Creative supplies

I've introduced a new section to my shop recently - Creative Yarn Packs.

There are lots of crafters out there making beautiful cards, toys, textile art, etc, all using small lengths of various yarns and other materials in their creations.

I happen to have a huge stash collected over several years of yarn-addiction that needs to be tamed in size.

Hence the new section.

I love the colourways that are emerging - for example the ones pictured here - Passionate Purples and Monochrome Mania.

Mission accomplished

Phew! After much manic crocheting and mini-skein winding, I've finally sent off my parcel of 70 promotional items today. Hopefully the receipients at the We Make London craft fair in Chelsea next month will like them enough to take a peek at my shop.

It was good fun to see what I could come up with. I've already told you about the mini-skeins, which I have fallen in love with.

Here is a selection of the colour graduated mats and coasters I have included. Suitably summery I think!

I still love the red colourway the best, and those are the colours I tend to wear.

I have also been taking pics of the gorgeous flowers we have around the garden at the moment. 

The aquilegias inspired me to crochet another mat in the pink-green colourway. 

My daughters love it, and I have to say it does make me smile.

An Inspirational Pattern

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week - Day Two

I seem to be drawn to cables consistently. Two of my queued patterns in Ravelry are the Central Park Hoodie and Rogue. Both have been in that queue for a while!

I bought yarn to make Rogue quite a few years ago now - Adriafil Point in a lovely pistachio green. I still have it, marinating way in my stash. One day I might even knit it up!

Another is Alice by Kim Hargreaves from Rowan 35 - an old classic again! I just love the lace design and simply have to knit this as a summer cardi for myself. Just need the time.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week

I came across this post about a blog week and decided to take part. Here's today's entry - I can't promise I'll do them all but I can try!

Day One - Starting Out

I really can't remember when I first started to knit. I can't remember ever NOT knitting! All I know is somebody must have taught me how to knit when I was little.

My great-aunt knitted constantly - mainly skintight acrylic sweaters for us kids or the most beautiful lace christening shawls. My nan knitted sometimes - she could do so many arts and crafts - she was my heroine, and who my one daughter is named after. :)  My mum could knit but never did as she didn't actually enjoy it. Can you imagine that! My mum and me have always been quite different. :)

As for crochet - my nanny taught me that when I was in my early 20s I think. I had tried before but gave up as it felt so awkward. I decided that I had to learn it as it would be such a shame if she passed on without me sharing the craft with her. 

I can't imagine not crocheting now. My nanny crocheted armchair covers, doilies, coasters and mats. I crochet anything but my favourite is beaded jewellery.

Monochrome crochet

I recently finished a very long crochet beaded wrap necklace, and have just listed it in my Etsy shop.

When I say long, I mean l o n g! If I stand up and hold with my arm outstretched it trails on the floor..

I've used Rowan Shimmer yarn in shade "Jet", with a selection of clear and black beads threaded on before I crocheted the long loop. In the middle is a gorgeous starfish pendant.

It seems that most things I do now are inspired by the sea - I wonder why?!

You can also see my star buy of this week - a lovely dressmakers dummy in great condition on a pine stand for just £25. There's always something interesting to be found by browsing through the classified ads in your local newspaper!

It must be Spring!

The postie brought a lovely package today from Titchables - amazingly fast as I only bought these yesterday!

I would recommend you take a look at the listings in Titchables shop - there are some lovely supplies and cute badges, all at very reasonable prices.

I indulged in some impulse buying and gave in to these gorgeous bright felt squares and buttons. 

They are inspiring me to do some litte fun projects with my daughters for spring - hairband decorations, badges, charms, and such.

I can't wait to show these to my girls when they get back from school - I know they'll be as excited by those colours as I am!

Spring Inspiration

Thanks for the neckline shaping ideas. I'm going to let it stew for a while, as I'm not sure which way to go yet. I may even frog the lot!

In the meantime, have you seen the latest Knitty? Oooooh dear. Lots more inspiration. So much that it's going to induce a knitted stutter. Know what I mean? No? Well, if you talk too fast for your brain to handle, you stutter (this is my interpretation for this topic, so don't quote me on the medical analysis!). Well my brain is clocking up new projects-in-waiting far too fast for my hands to cope with. Hence the knitting stutter. ;-)

I know that both DDs would love the Emma's but I'm not sure they wouldn't be too heavy and start to sag. Instead I'm tempted to go for the Charm Shrug. I have 7 balls of All Seasons Cotton left, so I might try swatching that.

As for me, I love Yosemite, Jaden, Marjorie, and Honeycomb - in that order. Plus I have masses of cotton in my stash that would be suitable for both Yosemite and Jaden I'm sure. Very tempting...