Saturday I had a good time; crochet, cake and Crowfoot CAL

On Saturday I went to Black Sheep Wools for a workshop. It was run by Jane Crowfoot, whose latest CAL started last week. I feel very lucky to live a bare half hour from BSW, and to be able to get up at 9 and still be there by 10 for a workshop.
There were 12 of us, all gathered around the table and keen to start making a bag. The project was called the Lily Pond Bag and Jane designed it to use up all the bits and pieces left over from the Lily Pond blanket CAL last year. It looks divine;

And the workshop was set up to allow for a degree of individuality. I love a degree of individuality. We got to choose colours and order, and everyone who attended got the pattern as devised by Jane. It was only 6 hours but you can get a lot done in 6 hours as well as eating a LOT of sandwiches and cakes.

The furtherest participant had come from Northumberland, but there were mostly local people there. And there wasn't a lot of talking; the patterns are deceptively fiendish and needed constant counting. Still and all, it was enjoyable, and very relaxing to be sat in a room surrounded by hookers.

And Jane is lovely, really good. She took the time to learn our names, and she was very good at deciding who needed help and who (cough) just got on with it and asked for help when necessary. I loved it; I learned (mostly because now I've seen it and tried it I am a convert) how to include the ends of wool in the row you crochet next (less sewing in!!!) and how to bobble in two colours, passing the wool through the stitches.  I was so impressed that I booked onto her next session in June as a birthday present. And, Jo, you will be glad to know that I am now provably a fast crocheter, having managed to get second furthest in terms of rows but having started both sides of my bag. It will be finished sometime, but I am inspired and have Other Plans to complete first!

Jane's new CAL is Frida's Flowers, made in either Stylecraft Classique Cotton (£60 a throw) or Special DK at £30 approx. She had her finished throw there, in cotton, and it is a thing of beauty. Very silky and heavy with a beautiful contrast of bright, bright colours and dark, often black, backgrounds. I fully intend making this, and have bought the wool pack (10% off wool for attending a workshop is a great inducement!) so expect to see my hexagons on my blog and on the Facebook groups for the projects!

I am finding the speed of Instagram irresistable, and so I find I post more regularly there. I'm not chucking my blog at Angel Jem's City Cottage, just conscious that with all the busy-ness I have to do in the next few months, the fast speed of Instagram is a better platform. I'd love it if any of you on Instagram followed me. I'm on as angeljem5.