...... summertime time

We've hosted two fab workshops since our last newsletter. The first was a Knitting Masterclass led by Åsa (pronounced Awsa) Söderman of Åsa Tricosa fame;  we - and I include myself as I was lucky enough to spend a few hours watching and learning - discovered new and exciting ways to knit pullovers and cardigans, in the round, and from the top down which makes sizing and shaping sooooo much easier.  Asa is an ebullient and thoughtful teacher and one we very much hope to have back next year for a longer stint.           The second event was with Julie Arkell, our perennial favourite. This year she was helping participants put together a bird table, demonstrating papier maché, knitting and stitching skills with her usual flair and enthusiasm. A smaller group than usual but even more fun, if that's possible.  The smaller group also gave Les Soeurs a better opportunity to get to know and enjoy, the participants and our view is that in future we will try to keep numbers to a minimum.  More time and attention for everyone.           This last photograph was taken by a young and very gifted photographer, Alexander Hamdy who was here at the beginning of Julie's workshop to take pictures of the property.  The weather was only periodically sunny during his visit, but Alex managed to produce an album of detailed beauty and we can't wait to see all the photographs together on our new website in September.   The next few months are going to be quiet ones at Les Soeurs Anglaises - unusual for us during the summer months, but not unwelcome.  2017 will be our 10th year offering workshops;  we were amongst the first in this part of the world but are one amongst many these days, and our plan for next year is to shake things up a bit (or slow them down).  We'll keep you posted, but in the meantime we have a couple of places available on both our remaining workshops in 2016. The first is for the Celia Pym's 5-day workshop, Knitting Darning and Mending at the end of September, followed closely by the gently remarkable Claire Wellesley Smith's Dyeing and Stitching weekend event in October.  Both are formidable talents well-researched in the art of recycling, repairing and using cloth, dye and stitch as carriers of the natural and social history of place, heritage and memory.  We are thrilled that they will both be joining us and look forward to inspirational teaching.        To book a place on either workshop go to our website booking pageor email me directly We generally only sell our aprons in the wee brocante we have on site, but if you're in the mood this summer to wear a pretty, comfortable and one-off apron, we currently have a few of our wrap-over linen aprons for sale in various colours and each trimmed with vintage fabric, on  Etsy.         All the best Katie   7 things to check out this month: Visit Chris Manning's Pinterest page and wonder at her exquisite quilts.  Chris has been a participant at several of our workshops and we are hoping one day she will join us to teach her own quilting workshop. There's still time to join us for Lizi Bolton's Silver Yoga this month (23rd to 29th June).  Come as our B&B guest and you'll get your yoga classes at half-price, bring a non-participating partner and enjoy a relaxing week away from the stresses of everyday life!  Contact Lizi directly for more information. If you're around North London during the third week of June, we recommend a visit to GROW, the brainchild of entrepreneur Will Ramsay, founder of the hugely successful Affordable Art Fair, which is now a global brand with fairs in 14 major cities around the world.  There will be a myriad selection of plants and other garden ephemera, and say hello to stall holders All the Fun of the Fair where you'll find everything from vintage buttons to knitted cacti. We have long admired the machine embroidery of Linda Miller if you can't make it to one of her very popular workshops, you will find her and her work at the Contemporary Craft Festival, Bovey Tracey, Devon UK this upcoming weekend (10th/12th June). We recently bought 4 skeins of Gotland 4ply yarn from The Little Grey Sheep mail order company and have already started knitting a Julie Arkell original cardigan pattern with this absolutely delicious soft wool which is hand sheared, spun with care and expertise, and finally hand-dyed in scrummy colours! Voices of Industry offer organically grown cotton yarn for weaving and crochet, spun by a family mill in North Carolina. Their credo is:  "We consider the farmers who grow our cotton and wool as co-conspirators and friends.  Our work is an extension of agriculture and we care deeply about that origin."

.... an intensive weekend of knitting with Åsa Söderman........

At the end of April next year, Åsa Söderman of Åsa Tricosa will be leading a two day Knitting Masterclass for us.   We are very excited as this will be our first foray into Weekend Workshops and whilst a weekend away may not seem practical if it involves long haul travel, with a little help from us you might be able to integrate the workshop into a visit to Europe.  And of course you would be welcome to use our B&B accommodation either side of the event to explore the amazing countryside around us and/or visit Bordeaux and the Atlantic coast.    We aim to limit the Weekend Workshops is to small groups of no more than eight so that workshop leaders ensure all participants gets the undivided attention they might need over this shorter period.  Åsa's enthusiasm, technical skills and knowledge about all things knitted, together with her infectious joie de vivre, make her the perfect knitting "enabler" for this Knitting Masterclass.  She will be demonstrating pockets, hems, waistshapings and wowza bust darts, as well as a variety of stitch patterns. This workshop is suitable for both competent and accomplished knitters. 12for2012 Yarn Bomb, Santa Barbara Not many of us have time for the seriously beautiful art of Yarn Bombing, but with the Global Climate Conference in Paris just around the corner, here are some of Åsa's thoughts about how all enthusiastic knitters can make a little bit of a difference.*   "When I graduated from high school my parents held up a placard (as is the custom) with baby photos of me with two "facts": 1. Who bakes the best "bullar" (cinnamon rolls) in all of Bromma (a suburb of Stockholm)? 2. Who knits the same sweater three times?     Answer: Åsa! "I've always reused and recycled yarn – at some times more successfully than others - wildly mixing yarn weights and trying to force them into service because I like the colours or texture.  Another way I use and recycle is, of course, the trading, destashing and restashing that takes place on websites like Ravelry. This can be fairly hit and miss, but the hits are definitely worth the effort.  It's simply so satisfying making something, both pretty and pretty useful, from yarn that would otherwise be hidden or thrown away. The best example I have is a partly knitted skein of Sundara Silk I bought from a knitter in the USA. I frogged the shawl that was taking shape and knitted myself a splendid shawl using my own Serangoon pattern."      "Below is a photo of a sweater I made with someone else's pattern that I have found too long in the waist for my liking.  My plan now is to unravel it and re-use the yarn to knit a design of my own.  Obviously items like knitted bags, kids' pullovers and mitts -  where the finished size isn't quite so important - lend themselves especially well for this kind of recycling.  Of course, always remember to do your tension squares before commencing!"      Spring is a spectacular time of year down here at Les Soeurs Anglaises with some bulbs still in flower, trees already in leaf and peonies in bud; and if it's warm enough you might find yourself stitching on our magnificent studio terrace.  We'd so love to have some yarn aficiandos here to help us celebrate our very first Weekend Workshop; if you have any questions about the workshop, venue or travel, that aren't answered on our website, please do contact us directly either by email or phone (T +33 553 91 38 40). Terrace overlooking the Aquitaine countryside at Les Soeurs Anglaises

BOOK NOW

Katie :) *"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;  indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."  Margaret Mead 1901-1978

a stitching season.....

No better Time to Relax and Learn

We keep our eyes open and our ears to the ground when we're looking for original and gifted workshop leaders and in October this year we are thrilled to be hosting a new knitting workshop to be led by Swedish super-stitcher, Åsa Soderman.  Åsa has almost 2000 followers on Ravelry (always a good sign of a gifted knitter and knit designer) and we are offering a 10% discount to our newsletter followers if they book before the middle of August.   This offer is also available to Selvedge readers.

Seamlessly Clever

14th to 20th October

Over the 5-Day Workshop and using Åsa's specially developed, top-down technique, you’ll measure, contemplate, plan, sketch (and KNIT!) a  personalized custom-fit, top-down seamless sweater or pull-over.  Take time to consider knitted pockets, ribs for hems, ponder stitch patterns and quirky design details; choose between smallish and wowza bust darts (or none) and waist shaping – perhaps a colour accent on the sleeve, a hidden colour spot in the pocket lining or a contrasting button band? But if that’s too many decisions, there's the option of sticking more closely to the choices Åsa has already made in any of her Ziggurat patterns.

tailored shoulders :: necklines & collars      built-in pockets :: built-in button bands    stripes :: hems :: cuffs

I am positively the last person to wish summer away, but the end of the season is generally a lovely time of year in south west France, and the commencement of cooler weather and rustic colouring outside, will be the perfect backdrop to discovering Åsa's fabled Ziggurat technique together with a small group of enthusiastic knitters, learning at your own pace in our wonderful studio, or outside on the terrace with it's fabulous views of the surrounding countryside.  And when the day's stitching is over there'll be time to visit a local brocante or take a walk in our splendid mature gardens (we even have a new Japanese garden in the making!), whilst we spoil you with delicious organic food and great local wines.

    

Do let us know if you have any questions, but meanwhile, we're looking forward to welcoming some of you in October for our last workshop of the season, always very special......
Best wishes
Katie

.... did you know?.....

So did you know that coming up in Paris this month (goodness, are we in March already!) is a small but delightful textile fair called Aiguille en Fete Pro situated at the Porte de Versaille?  Not as commercial as some of the larger exhibitions we may be used to in London or the big cities, but well worth a visit for that reason, especially if you fancy a jolly in Paris before the spring crowds arrive.  In the past, my favourite regular exhibitor has been Craftica - not the most hi-tech or sophisticated company in the world but come an exhibition and they throw off their gloves and have buckets of one-off fabrics, left-over rolls and general haberdashery to thrill the enthusiastic stitcher, whether you be a dressmaker or patchworker.  Booking my train ticket now....

The extraordinary (and sometimes unsettling) crochet work of Cecile Dachary will also be on display at Aiguille.  I have long been an admirer of her work, and hope to have her lead a workshop for us one day.

As some of you keen knitters may have noted, this October we will be hosting the first Åsa Tricosa workshop.  Åsa Soderman has a wonderful blog chock-a-block full of brilliant knitting tips, patterns, mixes of colour and news, all illustrated with her impressively clear and beautiful photographs;  her joie de vivrepractically jumps off the screen.  You can find her latest, exquisitely stylish design - Ma Non Troppo, which, I believe translates as "but not too much" - uses her specialist, top-down technique, and can be found on Ravelry.  Seamlessly Clever, her workshop with us, has steadily been filling up as aficionados of her work get word, but we still have a couple of places remaining if you move fast.

  

For those of you more interested in mixed textiles and stitching, a place on Janet Bolton's workshop, Narrative Stitches, has become available.  Janet's workshop is always very popular so do contact Susie as quickly as possible to find out what accommodation option is available if you are interested.  Janet's latest book, Fabric Pictures, has recently gone to print and can be pre-ordered on Amazon. We suggest you put it on your Wish List as copies run out very quickly and soon become collector's items.

On the subject of fabric, I came across an interesting Californian cooperative of young and exciting textile designers called Cotton and Steel whose designs are probably more accessible to purchase if you live in the States.  However, well worth a visit to their website to get an idea of their unusual cotton prints and feel sure they would export to Europe if postage and tax aren't too prohibitive.
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Happy March mending.

.. the boys can join in.....

January is nearly at an end and the days are definitely getting longer, but it's still falling below freezing most days here in the south of France, though that's practically tropical when compared with the weather conditions on the east coast of the US.  Whilst reading all about the storms hitting New York, I came across this terrific photograph by ANDREAS FEININGER of the Great Blizzard of 1947.  Andreas was the son of one of my favourite artists, Lyonel Feininger, whose own father emigrated from Germany to the US in 1848.

Don't it make you want to just stay indoors and knit?    But if that's not your style you might be interested in a couple of Fair Isle sweaters that I picked up at a local brocante recently;  one is definitely hand-knitted and both 100% wool and in pretty much near perfect condition, size S/M and for sale at our Etsy shop.

And if you're in need of cheering up during these dark days and the men in your life keep telling you that knitting is for the girls (whilst they got on with rocket science and fixing the car), then here is something to prove beyond a doubt they couldn't be more wrong.  Let's face it, if Mr Spock can make himself a scarf, and our very first heart throb, the gorgeous Cary Cooper, can knit a...a... whatever, then choosing colours, patterns and yarns is also something the boys can enjoy ion the knowledge that together with learning a language and chess, knitting complicated patterns has been proven to exercise the brain and keep minds young and sharp.  

 

We don't often write about events in the US but here is one that might appeal to anyone living in the Los Angeles area who loves 40s and 50s styles.  Wear It Again Sam Vintage Clothing will be running a stall at the Inspiration fair on the 6th and 7th February.  Looks like lots of fun, but if you can't get there then you can visit their on-line Etsy shop to see the best of what they have to offer in retro style.

Beautiful 1940's New Look Gabardine Suit w/ Long Peplum in the Back by "American Woolen Company" 

KEEP WARM!
Katie

A Very Happy New Year to one and all and well done to those of you who entered our Apron Competition!We had over eighty correct entries (and so many kind and effusive messages) we thought the fairest thing to do, considering readers in the Americas and Australia would be opening the newsletter later than those of us in Europe, was to put all the names in a hat and pick out three names.  And here they are!........

Susan Mee, Suffolk, UK
Helen Ott, Kent, UK
Dawn Ottensmeier, St Louis, USA

Well done ladies;  we have your sizes and addresses and aprons will be heading your way within the next couple of weeks.

We are delighted that our first workshop of 2015, Narrative Stitches, will be the led by the acclaimed, influential and quintessentially English Folk Artist, Janet Bolton.  Janet's third event at Les Soeurs Anglaises, it will be held at the beginning of May to fit in with her still busy work schedule and it promises to be another full house.  Many of you will already know Janet and her work; she first started to exhibit in 1984, and has had many exhibitions worldwide since then, as well as numerous books of her work published.  But for those less conversant with her reputation and beautiful collages, here is a description of her techniques, in her own words:

    
  Janet Bolton teaching at LSA last year

"My early awareness and appreciation of cloth, the result of growing up in Lancashire, UK when the cotton industry was still flourishing, led me to compose my images with fabric rather than with paint. With an idea in mind, and working directly with selected pieces of fabric, I cut, place and re-arrange the different elements allowing the composition to develop with the placement of each piece. I prefer this method to working on ideas in alternative mediums as it allows a wonderful directness and freedom of expression.  Colour and flat pattern is often combined, with a personal sense of perspective and space, and  I manipulate these ideas to create my own world.  My landscapes are always imaginary although often inspired from something I have observed. For me, sketching is a separate activity, but the observations often feed my imagery, and inspiration can also come from memory, imagination, and at times from an idea or memory evoked by the fabric itself. Often all these elements are combined in a single piece." 

The opportunity to spend five full days under Janet's creative wing, sharing many of her superlative creative processes and sewing techniques, doesn't present itself very often so Narrative Stitches offers an opportunity to suspend your everyday chores and allow les Soeurs to take care of all your daily responsibilities whilst you concentrate on learning or developing a personal style through the medium of textiles and stitch, in our beautiful light-filled studio.
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a work in progress by Bronwyn Hickey at last year's workshop at Les Soeurs Anglaises

Do let us know if you're interested in taking up one of the few remaining places on Janet's workshop as these aren't likely to be available for long.  May is generally a wonderful month in this part of South West France and our garden will be bursting with blooms, especially peonies (my husband, Mike, is a keen collector).  As a newsletter/blog reader there is also the possibility of a free room upgrade if you pay your deposit before we put our waiting list into operation, probably at the end of January.

It is, of course, still pretty cold in this part of France, but with all les Soeurs gathered in front of a warm log fire over the holidays, we had some quality time looking through mags, sharing knitting patterns, discussing new designs for aprons and much, much more.  Whilst perusing last month's issue of Selvedge, we came across this gorgeous, perfect-for-cold-weather, knitted balaclava - with which we all immediately fell in love - originally chosen by stylist, Haidee Findley Levin for her Japanese Vogue article, and photographed by Anne Menke!

  

The article doesn't mention where you can buy the item (but, hey, who needs to buy when you have fingers to knit?) so we scoured Ravelry and found a similar pattern by Susan Newhall which we're planning to adapt and make with existing yarns; personally, I have some wonderfully soft Malabrigo lace yarn sent to me from Australia by the lovely Debbie Ogilby which I will double up) and we'll reconvene with the finished items to compare and contrast in a couple of cold month's time.  We'd love you to join in the fun of designing your personal take on this balaclava - find your own basic pattern or use Susan Newhall's - and let us know if you're on board as there might even be a prize at the end!

Happy 2015
Katie
Susie
Carol
x

p.s. If you do just one new thing today to start 2015 off on the right foot, visit the The Craftivist Collective website.  Impossible not to get caught up in their enthusiasm for positive, do-able, creative change!

… beautiful minds…...

…. Thought it time to show off one or two pieces of the beautiful work done by participants on the various workshops at Les Soeurs Anglaises this year.