Tall Yarns 'n Tales

Koigu action

Tall Yarns — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:53:32 +0000

I'd love to share with you a well-known Koigu pattern called Charlotte's Web, published in Knits from a Painter's Palette. I saw it worn by a customer at Woolfest in June and knew that I HAD to knit one. I can tell you, the pictures in the book somehow do not do it justice.

This shawl is absolute magic to knit. With a simple lace pattern, you get into a lovely rhythm while knitting it. And the style of stitches chosen doesn't "fight" the patterning of the multi-coloured yarn. They all just enhance each other, just mesmerising. I doubt that you can go wrong with choice of colours, so it's also a very suitable project for using up incomplete hanks. The book prescribes 5 different shades, but in truth, the finished shawl weighs a mere 125 grams. This weight is based on my version, with the garter stitch triangle edge rather than long tassels, but even with tassels, 3 hanks or 150 grams should be plenty. Which makes it a very interesting option to knit in Koigu Mori as well (the stunning merino/silk blend). I'll have this shawl on display at Ally Pally and Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Shows, but until that time, here are some pictures before and after blocking (if ever you needed encouragement to bloack your lace, these pictures should do the trick!).

Any questions or comments very welcome!

First up: unblocked shawl, fresh off the needles.

And this is the same item, on the blocking wires!

And lastly, one detail picture before and after blocking:

Fyberspates Royal Lace for Laminaria

Tall Yarns — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:48:05 +0000

Simple recipe for a lovely helping of Laminaria:
Take a gorgeous lace yarn (after seeing it at Wonderwool)
Give it to someone you love (during the last week of April)
Let them pick out a design they love (that same week)
Knit it for them whenever you have a spare moment, minute, hour…
Six weeks later: taraaaaa!

For those of you who'd like to cook this dish, here's the list of ingredients:
Laminaria is available for free from Knitty.com.
Fyberspates Royal Lace is available from me, HERE.
3.25 mm circular needle (80 cm long), either already present in your collection or buy a fixed circular HERE or an interchangeable one HERE.

Pattern notes: the Laminaria shawl pattern is written to be knit using a 4-ply yarn on 3.75 mm needles.If you use a 3.25 mm needle and Fyberspates Royal Lace and follow the knitting instructions for the Shawl, you'll end up with a finished shawl that's just in between the Shawl and the Shoulderette version, with a centre back length of 30" (75 cm) and a width of 56" (140 cm).

Had a New Yarn Spun

Tall Yarns — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 11:38:47 +0000

Oh my goodness… it's here, it dyes beautifully and it fills a gap in the market! Imagine a sock yarn that is fine; finer than the 2.5mm-needle yarns everyone is knitting with. That you could actually knit lacy socks or stockings with that don't look and feel like over-sized socks…

Hundreds of stitches? NO! And pretty close to old-fashioned 3-ply. Think 80 sts per round rather than 60. That's 20 sts per needle rather than 15. Everyone can oversee that difference. And knitting with 2mm needles is not THAT different from knitting with 2.25 or 2.5mm.

It's on its way, peeps. It's coming. I'm designing with it, I'm writing up patterns. I'm working on a new home-dyeing technique. And I'm organising a dyed range of it as well.

To make it easy to recognise, I'll give it a name. Soliloquy. Not a monologue, as it addresses the audience. This yarn speaks to you. As Soliloquy Natural (un-dyed) or Soliloquy Shades (vibrant, hand-dyed colours).

This post is me bubbling over with excitement. I cannot keep quiet anymore. It's coming…..!

Things to come

Tall Yarns — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:54:43 +0000

Count down for Ally Pally has been ongoing for a while, but it's down to the last couple of days now. I'm confident enough (that it will be finished in time) to share a sneak preview pic of a new sock pattern I will launch there. It's knitted on 2 needles only, but the only bit of sewing up there is to do is a small section of kitchener stitch under the toes…..all will be revealed very soon, but here's a close up just to give you a quick impression…

The fast lane

Tall Yarns — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 14:02:35 +0000

Finally kicked myself out for a run this morning. Did better than I expected, despite the last couple of minutes having to run through our buzzy, busy, Saturday morning village centre, sporting a deep purple head of course, severely clashing with my alarmingly bright orange hair. Feeling rather smug despite this (not sure if I had any pride to uphold in the first place, so am hardly in a position to mourn the loss of it).

Also feeling fired up to launch my new-look web site in time for British Wool Week, which runs from 11 Oct. Must come up with a big incentive for people to see my new site; competition, or discount, or prizes or what…. Please drop me a line if you've got any requests!

In the meantime, the kids go back to school this coming week. Miss and bliss rolled into one emotion. Summers go too fast; I love having the kids at home, but also love the prospect of having 6 hrs per day again of being able to dive into my venture, which, judging from the steady growth of web-orders and increased turn-over at shows, can no longer be classed as a little start-up. Making me proud, excited and positively bubbling with ideas that desperately need executing. Once the camping gear has been put away properly that is…pppfffft!

Knit Nation Tribute

Tall Yarns — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:02:24 +0000

From the logo to the communication, from the name tags to the volunteer helpers, from the choice of exhibitors to the super-enthusiastic customers, Knit Nation 2010 was a SUPER show. Thank you again so much, Alice and Cookie, for this fantastic initiative. I went on holiday straight after the show, which ran from 29 – 31 July at the Imperial College in London so did not have time to rave about it. Fingers crossed that there is enough momentum to organise a Knit Nation 2011; I'll be the first one to sign up. I noticed that the Knit Nation site is down, but they have left an opportunity for you to register your interest in any future initiatives. Please go sign up! www.knitnation.co.uk

Spinnings from Yorkshire

Tall Yarns — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:06:46 +0000

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 rocked!

Tall Yarns — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:13:03 +0000

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!

Leafy Lace for Betty

Tall Yarns — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:41:49 +0000

Betty is Peter's mum. Having knitted socks for just about everyone in the family, Betty had, until now, not been "touched by my needles"- isn't that a nice way of hiding the fact that I've pushed my knitting onto just about everyone I know…? But – I digress. At Bob's request and with grave reluctance I had knitted Betty a Groovy Beret for her Birthday in March. The reluctance grew out of my lack of confidence at Betty's ability to wear said beret with much grace, even though she was mortifyingly delighted when she was given it (I was the mortified one, as it rubbed in rather painfully how she'd clearly been waiting, ever so patiently, until I would finally knit her something – anything!). In a failed attempt to dissuade her from the beret, I had, rather desperately, offered to knit her a Leafy Lace Shawl. She was moved to tears by the offer while the last drops of my self esteem evaporated. So when I finished a knee-length pair of Cookie A socks (to be admired soon on Ravelry in my list of FO's), I dyed 2 hanks of my own Cashmere Sock Yarn and started knitting.

Yesterday evening I finished and blocked it.

And here it is, as a welcome example of my beloved pattern in both a different colour way and different yarn.
I am very impressed with the yarn after blocking. This shawl has much more drape than the one in Jeni's (Fyberspates) Sparkle Sock. While the Sparkle is lovely, with lots of airy bounce, this one has an air of sleek & slinky about it. I wore it to knitting group this morning and had to take it off straight after I made my entrance as it was so warm on my shoulders. Betty will be delighted and I've just realised I have enough of the yarn left to knit a large sample swatch including edge so I can show off the drape of my new favourite yarn at shows to come. Do let me know what you think of it!

p.s. The centre triangle was dyed using a combination of Helen Deighan's All-in-one Dyes in Paprika, Turmeric and Summer Green. The Border is Paprika with a drop of both Summer Green and Turmeric in it. By mixing like this you create a colour family; works a treat!

For Laura

Tall Yarns — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:20:36 +0000