Testing, Testing

Recently I've been very lucky to be working with a new designer. I think she's very talented and I was thrilled to work on a test knit for her. The pattern is a lacy triangular shawl with a strong architectural feel. What's more, the shawl was designed to be knit in my yarn!

I used a base that I've been experiementing with and really enjoyed working through the pattern. It was made particularly helped by the 'Washi Tape' I have discovered. I think I'm in love! This is such a useful idea and great for knitters like me who want to be able to print patterns, fold them up and carry them about in a bag all day. The tape is really easy to use and you can peel it on and off your page easily to keep track of where you are in the pattern. It's great when you're using charts and it means that when you run for the bus, your place is never lost! I am definitely a Washi convert. 

Image Credit: Washi Tapes

Who is the designer? Well, you'll have to stay tuned for more news on that front.....

A fresh new idea

I have been wanting to share this 'recipe' with you for some time. This isn't the edible kind but it's easy to make and will transform your life. I'm not exaggerating, I swear!

What is it?

It's homemade deodorant. My friend Kirsten is a very talented nutritionist and recommended it to me and I was amazed when I tried it. It's really simple and you can pick up most of the ingredients from your local health food shop, supermarket or ethnic store. 

Here's how to make it:

Take 2 parts Coconut Oil and 1 part Bicarbonate of Soda (aluminium free is best if you get your hands on it). Put them in a jar and mix together. Coconut oil is solid at room temperature but it melts at body temperature. It'll moisturise your skin and it works so well - by far the best natural deodorant I've used. What's more, if you want to add your favourite blend of essential oils, you can. 

Stay fresh!

On Feeling Lucky

You know, I have been feeling mighty lucky of late. I have a wonderful son, a job I love, great friends and I am part of a fantastic online community which is a great source of inspiration to me. In fact, if it wasn't for this community I would not have the job I love, or as many friends or even be writing this. Of course you know I mean Ravelry.

Since joining Ravelry I discovered a whole new world. I learnt lots of new techniques, have access to loads more fantastic patterns from independent designers and I wouldn't have discovered the joys of hand dyed yarn. It's been almost two years and I have learnt so much.

In September last year I started selling hand dyed fibre and soon after hand dyed yarn on my etsy shop. Since then things have been on the up and up. And I have been fortunate enough to have some amazing designers create patterns using my yarn. First there was Veera Valimaki with Stripe Study (see this post). Then Lisa Mutch (who has become a great friend and sounding board - thanks Lisa!) has brought out some fantastic designs:

Ensomme, which uses one skein of Alpaca/BFL Fingering (shown in Twig)

Askew, which uses one skein of BFL Sock (shown in Squirrel Nutkin)

And Exposed, which requires 2-4 skeins of BFL Sock, depending on size (shown in Anthracite Brown)

Just yesterday she's also finished a prototype for a shawl (Van Doesburg), which uses a skein of BFL Sock (shown in Zitouni). Have a peek:


And look out for Dani Sunshine! She's written a pattern for a lovely girl's cardigan (using BFL Sock in Squirrel Nutkin), which is currently being tested:


Thanks guys! I feel so lucky...

Photos by individual designers, used with permission.

Vanadium on Fire

I haven't posted for ages and have been a bit behind with photographing my FOs, but here's one for you! It was a test knit for Lisa Mutch, for her upcoming pattern Vanadium.

It was a super fun knit. I couldn't get gauge, so had to adapt the numbers a bit. Details are on the Ravelry project page.

I used my Organic Merino Fingering in Debauchery.

I'm really chuffed with the result. I love the colour and the fit!

Perfect Asymmetry

My version of Stripe Study



The yarn is Shetland Fingering in colourways I created especially for the shawl (Anthracite and Zitouni) - they will be available in the shop soon. I am totally in love with this shawl. More photos on Ravelry.

Chocolate, figs and Veera. What else is there?

I have two recipes I have been meaning to share with you for a while. The first is incredibly decadent - chocolate covered figs.


No sweat, though, it's really easy:

Chocolate Covered Figs

12-15 dried figs, stems removed

125g dark chocolate

125g milk chocolate

30g butter

cocoa powder to dust

Steam your figs for 7 minutes. Whilst the figs are steaming melt the butter and both types of chocolate in a bain marie. Once the figs are soft and the chocolate and butter mixture is melted you can start dipping your figs. You might want to reshape your figs into a more 'figgy' shape. Place your dipped figs onto some greaseproof paper and into the fridge. Once the chocolate is hard, dust with the cocoa powder. Yummy!

I have to give credit where it's due: this recipe is from my friend Rachida, an absolute genius in the kitchen.

The next one is an amalgamation of various recipes. I have no picture, because it was polished over Christmas...

Dried Fig Jam

750g soft dried figs, stems removed

200g caster sugar

150g jam sugar (this is just sugar with pectin added)

3 star anise

1 cup water

2tbsp sesame seeds

juice of ½ lemon

Cut the figs into quarters. Roast the sesame seeds on a frying pan until they start to smell and change colour. Mix all ingredients, other than the lemon juice, into a saucepan and put onto a medium heat, stir. Keep stirring and once the mixture is hot and the figs are softening, mash them with a potato masher. After the mixture has been cooking for about 15-20 minutes test and see if your jam is ready. Once you are happy with the consistency, remove from the heat, stir in the lemon juice and put into hot sterilized jars. This one is lovely with cheese.

Don't know how to test jam? This is how I do it: The first thing I do, before I weigh my ingredients is put a saucer in the freezer. Then I get busy jam making. Once I think the jam might be ready I take my saucer out, put a small amount of jam on it and put it in the fridge for a couple of minutes. I then slide my finger over the cooled jam and if it puckers and appears to have a good consistency I'm done!

Can you tell I love figs?

Now, last but by no means least: have you seen Veera Valimaki's latest design?

Isn't it fabulous? I love the asymmetry of the stripes. The red yarn is my very own BFL Sock in Sangue. I can't wait to knit this one for myself - Veera's designs are always so modern, yet simple and wearable, I'm a huge fan!

(photo copyright Veera Valimaki, used with permission)

Green Boy

So, I haven't blogged for a while. I've been busy, I've opened the shop, have been dyeing quite a bit and knitting too, of course. I have finished a few projects that I've not been able to photograph yet as my photographer is only around at the weekends and light has been truly dire here. One project I did photograph was Green Boy, because I didn't have to wear it! The pattern is 'Fisherman's Pullover' by the wonderfully talented Veera Valimaki. I used my Merino Aran in the colourway 'Envy', which I dyed especially for Indi.


I procrastinated for ages on the knitting, but it was a breeze and was done in a couple of days. My only modification was to not do the sleeve decreases as it looked like it would be too tight. I also wanted the jumper to be a bit big, so that it would fit him for a while, because he's growing fast!

I'm now test knitting Heidi Kirrmaier's Atelier. I'm using Drops Alpaca, which I dyed myself. Fingers crossed I'll make the deadlines ok.

On the shop front, I've just received a few kilos of the most wonderful laceweight Bluefaced Leicester. It's a singles yarn full of character, which is produced in very small amounts each year. Truly wonderful stuff! Look out for it, hopefully from next week.