Yarns from the Plain

Hello from a distinctly chilly Cheshire Plain! In this episode I wonder if I've lost my marbles, coo over a virtual new-born and confess my latest obsession... On The Needles Adrift by Stolen Stitches in Lundy by The Natural Dye Studio. News The Playful Baby has arrived! If you haven't listened to GreenTriangleGirl at the A Playful Day podcast, go and listen. One of my photos was featured in a post on Saturday 24th November on the Wovember website. Please go over and browse -it's a great read. Something I Really Like Patchwork. Who knew? I've been learning with Cheshire Needlecraft. Music Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. lease go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are!Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!) TTFN Nic x

Hello and welcome from an autumnal Cheshire Plain! In this episode I (finally) bid a fond farewell to a number of things close to my heart - but fret not, dear listeners, you are not amongst them! On and Off the Needles All Woolsack Cushions are now done! Woop woop! Since the last episode I have seamed the Make Do and Mend cushion that has a back that was knitted by Carotrike. The front was made in my own handspun that I had dyed before spinning. The blue and yellow were deliciously soft Falkland, the green was the grey Gotland that shed a lot of dodgy looking guard hairs as I spun (Details in Episode 48). I also finished the cushion based on the Circle socks by Anne Campbell. I knit it in the round using Judy’s Magic Cast On to reduce seaming. It’s made from Sheepfold's lovely Clotted Cream, a blended cream aranweight yarn. I dyed what was supposed to be Union Jack red and blue, but it turned out more pink and baby blue! I have also started an Elsa cardigan designed by the Natural Dye Studio, started and finished a Colour Affection Shawl as part of the iMake podcast knitalong... and started Adrift by Stolen Stitches in more NDS yarn. In The Weaving Shed The finished weaving off the loom before fulling... And then afterwards. Note how the warp has fluffed up. Here is the seamed cushion before being sent for stuffing. Full details are listed on Ravelry here. I also snuck in a quick Saori style Möbius cowl (details here). The photos are not great I'm afraid. Some of the other cowls that were made during the Weave-a-long can be seen here. Something I really like Nicsknots' bags! Chit Chat It's goodbye to Woolsack, the Sticks and String podcast and Fibre & Clay. But it's hello to Ruby at home in Namibia: Coco and Nic at home in Botswana: and Frank and Otto at home in South Africa! All photos courtesy of the Mother Bear photo gallery. Competition winner! We have our first London Souvenir winner! The first draw was from the first 100 members of the Ravelry group, and the winner is... well, you'll have to listn to find out! To be in with a chance of winning,make sure you've joined the group here or added a pin to the listeners' map! Links Babylonglegs Music Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic xx

Hello and welcome from an autumnal Cheshire Plain! In this episode I (finally) bid a fond farewell to a number of things close to my heart - but fret not, dear listeners, you are not amongst them! On and Off the Needles All Woolsack Cushions are now done! Woop woop! Since the last episode I have seamed the Make Do and Mend cushion that has a back that was knitted by Carotrike. The front was made in my own handspun that I had dyed before spinning. The blue and yellow were deliciously soft Falkland, the green was the grey Gotland that shed a lot of dodgy looking guard hairs as I spun (Details in Episode 48). I also finished the cushion based on the Circle socks by Anne Campbell. I knit it in the round using Judy’s Magic Cast On to reduce seaming. It’s made fromSheepfold's lovely Clotted Cream, a blended cream aranweight yarn. I dyed what was supposed to be Union Jack red and blue, but it turned out more pink and baby blue! I have also started an Elsa cardigan designed by the Natural Dye Studio, started and finished a Colour Affection Shawl as part of the iMake podcast knitalong... and started Adrift by Stolen Stitches in more NDS yarn. In The Weaving Shed The finished weaving off the loom before fulling... And then afterwards. Note how the warp has fluffed up. Here is the seamed cushion before being sent for stuffing. Full details are listed on Ravelry here. I also snuck in a quick Saori style Möbius cowl (details here). The photos are not great I'm afraid. Some of the other cowls that were made during the Weave-a-long can be seen here. Something I really like Nicsknots' bags! Chit Chat It's goodbye to Woolsack, the Sticks and String podcast and Fibre & Clay. But it's hello to Ruby at home in Namibia: Coco and Nic at home in Botswana: and Frank and Otto at home in South Africa!

Hello and welcome from an autumnal Cheshire Plain! In this episode I (finally) bid a fond farewell to a number of things close to my heart - but fret not, dear listeners, you are not amongst them! On and Off the Needles All Woolsack Cushions are now done! Woop woop! Since the last episode I have seamed the Make Do and Mend cushion that has a back that was knitted by Carotrike. The front was made in my own handspun that I had dyed before spinning. The blue and yellow were deliciously soft Falkland, the green was the grey Gotland that shed a lot of dodgy looking guard hairs as I spun (Details in Episode 48). I also finished the cushion based on the Circle socks by Anne Campbell. I knit it in the round using Judy’s Magic Cast On to reduce seaming. It’s made fromSheepfold's lovely Clotted Cream, a blended cream aranweight yarn. I dyed what was supposed to be Union Jack red and blue, but it turned out more pink and baby blue! I have also started an Elsa cardigan designed by the Natural Dye Studio, started and finished a Colour Affection Shawl as part of the iMake podcast knitalong... and started Adrift by Stolen Stitches in more NDS yarn. In The Weaving Shed The finished weaving off the loom before fulling... And then afterwards. Note how the warp has fluffed up. Here is the seamed cushion before being sent for stuffing. Full details are listed on Ravelry here. I also snuck in a quick Saori style Möbius cowl (details here). The photos are not great I'm afraid. Some of the other cowls that were made during the Weave-a-long can be seen here. Something I really like Nicsknots' bags! Chit Chat It's goodbye to Woolsack, the Sticks and String podcast and Fibre & Clay. But it's hello to Ruby at home in Namibia: Coco and Nic at home in Botswana: and Frank and Otto at home in South Africa!

Hello from a family bank holiday in the North East. In this episode I talk about itching to start something new and how going to a yarn show doesn't do anything to reduce the inflammation! On and Off the Needles I have seamed the handspun listener Woolsack cushion (details on this Rav page ) I also finished the little squares for the front of the Make Do and Mend cushion by Anna Elliot. The back for this was made by the lovely Carotrike. One more left on the needles, based on Circle Socks by Anne Campbell. In The Weaving Shed The actual weaving in progress. Starting off: You can also see the yellow of the contrast clasped weft. Keeping track: Nearing the end... Something I really like The self catering accommodation at Dairy House, nr Cullompton, Devon. Details at www.dairyhouse.biz Upcoming Events British Wool Weekend, Sept 1st & 2nd, great Yorkshire Showground. Details at britishwool.net. Links Woolsack Electric Sheep podcast Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic xx

Hello from a family bank holiday in the North East. In this episode I talk about itching to start something new and how going to a yarn show doesn't do anything to reduce the inflammation! On and Off the Needles I have seamed the handspun listener Woolsack cushion (details on this Rav page ) I also finished the little squares for the front of the Make Do and Mend cushion by Anna Elliot. The back for this was made by the lovely Carotrike. One more left on the needles, based on Circle Socks by Anne Campbell. In The Weaving Shed The actual weaving in progress. Starting off: You can also see the yellow of the contrast clasped weft. Keeping track: Nearing the end... Something I really like The self catering accommodation at Dairy House, nr Cullompton, Devon. Details at www.dairyhouse.biz Upcoming Events British Wool Weekend, Sept 1st & 2nd, great Yorkshire Showground. Details at britishwool.net. Links Woolsack Electric Sheep podcast Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic xx

Hello from a family bank holiday in the North East. In this episode I talk about itching to start something new and how going to a yarn show doesn't do anything to reduce the inflammation! On and Off the Needles I have seamed the handspun listener Woolsack cushion (details on this Rav page ) I also finished the little squares for the front of the Make Do and Mend cushion by Anna Elliot. The back for this was made by the lovely Carotrike. One more left on the needles, based on Circle Socks by Anne Campbell. In The Weaving Shed The actual weaving in progress. Starting off: You can also see the yellow of the contrast clasped weft. Keeping track: Nearing the end... Something I really like The self catering accommodation at Dairy House, nr Cullompton, Devon. Details at www.dairyhouse.biz Upcoming Events British Wool Weekend, Sept 1st & 2nd, great Yorkshire Showground. Details at britishwool.net. Links Woolsack Electric Sheep podcast Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic xx

Hello from a very summery day here on the Plain. In this episode I consider the London 2012 legacy, drool over thoughts of indie dyers and warp a loom. On the Hooks and Needles I completed my Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio, although not before the Olympic flame was extinguished :( Ravelry details are here. I also finished off a few Woolsack cushions (although I'm not sure it gets a mention in this episode!). Details about the sheepy cushion here and the Guild cushions here. Recommendation The Shinybees podcast. Give Jo a listen, it's great! Warped Here are some photos from the warping session. Ready to go...   ...starting to warp... ...almost there...   ...sorting out some tension issues...   ...threading the warps through the eyes...   Finally! Something I Really Like Yarns from indie dyers such as BabyLongLegs, Easy Knits, Fyberspates, The Knitting Goddess, and The Natural Dye Studio which use common base yarns from... Upcoming Events ...Bluefaced.com, who are having an open weekend Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August just outside Chester. Details here. LinksWoolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a very summery day here on the Plain. In this episode I consider the London 2012 legacy, drool over thoughts of indie dyers and warp a loom. On the Hooks and Needles I completed my Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio, although not before the Olympic flame was extinguished :( Ravelry details are here. I also finished off a few Woolsack cushions (although I'm not sure it gets a mention in this episode!). Details about the sheepy cushion here and the Guild cushions here. Recommendation The Shinybees podcast. Give Jo a listen, it's great! Warped Here are some photos from the warping session. Ready to go...   ...starting to warp... ...almost there...   ...sorting out some tension issues...   ...threading the warps through the eyes...   Finally! Something I Really Like Yarns from indie dyers such as BabyLongLegs, Easy Knits, Fyberspates, The Knitting Goddess, and The Natural Dye Studio which use common base yarns from... Upcoming Events ...Bluefaced.com, who are having an open weekend Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August just outside Chester. Details here. Links Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a very summery day here on the Plain. In this episode I consider the London 2012 legacy, drool over thoughts of indie dyers and warp a loom. On the Hooks and Needles I completed my Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio, although not before the Olympic flame was extinguished :( Ravelry details are here. I also finished off a few Woolsack cushions (although I'm not sure it gets a mention in this episode!). Details about the sheepy cushion here and the Guild cushions here. Recommendation The Shinybees podcast. Give Jo a listen, it's great! Warped Here are some photos from the warping session. Ready to go...   ...starting to warp... ...almost there...   ...sorting out some tension issues...   ...threading the warps through the eyes...   Finally! Something I Really Like Yarns from indie dyers such as BabyLongLegs, Easy Knits, Fyberspates, The Knitting Goddess, and The Natural Dye Studio which use common base yarns from... Upcoming Events ...Bluefaced.com, who are having an open weekend Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th August just outside Chester. Details here. LinksWoolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a variety of Olympic venues and tourist sites in London. The Olympics have started!! In this episode I try to capture a flavour of what it's like to attend some of the events, plus I visit a couple of well-known places I've never been before... On the Hooks and Needles My Ravellenics projects are Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio and another Woolsack cushion in Sheepfold Clotted Cream. Details here and here . Links Nest Caithness Craft Collective A Playful Day Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a variety of Olympic venues and tourist sites in London. The Olympics have started!! In this episode I try to capture a flavour of what it's like to attend some of the events, plus I visit a couple of well-known places I've never been before... On the Hooks and Needles My Ravellenics projects are Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio and another Woolsack cushion in Sheepfold Clotted Cream. Details here and here . Links Nest Caithness Craft Collective A Playful Day Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a variety of Olympic venues and tourist sites in London. The Olympics have started!! In this episode I try to capture a flavour of what it's like to attend some of the events, plus I visit a couple of well-known places I've never been before... On the Hooks and Needles My Ravellenics projects are Millicent by The Natural Dye Studio and another Woolsack cushion in Sheepfold Clotted Cream. Details here and here . Links Nest Caithness Craft Collective A Playful Day Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 5 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic x

Hello from a rather noisy back garden in the North East of England! In this episode, I get over excited about all thinks Olympic. Forgive me. Finished Objects In reverse order, I finsihed the weaving and made the cusion from the fabric my class were weaving. Rav details here. I also assembled the green woven cushion that's been woven for over two months. Rav details here. And here are front (above)n and back(below) pictures of the cushion worked on during the Y6 residential that I mentioned last episode. Rav details here. Something I really like My brand new Olympic venue Top Trumps set! Links Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 4 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic

Hello from a rather noisy back garden in the North East of England! In this episode, I get over excited about all thinks Olympic. Forgive me. Finished Objects In reverse order, I finsihed the weaving and made the cusion from the fabric my class were weaving. Rav details here. I also assembled the green woven cushion that's been woven for over two months. Rav details here. And here are front (above)n and back(below) pictures of the cushion worked on during the Y6 residential that I mentioned last episode. Rav details here. Something I really like My brand new Olympic venue Top Trumps set! Links Woolsack Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map. Please go on over to pop in a pin - we're covering 4 continents now but I'd still love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic