The last full day at the knitting workshop

The week seems to have gone by so quickly, I feel like I have spent all my waking hours in the kitchen, it has been fun but hard work. Saturday morning and the sun is shining, it is the trip to Chauvigny market which I love, sadly because it is a bank holiday weekend in France and there is another large market nearby the button man is not there, however there is still plenty to see.

The church in the medieval part of the town is fantastic with its painted pillars and well worth the climb up the winding steps, more inspiration for knitted projects.

Back to the chateau for lunch and it has started to rain, upstairs the students are having their show and tell session, the work they produce seems to get better every year with some fabulous designs and use of colour.
Culli and I are in the kitchen fretting over the dessert, another trial run for the wedding feast I am doing in June. The bride wants a profiterole wedding cake, called a Croquembouche which I gaily said of course I can make one....... Well the last time I made a profiterole was 30 years ago, however it worked! My willing guinea-pigs demolished every last crumb.

Before dinner we had the final kirs and presentation of certificates. Wendy won the prize draw, not for her beautiful knitting inspired by a cactus, but for her wonderful sense of humour, which she is demonstrating in her little speech and went something like this -
Can you name three fish that start and end with a K?
Killer Shark
Kwiksave breaded haddock
Kilmarnock - yes, it's a plaice in Scotland..........
Thank you Wendy for keeping us entertained and living up to your Kangaloonie reputation. Susan also won a Mili silk knitting needle case for keeping her wonderful calmness and serenity throughout the workshops.

Thank you to Heike and Anne for being such brilliant tutors and to all the lovely guests, you have been a very appreciative audience and Culli and I look forward to meeting you all again, perhaps at the chateau or one of our knitting retreats at home.

Kangaloonies knitting group member Wendy

When did you start knitting? I learnt as a child, but I didn't do very much until my daughter reached her 20's and asked me to teach her, so I did and that started me off again. In fact, I actually like the process of knitting more than I like actually wearing anything I've made.

Why did you come to Kangaroo? I wanted to knit socks, so I came to Kangaroo to learn. Not everyone understands knitting socks (comment from Jo: I can't see the point. Why go to all that bother and then hide them in your shoes?!), but I like the challenge.

Favourite project? Debbie Abrahams Mystery Cushion (pattern available to Knitter subscribers only). I'm a real fan of Debbie, I love everything she does.

Favourite yarn? Rowan Cotton Glace and Noro yarns.

Current project? Which one? I've got several on the go, but at the moment I'm trying out the Double Knitting technique with the Cuthbert Hat by Judy Furlong (the one that Wendy is knitting in the image, whilst modelling her trailing leaf sweater knitted in Rowan Pima Cotton DK). It's for a friend's husband, so I hope he likes it.

Ambition for 2010? To finish what I've started. I've got 'hideous' to finish (a camouflage jumper for my husband which involves lots of bobbins, see a hint of it in the top right hand corner of image). I'm also doing Debbie Abrahams mystery blanket and another mystery cushion from my Knitter subscription, plus a Noro jumper and a Noro waistcoat to finish. I really enjoy following other people's patterns, but ultimately I'd like to design my own patterns!

Kangaloonies member Diana

When did you start knitting? I'm a newbie. I've only been knitting for 18 months, although my first project was a fairisle beanie! I got the pattern when I was still living in the States - it was designed by a weaver/dyer and is really beautiful.

Why did you come to Kangaroo? Knitters are wonderful, the whole world over. I'd just moved to the UK and was so relieved to find a fun knitting group right on my doorstep who made me feel so welcome.

Favourite yarn? Well, it is an American yarn called Cascade. The one I'm using at the moment is 100% merino wool. I really like natural yarns especially wool. It's nice to work with and very sturdy. My top tip is to always buy the best yarn you can afford.

Favourite needles? Oh definitely bamboo and the Denise Interchangeable knitting needle set, all you'll ever need.

What is your favourite project? I knitted a baby alligator scarf when I was on holiday in the US, which was great fun.

What are you knitting now? Well, I'm having a go at cables and using 4 needles for the first time. I'm knitting a pair of fingerless gloves, I think they are coming on quite well.

Kangaloonies member Sally

When did you start knitting? I used to knit years ago, but then it became so much cheaper to buy knitted things rather than knit them yourself, especially for the kids, so I stopped.

What made you join the Kangaloonies? I'd started knitting again and was doing the Rainbow cardigan in Rowan's Kasbah Collection, but I had got in a mess with it. In fact, the dog had decided it served a much better purpose as a nest! So I came to Kangaroo to see if anyone could help me sort it out. We decided to change to the Sunshine jumper in the same book and I am delighted with the result. I even had enough Rowan Summer Tweed to make a matching scarf out of all the left-overs!

Was this your favourite project this year? Well, I also made some Noro gloves, the frilly ones from Mini Knits Two and the child's hat with ear flaps for my grand-daughter, they were great fun.

Favourite yarn? Noro - I love the colours and textures and it's great to knit with.

What other projects have you tackled? I've done a few of the KnitKits bags from Kangaroo which I've enjoyed doing - the Rosebud one in moss stitch and also the mitred purse in denim yarn.

And now? Well, I have an on-going project knitting squares (mainly when I'm travelling) for the Picnic blanket in Debbie Abraham's 'More Blankets and Throws' book, but have also just started a project using Rowan Siena which is lovely.

Favourite needles? Skinny Prym's - they'r my favourite needles as I love fine, plain knitting.

Aspirations for 2010? That's easy - learn to knit faster!

Kangaloonies member Iris

Favourite Yarns: Silk and Mohair
Favourite colours: all of them!
Favourite projects: I really enjoyed knitting the Knitkits Beaded Bag Kit. I'd not knitted with beads before, even though everyone was telling me it was easy (which it was), so I was very pleased to have a go and master it.
Best Pattern: I much prefer patterns that are written out, rather than ones with charts, If there is a pattern I want to do with a chart, I'll either avoid it or sit down at the computer and 'write' it up!
Future Project? I'd really like to knit a Shetland 1-ply shawl - in fact, I may make that my 2010 project! I've made 2-ply shawls before and love them, but a 1-ply one would be the next challenge.
When do you Knit?: As often as possible. I was in a hospital waiting room recently for four hours and did a lot of knitting then, I got through 50g in one session.
Other Pastimes: Well, apart from knitting, I also love lace-making and quilting and often go to groups and classes especially for the latter.
Kangaloonies Project: I've just started working on a mohair jumper with a lacy design from a pattern I've had for ages.

Kangaloonies knitting group

Happy Birthday to the Kangaloonies! (the image is of the birthday lunch, which was delicious, they don't always eat quite as much as this.....)

It was the first anniversary of our wonderful knitting group last week. We have a great bunch of ladies who turn up every Thursday clutching their knitting, sandwiches and cakes and sit down to knit and natter all day. A year ago they were all complete strangers and now they know each others most intimate secrets......

To celebrate the anniversary Amanda interviewed each of the members, I will put one a day up on the blog (in no particular order).