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Mama MillaMia...

...here I go again....

Now I've got ABBA going through your mind (no no, don't all thank me at once), I can tell you about Stitch and Craft at Olympia which I worked at on Thursday and Friday last week.

I was helping out the lovely and dynamic Kat who runs the wonderful yarn company MillaMia with her designer sister Helena. They produce a  lovely bouncy 5ply/sportweight/halfawaybetweena4plyandaDK yarn which I've worked with before so I was more than happy to help sell their yarn. I'm not just saying this as I was working for them but as a knitter, the yarn is a dream to work with. It's got a high twist which gives it a great bounce, making it a very forgiving yarn and easy on your hands. Lots of visitors thought the samples were machine knit. The yarn also has great stitch definition and feels very smooth, more like a cotton in feel rather than a 100% Merino yarn. I forgot my camera so can't show you their beautiful kids knit samples but you can see most of them on their website.

Image from MillaMia.com

They currently have two pattern books out. Bright Young Things has a very contemporary feel, including the fabulous kids dress above, I'd wear one as a top. The Close Knit Gang which is more vintage and muted, both books have very wearable kids clothes and the yarn is machine washable. There's a new collection coming out in six weeks so keep an eye on their website.


I didn't get much time to look around the show but did meet Mr X Stitch who makes and promotes geektastic cross stitching and embroidery. I've just had a quick look round his site and spotted his link to Fine Cell Work who are well worth another link here. They teach prisoners to cross stitch and embroider, you can read more about their excellent work on their website.

To help fund their work they sell tempting tapestry kits which I always eye up when I'm in Liberty. I love this Dodo. When I was about six someone gave me a kids cross stitch kit of a toucan which I hope is still in my parents attic. This is a more sophisticated version.

Image from FineCellWork.co.uk



I also saw a knitted Royal Wedding at the show which made me laugh out loud. You can tell who everyone is, Camilla is my favourite, she's just missing a GandT and packet of fags. It was superbly made and if you feel inspired to knit your own you can buy the patterns designed by the uber talented Fiona Goble.

Image from IvyPress

Image from Church Times

The current Archbishop of Canterbury (Head of the Church of England), Dr Rowan Willams, often gets accused of being a woolly liberal. Now his is. Boom boom!

Comments

Unknown said…
I was eying up the MillaMia goodies at the Life Craft in Glasgow on Saturday, lovely lovely stuff. Sounds like you had fun!
22 March 2011 at 19:58
PixieMum said…
I bought 5 balls of MillaMia and given a pattern to make a cushion cover when I was at Olympia last Friday. Very helpful staff on the stall, there were long discussions about the wisdom of buying an extra ball of yarn although the pattern quoted 4 balls. I would hate to run out but one can always make use of spare yarn.

Haven't started knitting it yet, have 3 other wip.
26 March 2011 at 20:06
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