circles

 My bestest (only) sister gave me a subscription to the Natural Dye Studio Mini Skein club for my birthday - how fab is she?

It's perfect for my circles blanket (I love a blanket)

 

So far 2 packages have arrived as the lovely people at the NDS ensured I had a package to unwrap on my birthday. The colours are amazing and I'm inspired to keep going with all these little squared circles. I can't wait to see next months offering...

adventures in dyeing ~ part one

While at Wonderwool I treated myself to some plain skeins of merino/tencel sock yarn... I have great plans for these little beauties...

I love my Brown-eyed Susan shawl so much - just in time for this seasonally unseasonal May weather (brrrr - nearly lit the wood burner last night but settled for more jumpers and a hot water bottle last night.)

The challenge I set myself was to dye the sock yarn into the purpley shades I love.

I started with KoolAid in grape and tropical fruit but the grape wasn't dark enough for me. So after a while I decided to over dye with some violet food colouring I had in the cupboard... Et voila! the purpley shade I was looking for.

So, three skeins ready to be knitted into another gorgeous Brown-eyed Susan - just the project for long summer road trips. Almost can't wait! Meanwhile the circles throw is growing bit by bit. (75 square circles down - 244 to go...)  Hurrah!

woolly wednesday - may

Oh my, Wonderwool Wales was wonderful!  I have returned home poorer in money but richer in fibres...

Two new drop spindles (I know, I'm greedy), lots of bags of fibres, wools, silks and lots of ideas.

I've started my Quill Hap shawl in a Portland Merino mix. I'm still knitting the central panel in garter stitch which is simple enough for me to start longing for something complicated to do along side it... So as I'm a glutton for punishment I have started Circles blanket - pattern by Amanda Perkin who dyes the most gorgeous yarns....

on more knitting and being organised...

I realised that I never showed you that shawl I knitted in Canada last year (I only realised when I figured out that I hadn't uploaded much to Ravelry recently. However, I finally got round to taking photos and thinking about how I should be more organised...

I'll knit another but I think it needs to be much, much bigger - maybe in handspun, who knows....

In other news I have started the Quill Hap shawl.... oh and a crochet blanket.... (need more hours in the day!)

While I've been away....

Well I didn't mean to take such a long break but there just didn't seem to be enough hours in the day recently...  What there has been time for (apart from very poorly little people and stupidly behaved weather) is yarn.

For Mother's Day (along with the gorgeous homemade cards and the time spent with my mother) I received this beautiful and so inspirational book and a variety pack of Koolaid.

Now I know that you people over the pond can get Koolaid easily but it's something we can't get easily here in the UK (unless anyone tells me otherwise.) Also the concept of Koolaid dyeing is not new or special to you but bear with me I'm still having fun...

I'm loving the bright colours - not loving the smell so much but there is much worse out there I'm sure. I'm also excited about dyeing up some merino roving. Can't wait to spin it!
What are you guys up to craft wise these days?

Woolly Wednesday

Oh my, it's Woolly Wednesday once more and this time I've got lots to show and tell. January has been a time for finishing things. It's one of my resolutions to stop starting things and wandering off when something else catches my eye. (I'm a fickle knitter) Also being stuck in the house due to rubbish weather has helped to keep me near my work basket....

First up I finally finished the Ab Fab throw that I was given a few Christmases ago. (ravelled here.)

I started and finished the Hemlock throw as a gift - knit in Rowan Big Wool it's very snuggly.... (snuggly is a proper word I'm sure)

Last up on the knitting front  is the Lonely Tree Shawl which I love!

Right. Now its the time for spinning. I have got back down to it and without all those knitting projects staring at me I feel less guilty about making more yarn. (don't get me wrong - there is plenty on those needles of mine, but that is another post entirely.)

Last summer I was lucky enough to be given 3 portland fleeces from a friend's flock. I've blended it with some merino and have great plans to spin enough to make this. There I've said it in public. That means I've got to do it! There is absolutely no way I could afford to buy the original yarn and I think handspun is the way to go....

on my needles

With cold weather on its way and all that holiday making over for at least 6 months it's time to cast on for another hat. I mean if it does really snow then I have a new hat to celebrate with.

One of my lovely Christmas presents was French Girl Knits Accessories full of beauties that must be knitted...

hello 2013 & Woolly Wednesday....

Happy New Year to you all! 2013 is the start of more new great things I'm sure!

Now I know I didn't spin this myself but it's wool - right?

In late 2011 I started this Kaffe Fassett throw for my mother - in that time there have been many ups and downs and it sure has been a challenge. 

  

But I finished it. All 300 odd rows, crocheted edging and velvet lining. It nearly defeated me several times - I kept having to wander off and find something small and less demanding to knit.

I could just sit and stare at it for ages....

 

It has a new home now (a tidy home.) I miss it - sort of. I don't miss the fact it sat in my work basket staring me out in a threatening manner until I picked it up.

Now I can be selfish and concentrate on spinning, knitting and making for me (until the next lot of elving starts)

ps... Suzani is Ravelled here

spinning the sky ~ part two

 Apologies for the spinning related (some would say obsessed) post that follows.....

From this...

... to this...

.. and this.

Now I know its far from perfect -  I can see all the mistakes but I don't care, it's mine!!! And the goddess of charity shops (for she does exist) blessed me as I found a niddy noddy in the window of a charity shop for 50p! One persons weird bit of wood is another persons very useful spinning thing...

a little light holiday knitting

I know I should be going on about the wonderful Nova Scotia - but can I first go on about some wonderful yarn I got once I got there? Last time I was in Canada (which makes me sound like I go there all the time - I don't. Honest.) I picked up some beautiful yarn by Fleece Artist - hard to source in the UK but not impossible. This time before I went I researched some yarn stores and decided that Baadeck Yarns was the place to go. My, what store! I restrained myself from buying too much but I did treat myself to some malabrigo to knit a little something while I was away. In fact I sent most of my spare time  - at the beach, in the (huge!) hire car - knitting. It's finished now - just waiting to be blocked. I'll show you it in all it's glory once it's looking very beautiful...

Now, to start my next knitting project with yarn from my stash...

{this moment} nearly finished

Joining Amanda at Soulemama

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

This is a present for my mama - Christmas came and went.... and now it's finally ready for her birthday. Happy Birthday mum! (oh, and Merry Christmas too!)

in my basket

I have one of those wonderful clever mothers who encouraged me to make, taught me many skills and supported me in my craft. Right now in my basket is something just for her. Something that only another maker would appreciate, with love worked into every stitch. Made in Rowan Summer Tweed, designed by Kaffe Fassett it has the tones of a beautiful old kilim. I plan to line it with rich velvet and give it with much love. I've Raveled it here

my handmade year begins - the holiday knits

The forthcoming seasons of cold and frosty, wet and windy mean plenty of time at home making. This year my presents for the holiday season are handmade. I am nearing the end of Octavia (ravelled here) for my mama. I've made a few adjustments to make it perfect for her then have to finish Bloom (ravelled here). There are a mass of projects in my knitting basket (so much so that I may have to get a bigger work basket!) but I am enjoying sitting in front of the fire soaking in the warmth and making something beautiful, for someone beautiful, stitch by stitch.

Winter is here to stay

As outside there is more of this snowy stuff.... things are going on inside instead. So work is continuing with the Peaks Island Hood and I already have my beady eyes on making a big Leaf Scarf with some reclaimed Rowan Big Wool. There is something about wintery weather that makes me want to sit in front of the fire with lots of wool. The 2010 list of things to knit increases daily especially as I have vowed not to buy new clothes this year - though I'm sure a charity shop purchase will be forgiven if I refashion it into something fabulous... A big storm has been promised for the weekend so I'm prepared for a knitting fest punctuated by mugs of hot chocolate and stir crazy children.

Snow!

We woke up to snow! Now I know this is a common occurance in other parts of the world but here it's a big deal. Today has been spent having fun, getting very cold, being revived with hot chocolate and starting all over again. Brilliant!

I've been very grateful for my new purple wellies and my charity shop mittens - perfect for the construction of snowmen.

Inside I'm wearing my freshly completed Veyla fingerless mittens and all I have to do now is knit like crazy to finish my purple Peaks Island Hood before the snow goes. Can you see a colour theme developing here?