Antipodes

I have a new favourite shawl. The pattern is Antipodes by Libby Jonson aka Truly Myrtle. Ravelry project page. Libby has some really lovely patterns – I really like her style and all the patterns all seem very wearable to me. Check them out

The pattern was a pleasure to knit from start to finish. It’s worked from point to point, so you just increase until just under half of your yarn has been used then decrease to the point. It’s great for getting the most out of one skein of 4 ply.

I used Titus 4 ply in Harvest Gold by Eden Cottage Yarns. Looking at my past blog posts, I bought it at Woolfest all the way back in 2012. I’d been saving it for just the right project. I’m very happy I used it for this and the colour is just so rich.

The skein I used was quite generous at 110g, so I was able to work 29 repeats of the main part of the pattern.

I really love this and have been wearing it lots.

Archer's Paradox

I can finally show you my finished Follow Your Arrow shawl - pattern by Ysolda. For those that haven't taken part, it's a mystery knitalong. There has been a clue released each week for 5 weeks. Each clue has two choices. I've particularly enjoyed having a choice because there was bound to be a clue that I like more.

My Ravelry Project page.

I love garter stitch, so whenever that was part of the clue, I tended to choose that one.

My final choices were ABBAB. I used two different Eden Cottage Yarns for the shawl, which I bought from Woolfest, see this post.

I've really enjoyed this knitalong and think the finished design is lovely. 

Woolfest Haul 2013

Another year at Woolfest and it was just as fantastic. Here are links to previous years 2011 and 2012. It seemed busier this year.

 I went with the intention of buying no spinning fibre at all, as I had a lot bought me at Christmas, but.... Well, hilltopcloud fibre is so gorgeous, it just "had" to be bought. There was a beautiful blue and orange batt and some Southdown dyed in a gradient. Southdown is meant to be a fantastic fibre for socks and I've been wanting to try it for awhile. I love how the fibre was presented it looked like a fluffy octopus!

Eden Cottage Yarns and a mini skein set from Natural Dye Studio

Cute little sheep from Hestascene. Need to think of an appropriate name for her.

Gorgeous buttons from Textile Garden

Embroidery silks from Natalie Fergie aka Yarn Yard. The orange 4ply in the top picture is from her too.

This is what I got most excited about. It's a Lilly Brush which before the show I thought was only available from the US at super high postage rates, so I didn't think I'd be able to get one easily. Tall Yarns have them in stock at the moment. Basically it's a de-piller and lint remover and it's fab.

Woolfest Haul 2012

Another fantastic year at Woolfest; despite the exceedingly rainy conditions it was still a wonderful day. It was bigger this year with lots of new stalls.

I found it quite overwhelming with the vast array of choice and ideas. My haul was quite large this year.

I headed straight for Kate Davies stall and bought the kit for the Sheep Carousel Tea Cosy and also intended to buy the BMC kit but were already sold out within an hour of opening! I tried to start the Tea Cosy on the way home in the car to quickly realise the one size needle I didn't have was a 3.00mm 16 inch circular; which is extremely frustrating when you've just left a big wool show.

I also got Ysolda Teague's Saturday Treat pattern book and some Scrumptious laceweight yarn in Treacle Toffee to make Barley Sugar from the Fyberspates stall.

  

• I bought a dyeing kit from D & T and a bundle of unknown yarn on offer from bluefaced.com
• A pretty batt and a faux cashmere roving from feltstudiouk

• I bought the two skeins that are lilac and beige from Freyalyn's fibres with the intention of making a Damask with it.
• The beige, purple and burnt orange are all baby camel and silk mix in sockweight which is super soft and squidgy from Yarnaddict and I want to make a Colour Affection with them
• The gold and green are from Eden Cottage Yarns and I intend to make Natessa with the green laceweight but not 100% sure what to make with the gold as it was a bit of an impulse.

Lots of lovely projects to get on with so I'd better go and get my needles out...