Can Can!

Yay! At last the coloured Can Can has arrived. At present I've only got five balls of the rich purply-bluey-black mix and five of the gentler greeny-blue, so if you're one of the people who've been in in recent weeks to seek out colours other than the white, please grab your chance while you can...

Did you get lots of nice knittery things for Christmas? Was your stocking bulging with bamboo needles and long-coveted yarns? I do hope so!

I was really happy to find these among my presents...



They're chock full of wonderful stitch suggestions and the kind of fitted jumper patterns that were popular in the 1940s. I can see me trying out several in the new year.

Don't you just love an inspirational present? A present that has the potential to continue giving pleasure for months and possibly years? I bet 'Jennifer' - who received one of these books as a present 'with Mummy's love' in 1943 - never thought they'd still be in use more than sixty years later.

Boo! Hiss!

Pantomime baddie of the weekend was allegedly the Markets Manager who, I'm told, decided at short notice that the market should be held in a town centre street instead of the Piece Hall courtyard. This was a shame and there was consequently a huge difference in visitor numbers between Saturday (brilliant entertainment, no market) and Sunday (same entertainment, plus market). Of course I got into the spirit and dressed up one day, but by Sunday decided it was just too cold for a re-run of the Laura Ashley Victorian cotton shirt - pie crust collar or no - and opted for a sensible aran and jeans.

So, Christmas soon! Hope you all have a great time. After Christmas we'll hold our first Three Bags Full January sale. After January...well, I'm incubating a couple of other ideas...and then, well, roll on spring eh?

A spot of dressing up...

We have Victorian weekend coming up at the Piece Hall and the traders will be dressing up. Have never known a group of people embrace the idea of fancy dress with quite so much enthusiasm...

And be honest, will they be dressing up at Meadowhall? The Trafford Centre? or even at Junction 32? No, they won't. So come along and have a laugh at...I mean, enjoy a unique shopping experience.

(Plus, y'know I'm pretty certain there's no one selling gorgeous Fyberspates Scrumptious at Meadowhall. Or sock yarn enhanced by aloe vera and jojoba oil. Or beautiful Blue Faced Leicester in gentle pinks and blues. Or...well, you get the picture. Those big shopping centres so don't cut the yarn lover's mustard.)

Brrr...Christmas opening hours

How pretty is this? What with the tree and the lights and the snow, The Piece Hall's looking pretty good these wintery days. And there were a fair few intrepid souls who braved the conditions yesterday to come down and support the Christmas market. I love the Sunday afternoon markets in the run up to Christmas and those muffins I bought were delicious... Wonder where the brass band is this year tho' and the carol singers? Nothing like live music for a bit of festive atmosphere.



Anyway, not having taken my coat off in Three Bags Full for several days (and wearing handwarmers and a scarf to boot most days - I wonder if Father Christmas will bring me a more powerful heater for Christmas?) and looking forward to getting cosy at home for a few days, it seems a good time to let you know the opening hours over Christmas.

Okay: we'll be open till 7.30 on the 23rd December (last of the late night Thursdays), then closed from 24th Dec till 30th December inclusive. I don't know about you but Christmas Eve's my favourite day of the whole holiday and we always try to have all our shopping done before then, so I've awarded myself the day off and will be sitting at home with hot chocolate or red wine, depending on the temperature. I'll be back in the shop from 10am till 4pm on the 31st Dec 2010 and 1st Jan 2011, then we'll be closed the 2nd and 3rd, and back to normal on the 4th.

Just a reminder: we have Three Bags Full gift vouchers available at £5 each. They make a great present for knitting/crocheting friends or a great suggestion to your nearest and dearest if you'd like to receive a knittery present but can't trust them to choose on your behalf!