Mystery Blanket workshop - day 2

The second day of the Mystery Blanket workshop and the sun has vanished, as we had a full day workshop planned no-one minded (except Debbie who has only brought along her summer wardrobe and nothing else.....). I spent the morning in the kitchen, while Debbie went through Japanese short row shaping with the group. Every time someone completes a square there is a loud cheer, but Elizabeth has just admitted that she has unravelled more than she has knitted today. Perhaps we could have a workshop on unravelling!

In the afternoon the sun comes out again and it is warm enough to move outside for more hysterical conversation, knitting and a bit of unravelling.

                     Some of the lovely buttons I bought at the market in Saintes yesterday morning

Mystery blanket square

Early in the evening we take some of the group around to Egreteau our local Cognac producer for a tour of the distillery and a few tasters of pineau and cognac, it was a good session for Pappy the owner with lots of purchases, we merrily set off for La Nougerée and supper of lamb tagine and tart tatin. 

Cognac tasting

Pappy horrified at his prize Cognac being called brandy

The hardened knitters continue with their squares, Andrea working by torch light as it gets dark, the rest of us are happy to sit by the fire and relax.

Knitting and crochet workshop in France - full day workshop

a rainy day in the studio

Thursday morning it was pouring with rain, luckily we had already decided to spend the whole day working on our projects. Sue and I went for a very short and wet walk with BeBop, listening to the rumble of thunder in the distance. After breakfast we all settled in the studio. Jane showed us how to make Dorset buttons and a variety of crochet flowers to use as embellishment.

Christine's dorset buttons

Christine's cushion

Hannah's crochet holder

Sue's dorset button

Hannah's flower embellishments

my birds of life cushion

My flower embellishment to go on a fabric cushion

Sue's cushion cover

Jane's new project

Christine and Sue are making cushions, inspired by Jane and Debbie's book Kaleidoscope, I am making the 'Birds of Life' cushion from Jane's book Homespun Vintage and Hannah is making a roll to store her crochet hooks using some of the techniques from Kaleidoscope and has also started on a pillow cover based on Gabrielle in Homespun Vintage that she is going to embellish with multi-coloured flowers.

Cognac tasting at Egreteau

The rain stopped in the evening so we went on an outing to Egreteau, our local Cognac producer for a tour of the distillery and a little tasting session of Cognac and Pineau, everyone bought some Pineau and Jane and Hannah bought some Cognac for Father's day pressies.

Back home

Today is a day of rest after the week at the chateau. Time to relax, finish my yarn review (safely stashed in my new Cath Kidston knitting bag!) update the blog and plan the workshop for next year! Being on a bit of a high at the moment (how could I possibly have uttered the words 'never again') I am thinking of two workshop weeks at the chateau for 2011......! One in the spring following the same format as usual, followed by a second one in the autumn when guests can bring their husbands or partners. A few male companions for Culli, he can show the boys the vineyards of the Loire, the Cognac houses in the Charente, a bit of history around the region, perhaps some golf, walking, cycling, kayaking........ followed by some good rustic french cooking with lashings of wine. The ladies will have a full programme of knitting and crochet workshops in the day with a few shopping excursions. Watch this space!