Ally Pally

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  A general photo of the Knitting and Stitching show because, for some reason, I took hardly any photographs at all. I think I was overwhelmed by the wealth of possibilities there, for doing more of what I already do, for doing more of what I ought to be doing and for doing things that I've never done and hardly dare try, for fear of having even less time to do the first two!
  
  I was there on Thursday and Friday, on the Denman College stand, but with plenty of chance to look around. As always, it's great to meet friends and catch up a little, and since I didn't go to the show last year, I felt refreshed for giving it a break.
  
  My highlights:

• Meeting Dodger-friend Dale and Ian of The Thread Studio again

• Meeting Sue and her knitting friends

• Bumping into Paulene

• Playing with an Embellisher at Bromley Sewing Machines

• Restocking with yummy coloured fleece and rayon chainette at The Handweavers studio

• Chatting to Massey & Rogers about their delightful stand, a haven of restraint and style

• Discovering a great new "English" yarn in such good colours - Sublime

• Stalking (or being stalked by?) Sandra Murray

• Finding out about Thermofax screens from Committed-to-Cloth Claire

• Enjoying Sarah Lawrence's work and seeing how successful Crafty Notions has become.

• Observing that at last, we are able to buy high quality yarns and tools to knit with

• Seeing so many bookstands with a great range of titles (I didn't buy a single one)

• Reaching the conclusion that, at last, it seems as thought the creative textile market is being driven more by people than by products.

• and, of course, having fun with friends and being with so many like-minded people!