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.

A new passion................

If you'd asked me about beading three weeks ago - I'd have thought of fabulous Elizabethan costumes; flapper dresses from the 1920's and hoochy Mamma's from the burlesque stage - I wouldn't have thought of embellishing my own creations with simple beading stitches and fringes. However, after a session with Karen Odinga at the November meeting of the Mid-Essex Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers entitled "Embellishments for felt" I am a convert. Karen shared with us really basic, simple ways of attaching beads to pieces of felt that we'd made earlier (in good old Blue Peter tradition) and the results were spectacular. I immediately came home, hit the internet for supplies and I'm really quite pleased with the results (see pics!).
I can now envisage beads on everything - including knitting - some of those lace shawls from Jane Sowerby's "Victorian Lace Today" - with beaded fringes, beads incorporated into the borders or stunning shawl pins! Can't wait!

SEO for the Jelly Brained!

I've just spent the day on an SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Course so now have a brain full of jelly. The internet is just a wonderous place for those in the know (up until two months ago I'm not even sure I'd heard of SEO!) However, Sean (he of Phoenix Consultancy and great cups of tea - see earlier blogs) assured those present that once we'd submitted our details to 270+ directories; learnt the essentials of "social bookmarking"; joined all the industry forums possible and posted our blogs regularly (whoops!) we could sit back and be satisfied that are Sites were Search Engine Optimised and Google Friendly. Now you know why I have a brain full of Jelly!

Be grateful for the joys of knitting; it doesn't ask anything of you; doesn't need to be bookmarked; if you pay due care and attention in the creation it remains for all time; doesn't have "spiders" crawling across it (a Google term I'm told) and fulfils all your creative desires. I am so glad to have returned to my sofa, the dog and the joys of Debbie Bliss's Donegal Aran Tweed!

Yarnsmith relaunches

Finally, after what seems to be weeks, but was infact a fairly pain free few days - we have re-branded and re-launched yarnsmith. I, of course, don't think there was too much wrong with the old version - but adding new products and keeping it updated needed a good couple of hours and at least two glasses of wine!

What's been really important is to keep our ethos of a really passionate and personal service (passionate about kntting and personal to each customer), providing exciting and high quality products. We've also expanded our services and now offer a samples service as well as a finishing off service - see the website for more details! We also have a gallery section to show case some the yarns we stock and creations we've made. I really hope you like the new look - I'd love some feedback!

Non of this would have been possible without the support of Sean Proctor
(phoenix internet consultancy) who has been incredibly patient, and tolerant as well as making a great cup of tea! I hope it hasn't all been too much of a trial. Thanks also to my family - they know what they've put up with since the beginning of September!

Loads going on.........

The local craft fair in Sudbury last week didn't have me run off my feet or sold out of goodies - but not surprising in the current economic climate - but it was good fun and I did teach Dawn to knit - hence the photo!

I've been really busy with seasonal knitting (we don't mention the C word in our house until December!) and have discovered the delights of www.etsy.com. Don't know what I'm talking about? Go have a look - it's a treasure trove for those of us who love handmade goods. Exceptionally easy to use and a wealth of fantastic products. Check out etsy.com



And ....... I've finally gone and done it - got myself a spinning wheel. Isn't it wonderful? And what's more, it's got a lovely provenance - which goes something like this. The wheel was made in Ipswich (unfortunately, a cursory look on the net gives no information about wheel manufacturers) sometime in the 70's and was then rescued from a local dump by a member of the Framlingham Spinners - since then it has been used as a "teaching" wheel and now has found its way to me. Isn't that a great story? If anyone can fill in any of the missing details I'd love to know. It runs smoothly and now, having had all of two lessons, I'm feeling very confident and excited about using it - you never know I might even be able to post some home spun here soon.