Hot on the heels of my success at the local Rylstone Kandos Show, I’m back to some more serious knitting. Life has settled down a bit now the move is over. I’m doing heaps of knitting to build up stock for my market stall at the Rylstone Artisan Markets, particularly as Winter approaches but feel the need to start some more demanding projects.
Baby steps
My preference is for blankets and lace shawls which enable me to stretch myself as well as focus on techniques, use great yarn and end up with something usable. First cab off the rank is the Feather and Fan Shawl by Eugen Beugler.
I’m using a beautiful and unusual Kauni wool yarn in tones that will work in with a number of rooms in my house as a throw when finished. Hopefully it will make an appearance at another rural show soon.
An impressive example of the finished shawl – a central motif surrounded by a feather and fan lace pattern
I’m happy with my stall. I make sure I add a new range each market.Rylstone Pantry – my first choice for jams for the Convent, especially the Pear and Vanilla.
This weekend was my third consecutive appearance as a stall holder at the monthly Rylstone Artisan Markets and I’m beginning to feel like a regular. Whilst a little slow for knits in incredibly hot and dry weather, I still feel like I’m doing well, although I seem to spend most of my time chatting to people and spend far too much of my takings on other stalls.
Yes, there is handspun and hand-dyed yarn.
There is a wonderful collection of stalls – all locally produced – and is well supported by locals as well as a popular attraction for visitors. A few new stalls have opened along with me, keeping the markets fresh. The party planner this month was such a treat for the kids – with balloon sausage dogs and a fairy floss machine.
The local bakery with wood fired bread
It’s been rewarding that people are now buying kits and knitting themselves. I was thrilled to see at least four other stallholders knitting whilst waiting for customers – and they weren’t from handcraft stalls!
I think there will be a greatly increased demand as the weather starts to cool down, so I’m focussed on building up stock in the lead up to Winter. Anyway, it’s great to get sales but it’s so much fun just being there and being part of the market community.
Happy with the look of the stall. Lots of interest and colour.
Yesterday was my second foray into the Rylstone Artisan Markets with my Convent and Chapel knitting stall. I had slightly adjusted stock by removing some of the more Wintry beanies and adding a loose knit cotton blend scarf pattern and a new vibrant set of mitts, plus a few other random knitted items.
This month’s new addition – a drop stitch scarf
As expected, it was a much smaller and quieter market, with fewer stall holders and visitors given the holiday break. I was more than happy just to be there and chat with my fellow stall holders with no expectations of sales. Fortunately, I still did quite well – not as much as last time, but definitely worthwhile and confidence-building.
I sell both finished items and kits – complete with my own patterns as well as the yarn and any other items needed to finish the garment. I’m keen to encourage others to practice the craft. At both markets so far I’ve sold both, although the knitted items sell much faster, meaning that I have lots of knitting to do inbetween markets to restock. The plan is to keep the items fresh with regular new additions that adjust with the seasons.
Attracting the paparazzi. This was in The Weekly local newspaper
I’m really pleased with how my stall looks and it attracts lots of comments. We even made it into The Weekly local paper! It’s good even if people just stop for a look and comment on items – it’s quite different to anything else at the markets. The other stall holders are incredibly friendly and encouraging and I’m meeting so many new locals and catching up with familiar faces.
Anyway, I’m already looking forward to February markets – I’m planning a rustic Autumn suitable shawl and topping up the featherweight mohair lace scarves that are so popular.
The light lacy scarves are most popular at the moment
Participating in the local markets with a knitting stall has had somewhat of an effect on my “regular” knitting. In fact, renovations, establishing the garden and relocating permanently whilst working may have also contributed a little over the last year as well.
Anyway, I’m back – forced by the impending Rylstone Kandos Show in February where I have a reputation to maintain, particularly now I am also knitting at the markets.
The markets and my normal knitting provide a good contrast. For the markets, I focus on creating my own patterns which rely on interesting but simple stitches and beautiful and unique yarns or combinations to provide a good result. My main aim is for people to buy the kits with the patterns based on my samples, but finished items are also for sale. A good example is the Drop Stitch Scarf which is a simple stitch pattern combined with striking Noro yarn.
On the other hand, my normal knitting tends to be a little more epic in nature. I favour laceweight shawls or big blankets – no short term projects here.
For the Show I am using Fluidity (or here) as a base. I’m familiar with this pattern, which started life as an 8 ply/DK equivalent but this time I’m using a barely 2ply lace weight silk/merino combination undyed, to give it a natural/antique finish. It’s square but knitted in the round. At some point I will cast off and finish off with a Shetland lace border. I’m also incorporating tiny seed pearl beads into the pattern, so I have high hopes. So far I have a rather modest 1,200 stitches on the needles and anticipate many more before I am done.
Lace (particularly bunched up on circular needles) always looks a bit like steel wool. For now it’s heads down and needles clicking as I head towards the Show.
The branding worked well for us. Customers were happy to strike up a conversation and introduce themselves
Yesterday was our big day at Rylstone Artisan Markets, which are a little different as the ethos is:
“If you create it, bake it, grow it or make it, and you live locally, you can sell it at our markets”, which is strictly adhered to.
Our table settings focussed on timber fittings including articulated hands, industrial bobbins and an Edwardian swift
Accompanied by my daughter and good friend, we started off allowing for plenty of time to be shown the ropes and set ourselves up. The organisers and fellow stall holders were all very helpful and friendly and we were raring to go by 9am when the markets opened. For the first hour and a half it seemed like we’d be lucky to make a sale but a flux of people a little later meant we ended up more than happy with the outcome. We even managed to get some orders in advance for next markets.
The Noro mitts sold well – both as kits and finished knits
December in Australia is not exactly “knit” weather and it was a really hot day. We had also be warned that it may take over three markets before locals would come up for a chat. However I think that our knitting display was very accessible and it was clear we were from the Convent, which made it really easy for people to start a conversation. We also met plenty of other knitters, spinners and weavers. Gemma with her drop spindle was a good conversation-starter.
A few items sold very well and we managed to sell both kits as well as knitted items – the lace scarves were a real hit and attracted lots of attention. I know that this market had the benefit of people buying for Christmas presents and the next few markets might be a bit slower, but I’m also pretty sure come the colder months we will do very well. Also the markets sometimes co-incide with tourist buses and I think my knits should be a hit with visitors.
Bookmarks for those that thought knitwear was a bit hot for an Australian summer
Anyway, for the first foray into knitting at the markets, I ended up really pleased and am keen to become a regular. Whilst it’s great to sell things, it is even more rewarding being part of the community, speaking to locals and joining in with the other stall holders.
In the meantime, I’m back knitting the more popular items and getting my entry ready for the Rylstone Kandos Show on 22 February.
The markets were buzzing pre-Christmas with the Hall full of stalls and more set up outside.
It’s been pretty busy the last week or so, with my daughter here, settling in Popcorn and a good friend visiting.
It’s been even more busy given I’m planning my first foray into the local markets tomorrow. I have a feeling my guests think I’m running a sweat shop as they have been helping me prepare and will be there for support on the day as well.
My stall will be selling my knits and knitting kits. I know the weather isn’t all that appropriate for knitting, so for my first appearance I have prepared lace bookmarks and featherweight lace scarves. I also have simple kits for knits for those who would prefer to do it themselves.
A friend is selling pet products at the neighbouring market and I’m trialling dog treats at that stall. Hopefully they should be popular with the locals given Kandos is also known as ‘Dog Town’, with the dog population rumoured to outnumber children.
I’m looking forward to the markets as something new and a great way to meet more locals – both customers and stall holders. There’s always great camaraderie.
I’m finding the lace bookmarks rewarding little projects and starting to build up a collection of different patterns, yarns and finished bookmarks. At present the plan is to go to the markets at some stage but I need a good range, at least to make up a display of substance.
At this stage I’m using laceweight yarn with the silk and mohair being my preference. The tassels are fun but I haven’t mastered the art of attaching them neatly to the bookmarks – there are a few failures there.
I knit … I knit a lot. I just haven’t been posting.
The Temporary Craft Studio
As usual, there are a number of projects underway – in fact, far too many. From what I can remember I have a Ten Stitch Blanket, a lace square shawl with beads, a squares blanket that just isn’t working… I’ve also been thinking of a potential Markets venture. It has a long way to go yet, but it’s a good excuse for having and continuing to buy yarn. At least it gives me an explanation for those who are alarmed by the amount of yarn I appear to have (and there is much more to make its way here!).
In the past, I’ve tended to steer away from knitting adult garments for two reasons: firstly in Sydney, it’s rarely cold enough to wear them and they’re not exactly corporate wear. Secondly, I’m sometimes disappointed with their fit.
Now excuse # 1 has gone, so I need to discipline myself and get the sizing right. I’ve found some suitable patterns and have glorious Sundara Silky Merino fingering weight yarn so am on my way.
Over the past few years, I’ve mainly focussed on blankets and lace – still a passion. The blankets will come in handy at the Convent (which I know is a cold building). The lace – well, who needs an excuse for lace. It’s beautiful and has many applications.
My most recent interest – just discovered over the last few weeks – is bookmarks. I love cross stitch bookmarks, but you can also knit lace bookmarks, which act as lovely little lace samplers with something beautiful and practical as a result. Books and knitting – what a great combination! I think there will be many more bookmarks in my future.
Last year I set myself a goal and ended up surprising myself. After over 40 years of knitting I challenged myself to enter Shows and surpassed all expectations with a first and third in the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the Baby Shawl and Lace categories and taking out the Champion ribbon at Dubbo with the same lace baby shawl from the Sydney RAS.
This year I’ll have another go at lace but also try blankets. I have no expectations of winning again, although it’s always a thrill to see your item on display with a ribbon. The items are being produced anyway, but it is fun participating in local shows, particularly when they are my new local rural Shows as part of the community.
If I get my act together, first Shows will be my own local ones at Gulgong, Kandos/Rylstone and Mudgee.
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CONVENT AND CHAPEL 