Markets

This is just to let you all know that I've got two markets next weekend (6th/7th February) - Hatfield on Saturday and Royston on the Sunday - I'm hoping for good weather and some customers - both markets tended to be fairly quiet last year, even in December, so let's hope things pick up.

Harpenden was fairly busy last week - thanks to everyone who bought something and also to the people that came by to tell me how the scarves they bought as christmas gifts were liked or to show me that they were wearing one.

I won't be at Harpenden next month, as I'll be skiing in Canada (yay!). Sadly I won't be able to knit on the 'plane, but I will be packing yarn and needles so I can make something while I'm there!

Finally - a lady bought a hat from me at Harpenden, but must have dropped it, as I found it on the ground outside Cafe Gusto on my way to the car park! If this was you, I have taken it home and will keep it for you. Either pick it up from me at one of my other markets or contact me with your details and I will put it in the post.

New colours

We woke up to a bright morning today, with a dusting of snow on the ground - perfect weather for taking some pictures of my new scarves.

Here are two of the silks, "spruce" on the left and "sapphire sea" on the right. "Spruce" has photographed more yellow toned than it is - in reality it is slightly darker and more shades of bottle/pine green, but "sapphire sea" is just right.

I tried getting a picture of my cranberry red shade, but it just wouldn't come out anywhere near the true colour, so I'll have to wait until I can get outside with the camera.

I've also just finished this scarf in a wonderful new yarn from wolles yarn creations (available in etsy) - it is a cotton yarn that graduates from one shade to the next, so the finished article looks as if it has been dip dyed. I've got another to do in silver-purple and am awaiting a parcel with some more. I'm planning to make them a feature of my Farmers' markets stall in the spring.

Another busy week

Another week has gone by so quickly - the yarn I dyed is all dried now and is being knitted up. A couple of scarves have come back from the knitters in "sapphire sea" and "spruce green" and I'm really pleased with them. Someone told me once that it was very difficult to get darker colours to "take" on silk, but so far I haven't found it to be such a problem.

The "sapphire" has come out really deep and the "spruce" is a lovely mix of varying shades of the same green. I'll have them ready for my customers at Harpenden Farmers' market tomorrow and it will be interesting to hear what people think of them.

Wheathampstead last week was quite quiet, but I did break even on the day, so not too bad.

The weather recently has been a bit too grey to take good pictures, so I'll get the camera out when we see some sun again!

Busy Week

I've been busy this week dyeing yarn for my silk scarves and trying out some new colours.

I'm trying to get away from picking only the colours I like and have forced myself to try some that I would never wear, but my some of customers will. In particular, I've dyed a really vibrant amethyst -violet shade which is beautiful as a colour, although not one I would choose! I've also done cranberry red, salmon pink, spruce green, blue-green mix and a lovely rose pink mix.

Some yarn is out being knitted already and the rest is drying in the conservatory - pictures will follow soon.

I'm off to my first Farmers' Market of the year tomorrow at Wheathampstead - thankfully all the snow we had here has melted now and the weather forecast is for dry, sunny and not too cold. I'm looking forward to getting out and about again and hope that there will be at least a few customers - if you're in the area come along!

On the Needles

I can't just stick to one project at a time - It's always exiting to see how a new yarn or pattern will work out and always a bit of an effort to finish off. Here's what I'm working on at the moment:

Firstly, I'm often asked to make some scarves that would appeal to men - always difficult as I don't think men should just be confined to choosing between green, brown, black and navy blue - and this is one of my first efforts. I admit that it is green and black, but I think the space-dyed yarn and the checkerboard pattern make it a lot more appealing.

Secondly, I'm making a lace scarf in a fine shetland yarn from Jamieson & Smith - I sold a lot of these in my Etsy shop before Christmas and am taking the opportunity to re-stock while I have some quiet time. I've got mainly pink and blue yarn in stock, plus a little lemon, but have ordered some other colors which should be arriving next week.

Finally, a new color of fluffy yarn for my Farmers' Markets stall.

Happy New Year

The first day of a new year - it always makes me feel positive and ready to make a new start, that the months ahead will be full of possibilities and opportunities.

Willow Knits has had a very busy Christmas, which started around the end of September, so it is nice to have some time now to take stock and plan for the coming months. I'm always full of ideas for things to make and I've certainly got plenty of yarn, so I'll try and get some new projects done, along with making up stock for my Farmers' Markets.

Pictures and further info. to follow!