Would you like a free pattern for a cosy autumnal cowl? It's this one, that I mentioned a couple of posts ago. There's a link to the pattern near the end of this post. In the unlikely event that you didn't devour and memorise every word of that blog post (Whaddya mean, you've "got a life to be getting on with"?) here's a recap: I was commissioned to design the original version of the cowl nearly five years ago, for the 'Hobbycraft' chain of shops. Sadly, the specified yarn is no longer made, Continue Reading
A Rambling Post Of Autumn, Yarnery, And Friendship
Being an adult has its plus sides, I suppose. For example, nobody threatens to withhold your only source of income if you don't tidy your bedroom.* Also, CAKE FOR BREAKFAST, PEOPLE! I wanted to add a third item to this list, but I'm struggling to think of one, so instead I'll show you a picture from today's autumnal walk with the twinnage:- But mostly, adulthood involves noticing stuff and guiltily muttering "Oh yeah, I must sort that out," 712 times per day. The last time I was fully up to Continue Reading
Ramblings
Oh yikes, has it been that long since I posted? Apologies. Let's pretend that my absence was due to Very Worthy And Important Stuff, rather than the truth, which is that I was struggling with post-cancer-treatment side-effects that made my right arm medium-useless for a while. Fortunately, I was still able to walk and run in pretty places around here. This is Thrupp Lake on a crisp November morning:- Since I wasn't able to knit very much, I didn't feel as though I had a great deal to share Continue Reading
Psst! Want to see something secret?
<<whispers>> I'm taking a risk writing this post, because it's about a gift that I'm knitting for a friend. I don't think Mary reads here - yarn is not her thing - but occasionally the most unexpected people fess up to following my blog, so you never know. So for reasons of secrecy, I'll keep my voice down. And if I suddenly change the subject AND START TALKING LOUDLY ABOUT HOW ISN'T IT A LOVELY DAY TODAY, AND OOOOH LOOK, A SQUIRREL! then that's because I've spotted Mary looking Continue Reading
The Wandering Cowl: A Shiny New Knitting Pattern!
Would you like a new pattern? Yes? OK then, read on... Twice a year, I head up to Stylecraft's mill in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, with the other Blogstars. In between gossip, trips out, wine, and knitting, we get to see the new yarns that Stylecraft will launch over the coming months. (Did I mention the brutally tough, lonely, life of a knit-blogger?) Back in February when we last visited, the yarn that caught our attention the most was Linen Drape, the DK-weight linen-viscose blend that I Continue Reading
Fancy Another Free Pattern?
Fancy another free pattern? Yes? OK, but before I reveal all, may I just thank you from the very bottom left corner of my heart for the generous comments that you left regarding the chair. However, I am deeply aggrieved that you've all sided with Stoic Spouse about whether or not anyone should sit in the thing. The twinnage certainly can't be kept away. Here's one young man and his car park:- In all the excitement of the chair, I didn't get a chance to tell you about another project - one Continue Reading
Autumning
Round here, nature is at last doing autumn properly, instead of lazily slinging a cloudful of water our way and calling it a season. Suddenly, it's cold. Whatever time of day or evening you venture out, you can smell the wood-smoke from people’s log fires, and see ambitiously-stacked spider sanctuaries log-piles leaning against the walls of thatched cottages. In the evening, I pour a glass of red wine and sit down beside our own fire. Then, – more often than not – I immediately shriek and Continue Reading
Time Travel
Good evening, my fine fibrous friends. I hope that you're so far ahead in your Christmas knitting/crochet, that you have plenty of time to read this post. And if you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope that your Thursday has nevertheless been filled with joy and productivity (and yarn - lots and lots of luscious yarn). Today at the Twisted Yarn, we're going to engage in a wee smidgeon of time travel. I hope you don't mind if I knit whilst we talk? I'm a little behind with the projects that I Continue Reading
Mostly Crocheting The Vegetable Patch
September. The season is on the swing, towards autumn here in the UK, but towards spring if you're in the southern hemisphere. There's a hint of chill early in the day, regardless of whether or not the later hours become warm. The logs are stacked beside the fireplace and the kindling bucket is full. It's so tantalisingly nearly time to light a fire. There are blackberries to be gathered from the hedgerows for crumble-making:- As the temperature falls, it's spider season, and those of us Continue Reading
Log Cabins in Yarn and Fabric
Now listen up, good people: this is serious. All your comments on The Icing On The Cake were lovely, thank you, but they're starting to go to the Stoic Spouse's head. He's even been overheard muttering the phrase 'fan club'. Ahem, we need to put the brakes on this before it gets out of hand. Anyway, while the Stoic Spouse keeps the home fires burning (literally: he's apparently shifted one tonne of newly-delivered logs from front to back garden whilst we've been away), the Toddler Twinnage Continue Reading