October 2015 knitting and crochet workshop with tutor Carol Meldrum

The project Carol set for the week was a gorgeous bag that could be worked in knitting or crochet, each square using a different technique. For this workshop we have 4 residential guests and 2 day girls and everyone has chosen to work their squares in crochet choosing different colour combinations from the stash of yarn.

In between the workshops we went shopping for yarn and fabric in Saintes

market shopping in St Jean d'Angely.

And more yarn shopping and sightseeing in Cognac

Carol was out for a run at sunrise in the mornings and I was out with the dogs, looking for inspiration in the lovely autumn shades.

We spent the evenings enjoying leisurely suppers of figs with parma ham and feta cheese, goats cheese souffles, warming soups and stews, followed by croissant bread and butter pudding, cheesecake and chocolate torte then a glass of wine or two in front of the log burner,

It has been a really lovely week to end the season, La Verderie feels very quiet now that everyone has gone but we are looking forward to 2016 with spaces for the knitting retreats filling up fast.

May knitting and crochet retreat at La Verderie

The May retreat started with wall to wall sunshine. The three guests Pia, Sue and Janet were sitting in the garden with their knitting a few minutes after arriving at La Verderie.
We spent the first morning relaxing in the sun with our projects. Pia is here to improve her knitting and try and learn the basics of crochet, Sue and Janet are confident knitters, but are both keen to improve their crochet techniques. They have all brought various projects along and are keen to start.
In the afternoon we went into Saintes to the fabric and yarn shop. Sue, Janet and I all bought some Cheval Blanc recycled yarn and Pia bought some sequinned acrylic mohair for scarves.

We had a wander around the town and coffee in the sunshine, then back home for an alfresco supper and a busy evening starting new projects.
On Saturday morning we visit the market in St Jean d'Angely. It is the big market which means that the yarn stall is there, plus everything else from live chickens and geese to colourful baskets.

We buy a some bargain yarn, baskets, fresh seafood, fruit and veg and then back home for lunch and more knitting and crochet.

Janet has started on a bag made from crochet granny squares, Pia is knitting a lacy scarf and Sue is making a Pokemon crochet squirtle!
Sunday and Monday are wet and windy, but nobody seems to care as it allows us to spend plenty of time on our projects. I give a short workshop on knitting with beads, everyone is amazed at how easy it is and are quickly addicted to this lovely technique.

It has been another great week with some lovely ladies, everyone seems to have gone away with new skills and ideas which is really satisfying.

knitting and crochet workshop in France

This week has absolutely flown by, we are on the last evening of the workshop and everyone seems really happy with what they have achieved.

The studio after a week of crochet

Yesterday was another hot and sunny day, we spent the whole day in the garden and studio working on how to attach crochet to a piece of knitted fabric, then everyone started on their own projects. Veronica is working on a lovely pair of lacy knit fingerless mittens with crochet welt, button fastening and crochet trim, Jacqui made a very pink crochet flower hair slide for her grand-daughter and has started on a super chunky even more pink version of a lace mat which looks amazing, Sue is knitting an envelope clutch bag with a double layer crochet trim, Purl is making a knitted scarf with a picot fan trim, Carol has (inbetween teaching everyone the finer points of crochet) made me a beautiful flower cosy for the coffee pot and I have actually managed to finish a necklace and a jug cover!

 

 

As a group they have all achieved a huge amount this week, varying skill levels proved to be no problem and Carol has provided endless amounts of enthusiasm and inspiration.
Last night it was warm enough to eat supper of chicken tagine and golden croissant pudding in the garden and sit out there until long after dark.
Today has been very hot and humid. Eeryone is now so obsessed with crochet that they were happy to spend the day in the studio working on their projects, until early evening when Culli took Sue, Jacqui, Purl and Veronica to Chantageasse (our Friday night in the pub session), whilst Carol and I stayed here and watched a thunder storm circling around us. The others returned from the bar sounding very merry and we had the final supper of pasta with creamy tomato and prawn sauce, followed by tarte tatin, then an evening of conversation and wine enjoying the cooler air.
Tomorrow a trip to La Rochelle before dropping everyone off at the airport.