October: That Went Fast (also, a party)

Wow. The last month has gone pretty quickly, and I haven’t updated you guys as I should have. I think part of the problem is that I’ve been saving Silver Screen Knits news for the SSK Behind the Scenes Newsletter – I don’t want this blog to turn into a great big ad for my book. But I also don’t want it to go dark. It’s a balancing act, I guess. [In SSK news – the newsletter has featured some really fun  interviews with designers like Ann Weaver and Veera Välimäki. Do sign up!]

While we’re on the subject, the print books have arrived, and you can indeed order one if you like:

Silver Screen Knits, Volume One: Real Live Books.

But that’s all I’m going to say about that today.

When last we spoke, I was supposed to be headed to The Small Wool Gathering, a reunion of sorts for Plug & Play Pembrokeshire alumnae and friends organized by The Small Crafters. From all I have heard, it was an amazing weekend, with great food and camaraderie, plus top-notch classes by our favourite knitting editor, Amy Singer. But no sooner had Mr. Trask and I gotten into our rental car (brave us! driving!) than Little Miss Feisty got the merest hint of sick and we had to turn back. I am sure you can imagine that the weekend was rather different than what we had planned, and we were so sad to miss everyone.

However! This offered an excuse to go to Wantage and take two of Amy’s classes there, at Purlescence UK headquarters. Wantage is a lovely little town near Oxford. Their marketplace was up and running when I arrived:

Wantage Market Place on a recent Saturday morning

And I was greeted by the statue of King Alfred (born in Wantage):

King Alfred presiding over the market

And best of all I got to learn Auto-Pilot Socks and Silk Spindling with Amy.

Amy makes us all happy

Amy is such a wonderful teacher: calm and reassuring, with a lot of enthusiasm. [I learned much more than I expected, for example, about the life and habits of silk worms.]

I bought the tiniest bit of yarn (yes, that is a gradiance colorway of Unique Sheep Pashmi!):

Gradiance! Ooh aah.

And came home happy.

And the next day we tried on LMF’s Halloween costume:

LMF as Kitty

Which was the highlight of the month.

Additional images from here include Little Miss Feisty’s new favorite food:

LMF loves marmite! Who knew? She calls it “mar-mighty.”

And holiday clothing for one of my favorite foods:

Cadbury Bar, Wearing a Christmas Sweater

Same Bar in a Winter Jumper

Anyway, that’s the big news from here. What have you been up to in the last month? And would you like to come to a party?

Silver Screen Knits Book Launch
Friday, Nov. 8
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Oxford Yarn Store
3 North Parade Avenue
Oxford OX2 6LX

There will be drinks, and a discount on the book and on yarn purchased to make any of the designs in the book. And some of us will be dressed in vintage clothing. A lovely time will be had by all! I’ll be there signing books, so do pop in. Otherwise, who will I talk to?