Category: Hints and tips

How to make Lemon curd – first get the hens laying well….

M grandchildren always loved making lemon curd  – its so easy. I make it at this time of year when the hens are laying well. Put 4oz butter, 8 oz sugar in a bowl over a pan of simmering water,. When the butter and sugar have melted add in the juice and grated skin of 3 […]

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The colour wheel….

.. picked out the relationship of colours in this boucle Vicki made at the workshop on Tuesday – it was just yummy  

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From a past pupil

Hi Pam Remember the bag of fleece you have me? Attached is a photo of my latest creation: a tissue box cover, using hand-spun (in the grease) Black Shetland fleece and hand knitted! Each panel uses a different stitch. I am now producing fibre suitable for hand knitting, which was my ultimate aim. Thank you […]

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Show stopper yarn

Carol produced this show stopper yarn on Tuesday – A boucle in alpaca and wool – the alpaca is wrapped around a core Z wise, and this is held in place with a woollen binder thread  plied S.  

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A weight issue

I am advised that when you drop stitches on the knitting machine it is often a weight issue – the story of my life!!!!

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Knit Pro = the tops

Knit Pro have kindly replaced my Rosewood Needle box free of charge. It fell apart and I had only had it for 3 years! – I purchased it from Anj at Meadow Yarns   who kindly sent the box  –  deluxe version with magnetic closure that looks and feels as if it came from the […]

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Have I enough wool to knit another hat?

I put it on my ancient balance scales to find out – the answer is ‘Yes!’ The yarn is rainbow dyed – we will be doing this on 10th January. I bought the yarn in a skein – I don’t mind experimenting  on bought yarn – wouldn’t risk my own handspun though. I prefer to […]

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Manage colour before it manages you*

In November we looked at how to manage colours using Tints, Tones and Shades. In December we painted primaries and mixed secondary colours for our own colour wheels and could then see the complementary of each colour. Next month we are dyeing and  exploring ways to use complementary colours. Last tuesday Rachel  explained how the differing wavelengths […]

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Hung out to dry

Here’s a new way to finish your yarn – weighted with a selection of kitchen tools. The yarns are all by beginners –

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Creative Yarns

This is hand-dyed merino tops with wooden beads added in. I tried other beads but they were too heavy; at least they hung off the merino singles as if they were still jewellery, the wooden  ones were lighter. But if you want something really light to add in you could use swans’ down…learn more this […]

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An idea for your Jacob fleece

If you have a load of Jacob and don’t know what to do with it, how about making a rug like this? It couldn’t be easier and you don’t need to actually spin all of it either! Join our Rug Weaving course  March 26-29 2012. Just bring your fibre – loom will be ready to […]

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Art Yarn – Arizona

When it come to Art Yarn there is always a creative spark – this multi-dyed merino tops reminded me of a picture in a calendar my friend in Arizona sent over – the colours look more intense when on the bobbin. To maintain the colours in some sort of sequence I divided the roving in […]

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A trip to Uppingham Yarns is a good place to start if you want make funky yarns

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