April/May knitting retreat 2019
A good start to the April retreat, everyone arrived on time with no delays. We have three returning visitors and three new. Sadly also a last minute cancellation from Barbara one of our regulars who is suffering from a horrible cold and sinusitis.
Sunday was a blustery April day full of showers so we opted for a lazy day at home with a blazing wood burner. we have a variety of projects on the go - Jacqui has brought along some knitting and sewing, Jane is working on the fantastic skull shawl pattern.
Gerda and Mary have brought along a couple of projects, Deirdre is knitting my rose trellis cushion and Susan is knitting a baby sweater. After supper of melon, tomato & feta cheese starter, followed by roast chicken with toasted walnut sauce and roasted veg and dessert of tarte tatin, we set the world to rights and collapsed for the evening.
Monday morning the sun was shining, some of the group walked up to Brizambourg for coffee at our lovely Boulangerie while I caught up with some cooking. After lunch we went to Saintes for fabric and yarn shopping, starting at l'Oasis on the industrial estate then a visit to the amphitheatre and a wander through town via Maison du Monde, then a coffee break at the beautiful Musarderie cafe and more fabric & yarns at Tissus Mercerie.
A few of our fabric purchases
Back home for apero's in the sunshine and supper of homemade pate, fish stew and chocolate pots. More lively discussion ranging from Dickens to mothers ruin (why does gin always come into the conversation?)
Tesday was warm and sunny so after a morning knitting in the garden we went in to St Jean d'Angley to visit the two little yarn shops and of course Amalgame the wonderful interiors shop.
Wednesday was one of the many May public holidays here so we spent the day working on projects and enjoying the sunshine. Jane, Gerda and Susan braved the Monster machine show in Brizambourg - weird but apparently entertaining and worth it for some of the riders!
On Thursday we went to Cognac for more yarn and fabric shopping
And a trip to Chateau Otard for a tour of the distillery and some Cognac tasting
Friday was a lazy day at home trying to finish off projects
Gerda's sweater
Jane's cable dress
Deirdre's slightly different version of my rose trellis cushion which I love (might rewrite the pattern!) and her shawl that she bought the yarn for in Cognac
Jacqui's Kim Hargreave's design
Mary's two projects that seemed to grow with no effort
Susan's gorgeous little sweater for her grand daughter
Gerda's second sweater
And just to prove that we are not totally dedicated to knitting Jacqui brought along some amazing patchwork projects.
Sunday was a blustery April day full of showers so we opted for a lazy day at home with a blazing wood burner. we have a variety of projects on the go - Jacqui has brought along some knitting and sewing, Jane is working on the fantastic skull shawl pattern.
Gerda and Mary have brought along a couple of projects, Deirdre is knitting my rose trellis cushion and Susan is knitting a baby sweater. After supper of melon, tomato & feta cheese starter, followed by roast chicken with toasted walnut sauce and roasted veg and dessert of tarte tatin, we set the world to rights and collapsed for the evening.
Monday morning the sun was shining, some of the group walked up to Brizambourg for coffee at our lovely Boulangerie while I caught up with some cooking. After lunch we went to Saintes for fabric and yarn shopping, starting at l'Oasis on the industrial estate then a visit to the amphitheatre and a wander through town via Maison du Monde, then a coffee break at the beautiful Musarderie cafe and more fabric & yarns at Tissus Mercerie.
A few of our fabric purchases
Back home for apero's in the sunshine and supper of homemade pate, fish stew and chocolate pots. More lively discussion ranging from Dickens to mothers ruin (why does gin always come into the conversation?)
Tesday was warm and sunny so after a morning knitting in the garden we went in to St Jean d'Angley to visit the two little yarn shops and of course Amalgame the wonderful interiors shop.
Wednesday was one of the many May public holidays here so we spent the day working on projects and enjoying the sunshine. Jane, Gerda and Susan braved the Monster machine show in Brizambourg - weird but apparently entertaining and worth it for some of the riders!
On Thursday we went to Cognac for more yarn and fabric shopping
And a trip to Chateau Otard for a tour of the distillery and some Cognac tasting
Friday was a lazy day at home trying to finish off projects
Gerda's sweater
Jane's cable dress
Deirdre's slightly different version of my rose trellis cushion which I love (might rewrite the pattern!) and her shawl that she bought the yarn for in Cognac
Jacqui's Kim Hargreave's design
Mary's two projects that seemed to grow with no effort
Susan's gorgeous little sweater for her grand daughter
Gerda's second sweater
And just to prove that we are not totally dedicated to knitting Jacqui brought along some amazing patchwork projects.
