deep breath

So I have survived another Shetland Craft Fair! I have had a very busy weekend, and I’m very happy with how it went. This year they had the stalls spread out over two parts of Clickimin, the Main hall and the Bowls hall. (Clickimin is a Leisure Centre, hence the use of a indoor Bowls Hall, the Food Fair was also in the Squash Court!) Initially I was a bit worried that people wouldnt know there was another hall full of stalls but they seemed to find us. That is my Dads stall behind mine, he is a local cartoonist and has been doing Craft Fairs for years!

I didn’t change my stall layout much from last year, Its one of those things that I should really spend a lot more time thinking about, but when it comes down to it I went with what worked last year. Of course it could be improved and I will try and do that for next year.

I had a few smaller Crofthoose cushions and I sold all of them, I nearly didn’t take them because I thought they were maybe too small.. (and a bit pointless) And I sold lots of my usual size. It is always a bit scary putting out what you make to the general public. I run in very ‘knitterly’ circles so most of the people I know, through my work at J&S, blogging, instgram etc.. sort of understand the amount of work that goes into these cushions. They are a bit of fun of course and not exactly a necessity to have in life.. but I will say they are fully functional cushions so they do serve some purpose (particularity are a travel pillow, those lums will fit perfectly around your neck!!) but as always I was pleasantly surprised that people seem to like my little cushions.. and I really liked that now i’ve been doing this for a few years I had repeat customers and people buying ones because ‘so and so have one on their couch’ haha!

This is all the stock I was left with at closing time tonight, which is great! I have a few orders but all very manageable so I don’t feel too stressed about it. The first year I did the Craft Fair I totally overdid it on the custom orders, so I have learnt from then.. I’m not very good at saying no, but you must be brave sometimes!

thanks Vivian for the photo :)

I was asked lots and lots of times if my items were hand knitted and I tried to not feel a bit disheartened when I said, no they are machine knitted and watched the persons face change a little (not everyone of course but it is an reaction I get a lot) My things may be machine knitted, but they are machine knitted by me! I hope my last few blogs about how much work I have put in shows that it is not ‘cheating’. Machine knitting is a skill in itself, it is not hand knitting no.. but I am proud that I knit each row myself on my machine. Apart from help stuffing the cushions from Mam and Peter I do it all myself. My mam and my sister helped me out on the stall and of course I had Dad behind me (literally) so I am supported but I’ll tell ya, It can be lonely knitting cushions! That would make a good country song title…

This machine knitting talk is quite apt as yesterday morning, Kate released more information about Cockatoo Brae, the cardigan which I knitted the body and sleeves for her on my machine for her new book which comes out very soon. That is the way hundreds upon thousands of Shetland Yokes have been made, with a hand knit yoke and machine knit body. I have made four yokes for myself in this way so later this week, (hopefully) I will put together a post explaining a bit more about how one goes about doing that.. disclaimer.. the way I do it might not be the way it is has always been done but I have noone to show me these things so I have taught myself in a way that gets the job done, which after all is the most important thing.

Back to work tomorrow so I better get to bed! Speak soon,

Ella xx