HRYC

We had such an AMAZING time at Handmade over the long weekend - it was, in a few words:

inspiring, busy, knitty, crafty, hungover (ahem), chatty, bright, inspiring, warm...

There were so, so many wonderful people to meet, things to learn and beautiful things to look at. We've already started our list of how to make the Knit Lounge even better next year - and we really really hope there is a next year! New Zealand has been missing out on all the amazing huge craft events seen in the states and the UK and it's about time we had one for our very own.

As it was such a busy weekend, we didn't get any photos of the Knit Lounge itself, but here are a few from our knit graffiti installation - pretty amazing to be allowed to do this at our national museum!

Tash has been running all over the show and knitting like crazy for a bit of fun promo ahead of Handmade this weekend.

You can see her interview on Good Morning here and our bit of fun on Breakfast this morning is in chapter 4, about 2/3rds of the way through over here.

Have you always wanted to knit socks? Felt a little overwhelmed by the challenge? Had too many people tell you they are hard to knit?

Well, phoooey I say.

Along with Belinda of Blendy Knits Socks, Tash is going to be teaching the sock knitting basics at Handmade 2011 this weekend. We'll be covering how a sock is structured, and will break it into easy parts.

Honestly - knit just one sock and we'll guarantee you'll be hooked. There is no treat quite like putting on a pair of hand knit socks. They are cosy, excellent temperature controllers and addictive to knit.

Join us! Go on, you know you want to!

You can book online - and don't worry if you aren't of the credit card type - you can also pay by direct credit. Hooray!

Get used to lots of Handmade 2011 posts over the next ten days, kids!

Do you know what we're looking forward to most? Besides lots of inspiring workshops and meeting lots of wonderful crafters?

The PARTY!

Join us on the Saturday for a crafty-knees up - there will be a Holland Road Yarn Company pop-up shop on the night so you can nab lots of knitting treats - including Margaret Stove books so that you can have them signed by her!

Have you heard about the fantastic Queen's Birthday weekend event that is coming up? Surely it is going to be something we all talk about for months to come - Handmade 2011!

Not only is Tash helping Belinda of Blendy Knits run a beginners sock knitting class, Holland Road Yarn Company is proudly sponsoring the the Knit Lounge! We're plotting away some fun projects to get involved with over the weekend - including some epic knit graffiti. Best of all, if you are attending any Handmade 2011 classes you get to hang with us for free!

If you've been thinking of heading along to learn something new, get in quick - word on the street is that classes are selling like hot cakes and you wouldn't want to miss out, would you?