I love to look at Eventbrite for last minute craft workshops. The one with Steph caught my eye. It was at 09.30 on Sunday 13th July 2025 at Hackney Wick. This felt auspicious. It was my oldest son (Harry’s) 28th birthday and we had cycled along this towpath without the use of phones from Highbury to the Olympic Park many moons ago. We were taught about foraging, what was safe, how to do it expertly and without significantly depleting natural resources. We had a tote bag with gloves, bags, scissors and secateurs for the morning.
Cardboard loom
This is a simple loom that is quick to set up but the cardboard always remains in place. I used the yarn from the baby blanket I am knitting for my first grandchild (now a week overdue). As Harry and Gemma don’t know the gender it is a lovely sage green colour.
Hazel loom
Steph brought along some sticks of hazel and I used string to tie them together and make the warp.
Foraged loom
I then made a loom out of some sticks I had foraged and used pink raffia to tie it together and make the warp. I found a piece of heart shaped bark and wrapped some raffia around that too and attached it centrally.
A wonderful morning workshop. Thanks Steph
And then I went to Mallety, near Limoges, France and carried on.
And this time used lilac embroidery thread to keep the moss in
One for Fran and Phil
This one needed reinforcement as the top branch broke repeatedly. I have put in moss with a ring pull just for Phil who is a coca cola addict!
One with some prickly holly and feathers
One for Miriam from the local area and her lovely garden
