Quick Autumnal Knit

Really easy "mitt-knit" using 4 double-point needles and soft baby cashmerino yarn. Took just three evenings to make and if you download the pattern from Ravelry, Cranford Mitts, you can make an optional donation to Medecins Sans Frontiers!

Stitch Markers - "sorted!"

For a number of months I've been contemplating stitch markers - yes, a bit sad, but bare with me! I really wanted to find something that didn't use a split ring and had as few "snagging opportunities" as possible, especially when working with lace yarns. Now, I am aware that I could have pinched some of Tilly's tiny braid elastics or even resorted to loops of knotted yarn - but I also wanted something that was pleasing to look at and big enough so it couldn't be "knitted in" by accident......... I couldn't really find anything, so decided to make my own.

Inspired by the bead stands at the Ally Pally knitting and stitching show last week I stocked up; bought a book from Amazon and visited, quite by chance, a wonderful bead jewellery shop, "The Birds and Beads", where the lovely Val Parker gave me an impromptu lesson in crimping, .......... and voilà.......I now have the stitch markers I've been craving. I can see this becoming a side-line and have put the first sets on the Yarnsmith website - please take a look!

The Green Man

This project has been a while in the offing, but is now complete and I am really proud of him! Designed to be part of a permanent exhibition at Cressing Temple Barns, Essex, he will join a plethora of other interpretations of the Green Man and also a unique weaving project undertaken by fellow members of the Mid-Essex Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers.

I think it's quite fitting that not only was the majority of the yarn taken from my stash, but the project transmuted organically as it progressed. The leaf background was taken from the Deciduous pattern on Ravelry, and the leaves developed from patterns found in "100 flowers to knit and crochet". As I'm not a proficient crocheter I decided to give it a go as the backdrop of the face so it could be "disguised" by the features if it went wrong. The eyes were also a crochet experiment which worked well and the straggly beard developed from a lovely scrap I found at the bottom of my work basket - it just begged to be incorporated! The green eye-lash yarn, again a scrap found (where and why did I get that!) was perfect for eye-lashes and brought the face to life.

I will be sorry to part with Green Man - he has definitely become part of the family; but look forward to visiting him from time to time!

Craft Club here I come!

I got an e-mail from the Craft Council at the end of last week asking if I wanted to attend a free training day for Craft Club Volunteers - an excuse to knit all day? Well, I'm not likely to turn that down am I? The training is associated with the "Knit 1, Pass it on" initiative to get volunteers into schools to do something crafty with yarn. It doesn't have to be knitting, but it's quite a good starting place - particularly as the website, "Craft Club, Knit 1 Pass It On", has some cracking ideas and patterns to get you started. Anyone can do this - you don't have to have experience working in school or teaching, you don't even have to be an expert knitter. The Craft Club is aiming to bring together a variety of people with different skills who share a common interest in getting crafts back into school. If you want to find out a bit more or register an interest just follow the link - and welcome to the knitting revolution!

PS. Thanks to the Craft Club trainers for a fab, inspiring day!

All is safely gathered in .....

Although my life is pretty much dominated by all things yarn, I occasionally allow other areas to encroach, you know; cleaning, cooking, homework............and this year, veg growing. This is partly because I’ve spent the last couple of years watching my neighbour systematically turn his bare, brown winter plots into and mass of colour, texture and taste through early spring to late autumn. Whilst being a year round knitter, I’m proving to be a fair weather gardener so I didn’t really get started before the end of April. At which point I bought two raised bed kits and stuck them on a bit of land I thought might get some sun. I wasn’t sure what to grow so picked up half-price seed potatoes; a couple of tomato plants for sale on the side of the road; found some beetroot seeds which came free with a magazine and bought some end of season courgette and French bean plants in a sale at the local garden centre. They all went in over one warmish week at the beginning of May and then pretty much got left – I think I watered them when it was hot in June and pulled out the odd shoot of bind-wind when I was walking past – but honestly, I really did leave them to their own devices. I didn’t stake the tomatoes, thin the beetroot or go near anything with insecticide (not that I want to do that anyway!) so I feel a bit of a fraud that I now have the harvest bowl pictured above. A gardening friend has intimated that this was beginners luck; whether yes or no ..............we’ll find out next year!

Yarnsmith announces the "Yarnshed".

This is such exciting news I need to sing it from the tree-tops! After nine months of planning we are really pleased to announce the opening of the Yarnshed. Our own purpose built sanctuary to house our stock; hold workshops, knitting groups and lessons as well as let the creative juices flow! If you would like to come and browse our sensational yarns and accessories, brush up on your skills or learn new techniques, or just sit and knit in the tranquil North Essex countryside please do not hesitate to get in touch. The kettle is always on and, with notice, you might even get some home baking thrown in!

Project hibernation works!

I really like the idea of KALs (knit-a-longs); the thought of hundreds of people around the globe knitting the same thing yet creating their own unique project makes me go all fuzzy inside - however, this Mystery Blanket was a bit frustrating with a number of errors appearing in the pattern instructions. After putting this project in hibernation for the best part of a year I finally decided to finish it using my own stitch patterns and techniques and have had great fun, ending up with a 36 square blanket surrounded by a knitted on border from Jane Sowerby's Victorian Lace Today. Just goes to prove that "hibernating" a project can really rejuvenate your work!

A personal quest for cob-web lace!

At the beginning of the year I set myself a personal goal (we won’t call it a New Year’s resolution!) to knit a lace shawl so lightweight that, when complete, I could pull it through my wedding ring. You have to understand that this was quite a challenge as I only really attempted lace knitting towards the end of 2009.

In February, whilst indulging in a browse of Ravelry.com (the Mecca of websites for handknitters) I discovered all sorts of groups whose passion is lace; “Scary Lace” – for those embarking on the discipline; “Victorian Lace Today” - for addicts of Jane Sowerby’s book of the same name; “A Gathering of Lace” - for advocates of the Meg Swansen book and the ambitious “Knit 10 shawls in 2010” (I’m currently on number 6 so need to get a move on!). From these groups and associated books I have learnt to understand the construction of shawls – from the rectangular to circular; to read lace charts; to master the provisional cast-on and knitted-on border techniques and even attempted, with some success, the design and charting of my own triangular shawl.

This journey into the traditions, design and construction of lace was all aimed at that ultimate goal, the cob-web shawl. Inevitably I ended up researching the Shetland tradition and discovered, Gladys Amedro’s fantastic book, “Shetland Lace”. Having convinced my-self that I really needed another lace knitting resource I eagerly awaited its arrival...... and it is a fabulous book, the one drawback for me is that the patterns are written not charted and, after years of reading written patterns, I just couldn’t seem to make the transition back! If I cast on the “Gibbie Shawl” (768 stitches) once, I cast it on six times and the consequential flight across the room (when I got lost on the third row) was only going to result in a spider’s web of cob-web lace.

So I resumed the search for chartered patterns for the ultimate cob-web lace shawl and that’s when I discovered the Estonian Lace tradition. Nancy Bush’s “Knitted Lace of Estonia” is a treasure trove of techniques and patterns, many adapted to modern and heavier yarn. However, true to my ambition I cast on for the Lilac Leaf Shawl using Melford Green’s single-ply alpaca and successfully worked 41 rows – then I hit my nemesis, “the nupp”. As far as I could tell the 7-stitch nupp was a series of knits and yarn-overs in to the same stitch until an un-workable knot was produced, this went on to unravel on any subsequent row leaving a hole the size of the Channel Tunnel in you otherwise perfect work. I put the book and the shawl away finally admitting defeat – the personal goal would have to wait another year.

It was then I remembered, (with “presence a-fore thought” as my granddad would have said) that I had, back in April, signed up to the “I-knit London Weekender Workshop” on Estonian Lace. Now, being a great believer in fate or the gods depending on whom I’m talking to, it obviously wasn’t my destiny to be defeated by “the nupp”, so I set off for the RHS headquarters in Victoria on 11^th September with much joy in my heart, a spring in my step and some circular needles and cob-web yarn in my bag. I wasn’t disappointed. The workshop, run by two fabulous women from The Dutch Knitters, succeeded where all those hours poring over books and scanning “You-tube” how to videos had failed. Not only have I mastered both the 5, 7 and 9 stitch “nupp” (pronounced “noup” to rhyme with “soup”) but understand the use of the “knitted cast-on” and “k2tog” cast off; how to calculate the stitch count for the traditional lace edge, how to invisibly sew on this lace edge (set aside at least 6 child-free hours!) and how to block to produce the ultimate Estonian shawl. Carla and Hilly, the Dutch knitters, have travelled to Estonia and in particular Haapsalu, the home of this tradition, to meet with and learn from the current Masters of this exquisite craft. The history of this knitting tradition relates back to the early 20^th Century when Russian families began to visit Happsalu to undertake treatment at the recently founded mud-therapy institute. Gradually the Estonian town grew into a health resort attracting wealthy vacationers from St Peterburg and Moscow who snapped up the handcrafted shawls. The introduction of the nupp into the lace wasn’t only to do with extending the 3 dimensional aspect of the work, but also connected to the financial gain for the knitter. Shawls were priced by weight so adding nupps, (some shawls contain more that 500) significantly added to their value as their inclusion meant the finished garment weighed more.

So, with all this new-found knowledge I have now cast on to create a Lily of the Valley rectangular shawl, confident in cracking the nupp and ever hopeful that I will have achieved my cob-web lace challenge by the end of the year!

Autumn ranges hit Yarnsmith

When ever a delivery van arrives, my 11 year rolls his eyes and groans loudly "Not more wool?" (how many times? it's YARN) - for me, it's just like Christmas all over again! Over the past month the following goodies have been lovingly unwrapped:
Manos del Uruguay lace weight,






Debbie Bliss' "Glen" Yarn and supporting pattern books for this as well as great new designs for the Rialto and Cashmerino Ranges.








Artesano have produced a really good value, high quality 100% Merino Superwash







and all of this has fitted beautifully into the new Yarnshed - purpose built in the garden. I'm in seventh heaven!

Exciting Autumn Promised!

A close friend has just congratulated me via facebook on this image without fully understanding the enormity of the undertaking. "What exactly is it?" It is, for me, the ultimate challenge - cobweb lace. The yarn has been produced via Melford Green Alpacas and was originally intended for another purpose entirely (long story!) but my personal target for this year was to create a Shetland Isle Shawl so this superb yarn was just too good an opportunity to miss! Watch this space for progress - could be a long wait!

Long time - no blog!

Unfortunately, no-blogging hasn't necessarily meant more knitting. Just loads to do with kids, school, business, family and garden . GARDEN - you can actually hear things growing; I was actually standing contemplating what to do next when I heard the faintest, but distinct pop! and our fabulous poppies were opening before my eyes!

Garden inspired I have managed to make a start on the "Green Man Project" for the Mid-Essex Weavers, Spinners and Dyers planned, permanent exhibition at the Cressing Temple Barns. We are producing 16" x 16" textile panels based on the Green Man theme so I have begun knitting/crocheting a selection of leaves to frame the face - the idea for the Green Man to be peering through the foliage. I'm planning to dye some of the fantastic Gedgrave Rasta green to make a beard and hair - it's fabulous being able to mix and match texture/colour and pattern - it's just knowing when to stop!

Look what I can do!

I've never considered myself a "crocheter" - there are just soooo many good knitting patterns that somehow I never really allowed myself to look further. However, being offered a "Workshop on Granny Squares" at the Colchester Stitch & Bitch "Knit In" on Saturday was too good an opportunity to miss; and low and behold - look what I can do. OK, it's not rocket science but it is quick, relatively easy and very addictive! I have now produced 12 granny squares without too much effort and Tilly has already ordered that they be made up into a hooded waistcoat "in time for Daisy May's Birthday". No pressure then!

Single Skein Shawl - here it is!

This is it - my first attempt at a triangular shawl from scratch - and I'm really pleased with the results. This follows comments from Shandy and Ellie on the "Pure Alchemy" yarn and how they'd like to see a project for one or two skeins. I have managed to "chart" this pattern and hopefully, once I can turn it into pdf, it'll be available for download!

Wenslydale inspiration

You just can't help going "aaaahhh" can you? Today, Tilly and I took a 100 mile round trip (one end of the county to the other) to visit Tracy and Peter Ranger and their fabulous flock of Wenslydales at Gedgrave, right on the edge of the Suffolk coast - overlooking the North Sea. Ostensibly we went to pick up an order of Tracy's fabulous lace weight yarn and meet her flock, inevitably we talked all things yarn for an hour or two (the accompanying lemon drizzle cake was terrific!).

So with lots to think about - "yarnsmith wise" and with spring definitely sprung - "garden wise", I can feel a very busy spell coming on!


To find out more about Tracy and her flock, including opening times, visit the Gedgrave Wenslydale website

Pure Alchemy; Part II

Two weeks of "kiddie" illness and hectic seasonal fervour at the end of term has resulted in not much blogging recently! However, the Easter weekend has been really enjoyable: catching up with prodigal friends; singing in a highly successful Faure requiem; a joyous (and feminist!) sermon on Sunday and an excellent array of family and food through out.

In addition, a chance conversation on Saturday morning has led "Pure Alchemy" in a totally different direction - perfect for the summer and beautiful too. A customer phoned to enquire whether the Patons 4 ply cotton would be suitable for canvas work and if so, what colours were available. We had a general chat about the qualities of the yarn and she mentioned that she may well buy some white in order to dye it to her required "stone" shade.

This led me to thinking about why we couldn't do the same for the Pure Alchemy range. I did a bit of research on the net which led me towards Procion dyes which I don't happen to have - so, just to see, I added a skein of white cotton with the next batch of "acid dye" merino. I have to be honest - I'm really pleased with the results; let me know what you think!

New Colours

Finally managed to add some more colours to "Pure Alchemy". This one is Suffolk Sky, inspired, (not surprisingly) by the pale blues; dove grey and soft whites of the sky above.

Planning to spend the whole day dyeing tomorrow. Can't wait!

Creative Week

This week has been all about getting the creative juices flowing - not just in terms of what colours to dye the next lot of "Pure Alchemy" but about where I want to take the business next and how to go about it. I know for sure that I don't want to lose the "personal" touch which we can currently offer - answering individual queries by e-mail or phone (even if it doesn't lead to a sale!); sharing expertise and tips; learning new skills myself and developing my own knowledge.

On Tuesday my dream of having a purpose built "yarnsmith" space took one step closer to becoming a reality. The 17' x 13' base was laid in the garden. I keep joking that by the time I've moved in with the yarn; laptop; spinning wheel; the sofa bed; dog's bed; kettle and microwave the family may never see me again! I wonder?

Wednesday presented a first with a networking event at Frankie and Bennie's in Haverhill organised by Womenta - the women's arm of Menta, (the Mid Anglia Enterprise Agency). Women across a range of careers and businesses; from a luxury soap maker to a health and safety expert, met to exchange thoughts and ideas on what it is to run your own business, often whilst juggling a family and all that that entails. However, even here I managed to sneak in a quick "knitting on circular needles 101" lesson and came away with further thoughts on developing the advice section of the website.

Friday saw the first session of the St Andrew's Knit and Yarn Group - primarily aimed at the parents' of St Andrews Primary School, Great Yeldham. I've teamed up with another school governor (and avid knitter) to teach the basics, and for those interested, a bit beyond. We are lucky enough to be using a fabulous workshop belonging to Rosie, a friend of the School. The venue overlooks the beautiful North Essex countryside, her fabulous kitchen garden and flock of Jacobs sheep. We turned up with homemade cakes and chocolate brownies (a must for any knitting group), toys for the pre-schoolers and a random selection stashed yarn and needles. Our two beginner knitters really got the hang of it and took their first projects home to practice on - both turned up at the school gate at the end of the day exclaiming that they hadn't put their knitting down all afternoon! I call that a successful class.

Saturday was my monthly fix of the Guild. Another fabulous meeting with a talk and workshop from William Jefferies of the "Kew Studio" who talked about what inspires his wonderful tapestries. I also had some great feed back on "Pure Alchemy" and lots of suggestions about refining my dyeing technique. (Along with, a round telling off for not keeping a "dye book" so I know what I did, when and how!) I came away feeling very positive and marvelling about just how much I've learnt about textiles over the past three years. (I then went straight to a great rehearsal of the Faure Requiem which an add hoc choir from the North Hinkford Benefice is singing on Good Friday - a really uplifting day! )

So this has been a really varied week - we've also fitted in ballet, swimming, Beavers, a trip to the secondary school and running a mile for Sports Relief. Spring is sprung with daffodils finally appearing in the garden and the dog venturting out unbidden - and I feel a definite rejuvination - long may it last!

Pure Alchemy Launched!

I am delighted to launch "Pure Alchemy", our very own hand-painted yarn. You've no idea just how much I've enjoyed doing this - so much so that it's now going to become part of our standard stock. Made from soft 100% merino wool, this is technically a 2 ply yarn but it knits pretty much to a 4 ply gauge so is great for socks, shawls and scarves. I don't intend to dye more than 3 skeins in any one colour combination and indeed some skeins will be "one-offs". However, this wool has a very generous meterage/yardage of approx 375m (about 410yds) per skein so a little goes a long way.

If you would like us to dye a specific colour combination please get in touch! Just a further excuse to play rather than iron!

The results are in!

The results of the "crock-pot experiment". Fabulous funky colours and really easy to do!

I used my newly purchased vintage (1950's - thanks to ebay) ball winder to produce this wonder! My 11 year old is now trying to attach a lego-motor to it to make the winding-process automatic. Kids!

Play Day

Yes, I know there is a lot of ironing and the dog needs walking but just couldn't resist having a go at "crock-pot dyeing" with the odd packs of Kool-Aid I had lying around. I have used Kool-Aid to dye single colours before and found the results a bit insipid and the process, to be honest, a bit boring - just a prolonged version of making up the drink and sticking a skein of yarn in it. However, on the plus side, doing this with an inquisitive 5 year old doesn't hold the hazards of more conventional dying with acid dyes or mordants! So far the results look pretty much as they should (see picture) and the sickly-sweet smell is being contained within the pot! Proof will be in the knitting up I suspect.

NB: For those fortunate not to know, "kool-aid" is a drink-mix from the States which comes in sachet form in a variety of lurid colours (and flavours!) As I've managed to dye my finger orange by dipping it in the dye-bath I just wonder what it does to your insides!

Melford Green Sweep the Board

Just in from Melford Green Alpacas;

"Alpaca breeders from right across the country travelled to Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire to take part in the British Alpaca Futurity 2010, the UK’s premier alpaca show last weekend. Over two days the very best animals in the country were judged by Jude Anderson, who had flown in from the US especially for the event. Animals entered by Melford Green Alpacas from Long Melford led the way from the start, with Claudia, winning a first place rosette and taking the grey championship. This success continued throughout the whole weekend with the team eventually taking 7 rosettes and 2 Championships. Once all of the points had been tallied up at the end of the show, Melford Green were awarded the trophy for “Most Small Successful Small Breeder 2010.”

However, the success didn't stop there! We entered a number of exhibits in the craft show and not only did we come first and third (lace shawl and toddler Gurnsey) in the knitting show (knitted by yours truely!) but Shirley Simpson's handspun yarn, spun from Melford Green's top grade suri fleece, gained best in show. Way to go Melford Green team!!

Unique hand-spun

I'm absolutely delighted that my good friend Sue King, has provided Yarnsmith.co.uk with some stunning hand-spun yarn. Sue, who refuses to knit (!), is a great spinner, calligrapher, exponent of parchment craft and an expert maker of Japanese temari balls (the story goes that these exquisitely decorated spheres were originally created as toys which wouldn't go through the thin interior walls of Japanese houses!). Sue has been a member of the Mid-Essex Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers since the 1980s and can often be found demonstrating her spinning skills at the Melford Green Alpaca Open Days.

Mid-Essex Guild inspiration.

The Mid-Essex Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers always provides inspiration but this month, yet again, it's provided me with a new spinning wheel. There was a tremendous turnout for the February meeting - the draw being P&M Woolcraft. It still gives me a rush to see so many people sharing their expertise and enthusiasm for yarn-crafts. Long may it last.

We have taken delivery of alot of new stock recently; today's parcel contained the fabulous Fyberspates Scrumptious DK - the softest silk, richly and deeply dyed. Just a must!

First proper attempts at dyeing!

I (we, joint effort with 11year old) are delighted with our first attempts at "grown-up" dyeing! Relatively easy with the Corkwood starter kit and a few hints from You-tube. We started with undyed skeins of 100% merino sock yarn and actually mixed the ammonium sulphate into the dye-baths (not sure if you're supposed to do it this way - but didn't have any violent chemical reaction!) and then used squeezy water bottles to "paint" on the colour. The dyes are really strong once "cooked" (8 mins in the micro-wave) and I felt a bit like an alchemist - really unsure of what was going to happen - but that's part of the fun. I'm definitely going to keep a "dye-diary", and I'm definitely going to be doing some more. I feel a whole new yarn-range coming on!

A technical thing!

XGZB4BQ9ZDPE

Technorati users will recognise this - all others, please ignore!

Social Networking 101

Thanks to MENTA the benefits of Social Networking has been unravelled and yarnsmith.co.uk now has a page on facebook and we are also attempting to "tweet". Sean Proctor ran a great beginners course on facebook, twitter, forums and blogs and how they can assist businesses. Now I may be a bit of a novice to all of this but it's actually quite exciting! The potential is amazing - facebook, which was only launched in 2004, is the third most visited site on the net! It celebrated 250 million people with accounts in July 09 - that's phenomenal. My only concern is time management - getting the balance right between updating blogs, tweets and facebook and making sure it doesn't take time from the vital things of life - like kids, husband, dog and ...............knitting.

And here, just because I hate to post a blog without a picture, this year's Melford Green Alpaca, (hand-dyed) being blocked into Polly Outhwaite's Kiri Shawl - really easy, and available from Ravelry

Girasole finished!

You have no idea just how delighted I am to have finished this - and am having to be really disciplined not to just go ahead and start another! The pattern is by Jared Flood and available through Ravelry and there is a really helpful and friendly KAL (knit-a-long) group for help with the charts etc. If you don't attempt anything else this year - do this! Unfortunately, as this was a WIP (work in progress) at the start of the year, can't count as one of the 10 shawls in 2010 challenge!
I knitted this using Patons 4ply 100% cotton which makes it robust enough to use as a "TV blanket" but would really like to make a lace weight one - just because........... so many projects, so little time!

The Gedgrave Yarn

This is really exciting. We are now stocking THE most fantastic 100% Wenslydale wool from the Gedgrave flock. Tracy Ranger and her husband manage their flock from their home just east of Orford, on the Suffolk Coast. We are currently stocking "lace" and "aran" weight skeins in natural cream, which is machine spun in Sussex, and also the superb hand spun "chunky". This really is like taking the "dreadlocks" (cream, brown and grey) straight from the animal (if you know Wenslydales you'll know what I mean) and creating the most fabulous, fun and funky yarn you'll have come across!

New Year's Resolutions

We've all made them - and this year's been no exception. However, I did set a new record and broke the first of my knitting related NYRs within approx 12 hours of making it. In an effort to placate the family ("mum, not more wool!") and with a nod towards the recession, I vowed not to start anything new until all my WIPs (Works in Progress) were complete. This was with particular reference to a straight forward jumper I've been knitting for my Dad for the last ...... to many to remember.... months. (Love the yarn - Noro Silk Garden - really bored with garter stitch!)

Then I made the fatal mistake of taking a New Year tour of Ravelry and came across the " 2010 Shawl Challege" - just has to be done doesn't if? 10 shawls in 12 months - what could be easier. Hah! First problem - choosing the 10 patterns!!

I have now cast on the first - opting for something not too challenging for a befuddled January, the Deciduous wrap from Mandie Harrington. Coming along really well thanks to the Aran weight Donegal Luxury Tweed yarn from Debbie Bliss - love this yarn! Doesn't look much at the moment - but trust that "blocking" will do it justice.