It all started in June 2010 when I emailed Debbie Abrahams to see if she would be willing to come to Kenilworth to teach a workshop. Debbie came back to me offering her workshops that she normally covers, where upon I became very cheeky and asked her ever so nicely if she could cover beading, intarsia and fairisle in one go. Debbie very kindly agreed to teach a workshop covering all three techniques which was extremely generous of her.

Emails shot backwards and forwards between us in the intervening months covering various necessities, whilst all of this time I was quite giddy about having such a wondrous and quite famous (in the knitting world) knitter coming to us.

The day dawned and I headed off to The Almanack who do a wonderful job in looking after us to be quickly joined by many of our group. Debbie arrived, along with her beautiful blankets, books, dvd’s and beads.

These blankets are exclusive to her mystery blanket clubs and I find them absolutely stunning. This is mystery blanket 2009 called Arabian Nights. I think this is my favourite blanket, I would love to own this. (If anyone knows of a spare kit, give me a nudge!)

Arabian Nights with a pile of Debbie’s books which were stunning, one could happily pass the day gazing at the lovely photography of her blankets.

This is my second favourite blanket, although it is very difficult to have favourites when they are all quite exquisite. This is In the Country, mystery blanket 2008.

And underneath here is Beneath the Sea mystery blanket 2010 which also tickled me. Debbie has told us she still has a handful (approximately five) of places left on the 2011 blanket. So be quick if your interested because once they’re gone, they’re gone.

These are her lovely beads, which are beautiful to work with in your knitting.

We set to work and had a very busy morning, followed by a lovely lunch.

Pictures of everybody hard at work,

it was an intensive workshop we learnt a books worth of techniques in one day!

And Debbie was a very attentive teacher,

Debbie looking quite calm and stress free, considering how much she had to teach I am very impressed.

Time to go home and a quick snapshot of some pieces of work. They are all looking wonderful and we have the pattern, yarn and beads to complete our little bags.

As you can see we all learn’t a lot, through Debbie’s wonderful teaching. I’ll try and finish my bag soon to show you although I have spent a large part of the day drooling over Debbie’s book, Blankets and Throws to Knit, choosing a blanket that will be lovely to knit with my new found skills. Intarsia, fairisle and beading, here I come….