A long time ago...

I am ashamed to admit to myself and you, that it has been 6 months since I wrote my last blog post, almost to the day!

I could of course, bring you all the usual excuses: busy, busy, busy, busy etc... but this is so lame!

I suppose the truth of the matter is I feel sometimes that any news I may have is boring and you wouldn't want to hear it. I must however, try and write something every month, and I will. Promise!

So much has happened since last August, that I really don't know where to start. I'm thinking a time line is the way to go. So...

August 2023

I presented my very first Facebook workshop series, The Somerset bag. It was hugely successful and there have been loads of bags made with people making more since, some having crocheted 2 or 3 even.

Here are a few photos:

These are some bags made by the members of the group who joined the workshop. We had three evenings over as many weeks when we enjoyed learning from each other and tuition from yours truly. Some of the members had never even crocheted before so I am totally proud of their achievements.

September

This month was super busy for me. I had a couple of weekends away working and collecting inspiration for our Tuesday night lives in the main FB group. During the lives we tackled techniques and a few patterns using the techniques we learned, were added to the website.

During September, I signed up for a course to learn more about hand dyeing yarns. I had done some dyeing many years ago and remember enjoying it so much, my interest was rekindled. I had no idea at that time of the journey I had in front of me or where it would lead!

October

Loads of work went on behind the scenes here at KMD headquarters, culminating in a Christmas workshop making miniature decorations to hang on the tree. We had great fun over 3 weeks again, making trees, jumpers, baubles etc. The group was buzzing with photos and I loved every one. The FB group, so obviously the workshop content, is still available as I'm leaving the group active so we can look back every Christmas time and remind ourselves how to make the Christmas Miniatures.

November

This month I released, with a little trepidation after a fair few requests, my first hand dyed yarns for sale. I thought at the time that there would be little interest, so started to sell in my SumUp shop.

Well, I admit that was a mistake. It caused a little confusion as I should have just added them to the website shop. I sold them all, but decided that a separate section in my site shop would be better. That was the best decision I've made in a while and you may or may not know how successful that arm of my business has been.

I absolutely love dyeing yarn! I love experimenting with colours and techniques. I enjoy trying out new yarn bases and then the surprise of how the yarn looks when knitted or crocheted.

Now I admit that the most yarn I can dye at any one time, in my tiny kitchen is 500g in my large dyeing pan. So the skeins I produce and sell are often one-off creations, sometimes though there are a few of one design. However, the yarn is popular and it's lovely to think that I am creating in yet another way that I love. I am so lucky to have a job I adore.

December

The month went so fast! I was knitting furiously and my first design for a new contract was born and released. I have continued to produce a pattern for Dyeing Made Easy each month and these are now on their website to buy or as part of their One Skein Club. Click on the name to visit the website.

Christmas came and went as it does, but I did manage a few days off which was very welcome.

And so to 2024

January and February saw 2 more workshops. I am so enjoying providing small projects to make during a little series of FaceBook lives and yesterday I delivered my very first one day (a few hours) workshop.

Here are a few photos from our Simple Socks Workshop

Some of those who joined in had made socks before, many hadn't. We introduced new ways of knitting in the round and techniques for shaping heels and toes. We used a provisional cast on and a special stretchy cast off. We had loads of fun (well I did!) and we produced great socks (they did!). I'm working on another sock workshop to add patterns, colours and other bits and pieces, so watch this space.

Just yesterday saw another workshop. During our Tuesday Evening lives in the main FB group Kath Morgan Knits, over the last few months, we've looked at using beads, using colour, using texture and felting our knitted fabric. Some of this we did with crochet too.

Yesterday, 25th February, we brought all the techniques together into the Fancy Felt Workshop and made gorgeous needle cases. A lot of the knitting is ongoing - we all go at our own pace and there's never any pressure to finish the project within a given time frame. The most important thing to me during these workshops, is passing on some knowledge, creating a fun learning space and seeing the work in progress as well as the finished items. You can still join in if you wish. Click on the link here to see more and join if you wish.

Looking forward

During the next few months KMD will be as usual, busy creating patterns for the shop, beautiful skeins for the Hand Dyed Yarn Studio section of the website and content for the FB group.

There is a new workshop planned for Easter Sunday afternoon - Isobel Intarsia Workshop. Anyone is welcome to join via the Workshop section of the website. This time we will be making a knitted project bag with intarsia detail, and other techniques. The bag will be lined, so a little sewing is involved too. I'm excited about this as I use my small project bags to carry my knitting wherever I go. You never know when you may have a few minutes to take out your knitting or crochet and be creative.

On the needles at present: just a little precis of what's to come

We have a new crochet project in the pipeline. I can't decide whether to make this into a workshop or just release the pattern. Some of the crocheting involved I've taught before so I'm leaning towards just releasing the pattern and perhaps a video to go along with it. We'll see. It'll be a (nice) surprise.

There's a new knitted bag to bring you too. It is only just beyond the conception stage of design at present, with the knitting about to begin. As you know my very dear friend Jan Barber is doing lots of knitting for me. She is a huge support, an inspiration and a great help. I don't know how I'd manage without you Jan, thank you for all you do!

So watch out for this. I'm again not sure how the bag will be released. Pattern only? Workshop? Pattern with video? Who knows, but on its way it is!

I have a new shawl started for the late Summer early Autumn season too. So I have long term as well as shorter term plans in the making.

The Tuesday Treat nights will continue in the main FB group. I have just started a Monthly Square series. We are knitting up, again using texture and colour work, a square each month which will become a beautiful cushion after 6 "episodes". This happens every 3rd Tuesday of the month. The group and the pattern is free so if you are not a member of the group, just request to join! I think you will love it. The other weeks in the month are taken up with tutorials, reviews, small free patterns, crochet, knitting, chat and fun. See the link a few paragraphs up from this.

I'm personally looking forward to some great adventures in the next 3 months.

March:

The Spring Quilt Festival, Duxford. Friday 8th - Sunday 10th March. I'll be manning a stand (number 72) with Lizzy Curtis. We are so excited to be launching Lizzy's new book, which I had a little hand in producing (proud or what?!). There are a couple of new products of Lizzy's on offer and we are hoping to see as many of our followers as possible. We are excited about meeting everyone.

Lizzy's Charity Sew Along. Friday 15th March. Sewing together blocks to produce quilts that will then be raffled off with funds donated to the East Anglian Childrens Hospices charity. This will be huge fun.

April:

The West Norfolk Textiles Fair, 6th and 7th April

I am especially excited about this as Lizzy has a stand which I am helping with, but there will be exhibitors and vendors of all things textile. I may be found stroking yarns, drooling over textile art or picking up inspiration from all sorts of crafts. Mostly though I will be working and that's great.

May:

LALA Land 2024. Sunday 12th May

If you know nothing about LALA Land, let me introduce you to Abeygale. The founder and organiser of this one day event, packed with fun, laughter, friendship, sewing, shopping, inspiration and did I mention fun?

The event takes place in Birmingham so central for everyone. Tickets are still available and Abey, her family and I would love to meet you there. If you're already going, come and make yourself known to me. I'll be wandering round interfering!

Apart from my own adventures though I'll still be working tirelessly behind the scenes, with all of the things aforementioned and more. I'm forever looking for different, interesting things to show you and have a multitude of techniques to share.

At the end of May I'll be well overdue for a holiday. So we have, as a family of 2 adults and 3 dogs, booked some time off. Phew!

I promise to be back with another blog post at the end of next month, but meanwhile have fun and Happy Knitting and Crochet.

Kath xx