Rowan Yarns Digital Magazine Rowan Spring Summer Newsletter 2019 | Page 38

Flowers in the attic by Rosee Woodland The last hur rah in Rowan’s 40th anniversar y celebrations saw a lot of love and laughter at an evening with The Knitter’s Attic in Suffolk How many Rowan garments have you knitted? Five? Fifteen? How about fifty? That’s the claim to fame of Marion Prevett, a customer of The Knitter’s Attic, who kindly loaned the store some of her incredible collection for their Rowan ruby anniversary fashion show. The event was of the last in a year of celebrations to mark Rowan’s four decades in the handknit business, and it was certainly a memorable night. Rowan magazines, knitted and squished yarn while they watched a fashion show that featured garments from Rowan and as many again from Marion’s collection. “Rowan had loaned me their archive so I had about twenty outfits from them and then Marion has a wardrobe full of Rowan so she loaned me those for the second half,” explained Sharon. “We probably used about twenty but she’s made more like fifty!” The event was a great way to bring together all of Sharon’s customers, who might see each other at her regular knit nights, but otherwise wouldn’t get to meet up. In fact, Sharon’s shop has become something of a home from home for local knitters. The Woodbridge Knitting Bee congregates there on Tuesdays and Saturdays and Sharon has just added a Monday meet up too, due to demand being so high. “We do tea, coffee and cakes for everyone that comes,” she said. “It’s the social highlight of my week! I’ve watched this group of knitters grow and make a lot of really good friends too. “You can see the difference that it makes to people, for example, people who might be anxious to start with end up feeling more comfortable and confident.” The Knitter’s Attic has been open for more than four years and was initially online only, but created the open days to meet customer demand. After such an eventful start to 2019 Sharon is planning more fun for the rest of the year, including workshops in sock knitting, yarn dyeing and freeform knitting and crochet. She explains: “For the freeform class, makers can come along and use any yarn to make a wall hanging - it’s going to be quite something! “I’m going to be launching a mystery knit along too, so stay tuned! The Knitter’s Attic was opened by Sharon Cane five years ago and is based in her Suffolk home. Although the business is mostly online, Sharon opens her doors once a month for a customer shopping day, and also holds regular knit nights. So when she decided to join in with the ruby celebrations she knew there would be a good turnout. Even so, she was blown away by just how far people travelled to celebrate. “Some people had come 50 miles to be involved,” she exclaims. “There was a great atmosphere and everyone was in a good mood.” Sharon’s daughters also helped out on the evening, with older daughter Sarah curating the music and younger daughter Laura modelling some of the garments in the fashion show, along with other customers and friends. “Sarah had arranged the music so that it coordinated with the 40 years of the garments as well,” added Sharon. The party was held in the village hall and Sharon invited the Woodbridge Wax Company and Suffolk jewellery designer Imogen Sheeran along too. Imogen’s felted beaded jewellery proved to be a huge hit with local fibre fans, who loved the bright colours and textural feel of her creations. Meanwhile, the Woodbridge Wax Company dreamed up a collection of special wax melts to mark the occasion, including a red and white confection dubbed ‘40 Years of Rowan’ and ‘Purls of Wisdom’, an ornate cream melt. Visitors enjoyed bubbly and nibbles, browsed through past The Knitters Attic 2 Peartree Cottage | Bredfield Woodbridge | Suffolk | IP136AH www.theknittersattic.co.uk Since going to press, Knitters Attic is now open five days a week! Please visit their website for opening hours Call [phone] or email [email protected] KNITTERS ATTIC 38 Newsletter April 2019 | Spring Summer Newsletter April 2019 | Spring Summer 39