Christmas is Upon Us

Apologies to all the “Bar-humbug-ers” trying to take the ostrich in the sand approach until Dec 24th, but Christmas is officially just around the corner… It must be!…The supermarkets are stocked to the rafters with Christmas treats, I have been discussing the logistics of making Christmas stockings with the same group of children who made the autumnal pictures and I attended my first Christmas fair this weekend.

I have 3 more fairs before the end of November and keep running out of stock (granted this is a much better problem to have than having stock that refuses to sell!)

This was my corner of the West Surrey Guild of Spinners Weavers and Dyer’s table at the Christmas Fair, it was a fun day out with Elaine and Heather, who you can see in the photo, and I sold the beret and snail hat you can see on the top shelf. The snail hat went to a young lady who I think will actually wear it around town, not just to music festivals which is brilliant, I am so happy he found someone to love him πŸ™‚

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The bathrooms at this site were less than wonderful portacabins, but when I happened to look up I saw this and thought it rather pretty, it reminds me of eco-dyeing:

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Today was spent furiously making scarves and another hat to replace some of the sold stock so I don’t have to turn up to the next few fairs empty-handed. This will be a beret and the scarves I made are busy cooking in the dye pot.

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A few weeks ago I saw an advert for a short millinery course at my local college and on a bit of whim signed up for it, I’m not sure the cut and sew techniques we have been using so far will replace the more contemporary felt-making techniques I normally use but it is interesting to see how some styles are constructed and of course the engineer in me is already trying to work out how to make similar shapes in seamless felt…. πŸ™‚

This is the first hat from that course, I would call this an “Andy Capp cap” after the well known British cartoon but this probably doesn’t translate very well across the Pond, what would you call this style of hat?

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Are you ready for Christmas?

10 thoughts on “Christmas is Upon Us

  1. Galina

    Well done Teri! But having four fairs in a month is hard! I’m getting ready for a two-day event next weekend and making loads…

    Reply
    1. Teri Post author

      It’s good to be busy Galina πŸ™‚ Good luck for your 2 day event, it sounds like a much more extravagant undertaking than the small local fairs I go to!
      This year has been a bit strange with the fairs, they all seem to be in November, I don’t currently have any booked for December.

      Reply
  2. Marilyn

    How do you find the time and energy? I got tired just reading about everything you’ve been up to.

    Your booth looked great. A lot of variety and eye catching items.

    Wouldn’t it be great to see the young lady wearing your hat around town? You should have given her cards to hand out when people ask where she got it. Good luck with getting everything done. Btw, I love the new beret. I have no idea other than “cap” to call your latest millinery creation.

    Reply
    1. Teri Post author

      Thanks Marilyn, I think it is easier to make time when you are excited by something but I am looking forward to taking a holiday in January πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Lyn

    Pretty sure it’s called a Flat Cap. I think any creative avenue you explore enhances your overall ability – I hope you enjoy it.

    It must feel good to know that your hat is going to be worn around town and it’s wonderful to have to make more stuff to sell, but I don’t know where you find the energy…or have you discovered 30 hour days on sale somewhere? Love the colours on the hat-in-the-making.

    Yes! Just like eco-dyeing!

    Reply
    1. Teri Post author

      Thanks Lyn, a flat cap it is!
      If only, what I could do with another 6 hours a day! πŸ™‚ But I would probably still want more πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Viltmaaraan

    Hi , nice cap ! You watched the pattern very good, that is always when you are sewing something yourself .
    Most cloth in a shop are sticked together not watching the patterns at all! And people accept it !
    It is a very nice cap.
    Have a good fair !

    Reply
    1. Teri Post author

      Thank you and well spotted Vilmaaraan! I spent at least 15 min just moving the patter pieces around on the fabric trying to decide where to cut πŸ˜‰

      Reply
  5. Ruth Lane

    Glad to hear that you’re show went well and you’re running out of stock. As you say, that’s a good thing. And yes, the holidays are upon us. How did that happen? And I know who Andy Capp is but I think Lyn’s suggestion of flat cap is a good one. Best of luck with your other shows πŸ™‚

    Reply
  6. Teri Berry

    Thanks Ruth, interesting that Andy Capp has found his way to Canada, I suspect some of the humour requires an understanding of the UK culture as it relates to the North / South divide.

    Reply

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