Photos From The Naked Knitting Calendar Launch Party

As most of my online friends couldn't come to the Knitting Noras Naked Calendar Launch Party then I thought that I would bring it to you via a few photos. I could not see a thing through the viewfinder when I was taking the photos so it was very much a case of point it at people and hope for the best type of photography. The photo of the cake that Deb trailed all over Bolton to get made, actually has a photo on it of the front cover of the calendar but due to my rubbish photography has come out rather blurry. You can barely see the cake in the photo where Deb is cutting it either.

Most of the people on the photos are members of the Knitting Noras but there are a few supporters and partners in there as well including Laurie the calendar photographer. Paul and his wife from Evolution Printing, the printers of the calendar, also came to show support as did Debbie Tomkies who dyed the wool that I used to crochet the mermaid's tail with. She is the lady with the fetching bright pink flash in her hair. The guy wearing the white T shirt is Tony who has done such sterling work with our web site and was responsible for making up our calendar pre order page which has been such a help with the calendar sales. He came all the way from London via 3 trains to meet the rest of the Knitting Noras as previously he had only met three Noras in London at the I Knit exhibition.

The party was held at the Blundell Arms,Chorley Old Road,Bolton and the landlord did us proud with plates of sandwiches. As I said yesterday it was such a shame that the press didn't turn up to record the launch party properly. We have had some good publicity pre calendar printing but a blast of publicity in the local papers would have been so good for sales now that the calendar is available for sale.

Once again many thanks to Deb and Jen for organising the party. I had a good time and I am sure everyone else did as well. I think that I was the only Nora who wasn't actually knitting during the party.

So sorry that Ambermoggie and Mr Mog didn't make it to the party. You were missed. I hope that you feel better soon Amber.

I did finish off the black duster coat and wore it to the party but I will get my niece to take photos in the daylight at the weekend to show the bottom half of the coat and it's pattern changes.

I must add congratulations to Julie and Jim who celebrated their silver wedding yesterday. Julie was the Nora who knitted the long red stockings and the hiking socks that Francesca and Adam wore on the December page of the calendar.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?

Remember the film Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? I was getting ready to go to the Naked Knitting Calendar Launch and had just taken the curlers out of my hair and with my sense of humour I started to giggle when I saw my hair in ringlets reminiscent of Bette Davies in the film. Mutton dressed as lamb or what? Don't panic folks as I didn't leave the house looking like that as you can see. I brushed out the ringlets and then put my hair up as usual. I just needed the added boost that the curlers give to my very fine hair.

I managed to get to the launch last night via a metro tram and two buses. The bus guard of the last one took pity on me and set me down a few hundred yards before the Blundell Arms as the bus stops outside the pub had been suspended due to road works and so it would have been a good walk for me if he had put me down at the next bus stop. Thankfully Caroline and Michael gave me a lift home as I don't think I could have faced another 2 hr journey back home again.

I did take photos of the party but I have still got to condense them down to fit them on the blog. I will put them on tomorrow. There was a really good turn out of Noras and supporters. Deb and Jen had worked really hard to organise the whole event and the pub did us proud providing sandwiches and letting us put up posters, calendars and garments all around the pub. The only flaw in it all was the absence of the press. It would have been great to have had some local press support but as they had given us a lot of pre calendar press perhaps they felt that we had enough coverage. We could have done with the extra boost for sales as the next 6 weeks will be crucial to the calendar sales leading up to Christmas. The landlord of the Blundell was a bit disappointed also as it would have been good publicity for him also. Incidentally I had a meal whilst I was there. Fish and chips. Sounds mundane but the fish was lovely and fresh and along with the chips was piping hot and delicious. I would definitely recommend the pub for a meal if my meal was their normal standard. The Blundell Arms, Chorley Old Road, Bolton where we hold our knit outs every second Tuesday in the month.

I did take some crochet with me to the Blundell but when I did the chain and the first row it was obvious that I needed a smaller hook to get the tension right for this first size baby jacket. I had, of course, only brought one hook with me and one project. I abandoned it and felt really out of place amongst all of the knitters sitting there with idle fingers whilst they beavered away industriously..

I'm Back

Sorry that I have been missing in action lately. No excuses really except that I am just so knackered all of the time.I had my blood tested which shows that I am anaemic and am now on ferrous sulphate tablets but I have also been getting bad headaches when I wake up. These are similar to a bad hangover and are a symptom that my blood is not oxygenated enough. As I have mentioned before I sleep with a CPAP machine as I have sleep apnoea. Yesterday I went to have the machine checked and last night I had a mini sleep study strapped to a meter that measured my SATS levels and heart rate. I have to take this mini machine back on Monday for them to analyse the results, It could be something simple like turning up the pressures on my machine.

I have managed to keep crocheting on my black version of the Pink Duster coat, despite falling asleep over it most evenings, and am well on my way with it now. I hope to have it finished so that I can wear it, if I wish, to the official launch of the Naked Knitting Calendar this Tuesday. It is being held at the Blundell Arms on Chorley Old Road Bolton from 7pm so if any of you are close by then please drop in and say Hi to us. Ambermoggie and Mr Mog are hoping to come to the launch and it will be lovely to see both of them again.

We are hoping that the local press will grace us with their presence for some more publicity. The Calendar was publicly launched at I Knit in London but as most of the members could not get there we decided to hold a local launch organised by Deb and Jen so that more people could have a chance to attend and show support. The landlord of the pub is being very supportive about this launch which helps immensely. I hope to take many photos to post on here next Wednesday. Thanks and well done Jen and Deb for all of your hard work in organising this launch and the sterling work that you are putting in addressing and posting off the calendars.

I have posted photos from the Natural Crochet Book by Tina Barrett today to fill up the spaces where I have not much to write about.I bought my copy from Amazon.co.uk last week.