kettle Yarn Co display was rather lovely.

I did allow myself some souvenir yarn from a new to me dyer, Ted Knits UK.  I would have preferred to buy 3 skeins for a project, but as we were there on the last day of the festival stocks were limited.

The next day I was off on another knitting adventure.  This time I was travelling to Ipswich in Suffolk for Julie of Suffolk Socks very first knitting retreat.

The retreat was held in the historic Old Neptune Inn near the harbour.  The building's history has been detailed by the Ipswich Society here.  Julie had found a very special place to hold her retreat, it was a joy to sit and knit there whilst chatting to the other lovely attendees.

Delicious meals were eaten in the dining hall.

Workshops and a mini market were also held there.  Ellie of Craft House Magic taught an after-thought heel class.



The lovely Emma of Seren Yarns taught us how to make Dorset buttons.

I now have another hobby! :)

I also enjoyed Julie's felt bird making class.

We were all spoilt by Julie with a very generous goodie bag, which also included a project bag from Ellie.

Pretty stitch marker necklace by Feral Strumpet gifted from Julie.

On a couple of mornings we walked around Ipswich.







Christchurch Mansion











All too soon it was time to leave.  If you would like to see video footage of my time at the retreat you can find it on my February YouTube vlog.

I left Ipswich and headed to Norfolk to spend a few days with my parents.

I also went out for a day in Norwich with a friend, before heading home.

February at Home

Whilst it rained and rained at the beginning of February

and the puddles grew larger and larger,

I spent my days cosy indoors baking and making.  I stitched this patchwork project bag for a friend's birthday.

I also made a bag for myself.  I worked the design around the owl panel on the front.

I was also busy sewing project bags, lavender sachets and knitting needle cosies for my Etsy shop Eva Faith

These pretty, patchwork bags have box bottoms and drawstring closures.

The drawstring ends are finished with fabric tulips 

and each bag is lined with a coordinating fabric.

When using my own drawstring bags I usually turn the tops down and use them as a yarn bowl.

Each sachet is filled with my organically, homegrown lavender.  The scent is long-lasting; I have had some sachets for years and they still smell as good as when I made them.

I find these needle cosies very useful.  They fit DPNs and circulars.  I mostly use circular needles and these cosies keep the stitches of my project safely on the needles when I'm not knitting.

I have been mostly knitting on my Northeasterly blanket in the evenings, adding minis from my Advent swap partner Ruth.

In the kitchen I have been making cheese scones on a regular basis.  We love these with homemade soups.

The parkin didn't hang around long!

For my Valentine, lemon and poppy seed cake.  It's a favourite of his.