The natural dyeing sessions at HH HQ have become legendary with a mixture of science and a little bit of magic creating delight and joy in everyone who has ever 'waved' their yarn/fleece/silk out of the back door and watched on as the colour has changed in front of their eyes!
We are a little restricted to dyeing during the spring and summer as sometimes the present HH HQ is too chilly, not just for the dyers but also the dyes...however Lynne and I do have not so secret dyeing sessions at home and we do this to ensure that no-one ever gets a disappointing shade, a sacrifice we are prepared to make!
When Joanne Scrace first mentioned on twitter that she would love to learn more about natural dyes it was just before the last official dye days and unfortunately she couldn't make it so was expecting to have to wait until next spring to experience the wonderful and weird world of plant dyes...however, after a few interesting emails I suggested she join Lynne and I in a dyeing day, I had some dried Weld leftover, some spare mordant and an Indigo vat on the go and Lynne has been hoarding elderberries since the summer, we got out the dye pots!
I managed to remember (in my excitement!) to ask Joanne to soak her yarns the night before and you can see her blogpost and brilliant photos here! She also cooked an amazing lunch and chocolate clementine cake which we devoured whilst chatting about knitting, food and our love of the Suffolk countryside.
We didn't just produce some beautiful shades that day but also agreed some workshop dates for next spring which is as exciting as hearing the clink of a dyeing pan being dragged out of the cupboard, I can't wait!
Joanne will be teaching a beginner's crochet class on Saturday 29th March 10-1 £35 followed by crochet Spring Flowers 2-5 £35 all materials are supplied as well as plenty of cake and tea!
My treasured work box contains two pretty collars which belonged to my nana, one crocheted by her and one by her mother. They are so delicate and pretty, I love the look a lacey edge gives a garment or even a cushion or bag so I am very excited about the class Joanne has planned to do on Vintage Style Edgings Saturday 12th April 2-5 £35 and again everything you need will be supplied and you can take your hook and yarn away with you so there will be no stopping you hooking some spectacular edgings!
Places will go fast so if you want to book don't leave it too late!
More workshops will be listed next week including some BRILLIANT ones from Jenny Tidman and news of a regular Needle Felting group...
People keep asking me if I'll miss the old place when we move but although I have had some brilliant times here, like making bunting with Kate and her mum on what turned out to be a mother and daughter day and my mum made her first ever bunting!
I've met so many brilliant people through the shop and hope to meet many more! I certainly wouldn't have met such talented artists such as Jane Southgate, Jenny Tidman and Joanne Scrace were it not for this funny old building and all the fun it has witnessed...but it does get chilly and no-one can find it the first time, I'm never open, it gets a bit dark and sometimes the pipes freeze!
We are saying 'goodbye' to the shop this Saturday and there will be mulled cider (bring your own mug as all mine are packed!) and mince pies from noon onwards and then that is that until Saturday 1st February when we open at the Mill at Alder Carr Farm 10-4 six days a week, Tuesday to Sunday!
Not so blue, Nic x
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