Jolly hols

I'm going to be taking that crochet news from Ghent to Aix this week. Visiting Belgium for the first time and staying in Ghent. It's the destination du jour don't you know!!!

Great new venture

Take a little trip over to Sewing Bee to see how the new baby in the chaincreative stable is doing! Sewing classes are now part of our productions and look set to become quite popular as a chance to escape the city and learn a new skill. It can range from a full-on 'teach me how to sew' to a way of getting to grips with making a particular garment.

This is exactly what brought Anees to Kent and I think we both agree it was a great success. We didn't get to the end of the story as far as the project was concerned but I was able to send Anees off home happy in the knowledge that she can finish what she has started and have a lovely dress to wear at the end of it.

Of course people don't need to come all the way down here to the South East coast. Within the M25 area, chaincreative is happy to travel and I shall be at the Kiosk on Sunday 26 July to bring sewing to the nation. Find your inner thread and get stitching!

Designer interview - Sarah London

I think it's time for another visit with a crochet icon. I know from my travels over the networld that Sarah London really does generate alot of respect and interest from crocheters for the shots of colour she injects into her work. On another level she also turns the 'granny' into something joyous and bold. For all you square dancers here's the interview. I have to thank Sarah who is very busy person and kindly answered the questions amidst much other work.

Chain Creative Interview
Questions of creativity and inspiration Your name
Sarah London

Where you’re from
I live in the country with my husband and three children in Australia.

Blog address (if you have one)
http://www.sarahlondon.wordpress.com/ Describe your various creative skills.
I love working with colour in various applications, whether it be crochet, knitting or patchwork.

When did you start to crochet and who taught you?
My grandmother taught me to crochet at an early age, and I immediately became hooked, drawn to the colourful wool and I was amazed that a ball of wool could be transformed into many things.

What was the inspiration behind developing your interest in crochet?
To crochet, is just part of my make up I’m sure of that.

What influences your style and output? What are your inspirations?
Women from past generations who amazingly made something from nothing as such. Transforming scraps of wool into unique items of necessity, resulting in unusual combinations of colour and composition. What are the most important aspects of your work to you?
Exploring different colour combinations is important to me, inspiring others to experiment with colour. I love it when colours just click.

Which project or piece of work are you most proud of?
Most often or not it’s usually the latest piece to come off my hook.

Describe your favourite working space.
Surrounded by many balls of colourful wool, sitting on the sofa is were I usually do most of my crochet.

Thank you for chatting!

Love Bee
The last picture is a free pattern from Sarah called Wool-Eater Afghan.

New Post

Brand new and hot off the press post at Sewing Bee. Lots of nice fabrics to choose from and some sewing tips too.

Chaincreative confidential

There are plans afoot here at chaincreative Central and the first summit meeting of it's personnel took place yesterday in my flowery garden. It really was a gorgeous day and I hope it is like a great send-off for all our schemes.

The glittering cast list consists of myself (natch), Claire Montgomerie (who many of you probably are acquainted with already) and Catherine with her adorable sidekick, Edie.

We spent alot of the time oohing and ahhing at E but the rest of the time was discussing our various talents and what we plan to do with them.

You already know about me, crocheting and sewing up a storm. Claire is a published knitter and crocheter and general all-round doer of things creative. Catherine, as well as giving tons of cuddles to Edie, is a baker of extreme talents and I've got a sample to show you which might get the digestive juices gurgling a bit.

Claire looking very passionate about her craft - eating!!!

We're all very passionate about what we do and we want to channel that into some sort of productive venture. To that end, this lunch. Obviously, we licked our plates clean!!

You'll be kept in on the secret as it progresses, so regard this as the first installment!

It keeps on giving

They said you could get a bit obsessed!! Wire crochet, bead crochet. Not everyone has given them a try for various reasons. Many think only in yarn and are happy to stay there. Following the Jewellery Workshop, however, I have discovered my inner bead!!! The task was to start and, hopefully, finish a beaded rope bracelet. Made using slip stitch crochet, on paper it all looks so easy!!! The reality is less rosy. The experts work in 11/0 or 8/0 beads which are the delicate seed beads you see in many beaded projects. Sadly they proved too tiny for me so I upgraded to 6/0 which are approximately 3.5-4 mm. I actually prefer their relative chunkiness. Thread is a problem too. Beading thread is fine and that spells problems for beginners. With the size of beads I used I sized up to viscose twisted floss from Texere yarns. Called Prism, it comes in loads of lovely shades so should suit any project.

It seems that the first 3 rounds are the trickiest and that is definitely true. The circle can quickly end up in a funny beady ball very quickly. To keep your head, you string however many beads that the circle calls for in a larger contrast bead and start crocheting with a firm view of the sequence. After much trial and error (that's quite a few times, in other words) you realise where you're going and then you're off and running. Then the obsession kicks in and you want a whole bunch of bracelets. I'm on my fourth and still planning!!!

The sites I found most helpful and where I bought patterns and advice pdf were -

Need for Beads - patterns and handy guides

McKenzie Designs - a primer with wonderfully clear illustrations

GJ Beads - supplies in UK

The Bead Shop - in Tower Street, Covent Garden, London town

To be honest there's lots of sites on the net that help so don't give up if you want to try this challenging skill.

Talking of challenges and skills may I introduce the production of another brilliant student. Me Ling came to the Workshop and went away and came back with this!!! How fabulous is that!

Nice things happen

Several nice things in fact!!! Lovely Friday at Loop (by the way, the online shop has a new address, loopknitting.com so don't forget!!! Old address users will be re-directed) with Claire. Claire has her own home, Monty, and she's got some exciting news which I'm going to share with you as I'm going to be involved too! Hurrah!!! Claire and I make a great crochet team at Loop on Fridays, so if you're in London and need some extra crochet juice then pop in for a chat.

Claire is a great discoverer of all things creative and ways to be creative. Her latest venture is going to include you, the great public. Called Kiosk it is, as Claire says, a way for designers 'to take part in a collaboratory exhibition with Wayne Hemmingway Design and the Design Museum. They have set up a Kiosk by the Mayor's fab building with a view to supporting young British designers. It is a great idea and I recommend you all head down there at least once over the summer to support the innovative design and participate in some workshops.' Isn't that fantastic?! And I'm going to be there as crochet and sewing sidekick!!!

Claire has kindly asked me to join her in giving crochet advise and workshops and my own sewing workshops. Yippee!!! I plan to run workshops in simple start-up sewing with basic stitch guides and making opportunities to design and make your own accessories either in crochet or fabric! Anyone in the South Bank area on Sunday 26th July put it in your diary now and head down to our Kiosk for a day!!!Finally, I want to give a big crochet hurrah for my Improvers' crochet gals yesterday at Loop. I adore all the classes at Loop and if you've wondered about attending then wonder no more. They're grrrrrrrreat and rewarding. Yesterday's Improvers were a case in point. Everyone there arrived with alot of doubts about their ability and conviction that they'd be pleased if they managed a row of trebles. Stuff and nonsense. They finished with the entire stitch lexicon done and dusted and the start of a beautiful scarf or trim. Doubts have vanished and they're off to becoming experienced crocheters.