Plum Gold spinning

I finished spinning this plum and gold merino/silk bought from Jeni at Fyberspates at Rav Day and lovely it was to spin too. Another sample to add to my handspun Zig and Zag blanket which is coming along slowly.

Last spinning lesson

Saturday was the last of my spinning course lessons sadly. I learnt so much from Linda and Albert - advocates of starting with the fleece and preparing it using traditional techniques, then dyeing it (they use natural dyes), hand carding the fibre and finally spinning it. Linda is a seasoned knitter and crocheter and Albert is a weaving and braiding guru. And I'll also miss the lovely spinners I met there - hopefully I'll keep in touch with some of them.

Yvette being the bravest of us and having a go at using the lethal-looking combs.

Albert holding a distaff of flax (or a young maiden's locks?)

Linda spinning flax from the distaff

You'd think it would be possible to learn how to spin from books, or from YouTube, or from asking questions in forums and it is. But it's only when you meet people who have so much experience and so willingly pass on their intricate knowledge and tips, that you appreciate how much there is to the craft and how much there's still to learn.

On to kitty news. We think our little tabby may be a girl so she's been renamed Mabel - although Skein Prince still calls her Squiggles. She may be the cat with two names. Never did Honey, her mother, any harm to be called Honey and Smitten.

They're getting more playful by the day. It's not a good idea to have bare feet or legs unless you want to be in a lot of pain with little claws being tried out. The all black one is the advanced one, the black and white one is the monkeyist and the tabby one is... pretty lazy but very gorgeous.

Meet Squiggles

Isn't he (pos. she) cute? We're keeping this little one. Two and a half weeks old. I can't get over how big the kittens have grown in such a short time. They're trying to escape from the box and Honey's not too happy about that. The all black kitten is going to a good friend but the neighbour didn't want to take the little black and white one when she saw her and I fear I'm becoming more and more fond of her. Must.... remain... detached. So, if you know of anyone in the Berkshire area looking for a particularly gorgeous kitten - when she keeps still, I'll get a non-blurry photo for you.

The weather has been downright tropical here. After my spinning lesson, we had a go at washing an unidentified fleece using the method my spinning teacher, Linda, had shown us.

But it wasn't good news - the wool was like brillo pads when it dried. I mixed it with some white BFL and put it through the drum carder, but sadly I think it's going to be unspinnable.

Saturday night was an impromptu Britain's Got Talent party, BBQ and pool party with Skein Princess going back to a friend's for camping in the garden.

On Friday, we went to the Children's Art Festival in Reading organised by Jelly and then onto see Coraline - which, be warned, is not for children of even a slight sensitive nature unless you want nightmares.

Yesterday, me and Skein Princess got all my spinning fluff scraps and drum carded them into this little cloud of colour.

Then I decided that I didn't have enough knitting projects on the go, and because Linda had asked us to knit up our samples of kid mohair and angora, I decided to start another Zig and Zag pram blanket using all my handspun samples.

Other than that, still working on the Cloud Nine socks in Summer Pudding Plushness for my friend, Sandra. Not much progress there.

Have been dyeing today and the next update will be a large one and will include the long-awaited launch of Exquisite - merino, cashmere and nylon - and the equally long-awaited launch of SQ tops (roving) for spinning.

Socktopus Trunk Show - a heavenly haven

Twas a whirlwind of a weekend. On Saturday morning, I had my second spinning lesson and learnt lots of interesting techniques including spinning a thick and thin slubby yarn, spinning from silk caps, adding silk noils and throwsters to fibre, spinning a boucle yarn and (this made me laugh) - how to spin a fun fur - fascinating technique but not sure I'll be trying that one too often.

On Saturday night, we went round to my friend Sandra's house to celebrate her birthday and I have never laughed so much in years - my ribs were hurting. All related to Skein King's antics which I probably shouldn't go into here as it may well embarrass the poor chap.

Soon enough, it was Sunday. I picked up alabamawhirly and we headed down the M4 in Biblical rain (pinched that phrase from bundle) and turned up on the doorstep of Socktopus in Chelsea laden with yarn where we were greeted by Alice, who was so welcoming and almost turned her shop upside-down to create as much space for us as possible.

See the back three shelves on the left - SQ yarn - and on the table..

and on the windowsill...

The limited supply of fibre, named after alcoholic beverages and cocktails, was popular and all went (no names here!)

Plushness and Squash

Elegance and Opulent

Charliesumx fondling some yarn with alabamawhirly encouraging her all the way!

Some lovely Socktopods - and check out Alice's Central Park hoodie - knitted in shades of orange Dream in Color Smooshy (I think). My photos aren't great - check out Alice's blog for some better ones. A huge thank you to everyone who came - it was so nice to knit and chat and even see some of the yarn all caked up and started on there and then - and to Alice for being such a great hostess.

It was almost torture (in a pleasant way) sitting amongst all the yarn all day. I knew I was going to make a small purchase, but it took me all day to decide. I settled on some Malabrigo sock in a rich, dark chestnut brown - so unlike me and I'm usually colour all the way - but I'd seen the lady in the photo knitting some beautiful Shurt'agal socks in a green/black version and that inspired me to opt for that.

This was me preparing the inventory for Socktopus. And thanks so much to alabamawhirly and kiknits for coming over on Friday to help with the skeining and labelling. I hope it was fun and I wasn't too much of a task-master!

I brought back about half. I'm visiting the outcast knitting group in Reading this Wednesday and bringing some along since it's been about two years since I brought them anything yarnie to look at, and then there will still be enough for a shop update on Thursday of this week.

A bit of spinning, Socktopus trunk show and a Rainy Day Coraline

I'm quite proud of this. It's the first bit of spinning I've done with my wheel fixed and working properly and I finally feel comfortable with spinning and really enjoying it, so much so, I've signed up for a course with the local guild to learn more.


The fibre was from limegreenjelly - 100% merino - and it's called Just a Dream. I love the depth of colour.

I'm really looking forward to Sunday 17th May when I'll be at Socktopus in London. Alice invited me to come and do a trunk show, whereby I bring along a load of yarn for people to come and squidge, and she provides cakes etc. If you're in the London area on that day, I'd love to see you. I'm there from 12-5pm. In the meantime, I'm trying to put together a collection of free patterns to bring along.

Summer's coming - there are clear signs now. Okay, so it's raining outside as I write, but the grass keeps growing at the rate of knots, the poppies are about to flower, a multitude of butterflies are visiting our garden and yes, I've even seen some wasps (yuck!). In the true spirit of British optimism regarding the weather, I have the perfect summer yarn for you:

Lotus Yarns Bamboo Soft

If you're thinking of knitting a summer garment in silk or bamboo, it's worth bearing in mind Lotus Yarns Bamboo Soft as a possible option.

Take a look at the fabulous round yoked Coraline cardigan knitted by alabamawhirly using Bamboo Soft in Pewter. The pattern is by Ysolda Teague.

She calls it her Rainy Day Coraline (not too optimistic for the summer then?) and adapted the sleeves to a flattering three-quarter length.

Stunning job. Makes me want to pick out a colour for mine. Very inspiring.

Finally, thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's shop update - parcels going out today so should be with you very soon.

Fiddly fingers and Who do you think you are?

First of all, thanks so much to everyone on Ravelry and Facebook for all your get well wishes. I'm sure all the good vibes must be reaching me as I'm feeling a bit better this afternoon - at least my fatigue not quite so extreme and my achy joints not quite so achy - now if I could just shift this headache and get my vision to stop being so blurry, I could get on and do stuff.

As a result of this, this... lurgy thing, I've been doing much more sitting on the sofa than usual in between naps and I'm not a very good patient and can't do nothing, so here's what I've been doing.

Handspun Baby Hat and Boover Bootees for brand new Findlay baby.
Yarn by FeltstudioUK in Melusina colourway.
Patterns: Greenleaf Baby Hat by Evelyn Uyemura minus the leaf.
and Saartje's Bootees by Saartje de Bruijn

The mystery fairisle which I'm concocting in Lotus Yarns cashmere soft coming along nicely and is nearly finished.

Some BFL which arrived from Picperfic's Fluff n Stuff store on Misi - it arrived beautifully packaged but I'd already started spinning with it before I took the photo.


Rainbow merino from Wingham Wool

Some undyed BFL

Plied together - this is soft!

Shared Learning stops for noone - ill or not - and didn't want him to get detention. So last weekend, me and Skein Prince worked on putting together our family tree - in French!

Our family is from Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland and India. My maiden name is DeMellow which is a Portuguese name and luckily my dad had given me a heap of information that a relative in Australia had worked on tracing the DeMellows in India back to 1810.

What I hadn't realised was that in the mid-19thC, they had lived on Perim Island, a tiny dry volcanic island off the coast of Yemen which held a coaling station for shipping. Other DeMellows were connected with Lord Reay's cotton mill in Mumbai (I like the textile connection). There seem to be several army links too.

My grandfather was an engineer on the railways and was instrumental in saving lives on the last train to cross the newly formed border between India and Pakistan during Partioning in 1947 and his brother, Melville DeMellow, was known as "The Voice of India" and was very well-known in broadcasting.

Edward D'Mellow and Lucy Ann Eliza Marshalsay - my great great grandparents - she got married aged 15

My Grampa - Harry

My Scottish Gran - Helen "Ella"

I'm going to crack this spinning lark if it kills me!

That sounds like I'm not enjoying it - I am, especially when it clicks into place and goes smoothly - those rare instances are becoming more frequent, which must surely be a good sign?

Another effort - take some merino acquired from Wingham Wool:


And turn it into this:

Still not perfect - practice, practice, practice!

Squee! Club yarn all dyed up and likely to be posted early next week. If you're in the club look out for your parcel towards the end of next week...

What I have been doing

1. Designing - fairisle in Cashmere Soft



2. A shop update - been and gone.

3. Attempting spinning
Alpaca fleece - fawn from Teddy plied with white from Bubble. Attempts to retain the softness ended up in thick and thin again and I found it much easier to spin which the fawn. The white had very short bits and I found it tricky to get anything out of it. Am looking forward to trying the black - might be able to get a better length out of it. I need to be more vigilant in taking out the guard hairs.

And a practice attempt which a mixture of rovings carded by Skein Princess - she absolutely loves carding! I started this at the meeting of the Kennet Valley Spinners, Weavers and Dyers guild meeting where a wonderful lady called Linda, who has over 30 years' spinning experience, attempted to show me the basics. She started by oiling up my wheel which made a huge difference - I could actually get it to turn with just my feet but we discovered that it needs a pin replacing. She was wonderfully patient and a great teacher.

4. Went up to East Hendred today where Wingham Wool were having an open weekend. There was heaps of fibre to choose from and lots of spinning going on. I met Yvette and Shazspun from Ravelry who I'd met at the guild meeting the week before. I came away with this little lot for the princely sum of £6 due to a handy voucher I'd stowed away from when I'd purchased my wheel from them.


5. A night out with the girls

Karen, Jackie, Sue, Sandra, me, Michelle and Karen.

What a fantastic night we had. An Italian meal and then we boogied at a local bar til 2.30am. I thought I was too old for that malarky, but I was mistaken. We had a scream!

6. A spot of gardening - working towards a Brownie badge.

7. Checking out the Bentleys and Zondas


How kind was the manager from Pangbourne Bentley garage. He knew he had no hope of a sale (unless there's a spare £500,000 lurking in a spare bank account somewhere that I don't know about) but let Skein Prince hang out and try all the cars for as long as he wanted. He was in his element!

8. Confirming I Knit Weekender as a vendor in September bites nails in nervous anticipation. Also Blush and SQuee! sock clubs made an appearance in Let's Knit magazine this month - they were kind enough to send me a copy - there was also an interview with Ysolda Teague and a photo of the UK DIY exhibition that alabamawhirly and rockpoolcandy were exhibiting at - and a lovely photo of rockpoolcandy!