Sandra's Designing Blog

KAL finish and Hollins House

Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 23rd Jul 2020

4 months ago, here in the UK we went into lockdown. For vulnerable people this meant an enforced stay at home routine, for the frontline key workers it meant putting their lives at risk and being super busy. For me, it was a time of being busy in so many ways and I'm only just being able to slow down and finally get to meet family and friends again (although at a distance).

So why have I been so busy you might ask. Well back in January I purchased a house here in Slaithwaite, a house that I had planned on decorating, furnishing and then advertising it on Airbnb as a place for visitors to stay in. I had also planned on hosting knitting retreat weekends and workshops straight away. I had to some how continue with this plan.

Secondly, I wanted to do something to keep some of my friends in my local knitting group motivated, so 1st April I launched my very own Knit Along. A weekly pattern would be designed, knitted, written up and sent to a small group of friends for them to knit along to. I would also be around with tips and advise which I posted on a fb group.

After months of hard work project managing workmen, buying furniture and accessories online and getting stuck in to the decorating its finally paid off. Hollins House is now listed on Airbnb and has had its first visitors. Whist knitting retreats and workshops are not happening yet, I'm happy to host 1:1 knitting lessons whilst you stay here. Check out the AirBnb listing here to see this years availability https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/43984846

The mystery Knit Along was as much a challenge for me as it was for the knitters. Having to keep up to a weekly regime of pattern creation, checking and writing up was a chore at times but I did it!. I gave participants a choice of colours (1 variegated and 2 solid yarns) and a choice of whether they wanted to produce a wrap or a triangular shawl. My finished version is shown here.