Lotusblossom Knits

For some time I have been researching starting my business and testing the waters by selling a few skeins of my hand dyed yarn here and there, consequently I’ve set up a small shop Etsy to sell those yarns. In the course of my research and reading I came across several threads on the Etsy forums (and in other places) concerning craft fairs. Discussions over whether they were worth it, how much stock one should take, what’s the best way to set up and many other questions. At the back of my mind has been the idea that at some point I might start doing small craft fairs and hopefully build things up to the point where I could start doing the larger knitting shows. First things first though I had to see if the smaller fairs were suitable venues for selling yarn.

Close to us here in South West London is a small craft fair which runs every week end on a permanent basis. Merton Abbey Mills is a beautiful space tucked away at the back of a very large savacentre and half way between Wimbledon High Street and Tooting Broadway. It has an incredible history (which can be read about on it’s website).

I remember the fair from my younger years and I thought it might be an idea to see if it was still as I remembered it, a bustling market, full of hand made goodies, fantastic fast food (not your usual greasy burgers) and a venue for all things alternative and unusual in this corner of South London.

We went quite early, taking the bus and strolling from Merton High Street, across the river Wandle and into the Abbey’s grounds. We discovered that they were hosting a children’s festival, Kidsfest. There was music, dancing, african drumming, face painting, jewelry making, balloons and of course ice cream.

But the craft stalls? A shadow of their former selves. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. It’s alway terrible when something you remember from your childhood turns out to have changed so dramatically that you start to question your own memories.

Whilst Mr LBK took the kids off to explore, I got talking to a lady minding one of the permanent shops (the grounds consist of several buildings which have been converted into shops, restaurants and even a small theatre).

It seems that the company that manages the Estate had changed the way that the vendor stalls were set out. Before they lined all the avenues on the site. You could wander up and down taking in everything. There were still some stalls remaining outside, but nowhere near as many as I remembered. Instead, many of the stalls had been tucked away under a huge marquee to the back of the site. Many of the stalls under cover were not selling hand made goods but a mixture of vintage clothes, brick-a-brack and other bits and pieces. Dotted in between were stalls selling hats made by hand and some beautiful jewelry but they looked a little lost. The stalls were not manned at all so even if one wanted to buy it would have been impossible.

The lady I was speaking to told me that the management committee were now changing the layout of the stalls back to the way they were and that hopefully that would improve things.

Feeling a little despondent I wandered out to find the rest of the family and discovered them making bracelets. Both the children were completely absorbed what they were doing, crafting away and making something beautiful. Once they had finished, we wandered a little more, got talking to the lady who runs the theatre school on site (We are signing Lally up – she’s very excited about it), had lunch, ate ice cream and then …. then we danced ….

There, under the small bandstand where they had set up a sound system for the children’s disco, Lally and Luca danced like mad things.

Who knew they had so many cool moves …

I sat and watched them trying out new moves, making friends, throwing themselves into the moment totally. By this point my disappointment had begun to mellow, things change I thought, that’s life. We move on and if we have any sense we take the opportunity to learn or to try something new, to take a risk even if it is a small one.  I’m guessing that’s what the management company tried to do (although not such a small risk when other people’s businesses are involved). The Mills is not what it was but it does have the potential to be great again and hopefully with the stalls being returned to their original places and the fact that those who make their goods by hand are being offered a free stall, it will be great again. I don’t know if I’m quite ready for that full stall but when I am (and there will be a when) I think I’ll be heading for Merton Abbey Mills.

I’m afraid not much knitting has been happening here at Casa Lotusblossom Knits in terms of knitting. The baktus I started a while back and which had been ziping a long nicely stalled to a halt when I realised that somehow I had gone wrong somewhere and therefore had to rip back. Despite the fact that it’s a 4 line pattern I think I miscounted and was adding in extra yarn overs in the wrong places. This may be because every time I sit down with needles in my hands someone will want something that requires immediate attention. Which results in me completely losing my place. I think I need to stick to knitting garter stitch scarves for now, it might make life easier. So the upshot of this is that it’s currently sitting all forlorn by the side of my bed.

In other knitting news the little something (from and Elizabeth Zimmermann pattern) that I mentioned a few posts back is almost done. Just need to finish of the edging, sow up the sleeves and put in a zip …. on second thoughts I may be some time ….