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Sunday, June 17, 2007

What a busy week

This week has been so busy that's why there's been no blogging. My Mum has been visiting (and is still here) and we've been out and about most days. This afternoon we relaxed on the beach wearing our coats and sitting under the umbrella for a while when it rained. We both knitted while Em caught fish and shrimps in the rock pool and Simon was kayaking. Wasn't exactly beach weather but at least it stopped raining after a few mins. Quite a few other people there too. I'm sure that England is the only country where people sit on the beach when it's cloudy and cold.

Earlier in the week we've been to Trelissick Garden (a National Trust Garden near Truro in Cornwall, a nice pub lunch in Truro), shopping in Plymouth, trip to Bovey Tracey and Spin a Yarn, shopping in Exeter, Devonport dockyard open day and Tavistock. Tomorrow we're off to Polperro and Looe, two local fishing villages.

My favourite day this week was visiting Spin A Yarn in Bovey Tracey, Devon. I've not been for ages and it was lovely to see Joyce again. She opened this gorgeous shop a year ago and I went up shortly after it opened. It's a fantastic shop with a huge range of different yarns. Joyce stock all the standard stuff like Rowan, Noro and Debbie Bliss etc but also stocks hand dyed yarn from local producers, Rareyarns and Touchyarns from New Zealand - both gorgeous yarns, and lots of other gorgeous stuff. I think we spent about an hour in there. I got some laceweight Touch Yarn in a gorgeous colour, some fleece to do some feltmaking with the kids and some Noro Iro (think that's what it was called) in a gorgeous purple colour.

We did the feltmaking a couple of days ago. I've never handfelted anything before and it was much more difficult than I thought and left me in a lot of pain. We thought our felted pieces turned out okay but when they've dried it's obvious that they've not felted properly. Spin A Yarn has a very good feltmaking teacher who does regular workshops there so I think I'll be booking a space on the next one. I'd like to learn how to do it successfully as I thkn I'd enjoy it. Although it's not good for my neck and back. Knitting and then felting in washing macine is so much easier.

I got some gorgeous South American merino samples the other day. There were small sample skeins of Aran/worsted single ply and 3ply, single ply sock weight (4ply weight/fingering weight) and a 100 gr skein of single ply laceweight. I read some comments on a knitting forum saying that single ply didn't knit up as well as normal yarn but my swatches knitted up beautifully. The yarn is so soft. My Easycare merino is gorgeously soft but this South American merino is even better. I dyed the lace and I've done a swatch today for a new shawl design and I maycast on for it tonight - although I've got other stuff to finish first.

The Etsy yarns ahve been selling well. Only a few colours left now. I've just placed another wholesale order and have got some more Easycare 4ply merino coming and some laceweight which has 1500m per 100gr skein which is pretty brilliant. Only problem is it's on a cone so skeining it will take me ages. Still I'm hoping ot have some dyed and in the Etsy shop by the end of the week, if the yarn arrives within a few days.

Off for some more knitting now. Will get some pics of current wips etc tomorrow. Don't like pictureless blogs.

6 comments:

gilraen said...

Sounds like you have been very busy. Enjoy your mum's visit. :)

Your Etsy yarn feels so lovely, thank you :)

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

If I weren't saving up my money to move to South Korea to teach English (as a second language) in August, I would no doubt order some of your yarn!

Sounds like you've had a great week, and a wonderful visit with your mom.

Piglottie said...

Sounds like you've had a busy but wonderful week Anni! I had to LOL at your comment about the English on cold beaches (I was brought up in Australia and this makes me laugh too!). Your yarns are truly stunning, and am looking forward to seeing the next batch :)

Tama said...

Sounds like you've been having a great time. When I lived in Washington State I went to the beach very often and since it rains there 360 days of the year it is impossible to go there and not get rained on. I loved it though because you could drive your vehicle up and down the beaches to where ever you wanted to stop and dig for clams, gooey duck, or look for crabs. So, no, you are not the only ones who go and sit on the beach in the rain. Your yarn sounds divine!!!! I will have to check it out when you put it on etsy.

Liz said...

Your yarn looks lovely. I shall be checking on your Etsy shop. I am in the process of setting one up. Have you found it good for selling? I just had a read through your blog. Your comment about the English and the rain made me smile, I think it's that we are eternally optimistic that the sun may come out even for ten minutes and that makes a trip well worthwhile! I love your Victoria Shawl, it's beautiful. Gorgeous colour too.

Anonymous said...

Liz, I'm still new to Etsy but so far the sales are pretty good as my shop has only been up and running for a couple of weeks and I've never sold or bought on Etsy before.