Last week was an eventful one. I traveled to Purl Diva on Sunday, the most cozy-wonderful yarn shop, where I taught Adventures in Fair Isle Knitting. Vivacious owner Ellen has a beautiful upstairs room, painted sunny yellow, where classes are held. I had the loveliest group of students eager to learn. All levels of skill were represented, from absolute beginner to quite expert, which sometimes can mean a tricky class. Not so with my Purl Diva students, who were an engaging group, cheerful, industrious and compatible, diving into their samples, geared to their individual skill level, with gusto. Thanks to you all for such a lovely afternoon!
On Tuesday I impulsively dashed out of the house and zoomed an hour through the misty rain, to The Yardgoods Center who are celebrating their 49th year. Lucy Neatby was the draw. I’d met her once when I worked in a yarn shop and was ever after intrigued. Her patterns are always amazing: a vest made like an Andean Chullo, or socks with red-hot-chili peppers dangling from the cuffs!
How to describe Lucy? …colorful yes, but serene and thorough, extremely well versed in the craft of knitting, generous with her knowledge, and above all, encouraging. She’s got a wonderfully amusing way of presenting knitting, with stitches described as families, generating memorable associations that really help a student remember important concepts. I would gladly take any class she offered and think it’s wise to invest in her set of DVDs. Plus I’m dying to make her Venus Rising cardigan which you have to see in person to really appreciate. We had lunch together which was a special treat. I so appreciate her generosity in sharing her stories and insight as someone who has been in the business for a long while.
My favorite memory is really a projection: Lucy enjoying her new adventure – a sweet cottage on a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia.
Lucky you! I have her DVD on double knitting and couldn’t have survived without it. Every time I set aside my project (for too long and forget the two handed method) I look at the DVD to get back on track again. I love your cute little pocket! The sweater is gorgeous! You have a wonderful sense of color!