A Winter’s Day at the Nunney Makes Christmas Market

On Saturday just gone, I closed the Chesterblade shop and took a selection of my kits and yarns to the lovely Nunney Makes Christmas Market.

It was such a joy to spend the day among other Somerset makers and artists, with stalls selling everything from art prints to birth spoons, local honey to willow baskets.

One of the highlights for me was the response to my first ever for sale naturally hand-dyed yarn. I sold two of my five mini-skein sets, which means I only have three left for the website! I wasn’t sure how “woolly” the visitors would be, so I was genuinely delighted to make any sales – and even more delighted by the number of people who stopped to talk about them. Their interest sparked some really lovely conversations.

I’ve now settled on The Woolgatherer as my dyeing name and intend for natural dyeing to become just one strand of a broader, multi-disciplinary project I’m working on for next year – something centred around the turning year, nature and the shifting seasons. I’m not quite ready to share everything just yet, but I’m hoping to tell you more as we approach the Winter Solstice.

The market also gave me the perfect opportunity to launch my Robin Make-Along Day on Saturday 20th December. I know I’ve been a little quieter on email and social media recently, but behind the scenes I’ve been working on some lovely plans. I’m very pleased to share that I’ve been awarded a Food Hygiene Rating of 5 by the Local Authority and have gained my Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate. This means I can now prepare and serve my own homemade food – and what better way to celebrate than with a cosy festive gathering?

Spaces are limited to just six people for this relaxed, Christmassy day – a small refuge from the festive rush and a chance to make something special for your tree. We’ll be stitching the Robin hanging decoration by Corinne Lapierre, and I’ll be serving homemade soup and bread, plus some tasty Christmas treats. I’m so excited to bring my love of cooking and baking into the business at last.

My festive knitting kits also drew plenty of attention, especially my newly launched Woolly “Paper” Chain Kit. I was sewing up my sample while I was at the market, and I’m extremely pleased with how it’s turned out. I tried making one last year in a recycled cotton/nylon blend, but it just didn’t look right. In the beautifully soft Merry Merino 140, though, it looks wonderfully effective – even rather classy! I have one kit left in the original “modern” colourway, and three left in the deeper “vintage” palette. Each kit makes a chain of around 1.2 metres.

This brings me to my (slowly!) growing collection of Merry Stitchmas festive knit kits, now including The Merry Stitchmas Hat, Santa’s Wristwarmers and the Mini Christmas Stockings alongside the Woolly "Paper" Chain.

The Corinne Lapierre felt craft kits were also very popular at the market – people loved being able to pick up a gift-ready craft project for a cosy December afternoon. 

There’s a lovely rhythm to this time of year: soft wool on the needles, something simmering on the hob, and the gentle gathering of festive preparations. I hope these kits and my make-along day bring a little warmth and wonder to your December. Thank you for being part of this small, creative corner of the world – it’s a joy to share it with you.