It just didn’t want to play.  I cast on for the Leisl cardigan last night and got to the end of the yoke increases and realised I was 5 stitches short and the front edges wouldn’t be symmetrical.  Rip rip.  Then I cast on again and got to half way down said yoke shaping to then drop a stitch in one of the holey bits.  Now, I can usually fix most ooops’ but this one defeated me, so…. rip rip!  The pattern is great, and the yarn lovely (well, it is mine!) but I’m using a metal circular needle, and because they’re much larger then the recommended ones for aran, the stitches seem extra slippery.  So, I’m going ot invest in some bamboo ones, and give up on being able to wear it at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Birmingham on Sunday!  No showing off for me!  Anyway, here’s a naughtily tempting pic of the yarn.  It’s alpaca/merino/bamboo, and is, of course, lovely and soft.  You can’t have it yet.  I’ve got to dye some more.  But it will be new in the shop soon.  Promise…

I really really didn’t want to, but it has had to come to it.  I cannot see in my dining room in the day as there is so much yarn in various stages from slightly damp, through soggy, to ringing wet hanging on the dryer, aka the curtain rail.  So out trundled the heater. We now can’t get through the dining room door without stooping very low as that is now where the yarn is hanging with the heater underneath, gently humidifying the house.  House will be as humidified as outside soon, probably with added peeling wallpaper!  At least we well be able to see to eat our breakfast without having to turn the light on.

As you may be able to gather, yarn is steadily being dyed, including some new gorgeous aran I’m trying out, for all you ‘thickies’ (!) out there.  I’ve done 3 skeins in my favourite-at-the-moment deep rose red semi-solid to knit Ysolda’s Leisl so you guys can see just how pretty it all is – yarn and pattern.  I hope to have some ready for The Cotswold Craft Market on Saturday 13th Sept for those lucky Cirencesterites to squoosh, then we’ll pop it in the shop.  Tempting piccies soon when/if it clears up enough to take some

Bye for now x

“Your stuff’s lovely, but it’s all very thin”   Well, thin no longer!

Buttersoft DK  is 100% Superwash Extra Fine Merino, and it is…welll butter soft!  This means yes, you can chuck in in the washing machine at 40 degrees on the wool cycle.  Need I say, perfect for kiddie stuff!  There’ll be 5 or 10 of each colour, but as it’s a double knit and therefore suitable for any DK project big or small, then the custom dye option is there for you to order as many skeins as you like.  Just email with your colour requirements, and the batch will be dyed specially.  No extra cost!

Here’s a little bit!

This hat and gloves takes 3 skeins, and here is a close up.  Lovely to knit with, and smooth stitch definition

And here it is ably modelled by DD

xxx

So there’s a little more Tiptoe going up today, and some bigger Bluefaced Leicester rovings.  More driying on the line. Here’s a nice piccie to get you looking!

Tiptoe in a semi solid red/deepest rose,

and a Bluefaced Leicester swirl in cheery colours to brighten up a very grey mid August day!

I want to introduce you to a new level of yarny loveliness.  It’s called Tiptoe, and its a heavyish 4ply/fingering.  The best bit is it’s made from 80% superfine alpaca and 20% silk, and it really is to die for. It’s super soft, and has the cool, smooth feel that you get with really good alpaca, and a kind of drapyness and weight from the silk.  There’s 262 metres per 100g which makes it almost a light DK.  It would make the most luxurious socks, probably on 2.75-3mm.  Haven’t test knitted it yet, but will soon. I just HAVE to knit with this one!

Two colours in the shop now, and more on the way-swinging in the sunshine!

If only you could put you hand into the picture and give it a squish!  Ahhhhhhhh.

I’ve got more to tell you, so stay right where you are!!

I’m sure you’ll agree there is no substitute for seeing, feeling and sniffing yarny goodness.  The internet is a great place, but………. . Well, now you can.  If you want to squidge the sock yarn, just pop along to The Knitting Parlour in Malvern.  And if you want to see the whole range, I will be having a stall about once a month at The Cotswold Craft Market in Cirencester, Glos. Dates yet to be confirmed, but as soon as I know, you’ll know!

And another thing…….

We at APYarns are a compassionate pair.  We also don’t like to see anything going to waste, so we’ve decided to launch a line alongside our luxury yarns which we’re calling ‘Rescue Yarn’.  We acquire yarn that is no longer loved, saving it from an eternity in lofts and long forgotted backs of cupboards, and give it an Artist’s Palette makeover.  The yarn becomes once again happy and desirable!  So far, the yarns we have acquired are all thicker than our standard range, and are robust fellows.  With a rougher feel than the new yarns, these would be great for accessories.  Bags spring to mind, and as they are not superwash treated, they should felt fabulously.  They’re under New Products, but here’s a quick peek…

Not bad, huh?

Off to stir the porridge and stop the kids killing each other! xx

DS went very quiet for ages (he’s only just 3).  I should have been alerted by the silence.  I wasnt, so here’s what he was doing in the greenhouse! Rather splendid greens

Then I shelled these for tea.  Rather pretty greens.

And then there were the lavender fields to inspire this.

I think there is a looming green/lavender phase lurking around the corner.

Also lurking and maybe even being tackled tomorrow are larger rovings. I have just spun half a 100g braid and got about 2/3 of a bobbin, but I’d like to have enough to fill up at least 2 bobbins in total, to make a decent length.  Hmmm.  Goes off to ponder……….

Shop enhancement in progress. Mmmmmm colours…. Not only will there be these lovely Bluefaced Leicester, but two beautiful new laceweights. Plan A is to update the shop tomorrow. Do pop back then ;-J