New Simplicity

My Simplicity Shawlette is now available as a triangular version as well as the original half-hexagon version.

This version is knitted in Twinkletoes Sock. I love it. So light and soft to wrap around your neck or across your shoulders.

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Perfect as a first lace project for lace beginners or a quick and easy project for more experienced knitters.
Makes perfect take along travel knitting.

Other yarn weights can easily be substituted and it can easily be made larger if preferred.

If you've previously bought this pattern on Ravelry you will have been sent a notification to your Paypal e-mail adress so you can download the new version. I'm uploading the new version on Patternfish too.

You can buy the pattern here. 

A shop update and handspun shawlette

First, I cast on with my latest handspun. It was a bit of an impulse decision when  I needed a break from my current deadline knitting. It turns out that chunky knitting aggravates my neck/shoulders more than I realised. Which is not good as I need to finish it tomorrow. It's knitting up quickly though. I did a whole front in 2. hours while watching Badminton Horse Trials this afternoon.

I love elongated stitches. There are so many ways of using them to create different stitches and effects. On this shawlette I decided to use a half-hexagon shape as the basis but cast on many more stitches than the 9 I normally cast on for a half hex shawl. I'm using two different types of crossed elongated stitches.

I wasn't able to pin it out properly as I'm getting too many stitches on the needles already. It's knitting up quickly and don't have to think about it too much.

This handspun is BFL/silk blend and I ended up with 258 m/100gr and 15 wpi. It's very unevenly spun, some sections are very thin and some are much thicker. Much more uneven than I realised when I was spinning the singles. Must do better next time. I love the colours though.

I've managed a small shop update today. Just laceweight. We have a few skeins of Silken Lace (more of that next time):

Some Supreme Lace:

Some Dreamy Lace:

I also had one skein of Twinkletoes in a gorgeous dark grape/purple colourway which I'm thinking about keeping for me.

I'm about to send out a newsletter with a special offer. And there will be a Pattern Of The Week later this week.

Girls go back to school tomorrow. I'm looking forward to some time catching up on stuff.

Sweet Spinning!

I'm really getting into spinning. Trying to do little and often. I decided to put the camel/silk fibre to one side. I like spinning it but it kind of goes everywhere which means that even if I wear an apron I get covered in fluff. I've been tempted by the March installment of teh Sweet Georgia Fiber club. It's a merino/bamboo/silk blend in lovely blues. I asked Em the other day if she'd like another knitted hat out of it and she said yes. My only other knitted handspun project is her old hat which she's wore for 2 years now. That's white and blue merino/bamboo.

Last night was a click flick night with lots of knitting and then spinning. I ended up watching the second film on my own with everyone else in bed. Here's what I spun. Doesn't look like a lot but I did spin for a while.

A quick spinning question for any experts who may be reading. I'm useless at ratios etc. Several people have told me to tie a colourful yarn to my wheel to count but with a Majacraft Little Gem there is nowhere on the wheel to tie anything.  I'm not fussed about ratios as such but I do wonder if I'm spinning at the right speed. So this is the question. On my Little Gem I have 5 grooves on my whorl. I use the 3 larger ones most of the time. Are the largest one the slowest speed and the smallest one the fastest speed? So if I wanted to try and spin a laceweight yarn would I spin on the smallest whorl?

Back to my Sweet Georgia fibre. I'm considering navajo plying this one. Have practiced and my last one was much better but I am worried about not being good enough at it yet and ruining the yarn. I did a 2ply and 3 ply plyback to get a rough idea of thickness.

The 2ply is on the left and 3ply on the right. The singles so far are a lot more uneven that I'd like them to be. I thought the 3ply may even them out more but it certainly hasn't on the plyback piece. I think I prefer the 2ply. It's fairly fine. I'm hoping it'll end up sock weight. I'm trying to consistently spin an even sock weight.

I want to get this batch of blue fibre spun up quickly as i've decided I ought to learn how to spin long draw. So far all my spinning has been my version of short draw spun from commercial or hand-dyed top. Long draw has always looked a bit scary to me plus i never spin from rolags. After watching some You Tube videos and getting some reassurances from the UK Spinners group on Ravelry, I've decided it's time to conquer my fear of hand-carders (mine are virtually unused and 2 years old) and get to grips with long draw. Then I might eventually be brave enough to spin that big bag of cashmere I have upstairs.

I washed and set my Feb Sweet Georgia club yarn this morning. I was worried I'd underplied it a bit but it's perfectly balanced. it has a lot less twist than most of my previous handspun but I normally end up with yarn that's has too much twist. This still feels nice and soft. It's a bit more uneven than I'd like. But then I suppose if I want perfectly even yarn I may as well buy commercial yarn. Handspun is supposed to be a bit uneven and rustic, isn't it?

I've not measured WPI or meterage yet.  I think it's a sock weight/fingering weight yarn. It may be slightly thicker. I'd like to try and work out how much I've got and cast on for something. Perhaps a simple shawlette? Maybe another 'Simplicity'.  Or perhaps design a small shawlette or cowl or scarf for handspun yarn. One that can be knit in different yarn weights and that suits the unevenness of handspun yarn but can also be knitted in commercial yarn. Something with just a touch of lace or some sort of other openwork. I've got a few ideas. Watch this space.

After having to abandon outside yarn drying yesterday when it started raining, we didn't have much in the end. I got my yarn hung out in the warm sunshine early this morning. And although it's been very warm, sunny and windy today the yarn is still not quiet dry. Because of that I've decided to postpone the shop update until Monday. I'm not doing any work tomorrow because it's Easter Sunday and it's Em's birthday. My youngest baby is 13. It's been a touch month with my big baby turning 16 a couple of weeks ago and now my little baby turning 13. Where has the time gone? I'm proud of the lovely young women they're turning into though. They're both doing really well at school, are polite and well behaved. Not always perfect at home (that's putting it mildly - Vanessa especially is prone to teenage temper tantrums - she takes after me!) but always nice and polite when out and about. We must have done something right I suppose although it often felt like we were failing. LOL.

Back to yarn. My washing line looked lovely today and here are a few high lights:

That last one shows my handspun in the fore ground. The yarns are all Dreamy Lace, Supreme Lace and Silken Lace. I'm expecting a delivery of sock yarns (and more lace) next week. I've got lots of undyed fibre too and with my current spinning obsession I may try dyeing some more fibre. I'm never 100% happy with my hand-dyed fibre but I ought to give it another try.

Don't forget my Easter pattern offer is still running. Buy 2 patterns, get 1 free by using code: easter 11. Only availabe in my Ravelry pattern shop until end of Monday 25 April.

Non-deadline knitting

On Monday I finished two deadlines. They were supposed to be my last deadline projects this month. But also on Monday, a box of yarn turned up for a design whose deadline was 2 weeks ago. We thought the yarn had gotten lost somewhere over the Atlantic and had started trying to source alternative yarn. I was very relieve it turned up. It's a type of yarn I rarely knit with. I usually use yarns that require 4mm needles or smaller. This morning I had to hunt for a set of 10mm needles! I did find them eventually.

I did allow myself a couple of days of non-deadline knitting though and I've really enjoyed it. First I decided to finish off a shawlette which has been on the needles since we were in Barcelona last summer:

Okay, so that photo is taken at the airport and could have been taken anywere. I do have one of me holding this project in front of a famous cathedral in Barcelona but I look absolutely awful!

It hasn't been blocked yet and at the moment looks a bit like a dish cloth. I hope it'll improve when it's blocked tomorrow.

Anyway it's a triangular shawl and as I finished it I started wondering what it would look like if i knitted it as a half-circular shawlette. I had a skein of gorgeous Supreme Sock that I'd been lusting after since Wonderwool. I decided to use Elizabeth Zimmerman's Pi shawl formula to turn this design into a semi-pi shawlette:

I had a few false starts. I ripped back quite a few times and working out the stitch count and getting it to work out for the pattern rows after each increase was much more complicated than on a triangular or halfhexagon shawl. but I want to design a bigger laceweight pi or half-pi shawl so I thought this was good practice. After thinking I was on the right track I decided adding beads to the increase rows would be nice. So I ripped back for a final time. I've actually got quite a bit further than the pic now. I'll try and get a 'pinned out' pic tomorrow so you can see it more clearly. Also the colour of the yarn is not quite right in that photo.

I've been doing some spinning too. I'm still enjoying my camel/silk fibre although I've not spun much more:

Another pretty Sweet Georgia Fiber club parcel arrived although I didn't like this colourway quite as much. I've not taken photos yet either. Talking of Sweet Georgia fibre. I've just plied my pink/purple singles.  Letting them rest for a week made plying much easier. I'll share pics after the yarn was had a wash. I'm hoping it'll be about sock weight. I'd like to knit a small shawlette with it. Perhaps another triangular Simplicity.

I also want to spin the blue Sweet Georgia March club fibre. Emily likes it and i'm thinking of knitting her another hat with it.

With all those plans, guess what I'll be doing a lot of this weekend? Yes, spinning. Hopefully in the garden. The weather this week has been amazing. I've tried to sit outside a bit every day to make the most of it. It's proper summer temperatures and it's supposed to stay for the weekend.

it's late and I'm tired and i've got silk dyeing tomorrow. Better go to bed.  Next time crochet news and spinning pics. Nite x

Lightning Shawl

I just picked up a copy of the new issue of The Knitter and my 'Lightning Shawl' is in this issue. Juliet (the Knitter editor) already told me the pics were beautiful and wow, I love the pics. they really show off the shawl beautifully. My shawl is on the front page - a tiny little pic in the bottom left-hand corner.

The zig zag lace of this design is inspired by lightning and has beads following the lines of the lace pattern. I chose 6 different colours beads and when I chose them I wasn't sure if they would work together. I spent ages at The Bead Room in Totnes trying to decide on colours. But they worked perfectly once I started adding them to the knitting.

The knitted on edging also has beads added. The edging is knitted on sideways at the end into the live stitches instead of casting off.

This shawl is a half hexagon shawl worked form the top down and takes just 1 skein (100gr/800m) of Silken Lace. I had planned to dye some Silken Lace last week but due to deadline knitting I never got around to it. It's on the to-do list tomorrow and should be in the shop on Thursday. You can also use Supreme Lace and Silky BFL Lace and there is plenty of those in the shop now. Angel Lace and Bambino Lace are also suitable but they're sold out.

Here's a close up of the beads:

And the edging:

The beading feels a bit clumsy to start with but you quickly get used to it. I worked on this shawl, including adding beads, on the coach when Vanessa and I went to The Clarks Village at Street in November. yes I knitted lace with beads on the coach. I wouldn't recommend it. I think there were quite a few beads on the floor when we got back to Plymouth.

The Knitter is in the shops now.

I've finished two deadline projects and i'm looking forward to a night of relaxing non-work knitting. I'll show you what I decide to work on later in the week. It may be a design that's been on the needles since Spain last summer.

Catch Up

I've spent the week recovering and catching up after Wonderwool. I love doing shows but they do make me feel exhausted and the pain levels increase. So after a show I need a few quiet days. there's also a lot of catching up to do after days away, plus all the show stuff to tidy away and shop to update etc.

All the left over yarn is finally in the shop. You can see it all here.  If you have signed up to my newsletter, take a look at today's newsletter for a special weekend only offer.

Instead of a Pattern Of The Week this week I have a special Easter pattern offer. Buy 2 patterns, Get 1 Free by using code: easter 11. Offer is valid in my Ravelry pattern shop (or any of the pattern links on the blog - they take you to my Rav shop). Offer is valid until 25 April (that's Easter Monday).

I've also been working a lot on a secret project which is nearly done now. Loving the yarn! And i've been trying to catch up on pattern writing. Still need to do some more work on that one! I may get there this weekend.

I did come back from Wonderwool really inspired to do some more spinning. It may be spending the whole weekend looking at shelves and shelves of fibre as the stall opposite us was a feltmaking stall but ofcourse fibre sold for felting can be used for spinning too. I ended up buying 150 gr of a camel/silk blend:

It's luscious. I've tried spinning camel but it's very short staple and challenging to spin. I thought blended with silk (which is much longer staple) may make it easier. it is but it's still a challenge. Think I'm getting the hang of it after spinning for an hour this evening.

I've also been working on my Sweet Georgia Fiber Club Feb fibre and finally finished my second bobbin. I'd love to ply it straight away but I'm never 100% happy with my plying so I thought if i let it rest for a week or so (although it may be less) it may be easier to ply and i may be happier with the result.

here are my singles:

I'm hoping to end up with something between a sock yarn and dk weight (fingering/sport weight). Perhaps knit a little shawlette.

I was going to spin the March Fiber Club fibre next but the camel/silk was too tempting.

I was up at 5.30 am today (couldn't sleep) so I'm tired. Think it's time for an early-ish night.

Have a lovely weekend x

Next week (apart from what should be  quick secret knit) there will be no deadlines for a while. What shall I knit? One of the umpteen things on the needles. I'm still looking forward to it though.

Wonderwool

We had a great time at Wonderwool Wales.

I've not got much time. So here are a few photos of our stall. These are taken at beginning of day 2 so lots of yarn had already been sold.

Fyberspates had the Royal Wedding Shawl on display with the Royal Wedding Limited Edition yarn. It looked great. Get yours now in time for the wedding at the end of the month. I may cast on for one for me. Pattern and yarn can be purchased from Fyberspates.

I did some knitting in the car. And on Friday evening we sat outside in the garden at the B&B. It was lovely and warm and we were surrounded by hillsides with sheep and lots and lots of lambs. I'd left my camera inside. But I did cast off my triangular Simplicity shawlette. I'm hoping to update the pattern to include the triangular version later this week.

 The triangular version is knitted in Twinkletoes Sock.

The B&B was lovely although we had problems finding it. There were other Wonderwool people staying there. We spoke to a lovely English/German couple who had come for wonderwool. And one of the ladies staying there I'm pretty sure is a very well known crochet design and teacher. I don't want to name names as I didn't ask her but we did chat to them at breakfast yesterday.

I've started updating the shop and will list more tomorrow. I sent out a newsletter today.

Royal Wedding Shawl

the Royal Wedding Shawl pattern is now available from here. The Limited Edition Royal Wedding Yarn is here

Pics are courtesy of Fyberspates.

The shawl is rectangular and starts with a provisional cast on (any can be used). The main body is then knitted and sts are left on a waste yarn rather than cast off at the end. The edging is knitted on around the shawl. The shawl features hearths for love, horseshoes which traditionally signify good luck at weddings, rose buds and the Queens Edging is modified from a version in one of Barbara Walkers books.

It takes just one skein (1000m) of laceweight yarn. Cast on now and you could be wearing it (or at least knitting it) while watching the Royal Wedding. Once we get back from Wonderwool I'm thinking about casting on for a version for myself.

We're off to Wales in an hour or so. Car needs to be packed. Almost all the yarn is dry. Just a few skeins that won't make it. Everything is packed. I've still got some patterns to be stuffed in envelopes. right now i'm trying to sort out knitting to take and some pattern work to do in B&B tonight.

Have a lovely weekend and see you in Wales if you're coming.

New Shawls

This shawl was finished in Norway over Christmas but I was considering submitting it to Knitty but as it's my only shawl which is not lacy I thought it might be popular at shows this year. I've called it 'Flamenca' as the ruffles reminds me of the ruffles of flamenco dresses.

Simon and Vanessa popped out on our last day in Norway, New Years Day, to take some photos. I didn't go with them and they didn't quite drape the shawl like i wanted to for some of the pics.

My version is knitted in Twinkletoes Sock and takes 2 skeins of sock yarn. you can easily customise it to any yarn weight and make it larger or smaller.

The shawl is worked sideways from one end to the other with short rows creating the ruffles. I used wrap and turn short rows as thats my favorite but any short row technique can be used.The shawl is knitted in garter stitch and has a row of elongated crossed stitches on the ruffles. 

Pattern is for sale on Ravelry now. You can find it here.

I've been wearing my Flamenca shawl as a scarf for most of the winter and have received lots of compliments.

My second shawl today is not actually new but a new version of one of my first shawls, Carmen. This version is knitted in one skein of Silky Camel 4ply. I just finished this today but it's been on the needles for months. Think I cast on last summer. 

It's a top down triangular shawlette featuring 2 easy lace patterns. Pattern includes both charts and written instructions.

I blocked this shawlette in the garden today, in the brilliant, warm sunshine.

Wear it as a shoulder shawl or a scarf. I love wearing these little shawlettes as scarves.

How about a close up?

Both of these patterns will be coming to Wonderwool with me.

You can buy Carmen here.

Talking of Wonderwool, I have a pile of yarn to label, more patterns to print and CDs to burn so I'd better get on with it. 

The shop is now empty apart from clubs but will be re-stocked with Wonderwool leftovers on Monday.