Knitting and Stitching Show 2006 - Alexandra Palace

I really didn't think I'd get to the Knitting and Stitching Show this year - I was poorly with a nasty virus throughout September, so missed it at the NEC, and then another virus laid me low for the week before it was on at Ally Pally. I was rather heartbroken, so when I rallied at the last minute (on the Friday), I decided to make the trip to London after all, as it had the added bonus of allowing me to visit my Mum as well. So after supper on Friday, I drove off to Oxford to pick up my elder daughter, Sarah, and then on to Mum's at Highams Park, not too far from Alexandra Palace.

Had a good night's sleep, but overslept. Sarah and I stopped off at Sainsbury's to pick up some salads for lunch, and met these two lads, promoting a new kind of coffee. We enjoyed a free sample but were sad that this new product involves a lot of packaging, if rather novel. Here's Sarah giving it the thumbs up.

By the time we arrived in Muswell Hill, all the disabled parking spaces were spoken for, so we had to go back down the hill to the car park, where we managed to find a place reasonably close to the bus stop for the courtesy bus to take us back up - and a bus was waiting for us. I was relieved that I did not have to use up my energy just getting into the hall.

Sarah is very interested in cars and loved this red Ferrari, which was on display in the entrance hall. It is knitted (on a metal frame) and so she did the Motor Show model thing, but without removing her clothing, I'm relieved to say.


This is the view we had while queueing for our entrance tickets in the Palm Court.


This year's K&S was, for me, mostly about people rather than shopping (not that the latter didn't happen), but I really enjoyed renewing old acquaintances and meeting some cyber-friends as well. First was Sarah Lawrence, who I first met some time ago when she taught me feltmaking at the Embroiderers' Guild at Hampton Court. This was before the days of Crafty Notions, of which I've been a regular customer over the years. I was thrilled to see that she had an exhibition of recent work, both 2D and 3D, of her stunning embellished felt, and enjoyed seeing her again. I love her new hairdo and she's also adopted the white tunic/layered look so we sort of match.

Next to her stand was Alysn Midgelow-Marsden. who had a breathtaking display of her textiles. I'm a great fan of Alysn's work, and she has taken an enormous leap in style and technique which thrilled me. I was so overcome that I neglected to ask my faithful photographer to take a photo, but I enjoyed chatting and catching up with her news and creativit