Patterns and templates

I have placed some knitting patterns over on my etsy shop so head on over and visit me ,I will add more as I get them ready.The majority of items in the shop are felted items all unique and items made to deomonstarte techniques or for shows.I have been asked so often if I sell my finished pieces and the answer has always been ‘no’ but now I have had a change of heart and listed them .So do come over and visit.The vision long term vision is to offer techniques classes online and the opportunity to purchasethe worksheet, template/resist and fibre etc all in one pack.

New Necker

My new necker and experimenting with undulating rolls and restraining channels and not knitting short rows to get the effect, it is alot easier this new way.

The yarn is a cone yarn from Texers a boucle acrylic twist which holds the design very well ,did sample this up in merino and it just does not look good ,the trilby on my glass smodel is anew felt design soon to be released.

Twilley’GORGEOUS’

Been using some differing yarns just recently and I have to say the Twilley Gorgeous is a great yarn with a lovely drape but holds your stitch pattern firm and the colours are good too–well done Twilley ,seems an age since I designed for them the ‘knit to felt’ kits usingFreedom.More colours in this range would be great maybe colours like theSincere organic cotton range .

 

No cobwebs in my chapel so decided to knit one –love these colours

I know

I do watch ‘Britain has got talent ‘ and after today I know what Simon Cowell feels like when he sees real talent. Today I have been priveleged to spend the day with a group of very dedicated talented creative ladies who take yarn and fibre craft to better heights and make me really want to stay in this world even when I get disillusioned. Where was I ? I was a guest of Janet over at the Threshing Barn http:www.threshingbarn.com and we had fun and learnt new things .

What did I learn ?–I learnt an important lesson that outside of the world of publishers and magazine editors the crafter is there ,the honest crafter who just wants to share and learn  and grow, they inspired me with the skills they had and the passion for fibre.

The whole shop is a wonder world of products for your chosen craft, samples galore to inspire you to try them, and a book selection better than Waterstones craft section.  

Janet is passionate, hard working and so generous with knowledge that if you live in England and do not go there at least once a year you are missing out big time .

I hope I go back, it will be a privelege to teach there again, I will be back to shop and buy some of the fibres and silks that Janet dyes, the yarn she cards and spins, and maybe I will get to see a 1 minute old chick again  which was awesome .

So I was so happy coming home and Lent is over so went to Ikea and bought some Dime bars which I love, along with a host of other bits I obviously feel I cannot live without including the best peeler in the world .

My darling husband cooked my dinner for me and rounded off a perfect day which started with me seeing my daughter and son in law to be before I left home and ended with a good meal and my blog —’Goodnight crafters wherever you are, ‘Threshing Barn Ladies thank you.

September mornings already

Oh what !!I cannot believe it is September already -where was summer and those hot sultry days? –well Autumn is my favourite time, I have to confess it just stirs something deep inside,and this is my birth month so lots of yummy presents etc ,slightly makes up for another year whizzing by faster than I can knit.

Well been to Glaramara again and it only rained on the last day,by which time I was exhaustedbut totally exhilerated with all the fibres and creativity and felting etc and 

                                 

meeting old friends and making new friends .Lizzy if you read this I cannot look at a plum without thinking of you,haha.Here are some piccies of us all gathered ready to start felting with Mollie Littlejohn from Australia .We all had a fabulous time the whole thing was oorganised by http://www.winghamwoolwork.co.uk  Ruth and Alan have this down to fine art now and we all get very spoilt with great atmosphere great teaching yummy food and scenery to blow your mind .

So it is back to the real world and deadlines etc .Have a 3 month lace series running in Knitting starting next month October issue ,so that has been lovely to do especially after my Elizabeth Zimmermann knitalong with http://www.Knitpicks.com .

This American yarn company has some beautiful products but will not ship to the UK, come on Knit Picks please start shipping .

It is the time for all the great knitting shows as well Allie Pally and NEC but my favourite has to be Harrogate ,which is my home town.I will be there every day this year with http://www.Paviyarns.co.uk   teaching on the stand and book signing so that is exciting and I hope to meet lots of people .  Check Pavi out some lovely new yarns and hand dyed yarns and silks yummy and juicy .

Promise to myself will aim to write more and to all who email me and spell my name wrong which results in bounced emails try the following maybe that is easier knittinglady@dsl.pipex.com .

Keep knitting and felting, should include crocheting as my new book Quick Crochet will be out before Christmas ,lots of fab things in there to do and lovely yans used .See those who make it to Harrogate .

Post Glaramara

OK so it is 9.30pm Sunday and wow do I miss you guys always feel like this after a gathering of fellow felters and we so have a good time and very creative it all is.
Went one further this visit and started to spin yes spin and I have bought myself a spinning wheel, the new Sonata- but it is a bit like bringing a new baby home you think you can cope and remember it all but it is so different when you are on your own.Still i will persevere and read all i can and book a spinning course asap.
the summer sun is on its way to be enjoyed and the earth to be tended, oh I need sun on my skin I feel like I have rising damp this winter.new yarns are out htere to be enjoyed and i intend to do a review of those I have used.I am into socks at the moment and sock yarns and good needles to use.My favourites are Brittany 5″ dp at the moment my friend Lisa made me a fab holder for them which has been much admired. Headaches aside I am feeling good after the break and ready to get all my jobs done and the knitting pins busy.

Knitting is easier.

Well the main part of my days over the last few have been spent building a web site and it has been hard hard work,would rather have tackled a new Bohus pattern.

But I am sure that by next week I will forget what I have taught myself in the past few,what has amazed me is looking at the traffic logs for the site—it is amazing that after only been up and running for less than a day it has had the hits it has.

Anyone got any ideas for a good valentine knitty idea ??brain has dried up

Keeping resolutions

Hi well this is me being very good but no piccies as something has died in my camera -will get the Dr to look at iti when he arrives home.

Very good this morning Been doing some surfing looking at other sites and as I am a snow freak the piccies on this site made me green with envy—think I live in the wrong country.So come on you lucky knitters who have snow either link with my site or at least send me some snow pictures to go with my sock knitting.

Also today tried crocheting with Noro Daria which reminds me of the bourdon gimp we used to be able to get anywhere.The colours of the Daria are lovelyand I know Pavi Yarns will be stocking it.

 I am fascinated with the number of workshops, lessons at trade fairs, get togethers in yarn shops that happen in America compared to the Uk.I know we try hard but it does not seem to hold the same priority here.Well going to download a new book to the ipod and get stuck in to the latest project ,trying to use some of my stash as the new year always brings new yarns. I promise piccies as soon as the Dr fixes things.