CHRISTMAS OVERLOAD Well done to everyone taking part in the Santa Run in Bristol today, which raised funds for Children's Hospice South West. My creaky knee means I'm banned from running so we went along just to watch the start but ended up joining in for the warm up. Best bits = when Warm Up Guy said 'she does go on a bit, doesn't she' during All I Want for Christmas, turned off the music just as we were all singing (badly) at the top of our lungs, and demanded that we throw our arms down 'with drama' at the end of the song. Flossing may also have been involved.
I hadn't planned to spend Sunday morning dancing in the docks with 1,000 Santas, but it was both hilarious and moving. Go go Santa!
#santarun #chsw #bristol
EYE EYE After finding out I was shortlisted for Designer of the Year on Monday 🎉, it was back down to earth with a bump on Wednesday when I finally had my cataract operation. 40 somethings don't usually get cataracts but I have extreme myopia so I'm prone to early eye problems.
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I was nervous about having an eye op while awake but there was only one moment that was a bit 🤢 (DM me and I'll tell you if you're not squeamish!) and I only had an eye patch for 24 hrs 🧐
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As a reward to myself for not freaking out during the op I bought some of the perfectly timed @daughterofashepherd x @thewoolkitchen Ram Jam limited edition, which went on sale the same evening.
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It arrived today, a short while after I first noticed that I am now seeing different colours in different eyes 🤪. Turns out cataracts can distort colour and my right eye, which will be fixed in spring, is seeing a yellow haze I didn't even realise was there! So, depending on which eye I use, I've got two different versions of Helen's spectacular Ziggy colourway on Rachel's beautiful yarn! I have approximately a million work things to knit (OK, six) so I'm going to wrap this back up till Christmas and then gift it to myself as a holiday project.
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Rachel also sent me a little get well message with my order, which made me feel all warm and fuzzy - a much needed virtual hug during a pretty intense week. So thank you Rachel, and all my knitting/ Bristol friends for keeping an eye on me (sorry) when I really needed it.
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#neweye #myopia #knittersofinstagram #tricot #stricken #strik #howiknit #makersgonnamake #maker #techeditor #techeditorsofinstagram
I've just found out I've been shortlisted for Designer of the Year in the @knitnow Knitter of the Year awards. I am blinking over the moon!
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Please go vote! There are wonderful people in every category, including some of my own favourite designers, so please show them some love - I've popped the link in my profile.
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If you're still reading, I thought I'd use this post as a plea to YOU to pursue your own dreams and ambitions.
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I always wanted to make clothes. When I was a toddler I used to put all the playgroup dressing up stuff on in layers til I looked like Joey from Friends. Not very sharing behaviour, but you get the point. I was obsessed.
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I was going to do textiles and history of art for A level but then we moved to a town where they only offered fine art. The course tutor took one look at my sketches and told I wasn't good enough. His exact words were 'I'm going to offer you a place but I want you to turn it down'. I was crushed and didn't do anything with art or textiles for more than 10 years after that.
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Eventually, after an exciting career as a journalist, I slowly transitioned into what I'm doing now, with plenty of stumbles along the way, a bit of luck and a tonne of hard work. Writing is still a big part of my life, but now design is too.
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I've had a lot of support and encouragement from brilliant mentors and oddments of training but I'm essentially self taught. I try to learn all the time. I read knitting patterns for fun. I go to art exhibitions and take pictures of weird patterns on the pavement. I pore over yarn and fabric and dream about shapes and colours and I look at all the independent designers out there doing the same and I'm just so bloody proud of this community, which is now full of people working things out for themselves, innovating and helping each other.
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Don't listen to people who tell you you're not good enough and don't give up on your dreams. You might never get any recognition for what you do but it won't matter if you love it already. That will be enough.
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#knittersofinstagram #knitteroftheyear @knitnow
MERRY MAKEMAS I'm not normally one to break my December 1 embargo on festive shizz, but this pattern has had a few sales recently and I'm thinking it might be because, well, it's nearly time to start using the C word.
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If you too fancy knitting a ridiculous pudding topper, search for the Sixpence Hat on #ravelry or @loveknittingcom. It comes in a wide range of sizes from Baby to XL adult so you can make one for everyone to wear on Christmas day and all look daft together!
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It's #meetthemakerweek so this is my contribution for product/service, but I don't just design silly hats! If you want to know a bit more check out my #linkinbio or head to @lightworkcollective for more on the business @woollenwords and I launched this year.
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#knittersofinstagram #knit #handmade #yarn #knitstagram #techeditorsofinstagram #techeditor #Christmas
