Woollywumpkins

Owl vest

2010-12-08T10:18:00.000Z

Custom dye section of my store will be re-opened today.

2010-12-01T15:09:00.000Z

Custom dyes take between 10-20 days to be fulfilled. Depending on your requirements and the instock yarn/wool available.

All prices will be rising on the 1st January 2011 to coincide with the VAT increase and the rising costs involved in producing these high quality yarns.

Alpaca Chunky weight

Superwash BFL Aran

Merino Aran

Laceweight Merino with bamboo

Organic Merino Aran

BFL Aran weight

BFL DK weight

Petal Princess Pattern

2010-11-15T22:04:00.000Z

Hiya all,

As some of you know, I have been working on my petal princess pattern for a long time. It has been tested and is ready for release. It includes the skirty and the longies version.

I'll be adding it to my store on Friday. If you are on my newsletter list you'll get a discount code on Thursday. So registering on my site might be an idea ;)

Mich x.

Buy British Month has started!

2010-11-01T22:25:00.008Z

Co-ops

2010-10-07T17:23:00.002+01:00

A Lesson in art.

2010-09-13T12:01:00.000+01:00

So my daughter has an art project, that she wants to do all on her own. The brief is to make a fairy cake, decorate it, then make a drawing, painting of it. She's 12 so you can imagine the mess I expected to see after giving her free reign of the kitchen yesterday. To my great surprise, she cleaned up everything she had used. And to my even greater surprise look at what she had made! Two for her project and a spare just in case.

What is this??

2010-09-12T08:51:00.000+01:00

Michelle's custom

2010-09-08T11:01:00.001+01:00

September stocking

2010-09-01T12:11:00.004+01:00

Custom dye pic

2010-08-26T00:00:00.001+01:00

Mama Pack Knit-a-long

2010-08-16T13:30:00.000+01:00

We have been having some summer holiday, light knitting, fun over on Mama packs.

With Yzzys permission I wrote the pattern, which I released in blocks of 15 rows. Members of the forum then knitted with me, whilst discussing our various successes and failures. The last section was released today and the final pattern published. If you would like to knit a square yourself the pattern can be downloaded to the right of this blog post.

Weenotions and Woollywumpkins Collaboration!

2010-07-21T13:46:00.000+01:00

I've teamed up with Suzanne of Wee Notions to bring this absolutely stunning set.
It comprises of a Kimono style wrap cardigan, knit in superwash Merino, a pair of crops knit in Organic merino in my 'Far eastern skies' colourway, and a one size nappy with Geisha embroidery.

It is currently being auctioned on the Mama packs forum you need to be a member to bid, but membership is free.

Woollywumpkins/BobbyDazzler/DSD Collaboration

2010-07-19T12:58:00.000+01:00

This beautiful set is available to purchase at the Summer mama spectacular. It is free to join in.

Click here to see some more...

Clarkey update

2010-07-14T16:14:00.002+01:00

DSB'S WOOL

2010-07-13T09:59:00.000+01:00

Henrys mum Update

2010-07-12T22:09:00.003+01:00

Summer Mama Spectacular

2010-07-01T10:47:00.003+01:00

I've been a bit remiss with the blog as I'm really busy with the Summer Mama Spectacular here are a few of the things you've missed so far!

Henrysmum update

2010-06-08T16:30:00.000+01:00

Simlou update

2010-06-03T09:41:00.001+01:00

Your wool is drying. I'll be casting on today.

Annies update

2010-05-31T15:10:00.000+01:00

Ticklytoes Liz - update pic

2010-05-28T10:56:00.004+01:00

Where's your store gone?

2010-05-27T19:22:00.000+01:00

It seems that my store will be offline for some more time. I have had trouble with the domain holders Go daddy and domains priced right. They have basically held my domain to ransom, to the point that it has been deleted. I have a store on http://www.woollywumpkins.org.uk/ but at the moment it won't let anyone log on. So if you would like to order any of my items or a custom slot I can be contacted via email michelle at woollywumpkins dot org dot uk take out the spaces and add the characters ;)

Carley and Leal123 update

2010-05-18T07:56:00.002+01:00

50ftQueeny update

2010-05-10T20:20:00.001+01:00

JenKyleKaitlinRoo Update.

2010-05-07T16:24:00.004+01:00

Buy British Month

2010-04-25T22:44:00.022+01:00

my first bbm purchase has arrived!

It's May, have you been saving your paypal?

Chunky Alpaca Baby Jacket

2010-04-21T10:22:00.015+01:00

I want to knit a baby jacket in chunky alpaca, but cannot find any patterns. So as I am going to have to make it up I thought I'd blog it :) It is knit from the top down on circular needles, for a seamless finish.

I took One 100g skein of Chunky Alpaca (100 yards) (Available from my store) A pair each of size 6.5mm/10.5US, and 8mm/11US circular needles. I had two smaller circular needles to use as stitch holders. 4 stitch markers. Gauge/Tension - 6st x 8 rows = 2 inch square

With the 6.5mm/10.5us circular needles and longtail cast on 32 stitches.

Row 1 - k4, place marker, k6, place marker, k12, place marker, k6, place marker, k4.

Row 2 - K row increasing one stitch before and after each stitch marker. (40 stitches)

Row 3 - Knit

Row 4 - Change to size 8.mm/11.us needles. Knit row increasing one stitch before and after each marker. (48 stitches)

Row 5 - K3, Purl to last 3 stitches, K3

Repeat rows 4 and 5 until you have 96 stitches. (12, marker, 22, marker, 28, marker, 22, marker, 12)

Divide row - K 12, slip next 22 stitches onto a spare needle, K28, slip next 22 stitches onto a spare needle, K12

1st post divide row - K3, purl to last 3 stitches, K3.

2nd post divide row - Knit

Repeat last two rows until work measures 4 inches from the divide row to the bottom of work.

Work 4 rows garter stitch (Knit) Cast off. Sew ends in.

Sleeves - **Slip one lot of the 22 stitches held on a spare needle back onto your larger circular needle. You will have a gap between the last stitch and the first stitch, Pick up a stitch here to close the gap. Continue to knit in the round until your sleeve measures 2 inches from where you have rejoined. Work 2 purl rows then cast off. Sew ends in.** Repeat fromm ** - ** for second sleeve.

Make a twist tie for each side of the jacket fronts and attach securely. Voila!, Beautifully warm, snuggly soft Baby Jacket!

April Dye Club

2010-04-19T18:57:00.002+01:00

Although we are basking in glorious sunshine now, the month started with more than its fair share of rain. Our dye club decided on the theme of April Showers for this months project. Looking out across the Valley we had such contrasts of just two colours. Blue and Green. The blue of the sky, the river, the rain, set against the greens of the grass, the trees and the new growth spurting everywhere.

Pictures of the delicious new colourway for your delectation!

lots of woolly loveliness drying in the shade!

Hannahs' Progress pics

2010-04-09T08:44:00.008+01:00

Not happy with the pooling in the linen stitch so have gently ripped it back.

I'm happier with the reworked piece

night time pic

Frogged the left leg

Woodland petal

2010-03-28T21:36:00.001+01:00

Club challenge for March 2010 'Spring in bud'

2010-03-12T16:23:00.004Z

So welcome to the first Dyeing of the Pure wool appreciation club!

Our first theme is 'Spring in bud' Inspired by the sea of colour this season brings, after the starkness of all of the snow it warms the heart to see such vibrance peeking its' way into the world.

Our technique is Kettle dyeing. A large pan is gently heated whilst the wool sits submerged in water. One colour at a time will be poured into the kettle over a 5th of the wool, then a different colour will be poured onto the next 5th and so on around the pan until most of the wool is covered, we gently heat until the dye is set.

The finished product will have a repeat pattern, but will also be slightly random in the length of the repeats. As the dye colours are free floating there will also be some merging of colours to create a unique one of a kind batch of skeins.

Members taking part this month are -

- Bibs n bots 2 x sock with bamboo

- Bobby Dazzlers 1 x sock with tencel

- Cecily - 1 x Baby Alpaca Chunky

- LBF 2 x sock

- Michebe 1 x sock wth bamboo

Base colours being used - Yellow, green, lilac, orange, undyed

Woollywumpkins Pure Wool Appreciation Club

2010-03-04T18:36:00.002Z

Hiya All,

Some of my regulars have suggested a wool club. So here it is…………. taken from my website

Initially, The club will have a maximum of 10 members.

There will be 12 themes with a technique attached to them.

Each member will commit by pre-purchasing a minimum 3 skeins per year.

Upon cleared payment I will give each member a code to correspond with their order. These codes will be used by the member to choose the themes of their choice. These choices can be of 1 theme 2 or 3.

Each month we will decide the theme, technique and base wools. If a member decides they want in, they take the option through checkout and use the prepaid code as payment. The theme and technique is set each month, the base wool can be chosen by the member at checkout - when redeeming the code.

There will be options to buy more skeins set up on the webstore.

The wool will have a discount, the more wool you buy, the bigger the discount.

Web store link

Open only to UK customers.

We will discuss the themes and techniques here Mamapacks discussion

Membership of the Mamapacks forum is free.

A taster of the wool we'll be dyeing.

Store reopens March 1st

2010-02-28T21:43:00.000Z

I've just finished listing the new stock, phew! It will become available tomorrow at 10 AM.
I've also written a simple pattern for a posing cocoon, in a newborn size. It is only available with the wool and is written for use with 10mm needles.

Happy shopping!

Ravelympics anyone?

2010-02-20T17:07:00.001Z

I've taken part this year for the first time. It has been fun. I've completed a hat for my son, finished a wip for the store and started a blanket also to be entered. With my store opening soon I thought I didn't have enough time to do anything else, but after a discussion on http://www.mamapacks.eu/ I decided to try to make a baby cocoon myself here is the ensuing thread http://www.mamapacks.eu/forum/index.php?topic=5365.msg252597;topicseen#msg252597

With the ravelympics in mind I'm going to write and publish the pattern for it, look out over on the right hand side for a link in the future!

I've been dyeing again, here is a sneeky pic for Cecily.Think we'll call it sunny side up!

Warming up the dye pot.

2010-02-18T15:27:00.000Z

Half term here, so a perfect opportunity to get my eldest daughter involved in my hobbies. She chose some beautifully soft Blue Faced Leicester pure wool, Double Knit weight. She wanted bright vibrant colours, which she definitely achieved! Well done Lolly pop!

Sticking to the bright and vibrant theme I had a dabble myself,

and then dabbled with Dark but vibrant!

YUM!!!

Exciting times ahead.......First Boobie Buddies Accessories!

2010-02-14T19:47:00.004Z

The lovely Pip at http://www.boobiebuddiesbfdolls.co.uk/ has enlisted me to design a range of accessories for her dolls.

If you haven't come across her dolls before, take a moment to click on the link and see how fab they are!

The clothes pictured are now available via my store http://www.woollywumpkins.co.uk/ They can be pre-ordered in a wide range of colours. If you have a little one in cloth nappies you could order a matching pair of longies for both your child and their toy!

What a month!

2010-02-03T14:48:00.004Z

Cassie has had her surgery. The operation appears to have been completely successful! Woo Hoo!!!!! She did catch an infection whilst at hospital which is proving difficult to shake off, but she is much improved.

It has been the worst month of my life. Coming so close to losing your daughter makes you really stop and take stock of the way your life is heading. Cherish you little ones. Give them extra hugs, and lots of kisses.

Cassies operation was scheduled to take 5 hours. After 5 hours the surgeons asked someone to tell us that they were suturing her, this went on to take over 2 hours. I used that stressful time to make a test knit teddy 'Oliver' He'll be available to the public via his designers website real soon.

Aren't they both cute?

lozza tis snowing!

2010-01-12T22:00:00.003Z

Needle felting

2010-01-07T20:07:00.002Z

Firstly we have the obligatory snow picture! The children are really enjoying the snow. We bought a sledge last week when it first snowed thinking that it wouldn't get much use, but it has turned into the must have item for each of my children. Even hubby has had a go. I might be brave and lurch myself down the mountain on it tomorrow. I'll be asking for rain in my bedtime prayer tonight :)

The second pic is of my first attempt at needle felting. Such fun! I can see myself taking it to the hospital with me to while away the hours.

Hannah's Lallypants.

2010-01-05T20:03:00.003Z

The Absolute Beginners Baby Hat

2009-12-31T15:42:00.001Z

Coming in the near future!

Carolyns' Customs Mark II

2009-12-23T13:08:00.003Z

Custom pics

2009-12-17T22:21:00.004Z

A busy time here. Cassie is on her pre operation meds, she seems to be ok on them, if a little sicky. We are still fattening her up, so that she has plenty in reserve for her recovery. The operation is still on track for the second week of January.

A sprinkling of snow on the ground outside. As you can imagine the children are willing a full covering of snow by the morning. I love snow even though I, without fail, fall on my ample behind whenever I venture out into it!

The photographs are of a recent collaboration with Neelam, for Buy British Month.

The green/brown/cream is a colourway called Cassie Coo on Organic Merino Aran base. The finished longies are for Carolyn's little girl Poppy.

The second photograph pink/damson/green is of a colourway called Laurenella also on Organic Merno Aran base. These have been sent to their new home with Laymon.

Soaker pattern testers wanted

2009-12-10T15:53:00.001Z

5 testers needed to test knit or crochet one or more of my current patterns. I have tweaked the base soaker and lallypants soaker in particular.
I would also like some feedback on my waffley good soaker either from those who have made the latest version or from someone making it for the first time.
I will require all participants to add the knit/crochet to their ravelry projects page and convey their thoughts to me via my ravelry group.
As a thankyou all finished projects will be entered into a draw, the winning one shall receive 100g skein of hand dyed dk or aran, bfl or merino.
You will get 1 entry for each finished project.
Any questions? Mich x.

Picture of the Month!

2009-12-04T16:36:00.001Z

Kims' Skull and Cross bones

2009-12-03T13:40:00.003Z

Pumpkin pip

2009-12-01T13:57:00.002Z

Winter is here and wow is it cold! Find our special winter wonderland offers under 'seasonal' on www.wahm.co.uk

2009-11-29T20:48:00.002Z

Slubby Customs

2009-11-25T18:34:00.004Z

We're still celebrating Buy British Month over on clothnappyaddicts.co.uk Here are a couple of pics of the gorgeous British Merino Slubby we've dyed up. DELICIOUS!!

23-11-2009

2009-11-23T15:56:00.002Z

Update 17-11-2009

2009-11-17T13:09:00.003Z

TNN order is complete, just reskeining the last of them. Piccies to follow, but I'm too busy to do them today.

I have a pop eyed dinosaur to correct, vhc longies to lanolise, skull and cross bones to knit and cna dip dyes to prepare. Will post piccies when I feel on top of the bulk of it ;)

2009-11-11T19:15:00.004Z

Week's Round up.

2009-11-07T15:28:00.002Z

It's been a busy week and next week promises to be even busier!

So far we have been enjoying WAHM Collaboration month on www.wahm.co.uk a new Buying, selling, swapping site. Bit like ebay but MUCH cheaper to list your lovely stuff. First 300 members get a £5.00 credit to their account so you can sell £250. of stuff for free - I think my maths is right?

We are also really enjoying Buy British Month on Cloth Nappy Addicts, see us here http://clothnappyaddicts.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=22159&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

My customs list is still full until March, so I have teamed up with Neelam (Neels) another talented WAHM so she will be taking on any knitting orders I get throughout the next month.

We have Cassies preop and legal stuff on Monday, so I won't be online for a couple of days. Everything on my to do list will continue to be up to date as, whatever happens on Monday, I have made contingency plans ;)

TNN Ladies I have been assured that the remainder of your base wool will be here Mon/Tues.

Thomas - Look out for the postie on Tuesday as your special green wasn't dry enough to send today.

Sneaky peek!

2009-11-04T22:51:00.011Z

Restocking the store today.

2009-10-30T09:47:00.004Z

I'll be restocking the wool section of the store today. I'll be adding the wool throughout today so you can preview before it goes live at 8.00pm GMT It is a small restocking as I am concentrating on Buy British Month and WAHM collaboration month.

Louise your longies are finished and lanolising.

Carolyn, your parcel was received.

2009-10-28T22:41:00.003Z

Louise, your longies are well under way. I really like this colourway. I may have to make something for Nathaniel in this colourway :)

I finished the set made from wool gifted to me by Kermitgirl on CNA. I made the Ashford cowl as mentioned in an earlier blog and teamed it with a pair of fetching in a mix of the main colour and orange trim. I like how they have turned out. I wore them tonight on a brisk walk in the autumn mist. Very warm, snuggly and soft!

For Diane

2009-10-25T08:50:00.001Z

TNN Ladies 2

2009-10-22T11:00:00.004+01:00

Click on image to make it bigger.

All merino Aran dk and BFL Aran dyed up. Just the BFL DK to do.

I'm well into your order now.

Selfish show off post :)

2009-10-21T16:51:00.003+01:00

Cassies longies arrived today. It was so lovely putting a pair on her that I hadn't made. I should spoil her more often.

link to mamapacks forum, you have to register to see the chat
http://www.mamapacks.eu/forum/index.php?action=unread

20-10-2009 Update

2009-10-20T17:22:00.006+01:00

These have been made for Cassie by the lovely Carley. I dyed the wool, she knit them up. I can't wait for them to arrive!

Carolyn, the postie should be a knocking!!

TNN ladies, The weather is dark and grim here, this is the best pic of the day.

A lil update.

2009-10-17T22:51:00.005+01:00

I've been quietly knitting, crocheting and dyeing. I'll post more piccies over the next week. Todays pic's are of my latest customs and two gifts, the first is a personalised tealight from http://www.smiggles.co.uk/ a surprise gift that really touched my heart. Thankyou Stacey. The second gift was a skein of plums and oranges, as blogged about previously. I indulged myself by making the Ashford Cowl. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/nicola-faull-designs

Update 10-10-09

2009-10-10T12:09:00.004+01:00

Cassie update.

2009-10-07T21:46:00.002+01:00

As my regulars will know, my youngest daughter was born with a congenital lung condition. You were all very supportive whilst I was pregnant with her and comforted me whilst she was in the nicu fighting for her life.

I have kept you up to date by email, but am finding it hard to keep track of who I have answered and who I have not.

We had a full review this week. We had been hoping that her surgery would be put off until she was three years old, but the cysts are just too big, the risk of leaving them too great. So the operation has been brought forward. She needs the op now, but keyhole surgery is not available at her age. They don't want to risk the full, open surgery as the recovery rate is not good. So, we have to wait until she reaches keyhole surgery age - 5 months from now.

In the mean time, I may need to ask for patience from my custom customers currently on my list if we are called to the hospital. I think that I won't re-open my customs until the operation is done to be fair to both my precious daughter and my customers.

I will honor all orders and co-ops already arranged.

Thankyou all for your continued support.
Mich x.

Pics for Carolyn and Jen

2009-10-02T22:58:00.004+01:00

Fantabulous UK based Competition

2009-10-02T14:25:00.002+01:00

Are you pregnant? Do you know someone who is? Then have a looky here http://www.mamapacks.eu/forum/index.php?topic=3104.msg217188;topicseen#msg217188

They are giving away one of their bumper mamapacks. I had one for Cassie. They are full to the brim of lovely goodies, ethically sourced for mama's with new babies.

You have to register to enter, but it is worth it. Not only do you get an opportunity to win the mama pack but you also get to chat to lovely mama's - like me ;)

TNN ladies 2

2009-10-02T13:59:00.005+01:00

Winter Nebula in action

Nathaniel

Winter Nebula

Enfys

Poppy choc

Nebula

Geomax

Geomax Blush

TNN Ladies.

2009-10-01T13:26:00.008+01:00

Rhigos

Nimbus

Forest Green

Herb Garden

Lakeside

Oxide

Nitro

Pacific Ocean

Paradisaic

Nerise

Looby Looby

Prezzie for ME!!

2009-10-01T13:16:00.003+01:00

We've been having a swap on CNA, my exiting parcel arrived with these..... aren't they lovely?

I think i'll make myself a cowl, if I find the right pattern to show it off.

Thankyou Ali.

Dye a long

2009-09-29T12:25:00.004+01:00

For Jen

2009-09-28T18:06:00.004+01:00

click on pic to make it bigger

Finally feeling a bit better!

2009-09-26T19:31:00.002+01:00

After having a head as thick as a cloud for what seems like forever, the cloud is finally starting to lift. It was probably a cold, but how my local authority reacted to my son when he turned up to school with a runny nose is pathetic! Since when does a reg teacher diagnose swine flu and quarentine us! Pah! The GP said better safe than sorry, so I've had a house full of runny nosed children for the last week.

Piccies are of Cecilys wool, and as I've been feeling sorry for myself I bought 2 skein winders woo hoo - great fun! I can't wait for tomorrow. I start a big yarn order and get to use my new toys again and again :)

The last but not least pic is of Carleys' set for Mia, she frightened the life out of me by saying 'I want a hat, cardigan and longies set, here are the measurements get on with whatever you like' Ack! The agony! I went with pinks, as when questioned she asked for girly, the butterfly as I've seen that she likes them and the rest came from the dark recesses of my mind! Thankfully she loves them, she finally received them after a merry fandango with Royal Snail.

Jo's Wool.

2009-09-21T18:43:00.002+01:00

Baby one ply - all spun up!

2009-09-09T00:04:00.009+01:00

Shadow is making something for a new born, so I offered some homespun. Nothing like fresh, soft pure wool hand spun and hand knit next to a babies skin. Love it!
She wanted either orange, yellow or green. With the gorgeous green mountains all around me inspiring me every day how could I not dye some gentle green?
The end product is going to be a soaker so aran/bulky weight was the aim. I got 108 metres to 70g, should be enough for a newborn soaker.
Hope she likes it and it knits up well.

'Enfys'

2009-09-07T08:45:00.002+01:00

Autumn Update.

2009-09-06T14:53:00.003+01:00

Well I am back from a really relaxing, refreshing holiday in the sun. I have plenty of inspiration and kilos of wool to soak up the luscious colourways I have in mind.

I'll be putting the wool on my store to view only on the 9th of September. It will become available to purchase as the clock turns to the 10th. Grab your choices quickly as I am really busy with hospital appointments this month, so don't know when i'll be re-stocking.

Custom Orders are still fully booked. I won't be opening up my list for a while yet.

Current custom orders are up to date.

Carley, Mia's cardigan just needs arms, her longies need cuffs and her hat has not been cast on yet.

Carolyn, your wool is being dyed this week.

Jo Halobaby - your wool is ready when you are.

Paid for Undyed wool orders are being posted tomorrow.

25-09-2009

2009-08-25T16:06:00.002+01:00

Don't ask!

Coming Soon! 10-09-2009

2009-08-24T20:14:00.007+01:00

Craft Swap was from Karen.

2009-08-18T21:04:00.005+01:00

So you heard me squee a couple of weeks ago when my secret craft swap arrived. I found out it was from Karen a fellow cloth nappy nut. Amazingly she had never thought about selling her work, but it is really well made, more so than some of the wahm work I have bought in the past!

Thought I'd post a few pics of the bag in action for Karen to see :)))))))))

Neels

2009-08-14T12:25:00.004+01:00

Dyed to match some wool Neelam already has.

Lovely wool

2009-08-13T13:42:00.034+01:00

The order is complete. Thankyou for choosing my wool you lovely ladies. I cannot wait to see what you make popping up in your projects pages on Ravelry. Please message me when you have finished projects to show off. The close up is of Geomax, is it ok? The yarn porn pic is of all of your wool.

Top row from left to right is 3 x Kitcha's Lakeside, 2x Kitcha's brown Oxide, 2 x Razz's herb garden, 2x Razz's Geomax. 2x Alia's Oxide

Second row is 2x Skyflames Pacific ocean with greens - new name is Paradisaic. 2 x Trudies Nitro, 2x Vic's Oxide, 2 x Vic's pacific ocean, 2x Annarosephoto's Oxide.

Third and Fourth row belong to yarn-a-holic JJ!

Rhigos

2009-08-11T13:18:00.003+01:00

Some pics I forgot to post

2009-08-10T17:34:00.005+01:00

07-08-09

2009-08-07T11:39:00.003+01:00

All wool orders have been posted.

05-08-09 Update

2009-08-05T14:02:00.003+01:00

geomax

2009-08-02T17:21:00.004+01:00

they are a bit richer in real life than they are showing here.

I've been spoilt

2009-08-01T15:29:00.003+01:00

3 parcels in the post for me today, some jaquard dyes, a knitting bookmark and my secret craft swap which is squeakily fabulous!

Introducing

2009-07-31T09:03:00.003+01:00

Pacific Ocean. A custom order for Frances, she asked for stormy seas with blues and greys. I think I will use this colourway for my Marine shortie/longies. I love it!

Introducing........

2009-07-27T17:54:00.004+01:00

Looby Looby, name after a fabulously caring goddess mum.

Nitro - name chosen by my son and as yet un-named purple and greens.

Available on my store now!

26-07-2009

2009-07-26T06:23:00.003+01:00

Introducing Nimbus and Nebula

2009-07-25T15:08:00.005+01:00

So, this is the 'Oxide' from yesterdays blog, reskeined and looking fabulous!

Here we have our 'Nimbus' It has turned out to be gorgeously turbulent and stormy - like our vibrant autumns. I couldn't wait until September to release it though so here it is.

........and saving the best til last here is our 'Nebula' I had originally intended the purples and browns to dominate, but i am really pleased with how this colourway has turned out.

All of our new colourways are available on my store now!

Introducing 'Oxide'

2009-07-24T12:35:00.002+01:00

24-07-2009

2009-07-24T08:22:00.004+01:00

Bit of a grey day here - hence the muted piccies. Liz's skirty and Vikki's knitted cwtch. I am dyeing the wool for my craft swap today, will post piccies as and when.

19-07-2009

2009-07-19T12:36:00.001+01:00

Customs update 08-07-09

2009-07-08T18:16:00.003+01:00

Just a lil update.......
I'm currently working on Liz's Soaker, Vikki's foot muff, and Shell's cardigans.

Customs update - 29-06-09

2009-06-29T22:00:00.003+01:00

I have been developing myown hand dyed wool, to be released sometime in September. Here is one relative to this blog. I call it Lakeside Farm. Inspired by my recent visits, I picked out the Welsh slate, the green, green grass, the blue of the sky, the blue of the lake and the brown of the trees used to fence the landscape.

I just know that it is going to look scrummy knitted up!

Next up is my first Lakeside BFL handspun on my new ashford traveller. I managed 208 yards from 100grams of 2 ply. I'm going to have a good think about what to make with this.

Next up is my finished collaboration with Jelly nose chic and Upsy daisy. I love it!

Sarah your new soaker is in the post.

All undyed yarn orders have been posted.

Next up are Poppysmums Cardigans

Eiras shoe inserts,

Claires skirty

Vikkis footmuff.

I have a new wheel!!

2009-06-20T22:10:00.001+01:00

Store update.

2009-06-19T08:16:00.003+01:00

Just a tidy up, piccies as asked for by customers.

First up is Weefy woo's skirty, well the soaker part, I am halfway through the skirt panel, they take forever and a day so I am doing it little and often.

Next is a pic of the Rainbow Boardies made in Buy British Month.

....and lastly a pic of a zig-zag shawl. Measurements differ, these can be made in a cosy Aran weight for the winter months, or a light lace weight for a pretty summer accompanyment. this example is knit in DK.

The charity prize draw will take place on the evening of June 25th. Make sure to keep checking as I will be staggering the announcements of the winners!

Sarah - your soaker is in progress.

The undyed pure wool has been ordered for our new winter colourways.

Customs are full until September.

Customs Update.

2009-06-12T17:10:00.005+01:00

We had Buy British Month last month on CNA. I collaborated with Claire from Jellynose Chic and Fiona from Upsydaisy Nappies. Claire designed and handpainted this cheeky little dragon, whilst Fiona made one of her famed pocket nappies from Claires creation. They based their colours on 2 custom dyed skiens of yarn I had.

We offered the trio as a custom order, final choices of which type of nappy - night or pocket - what woolies - shorties or longies - to be decided by the lucky purchaser. We are pleased to be able to say that the set sold within one minute of it being listed. Yay!
The lucky purchaser decided upon longies and asked for a unique embellishment. After some thought, we decided upon a dragons tail. I think it really sets off the whole ensemble! What do you think?

We released a kit to accompany our successful Waffley Good Soaker Pattern. See my store for more details.

Also made an extra soaker in blue slate.

Next orders to be worked on are as follows -

- poppysmum, 1st cardigan cast on tonight

- Geomax, posted your set

-Weefywoo soaker is made, skirty is being attached.

- Sarahjamesandpaul, casting on tomorrow.

- Claireandlana - emailing for measurements this weekend

- Marywaredoc, posting on Monday

- Moggle, posting on Monday

- Unknownstar, posting on Monday

I'm awaiting payment for the following orders, the orders can be posted on Monday

- BobbinD

-Witchstorm

-KraftyKoala

-Toadoftoadhall

-WelshCaroline

Open Farm Day 2009

2009-06-11T22:10:00.005+01:00

Until recently I thought a sheep was a sheep was a sheep! The local farm has 12 breeds of sheep, lots of them are shown in this piccy. My personal favourite is the Blue Faced Leicester, so soft and squishy. In my little world BFL are grown for fleece. It never entered my head that they would be used for meat also, How dense was I?

I learned all sorts of interesting facts from the farmer himself, as he gave a little talk whilst demonstrating how he shears the sheep. He made it look easy, but those sheep are a handful! It made me realise that when my sons struggle as I shave their heads, it could be worse, I could be trying to shear a full grown, annoyed, ram lol!

We went on a guided tractor ride around the farm, members of the young NFU gave snippits of info as we trundled through the beautiful Welsh countryside. In fact it was so distracting that Hubby - who had been put on taking photo's duty - completely forgot to take any! So I gave him a nudge right at the end of the day.

Not very flattering piccies, but here I am spinning the fleece from the farm, I also made a little pair of shorties from the BFL to show off whilst there. All aspects of the sheep were demonstrated there. No part of the sheep is wasted. I am not a vegetarian, but I do like to think that the animals loss of life is dignified by us using every part of it in a valuable way.

Did you take advantage of the lovely weather? Did you visit your local participating farm? If your answer is no, then you missed out on a lovely family day out, bringing you closer to nature and availing yourself of all the lovely local produce available!

BFL = Beautiful!

2009-05-28T22:49:00.005+01:00

Squeaks of excitement last week, the lovely farmers wife emailed to say the sheep had been shorn. My fleeces were ready for me to collect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some of you will understand how excited I was, some of you will think I'm a complete nutter! Yzzy will think I'm weird in a strangely exciting way !

I pick them up from the beautiful farmhouse - I want a farmhouse, with a small holding, one day, one day, then for eternity ;)

As I am driving home the smell of them starts to penetrate my bunged up nose. Phew! Sheep stink! It is at this point I am glad I have an old dairy attached to my house. No good for much else but marvellous for storing stinky sheep fleece!

I lay out the smallest of the fleeces to see what I am dealing with. I hesitate as to what to do with it. I decide to just jump in and get on with processing it.

After a good clean It is smelling a lot fresher, and beautifully white! I crack open the dyes. I have decided on green. I want to make a pair of longies in green, with countryside embellishments. I also post my adventures on Rav.

I'm not too sure on the depth of the green, it looks a bit like slime and mould :p I try to keep the finished item in mind

Once dry I run it through the carder It makes the green look a lot lighter - I like how it looks.

Then on to spinning. I spin 60g of green and 60g of white, then ply them together. It is really soft and lovely. I ply it to a dk - worsted weight. Then put it on the niddy noddy to set.

I have cast on the longies, but will save those pics for another day.