Hello, and welcome. I’m Phil. Let me move up a bit so that you can sit down. Have a cushion. Would you like some green tea? Home-made chocolate cake? Wine? Here is my blog, all about knitting and crocheting colour into my home in the Oxfordshire countryside (a converted old brewery with a wonky tower). When I’m not busy with yarn, I’m a clinical psychologist and mother of small twins. I also write a quarterly column for Simply Knitting magazine. These days I also go running a lot, but please don’t expect to find any sporty wisdom here.
Here I am with my family, aka the stoic spouse and the toddler twinnage.
I’m also here in this video, trying to hide the fact that I’m out of breath after sprinting up four flights of stairs…
See my Contact/Media page for details of awards, interviews, features, etc.
annabellefranklinauthor says
Thank you for following mine and Millie’s blog, I hope you will enjoy our ‘yarns’ as much as we enjoy yours 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. I think I’m a little in love with Millie!
greenclogs30 says
Lovely to find you on here! Happy knitting!
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. You too. 🙂
Felicity from Down Under says
Thanks for visiting my blog. I must say, anyone who offers green tea and chocolate cake in addition to the lures of knitting and crochet certainly gets my vote! I’m enjoying a browse through your posts. Love that cathedral window crochet project. It’s going to be huge so I’m curious to know where it will eventually end up? cheers. Felicity
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. And I love your blog. 🙂
Not sure what exactly the cathedral window will be used for… probably a throw for a sofa.
Felicity from Down Under says
What an excellent idea. It would make you feel special every time you sat down.
Victoria says
I’ll take wine please, it goes well with crocheting! Awesome blog you have here and crochet is therapy -:)
The Twisted Yarn says
OK, large glass of wine coming up. It’s Rioja tonight, hope that’s OK? I hope the Tunisian crochet you mentioned on your blog went well? I’ve always assumed it’d be far too hard to learn.
Victoria says
Awesome, thank you! And yes Rioja works for me. The Tunisian stitch is a fun one and I’m moving right along with it. Once I finish the scarf, I will share on my blog.
I thought it would be hard too, but once I got the drift, it goes rather quickly.
The Twisted Yarn says
Yes, please please please do show us on the blog. I can’t be the only person who is intrigued but nervous of Tunisian crochet. Meanwhile, have fun with it.
Victoria says
I will do that! I was intrigued too and was nervous at first but now it’s fun!
Vonna says
Thanks for visiting my blog and liking my post.
The Twisted Yarn says
Likewise! 🙂
Magpiemakingdo says
Thanks for stopping by and liking my post! Love your blog!
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. And likewise!
Cathy the Bagg Lady says
Thank you for visiting my blog. I am now following yours.
I hope you enjoy my upcoming posts in the next few months.
Ta Ta for now, Cathy the Bagg Lady
northmelbournemum says
Great about – short and funny – I like that!
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. 🙂
mindfulmagpie says
Hello Twisted Yarn, thanks for the like on my blog. I came over to find out about you, and I think I’ll stay awhile!
Magpiemakingdo says
I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! I love your yarnbombing of the house, and your work really inspires me to try to work my knitting into my surroundings as well – and my mind is still blown over the cathedral window afghan.
dznetsg says
Many thanks for liking my post!
Love your works too.
dznetsg says
Many thanks for liking my post!
daniellajoe says
your family is so cute 🙂 I love your blog too 🙂
thecontentedcrafter says
Good morning – or Good Evening – whichever applies 🙂 I have a question for you. I am taking part in a ‘blog hop around the world’ and need to pass it on to three more bloggers. Would you like to take part? I would like you to be one of my three.
You would make a post on your own blog, answer some really interesting questions and make links to the bloggers you are including. You would post a week after I make mine – mine is due next Monday [14th] so you would be due 21st. lots of time to prepare 🙂 Here is the link that I’m coming off so you can see the questions and links – but how you do it is entirely up to you. http://boomdeeadda.com/2014/07/07/blog-hop-around-the-world/
Fingers crossed 🙂 Pauline
artmagamma says
Thank you for so sweet invitation 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
You’re very welcome. 🙂
Val says
Your work is impressive and awe inspiring. I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!
greenelephantcrochetandthings says
I really enjoy your blog and have nominated you for a Liebster Award on my blog! You can check it out and learn more in my most recent post. Just sharing the love! 🙂
ourworldheritagebe says
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that we have received a blogger award and decided to nominate you as well… More on http://ourworldheritagebe.wordpress.com/2014/08/15/our-very-first-blog-award/ 😉 Greets – Annick (http://catstitches.wordpress.com)
Amy says
Hi there, thanks for stopping by my new blog and liking my Teddy. It means a lot. I’m loving your yarn gallery. Those plant pots are really cute and your twin jumpers are just adorable!
Amy, Twenty Feet of Freedom
yellowfluff says
Thank you for visiting my blog. I love your blog. Keep writing 🙂
blaze2014 says
Thank you for liking my blog. Your work is beautiful, and I love the family portrait.
ditchingmycomfortzone says
Thanks so much for stopping over and liking my post on crochet dish scrubbies! I’m so glad you did there is so much inspiration here for someone who is just starting to make their own patterns!
feltelf says
Thank you for liking my post. I have just started using wordpress, so I’m new to this community, but I am sure I’ll be back here for inspiration.
Kris Laurito says
Thanks for commenting on my drop spindle adventures post. A converted brewery sounds like a very cool place to live! Your blog is great, I’ll be sure to keep reading now that I know you’re out there.
Alison Mayne says
Thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog
… it’s exciting to put those ideas out into the ether and see what happens.
Betti says
Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the “One Lovely Blog Award.” You’ve been doing an awesome job! I truly enjoy your thoughtful and fun posts! Love the family pic. 😉
Betti
crochetably.com
The Twisted Yarn says
Awwww thank you! You’re very kind. I love your blog too. I’d been meaning to learn how to do a foundation single crochet chain for ages, and your tutorial finally made me get round to doing it. 🙂 Congratulations on your own OLBA award – you deserve it.
quietwoman says
Beautiful! What a wonderful, colorful blog!
Moke says
Hi and thank you for following me. I feel very honoured ‘cos your blog is brilliantly funny and inspiring. Cheers me dear. Moke xx
atelieroursonne says
I just wanted to tell you that I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. Please feel free to accept or ignore it. In any case, it is really a pleasure to read your blog and I wanted to share this with others.
Here is my post about it, if you accept it, you will have to reply to the questions at the end of the post: http://atelieroursonne.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/liebster-award-thank-you/
Joy says
I’m nominating you for the Lovely Blog Award, because I think your blog is awesome. Check out the post: http://leaveittojoy.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/one-lovely-blog-award
bonnyknits says
Hello! Obviously I’m not the first, but I’ve also nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award. I so look forward to your posts! 🙂 If you’ve got the time and inclination, you can see my post here: http://bonnyknits.com/2014/11/23/one-lovely-blog-award/
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you. 🙂 You’re very kind! And you most certainly deserved your win.
Deb says
Thank you for stopping to read a few of my latest posts. As you may have guessed from reading those posts I don’t typically focus on knitting, and my little ‘project’ is a challenge to say the least. If my arthritic hands allow me to continue beyond this tea cosy, I believe your blog will provide great inspiration. Your work is wonderful 🙂
knittingburg says
Hello, another nomination for One Lovely Blog award from me! 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
Thank you!
Knitters and Hookers says
I just found out about your blog from Moke who has the It’ll Be Reet blog. It’s fab. I love all your Fair Isle work – I am still not that great at it, but I wish I was better as you can make such pretty stuff. I am also a Clinical Psychologist up in Glasgow but enjoying knitting and crocheting and doing this blog in my spare time (which isn’t much – I too have a young child with another on the way). Looking forward to seeing your posts. Aileen x
The Twisted Yarn says
Hello! Lovely to ‘meet’ you, especially as a fellow clin psych. Apologies for slightly slow reply but we’re battling chicken pox here. Your blog looks lovely and I’m a little envious of the big community of fibre artists that you’ve got up there. I wonder whether we can persuade the BPS to create the DKC (Division of Knitters and Crocheters)? Meanwhile, thank you very much for wandering over here, and to introducing me to your blog. I hope the pregnancy is going well. 🙂 Best wishes, Phil
Knitters and Hookers says
Ha ha we could try – it would certainly make for interesting CPD opportunities!! Hope that your wee ones are on the mend. We haven’t had chicken pox yet, but I’m sure we’ll get it soon enough. Thanks for following me – I hope to get a few posts out before the baby comes and crafting and all related-activities are put firmly on the back-burner! Aileen x
Midnight Knitter says
Hi. I just nominated you for the Encouraging Thunder Award. I really like your blog and you have certainly inspired/encouraged me on occasion. You don’t have to accept but I hope you will. The details and my post are at http://yarnbooksroses.com/2015/10/12/bolt-from-the-blue-the-encouraging-thunder-award/
mythreeangles says
Thanks for following Mythreeangles and mentioning as a blog you follow. LahLee doesn’t do handicrafts but I do, and your work is lovely.
MrsCraft says
Hi, I’ve nominated you. Hope you can take part! 🙂
The Twisted Yarn says
Aww, thank you SO much! You’re enormously kind. (And you totally deserved the award yourself for your colourful blog.)
MrsCraft says
You’re welcome! 🙂
Laure Giroudon says
Thank you Phil for all informations and humour I found on your website. As we say in France “Bravo !”
The Twisted Yarn says
Merci beaucoup!
Elena says
Hi Phil, lovely to meet you. I found you through little box of crochet and Amanda, and I am really pleased. We have a few things in common, I love knitting and crochet, I am a Counselling Psychologist working for the NHS and I live in the area of Oxfordshire . Really like your style and blog.
The Twisted Yarn says
Hi Elena, Oh gosh, we have too much in common! What sort of thing do you knit/crochet?
MR says
Never mind the chocolate cake, Phil – cough up some of that stupendous poppyseed and zucchini cake [swoon ..], willya ? PLEASE ?
Carol Anne Kochhar-Bryant says
I just fell in love with your cowl pattern — The Hiking Raindeer! It is an exquisite pattern. Do you happen to have that pattern adapted for a beanie hat, or beret? I don’t think I have the talent to be able to adapt it myself, but would be willing to pay for an adapted pattern for a hat. –Carol
The Twisted Yarn says
Hi Carol Anne, and a huge apology for slow response. Thank you for your kind words. I think someone has, um, ‘borrowed’ my design and made it into a hat already, but I’d be happy to give it a go and work on an official version…
Terra Churchill says
While doing some research for a school assignment I happened to come across your blog. I can honestly say, this is exactly what I needed. I have only read the blog on Artificial Lack Of Intelligence, but it was amazing and something I could relate to. Especially the part about enjoying the “old fashioned” pen to paper lifestyle. I’m right there with you! Thank you so much and I look forward to reading more!