I spent an indulgent 2 days up in Yorkshire this week, on a spinning course with Ruth, from Wingham Wool Work.
Have come back buzzing with ideas and new skills that I want to practice and master before they slip out of the holey sponge that used to be my brain.
I'm on a serious mission to start spinning crazy yarns though. I know lots of new spinners aim for super-fine, super-even yarn and then complain that they can't make themselves spin bulky, lumpy stuff anymore. It'd be lovely to have the choice, so I'll try to practice both…(famous last words; hey, I live in optimistic hope!)
Anyway, here's my output from the course.

Oh, and a quick message for those of you waiting for more Knitting Smock stock: I'll bring some new ones with me to Knit Nation in London at the end of the month!

Woolfest lived up to my expectations again this year; I think it's only a matter of time before I have some live woolly animals of my own. Until then though, Woolfest feeds my need to be close to them. Speaking of being close: thank you all new and returning customers for your kind words and your wonderful feedback.
It was great to hear that you could see how I am trying to grow my little business (quite organically and without any outside financial support). I wasn't expecting the enthusiastic support I am getting. Like me, you clearly like to get up close and personal with your yarn source. Not just making a one-off purchase but coming back for more; with compliments, feedback and lots of encouragement. Thank you thank you thank you, I am honoured and thrilled and super-motivated to keep going.

Please keep your feedback coming, by email, phone or face-to-face at any of the shows coming up.
For now, in the pipeline: a range of organic (un-dyed) yarns, expected to arrive just in time for Knit Nation.
And of course, more Tales Knitting Smocks including a size 0.
Onwards and upwards!

Oh dear, has this spinning craze got me. And it's got me good! Am dead-keen to start showing off my first results. Watch this space for pics. Have already finished my first scarf design especially suitable for small hanks of home-spun yarn, so it's only a matter of time before I start selling my first "each-is-a-one-off" kits!

Also in the process of sorting out my Newsletter software, so I will finally be able to send newsletters not just bursting with news, but looking good as well.

Be back soon…

After a sell-out success at the Knitting and Stitching Show in Harrogate, the Knitting Smock is about to make its debut on the site.
Also coming (hopefully also by Friday 11 Dec): new Fyberspates Silk Lace, Sock yarns and Cashmere, yum, yum!

Apologies to those ordering Fyberspates yarns from me and fishing behind the net; there was a setting on the site not working properly, which led to items that had sold out still showing as available. New stock is imminent though, so please check back in a couple of days.

Also coming soon: a selection of patterns, some for sale, some as free downloads and some for free with purchase of a particular yarn.

If you get fed up with my irregular blogs, please follow me on Twitter. I contribute regularly, as the on-the-hop quick messages seem to suit my flighty schedule.

The focus of the book is on different dyeing techniques to be used on animal fibres (plant fibres need a different dyeing process). Like Helen’s previous books, this book offers methods and techniques that are all executed at home, in your own kitchen. No need for any special equipment or dedicated space. The only things you have to buy are a hank of yarn and some dye. Everything else you’ll use will already be in your kitchen.
The book does not presume the reader to have any prior experience of dyeing yet it goes well beyond simple, basic dyeing techniques. As a result, more experienced dyers may also find that the ideas and techniques shown give them new insights.
The 8 dyeing chapters are then complemented by a chapter of 11 knitting patterns. The patterns range from very simple to quite advanced and all were chosen to showcase a particular dyeing technique.

Following below is the contents page of the book to give you an idea of the different techniques that are covered.

I FINALLY have a confirmed date for publication!

The books are arriving in the week of 7 September, so I’ll have them with me at iKnit.
The laser print mock up did its work at Fibrefest last week though; I took lots of pre-orders, so I’ve already got a pre-written stack of envelopes waiting to be stuffed as soon as I’ve got the books hot off the press.

I will add the option to pre-order the book to the shop. It’s a great offer, at £13 incl. postage. As soon as I’ve got the offer posted, I will also email the long list of people waiting to be notified that the book has arrived. You’ll all have ample time to pre-order the book at this special price.

In the meantime, the Summer has flown by. The kids are back to school later this week. I feel as ambivalent as ever about this. On the one hand, I love having them around me, on the other hand it’s so much more of a struggle to find the time to keep all the plates spinning, especially on the work-front. The site desperately needs updating, I’ve been promising people the option to buy patterns online for ages and the free pattern section is still not there.

Still, onwards and upwards; I am counting the days to have the books and be able to sell them at iKnit and see them reveiwed in some of my favourite knitting magazines.

I’m also trying to add my regular Twitter messages on this Blog. I seem to Twitter much more often than blog. I’m sure that says something about me, just not sure if I want to know what…

 …and I’m in the middle of a mad scramble to get ready for a holiday in France. Got my orders for more stock placed, so should have plenty of everything in time for Fibrefest. I am feeling very bad about the lack of attention I’ve paid to the website. It desperately needs updating, I know, there are more kits to add, and pictures, and Knit-pro needles. And I now also have a small range of circular bamboo needles that go down to a smaller size (2 mm) than the Knit-Pro interchangeables. And you cannot find any of them on the site yet. Must do better once I’ve re-charged my batteries. Of course I’d love to think that I’ll make these additions before we set off, but the reality is most probably going to be very different, with the next 48 hours swishing by in a blur.

I am spending a last session tomorow with the book designer making the last last changes before everything will finally go off to the printer. I should at least have one complete copy at Fibrefest and printed books in time for iKnit. Fingers crossed. For those of you who read this in advance of their own holidays, have a great time. Bring plenty of works-in-progress (socks are good, as they’re not too big and cumbersome) – which reminds me, I’d better whip up a couple of small dye batches tomorrow, to dye some last minute hanks to bring along…

Cannot think of a better way to summarise my last couple of weeks. Wonderwool was great; what a buzz. Then I spent a week with our daughter in the US, visiting family and spending some quality time together, away from younger brothers (life-saving when you usually have to share your mum with 2 loud 7yr olds).  No time for jet lag after our Monday return, because today was the formal brief of the book designer, followed by a full day photo shoot tomorrow. It’s all taking shape, there’s still lots of work to be done but it’s also incredibly exciting. In the meantime, if my shop is giving you any headaches, don’t hesitate to drop me a line (linda.deruiter@tiscali.co.uk). I’d love to hear from you. I promise to order any out of stock itrems this week, in time for Ravelry Day and Woolfest in June, both hurtling towards us with frightening speed. Hope to see you there!

Wonderwool was such a joy; I love these shows and got lots of positive feedback again on the kits. Even some kit-buyers promising to come find me at Woolfest in June to show me the results of their efforts; I am really looking forward to that!

In the meantime, we are going full throttle on finishing our work on the book. Editing the last pages, briefing the illustrator, meeting with the designer and having scheduled a full day photoshoot, I am now knitting the last design… I won’t know what to do with myself (wishful thinking!) once the pressure of looming deadlines eases off. I am about to spend a week together with my girl, awa from her little brothers, some quality mother-and-daughter time. We did this last year and both enjoyed it so much that we vowed to repeat it if possible. So, at the start of the year I booked the time, thinking the book would be finished by now (oh, the naivity of inexperience…). Litle did I know I’d be juggling like mad by now to fit everything around it. And then came the Swineflu panic at the start of the week, nearly crossing our plans (which include some flying). Part of me was very sad, part of me was calculating how much extra work I’d be able to get done if my week away was to be replaced by a no-meetings-scheduled week at home.

On the website front, I’ve finally managed to add the 6 new colours to the kits, so you are no longer restricted to the colour combinations of the first 6 colours in the range. And I’ve added more different undyed yarns, so if you’re after any of the yarns I showed at Wonderwool, they’re in the shop now (not all with pictures, but hey, one hank of undyed yarn looks pretty much the same as the next one; I cen’t picture the feel of them unfortunately. Fingers crossed it all works when ordering. Do let me know if it doesn’t.

Somehow, I manage to Twitter a lot more than I blog. If you’d like to follow me on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com and look for Tall Yarns (of course!).