| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
dishcloth cotton - New Group Buy in progressI normally just grab the odd ball of this in town when I need one but I'd like to make some dishcloths for thingymas hampersso could do with buying a quantity of balls at a time and wondered if online was going to be cheaper and if so which ones? I normally pay about £1.85 a ball. |
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| Sarah D |
Readicut sell it online, but I have no idea of the price. My dishcloths are all made from bits and bobs from charity shops, etc - there are always ends of cotton in lots of colours.
New organic cotton here: http://blueskyalpacas.com/ I've used their organic cotton, bought on e-bay, for some lovely washcloths for the bathroom. Some interesting ones here too: http://www.pristineplanet.com/organic-yarn-fair-trade-yarn-organic-cotton-yarn-organic-wool-yarn-organic-knitting-yarn/knitting/9647_a_0.html I made a nice cloth from hemp yarn from the Woolly Shepherd: http://www.woollyshepherd.co.uk/ |
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| Chez |
eBay any good? | ||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
thank you ladies, will investigate those links | ||||
| Samantha |
I love the Woolly Shepherd - some of those yarns are gorgeous. | ||||
| hamster |
Ooh, thanks for posting this, I was just thinking about getting a big load of cotton and making some more as well. I made two in January and much prefer using them, but they're starting to fall apart a bit as we've only got the two and use them so much. | ||||
| Chez |
How many grams do you need per cloth, then?
And is this something that we could do a downsizer bulk-buy on? |
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| Sarah D |
Really depends onthe size of cloth and the weight of the cotton. I tend to use odds of DK cotton in all sort of colours - usually get 3 cloths out of about 100g. | ||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I usually get 3 cloths out of one ball. I'm not a fancy knitter at all. I need to replace a couple of mine and would like to put a set of 3 in each hamper this year. Would be nice to start them off whilst its the hols - no rush then | ||||
| gil |
While we're on the subject of dishcloths - it occurred to me that if nettle fibre is scratchy and you can make string with it, would it be a good choice of yarn for making dishcloths / pan scrubbers ? | ||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I've had a look further on line but the prices for the balls aren't that much cheaper and in fact work out more expensive when you add in postage.
There must be trade suppliers? Or larger quantities like cones or something? |
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| Home on the Hill |
If you can find some at a good price, I'm up for a bulk buy. I've almost finished my first one for youknowwhatmas - it has a bat on it!
Carrie |
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| goldy1 |
is it the same as crochet cotton? I know a place to get that cheap. | ||||
| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
bit thicker if I'm interpreting what you mean by crochet cotton |
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| mochyn |
It's often listed as Craft Cotton.
I'll have a quick Google... |
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| mochyn |
Here's one: white, 100g £1:75 + p&p., although p&p is free over £8.
http://www.craftbits.co.uk/other-cotton.htm eta Better again: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/GARDENGATE-KNIT-SEW-CRAFT_KNITTING-YARN-WOOL_DISHCLOTH-COTTON-CRAFT-COTTON_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ12200561QQftidZ2QQtZkm £5.99 + p&p for 500g. |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
craftbits isn't a bad price as postage is so low. I kept finding places with postage of £3.95 which wipes out any reduced price on each ball. |
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| goldy1 |
Yeah it is quiet thin. http://www.abakhan-onlineshop.co.uk/acatalog/Crochet_Cotton.html The postage is a standard £4.99 per order so bulk buying is a good Idea. This site is great for good material and yarn bargins. |
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| sally_in_wales |
This offer from Texere looks promising for bulk buys
http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=806 in an aran weight, or this in a dk weight http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420 both at £2.90 per 250g cone if you buy 10 mixed cones for £29- that woud be a lifetime supply of dishcloths! they have loads of other cottons too, just a case of rummaging through the list, but I reckon these look worth a whirl. They have a plain discloth cotton at £1.10 per100g too Postage is £6.95 for orders over a kilo but free over £100 I quite fancy this offer, if a couple of people did we could split a couple of bulk packs maybe? |
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| mochyn |
I was just looking on the Texere site! I'm in for a split bulk order. |
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| Chez |
Ooooh, the heavy weights have got involved now ...  .
I'd be up for a couple of balls of a split order. |
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| mochyn |
Ooh: ooh: go to page 6 of cotton yarns on Texere and look at DY 184: RECYCLED COTTON! Yum: £3.90 per 400g cone... | ||||
| sally_in_wales |
How about getting some in for distribution at the fibre weekend? Anyone not going can have it passed to the nearest person for pass the parcel
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| mochyn |
Oh yeah..... Must hide my cheque book. |
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| mochyn |
What are you trying to say? Neither Sally nor I are 'heavy'. 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
up for that. The mixed cones look a great idea ( I would like to end up with about 600g but flexible either side of that. And not fussed about colours especially) |
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| sally_in_wales |
I know I know. If I can get the money out of my paypal account into a bank account in time I could do the order, unless anyone else wants to play and has ready funds available. Happy to do it otherwise, just will take me a couple of weeks to get the cash into an account I can use with Texere.
Which one d'ya reckon, the dk looks the closest to craft cotton in texture I thought |
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| sally_in_wales |
ok- 250g cones at £2.90, random colours (though we can try to fit requests to an extent)
copy and paste this list below with preliminary indications of number of cones you might want Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- Chez- Mrs Fiddlesticks Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) Sally- 1 cone |
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| Chez |
Your gravitas and the weight of your experience, OF COURSE! I'd be happy to have either - first time I've embarked on dishcloth knitting. How much is a cone, weight-wise? |
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| sally_in_wales |
250g or 6-8 cloths I reckon. Nothing to swap us swapping bits oc cones if people want a wider range of shades, but thats one for individual arrangements I reckon
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| mochyn |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90)
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- Mrs Fiddlesticks Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 |
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| Chez |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 |
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| alison |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 |
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| Home on the Hill |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone Not sure if I'm coming to the fibre skill-share or not (probably!) but will worry about how to get the cotton nearer the time. Carrie |
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| sally_in_wales |
we'll come up with a cunning plan for anyone who can't get their goodies via the fibre weekend
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| wellington womble |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Wellington Womble - 2 cones Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone Wellington Womble - 1 cone |
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| woodsprite |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Woodsprite -2 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone I wont be at the weekend but hopefully Mochyn will bring mine for me if I say please 
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| Cathryn |
Is the bulk buy just for cotton? Mochyn is that a good price for beads do you think. Felt inspired (again) by your hair clip today. | ||||
| alison |
Cathryn, I expect you will be seeing Sean and Mandy at some time, won't you. If so, could you send mine down please! | ||||
| Cathryn |
Yep, the weekend following the Fibre one, although I think Mandy is hoping to come to the Fibre weekend as well. | ||||
| alison |
Is she? Even better. I will ask her when she appears.
Maybe I will see you then too! |
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| mochyn |
Haven't looked at their beads lately. I did notice you looking at my clip, though! I'd be glad to ferry yarn for other sluts. |
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| sally_in_wales |
by all means add other yarn etc from Texere, we want to get to a free postage order so the more the merrier | ||||
| mochyn |
Noooooo: bad Sally! Perhaps we should be organizing a trip to the warehouse. 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I've been looking at this page... http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=1079 bargain!
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| Frewen |
There I was sitting smugly until I remembered that I wanted to try out their single needle handles
http://www.texere.co.uk/yarns.php?category=3&name=feltmaking could I have 2 of them please
and a bag of the purple pebbles http://www.texere.co.uk/yarns.php?category=3&subcategory=&display=10 I can collect from WW in November to cut down on postage
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I was hoping you'd see this thread 
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| Frewen |
Well I am being VERY restrained as I am short of cash
I could easily spend loads 
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| marigold |
I can't really join in from here, but I reckon that yarn would be just right for a cotton cardigan I want to crochet, thanks!
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| kiwirach |
hi ladies, i'd be interested in something like this, but havent knitted a dishcloth before...is it relatively straight forward for a novice knitter, who can basically only knit scarves?!.
also i would need my cone posted to me, so am happy to add an amount of postage with my payment to whoever does the order. |
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| mochyn |
Think of it as the beginning and the end of a scarf with a very short bit in between! I'm sure someone will be along with a link to patterns soon. Meanwhile, where are you? The Downsizer net stretches far and wide... |
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
Hi Kiwirach - I'm a novice knitter but I can manage a simple square dishcloth - quicker than a scarf as well 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
why? Sure we can get stuff to you somehow..
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| marigold |
Postage on a cone or three of yarn would probably cancel out bulk-buy savings . And there's the Not Starting Any New Projects Until All My WIP Is Finished factor .
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| sally_in_wales |
Plan with this group buy is, as far as practical, to avoid posting stuff as people will find it gets pricy on cones of yarn. But as has been mentioned, the downsizer pass the parcel network is incedibly ingenious in its ability to get things to people one way or another
Please do say if you want to play but arent sure if any of us pass your neck of the woods occasionally, you might be surprised
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| Cathryn |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Woodsprite -2 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone Candy Canes - Glass beads (£2.20 per cane) Cathryn - CT1-15 Metallic Mix Cathryn - CT7-M3 Metallic Multi Mix If I get these beads you'll come over and thread the needle for me won't you Mochyn? |
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| mochyn |
For example, I can arrange contacts in all of Shropshire and most of mid-Wales. |
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| marigold |
Thanks Sally, but I'll pass this time - I really want to be disciplined about goals I have set myself and buying stuff for new projects is Not Allowed at the moment (not even yarn bargains!) .
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Woodsprite -2 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone Candy Canes - Glass beads (£2.20 per cane) Cathryn - CT1-15 Metallic Mix Cathryn - CT7-M3 Metallic Multi Mix Mrs Fiddlesticks - tapestry canvas bees & butterflies grid - http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=1079 |
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| lottie |
If any downsizers live near Texere yarns then it is well worth a visit---loads of bargains not in catalogue,the whole area is full of mills,yarn,cloth, and ethnic materials suppliers---we used to go for a full day out to Bradford every year from Bolton with our craft group---like a crafters booze cruise 
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks |
I'm owed a day out ( he often gets to go for work) so I'd be up for something like that some time
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| Chez |
I was wondering about a group outing to Aberkan ... |
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| sally_in_wales |
250g lucky dip coloured cones (at £2.90) http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=420
Sally- 5 cones Mochyn- 5 Chez- 2 Mrs Fiddlesticks 3 Alison - 3 Home on the Hill - 3 cones Woodsprite -2 Recycled cotton 400g cones (£3.90) (page 6 on the cotton bit at Texere) Sally- 1 cone Mochyn- 1 Home on the Hill - 1 cone Candy Canes - Glass beads (£2.20 per cane) http://www.texere.co.uk/yarns.php?category=17 Cathryn - CT1-15 Metallic Mix Cathryn - CT7-M3 Metallic Multi Mix Mrs Fiddlesticks - tapestry canvas bees & butterflies grid - http://www.texere.co.uk/shades.php?reference=1079 Frewen http://www.texere.co.uk/yarns.php?category=3&name=feltmaking could I have 2 of them please and a bag of the purple pebbles http://www.texere.co.uk/yarns.php?category=3&subcategory=&display=10 |
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| Samantha |
I've been stalking this thread thinking about joining in the bulk buy until I remembered I live less than an hour away
I think when I get back from the camping trip I'll pop over. |
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| Frewen |
edited to make it a bit clearer as to what I was lusting after (and not realising that I should have added it to the list myself)
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| lottie |
Well worth it---I'm too far away from Bradford now ---daren't go near Aberkhan---still stacks left from my last trip when we had to drive past They've got a branch in Manchester but it's nothing like the one at Mostyn.
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| KatP |
Hmm. There are some drawbacks to living al the way up here!! | ||||
| kiwirach |
thanks for that info....i did think it would be straightforward, which is why i added my interest. i live in north london...handy to J24 or 25 M25.....closest downsizer i'm aware of is LynneA i think(and hope i got her username right!). i'll ponder this and give my confirmation within 24hrs. |
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| sally_in_wales |
no rush, I reckon it will be a week or so before I place the order due to money juggling
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| Home on the Hill |
I'm happy to pay for mine upfront to save you being out of pocket until I get the yarn (by whatever method...)
I could pop a cheque in the post, or use paypal via your shop - let me know what suits you best. Carrie |
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| sally_in_wales |
no panic, I'm not out of pocket just moving money from the paypal acc into one that I can use with Texere Soon as I'm about to order I'll sting you all for funds.
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| sally_in_wales |
Any more for any more? Am planning on ordering on Monday I think
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| mochyn |
Baggage. I feel obliged to go and look on their site now. |
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| jocorless |
We have an Aberkan near us - Responsible for 90% of the material in our house and the reason I can't actually shut the bedding box properly - We always go about now - just in time for all the Halloween fabrics to come in
As for Texere - I'm not looking particularly as I'm rather busy with some crochet I've got on the go at the moment |
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| sally_in_wales |
at the moment there will be 7 cones of the discloth cotton up for grabs if anyone wants some, seeing as we are buying them 10 at a time. I can always take spares to the fibre weekend for people to pick through then, but if anyone does fancy laying claim to some, please feel free We are well over the free postage limit now which was the main purpose too @)
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| Helen M |
hmmmmmmm sounds like something i should be in on. especially now abbie has made me admit i know how to knit. what colours sal? | ||||
| Cathryn |
I do have this unused basic knitting machine... I'll bring it with me. Will there be a pretty turquoise, rose, blue or soft green or...
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| sally_in_wales |
it comes in mystery assorted colours, all of them look pretty though if you look at the colour chart on the listings
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| sally_in_wales |
ok, its all ordered
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| Chez |
Would you like some money? | ||||
| sally_in_wales |
Thats an idea cheque or direct bank to bank thingy would be best as its come out of an account I don't use much and need to top up
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| mochyn |
Go on then, tell us how much...
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| sally_in_wales |
look what I'm about to unpack!
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| mochyn |
Do you think I could get in that box with all that lovely yarn? | ||||
| sally_in_wales |
ooh, such pretty colours.
I'm going to bag them all up for you now, I genuinely don't think there is a single cone here that anyone wouldnt want so I'll go for the widest mix of shades per bag that I can manage, all are effectively yellow, blue, breen, pink/peach but there is a nice range of shades for those who wanted a fair few. the recycled cotton is lovely and thick, is going to make hefty cloths in no time at all
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| sally_in_wales |
that was fun, I now have a boxfull of pretty bagfulls of cones for you all...and here are the lonely leftovers. Still up for grabs if anyone want them, if not they will come to the fibre weekend to be available there
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| woodsprite |
How much do we owe you Sally?
They even look lovely to me and I'm not really a yarn person at all! Looking forward to knitting my very basic dishclothes. |
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| sally_in_wales |
your bag has a herb green and a rose (deepish) pink in it if thats ok- can swap colours round if you fancy though, £2.95 each makes £5.90
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| woodsprite |
Sounds lovely!
I'm in Yorkshire this week, I'll be home on Monday so I'll sort the money out then if that's okay? Thanks Sally. |
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| sally_in_wales |
no rush, can all be sorted at the fibre weekend or thereabouts depending on who will be there and who is getting theirs by pass the parcel | ||||
| sharonb |
I'd love a couple of cones, but really don't know how it could reach me without paying Royal Mail enough to wipe out the savings. 
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| mochyn |
I'm happy to collect for anyone in mid-Wales/Shropshire type area sort of thing. | ||||
| sally_in_wales |
where are you? Any of the lot going to the fibre weekend close enough to put pass the parcel into motion? | ||||
| mochyn |
And I'll even be in Ludlow the weekend after at the Food & Drink fair for anyone else who'd fancy meeting up there to hand over yarny goodness. | ||||
| sharonb |
I'm in north Warwickshire, and very happy to travel a reasonable distance to pick up. I would have loved to have come to the fibre skills weekend but you know, life and all that! | ||||
| sally_in_wales |
well, if all else fails I'll be at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre for the National Living History Fair in late October, could always bring it there for you if that helps of is that too far into the future to be useful? | ||||
| Home on the Hill |
Aahh well - I think I'm going to the skill share weekend (although i haven't booked yet or anything). If I do go, I'll get yours for you then we can get together later. I'm in Rugby. Carrie
edited to say - how much do I owe you Sally? |
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| woodsprite |
There's a goodun! We'll talk about where to meet nearer the time. I will be doing a stint on the beekeepers stall and making an idiot of myself on stage at some point during the weekend but most of the time we'll be milling around looking useful.
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| sally_in_wales |
3 x £2.95, so £8.85 |