that throw and the V & A

Mar.19, 2011

They really are connected – these two – the V & A and the wedding present throw.

You might be able to tell that this is now a large throw, and it is very warm when I am knitting it as it covers my lap and down to the floor. Fortunately I am now decreasing one stitch on every row – so it will soon be done.

Then we have to plan a trip to London to deliver it, and then visit the knit fashion collection at the V & A. It means we have to work out when we could go, and book a time to view the collection which is not on public view. When I tried last year they needed more than 6 weeks notice of my intention to view and they were so overflowing with bookings and so on they couldn’t actually accept my booking – even though I tried to give more than the required 6 weeks notice.

This will have to be third time lucky. I tried about 19 years ago – and without the internet and no way of knowing from New Zealand that a booking to view was required I arrived at the Victoria and Albert Museum and found that it was not possible to view the knit collection as I hadn’t booked. I had come all the way from New Zealand, had 2 days in London specifically to view the collection and I couldn’t see it.

I tried last year and contacted them via the website outside of the 6 week notice required and I still wasn’t able to make that all important booking for the period that we had arranged to be in London.

It seems one has to book the V & A first and then make all other bookings as cheaply as possible – if possible. Uncomplicated bookings like trains, air travel, accommodation, and maybe some knitterly designery event as I aimed for in 2010.

Hope I make it this time as it is unlikely that we will be back in Europe again.

But I will deliver the wedding present throw to the couple in London.