yarn stories wool merino alpaca

January 10, 2015 by The Twisted Yarn Leave a Comment

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thetwistedyarn

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Knitting+silliness at thetwistedyarn.com.
NHS psychologist. Stranded knitting book out 2022. Stylecraft Blogstar. Runner. Garden @the.twisted.garden

thetwistedyarn

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May 27

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Fancy a new blog post? See link in bio or visit thetwistedyarn.com. @novitaknits ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Oct 31

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Corrugated rib. The trickiest bit of this technique is finding a third hand to hold the camera.
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#corrugatedrib #corrugatedribbing #fairisle #fairislefriday #rowanfeltedtweed #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #advancedknitting #knitspo #knitspiration ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 14

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Cutting the steek on a swatch. I promise that it's way less scary than some people think!
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#steek #steeking #cuttingthesteek #fairisletechniques #fairisletips #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #fairislefriday #fairisleknitting #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #rowanfeltedtweed ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jun 21

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The twinnage still like to stretch their creativity on 'the chair'. ❤ I'm worried that this chap is repairing the chimney whilst the fire is lit and smoke is emerging! ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 2

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Knitting on the rug beside the first fire of the season. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Apr 5

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The steeks are cut and it's beginning to look a lot like a cardigan (apart from the lack of sleeves, collar, button bands, buttons, and a really thorough blocking, but what's a few details between friends?) I'm excited that the knitted reality is coming out pretty much how I hoped when I created the design. Feel free to laugh at my hubris when it all goes wrong tomorrow...
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#knittersofinsta #knitspo #knitspiration #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #knitwear #knitdesigner #novitaknits #nevernotknitting #Fairisle #fairislefriday #fairislecardigan #fairisleknitting #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Mar 31

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Progress.
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@novitaknits
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#steek #knittersofig #knitspo #knitspiration #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairislefriday #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #Fairisle #nevernotknitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Mar 25

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Spring has never been more welcome. View looking upwards as I walked home after taking the twinnage to school. For once, I wasn't even knitting as I walked. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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May 6

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Friday night post-work chillin'.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #Fairisle #fairiskefriday ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Mar 22

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Knitting and walking in two colours at once. What could possibly go wrong...
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Yarn is lovely @novitaknits
Merino 4ply.
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#knittingandwalking #knitoutdoors #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knitspo #knitspiration #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #fairisle #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #knitfairisle #fairislefriday #strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #strandedcolorwork #nevernotknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 27

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Fancy a new cowl to help you brave all this pesky weather? Free pattern at thetwistedyarn.com or see link in my bio. Enjoy.
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#stitchfiddle ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 19

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Just got home from a really intense work-day down the psychology mines, only to discover these wonderful socks that the ever-awesome @buttonspickles knitted for me. They are very beautiful and very cosy, and the yarn is the colourway that I designed for Stylecraft, i.e. Head Over Heels in the shade 'Saltaire'. (I don't think Stylecraft sells it any more.) But these socks are just perfect and I love them and I'm feeling very grateful for my friends. ❤
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#stylecraft #stylecraftyarns #stylecraftheadoverheels #sockknittersofinstagram ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 2

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New blog post alert! See link in bio. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂 ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 30

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Busy on the book.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #fairislefriday #fairisle #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #rowanfeltedtweed ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 21

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Reworking the 'Falling Leaves' cowl in yarn that still actually exists, and it's nearly done. Free pattern will be landing in a blog post near you within the next week or so.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #fairislefriday #fairisle #rowanfeltedtweed #strikkedilla #strikke #garn #virkning #virkningsprojekt ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jan 11

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New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, yeah? ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Dec 2

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Re-reading this fascinating book - Interaction Of Colo(u)r by Josef Albers - whilst I write the chapter about using colour in stranded knitting for my own book. Highly recommend the Albers book if you fancy a really deep dive into how and why colours behave so differently, depending on their neighbours.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 17

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Someone's beginning to get her red breast feathers. ❤ Unlike Robyn-the-robin and Robinson, this one isn't interested in mealworms. Instead she follows me so closely around the garden that I often nearly step on her. As I pull up weeds and move pots around, she darts in to grab caterpillars and other critters. Sometimes, one of the twinnage comes to tell me that she's waiting by the back door, so I have to go and do a bit of weeding, just to please her. So once again, I'm being bossed about by somebody three inches tall. *sigh*
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#europeanrobin #robin #robinsofinstagram #gardeningfornature #gardeningforwildlife #gardenbirds #feedthebirds #inmygarden #wildlifegarden #naturegarden #UKbirds ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jan 29

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There's a new post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in bio. Much covid, very yarn. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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May 3

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New blog post! See thetwistedyarn.com or link in bio. Warning: contains personal inadequacy and failure. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jan 1

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Speed-cutting the steek to fit into 15 seconds. Didn't quite make it!
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#steek #rowanfeltedtweed #fairisletechniques #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #fairislefriday ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jun 28

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Morning all! New blog post (well, it was new last night) at thetwistedyarn.com. See link in bio. 😊 ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Oct 14

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There's a brand spanking new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com. Contains both veg-growing and yarnery. Link in bio. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 25

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Another crochet-to-the-rescue post! Two days ago I had more surgery, to deal with the outcome of previous cancer-tackling surgery. They installed a clever wound-vaccuuming device which was fine but inconvenient to carry. So I crocheted a device-carrier and now, life is so much easier! Yarn by @stylecraftyarns . ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jan 2

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Sometimes, the reverse is almost pretty as the front, in its own subtle way. (Long floats left deliberately because these pieces will only be used for photography.)
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#nevernotknitting #strandedknitting #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knitspo #knitspiration #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday #fairisle #rowanfeltedtweed #knittingblog #garn #strikkedilla #strike #strikkeinspo #tricot #tricotage ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Dec 6

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Want to knit a spot of Christmas cheer? New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see linky in my bio. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 11

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New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in bio. 1084-mile charity run DONE! (Hmm, not sure whether it's loading for you, but I'm only getting everything up to the previous post - 'Rollercoasting' - when I look. Strange...)
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@the_conqueror_challenges #running #charityrun ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 24

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Have yarn, will travel. Today I peeled the twinnage off their screen and took them to the Cotswold Falconry Centre. They LOVE birds of prey, so this was always going to be a win. Fab day had by all.
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@cotswoldfalconry #cotswoldfalconrycentre #knittinginpublic #knitinpublic #nevernotknitting #stylecrafthighlandheathers #knittingandwalking #cotswolds #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Dec 6

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Still knitting and walking. Photobomb of twinnage feet at the top of the photo. 🙂
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#knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking #nevernotknitting #knitspo #knitspiration #rowanfeltedtweed ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Apr 23

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We popped down to the New Forest for the day. The twinnage loved it. There was, of course, some knitting.
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#knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking #knitspo #knitspiration #novitaknits #strandedknitting #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #Fairisle #fairisleknitting #fairisledesign #fairislefriday #fairislecardigan #garn #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jul 26

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For those of you remember Robyn-the-robin (my cheeky avian friend who fed from my hand and generally bossed me about for two summers), you may be interested in this. Here's a fledgling robin who hasn't even got his/her red chest yet, but follows me VERY closely around the garden. We've just had a little chat over some mealworms, and I'm optimistic that we'll be friends.
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#robin #gardenbirds #tamebirds #gardenforwildlife ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 10

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Knitting and walking, with a view. 🙂
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#knittingandwalking #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #stylecrafthighlandheathers #stylecraftyarns #stylecraftblogstars #knittingblogger #knittingdesigner ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 7

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Sitting under a tree to avoid the drizzle, knitting 1x1 rib. This is the life! (Garden isn't mine, so I can't take credit for its beauty.) I hope you too can find a little time to knit today.
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#stylecrafthighlandheathers #stylecraftyarn #stylecraftyarns #knitdesigner #knittersofig #Garden #strikkedilla #strikke #virkning #lovetoknit #knittingismytherapy ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Sep 11

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New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (or see link in bio). 🙂 ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 25

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There are SO MANY swatches needing knitting for the book. I reckon I can show you this one in progress, because only the reverse will be visible in the finished shot.
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#garn #strikke #strikkedilla #rowanfeltedtweed #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisleknitting #fairislefriday #fairisle #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #virkningsprojekt #virkning #nevernotknitting #knittingblogger #knitspo #knitspiration ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 9

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Playing with the Estonian stranded technique of roosimine. Floats on the right side look like embroidery! Kinda fun.
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#roosimine #roosimineknitting #Estonia #estonianknitting #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Nov 10

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New blog post at thetwistedyarn.com, or see link in bio. It's very... orange. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jul 5

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Designing. Early stages. 😊 I love-hate this process!
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@stitchfiddle #stitchfiddle #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #knitdesigner ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jul 13

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OK then, here are the grapevine socks that I designed for the latest knitting box by @littleboxofcrochet . I also designed some striped socks, in case stranded isn't your thing.
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Amanda is a genius at putting together exquisitely beautiful boxes full of beauty and treats. It's been a big yarny honour to design for her.
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#knittersofinstagram #knittersofinsta #nevernotknitting #strandedcolorwork #strandedcolourwork #strandedknitting #fairisle #fairisleknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Feb 26

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Constellations! Plotting and planning for a new design.
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#knitdesigner #strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #knitspo #knitspiration #rowanfeltedtweed #fairisleknitting #fairisle #fairislefriday ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Oct 20

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Progress. One end of a bolster. Yarn is Stylecraft Special DK.
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#knitdesigner #strandedcolourwork #fairisleknitting #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #nevernotknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jul 21

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@novitaknits have done a fabulous job of photographing my cardigan design. ❤ I HIGHLY recommend following their beautiful Insta page. Pattern out very soon.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairisletechniques #steek #steeking #howtosteek #fairislecardigan #fairisle #fairisleknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Sep 15

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Whilst I recover from surgery, I'm knitting another Äkäslompolo cardigan (that I designed for @novitaknits yarns) because I want one to keep! Just started the armhole steeks. The thing about having a rubbish memory is that every instruction comes as a surprise, even though I wrote it.
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Pattern currently available in Finnish in the Novita magazine, but I'll be allowed to publish it in English in a couple of months' time.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #strandedknitting #fairislecardigan #knitdesigner #fairisle #fairislefriday #strikke #strikkedilla #virkning #garn #knitspo #knitspiration #novita #tricot #tricoter #steek #steeking #knitwear #stashknitting #handknit #handknitting #colourworkknitting #colorworkknitting #igknit #igknitters #strikstrikstrik #heirloomknits #knitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Aug 3

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Previous design didn't work, but this one will. This is FUN.
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#strandedcolourwork #strandedcolorwork #knittersofinsta #strandedknitting #virkning #garn #strikke #strikkedilla #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting #fairisleknitting #fairisle @stylecraftyarns #stylecrafthighlandheathers ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Oct 26

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This is going to sound like a paid advert, but I swear that it's not. I've just stumbled across a website called @YarnSub and it's awesome! You can enter the name of any yarn and it'll give you the best possible substitutions with a % match score based on gauge, texture, fibre, etc. See https://yarnsub.com and enjoy! ...

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thetwistedyarn

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May 19

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Love this time of year.
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#oxfordshire #countryliving #countrylife #rural #rurallife #village #villagelife ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Jun 1

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Knitting and walking in the sunshine. ❤
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#knitspo #knitspiration #knitinpublic #knittinginpublic #knittingandwalking #nevernotknitting @novitaknits #novitaknits #knitdesigner ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Oct 23

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Eight years ago today, I started thetwistedyarn.com. It was just a place to talk (and talk) about knitting. Gradually it became a place to photograph knitting and wildlife, too... and garden stuff, which led to the @the.twisted.garden page. Little did I know that my blog would lead to meeting you creative, witty, wonderful lot, plus a book deal, and some treasured real-life friends, a quarterly column in 'Simply Knitting' magazine, membership of the Stylecraft Blogstars, a TV appearance, and plenty else besides.
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If you're thinking of starting a blog, I have one very important piece of advice: DO IT!
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(I wheel this photo out almost every year. It's the cake that the Stoic Spouse commissioned for my first blogiversary. It was delicious as well as beautiful, but unsubtle hints have thus far failed to persuade him to bake or order any further bloggy gateaux.)
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#blogiversary #knitting #knitdesigner #knittingdesigner #nevernotknitting ...

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thetwistedyarn

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Dec 9

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HOW has it taken three attempts to knit the correct number of stitches?! I'm not usually so mathematically incompetent. Grrr. ...

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thetwistedyarn

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May 8

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There's a new blog post at thetwistedyarn.com (link in bio). Actually it's only newish, because I published it last night. Enjoy. ...