I like nothing more than a workshop, where I can make something beautiful to enjoy in my home. From making an origami lampshade or fairy lights with Origami-Est, to learning how to arrange flowers with an online class, and crafting gorgeous Christmas makes with Zeena Shah, I can’t get enough! These are all fairly small scale, and I’m keen to try some larger makes. I’m interested in learning how to upholster, but first, my latest challenge is arm knitting a throw with I Make Knots.
I live quite close to a new creative working space called Workshop & Play, in Ampthill. I met Emma, the lady who runs it, at an Origami workshop last year, and have been watching her progress on social media. When I spotted the I Make Knots arm knitting workshop on her Facebook page, I booked on straight away.
First Impressions of Workshop & Play
Workshop & Play is tucked away off Dunstable Street in Ampthill. It’s a bright, inviting space, perfect for holding workshops. But the first thing I clocked were the giant 2kg balls of yarn.
My friend and I got there early, so we could claim the best coloured yarn. But unluckily for us, everyone else had the same idea! I would have loved the gorgeous peacock blue, but they’d been claimed. Instead, I went for dove grey, which goes perfectly in my lounge.
Once we’d claimed our yarn, we helped ourselves to refreshments…
With two delicious home made cakes on offer, plus tea, coffee and prosecco, I was a very happy girl.
The Main Event: Arm Knitting a Throw
Once we were all settled in, lovely Riannon from I Make Knots started showing us how to arm knit our throws. She showed us in little groups and left us to continue as she showed the others. She then kept popping back to see how we were getting on, and slightly untangling us every now and then!
Arm knitting a throw is good arm workout, that yarn is pretty heavy. It’s also quite hot work! It only took just over an hour to complete our blankets, which I think is incredible as we’d never done it before. They all looked amazing, although quite different sizes as we all did the tension slightly differently, and have different sized arms!
You can scroll through Workshop & Play’s Instagram post to see more behind the scenes. You’ll see one of me that shows how much I enjoyed it: massive grin alert!
My Finished Arm Knitted Throw
I’m so pleased with how my arm knitted throw turned out, it’s super snugly and soft.
I’ve draped my throw over my Ercol arm chair, in the window in our lounge and I think it looks great.
The giant yarn used is from Woolly Mahoosive and can only be dry cleaned. I’m hoping the girls won’t spill milk on it or something!
Want to Arm Knit Your Own Throw?
I’ve had lots of people asking me if there will be any more arm knitting workshops at Workshop & Play. Well Emma tells me there will be, though I don’t think the dates have been released yet. Keep an eye on their workshop page, and their Facebook page for updates, but be quick to book when you spot one, I know they’ll be popular!
The arm knitting workshop costs £50 for a relaxed two hour workshop, with refreshments included. Considering simply buying a 2kg ball of giant yarn is around £40 I think this is great value.
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