Welcome to our very first blog post!
We, (Becky & Boo), at Norfolk Yarn have been talking about starting this blog forever (or so it seems). Now that we’ve been forced home, it seemed the right time to get writing and bring it to life.
Only a month ago, phrases such as ‘social distancing’, ‘self-isolation’, and ‘global battle’ were not ones that we used in everyday conversation. Did we imagine then, 30 days ago, that we would soon be queuing for food, that John Lewis would be closed or that the Government would be announcing it would pay for 80% of all employees’ salaries?
It is very much a strange, brave new world we find ourselves in. It’s so comforting to be able to sit down with something familiar and I’ve found myself returning to a favourite crochet pattern of a garment I’ve already completed.
The Trellis Poncho, designed by The Mercerie, suggests using Rowan Felted Tweed - and yes, I did complete the first one using that favourite. I found I loved it so much, I wanted to crochet another, for a Summer when we’ll all be out and about and not worrying about staying 2m away from our friends and families. So I chose to use Summerlite DK. I normally think twice about using 100% cotton, because it can be quite hard to work with. But the Summerlite range, available as a 4ply as well as a DK, is unbelievably soft and lovely to work with. There’s a beautiful colour palette too, and if you’re anything like me it will take you many pleasurable hours choosing!
As I started my 2nd poncho, I soon found that muscle memory kicked in and there was a comforting pleasure in crocheting the 134 flowers needed. When all around is unfamiliar and frankly, quite scary, the comfort of the familiar was like a soothing balm.
The pattern is available to buy from Ravelry using the link above, or we do have some printed copies for sale which we can post out to you. Again, using the links above, choose to do yours in our best selling Felted Tweed, or Summerlite DK for a little coverage on cooler Summer evenings.
In order to help out, all orders over £20 during our nationwide Stay At Home phase will get free postage - just use the code C20 at the checkout.
Our current VERY EXCITING NEWS is that we are also working to bring our popular courses to you via our new online live workshop features! Contact us via the website or our Facebook Page for further information. The best part about those, (aside from learning new skills of course), is that yes, we all still get to put our make up on! I know after our first test run, there’s been a lot of testing going on with the ‘improve your looks’ button on the workshop app.
Our weekly Knit and Natter, held on Tuesdays from 10:00-12:00 (GMT) is also moving online! If you’d like to be part of our internet video group, then do use the contact form to ask for more information. We will need your email address to invite you to the live sessions.
The physical yarn shop is of course closed and will remain so whilst essential restrictions remain in place. But we are only a contact form away, so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Likewise please also get in touch if there’s something you want that you can’t find on our website. We have plenty of stock, and are able (at present) to order in more.
So thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you’ll follow us in the days to come. But most of all, please keep well, stay safe, and “STAY AT HOME” (and knit and crochet).
Boo