Day 2 knitting workshop with Debbie Abrahams

We had a great day yesterday, sunny enough for everyone to move outside to the courtyard with their knitting for the day. The first project Debbie has set is to knit a bag, that includes beading, stripes, intarsia, swiss darning, cable and lace and most have almost finished the front.

Irene's friend Lena who lives not far from us in the Charente came along to join us for the day and brought along samples of her beautiful yarns that are naturally dyed from mushrooms. There are 100's of varieties of mushrooms here in the woods, mostly in the autumn but Lena manages to source them all year and creates the most fantastic colours with the dye.

Apero's in the courtyard with everyone glowing from the sun, followed by fish pie and plenty of wine and lively conversation.
This morning the sun is shining again and we are off to the market in St Jean d'Angely for a wander and a coffee and to buy some fresh seafood for lunch.

Tips and Techniques knitting workshop with Debbie Abrahams Day 1

The first workshop of the year at La Verderie has started! The four guests - Wendy, Caroline, Irene and Clare arrived at Bordeaux airport yesterday afternoon and Debbie flew into La Rochelle.
The girls are all from the knitting group that I used to run at Kangaroo and is now the Chailey knitters so it is really lovely to see them all again and catch up with the news which we did over a few glasses of wine last night. The weather forecast for the week is fantastic, so hopefully we will be able to eat lunch and knit outside every day.
Today is a full day workshop, Debbie has two projects lined up for the week to cover all the following techniques -

·        Choosing the best method to cast-on for your project

·        Creating neat selvedge edges

·        Neat buttonholes (cast-off)

·        Fully-fashioned shaping

·        Bobbles

·        Cables

·        Lace stitches

·        Intarsia (optional)

·        Swiss-darning (optional)

·        Easy-to-knit stripe patterns (using circular/double-pointed needles

·        Three needle cast-off to join stitches together

·        Blocking and pressing

·        Sewing up using Mattress stitch

·        Picking up stitches along horizontal and vertical edges

·        Knitting a neat handle

·        Sewing in ends

A weekend in Lille

The colourful buildings in the main square of Lille

For Culli's 65th birthday treat we went to Lille for a couple of days. A trip up on the TGV to the cold North, we must be mad. However, Lille is a beautiful city, a very different part of France to our area with strong Belgian influences (lots of beer and chocolate!). We had a quick wander on Thursday morning to get our bearings a compulsory visit to the Leffe bar and then Moules Frites.

One of the gorgeous chocolate shops

Window shopping!

The beautiful mosaic front of l'Huitriere

Friday was his birthday, after croissant and the most chocolaty hot chocolate I have ever experienced we explored the city on foot. The old town has pedestrianised streets and beautiful shops with all the designer names, including a branch of La Droguerie, my favourite shop in Bordeaux. La Droguerie is an Aladdin's cave of yarn, fabric, buttons and ribbon, as we were carrying everything in a small rucksack I had to restrain myself and came out with just one sewing pattern for a summer top!

Birthday dessert

We met our old mates from London John and Caro for a long leisurely lunch at Le Lion Bossu, a small restaurant with a lovely atmosphere and great food, then collapsed for the rest of the day.

Palais des Beaux Arts

We were disappointed culture vultures on Saturday morning at Le Palais des Beaux Arts as the main part of the gallery was closed, so wandered back to the old town for a visit to the Musee de l'Hospice Comtesse  followed by a Thai buffet opposite the train station and then back home.

Inside the Musee de l'Hospice Comtesse

Crochet workshops in France with tutor Jane Crowfoot May 2012

Freeform crochet samples

We have one residential space left (or two if you want to share a twin room) and three spaces for day guests if you live in the Charente-Maritime area. This brilliant workshop is tutored by crochet expert Jane Crowfoot and is suitable for all skill levels, it runs from the 5th -12th May at La Verderie in the heart of rural France, see the venue here.

La Verderie

The workshop covers all aspects of crochet and can be tailored to suit individual needs, with a small group of up to five guests Jane can offer one-to-one tuition for each student, the perfect environment to learn to crochet or to improve existing skills.

Colourwork Crochet designed by Jane Crowfoot

The cost of the holiday includes all the workshops, full board, outings to local towns, materials and free transfers to La Verderie from La Rochelle airport and Angouleme station. For further details visit www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com.

Knitting Basics workshop

Find inspiration for textured knitting from your local surroundings

Nature is great for inspiration

Simple colour work

I still have two spaces available for the Knitting Basics workshop in April (11th - 16th), this holiday is perfect for novice knitters or anyone wanting to brush up on the basics. Discover how to work with colour and create simple textured patterns, we will aim to complete a small project during the course of the week using different techniques. The small group allows for the workshop to be tailored to individual needs with plenty of one-to-one tuition. More experienced knitters are welcome to come along with their own projects and just relax at this peaceful retreat. For further details visit Knitting Holidays in France

Basic beading

Programme for the knitting basics workshop

Weds 11th April	Transfer to La Verderie from your chosen airport/station. Relax with an apero and supper
Thurs 12th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 morning workshop 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5.00 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Friday 13th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 trip to Cognac or Chateau Corbonne 2.30 – 5.00 afternoon workshop  7.30 supper
Sat 14th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 trip to St Jean d’Angely market 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Sunday 15th April	8-9 breakfast 9.30 – 1 morning workshop 1-2 lunch 2.30 – 5.30 afternoon workshop 7.30 supper
Monday 16th April	Transfers back to your departure airport or railway station

It's snowing in La Verderie

I realise that most of the UK is covered in a blanket of snow, but it is quite a novelty at La Verderie. It's only the second time in 8 years that we have had snow that looks like it is here to stay and the last time was about 5 years ago which was the first time some of the younger children in our little hamlet had ever seen snow. Being snowed in could be good for the book, if I can't go anywhere I will have to sit and work on it, we have logs, wine and a freezer full of food.........

A day out in Norwich

Culli had to meet a client in Norwich last week, so I went along for the ride and knitted my way from La Verderie all the way to Norwich. It was a fairly frantic couple of days but good to see everyone and I love Norwich. It has a beautiful cathedral and fantastic shops, wish I could have spent more time there. Then back to Hove in the evening to help Ross celebrate his birthday with cheesecake made by Bash and Poppy.

Entrance to the Cathedral Close