Well, this is Little Miss Drop Stitch’s first website post, how exciting! My mind is overflowing with tutorials and projects to share with you on YouTube, so I thought I would pause and take time to recount my Woolly Weekend in Wales. I went to south Wales, which I am very quickly falling for, to stay with my boyfriend for a couple of weeks: he knows well enough by now that if we go on an outing, there must be some sort of crafty adventure.
Danny wanted to go for an open water dip and he reminded me that I told him I enjoyed this when we met (I had been once, just before I met him and once only). The WARNING SHEEP signs as we winded over the mountains were already getting me excited, the sheep are not scared of cars and had their little bums on the tarmac to try and keep cool. In the water, I bravely stepped in to my knees, Danny said lots of nice things and that he believed in me, then after a few failed a one…a two…a three’s, I dunked my shoulders and ran back out. We followed with an excellent visit to Big Pit National Coal Mine and a chilly tour around the pits,. It was now time for my part of the day.
The Wool Croft in Abergavenny town centre is a lovely yarn and fabric shop and this is my second visit. Last time, I was focussed on wool, as I had not properly got back into sewing at the time and my visit this time was all about the stitching. There was a good range of Indie sewing patterns, which I am really getting into at the moment. I bought Emporia Astrid Dress and Jumper pattern for £15.95. I’m not experienced or confident with jersey, so this pattern seems perfect. The Wool Croft had a fab range of non-child jersey, which can be tricky to find (by this I mean without planes or trucks on). I have cut out my lovely striped fabric and will report back to you all shortly on how it turned out. I love stripe tops to go with my dungarees, however they can cost up to £28! So, for the first time, this may actually be a project that costs me less than to buy. The fabric I think was around £15 a metre and I required just one.
Yarn at the Wool Croft is on the traditional sheepy side, with brands such as Rowan and West Yorkshire Spinners. There is also a stock of Welsh wool, in addition to Adrafil. The Rowan stock is large and very squishy. The lady who runs the shop introduced me to the dress she was wearing, which is the same pattern makers as the one I purchased. It is called the Kobi pattern and it is definitely on my payday list to make with mid blue dotty fabric. Sometimes, I wish I lived in Abergavenny, because The Wool Croft do regular workshops and classes of different crafts. As well as my fabric and pattern, I bought a denim fat quarter and Sachiko thread, which I had been on the lookout for. The only thing I wish is that you could shop on their website for visiting woollies like me – I loved the selection of needlecord they had in.
Part 2 of my woolly weekend in Wales coming shortly-Rachel x
Little Miss Drop Stitch 