Knitting Basics workshop, final day

By the end of Sunday morning most of the patches on the bags were finished and the ends sewn in, time for a lesson on pinning and blocking followed by a long leisurely lunch in the garden then back to knitting bases for the bags. A demo on picking up and knitting stitches and how to make a neat finish around the neck of a sweater, then the final leg of knitting the sides and strap for the bags.

Monday was the last day of the workshop and at lunch-time everyone had completed their bags except for  sewing up the side seams. Considering this was meant to be a workshop for beginner's I think the results were absolutely fantastic. The knitting basics workshop is mainly for encouragement and convincing students that they can go on to knit just about anything, as they all left clutching yarn and patterns, enthusiastically looking forward to the next project hopefully I have achieved just that (but will they sew up the final seams on the bags I wonder....?)

Culli and I drove Liz and Barbara back to Bordeaux airport with a quick detour into Ikea on the way back for light bulbs and a new rug for the sitting-room. Today it is back to catching up on emails, pattern checking and a  new window for the kitchen so currently every work surface is covered in junk, I should be painting window frames and doors but it is freezing cold and raining and there is a huge pile of laundry to be done....... Looking forward to the next knitting retreat already, but with just a week to go there is a lot to be done.

Knitting Basics workshop at La Verderie

Day three of the workshop and all is going well, everyone has nearly finished their squares, just the dreaded sewing in of ends. Yesterday afternoon we went into Saintes, Culli dropped us off at the Amphitheatre and we walked back into town for a fix at the yarn shop, a wander along the river and into the museum of ancient  stonework, great for textured knitting designs, followed by a beer in town.

The Roman Amphitheatre in Saintes

Stonework textures

Back to La Verderie for gin and tonic followed by supper of smoked salmon pate, chicken with fennel and strawberry meringue. This morning we went to the market at St Jean d'Angely, I bought, prawns, bulot and oysters for lunch and fish for supper. Back home for an afternoon of knitting, only one square to go tomorrow and then it's mattress stitch seams and picking up stitches for the button band and strap.
A walk around the vineyard with the dogs (double biscuit treats to celebrate Bix's 12th birthday), then home for supper of Charentaise melon salad, fish pies and creme brulee.

Bix the dog is 12 years old today!

Good luck greetings on Skype to son Ross for the Brighton marathon tomorrow, we will think of him as we relax with our knitting.

Knitting Basics workshop at La Verderie

The knitting basics workshop started here on Wednesday. Liz and Barbara flew into Bordeaux airport on a slightly wet and windy April evening, after reviving G&T's and a late supper we all retired to bed ready to get the needles clicking first thing in the morning.

For this workshop we have two residential guests and two day girls, Jackie and Lorraine. None of them are complete beginners, but are keen to learn new techniques and be reminded of a few of the basics. I have designed a patchwork bag using a variety of stitches - 18 patches starting with the obvious easy ones such as garter st, stocking st and rib, then progressing on to stripes, fairisle, cable and beading. Some are working their way through from easy to more complicated, Lorraine decided to jump in at the deep end and go for the complicated fairisle after the first few squares, lots of concentration and some very impressive results all round. As I am tutoring this one Culli is in charge of cooking and doing a grand job, last night we had starters of Kiwi fruit and cream cheese wrapped in parma ham followed by seafood tagliatelle and the most divine chocolate pots.

In this mornings workshop everyone has got to the halfway point on the squares, so this afternoon we are heading off to Saintes for a bit of fresh air and shopping.

Knitting and Crochet workshop with tutor Jane Crowfoot

We have changed the May workshop from just Crochet to include Knitting as well. With a small group Jane has decided it would be fun to include a knitting project. Guests can choose a knitting or crochet project or perhaps combine the two. There are still two spaces available in a shared room, or one space in a single room, see further details here.
Dates 5th - 12th May 2012 at La Verderie, France.

Final day of the knitting workshop at La Verderie

Tuesday morning was spent finishing off the bag projects in the sunshine. Debbie had also brought along a second project for the guests to take home, a beautiful kit for a small beaded bag, so she showed everyone how to cast on with beads to start them off. After lunch Debbie, Irene, Clare and I headed off to Saintes for more shopping, leaving Caroline and Wendy at home relaxing with their knitting.

We made a leisurely tour around the shops in Saintes visiting the little yarn shop with the fantastic button selection and more interiors shops, all managing to find something to buy and the inevitable drink at the cafe in the centre of town.

Back home to meet up with the others and take them all on a visit to Egretau, our local Cognac producers. A brief tour of the distillery was followed by some Cognac and Pineau tasting and lots of purchases to take home for gifts. The final supper of chilled melon and prawns in a mint dressing, creamed chicken and leek in pasta shells and mini pavlova's followed by a reasonably early night.

I had an early start on Wednesday to take Clare, Caroline, Wendy and Irene down to Bordeaux airport, then Culli and I took Debbie to La Rochelle, with time for a lunch stop on the way at Surgeres then the final shopping fix and yes, Debbie managed to find a few more items to buy..........

It was a brilliant week, some lovely knitting, perfect weather and great company, and I have gained one of Debbie's beautiful blankets, on loan until I see her in September as there was no room in her case for it!
We have also confirmed one date for Debbie to come back next year for a Mystery Blanket workshop (14th-20th March 2013), see the details here.

Day 5 of the knitting workshop

A woolly display in the optician's window

Another glorious sunny day, we spent the morning finishing knitting the bag project. After lunch Debbie showed everyone how to block their projects, we left them drying in the sun and set off for an afternoon in Cognac leaving Caroline behind to finish her book.

Being Monday most of the shops were shut, but Debbie still managed to find something to buy, a bottle of Cognac with a bright orange cover in the Hennessey shop.

We wandered back up to the square and had the wonderful apero they serve here Rose wine and Pamplemousse (grapefruit juice), then back home for instructions on how to sew up neatly using mattress stitch. This was followed by supper, a starter of kiwi fruit and cream cheese wrapped in parma ham, followed by duck breast with prune and chocolate sauce and the horrendously fattening golden croissant pudding.......

Cheers!

Days 3 and 4 of the knitting workshop

St Jean d'Angely

Saturday morning market

A trip to St Jean d'Angely on Saturday morning for a wander around the market, coffee in the square and a visit to the Interior's shop. 

Culli waiting patiently for the shoppers

Wendy, Irene, Caroline, Debbie, Culli and Clare

We bought seafood for lunch and introduced a few of the guests to oysters and bulot which  went down surprisingly well.

Seafood lunch

An afternoon of knitting in the sun followed by pork in cider and warm ginger and ricotta cheesecake.
The clock's going forward an hour threw everyone, Sunday got off to a very slow start with late breakfast and a decision to stay at home and knit all day. Another day of knitting in the hot sunshine, with a race to get the bags finished and ready to block on Monday afternoon.

The bag project