We are absolutely thrilled to once again by supplying kits for the Paper Daisy 'Line Dancing MKAL' again this year.
Let’s kick up our heels and cast on a little bit of excitement! This bandana-style mystery cowl is unlike any you’ve knit before. Almost all of the stitches are simple, yet they come together in unique and surprising ways to keep you guessing until the very end. Lines of colour and texture will dance across your needles as you
create this happy new addition to your wardrobe. The clues are relatively short and easy to work, making this a quick project to add to your queue. Shop for yarn or dive into your stash, then join the knitalong discussions online. After all, a Line Dance is most fun when you join a crowd!
We are absolutely thrilled to once again by supplying kits for the Paper Daisy 'Line Dancing MKAL' again this year.
Kits are available here
Pattern is sold separately.
Let’s kick up our heels and cast on a little bit of excitement! This bandana-style mystery cowl is unlike any you’ve knit before. Almost all of the stitches are simple, yet they come together in unique and surprising ways to keep you guessing until the very end. Lines of colour and texture will dance across your needles as you create this happy new addition to your wardrobe. The clues are relatively short and easy to work, making this a quick project to add to your queue. Shop for yarn or dive into your stash, then join the knitalong discussions online. After all, a Line Dance is most fun when you join a crowd!
Join the Paper Daisy Creations Ravelry group to share pics, get suggestions for colours or colour order, and see the colours everyone else has chosen!
Click on the ‘Getting Ready’ thread to get started.
They are a friendly crowd with an enthusiasm for knitting and beautiful yarn.
The knitting will officially begin with the first clue release on March 6, 2024, and end on April 17, 2024.
Important Dates:
March 6 - 1st clue released
March 13 - 2nd clue released
March 20 - 3rd clue released
March 27 - 4th clue released
April 17 - final day of MKAL;
post finished object photos in
the Ravelry group.
For each clue release, there will be a spoiler thread where you can show pictures of your work-in-progress. There will also be a NO SPOILERS thread, which is perfect for asking questions or chatting without the risk of seeing photos or spoilers.
Best of all, there will be PRIZES! Be sure to post a picture of your finished cowl in the FOs thread by 11:59pm (EDT) on April 17, 2024 to be eligible!
join the knitalong fun!
IMPORTANT!
To keep the design elements a surprise for everyone, be
sure your first photo on Ravelry and Instagram hides your knitting.
You can use a photo of your yarn, a photo of you line dancing, or the logo
Instagram: When posting online, use the hashtags #linedancemkal and
#paperdaisycreations.
Tag @paperdaisycreations from a public account so Lisa can see your progress and for a chance to win prizes!
Ravelry: Go to the Paper Daisy Creations Ravelry group. Lisa will be creating
a separate SPOILERS thread for each clue. This is a place to share your progress for each clue that you are knitting.
There will also be a NO SPOILERS thread where you can ask any questions you might have without sharing photos of the design.
Project Pages: Please choose a photo of your yarn or the Line Dance MKAL main photo for your project page. This way, nobody will accidentally see your
work-in-progress, but can choose to click through if they would like to see
your beautiful knitting.
Pattern Support: The best place to get help is through the Ravelry threads, as many eager knitters will be able to chime in quickly with answers. Lisa will also be checking these threads and happy to help you get back on track. If you are unable to find the answer on Ravelry, you can email Lisa at paperdaisy1@gmail.com, keeping in mind that it may take longer for a response.
We hope you enjoy your MKAL.
]]>I will have my new yarn which is my Suri Alpaca Lace yarn in a limited selection of colours and quantities available. For those like me who are hooked on fluffy knitting yarn this one is perfect for you. It is super fluffy and soft and a dream to knit with. It is also perfect for those who aren't a fan of mohair.
I am located in Venue 1 (5) again which is the Community Centre and is a lovely venue to work in. I really hope everyone who is interested in fibre and yarn making their way to this wonderful event will pop in and say hello!
This prestigious award is announced each year at the Fair. Together with a $10,000 Cash Prize made available by the Tasmanian Government through the Premier’s office, we now also produce a video to help them tell their story and shine a stronger spotlight on their art. Who will the winner be for 2023?
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The pattern is available from Paper Daisy Creations on Ravelry Secret Forest Pattern page or from Paper Daisy's Website
Daintree - Tropical sums up this one nicely, With bright shades reflecting the gorgeous flowers found in the tropics making this a stand out combination.
This yarn set has Milk Chocolate as the main colour and a selection of bright colours as its contrast.
Kakadu - An enchanting mix of warm earthy tones combining in this wonderful combination. Reflecting the colours of red earth and the beautiful foliage in the amazing area.
Kakadu has Vanilla as its base colour and a selection of warm co ordinating colours for the contrasts.
Blue Mountains - The blue summers haze shimmering across these giant and majestic mountains and forests are reflected within this colourway.
Steel Blue is the main colour within this set, with a lovely combination of blues and purples to complete the combination.
]]>The pattern is available from Paper Daisy Creations on Ravelry Secret Forest Pattern page or from Paper Daisy's Website
Daintree - Tropical sums up this one nicely, With bright shades reflecting the gorgeous flowers found in the tropics making this a stand out combination.
This yarn set has Milk Chocolate as the main colour and a selection of bright colours as its contrast.
Kakadu - An enchanting mix of warm earthy tones combining in this wonderful combination. Reflecting the colours of red earth and the beautiful foliage in the amazing area.
Kakadu has Vanilla as its base colour and a selection of warm co ordinating colours for the contrasts.
Blue Mountains - The blue summers haze shimmering across these giant and majestic mountains and forests are reflected within this colourway.
Steel Blue is the main colour within this set, with a lovely combination of blues and purples to complete the combination.
If the kit you love is not available please reach out to us here
Of course if you would like to select your own colours that is perfectly fine, head to my full skeins here and my mini skeins are here
MC: 800yds/732m fingering weight yarn
C1-7: 133yds/122m fingering weight yarn in EACH of 7 colours
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Dominique's Venezia Shawl pattern is an easy 3 skein shawl and flies off the needles. Even I managed to get through it all!
With lovely simple lace stitches and groups of garter stitches it is easy to handle and well worth the time we put into it.
]]>Dominique's Venezia Shawl pattern is an easy 3 skein shawl and flies off the needles. Even I managed to get through it all!
With lovely simple lace stitches and groups of garter stitches it is easy to handle and well worth the time we put into it.
The pattern seamlessly blends easily from the main variegated colour through to the semi solid contrasts in the lace sections.
We dyed up 3 yarn colours in these 3 skein sets for this because I just couldn't stop at one!
The yarn sets come with complimentary stitch markers and the pattern code for You to download your pattern from Domknit on Ravelry
We knitted our sample in Lagoon and which is a beautiful teal opal blue variegated with blue green and light lavender colourway.
Eventually I was fast running out of time and though that I better get my skates on and just do it. I am really pleased I did start and actually finish this pattern, it was so much easier once I got into it than I had been telling myself it was.
And I told myself the truth! that was Dom Trad is a great designer and she knows this stuff so just trust the pattern.
I kept referring back to that when I wasn't sure of where to go next with it. After a while I regained my knitting confidence and trusted the pattern and off I went. It really did flow easily and I actually enjoyed the knit. Although I was a little apprehensive about having so many stitches on my needles it wasnt a problem.
I had never knitted a lacy edge before and this pattern section kept looking sideways at me and almost smirking... hmm, I kept thinking I will just trust the pattern and deal with it when I get there.
When I made it to the lace section for the border I read the pattern section and then put it down for about 3 days. This was enough for me to get itchy fingers and really want to knit again. So there I was at the border wanting to knit, and I worked my way along the first 2 rows then just went with the flow because it really was easy to follow even though I had a huge amount of stitches on the needles by then.
If you haven't knitted a shawl this size before, this would be a lovely one to start with, easy to follow and simple stitches that created a lovely enjoyable shawl.
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Merino Possum yarn is a blend of 80% Merino wool and 20% possum fur. It is soft, warm and hypoallergenic. It is of high warmth-to-weight ratio while being lightweight.
]]>As the name suggests, this yarn is a blend of New Zealand possum fur and merino wool. It may come as a surprise to some, but possum fur makes for an excellent yarn material. Not only is it soft and warm, but it is also light and durable.
The possum merino blend is made up of 80% merino wool and 20% possum fur. This combination creates a yarn that is incredibly plump, soft and warm, making it perfect for winter garments such as hats, scarves, and sweaters. The natural fibres also make it ideal for those with sensitive skin as it is hypoallergenic and gentle on the skin.
Another benefit of possum merino yarn is that it is high in warmth-to-weight ratio. This means that it can provide more warmth than traditional wool yarns of the same weight. So, you can create a cosy winter garment that isn't too bulky or heavy to wear.
We are excited to have this new yarn base available on our website and can't wait to see what beautiful projects our customers create with it. We have a variety of colours available, so there are options for everyone's taste.
If you're looking for an alternative to traditional wool yarn, give our merino possum a try. We promise you won't be disappointed.
Happy knitting!
Sally.
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Here is a link to the AWI Australia Wool Innovation website
Some of the terminology we use in felting and spinning can be a little confusing to say the least! So I will try to explain what some of these mean and how to make or use them. Some terms we interchange like roving and top. These are two very different things but are often seen as the same.
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Many people are confused by these terms – What’s the difference?
Some of the terminology we use in felting and spinning world can be a little confusing to say the least! With influences from other countries and terminology morphing and changing over the years, it's no wonder lots of people are confused.
So I will try to explain what some of these mean and how to make or use them. Some terms we interchange like top and roving although these are two different things that are often seen as the same.
These have been hand made from raw fleece where the fibres washed and are combed through wool combs which look a bit like giant hair combs and all done by hand. The fibres are all aligned in the same direction and there is very little air in between. Dedicated spinners will make their own top and spin a worsted style yarn with it.
These are all done by a machine in a wool processing mill. The large commercial machines will do all the hard work for us including the washing and re-align the fibres in one direction and remove most of the short fibres as well. When we say wool top we mean the fibres have already been washed/scoured, carded then combed into one long length ready to spin, dye or felt with. This is how my hand dyed wool top is made. These are the same wool top that I use for all of my wet felting and spinning.
Tops are combed preparations, where the fibres are parallel and short fibres and rubbish are removed. The result is a long strand, without twist, from which a commercial worsted yarn would be spun. This is the ‘top’ quality preparation.
Wool roving is actually wool that has been through a mill on a carding machine and some of the fibres have not been re aligned. Sounds like its the same as wool top? The difference is that they are more fluffy and when you spin with roving you will get a fuzzy style of yarn. An easy way to remember is wool top are nice and uniform and smooth, real roving are fluffy and fuzzy.
Roving is a long, even strand of carded fibres which have been drawn out, then slightly twisted. It can be spun as is into a soft, thick yarn, or drawn out further as it is spun. In a roving, the fibres are facing different directions and have different lengths.
The terms Roving and Top are often interchanged.
Rolags are fun! they are made on a blending board or hand carders. They are great if you want to blend small amounts of fibres together for your spinning and felting. All you need to do is lay out thin layers of fibres on the blending board in long stripes and when it is full roll them off from one end usually using 2 square long sticks to roll and pull them off. They resemble batts but are much smaller.
(not slyver) is a carded preparation which is gathered together off the last drum of the carding machine into a long strand, without twist. It still contains any short fibres, as these are not removed in the carding process and the fibres are mostly parallel.
Batts are made on a carding machine, a lot of people have a hand crank portable carder to make them at home. The fibre is fed into the carder via the feed in tray and is wound or cranked and is fed onto a drum with tines all over it. The little tines or teeth will separate the fibres and blend them with what ever you feed in next. Batts are one of the best things for art yarns because they are big fluffy and usually full of lots of different luxury fibres like Mulberry silk etc.If you have access to a carder, I strongly recommend having some fun with it. Gently spread out your fibres along the feed in tray and start winding the handle.
Raw fleece is just that, raw, straight of the sheep's back. Some small specialist wool growers will supply raw fleece for spinners. A good raw fleece suitable to be spun in the grease (un washed) should be very well skirted to remove any short cuts or those areas around the bellies, crutch and underarms. A fleece with lots of bits of rubbish, twigs and other vegetable matter in it should be left. Raw fleece can be carefully washed by hand before spinning or felting if preferred. This image is from the 2019 Campbell Town Show.
Wool locks are fun as well. They are the cute little curls that some breeds are known for. They make wonderful and interesting yarn when spun and can also add texture and detail to felting. I generally use Tasmanian English Leicester Lamb Locks which I hand dye for my art yarns and art batts.
This pattern is very easy to follow and produces beautiful socks that are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves knitting. The pattern includes detailed instructions on how to knit the socks and how to customize them with 3 different sizes. It also includes helpful tips on how to make sure that your socks fit perfectly every time.
]]>8-ply socks are a lot quicker to knit than traditional 4 ply socks making them perfect for a beginner friendly knit.
This pattern is very easy to follow and produces beautiful socks that are sure to be a hit with anyone who loves knitting. The pattern includes detailed instructions on how to knit the socks and how to customize them with 3 different sizes. It also includes helpful tips on how to make sure that your socks fit perfectly every time.
There are a couple of different way to knit these socks and you should find them all by following this Link
Kay, The Crazy Sock Lady also has a great YouTube channel and Ravelry page where she explains in easy to understand the
terms just what to do when knitting your socks.
I've knitted these cuff down a number of times now and they always come out well.
Our 8 ply DK Supreme Sock yarn is available in a range of colours with matching mini skeins for the heals and toes. With 225 mt in each hank there is enough to make 1 pair of standard adult socks. But I usually do a different colour in the toes and heals just to change it up a bit and make them more interesting.
]]>This is a versatile fibre grown by local boutique wool growers who are passionate about their animals and the processes involved in producing Australian wool.
Locally scoured and processed right here in Australia by a local family owned business in which has been operating since 2003 servicing both Australia and intentional customers.
]]>This is a versatile fibre grown by local boutique wool growers who are passionate about their animals and the processes involved in producing Australian wool.
Locally scoured and processed right here in Australia by a local family owned business in which has been operating since 2003 servicing both Australia and intentional customers.
The Border Leicester developed in the Scottish Borders, is an old established breed whose ancestry can be traced back for 250 years. They were developed by Robert Blakewell (1726-95) one of the most famous of old English sheep breeders.
Imported to Australia in 1871, it now has by far the largest number of stud flocks.
Rams are used to cross with the Merino, the resulting (first cross) ewes being keenly sought after for prime lamb mothers, combining the meat producing quality of the Border Leicester with the wool of the Merino.
They are easily identified with a distinctive Roman nose and bare points (no wool on head and legs).
They are universally found throughout Australia and in many parts of the world.
]]>I have just started laying out and felting this years larger carry bag range and the first one is a black and white shoulder bags with a matching flower on the front. The handles are made up first and firmed up before being put aside until the base is completed. I will lay out about 6 layers on each side of the base. I put the first side down and then placed the pocket on it and prefelted the pocket area and pocket edge. This will make sure it stays in place while the main work is done and the whole thing is rolled and thrown about. If the pocket has not been prefelted into place first (yep that means working form the inside out) it can move about and when you have finished you lovely felted bag, the pocket can be off centre and the opening might be askew a lot! Trust me I know this from experience!
Within the 6 layers I will have a piece of hand dyed matching mulberry silk fabric. This will be felted between the layers to add structural integrity and strength to the bag and will not be seen. After all we don't want to fill it up and then find out it doesn't hold weight. I will also mount and prefelt the handles within the 6 layers. This way you don't have the messy attachments which can be untidy on the outer layers. After all of this I will position and securely attach any closures that might be required.
All of this layering, wetting out and more layering work is completed before I start to work on the outside decorative elements of the bag. That's where the fun part starts. Although I usually sketch my designs out before I start a larger felted bag sometimes I have a clear idea and just go for it! Some base colours will guide you in what they want regarding colours etc and some will just make you work and think a lot harder than you should to get them to look just perfect. I made a pretty raspberry hand bag last year and was really happy with how it felted and the finish was very good, but I had a hard time pick the perfect colours for the flowers to go with it. Every time I walked past I put a coloured piece of felt on it to see what it looked like, but nope... It just wouldn't work. It took about 4 months for me to drop a piece of charcoal felt on it I had in my hand for another piece. Then when I looked at it.. That was it! I stopped what I was doing and made the flowers and stitched them on before the bag had a chance to change its mind! And yes, I think some of them have a mind of their own at times!
I am a slow wet felter and take my time creating each bag. It can take me most of the day to lay out the 6 layers, they are made up of 6 layers on each side then edges attended to and the whole thing flipped over for the other side to be worked on, or 12 single sides all together. Add in some time for the handles, the flowers and any other design details that need to be considered and I have drunk a lot of coffee (decaff) before I know it.
And that's all before I actually start the rolling process or the fulling. This is usually carried out the next day. Rolling very gently to start with and don't rush it, slow and steady watching, rolling, checking, rotating and tweaking as I go, eventually I will see and feel it start to change and then I can work it a little harder. Finally after a huge amount of rolling and checking I can take out the resist and start working it again with my hands alone.
When it starts to feel like a bag. soft but strong, flexible and durable, it is eventually being shaped and crafted into the bag it will finally become.
Rinsing and drying is also a slow process, I soak first then rinse a number of times to remove all the soap. Finally shaping how it wants to be shaped and leaving it to dry slowly on it own.
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We are super excited to once again be part of The Big Wool Show, this year's event will be on Sat 12th & Sun 13th November 2022
This is a virtual event with loads of yarnies, indie dyers, and fibre artists from all over Australia taking part on-line.
This will be pretty exciting for us, we are a little isolated down here in Tassie and rarely get the chance to show case our fibres in such a fantastic way with so much Australia wide exposure.
I am absolutely delighted to announce that I have decided to stock a new yarn base.
This base is the 8 Ply Supreme Sock or DK version of my super popular 4 ply Supreme Sock.
With the same 85% Australian Merino and 15% nylon this base is a great all rounder and suitable for most knitting projects including jumpers, beanies children and every day items.
]]>We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have decided to stock a new yarn base.
This base is the 8 Ply Supreme Sock or DK version of my super popular 4 ply Supreme Sock and will be available first to my lovely locals who find me at The Tasmanian Craft Fair November 4-7 Venue 5
For those like me who are hooked on knitting 8 ply thick and squishy socks this yarn is just the best! Super quick to knit up which means you can get a pair done in no time at all.
This plump round yarn has good twist and is perfect for heavier weight or harder wearing knits like socks, every day jumpers jumpers and beanies etc.
With the same 85% Australian Merino and 15% nylon this base is a great all rounder and suitable for most knitting projects.
We have decided to show these scrumptious yarns off first at the Tasmanian Craft Fair at Deloraine from the 4th - 7th November 2022. This is where you can see the colours and feel how super squishy this yarn is.
There are also mini skeins to match these versatile great all rounder yarns.
The weekend after this I will have them online again for The Big Wool Show which is on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th November 2022
For those of you who are new to sock knitting I have a couple of links to my favourite patterns for you to try.
Our favorite is from the Crazy Sock Lady on Ravelry I love Kay's 8 ply Vanilla Sock pattern and now know it by heart.... Well almost, I sometimes have to check the heal when I get to it! I knit this pattern using one skein of my 8 ply Supreme Sock yarn and usually do the toes and heals with a contrasting mini skein
The very best thing about Kay is she has a YouTube channel with some fabulous tips and tricks to get the job done.
]]>I am located in Venue 5 again which is the Community Centre and is a lovely venue to work in. I really hope everyone who is interested in fibre and yarn making their way to this wonderful event will pop in and say hello!
I will have my new yarns base which is my 8 ply Supreme Sock yarn in a limited selection of colours and quantities available. For those like me who are hooked on 8 ply thick and squishy socks this yarn is just the best! Quick to knit up and you can get a pair done in no time at all.
]]>I am thrilled to announce that once again I have been selected to participate in the Tasmanian Craft Fair 2022.
I am located in Venue 5 again which is the Community Centre and is a lovely venue to work in. I really hope everyone who is interested in fibre and yarn making their way to this wonderful event will pop in and say hello!
I will have my new yarns base which is my 8 ply Supreme Sock yarn in a limited selection of colours and quantities available. For those like me who are hooked on 8 ply thick and squishy socks this yarn is just the best! Quick to knit up and you can get a pair done in no time at all.
Each year, the Tasmanian Craft Fair hand picks feature artists from within Tasmania and abroad. This year we have selected Mae Finlayson. A Launceston based artist who makes soft sculpture, blending familiar and ordinary materials in unusual ways.
Mae is a visual artist living in Launceston, Tasmania. She has a BA in Fine Art Textiles with first class Honours from Goldsmiths College, University of London and an MA in Constructed Textiles form the Royal College of Art, London. She makes soft sculpture with a hand made aesthetic that blends familiar and ordinary materials in unusual ways. Making work for gallery exhibitions as well as outdoor festivals, she has worked on many collaborative projects, solo projects and facilitated projects driven by audience participation.
This prestigious award is announced each year at the Fair. Together with a $10,000 Cash Prize made available by the Tasmanian Government through the Premier’s office, we now also produce a video to help them tell their story and shine a stronger spotlight on their art. Who will the winner be for 2022?
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The pattern is available from Paper Daisy Creations on Ravelry Mountain Musings Pattern Or from Paper Daisy's Website
Hotham. A fun rainbow combination with a lovely cream Milk Maids main colour.
Buller. An earthy combination with the same lovely cream Milk Maids as its main colour.
Kosciuszko. A strong Steel Blue main skein with the same rainbow combo as Hotham.
Cradle. A lovely soft shade of purple blue for the main colour with a pretty combination of minis.
Ossa. Ossa has a warm pink main colour in Wine O'clock pairing with a blue and purple mini combination.
Of course if you would like to select your own colours that is perfectly fine!
MC: 800yds/732m fingering weight yarn
C1-7: 133yds/122m fingering weight yarn in EACH of 7 colors
Sept. 1 - 1st clue released
Sept. 8 - 2nd clue released
Sept. 15 - 3rd clue released
Sept. 22 - 4th clue released
Sept. 29 - 5th clue released
Oct. 6 - 6th clue released
Oct. 20 - final day of MKAL; post finished object photos in the Ravelry group
Knit along with the Mountain Musings MKAL by joining the Paper Daisy Creations Ravelry group. Right now you will find the ‘Getting Ready’ thread where you can show off your color choices, see what others have picked, and ask any questions you might have. They are a friendly crowd with an enthusiasm for knitting and beautiful yarn.
The MKAL will officially begin with the first clue release on September 1, 2022, and end on October 20, 2022.
For each clue release, there will be a spoiler thread where you can show pictures of your work-in-progress. There will also be a NO SPOILERS thread, which is perfect for asking questions or chatting without the risk of seeing photos or spoilers.
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This was a great opportunity for me to test out my dyeing skills and pull a few things together that I had been throwing about in my head for some time. It was also one of those times when its not all about selling your yarns, moreover it was about learning and working with a designer to develop something unique for them.
After much to-ing and fro-ing we settled on these two fade sets and selected my Supreme Sock base to dye them on.
I love the colours and how they crocheted up in a delicate variegated flow from one skein to the other.
]]>It was a great opportunity for me to test out my dyeing skills and pull a few things together that I had been throwing about in my head for some time. It was also one of those times when its not all about selling your yarns, moreover it was about learning and working with a designer to develop something unique for them.
After much to-ing and fro-ing we settled on these two fade sets and selected my Supreme Sock base to dye them on.
We love the colours and how they crocheted up in a delicate variegated flow from one skein to the other.
Here is Garden Bouquet V1
And the second colourway is Garden Bouquet V2
]]>I have been working with Terrii Lanham of Terri Designs on a kit for her Mandala workshops.
The Yarn Retreat Launceston will run from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June 2022 at Peppers Silo Hotel, Tasmania. This retreat also offers the opportunity for you to extend your stay (depart Monday 6 June) and add an additional day of workshops.
I am delighted to be the featured Indie Dyer at this prestigious event!
I have been working with Terrii Lanham of Terri Designs on a kit for her Mandala workshops.
The Yarn Retreat Launceston will run from Thursday 2 June to Sunday 5 June 2022 at Peppers Silo Hotel, Tasmania. This retreat also offers the opportunity for you to extend your stay (depart Monday 6 June) and add an additional day of workshops.
Tasmania is one of the most magnificent places you can visit in Australia The combination of clean air, stunning views and local produce is just the start. This retreat will have it all including the perfect opportunity to actually wear all those handknits you have lovingly created.
Bringing history alive on the banks of the idyllic Tamar River is the unique characterful Peppers Silo Hotel. Dating back to the 1960’s, the heritage building which spanned 35 metres high containing grain in four large silos, is an iconic landmark converted into a sophisticated 9 storey hotel providing a unique place to stay in Launceston.
Designed within the original silos and the new North tower are beautifully appointed modern hotel rooms with all of the modern amenities. Plush interiors are decorated with earthy tones to compliment the surrounds and offer in-room complimentary WiFi, LCD TV with Chromecast and Foxtel channels, mini bar and guest en suite. Taking in sweeping views over the meandering river, the Gorge River Rooms and Premier Suites boast private balconies where you can soak in Launceston’s natural ambience.
Overlooking nearby Seaport, Royal Park, the Tamar River Basin and Cataract Gorge, guests are centrally placed to walk from this Launceston hotel to the city centre, with public transport a mere five-minute stroll away across the footbridge, linking Seaport and Kings Wharf together. Should you require assistance our tour desk operators can recommend the best attractions to visit during your stay.
For full details on the venue, please visit their website here.
Kylie at Yarn Creative is so proud of the tutor line up for this retreat as they are some of the best in Australia and include:
Shelley Husband, Spincushions (Crochet)
Dominique Trad, Domknit (Knitting)
Pru Raymond, Dear Pru (Knitting)
Jessica Gore, The Sweater Collective (Knitting)
Terrii Lanham, Terrii Designs (Crochet)
Its never too late to join in the fun so pop over to my yarn kits section and grab some yarn then head over to the @paperdaisycreations Ravelry page for the pattern download.
You’re invited to put a smile on your face and join us for my happiest knitalong yet! It’s time to Brighten Up!
Need the pattern? Click here.
]]>Its never too late to join in the fun so pop over to my yarn kits section and grab some yarn then head over to the @paperdaisycreations website or Ravelry page for the pattern download.
You’re invited to put a smile on your face and join us for my happiest knitalong yet! It’s time to Brighten Up!
Need the pattern? Click here.
Who: Knitters all over the world
What: A knitalong for the Brighten Up MKAL cowl-- a bandana-style accessory filled with simple stitches and surprise construction!
When:
March 2 - 1st clue released
March 9 - 2nd clue released
March 16 - 3rd clue released
March 23 - 4th clue released
April 13 - final day of MKAL; post finished object photos in the Ravelry group or send via email
Where: Ravelry group is here
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March 2 - 1st clue released
March 9 - 2nd clue released
March 16 - 3rd clue released
March 23 - 4th clue released
April 13 - final day of MKAL; post
finished object photos in the Ravelry thread
19 gauge Triangle needle felting needles have a triangular blade with all 3 edges working in a downward motion. The barbs in these needle point downwards. These are heavy duty needles and good for very courser heavy fibres like jute, flax horse hair etc..
20 gauge Reverse felting needles are used for reverse felting and create the pull back effects for things like animal hair, dolls hair and a fluffy or textured effect.
These needles can work very well if you are intending to finish you project using wet felting techniques.
32 gauge Triangle felting needles are a sturdy needle, good for working with medium/course fibres and to firmly attaching pieces.
Not recommended for finer details or a neat surface.
36 gauge Triangle needles are one of the most popular sizes and suits a wide range of work and fibres.
38 gauge Triangle needles are one of the most popular sizes and suits a range of medium to fine fibres.
38 gauge Crown needles only have barbs on the ends of the needles and are usually used for attaching hair to dolls etc.
38 gauge Star Needle Felting Needles have barbs on four sides it is a great all round needle, good for finer work and finer wools as well as bulky sculpting work.
40 gauge Reverse needle felting needles are for creating the 'pull back' effects such as animal hair, dolls hair, fluff and textured effects.
40 gauge Triangle needle felting needles are for fine delicate and detailed work.
]]>19 gauge Triangle needle felting needles have a triangular blade with all 3 edges working in a downward motion. The barbs in these needle point downwards. These are heavy duty needles and good for very courser heavy fibres like jute, flax horse hair etc..
20 gauge Reverse felting needles are used for reverse felting and create the pull back effects for things like animal hair, dolls hair and a fluffy or textured effect.
These needles can work very well if you are intending to finish you project using wet felting techniques.
32 gauge Triangle felting needles are a sturdy needle, good for working with medium/course fibres and to firmly attaching pieces.
Not recommended for finer details or a neat surface.
36 gauge Triangle needles are one of the most popular sizes and suits a wide range of work and fibres.
38 gauge Triangle needles are one of the most popular sizes and suits a range of medium to fine fibres.
38 gauge Crown needles only have barbs on the ends of the needles and are usually used for attaching hair to dolls etc.
38 gauge Star Needle Felting Needles have barbs on four sides it is a great all round needle, good for finer work and finer wools as well as bulky sculpting work.
40 gauge Reverse needle felting needles are for creating the 'pull back' effects such as animal hair, dolls hair, fluff and textured effects.
40 gauge Triangle needle felting needles are for fine delicate and detailed work.
]]>Kits are available here
]]>We have been selected as an Australian supplier of yarn kits for this MKAL!
They are available here and have enough yarn to complete the pattern. Rest easy! All techniques with charts also include written instructions. There is no stranded colorwork, cables, short rows, or brioche. This design is intended for intermediate knitters.
Boat Shack in pastel colour combo Beach Party is a stronger combo
Introducing the Just Beachy MKAL… a colorful MYSTERY WRAP that will be revealed through 6 clues released over the next few months! When you purchase this design, you will immediately receive access to the Getting Ready Guide, which includes all the information you need for curating your yarn palette and preparing to cast-on! You’ll also receive the Swatching Guide with all the details on how to try out your colors and ensure you’ve got the right needles for your knitting style. Need a little reassurance? Check out Garden Variety, last year’s mystery wrap. This one is completely different, but is intended for the same audience!
check out Lisa's FAQs page on Ravelry!
Who’s ready for a day at the beach?! It’s no secret that lounging in the sand and listening to the waves crash onto the shore is a great way to relax. Playing in the surf, swimming in the water, or paddling over the surface, there’s no limit to the fun to be had! This mystery wrap combines simple, relaxing stitches with the thrill of underwater adventures. You’ll discover new techniques, play with garter and stockinette in new ways, and experience unique construction that, like any good beach read, will keep you guessing what comes next. I’ve created tutorial videos that will guide you along the way, and have created KAL threads to join others all over the world on this beachy vacation! You’ll find all the links you need at the end of each clue. Take a deep breath… it’s time to dive in!
Click here to join the MKAL fun on Ravelry!
September 1 - 1st clue released
September 8 - 2nd clue released
September 15 - 3rd clue released
September 22 - 4th clue released
September 29 - 5th clue released
October 6 - 6th clue released
October 20 - final day of MKAL; post finished object photos in the Ravelry group
What to expect:
While there are a lot of surprises hidden within this design, here are some things that you can expect:
Rest easy! All techniques with charts will also include written instructions. I’ve created tutorial videos to guide you through any new techniques. There will NOT be any stranded colorwork, short rows, or brioche. This design is intended for intermediate knitters, but could be suitable for an adventurous beginner. The best part of a KAL… there will be lots of help from knitters along the way!
Finished dimensions:
Shhhh… it’s a secret! Looking at the yarn requirements, you can deduce that this will be an opulent piece for your wardrobe. Take a look at Garden Variety (last year’s mystery wrap with the same yardage requirements) to get a general idea of the size.
Beach Supplies:
Needles:
Two sets of US 5 (3.75mm) circular needles, or as required to meet gauge; 40”/100cm or 47”/120cm recommended (NOTE: One of the two sets of needles can be smaller than gauge to put stitches on hold.)
Gauge:
BLOCKED: 20 sts and 40 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch after wet-blocking and pinning
UNBLOCKED: 24 sts and 48 rows = 4”/10cm in garter stitch before blocking
(NOTE: Gauge is not crucial, but it will affect finished dimensions and yardage)
Notions:
Stitch markers (number varies by section) and a tapestry needle
Optional: blocking wires, pins, and mats (see this page for my favorites!)
Yarn Requirements:
MC: 800yds fingering weight yarn
C1-7: 133yds fingering weight yarn in EACH of 7 colors
The final reveal has happened so I can show you all jsut what this amazing knit looks like!
]]>
This is a virtual event with loads of yarnies, indie dyers, and fibre artists from all over Australia taking part on-line.
This will be pretty exciting for us, we are a little isolated down here in Tassie and rarely get the chance to show case our fibres in such a fantastic way with so much Australia wide exposure.
We are super excited to once again be part of The Big Wool Show, this year's event will be on September 4 & 5th.
This is a virtual event with loads of yarnies, indie dyers, and fibre artists from all over Australia taking part on-line.
This will be pretty exciting for us, we are a little isolated down here in Tassie and rarely get the chance to show case our fibres in such a fantastic way with so much Australia wide exposure.
I had even put some fishing line and a rubber band on the old upright at times to make it a little easier but it never quite worked as well as every one you see doing the amazing demo's online.
While these are cheap and ok for basic plying they can be a bit of a pain in the you know what area when doing some of the more complex art yarns.
I recently kicked the cardboard box around the lounge room and headed off to my local Majacraft dealer The Yarn Inn to see what was on offer from Majacraft.
]]>I've never really taken the time to think about my lazy kates when I am spinning. I've accumulated a couple of cardboard boxes with knitting needles and an old upright one with the little bars through them.
I had even put some fishing line and a rubber band on the old upright at times to make it a little easier but it never quite worked as well as every one you see doing the amazing demo's online.
While these are cheap and ok for basic plying they can be a bit of a pain in the you know what area when doing some of the more complex art yarns.
I recently kicked the cardboard box around the lounge room and headed off to my local Majacraft dealer The Yarn Inn to see what was on offer from Majacraft.
I certainly wasn't disappointed and ordered the Majacraft tensioned lazy kate without too much hesitation. It took a little while to arrive which was fine because they are after all, hand made.
Majacraft offers two styles of lazy kates, one is tensioned and the other is un tensioned. Hand crafted of course using New Zealand Rimu with the same components as the scotch tension systems on their wheels make them familiar and simple to use straight out of the box.
They also have convenient folding feet so you can store them away easily. The three triangle guides are positioned perfectly for the smaller bobbins and the yarns wind off really easily and smoothly.
Majacraft uses a polymer bearing to control the friction on the tension knob which allows for more consistent tension and better control of the bobbin.
I like the sensitivity of the tensioning knob and how it all works. Overall the Majacraft Universal Tensioned Lazy Kate is a must have for anyone who is getting more serious about their spinning. It is a game changer for me with the ease of use, solid quality and the only thing to remember is that this lazy kate will not take the overdrive bobbins.
Mine actually sits out on display and it is surprising how many of my husbands friends ask what it is :) I am now a little surprised that it took me this long to get one!
If you are thinking of an upgrade then I can highly recommend these beautiful pieces of equipment.
]]>Not just because it was cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions but because it is the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest continually running Agricultural Show and listed by The National Trust as part of our Island State’s Living history, The Campbell Town Show has always been the venue for country and town people to meet together and exchange views and opinions.
The beauty of this special show is the interest of it’s history, the charm of the township and especially the warmth and friendliness of its people, who welcome visitors to attend and share the experience
]]>Not just because it was cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions but because it is the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest continually running Agricultural Show and listed by The National Trust as part of our Island State’s Living history, The Campbell Town Show has always been the venue for country and town people to meet together and exchange views and opinions.
The beauty of this special show is the interest of it’s history, the charm of the township and especially the warmth and friendliness of its people, who welcome visitors to attend and share the experience.
Yes absolutely I will be there in the Exhibition Hall. So if you are in Tasmania during this great little show its well worth stopping by for a visit. There are a number of unique and interesting events on the agenda including..
This years special guest is Sally Murfet who is Tasmanian and Chief Inspiration Officer at Inspire AG.
Sally works with the Australian agri sector to increase the productivity and performance of their businesses through people.
With more than 20 years’ working on-farm or with agribusiness companies, she has an innate understanding of what makes ag businesses tick, from the paddock to the boardroom.
Before establishing Inspire AG, Sally lead a Government-funded project for TFGA to revitalise skills, training and workforce development across the entire primary industry sector in Tasmania.
In 2019, Sally was named the Rural Consultant of the Year at the Australian Farmer of the Year Awards for her dedication to leading and managing people projects that grow the Australian agriculture sector and each other.
Sally hosts a podcast called Growing Agri People. Each episode, she interviews industry leaders and subject matter experts who share their wisdom about building safe, productive and respectful workplace cultures.
For the last 15 years, Sally has been a volunteer with the Tasmanian Fire Service and has recently found a passion for leathercraft.
There is something for all the dog lovers out there at the Campbell Town Show.You can take your pick from:
If you would like to bring your own dog along, please remember they must be on a leash at all times and you must be prepared to ‘clean up’ after them.The LA Burbury Pavillion where the sheep are on display is an OUT OF BOUNDS area for all dogs, so please keep your pooch outside.
We have plenty for horse lovers at Campbell Town Show with two days of events to entertain you.Come along and enjoy the following Horse Events:
Any enquiries regarding all horse events should be directed to:Mady Muirhead equestrian@campbelltownshow.com.auWe will post all relevant info to this page leading in to the event but if you have Facebook, we also have an event page with frequent updates leading into this years event click here to join and keep up to date!
]]>I was delighted to recently receive an email from Knitty.com about a yarn purchase... It got me thinking about how was a Canadian online knitting website contacting me about a yarn purchase?
Christie had selected my limited edition Raspberry Cordial colourway for her pattern and I think it knitted up beautifully although I think there are lots of colours my Supreme Sock merino nylon base that would look lovely as well.
]]>I was delighted to recently receive an email from Knitty.com about a yarn purchase... It got me thinking about how was a Canadian online knitting website contacting me about a yarn purchase?
After a little investigation it turned out that one of our local pattern designers the lovely and very talented Christie Wareham-Norfolk who recently relocated to our wonderful Tasmania live not far from me and was looking to use one of my yarns in her new Ripple Rib Sock pattern.
Christie had selected my limited edition Raspberry Cordial colourway for her pattern and I think it knitted up beautifully although I think there are lots of colours my Supreme Sock merino nylon base that would look lovely as well.
The pattern is FREE, Yes I did say that it's a Free pattern and you can download it here from the Knittymag website issue 21 Spring + Summer 2021.
This is an extract from Christie's article on Knittymag.com
Sometimes the yarn itself causes inspiration to strike and that was the case with the colour of this Raspberry Cordial yarn. Thoughts of lazy summer days with ice cream sundaes and ripply biscuit wafers popped into my head and the Ripple Rib socks came into being.
The pattern starts with a gentle ripply cast on at the cuff and goes straight into a summery eyelet rib, perfectly comfortable and stylish for wearing in tennis shoes or with Mary Janes. The eyelet rib flows into a ribbed heel that hugs the back of the foot.
Pick a color reminiscent of your favourite ripple ice cream and enjoy knitting this easily to remember lace pattern.
Christie recently moved from tropical North West Western Australia to Tasmania where she is enjoying the opportunity to wear her hand knits in the cooler climate.
Trained as a Chartered Management Accountant, Christie took up knitting as a productive outlet due to chronic illnesses that resulted in spending a lot of time sitting or lying down. She also crochets, weaves, makes bobbin lace, does dressmaking, cross stitch and kumihimo braiding and has been known to dive into any textile-based rabbit hole that crosses her path. Christie describes her patterns as classic with a quirky twist.
Find Christie at her Ravelry store, on her Ravelry profile, or Instagram.
]]>This is great news as June has many years of felting experience and is a wonderful teacher as well.
]]>This is great news as June has many years of felting experience and is a wonderful teacher as well.
Wool fibres for these felting classes can be found here
If you would like to contact June direct to arrange a class with her or discuss her teaching schedule here are the details.
Contact June:
Website Home http://junehope.com.au/
M : +61409 416 196
Facebook june hope textile artist
IG: june hope textile artist]]>
This little gem looked fabulous from the first time I spotted it and after procrastinating for about 3-4 weeks I jumped in and ordered one from The Thread Collective who were posting them on Facebook at the time.
I put my order through and ticked the Express Post box expecting it to be 2-3 weeks away and to be shipped directly from Ashford in New Zealand. I was super dooper surprised when 3 business days later it arrived at my local post office and was shipped the same days as the order was placed from The Thread Collective in Brisbane.
]]>Ashford recently released an electric ball winder, Yippee, they had my attention. I have been on the lookout for an electric winder for some time but getting them from the US is a costly exercise.
This little gem looked fabulous from the first time I spotted it and after procrastinating for about 3-4 weeks I jumped in and ordered one from The Thread Collective who were posting them on Facebook at the time.
I put my order through and ticked the Express Post box expecting it to be 2-3 weeks away and to be shipped directly from Ashford in New Zealand. I was super dooper surprised when 3 business days later it arrived at my local post office and was shipped the same days as the order was placed from The Thread Collective team in Brisbane.
When I unpacked it I was pretty excited and immediately raided my stash for some yarn to start playing with it.
A quick skim through the instructions, and I was good to get started.
The first yarn I grabbed was a 4 ply pure Merino and shortly after a quick play I wound a really nice cake with ease. I progressed to an 8 ply pure Merino yarn and the results were just as good on the thicker yarn! Yippee... I was pretty happy at this point and keen to get some cakes wound up.
Sadly some of these skein didn't want to play at all. I had to fiddle about and wind more onto the centre shaft than before and I rapidly became disappointed in the little winder.
The yarn would only wind on above the centre grove that it needed to be in, I squeezed it and pushed it down and tried to get it in the middle, but Nope, it wouldn't stay put. I eventually just wound the yarn on and thought I would see if it corrected itself.
It sort of did but then the yarn it started to roll over the edges of the cake and wrap around the centre shaft causing it to loop. I even tried winding it on slowly because I was winding quite fast but nothing really worked well.
I finished the skein with a sinking feeling, I had paid a lot for this little winder and couldn't work out what was happening. Some of the sock yarn skeins just wouldn't do the right thing for me at all, they were pretty bad and all over the place. If I was going to wind skeins for customers then I had to get this working better than it was right now.
Ok, I was starting to think I might need some help here... but at the same time wondering how hard can it be?
The instructions mention that you need to pay attention to the a couple of things, first up make sure the yarn is feeding onto the centre at the groove.
Then when you are feeding in of the yarn, it specifically said that the yarn needs to be fed in at a 45 degree angle.
Even though I was trying to do this with my hand, I have to admit I wasn't trying that hard and not realising this was crucial to the quality of the cake. It actually makes the yarn go directly to the groove on the main shaft.
Putting the pieces together over the cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit, I decided to try the next sock skein and make sure of the angle of the yarn.
I fed the yarn onto the winder and wound it a couple of times and it went right to the centre of the shaft exactly where it should have. *phew*
The whole skein wound onto the winder with ease and apart from putting a little tension on it with my fingers it finally wound a perfect cake. Yippee happy little dance and time for more coffee :)
I now use my winder on my work table in the studio with more space to spread and work thing out.
So I grabbed a clamp that I use for other things and popped it on the edge of the table and run the yarn under a gap in the clamp. This worked beautifully and I could adjust it easily to make sure the angle was ok, I also had plenty of room to hold a little tension on the yarn on the left hand side of the clamp so it wound on nicely and to take some of the flip flop out of the yarn as it comes off the swift.
It winds a really nice cake but can be a little temperamental with some yarns in particular the sock yarns I tried. This may be due to them being Superwash and a little more slippery than pure wool.
If your yarn is a little on the slippery side, go slower and dont try to rush things. This little winder will do the job very well if you take your time.
I know a slower wind on speed will give far better results but this seems to be a slower winder. It is still a very good electric cake winder, just not as speedy as I thought it would be.
Overall, I am very happy with my little Ashford e-winder and highly recommend it.
While it wont save me much time when winding cakes for my lovely customers, it will save my back and shoulders from a Lot of hand cranking on those little manual plastic ones.
I purchased my Ashford e-ball Winder from The Thread Collective in Brisbane and highly recommend them and this little electric winder.
]]>
This year the Tasmanian Craft Fair which is my biggest event for the year will on online only. It is a little disappointing but also very exciting!
Their website will be live from October 18th so we will have lots of time for Christmas shopping :)
For this reason I am pretty excited to not have all the stress and hard work leading up to the setup day and then for the 4 days of the show. Now dont get me wrong here, I love the meet and greet, hustle, pressure and sheer terror of getting it all sorted on time and looking good on the day. But, it will be nice to not have all that to deal with and just know that I wont be isolated in my little stand. I cant wait to be able to 'surf' the other stall holders and see what they have to offer, something I have not been able to do as a sole operator for the last 4 years.
So here we go, over the next few weeks I will be loading everything up onto the website and getting lots of extra stock made for everyone.
]]>
The 40th Tasmanian Craft Fair is on again this year, this has been a tumultuous time for us all and the organisers have recently made the big decision to go online with the event. There will of course be significant changes due to the Covid-19 situation and the safety of all will be paramount.
]]>The 40th Tasmanian Craft Fair is on again this year, this has been a tumultuous time for us all and the organisers have recently made the big decision to go online with the event. There will of course be significant changes due to the Covid-19 situation and the safety of all will be paramount.
Each year, the Tasmanian Craft Fair hand picks feature artists from within Tasmania and abroad. This year we have 4 feature artists who reside here in Tasmania but have achieved big things globally. Wonderfully, they were part of the Tasmanian (Deloraine) Craft Fair in the early years.
Their exhibition will be curated by Megan Dick, curator of the Glover Prize.
Neil lives in Reedy Marsh Tasmania, where he has worked with clay and fire for over thirty-five years. Initially producing gas-fired tableware, Neil now fires wood burning kilns for the making of both sculpture and tableware. In 2009 the National Gallery of Australia purchased his work for their collection in Canberra.
Helmut is a Tasmanian sculptor whose current artwork, builds upon his passions to mimic the natural world and celebrate the environment in bold outline, as well as sharp relief. He also has, amongst his varied accomplishments, private and public collections in Germany, Australia, Japan and the USA.
Tony Smibert AM, is a renowned painter in watercolour and acrylics, author of numerous publications on historic watercolour and a Visiting Artist Researcher at Britain’s Tate Gallery.
McLachlan jewellery, sculpture and paintings are in private and public collections, including the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; and have been selected for major exhibitions and events, in Australia and overseas.
What a stunning range of featured artist this year and they are all right here in our wonderful Tasmania!
The organising team have been working tirelessly for months to make this event happen and we are all super excited to be a little part of it.
Here is a quote from the Tasmanian Craft Fair website:
It's with a heavy heart that we must advise of the late cancellation of the physical Craft Fair for 2020.
In July this year the Tasmanian Craft fair, the largest working fair in the Southern Hemisphere announced we would hold a Tasmanian only fair with consideration that the Tasmanian borders were still restricted, and that assuming there be no community transmission before that time, that the fair would be a safe and enjoyable event for people of all ages to enjoy.
While our committee was also prepared for distancing and COVID prevention measures, we were advised of new requirements in recent days and were, up until today, still awaiting an approval to proceed.
We understand this has the biggest impact on our suppliers relying on the work, local charities who usually raise funds through our event, and all of the artisans who will have been working hard to create items for you to purchase. Indeed the longer we may wait for answers, the more investments our suppliers and exhibitors would be making.
Our marketing sponsor, Effective Naturally will be loading our website with a virtual page for each of the 260 approved 2020 exhibitors which includes those originally approved from the mainland. You will be able to browse their profiles online from October 18 and click through to their contact details or online stores.
We encourage you to do your Christmas shopping to help support our artisans - most of them sole traders or family businesses.
Thank you for your support, and we're sorry we could not bring you this year’s event in person.
We do hope Tasmanian's will support their local artisans by browsing online from October 18.
So if you are a needle felter, felter, spinner or knitter and crocheter make a cuppa and head online to find me here and see what goodies we all have!
We will have some more of our superfine Tassie Merino, in both untreated (for felting) and Super-wash (for spinning)
We will also have some interesting new shades in our sock yarns and 4 ply pure merino yarns under wraps for this great event.
]]>So if you a needle felter, felter, spinner or knitter and crocheter make a cuppa and head online to find me here and see what goodies we all have!
We will have some more of our superfine Tassie Merino, in both untreated (for felting) and Super-wash (for spinning)
We will also have some interesting new shades in our sock yarns and 4 ply pure merino yarns under wraps for this great event.
See you there!
]]>
I often show some of my very basic sample knits at events when I am asked about what to do with my hand dyed yarns and people will say things like, ooh that’s beautiful, I could never knit like that ... Well here’s what happens behind the scenes with my knitting!
Over the last few autumn months, like most people we’ve all been getting back to basics and I’m no exception to that rule.
I’ve settled nicely into a little routine of knitting away the hours in the evenings and have been working on some more samples for my hand dyed and hand spun yarns.
One of the scarves I knitted, I ended up pulling completely undone and knitting the whole thing again using another pattern.
]]>I often show some of my very basic sample knits at events when I am asked about what to do with my hand dyed yarns and people will say things like, ooh that’s beautiful, I could never knit like that ... Well here’s what happens behind the scenes with my knitting!
Over the last few autumn months, like most people we’ve all been getting back to basics and I’m no exception to that rule.
I’ve settled nicely into a little routine of knitting away the hours in the evenings and have been working on some more samples for my hand dyed and hand spun yarns.
One of the scarves I knitted, I ended up pulling completely undone and knitting the whole thing again using another pattern.
Why?? I can hear you asking already ... Well like a lot of people I am not the world’s best knitter, I can knit a decent simple scarf or beanie and fair attempt at a basic work jumper for the winter but that’s my knitting limit these days. I am not and have never professed to be a prolific knitter, and least of all a pattern designer.
The pattern I settled on first was the Amplify Shawl by Felicia Lo.
Pretty simple and only had 2 stitches, garter, and k2YO. Now how hard can you make something that easy?
I managed somehow to get 3 mistakes in the rotten thing, probably due to knitting in front of the tellie when I was half asleep in the evenings. One was so mind blowing obvious I have no idea how I missed it and the other two were sticking out as plain as day when I stretched it out to have a good look before washing and blocking it.
After throwing it and the pattern in the basket for a few days I decided that I really did need to sort it out so I decided to knit a Be Simple Scarf with a simple increase one side and decrease on the other edge. This idea lasted for about 20 rows of garter stitches before I decided to change things.
So the next night I decided to mix things up a bit and add some interest by putting in a row on k2YO then a section of stocking stitch and another row of k2YO then back into a section of garter stitch.
This seemed to do two things, keep me awake and add a nice amount of interest to rather simple but very versatile scarf pattern.
I managed to finish this one without any mistakes (Yippee) and I’m pretty happy with it now. It had a little picot edge for the cast off row but because by then I was playing yarn chicken and running out of yarn rapidly on the longer rows. So I decided to do a simple stretchy cast off (which I have to look up every time) and be happy with my efforts.
The moral and message here is.
You might not knit or crochet very often, or you might not know how to knit many stitches and you might be like me, years and years since you knitted anything. But it’s always better to try and yep, pull it undone and start again, than to never give it a go in the first place?
Another thing to remember is that all those people you see around you that have knitted lots of fantastic things all have a little secret!
They will do a test knit a few times before they jump into a big fancy project. It’s true! most will test knit to learn the pattern repeats, handle or drape and knit swatches for needle gauge and all the boring stuff beforehand. This way, when they start their main project they are very familiar with the pattern and how to interpret it and correct anything in it that is not quite right for them.
So there you have it, none of us are as good as we may seem, we all make mistakes and have to un pull our knitting and start all over again just like you do! And we all just practice, practice, and then sometimes, practice a little bit more.
Remember, knitting should be enjoyed, even when we un pull it and have to start all over again.
Be proud of your efforts, keep calm and carry on knitting!
Cheers
Sally :)
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