Goose fluff anyone?

I spent the weekend at a lovely fibre event at Cwmoernant Farm, and got rather more fluff than I bargained for.

Early on saturday a clutch of goslings hatched, four lovely little scraps that seemed to be doing well, until mid afternoon when it became clear that one was a lot smaller than the others and was being trodden on, getting chilled and generally ignored by the adults.

So, we fished it out, checked it over, decided that it seemed ok but was probably the last egg laid and effectively a bit less developed than the others, but its mum didnt want it back. Feeling fairy sure it probably wouldn't make it through the night, we reckoned we could at least make it cosy, so it was bundled up in a box with a towel and a hot water bottle.

After deciding that the barn would be too cold and the dogs and cats would pester it in the house, I took the box into the van with me for the night, reckoning I could check it easily if needs be and put the box on the bed next to me for added insulation.

Well, this tiny wee weak gosling lasted about an hour before deciding the only place it wanted to be was under the duvet with me, and nothing would persuade it otherwise, so I spent the entire night with a day old chick wedged into the crook of my arm with the duvet pulled up over us both Noisy little critter too, hardly stopped peeping all night long.

Anyway, its now called Duvet and by the time I left on sunday it was doing really well, visibly much stronger and alternating between a goose play pen made out of an old tin bath lined with turfs and straw, and regular warming cuddles from the spinners who all found that you can spin or knit quite well with a gosling having a snooze in your cleavage, it really liked prefelt too, that made a lovely nest.

Just goes to show, fluff turns up in the strangest places when you spend the weekend playing with fibre.

Flower Fairy Cap

You may have noticed just a slight fairytale theme in my patterns recently, this is due in part to some fascinating read-along, project-along discussions over on the Folklore and Fairytale group on Ravelry. I'm constantly given new inspiration from the stories chosen for discussion, often they are tales I thought I knew well, but having so many diverse people discussing them and seeing what they choose to work on to illustrate a facet of the story is always a real treat.

I've been working on this particular pattern on and off since March, when I indulged myself for my birthday by spinnng and knitting a little cap. Since then, I've worked up a couple more versions of it, this time with notebook in hand, and its now out as my latest pattern.

I've test knit it both in a plain silky yarn, and in a gradually self striping one (this one is Noro silk garden lite), and I think it works really well in both versions. The two lace patterns used are very simple to work but give an intricate effect that isnt too fussy, and best of all, the cap is a stretchy little thing and so far has fitted everyone I've tried it on. Its worked in dk weight yarn and all three of mine came in as one skein wonders, with just a few yards left over.

If anyone does want to try this pattern, its a Ravelry download priced $3

Faerie Queen Socks

I've just realised I haven't blogged about these socks, how terribly remiss of me! I'd wanted for a while to design a pair of socks inspired by the intricate designs on functional objects of the Arts and Crafts movement, and this is what came off my needles.

I wanted to try something a tiny bit different from standard sock construction, so I began with an ornate border workd flat on two needles and composed of lavish leaves and berries and a band of knotwork. This then is joined and the stitches picked up for the rest of the sock which is worked top down in the usual manner and which incorporates a double rose leaf lace insert and a practical eye-of-partridge stitch heel.

I'm pleased with the results, and although I worked mine in two shades of green, some of my test knitters have been making theirs in semi solid pinks and autumn tones, and I have to say they look fantastic.

As with all my patterns, it can be downloaded through Ravelry. This one costs $4, and I do hope some of you will give it a try.

Tam o Shanter

I've always enjoyed knitting Scots Bonnets in all their variations, but as I mostly knit for the re-enactment community, its not often I get to make one for wear with modern dress, complete with toorie on the top.

This one was a commission for a lovely gentleman who tells me it will be worn to the Gathering of the Clans next month, an event that should see every possible variation on bonnets being worn with every possible permutation of Scottish dress. Its an event I'd love to attend some day, for now, I just rest content that a bonnet or two of mine will be there.

Goblin Market

I've just finished my latest pattern and wanted to share it with you all. This is Goblin Market, is a reticule with a Victorian feel. It features a richly textured leaves and berries border, the body of the bag has a shape loosely inspired by pomegranates and poppy capsules and uses several distinct pattern stitches for a fast, interesting knit.

The name comes from the poem ‘Goblin Market’ by Christina Rosetti:

MORNING and evening
Maids heard the goblins cry:
“Come buy our orchard fruits,
Come buy, come buy”
…
We must not look at goblin men,
We must not buy their fruits:
Who knows upon what soil they fed
Their hungry thirsty roots?

What particularly pleases me about it is that it only uses approximately 20g or so of a sock weight yarn, which is pretty much exactly the amount I find I have over after sock projects, so for me its a great stash buster and one that I think will make great gifts later in the year. Like all bags though, it should work well on pretty much any yarn as long as you choose needles that will give a pleasingly firm fabric.
If you fancy trying it for yourself, its available as a Ravelry download priced just $3

Sample Boxes

Been a bit quiet lately, have been under orders to rest a bit so less going on than usual. Normal service will be resumed shortly...

However, and more importantly, I am involved in the most exciting new sample box scheme. Fibreholics brings together some really diverse and talented fibre and yarn producers to offer a wonderful value taster box full of sensibly sized, useable samples. Check out the offerings so far for the first box!
http://fibreholics.blogspot.com/

This Week's Hats

Been a fairly slow week, have been trying not to rush and to rest up a bit, and have concentrated on getting a couple of hat commissions sorted out. (Amazing how a few afternoons on the sofa with one's feet up watching films helps the knitting along).

First, and its a dreadful picture sorry, is a fifteenth century sugarloaf hat, possibly one of the silliest men's headwear fashions ever. It was a fun knit, had to be fulled until the stitch definition just about vanished resulting in a very heavy solid fabric that was then dyed murrey to match an outfit.
Second pic of it isn't much better I'm afraid.

Then we have a basic Tudor cap, but this one was a request for as near to 'royal' blue as could be got within the plausibility of Tudor dyes. Modern royal blue is a chemical dye and is rather different in tone to anything that could be achieved with indigo based blues, so I modified the dyebath a little to give a shade that is still very bright, but which I am confident I can achieve with natural dyes. Just for fun, I photographed this hat on one of my Dwarven Battle Bonnets, and I think it looks rather fetching this way.