Only 24 hours of 2012 left

Where has 2012 gone? And how have things changed in the last 12 months....

Look back: 12 months ago I was headed for a nervous breakdown, unhappy and generally thoroughly miserable. Over the last 12 months I have quit my job, had counselling, learned to spin, set up my business, started taking on ad hoc jobs and now feel amazing. I owe the majority of this to my family - without whose support I would have not achieved so much and be in a much happier place right now.

So 2013 is a brand new year, and I am so excited about the future - the business is moving forward and there are so many challenges ahead - so, look out 2013 here I come! 

Owch!

Two whole weeks have flown by. What have I been doing? Working on the tills - and working on the tills. I am still trying to get a commission spinning piece finished, but the till work has given me increased joint pain, and right now both knitting and spinning are extremely painful and nigh on impossible... I do hope they settle down as I have a crafting exhibition at the end of January and loads of wool needs spinning in readiness.

Oh and there's the small matter of Christmas in between.  I'm working over most of the holidays but I have the big day off and hubby says he is cooking, so I think I am going to chill and enjoy the day with the kids and the Nana.

Once my hands improve I have so much spinning I want to do - I have some lovely Gotland, Polworth and Bamboo that I got from DyeSpinKnit. I also have a lovely biscuit mix colour in Blue faced leicester which is a real pleasure to spin with. I hope to take both to Exeter to Craft4Crafters to sell.

I'm also planning on dyeing up some fibres to sell... I am thinking of having another go at natural dyeing rather than chemicals.  I was chatting to a lady on Twitter who is going to do some kits for beginners - will post a link as soon as they are for sale...

OK - off to prepare some fibre for dyeing tomorrow...

Where did the week go?

I can't believe where the time is going. It's now December and time is flying by!

The fair in Lancaster yesterday was really good. It also allowed me to catch up with people I haven't seen for such a long time! Wendy, Sally and Diane were just some of the folk...

I'm currently working at a local supermarket too, for some extra Christmas cash. I didn't think I would like it, but I am very surprised - it's a great job, and the team I work with are amazing - so friendly and welcoming, such lovely people. I am really enjoying it and half hope they keep me on...

On the needles right now is a shawl using Noro yarn. There's so much hype about Noro, and how fantastic it's supposed to be. As I'd never knit with it before, I thought I ought to give it a go. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. The yarn colouring is pretty, and it's knitting up well and holding its shape, but compared to my handspun it's rough. It's not the sort of yarn I want to knit with regularly and I think this will be the last time I use it - Knatters Knits handspun from now on....

So much to do, so little time

Where's the week going? It's already Wednesday evening and I am getting behind on my 'to do' list. I'm currently knitting a scarf in a sparkly commercial yarn that I won from 'Let's
 Knit' magazine (pictured below).

 



I am also making a pair of knitted boot slippers. The progress on those is a little slow to say the least.

I've been busy this week because I got a Christmas job at one of our local supermarkets, and I have been on my induction this week. I'm now trained on the checkouts, and think the next four weeks are going to be rather busy! It's all good fun though, and gets me out of the house and meeting people.

On Saturday I am going to set up a stall at Lancaster Library at their craft fair. I'm hoping to sell loads of things - people want Christmas presents, right?

What a week

Well what a busy week I've had!

Monday was a 13 hour shift on a 50 bedded ward - and at the end all I had left was scrambled brains and throbbing feet - oh, and some very well and happy patients.

On Tuesday I had an assessment centre for a Christmas job - very interesting, and I was offered the post - start next week.

Wednesday saw me trying to catch up with things in general. Just the daily routine things like getting more meds from the doctors etc.

On Thursday I attended a WiRE network meeting. I met some really interesting people and have some more ideas for developing my business, as well as some potential suppliers and customers. Thursday, as regular readers of this blog will know, is also Knit Night,and I travelled the 34 miles to and from the event, and we had cake - it was scrummy. I also sold some more handspun, so I'm happy.

Today being Friday was a 240 mile round trip to Harrogate to the knitting and stitching show. I'm sitting here now broke, happy, but brain dead. All my senses were stimulated at the event - there was a riot of colour and a plethora of sensations - beads, fleece, yarn, materials, and thousands of people. I could only stand it for a short while, but did manage to catch up with UK Alpacas, Knit n Caboodle and Eden Cottage Yarns. It was great to meet people and put faces to names. Hopefully next year I too will have a stand there...

OK - as you will have guessed from the state of my week, I haven't managed a lot of spinning or knitting this week, so that's where I am off to now........

Another great knit night

I simply love knit and knatter. Our group is only 2 weeks old, but already I feel as if we have known each other for ages. We vary in ages from late teens to seventies. Where else would you get such a wide range of ages, with something in common.

We are making a variety of different items, and our skills range from absolute beginners to very experienced knitters and crocheters. I love that we can inspire and pass on our knowledge in this way.

 

One member tonight showed me a picture (above) of a jumper from a film called "The Killing". They were inspired by this, to learn to knit, and create some beautiful items. I find it really interesting what inspires people - for me, it's scenery and weather that I often use for inspiration, sometimes it's a piece of artwork or even a yarn itself that will inspire me as I am spinning.

Question to you, dear reader, what inspires you? Please leave me a comment and let me know - do you get inspiration from odd places, or even find it hard to be inspired?

Smitten with socks

I'm making items for a flurry of craft fairs I am due to attend over the next few weeks. I bought some self-patterning yarn from my local yarn store (LYS).

I'm doing them in a range of sizes - baby and toddler shown below...

Cowl complete

Well folks, the cowl I started yesterday is now complete...

The pattern was fairly easy - and I know it will be toasty warm to wear for whoever buys it. The ceramic button I bought at a recent craft fair from Tile Productions in Clitheroe, Lancashire.

I now need to complete a pair of socks and start on the knitted slipper boots that I have been promising to make. I also have some commission spinning to complete too. I just love this job. It's a pity it took me so long to realise what I love to do - but on the very positive side, at least I realised it eventually and now I get to knit and spin every day - what more could I ask for? I just love love love creating with wool!

Saturday update

Well the purple yarn became some lovely fingerless gloves that have already been sold and have gone to a good home. They created some interest and I have also sold a pair in natural grey.

I'm now making a cowl from some yarn that I bought as a trial from Purely Wool in Lancaster. I'm going to top them off using a hand made button from a Clitheroe Tile Company called 'Tile Productions'. The colour matches beautifully.

 

I just love the creative process, and in particular combining items to make a whole look like this. ....

Owch - again!

So, I spent this morning at the dentist's again. And where better to go afterwards as a treat? Yes, my local yarn store. It's called "Purely Wool" and is in Market Street in Lancaster.

It's not been open very long, but the atmosphere is great, the owner friendly and willing to listen to your views and opinions, and it's rapidly becoming my favourite place to spend time - in fact, tomorrow is Knit night, and so I'll be going there again - and hopefully with some knitting in tow!

I bought a pattern today for King Cole double knit slippers - and I think I will use my hand spun to knit them with...

I also bought some aran yarn to knit some baby jackets with and a new yarn called Riot Chunky. I love the autumnal colours and whilst this is only 30% wool, it feels gorgeous. Pictures to follow...

On the handspun front, I have spun up the purple that made my hands stained, and to be honest, I rather like it. The only problem I'm having is getting an accurate picture that reflects the colours...

 

Believe it or not - the purple is actually a deep royal colour, as is the blue... maybe once it's knitted up it might be better shown

Dyeing delights

OK - so you saw the results of my dyeing on my fingers - I thought you might like to see the results on the fibre now... what do you think?

I also spun up a deep purple roving but it's not photographing well. Will spin it and see if that makes a difference. I know my hubby would love a scarf in deep purple.

Frenetic thoughts

After a dismal day at the craft fair, I have spent the evening trying to work out a plan of action for the next few months. This led me to thinking about my customers, who they are and where they're from.

I find it amazing that my readers are from the following countries: United Kingdom, United States, Russia, Germany, Australia, Greece, Latvia, Netherlands, Norway,  and France. I'd love to know what you think about my ramblings. Is there anything you'd like to know about knitting or spinning? Please do leave me a comment or even follow my blog.

My hand turned purple!

Ok, so after the fairly successful dyeing of the silk (see recent post), I decided it was time to dye some yarn. Big mistake - huge!

I thought that purple and blue would be nice, with an added violet. It isn't, however, a good look on hands - I only put one glove on, so my left hand now looks like this....

Still - the yarn looks good - I made 4 skeins. I hope to start spinning with them in the very near future - as soon as the fibre is dried.

Creative pixies at it!

It's been a busy week in the workshop. I've been trying to replace stock sold recently during wool week. I have also been trying out needle felting again, so my latest offerings are a couple of needle felted shopping bags. I'm also going to add several skeins of beautiful handspun yarn to my shop tomorrow. I've really enjoyed spinning them. Pictures to follow. Next event is on Saturday at Churchtown.

Silk and spin and dye

Today was the most beautiful one I have seen in quite a while. The weathr was frosty and the wind icy, but I had a date with my spinning guild.

We were taught to dye silk today. It was great fun, and took us all back to our childhoods. The pictures are my attempts, but I think the attempts of others were much moe beautiful. I've now got to spin this up and will put pictures on when I have a completed article to show

Wool week - part two

Today saw me travelling to the wharf at Burscough in Lancashire for a fibre festival organised by The Wool Boat. It was a brilliant day, where the friendship was welcoming, the amount of different yarn was amazing and the willingness to share skills showed exactly what a great thing the knitting community is.

On a personal note, the event was made even more enjoyable by seeing some people I haven't seen for years - one acquaintance from the NCT days 20 years ago, one I used to work with around 10 years ago, and best of all, my friend Liz, who I went to school with - and to avoid her blushes, I won't say how many years ago! It was great to see you all!

Wool week - part one

Today, as part of wool week I attended a church hall in Lancaster. There were stalls and activities all involving wool. On offer were spinning, weaving, felting, knitting, crochet and lots of wooly goodness to buy.

Amongst my usual fibre offerings were some of my latest creations:

Hand spun cardigan

Hand knitted and felted scarf

Hand spun, dyed and knitted hat

 

 

It was a fantastic crafty day, and I'd like to thank the organisers - especially as they kept me well supplied with hot cups of tea - thank you ladies!

Book Review - Knitting in Circles

I am having a book buying spree right now and have bougt several books of late. They're all knitting related, of course! The second one is the book about knitting in circles by Nicky Epstein. This book is a great reference volume and has several projects I am keen to tackle - mostly I want to try the bag - it looks challenging, but also quirky. I think using this knowledge will challenge me but develop me at the same time - this is another book I would highly recommend....

Pure Wool by Sue Blacker

So I bought this book... Pure Wool by Sue Blacker. I expected it to be a reference book, with information about different wool types. It was much more than that. I can't praise this book enough - not only does it give information about the differing UK wool types, but it also includes wonderful pictures and patterns too - this book is an absolute delight - and I would highly recommend it to others.

The tale of two wheels

I own 2 spinning wheels currently. Both are double treadle - ie they have two pedals. The picture on the right id my first baby - the one I learned my craft on. The second is a fairly new purchase, but one I will use for teaching and for spinning on.

The ashford kiwi
 

 

The Ashford Traveller


Winter is coming

It's my favourite time of year - autumn. Crisp sunny days that are warning of the arrival of winter, and what better time of year to knit? The activity keeps me warm, and I'm creating all sorts of lovely squishy items for presents, to sell and to increase my skills.

I'm getting ready for British Wool Week, and I'm attending two events - Christ Church Lancaster on 20th October and Burscough Fibre Fest on 21st October. I will have several new products to sell, which will be hand spun and hand dyed as well as hand knitted.  It's an amazing feeling to have created things from scratch, and using UK fibre too is great...

I'm launching knitting and spinning classes shortly too - so hopefully I will be quite busy soon!

WiRE

I  joined a network called WiRE - Women in Rural Enterprise. They (amongst other things)  run courses for people thinking about or just starting up in business. I've just got back from the first two days of the course - and my head is ready to explode - in a good way! I highly recommend the course. I have learned so much, and will be implementing some subtle changes because of what I've learned.

My shop Knatters Knits is now open and selling a variety of yarns and knitted items. I also have an Etsy Shop selling some of the range. I'm looking for suggestions as to what items people would like to see stocked - please feel free to comment....

British Wool Weekend

What a busy and eventful weekend I have just had! I exhibited at British Wool Weekend. I learned a huge amount - what to do next time, what my USP needs to be, plus loads more! I also got my first commission - spinning! The yarn and fibre is exquisite.  I'm so pleased to be spinning this.

 

Craft Fair Success

Yesterday saw me attend a craft fair for Preston Guild. I met some really lovely stall holders. The lady next to me made the most amazing cakes - my favourite, cherry bakewells were to die for! Fresh cherries with almond icing, and jam in the centre of the sponge....

Another stallholder traded home made marmelade for some yarn - and oh boy was that a great breakfast this morning...

The craft fair was good - I sold a reasonable amount of stock, but I now have to replace it furiously! After all, I have British Wool Weekend in Harrogate next weekend.

I've added some more yarn to my stock. Beautiful fibre dyed by Wildfire Fibres and handspun by me available from www.knattersknits.co.uk

 

 

 

Washing fleece

My long term plan is to only spin and sell British Wool. To that end I am searching for local farmers willing to sell me fleeces.

Once I have them I prepare them by removing vegetable matter, washing, drying, and grading them.

Removing vegetable matter

Washing and rinsing

Before and after shot - so clean!

The final result is clean and dry fleece. Once it's clean and dry, it needs carding to make it suitable to spin.

Watch this blog to see how the fleece turned out - and what colour it eventually ended up as!

Chipping Craft Fair

Well, I did my second craft fair today. Set in a beautiful village and equally lovely village hall, this one was much busier than the last. Sadly no. of visitors did not convert into an increase in sales. Perhaps it was the weather - it precipitated like only English weather can.
Perhaps it was unseasonal to buy woollen items in July
Perhaps what I'm knitting doesn't appeal - but then I did get a lot of 'oohs' and 'aahs' so I don't think this was true.
I'm not giving up that easily though - I did make  some good contacts today and I  have learned that some of my stock appeals very much.

As usual, watch this space

Superb Saturday!

Today has been the best Saturday for a long long time. I met up with my daughter and we went to the Great Eccleston Show

I had entered my knitting and my spinning into the craft classes, and had decided on seeing the competition, that I didn't have a chance of winning any prizes.

Fast forward to 2pm today - imagine my surprise and delight when out of the 5 classes I entered, I  won 3 prizes! I won 2nd prize for my chunky spun wool, 3rd prize for my medium spun wool (DK) and fourth prize for a homemade handbag.... my mum would have been so chuffed with me - carrying on her tradition!

I'll post pictures when available!

Craft Fairs.

I attended my first craft fair as an exhibitor today. It was a quiet affair, but I did sell more than a lot of the other stall holders, so it was a success in my eyes. It was a great dry run for more events that I will be attending:

29th July - Chipping

26th August - Preston Guild event

Please watch this space!..

I'll also be doing spinning demonstrations at the following:

14/15 July Great Eccleston Show

I'll update this page when more dates are finalised....

Patterns

Well, at last I have two patterns ready for download. I'm really excited about this.
I've eventually managed to work out how to make them downloadable from Ravelry. The mobile phone cover is free, and the handbag pattern is available for £2.50.

Copper Handbag download price: £2.50

 

 

GOSSIP mobile phone cover - FREE download

 

 

Hectic few days

Well things have been mega busy in the Knatters household. My daughter graduated from St Andrews University (very proud mum) and the day after I attended Woolfest, an annual festival celebrating everything woolly. It was only on coming home that I realised the downpour that had happened all day had caused roads to flood - sorry no pictures, it was too dangerous. Later that weekend I started night shift too, but that's a whole different story!

I got some fleeces from Woolfest as well as some beautifully dyed fibres - will post pictures really soon. 

A handbag?

Busy busy. I'm getting ready for my first craft fair in July. It'll be on 8th July at Bilsborrow Village Hall. Between now and then there's so much going on!

I had hundreds of lots of yarn to skein  - tick
I had many knitted items to label          - tick
I had all items to price up                      - tick

My latest items are uploaded to the shop too - what a busy few days!

Turquoise shopping bag

Copper Handbag

Knatters Knits is open for business...

Things here have been busy busy busy! It's so exciting to be able to announce that Knatters Knits is now open for business. I am making and designing items on a daily basis right now. Here are a couple of the latest items added to the shop...

This is made as a tube, giving it extra thickness and warmth for winter. Made out of my hand spun yarn, it is soft and warm.

 This handbag is made from handspun yarn also. The bag is lined with lilac cotton material. It measures 10" by 8"










I'm really proud of my first few items, and welcome suggestions for anything you'd like to see made in the future. I have some ideas for a few more handbags, cowls and hats.

Next stop is Woolfest for inspiration and fleeces!

Whar a glorious day it has been - sunny, warm and breezy. I took the spinning wheel outside today, and so enjoyed it. Finished spinning an unknown fibre - interesting...

I downloaded a copy of the Great Ecclestone Show schedule today too - the spinning Guild are trying to get as many entries as possible in the spinning classes - need to enter at least one thing, I think,

Things are moving fast now. It's countdown to the launch of Knatters Knits. The website is now live, my spinning is getting much better and I have loads of knitted items and yarn to sell. This dream is actually going to become a reality! It's amazing, and I love it!  I'm posting a picture of my late Mum, as I'm dedicating this post to her - I know how proud she'd be of my achievements - thanks Mum.

First full skein


I've spent today spinning my first full skein of wool - all 320 yards of it. I now ache all over! Here are the pictures:

• Firstly, the fibre which I bought from Porpoise Fur
• Secondly, the view of the yarn on the bobbin as it is being spun and
• Thirdly, the wool once it has been plied and wound on the niddy noddy. 

The next question is - what does this yarn want to be turned into? There's enough for socks, gloves or a hat, or possibly even a small shawl - decisions, decisions

Handspun creation

I have managed to spin enough yarn to make my first 'proper' item. It's a shawl. It's the first time I've properly blocked a piece of knitting too, and although I say so myself, I'm quite pleased with the results...

 

Whilst the quality of the yarn is not fine enough to make socks and lace items, it'll be warm in winter with this shawl. Since making this shawl, I've decided that  I'm not a great fan of pink. This was the last of this fibre though, so I have ordered more fibres but in different colours, for a change, and also to try other suppliers of fibre. There was nothing wrong with this fibre, it's just that with being a newbie at this, I want to try all sorts of things - bit like a kid in a sweet shop I guess!


Next week I am going to meet a farmer to discuss purchasing their fleeces, so I am very excited, and also a little afraid. I may be buried in fleeces that need washing for some time, so if I don't blog for  a while, you'll know where I am - either washing fleeces or sitting at my spinning wheel.

My online shop is now open too and I  hope to be adding more and more items regularly. That is, if I can tear myself away from my spinning wheel - I found myself at 1 a.m. sitting at the wheel, finishing the last of the fibre I had - it's so addictive. 

So here's what I know

• Spinning is more difficult than it looks

• Art yarn looks great

• Spinning is very therapeutic

• Pink yarn isn't my favourite

, 

However, all that said, I'm quite pleased with this yarn. Thanks to my friends on Ravelry I am learning a lot, and with the support of them and my spinning tutor, I'm improving. Until I do improve there will be a lot of art yarn for sale!  

Name the spinning wheel - shall I call her Jenny?

My spinning wheel has now been dispatched - it should be with me tomorrow - I'm so excited! 

I think I'll call it Jenny. I can't wait to get started. Follow me to see how I get on - think this is going to be a great adventure! I'm searching for fleeces, sheep or alpaca - and a friend has offered me some husky - hmmmm, what do you think? Should I try to spin husky fur?

The Knatters Knits website is launched.

I have spent all weekend working on the website. It's finally launched. There's a lot more to do with it - I need to photograph and catalogue all of my stock, and get a lot more information on the site, but it's all headed in the right direction. Now to go back to the knitting. Need stock will soon be the mantra I feel. It's such an exciting time!

This is Woolly the website sheep - she'll appear in various guises on the site.