Wooland Willow Festival June 2008 Minerva Arts Centre Llanidloes

April and May were busy months for me as preperations for our 5th Wool and Willow Festival took shape. This year we were generously supported by Powys County Council with Festival and Events Grant. Thanks to the sponsorship we were able to print beautiful leaflets and offer subsidized workshops in Knit, Crochet, Weaving, wet and dry felting, creative textiles, willow baskets and sculpture.

Our venue The Minerva Arts Centre, Llanidloes was a hive of activity for three weeks with specialist stalls offering designer knitwear, rare and unusual fleece and fibre, handwoven rugs, organically cured sheepskins, felt shrouds, naturally dyed yarns, heirloom teddy bears, specialist equipment, specialist willow and textile books and willow sculpture.

Demonstrations took place daily and workshops were given to local school children and college students.

Beryl (my secretary and a basketmaker/weaver) and I had so much fun organising this event with our friend Olwen from Abergavenny. We hope to see more of you at next years event and thanks to all of you for your support this year.

For next years line of of events go to http://www.woolandwillowfestival.org/. Dates June 6th - July 3rd 2010. Come and join in the fun!

February 2009

Time has just flown by since Christmas and a lot of my creative energy has been spent helping my pregnant daughter Tanya with her little boy Lorne (age two and half). We are still waiting for baby number 2 and baby designs are in the pipeline…… More later.

Woman’s Weekly have commissioned a cardigan design for their May issue. I have chosen Rowan’s new 100% organic DK for its soft feel and plant dyed colours. The cardigan will be available as a kit from my studio.



Suddenly my designs are being knitted for dog coats! I was delighted to receive this picture from the US of “Tiny Flower” from my “Knitwear” book knitted up for Francie. If any one else has used my designs for dog coats I would love to see your pictures.


Best Wishes for 2009

Sasha

4th December 2008

Nov 21st 2008

Up to York on the train to spend a few days with my good friend and colleague Jean Moss www.jeanmoss.com . We had a very exciting day at the Knitting and Stitching show in Harrogate. It was great to spend a day at the show as a visitor for a change. The most inspiring exhibit was without doubt the UK Hyperbolic Crochet Reef.

The project, organised by the Los Angeles based Institute for Figuring is a direct response to the plight of coral reefs from pollution and global warming. Fusing science and maths with fine art and handicraft, the reef is constantly updated by an every expanding group of participants from around the world. For more info look at www.theiff.org .

Creativity knew no bounds in the amazing knit and crochet hats made made for the Sailors' Society, a charity set up to enrich seafarers' lives worldwide (Sailor's Society, 350 Shirley Road, Southampton, SO15 3HY) Andrew Salmon (exhibition organizer extraordinaire) can be seen here modelling a very fetching mermaid hat. There is always lots of fun and inspiration at the Knitting and Stitching Shows and they are well worth a visit. For next years venues look at www.twistedthread.com.

28th OCTOBER 2008 - Photos of Jean Moss Tour

Just received these pictures from Jean of my Workshop participants; as you can see everyone is smiling away at the end of a pleasant days knitting!
In the right hand picture you can see the keen knitter who had already finished her Pebble Jacket to impress me when I walked in. It was great to see she had chosen her own colourway. The turquoise variation from my new book 'Knitwear' was much admired. Please send me photos of your own colour versions and I will post them on the blog.

Just my received my copy of 'Knitting Magazine' December issue with a lovely 4-page article by Michele Matheson about me and my work.

OCTOBER 2ND 2008 - Jean Moss Tour / New Autumn Jacket design

Had a fabulous day teaching 23 knitters on the Jean Moss Knitting and Gardens Tour, the workshop venue was the Tyddyn Llan Hotel in Llandrillo, North Wales, a recently renovated country house converted into a hotel, with a very friendly atmosphere and excellent 5 star restaurant. It was great to walk in and find one person wearing a Maple coat from ‘Country Inspiration’ and another wearing Pebble cross over jacket from my new book ‘Knitwear’.

We walked in the beautiful gardens gathering inspiration for my design workshop and everyone knitted up swatches, using my intarsia technique, drank tea and had a good chat. I was flattered that Heike Gittings, my Rowan assistant, bought my new Autumn Leaf jacket. The pattern for this will be in Woman’s Weekly magazine on sale 23rd Oct. The kit is available from my studio price £60.00

Would love to hear your comments, email: sasha@sashakagan.co.uk

For info on Jean's 2009 tour, go to her website

SEPTEMBER 6th 2008 – I Knit Day

I Knit Day was great fun. Having driven through torrential rain and floods in Wales the day before, it was a pleasure to set up my display in an old fashioned market stall in the atmospheric Royal Horticultural Halls, Westminster. I gave two crochet workshops and managed to teach 45 people to crochet flowers in two hours! There was an exciting variety of stalls, from my old friend John Arbon of UK Alpaca fame, who I have designed for for years, to Maggie Jackson my friend from Ireland. It was a great mix of designer looks, charity stalls, market place and entertainment. A big-hearted, fun show in its second year, it is bound to get bigger next year! More info :

I would love to hear your comments : email sasha@sashakagan.co.uk

AUGUST 31st 2008 – Crazy Crochet Days

It was great to be give my second Crazy Crochet weekend getaway in my home town, Llanidloes. The Minerva Arts Centre provided a light airy space where all 13 of us could spread out and be creative. We were surrounded by inspirational quilts from the Summer exhibition (an added bonus for all students is that they get to see the show for 2 days for free). My students were a mixed bunch of textile enthusiasts who soon made friends with each other and made crochet bits to add to their collections. They all appreciated my home cooked organic lunches and teas (luckily I had plenty of veg from my garden) and were pleased to discover the charms of Llanidloes.

The third Crazy Crochet weekend getaway will take place on August 29-30 2009. Cost of the weekend is £90 including materials, lunch and refreshments. Local hotel / B&B list available. Come and discover for yourselves the charms of Mid Wales.

To book a place for next year, email: sasha@sashakagan.co.uk or go to my website and select ‘workshops’.

I would love to hear your comments.