Slugs on the Refrigerator

Yarn 'N' Stuff

If I had to pin down the 2 questions I get asked the most they would be:

1."How do you do it all?" and

2."What yarn do you use?"

The answer to number 1 is quite simple:: I do not do laundry or vacuum, but the answer to question number 2 takes a bit more explaining.

Finding the right yarn for the Etsy and Folksy shops has been a bit of a challenge.  I tried a number of different weights and brands of wool, but really sruggled to source options that met my standards for quality, affordability and colour. Plus, with the amount of handmade goods I produce, heavier weight yarns are a necessity to get through the orders in a timely fashion and the UK is a DK nation.

I tried a ton of yarns...ordering samples of most every commercially available chunky yarn in the UK (ok, that may be an exaggeration, but I did order the samples I was recommended on Facebook).  It seemed like everything I tried would hit one target but not others.  Cascade 220 has a great range of colours and wears well, but I was unsure of its wearability for newborns and its thinness. Wendy Merino Chunky was lovely and soft, as well as reletively affordable, but the colours are too limited and muted. The same goes for King Cole's equivilant.  Texere's chunky wool has beautiful colours and a great twist and bounce to it, but is soooo scratchy, I couldn't see many baldy babies being comfortable.

For a long time I was a bit of a yarn snob of the "I just can't work with acrylic" variety. This lasted until 2 things happened-- number 1: my money ran out and number 2: my children beat the heck out of some lovely and expensive single ply merino, resulting in a sticky felted mess that looked worse when washed. 100& acrylic still gives me the heeby-jeebies, I must admit...its the squeaking on my crochet hook that puts me off. However, I've found that with the wool content high enough, the acrylic element is hardly noticeable.  

Ultimately, I have settled on 3 main yarns for my hats: Wendy Mode Chunky and Ice Yarn's Bellone, with a bit of Paton's Shadow Tweed thrown in. All 3 are about 50%wool.

The range of colours in Wendy Mode Chunky is great. They have really expanded this recently and offer a good range of basic colours, as well as some unexpected ones. Another bonus it that it wears really well, there is still a bit of pilling from heavy use (for  example on Es slippers), but not nearly as much as many other chunky yarns I tried.  It is a very soft yarn, being 50% merino, so I am happy to make items for the newest of babies.  Another bonus is that my local store sells the yarn for those last minute dashes.

Another recent discovery is Yarn Paradise/Ice Yarns.  They are a huge yarn distributor in Turkey who offer balls of wool at ridiculously low prices.  Given this, I find the quality good.  I have recently started using their Bellone Chunky/Bulky weight for a few items and I must say I am impressed.  It is a single ply chunky with low twist, but it holds up extremely well to wear and tear and blocks up very soft. Their postage is expensive, but it still works out at very good value and they ship faster than many UK suppliers I deal with, with yarn arriving in 2 days.

For the owl hat and the mane of the lion, I use Patons Shadow Tweed.  I love this yarn.  It is so nice to work with and each ball has such a lovely range of colours.  It is single ply as well, and again holds up remarkably well to heavy use.  I live in fear of this yarn being discontinued as I feel it really makes both of those designs, adding depth and richness to the Lion's mane and the Owl.

Ok, geekery over.  I'm going to do something cool.  Like floss or read my new book about knitwear design.

Inspiration and Originality

 

Nothing is original.  Every single thing that we make, that I make, has its roots in something else...a picture, a book, a pin on pinterest.  As a designer I take the full breadth of my experience in making and put in into my designs...using them like tools in a toolkit, collected from all of the other designers I have learned from over the years. 

 

 

Textile designers can do what they do because they (do I get to say we?) have an ability to think about how something is constructed and then make it. Generally speaking, when designing I stay far away from the internet because I am cautious about "reading" how others made something and getting that idea stuck in my head. In fact, it is much the same for blogging - I tend not to participate in meme's and writting workshops because I struggle to find my own voice amidst other people's words.

Of course, I do make other people's designs and my stance thus far has been quite a simple one: where an item I am selling has elements that have been directly inspired by someone else, I contact them to let them know.  The Herringbone hat and mitts, the Viking hat, the costume wings.  I have had email discussions with all of the designers about how I am using their designs and have had permission to sell. In the case of the Herringbone hat and mitts, a lot of work went into developing and writing the patterns, making the samples and getting to the point of publishing a pattern...but I chickened out at the last minute for putting the patterns for sale as I just felt awkward doing so with someone else's work (even though I had Craig's permission).

Serendipity is another issue...the owllelly warmers were born out of a gift for a young woman who loves owls.  I had made owl cables before and adapted them along with a ribbing that I thought would  fit a range of leg sizes, as having very, ahem, shapely calves, stretchy ribbing is required.  It wasn't until after I made the first pair and drafted the pattern that I saw there were handwarmers on ravelry with the similar stitch pattern. 

Ultimately, I have to take the perspective that these things happen.  Where possible, I think it is key to be open and honest and hold one's hand up, but the reality is that creativity works in mysterious ways and, we are always going to be inspired by others, be it for new crochet designs, blog posts or dinner ideas. 

And that is where this little work in progress comes in (we are calling him Elmer). He appeared in my studio in the late hours of last night after I'd been dreaming about him for several days.

 

We'd been at a friend's house this weekend and Georgia was captivated with their hobby horses. She isn't interested in much other than destruction, so I do tend to jump on any opportunity.  I decided to make one for her birthday in March and wanted to do a tester for another little boy's birthday next week.  Coincidentally, in my daily dig around pinterest, I stumbled upon a range of hobby horse designs. 

And Elmer was born.  He is entirely my own design, crocheted like a sock, complete with ankle ribbing and heel flap, but is very muchinspired by the beautiful ones I saw here.  Of course, I would like to write up the pattern and share the love of his sweet little face and make many, many to send off to homes all over the world, but I hesitate because I want to respect the work of others. It is always a challenge to find balance...

As he is still in the developmental stages, I am comfortable to wait and see what happens as he and his lady love (her name will be Eustice the Unicorn) develop.

 

I guess I will leave this discussion with a quote from my friend Robyn who commented on a facebook post of mine when I was venting frustration about this issue:

'The artist Eva Zeisel, who says that the folk tradition in which she works is "her home," nevertheless produces ceramics that were recognized by the Museum of Modern Art as masterpieces of contemporary design.

This is what she says about innovation for its own sake:

"This idea to create something is not my aim. To be different is a negative motive, and no creative thought or created thing grows out of a negative impulse. A negative impulse is always frustrating.

"And to be different means 'not like this' and 'not like that.' And the 'not like'--that's why postmodernism, with the prefix of 'post,' couldn't work. No negative impulse can work, can produce any happy creation. Only a positive one."' 

Ultimately, I have to believe that we are all better for just making...for putting more of ourselves and our visions into the world.

And, of course, Elmer and his lady love will be appearing in their finished forms soon, even if it is just here.

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I am also excited to be Parentdish's Blog of the Week!  If you have come through from there, "Hello and Welcome!!"

 

New Design: Spartacus

Finished hats available here.  Pattern here.

 

Rope Bracelet

 

So, not quite what I planned, but how about a quick little tutorial on a rope bracelet?  You see, I had to clean my house today and didn't have time to make a full rope scarf, which is a similar sort of idea, but a bit more involved (I can't give away all of my tricks, now can I ;) ). 

 

Here's what you need:

3x 14ft lengths of bulky wool (or any reasonably thick yarn)

9mm/ Size 13 Crochet Hook

(Crocheters, this is just a thick length of chain. Instructions below are for non-crocheters)

 

Instructions:

Holding the 3 ends of yarn together, tie a slip knot. Leave at least a 4inch tail after the knot.

 

 

Insert your hook into the loop and pull tight.

Put your yarn over the hook.

 

And pull it through

Repeat the 2 previous steps until your rope measures 40 inches in length

You should be left with a reasonably lengthy tail of yarn at the working end of the chain.  Pull this through your last loop. Ensuring your rope isn't twisted, tie the ends together using a normal knot

Loop the rope around your wrist.  It should be loose and go around 4 times for an average size wrist.

Slip the bracelet off and hold in your non-dominant hand, holding the strand of rope that goes across the project firmly.

Take the longer ends of yarn and start wrapping them tightly around all of the strands of rope.  Make sure your shorter tail is hanging out the bottom.

Tie the two ends off in a knot.

Stick your hook through the wrap and hook the loose ends, pulling them through into the wrap.  Hide the ends in the wrap, trim if necessary, but not too short.

It should all be neat and tidy.

Unlike my bedroom floor.

I did say I was supposed to be cleaning the house.

 

Sunshine and Showers - Spring 2012

There is no such thing as bad weather. Only bad clothing.

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Inspired by the cold changeability that these next few months bring to Scotland.  I've never seen so many rainbows...or so much rain.

These items are now all in my etsy shop, along with all other hats open now for custom orders.  The patterns for the Herringbone and Intrepid Explorer hats and the owl cable welly warmers are also up on etsy.  Mitten pattern, ravelry listings and folksy site to follow.

Thank you all...for your support and encouragement and, well, everything.

Come back tomorrow for a quick tutorial on the rope scarf!!

 

Red Friday

The day after Thanksgiving only means one thing...Christmas can begin.

 

It was the day of the year we traditionally spent decorating the house.  Out would come the tree, the garland, the decorations, the strings upon strings on lights that were always missing just one bulb, the Christmas dishes and the hundreds of Nutcrackers.  

Christmas music would play merrily in the background and leftover Turkey sandwhiches as we would fill our bellies as we transformed our house into a Winter Wonderland. It was soooo exciting...for the first half hour, then it just became hard work.  We always had 2 trees.  One enormous fancy one in the front of the house (my favourite was an all white one she did) and then one in the basement with all of our old ornaments - the clothespeg raindeers, the salt dough snowmen, the paper mache snowballs. 

I love carrying over traditions from my childhood.  And so today, out will come the Ella Fitzgerald Christmas album and we will *start* on our Christmas preparations.  It would be a massive understatement to say that I am beyond excited to decorate my house this year!!  My head  is just full of the possibilites. So, let the Christmas spirit spread and lets kick off this holiday season with a bit of celebration.

First of all, I am so happy to announce the release of the "Quixie" Hat pattern on etsy and ravelry.  Its a little "quick pixie"/elf/ gnome hat with a chin strap and a button.  I has actually become my favourite hat for when Theo is in the sling - its nice and snug and its cute little point makes him even more adorable.  It *would* be my favourite hat for Georgia, but she threw hers out of the pushchair along with her left welly and her sweatshirt and I can not find them. This is the "Christmas Edition" - only in that the pictures for the pattern are Christmassy.  ( I am picturing a gnome- themed revamp in the spring with WILL involve the purchase of a garden gnome).

Thank you so much to all of my testers! Especially, Riotflower who sorted out the adult sizing. And special thanks to Laura for the name (she also named the Snugosaurus)!!  

But that's not all...

As a thank you for all of the awesome support in this new venture, I am offering a 10% discount on everything in my etsy shop.  All you have to do is 'like' my facebook page to get the code (it seemed like a good way of rewarding fans and readers). Oh and you can totally unlike it later. If you already like it, go to the 'Welcome' page on the left hand column. And if you hate Facebook and think that Mark Zuckerberg is public enemy number 1 - leave a comment and I'll email you the code.

 

 

But wait, there's more!  All of my patterns on ravelry are also 10% off this weekend!  Discount applied at checkout, so go forth and download!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend!!

Lost In The Dark

As I lay awake in the middle of the night last night, inbetween a small squirmy boy and a larger snoring man, I thought of a really great idea...and then lost it.

I wish I could say that that was a one off, but recently my brain seems to have gone into hibernation. I never lose anything, and yet keys, wallet, small children all have recently disappeared for short amounts of time, turning up in places where I have obviously deposited them and then wandered away (if only keys could holler like 7 month olds).

I blame the dark.  The nights have closed in and my head is just as foggy and grey as the weather.  My friend insists she can not live at this latitude, and sometimes I have to wonder if I am the same.

But then I do love it.  The smell of my neighbours' fires in the evening.  The way the hills seem to almost be on fire as the foliage turns.  The donning of long forgotten and favourite hats and scarves.  The excuse to wear my wellies at ever turn.  Ah yes, winter is coming.

And who cares if I misplace my keys until Spring.

 

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Mittens are from Warm Yourself, bought when I sold 15 hats in 4 hours and realised I probably wasn't going to be making myself anything this winter.  

Queen of the Jungle

It is no joke that Georgia's first word was "Roar". Having been roared at by her older brother and his best friend from birth, we think that she thought it meant "I love you" or some other term of affection.

Even now in Georgia's mind, it is the sound most animals make and her favourite game.

And so this little hat revamp is for her...

 

...my little Queen of the Jungle

 

 

Finished hats are available here.

Patterns can be bought on etsy and ravelry.

All of my hats are tested by my Trusty and Super Awesome Army of Testers.  You know who you are and thank you again!!

**Proceeds from the Lion Hat and pattern go to the keep 'Georgia in Apples' fund. She eats at least 3 a day, using stools and chairs to climb up and get them, then hides. We only know it has happened when we find brown apple cores in odd places, often with our feet**

 

Outtakes

I am in the middle of a shop update, pattern release and hat making frenzy. And it is chaos.  My little 'helpers' are omnipresent and constantly pushing buttons - virtual and otherwise. Georgia has reached the "I must find the most dangerous object in the house" stage and must continually be retrieved from the top of something high.  Ellis is extremely excited about all of the activity and is oh-so-ready to be my trusty assistant, ahem. And Theo is just on the move all the time.

And so, when you see all of the pretty pictures next week, know that it took a lot of this:

 

 

to get there.

Have a wonderful weekend. When I am not working I will be:

- listening to this (Especially the second track - Wendell Berry put to bluegrass music? *faints, dies, goes to heaven*)

- Eating this

- And itching to make these for Ellis for Christmas

 

 

 

 

UFO: Unfinished Object

 

Generally speaking, I am not one of those crafters who starts something and doesn't finish it.  With the noticable exception of Jasper, any project I've begun has either been seen through to completetion, or frogged immediately.

 

 

However, last Christmas in the US, with time and an awesome yarn store available,  I whipped up a little cardigan from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  I'd gotten to the point of sewing it up when we left for the UK, packed it up and promptly forgot about it...

...until last week when I stumbled across it while tidying up my studio.  How sad, I thought, that such a sweet little thing didn't have a baby to wear it.

 

 

As luck would have it, a few days later, I received news that a friend was coming to Stirling to visit with her new baby girl. Queue frantic blocking, sewing up and button choosing (which of course necessitated the dumping out of the entire button jar).

 Looking at it this morning, mere hours before it was due to be handed over, I decided it needed a little something extra.  

A few weeks ago, Kevin found this Crochet Inspiration book at the library. It is my new essential crochet book, just packet with, well, inspiration. I know there is another book of similar fashion doing the rounds in the blogosphere at the moment and I'd be interested to see how they compare, but for now this one will be on permanent loan to us.

 

A flower pattern was chosen and sewn on at the exact moment Ellis was supposed to be at nursery.    

 

But it was perfectly worth it.  A sweet little thing for a VERY sweet little thing.