Need or want – in these tricky times I have come to realise the difference between Need and want. Wilbarston Shop has everything I need. So do supermarkets, but there, the things I need are not as obvious. On display are things I might want, but dont need: e.g. orchids, out of season fruit and […]
Today is Lady Day, traditionally the day peasants were hired and tenants paid their rent. Also, in Medieval times, no-one was ever allowed to leave their parish; absconders were pursued and punished. Travel was never an option in those days. But the same sun shone then as it is doing now on this, the world’s […]
The joy of socks is all-embracing. Someone asked me the other day if I ever wear anything I have spun? Well Yes,I do. And so do lots of other people too. Mostly it is socks; from the joy of spinning, through knitting and wearing them or, better still, giving them to someone I love to […]
Dyeing for summer school is priority with only four days to go. Bundles such as this are to help and inspire spinners dyeing their own fibre for sock yarn next weekend. Amazing the difference what a little pot of Ashford dye (£6.40) and some vinegar can make. Knit socks. We will be making luscious socks […]
Summer School at Knuston Hall for all who love wool – any skill level. Two, three day summer breaks that will feel like heaven. Saturday 27-Monday 29 July and, Wednesday 31 July – Friday 2nd August Three days in which to Learn to Knit from scratch, or Knit socks. Learn to spin Long draw from […]
Toadstool art yarn is named after some fungi that appeared this week in my stable yard. When Mary arrived for knitting yesterday she would not drive over the fungi to park in her usual place: ‘It’s so beautiful – I can’t bear to drive over, and spoil it’ she said. The colour of the fungi […]
Dyeing fleece, an essential technical and creative skill, along with fibre choice, colour skills, spinning technique and yarn architecture, is a basic element of yarn design and a sure way to lift the spirits! Dyeing is with Ashford Dye and the technique is called rainbow dyeing and described in the book. The curly fleece is […]
Beginner’s spinning ‘First spinning is very special – it is the measure of future improvement – but it is difficult to imagine a more satisfying outcome of your first spinning than this lovely hat in blue faced Leicester fleece in its natural colours. It is only a few weeks since Angie inherited her spinning wheel from […]
Yarn to dye for is worth the trouble – even if it is a two-stage process – when the colours feel as classy and sophisticated as these feel to me. I did a lot of dyeing this winter and will be demonstrating how to do this at the First Wednesday workshop at Knuston Hall next […]
Socks with meaning make delightful gifts and now is the time to start on knitting unique Christmas gifts. These socks are called Meadow and knitted with my own art yarn. All yarn has basic elements which can be used in the design process; these are fibre, spinning method, colour and yarn structure. The fibre choice […]
Dyeing for a weekend is a development of my workshops at Loddington. See Events page .A day is just not enough, so I am currently planning my first weekend SpinAway Retreat there from 10-12th February for spinners, weavers, felters and dyers. Although you may be DYING for a weekend away, you don’t have to DYE all the […]
Socks out for inspection at the Falcon, Uppingham is not what one expects to see but when two spinners, sock knitting addicts get together for coffee and a catch up it is inevitable. Luckily Kate and I didn’t get thrown out for putting our feet on the table. Knit socks toe up two at a […]
Handspun bag for Joy. Fine spinning and artistic skills were on display at Woolly Day last Saturday. There were so many talents at Woolly day it was mind boggling. Dawn brought her Handspun Bag for Joy Wheel, with lovely square buttons, a real ‘How Did you Do That?’ teaser. It is in Jacob with other […]
Summer school, last day exhibition of work – great fun – great week, inspiration, fellowship and something to look forward to next year
Dyeing naturally seems the best way to do it after Judy Hardman’s workshop demonstrated how much fun it is. I am really inspired and will be driving around roundabouts assessing the vegetation from now on – never mind the traffic. Natural dyeing is full of surprises but one can ‘modify’ the colour you get with […]
Woolfest was at its most wonderful and best. Although I did 2007, 8, 9, and 2010 as chair of Guild of long draw spinners, this was my first time as a visitor. I was never happier than this last weekend, lovely place, inspired and talented people doing lovely things with wool, and all serenaded by local musicians […]
Spinning shearling is a sure way to get pilling – those small bobbles that rub up on bought knitted garments nowadays. Shearling wool contains the short fibres from the lamb wool grown in its first year. Lambs are not usually shorn in their first year. When the short (lamb) and long (shearling, 2nd year growth) fibres […]
Woolly Socks Day – There was a heavy footfall of hand spun and hand knitted and hand dyed, spun and knitted socks on Saturday’s woolly sock day. My star pupil Mary modelled a lovely pair of socks knitted by Julie – she looked so good in them that Julie gave them to her. What a […]
www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/life/fashion/article4364206.ece Bobbly pullovers occur with poor quality yarn when short fibres work their way to the surface during wear due to to friction. Anna Murphy’s recent article didn’t mention this so I emailed her and she sent this reply On 27 Feb 2015, at 09:14, Anna Murphy <anna.murphy@thetimes.co.uk> wrote: Dear Pam Austin,Thank you for your […]
Art Yarn: What is it? is a question I’m often asked, followed by ‘What do you do with it? Over the next few months I hope to answer these questions in a practical way at my Tuesday Workshops. We know art yarn when we see it, but to define art yarn we need an understanding of what we […]