Did I mention that I really love my work? This week work took me to Frome — a beautiful small town in a part of Somerset which I have never visited. I was there to see Jen . . .
. . . and also got to hang out with Jim (the inimitable Veuf Tricot) and Scooter. The latter is a very smart feline — far too smart to injure his dignity posing for photographs.
Jen and I worked (and plotted) really hard, and then then took an afternoon off to potter around town. I’m really glad we did, as Frome is a place that seems to demand pottering.
Everywhere you look, there are inviting windows to peer into. . .
And things to look at . . .
(This needle-felted Seagull mask was one of an incredible collection in a shop called OWL. )
On Catherine Hill, there are several fabulous vintage stores, selling niche and carefully curated garments and objects. I love this selection of cloches . . .
. . . and am concerned that this dress and its very particular green is going to haunt me.
Catherine Hill also boasts a lovely haberdashery shop called Millie Moon
I have a mild addiction to ribbons and trims . . .
. . . which was certainly fed there.
And best of all, Catherine Hill has its own lovely yarn shop – Marmalade Yarns
In this extremely pretty and well-situated shop, Catriona and Maxine sell a superb selection of British yarns from mainstream producers like Rowan to some of the best independents like Skein Queen, Fyberspates, and Shilasdair. Marmalade Yarns is also a stockist of (ahem) ME. I don’t think it will ever stop being exciting to visit a place that sells my book and patterns.
(Jen and Catriona outside Marmalade Yarns. Yes, Catriona is wearing an o w l sweater!)
Thankyou, Jen, for a fun and productive couple of days, and for a great introduction to Frome!
KDD & Co 
Kind of how I picture Heaven!
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Nostalgia trip for me. I grew up in Frome before moving back to Scotland. I have memories of my mum pushing me up Catherine Hill in a red and white striped buggy telling me I was too big now and would have to walk. At the top was a little bakers where we got Battenburg cake as a treat.
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Lovely series of images, I love the last shot and the name of the store ‘Marmalade Yarns.’ I’m your newest rss subscriber…
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I live in London but have stopped in Frome a few times on my way to Glastonbury festival. It has lovely coffee and cake shops which is what you need when heading off to a large busy field. I am so happy to discover that it also has wool and haberdashery shops. Brilliant and why am I living in London……
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Just to be contrary: you already appear to have the dress’ twin. I had to look twice to be sure the dress in your header-picture and the dress on the form weren’t the same one! Although, I admit, this may also mean you *should* buy the dress, for they are almost certainly different in more ways than the prints.
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Frome is now definitely on my list of places to visit! Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for similarly picturesque places with lovely independent shops? I’m surely not the only person who loves a mooch around shops but am sick of the homogenous high streets which are so prevalent. In the UK some of my favourites for a grand day out are Rye, Ludlow, Totnes, Lewes, and Ledbury but I’m keen to find more!
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Kate – you and I have never met, of course, but I know for sure, that green dress is YOU.
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I love all the neat pictures. They make me want to see your part of the world away from Central Texas, U.S.A.
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Hi Kate, I’ve written an article for Frome People about two nice stories from Catherine Hill, including yours, hope you like it & do visit again :) http://www.fromepeople.co.uk/Frome-s-Deadly-Female-boosted-Nigella-s-wiggle/story-17986024-detail/story.html
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I love your pictures. I have a coalport figurine called Biddy in that exact shade of green.
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I live in Frome, moved here almost 2 years ago to the day. I love it! What wonderful pictures you took, I think they truly evoke the spirit of our wonderful town and all the reasons we moved here :-) Don’t hesitate to visit people – and, you may like to know that on the first Sunday of the month throughout the summer months (May-September) we have a wonderful Artisan market on the cobbled St Catherine’s Hill (where Marmalade Yarns and Millie Moon and all of those lovely retro shops are) which is a fantastic chance to see even more local craftspeople, eat delicious local “slow food” and more. We look forward to seeing you. (PS – if you are local we have a great WI, and Marmalade Yarns and Millie Moon, the florist featured Bramble & Wild and other local people are regular speakers. Do join us http://fromewi.blogspot.co.uk/ )
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A lovely vicarious visit for me…. I’d be haunted by the green dress as well!
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Time travel… And goes with the various items that keep hauting us the inevitable question from the male partner (perplexed tone) : “If you talk so much about it, if you really liked it, WHY didn’t you buy it ???”. Ignorant men.
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I was so intrigued with the seagull mask from the OWL shop that I found its site on facebook, and asked who the artist was. It is a woman named Gladys Paulus, and she does amazing wet-felting work. And for those of you in the United Kingdom, she offers felting workshops! http://www.gladyspaulus.co.uk/
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Marmalade yarns? The name alone sends me into paroxysms…
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Please check the Internet for Shetland Ponies Wearing Sweaters. An advert put out by the Shetland Tourism Board.
I wonder how long it took them to knit those big FairIsle sweaters. Seen on Good Morning America on January 25.
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Lovely photos of a lovely place I am unlikely to ever be able to see. Thanks for the eye-candy! I am glad you had a good and productive time, Kate.
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Another vote cast for buying the dress! I’m headed for Wales next summer, and almost wish it were England instead…almost! It is truly wonderful to see all these little villages with their shops on your blogposts. Where I live in small-town America, those retailers were long ago driven out by the local big-box store.
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The votes are in, Kate…we all want you to have the dress, obviously. Post a picture as soon as you have it, so we can all relax! Thank you for sharing your lovely day with those of us across the pond!
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Beautiful images!!!
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Looks like such a lovely place. I am hoping the dress and the owl mask came home with you. I suspect you’ll be seeing more and more of your designs in the future. Luckily that means we (your fans) will be too…
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What a lovely place! I love all those little shops. Not badly off here in Edinburgh (Stockbridge on my doorstep) but it would be lovely to have more independent retailers like that. I guess the current economic climate is not so great though.
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Hi, I love Frome, I live here & I love the shops so much that I’ve made a free one page shopping guide to help the retailers, you can download it here http://bit.ly/Fromeshop – or check out the Frome Shops Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ShopinFrome
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I just love that town and want to go strolling around those little shops too!
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That dress is SO you.
And. . . one more town added to my UK travel list.
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Awesome trip – on my fibre places to visit on pinterest now!
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I so very nearly got to live there about 6 years ago, but the husband’s job changed and it didn’t materialise. I may never recover. ;-) It’s a fabulous place!
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and the next email was from kate so here it is. Looks like a lovely little town. Hope it is. Ga
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Sounds like a great day! Well worth a trip.
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I wouldn’t mind knit-walking down those streets !
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Looks amazing. I would really like a trip to that part of the country. I love towns with independent retailers. My sister in law is lucky enough to live in Totnes (Devon) which is very reminiscent of Frome. I bet you had a grand time.
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Thank you for your kind comments on Frome and our shop. I would like to bet I was more excited to have you visit us as stockists of your exquisite patterns, if you return for that dress please call again.
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So lovely and surprising to read this blog! Long time reader, first time commenter from Frome who first heard of your blog via a Newcastle univeristy (where I was a student) acquaintance. Glad to hear you liked our little old town and I hope to one day visit all of the Scottish islands you frequent!
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The picture of the little Loriot book made me smile. He was one of the really great German comedians (died in 2011). As a half-German I can say this: we don’t really have that many comedians who we don’t need to be ashamed of, and he was definitely one of them. His films and sketches are must-sees for every learner of the German language ;)
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I was in Somerset last summer and completely missed Frome! That will have to be rectified someday. Thanks for the delightful tour.
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These pictures make me want to get on a plane and come back to the UK. You’re so lucky to have access to such gorgeously inviting small towns.
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Tea, books, and fiber. It doesn’t get much better.
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It might, if that tiny little bicycle sign in the Marmalade Yarns picture means there is a ramp there which you could ride down with your backpack full of yarn after visiting the shop…. ;)
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I love all of this. The seagull mask is wonderful, and your photo of Marmalade Yarns looks like something out of a dream.
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You absolutely need to go back for that dress – let it haunt you no more! Looks like a great way to spend a few days.
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Come to my shop – on the the lovely island of Anglesy.
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Lovely pictures,I’ve lived near Frome for years but never really explored it properly, had no idea there was a wool shop, have made plans to visit on Monday!
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Looks absolutely lovely!
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I love my town SO much, and you’ve done such a wonderful job of capturing it. Reading the comments is making me burst with pride.
It was, as always, a joy to spend time with you. Here’s to more plotting in the very near future. xx
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I just loved this post, and the wonderful (as always) pictures. I would love to visit Frome… but I think there’s some danger I would never want to leave and come back home to Canada!
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I’ve just moved to North Somerset so a trip to Frome I must now make! At knitting group in Bristol today a toddler was resplendent in your owl sweater.
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what a magical place, and your pictures capture the entire atmosphere so beautifully. want to pack my bags and go there immediately, and i’m on the wrong side of the Atlantic!
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Ah the West Country! Certainly, it is a place of JOY! I reckon that being self-employed and building your own career is all about finding the right COMRADES – folks who inspire; who are smart and capable; and – crucially – whom you can share such pleasures as tea and yarn and cake with. Huzzah!
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Buy the dress. I am still haunted by the hand carved figurine I didn’t buy at the Cloth Market in Krakow….
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Thank you for the tour. Frome looks like a wonderful place to potter around. I like the way that sounds.
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What a fun time and beautiful town.
OI look forward to a picture soon of you in that gorgeous dress!
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PS. That dress is a must.
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Aaw, the two sweetest knitwear girls I know and a beautiful town to boot. Jen has the loveliest smile. Brilliant post, thanks Kate. x
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I was thinking just yesterday that I should cycle over to Frome for an explore at some point. Reading this has only increased my desire to visit.
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Go back for the dress! It’s exquisite and you’ll not regret it.
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Oh – I didn’t notice the picture with Catriona. I haven’t seen her in a few years…..looking good Catriona if you are checking in!
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Thank you, you are very kind. Frome is lovely even if it is far away from home, I still love living here.
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I can see why you would love it! And it looks like the perfect place for a knitting shop. Hope that the kids are all doing well – they must be getting big by now.
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Oh and it’s Diane Milne in case you were wondering ;-)
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It looks lovely in Frome! I went to school/Sunday School with Catriona…..I love that she opened a knitting shop!
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Oh Frome, I haven’t thought of it in years. What a great place and all of Somerset! Yes to the dress.
It’s ‘your’ fault I am now sewing more ;) And I got all of Ann Cleeve’s mysteries on Shetland and tell you what……….NOTHING is getting done around here! And Inquiring Minds want to know how many books you sold……….I do hope it was a bizillion, maybe it’s a secret. I love my copy and it is the essays that definitely add to the patterns.
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That seagull mask is amazing!!!
If I ever have a yarn shop, it will have cute “open” and “closed” knitted signs! Or in my case, “ouvert” and “fermé”. :-)
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This is exactly what I love about your blog–the chance to visit (vicariously) so many absolutely interesting places. Perhaps we’ll see you in the green dress…
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Loved the dress too! Loved it all….want to go there.
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It looks wonderful! That dress…hmmm (I must look for fabric).
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what a lovely day! i enjoyed it vicariously.
the dress is going to haunt me too. i especially like the cuffs.
and the wallpaper.
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You really “need” to buy that dress. Love the knitted sign – so simple and charming! Love it. Glad you had a fantastic day.
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Please buy the dress! I too am in Victoria, and would buy the dress if I could!
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Ooh that is my kind of town! Dear and winding and full of sweet independent shops.
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I love those villages you get to visit, they are so charming! I understand why you love your work so much, apart from all the knitting and yarn… Thank you for sharing!
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That’s another place on my “to-visit” list ….. we are supposed to be going to Somerset to visit a friend who moved there recently, so that’s an extra reason to go!
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What a cozy town to potter away in….not to add to you haunt Kate :) but that dress so has your name on it. So glad you had such a grand day out. :)
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Spending a day with a good friend in a wonderful place….what’s better than that? ….And I agree…that dress is SO you. Don’t let it get away!
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I just want to pack a bag and head there NOW!
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Ooo, I love that particular shade of green too! Nice fabrics – reproduction feed sack, no?
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Oh, I just hate/love it when dresses haunt me!
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You NEED that dress!
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‘My type of town’ as the song says.
I LOVE that cloche hat and the knitted shop sign. Why does something so simple please me so much?
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Well it’s my “kind of town, NY,NY, a Frank Sinatra song. But I agree I’d love to be there too.
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Sorry, I have to chime in to stand up for the home team . . . It is “My kind of Town, Chicago is . . .but I agree that Frome looks like my kind of town too. I’m putting it on my endless list of places I must see.
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Because you would look great in it ! Probably in pink… or red ! ;)
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Oh my goodness I wish I had been there with you!
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I live just outside Frome and was ther yesterday and I agree the shops are fantastic!! LOTS of individual and independent people. Did you go to the black Swan? Marmalade yarns stock my local yarns too!
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what a lovely place. my favorite thing is the knitted open sign.
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sounds like such fun!
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