Duvet days

With all the average weather in these parts lately, there has been much talk in the Kiwi interwebs of days spent in bed, with dvds, or knitting, or tea, or chocolate, or all of the above.

I'm yet to have the luxury of a duvet day this winter - 2 large wholesale orders, the upcoming craft2.0 and part time work means early starts and being chilled to the bone.

In background news, i'm also moving house, again, this friday. The boy and I are rather excited that our new bedroom is massive, and won't resemble a tool shed as it currently does. So we've been looking at buying a great big new comfy bed - just the ticket for scheduling in a duvet day when all this work allows.

Which means, daydreaming:

(photos from over at the ever-beautiful Decor8 blog)

May have to block day in the diary for this quality, cosy, knitty duvet day....

Happy Mother's Day Giveaway!

Happy Mother's day everyone!

How about a little giveaway to celebrate?

Every Knitsch Yarns order from 5pm Friday 7 May to midnight Sunday 9 May receives a free stash bag! That's along with the free set of 5 cards that already get tucked in with your order. What a treat!

Have a wonderful weekend and look after those knitting, crafting hands of yours xx

Would you like a sock club?

I’m humming and haa-ing over whether or not to do a yarn club. The main reason for this is that I know there are quite a few around already, and it is quite the commitment.

There have been some great suggestions from the Lower Hutt Knitters about what they love in a yarn club, and now i’m teetering on the edge.

Can you help push me over and commit to it? I have a plan forming of one that is a bit different and incorporates an element of choice…

Thoughts? Suggestions?

For the love of Endpaper Mitts

Because they're pretty. My endpaper mitts don't match - one is in Silver lining and Chelsea, the other in Silver Lining and Kowhai. They're a tad small for me so will probably just be used as samples. I love how Silver Lining complements each colour, and the single colour stitches bring out the slight changes in tone.


For those who think fair isle is tricky - it really isn't. It's all about finding how to hold two colours that is comfortable for you. I started out with a colour in each hand, but couldn't quite get the rhythm down. Holding both in one hand, with silver lining held normally, and the second colour sitting just below it to be picked up when needed, worked for me. The good thing with the Endpaper Mitts pattern is that you don't need to worry too much about twisting at the back to carry a colour across, so it's a good project to learn on. 


And it's pretty. 


Did I mention it's pretty?

Extra Curricular

How wonderful is it to receive exciting mail? You know, the kind that isn't a bill or bank statement or some such?

Today my copy of Extra Curricular volume 2 arrived. EXCITEMENT. I've seen it in a few shops now and managed to refrain doing anything than having a quick peek at the pictures.

I'm rather looking forward to sitting down with a cup of tea, the last Easter eggs and having a proper read.

Online!

It's official - you can now buy Knitsch Yarns online!

*squeeeeeeeeee* Pretty gosh darn exciting.

Go on, have a nosy. And let us know if there is anything you love or loathe about the site - feedback is most welcome.

Finally, Knitsch yarns has officially lifted off and entered the great wide world of wool.

Craft2.0 was the best fun - there was plenty of attaching names to faces, and as per usual it was a struggle not to spend all my money on the gorgeous goodies made by the other crafters. Thank you so much to everyone who came along, being able to wax lyrical about a shared passion is really what it's all about.

Mama (right) and I (left) with our table of deliciousness and some lovely yarnies

This week the focus is on getting the online shop live, just for you. If you pop along and subscribe to the e-newsletter, anyone on that list will be the first to know when our woolly goodies are ready and waiting.

Would you like a sneaky peak? Would ya? Hmm? Hmm?

Top to bottom: Punky, Mystery Machine, Chelsea, Cherry Ripe, Paua

We're dyeing with all cylinders blazing in preparation for Craft2.0. My poor fingers are getting rope burn from twisting skeins...

I am obsessed with green.

My favourite colour is yellow - bright, sunshiny, happy. Nothing can be sad with yellow, really. 

But green, damn that green. 

I have quite the collection of orange yarn - it started in London. About the same time as the green obsession. It seemed that every skein of yarn that found itself in my hand was either green or orange.

The problem with that is, every dye colour I dream up, a spot of green sneaks in. Oh, I think, if i do this, and this and this, and then what else will go with it...oh, i know, green!

And then do you think it is easy to achieve that subtle shade of emerald? Or the iridescent colour of a beer bottle? oh no. No. Green has to be one of the frigging trickiest colours to get just so.

The moral of the story is: if you like green, Knitsch is for you. You may look forward to enjoying the benefits of my misery!