New range: Ear warmers

So the first signs of spring are showing (Snowdrops! Sunshine! It's not dark at 5pm!) Still, I'm not convinced it's time to abandon some form of head protection just yet.

As a compromise between full-on hat wearing and bare-headedness, I've started making a few ear-warmers. They have the added bonus of causing less hat hair (and to be honest you could get away with wearing them indoors if you wanted some assistance with a bad hair day).

 

All available from my Folksy shop. Other colours available on request.

By Royal Appointment?

So apparently HRH Prince of Wales* is trying to encourage people to wear more wool, as it's a sustainable material.

I can't say I'm going to argue with that! I don't think I can claim any personal endorsement from him, but still it's nice to have influential people on side.

There's an interesting slideshow on BBC News here. Much as I love knitting, I'm not convinced that eyewear is the way to go, however.


*I met him once. He was shorter than I thought he would be.

New listing - more stripes!

So I seem to have a bit of a thing for stripes at the moment. I really enjoyed making this beret:

The purple stripes are made from pure wool and the lilac from Cashsoft Aran. It gives an interesting textural variety to it - a little like patchwork. I might do a bit more stripy work in the future, although I'm currently busy with a custom order so it'll have to wait a little while!

New listing - pink and purple scarf

So my latest creation is.... not a hat! How revolutionary is that?!

I decided to branch out from the circular to the linear for a number of reasons. Firstly, one of the lovely folk on the Folksy forums suggested that perhaps my shop could do with a bit more variety in terms of stock. I agree entirely, although I do rather love hats. Secondly I had a crazy impulse buy of some Debbie Bliss Como wool which is the most gorgeous, snuggly wool I've ever worked with(90% merino, 10% cashmere).

Financially it wasn't the smartest of moves because the wool alone cost nearly £20 which isn't great for a hand knitted accessory (people do seem to be expecting high street prices despite the fact that (i) mass produced accessories are often machine knitted so there is considerably less labour time (ii) synthetic materials are cheaper than those with a high wool content (which is what I almost always use) and (iii) even if the materials on the high street are good quality there are various economies of scale with which I can't compete) but I just thought 'what the heck' and went ahead anyway. I don't know if I can justify the expense on materials again though, so perhaps this will be a one off!

One problem I did have was trying to photograph the thing! Hats are a lot more manageable in that regard - they tend to sit still - whereas the scarf kept fighting back. I also had trouble finding a way of arranging it to get as much in as possible. Here are a few of the ones that came out reasonably well (Folksy only let you have 3 and I felt I could have done with more on this occasion!)

What do you reckon? Should I make another one sometime? I have to admit if the weather doesn't perk up a bit soon I might be very tempted to keep it for myself! So if you want to get in first, have a look at the listing here.

Folksy Friday - Snow Day

Returning after a bit of a hiatus (sorry about that) this week's Folksy Friday has a snowy feel. Lest anyone should think I am overly pre-occupied with precipitation, I should point out that everyone's talking about the snow.

Firstly, to help you describe the current weather conditions in any French tense:

Snowy Sunday by Wall Envy Art

In case you've forgotten what a snowflake looks like:

Snowflake badge by Magic Alice

If you feel like staying in, knitting is a good way to pass the time:

Winter Snow Knitting Needles

If you're thinking of braving the outdoors, make sure you're appropriately decorated:

Snow White Earrings by Moody Chick

This might inspire you to get out and about:

Ski Lift by Tim Irving

But watch out for Yetis!

Yeti by Monster Magic

New listing - plum crumble beret

So, as per my poll, my latest creation is a purple beret:

 

 Available via Folksy.

I do like working with Rowan Pure Wool, and this was such a gorgeous colour. It put me in mind of a bowl of luscious autumnal fruits, hence the name. I think the pink ribbon sets it off nicely.

This time I've made it in a small size, rather than the usual 'one size fits all'. My normal berets would fit the majority of people, but having a smallish head myself I do appreciate that sometimes it's nicer to have something that fits a little more snugly. I would of course be delighted to knit another in a medium size - if that interests you then just drop me a line here or via Folksy. But do allow me a couple of week's knitting time!

In other news, please check out my poll on the right. The morning frosts are definitely here, so it's time to dig out the layers!

Folksy Fridays: Rainy Days

It's chucking it down outside and I was struggling to think of a theme over the steady plonking of the rain. So this week's Folksy Friday is all about rainy days.

Generally it's a good idea to try to stay dry:

 

Cloche style rain hat by Moaning Minnie Designs

If hats aren't forthcoming, share a brolly with a friend:

 

Out of the Rain by Blackoutwell

I don't think these would last well in inclement weather, but might be good for rainy day observations:

 

Hand printed brolly notebook by Sarah Waterhouse

Grumble too much about the weather and you might be asked to button it:

 

Umbrella buttons by She Draws

But don't forget, every cloud has a silver lining:

 

Cloud with a silver lining by Dough Lady Designs

So don't always blame the weather. Go hug a raincloud!

 

Rain Cloud by SewSew