December - end of the year

There's a lot of things need finishing here. Pink mittens, pink poncho, leftovers jumper, endless handwarmers and socks for the museum. Time to look back and reflect on the good things this year. Brilliant event in March. four figure donation to the museum. Extra event in September, quieter, but still a contribution. Invitation to the Old Bailey on the back of my success. Knitting in public. Visiting sock factories, lecture about Smedley's archives plus small exhibition. Tour of Nottingham's historic Lace market. After teaching the rudiments of circular sock knitting to two modern day apprentices, Matt and I made a return visit to Urgo in Shepshed, who make bespoke medical hosiery for diabetics etc. I was really impressed that the order contains the customer's name at every stage, and the order number is knitted in sideways. It is finally packed by a real person, and can get back to the customer within 7 days of ordering. Even the warp knitted bandages (allegedly on a "crochet knitting machine")with 800 threads were fascinating to behold. Matt made a video and slowed it down to a speed one could actually see. No wonder they wanted the apprentices to see knitting at our speed! The Christmas event at the museum was as good as ever, and the chestnuts were back! I toasted some crumpets in the cottage with my mob cap on. I've never been 100% happy with my head gear for my Victorian costume, but had a brainwave mid-afternoon, and put my Shetland shoulder shawl over my head, securing it with a fine paintbrush grabbed from the teashop. It stayed on the rest of the day. The frameshop was candle-lit for the last couple hours, it was really wonderful. We experimented with optimum distances for candles and globes, and the amount of light that could be had was amazing.