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!