Hitchin Stitchin' away weekend

What a great start to the group's away weekend in Norfolk.

Afternoon tea of homemade scones and jam or gluten free chocolate shortbread was served shortly after everyone had arrived on Friday afternoon at Dairy Barns

 After tea, we retired to the lounge for some knitting and chatting, catching up with one another's news.

We had a lovely supper with bubbly and other various alcoholic drinks, with lovely hand-crafted earings for each of us, made by the lovely Jane W. Dinner was followed by a quiz about famous  historical women and an interesting talk from Claire about her holiday volunteering on an archeological dig in Italy.

 Saturday 10th November

Breakfast at Dairy Barns

 After a hearty breakfast, most of the knitting group headed towards Norwich to visit Norfolk Yarn where there was great temptation in the way of beautiful yarn and exquisite shawl pins and other 'accessories'.

Much money changed hands, coffee, tea, and cake consumed, and expertise sought and shared.

A quick trip to the craft outlet further round the ring road was followed by a picnic lunch for Sue and I, who bought the makings of one at the Farm Shop and Chocolatier's at the edge of the complex. The rest of the group followed us 'home' after lunching on site, and joined us in the lounge for an afternoon's knitting and chatting.

There was some interest in the 'mobile' that was hanging beside the curtains in the lounge. It was made from driftwood and shells. Phillipa commented that, though it looked simple enough to make, it was incredibly difficult to make a hole in a shell without destroying it.

Some of last year's haul of hag stones

I agreed and asked if anyone had seen hangings made of pebbles, called hag stones. No one knew what hag stones were - stones with natural holes made by wind, water, and weather. Last year, I found quite a lot of hag stones on Southwold North Beach, but this year (so far) we have not found one that was completely holed.

Jane W. asked for the items that members had knitted for the neo natal unit at Lister Hospital.

Quite a lot of things were 'mustered' and displayed. Such tiny, tiny, garments for vulnerable new-borns - all beautifully knitted in the softest of yarn.





To round off the afternoon, Enid demonstrated the making of 3D cards which a couple of members made successfully while the rest of us watched while knitting.

Dinner was another boozy affair - good food, good wine, good company, topped off with another couple of quizes.

As it was the eve of Remembrance Sunday, Alicia talked about her wartime experiences  - of being evacuated with her  sister as a 7 year old and  later moving with her family and searching for digs, rationing.





Another great 'away weekend' was over after Sunday breakfast, and the hunt is on for a suitable venue to cater for even more of us in 2013.