I know, I know.  They haven’t arrived yet, but there is a good reason for that.  Knitpicks are changing their logo and packaging from 1st December, and they gave me the option of waiting a few weeks for the new stuff, which they didn’t have to do.  So that’s what were waiting for, meaning also that we will be one of the first retailers to have the new look products. Yipee! To further enhance your Knitpicks enjoyment, we will also be having some gorgeous, gorgeous fabric dpn cases, for that extra luxurious treat for someone, or for yourself!  Just have to wait a couple more weeks…………

There is a bit of a nasty chest/throat/cough bug going round at the moment.  DH is on his 3rd day in bed, and now little DS has caught it, so they’re both in our bed suffering as only men know how to suffer.  He’s only 3, bless him, but he’s coming on a treat in his Man Flu lessons.  I shouldn’t really, but I think its quite funny.  Needless to say, I’d make a hopeless nurse!

Our BIG NEWS is…

We are Yarn of the Month at Stash in London in December!

Michelle and Nathalie have invited us to showcase our yarns at their shop, starting with the Yarn Tasting evening on the 1st, for the month of December.  I have been on something of a dyeing marathon, squeezing it in between school runs, potty training, library assistant-ing, craft market-ing, knitting samples and wholesale orders.  Needless to say, the ironing pile is scaling new hights, and the rhubarb leaves are remaining where they fell, mouldering nicely amongst the weeds in the veg patch.  But no matter.  Yarn dyeing is much more fun than either of these, and I am just so chuffed that we’re doing this

If you’re down that way, then do pop in for a squeeze!  Internet piccies are OK, but they really are no match for a real life fondle, and it’s unlikely you’ll get the chance for a little while otherwise.  Go while you can!

All for now.  Off to dye some more Sweet Feet

Juliet x

for a few pretty pics to liven things up, the camera decides to Be Naughty! The fault was intermittent, but it seems to have become permanent with this last batch of photos, so off to the menders it will have to go.  I don’t often get enthusiastic about updating my ravelry projects. It’s such a long winded procedure (’tis for me, anyway), so that bit will have to wait…again!

Well, I’m going to show you a pic anyway.  It’s about the best of the bunch.  I had the pleasure of meeting Thomasina at the weekend and later, as you do, looked her up in blogland only to discovered her lovely Berry Hill fingerless mittens pattern.  Just what I was looking for to show off what you can do with one ball of Buttersoft dk!  So here is dodgy pic…..

It is in Rainbow, and is much brighter than shown here, but you get the idea?  I love how it has patterned.  A bit sockish as it is done on circs and I really like how the striping has been stretched and pushed back when the number of stitches changes.  I’m hoping the other one will stripe up differently on the hand  - I started at a different place in the colour sequence on purpose.  I’m taking it to knitting tonight which means I will need markers for the gusset this time!  I’m really pleased with how the broken twisted rib has come out.  It gives a lovely texture.

If you’d like to see Rainbow in the shop, say Aye, and I’ll do some.  This particular batch is for a very exciting event coming up soon…….

Happy knitting

Yes, we have another Cotswold Craft Market this Saturday, the 25th Oct.  We’ve managed to get slipped in at almost the last minute, and shall be there in all our colourful glory.  Hurrah!

Don’t froget to mention the blog and claim your 10% saving.

Happy knitting folks, and see you on Sat

Edited to add, I’ve just noticed it has been 2 - whole - weeks since my last post, forshame!  I have some yarny goodness to tell you about too, and exciting needle news!

KNITPICKS  are soon to arrive in all their multicolour glory!  Yes, you did read that right - KNITPICKS!  I love these needles.  I like other wooden and bamboo ones too, but these are my sock knitting needles of choice, sharp and smooth.  We are starting with the most popular sock pins and the dpn sets.  If you guys like them, then we’ll gradually add more to the range.  Go on, like them, LIKE them.  I need an excuse to stock up on some more!

Yarny goodness when I get pics done…..

Happy knitting

We will be there again this Saturday, our last regular slot until the new year :-(  We have already met loads of lovely knitters, felters and embroiderers, and some of you guys have even come back for more! It’s a part of the whole craft market thing that I just wasn’t expecting to be so good, but is by far the most rewarding part.  I love meeting you guys.  You have such lovely stories to tell, and let’s face it, I could talk about knitting ’til the cows come home!  I hope to see some of you again tomorrow, and don’t forget, if you say you read this blog, then you will get 10% off you whole purchase!!

Here they are at last.  There may only be three of them, but they’re perfectly formed!  Soft as you like, because of the alpaca and merino, yet strong too, thanks to the bamboo.

They just come on three colours to start with, and there are either 5 or 6 of each, so there is enough for a garment.  I hope you like them

and here is what I have started with some I dyed earlier…….

Ysolda’s Liesl.

It’s in Sweet Feet 1013.

Aren’t these pretty?  Knitted by Chantelle in Sweet Feet, colour SF4621.  The patttern is Express Lane by Diane Mulholland from the Inside Loop, here.  I’m so proud

Photo courtesy of C Smith.

I just love handpainting fibre.  It adds another dimension to the creative process of knitting when you can design the actual yarn itself.  I usually want to keep all the rovings I dye, so I can learn how to get different yarn from the same roving.  I could just spin it as it comes, drafting as I go, but if I split it lengthways into, say, 4 pieces, then the different colour sections would be shorter ( I think! ), and then there is breaking it up into short colour sections and regrouping them to make completely new colour sequences, spinning from the fold.  And then after that there’s plying to play with.  Oh and, after all that is done, there is knitting it into something that shows off the colour changes you have achieved!  It’s just all fabulous!

I tell you something, it’s a good job I’m too busy to do much spinning, otherwise there’d be none left for you!

Here is some of the latest merino rovings I don’t want to part with.  Pretty huh?