This week I'm continuing the discussion of yarn, glorious yarn, talking about what I'm working on in What's in the WIP and announcing a new knit along. Show Sponsors   Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more.   This episode is sponsored by The Fibre Company and their newest yarn, Cumbria. Inspired by England's stunning northwest region with its deep blue lakes and sheep-grazed fells and valleys, Cumbria is a lustrous blend of brown wool from the rare breed masham sheep, fine South American wool and mohair from South Africa. The resulting light brown-grey shade is then over-dyed creating lovely deep saturated colours. Cumbria is a staple yarn, perfect for garments and accessories alike. What's in the WIP? I finished and blocked my Pebble Beach Shawl that I cast on at Unwind Brighton last year in Skein Australia yarn in Cashmere Fingering in the Sea Salt colour. I've also been knitting my magic cake of yarn using Paula's instructions and for a Magic Cake Ruffle Shawl - it's completely addictive! Pebble Beach Shawl - Two More Sizes My Pebble Beach Shawl pattern will soon be re-released with two more sizes. I'm aiming for release date of 5 May 2015. If you already have the pattern in your library you will automatically receive an update with the new sizes. I'm currently testing and finalizing photos and pattern. The new sizes are knit in yarn by The Uncommon Thread. Knitting Pipeline Pebble Beach KAL Paula at Knitting Pipeline is hosting a KAL of my designs to celebrate the relaunch of Pebble Beach. Yarn, Glorious Yarn!  This week I am talking about Shetland Yarn. Clara Yarn Shetland 1.0 Jamieson's of Shetland Jamieson and Smith - See their blog for a wealth of interesting information KnitBritish Hap Along hosted by Louise Meet My Yarn KAL Challenge you to introduce your favourite yarn to the group here by creating a swatch in April It could be for a specific project or it could be for the joy of taking some yarn for a walk! Tell us about the yarn, the qualities – if it is a specific breed, any special story about the yarn and what you discover about it from your swatching. My hope is that it will encourage reluctant swatchers to give it a try and for enthusiastic swatchers to show off their work! This week in the KAL AlpakkaAnna shared an interesting story about her swatch using special Swedish yarn. She also mentioned Louvre by Hinterm Stein – an Austrian designer.   I’m really excited to share that the KAL will be sponsored by The Fibre Company and their new Cumbria yarn. Here is some more information about it: "Inspired by England's stunning northwest region with its deep blue lakes and sheep-grazed fells and valleys, Cumbria is a lustrous blend of brown wool from the  masham sheep, fine South American wool and mohair from South Africa. The resulting light brown-grey shade is then over-dyed creating lovely deep saturated colours. Cumbria is a staple yarn, perfect for garments and accessories alike." "I began the product development process for Cumbria during the time that I was organizing my move to the UK. I was drawn towards including fibre from an English sheep breed in the blend. There were many to research and consider, but eventually I was attracted to and settled on the beautiful brown wool from the Masham sheep, which is a crossbreed between a Teeswater ram and either a Swaledale or Dalesbred ewe.  The Teeswater is on the "vulnerable" list of rare breed sheep that is published and watched by the Rare Breed Survival Trust." While this yarn won’t be available to the public until later this summer around August – knit along parti...

This week I'm talking about the Knitting Pipeline Georgia retreat, latest projects including the Magic Cake Ruffle Shawl and some interesting yarn. Show Sponsors   Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more.   This episode is sponsored by The Fibre Company and their newest yarn, Cumbria. Inspired by England's stunning northwest region with its deep blue lakes and sheep-grazed fells and valleys, Cumbria is a lustrous blend of brown wool from the rare breed masham sheep, fine South American wool and mohair from South Africa. The resulting light brown-grey shade is then over-dyed creating lovely deep saturated colours. Cumbria is a staple yarn, perfect for garments and accessories alike. Knitting Pipeline Georgia Retreat I'm just back from Paula's Knitting Pipeline Georgia retreat and I had a wonderful time. What's in the WIP? I finished the knitting of my Pebble Beach Shawl that I cast on at Unwind Brighton last year in Skein Australia yarn in Cashmere Fingering in the Sea Salt colour. I also created a magic cake of yarn using Paula's instructions and cast on for a Magic Cake Ruffle Shawl I have it in my gorgeous brand new Maria Elena Bliss project bag Yarn Glorious Yarn The Field Guide to Fleece Istex Léttlopi available at Meadow Yarn Hole & Sons Poll Dorset Ana's tips from Portugal (Malhadeira on Ravelry)  1. Rosários4 and the "Economia Verde" (Green Economy) show that Ana worked on is here in Portugese (just 3 mins - interesting even if you can't understand the Portugese :-)) 2. "Portuguese Yarn Club" Includes yarn by Paula from Dyed By Alfinete 3. O Oficio and Saber Fazer Manta yarn and Ana's swatch for the Meet my Yarn KAL Don't forget to post a swatch in the Meet My Yarn KAL! Its a very doable KAL and you could win an exclusive skein of The Fibre Company Cumbria yarn that hasn't even hit the shops yet!  

  Today I giving an introduction to the theme of the podcast this month which is yarn (glorious yarn glorious yarn)! Show Sponsors   Meadow Yarn is an inviting online retailer selling yarn, needles and notions. It's a small, family business based in rural Suffolk in the UK. Meadow Yarn was born out of a passion for beautiful yarn and knitting accessories and aims to bring you a range of great products. Yarns stocked include madelinetosh, Eden Cottage Yarn, Hazel Knits and many more.   This episode is sponsored by The Fibre Company and their newest yarn, Cumbria. Inspired by England's stunning northwest region with its deep blue lakes and sheep-grazed fells and valleys, Cumbria is a lustrous blend of brown wool from the rare breed masham sheep, fine South American wool and mohair from South Africa. The resulting light brown-grey shade is then over-dyed creating lovely deep saturated colours. Cumbria is a staple yarn, perfect for garments and accessories alike. What's in the WIP? Currently working on updating my Pebble Beach Shawl pattern to include two more sizes - medium and large. I'm creating samples in The Uncommon Thread Merino Lace and Heavenly Lace. I'm still working onn Reyka by Cirilia Rose from Magpies, Homebodies, and Nomads: A Modern Knitter’s Guide to Discovering and Exploring Style with my Lopi from Meadow Yarn. Yarn Glorious Yarn Fibre is where it all starts  Some good resources People – Clara Parkes of Knitters Review and Deborah Robson Craftsy - Clara Parkes has 2 craftsy classes: Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time, with Clara Parkes Stashbusting: Make the Most of the Yarns You Have (with Clara Parkes) Books - The Knitter's Book of Wool: The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Using, and Loving this Most Fabulous Fiber The Knitter's Book of Yarn: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Using, and Enjoying Yarn The Field Guide to Fleece: 100 Sheep Breeds & How to Use Their Fibers Clara’s Craftsy Class – Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time, with Clara Parkes  The class includes 7 lessons – each about 20mins – about 2.5 hours in total. It's very interesting and easy to listen to, I found it funny and encouraging. Topics include: Fibre terms - Different qualities – microns, crimp, staple length; Different types of fibres – protein plant bugs Twist – creating yarn - How it is prepared and spun – worsted vs woolen, plys Swatching It’s a really comprehensive introduction and overview to fibre and I would really recommend it Podcasts Knit FM – Hanna Fetig and Pam Allen – Ep 14 Breed Specific Wool Pomcast Lydia and Sophie – Ep 11 – Clara Parkes Interview at EYF Fibre Trek TV – Sarah (Swenstea on Ravelry) – Episode 29 “soulful stash”, lots of discussion and information about finding interesting fibre and farm yarn on her Ravelry group. Woolful – Ashley - farmers and yarn producers Spinning Knitgirrrls Fluffy Fibres Knitmore Girls  How to find out more about interesting fibre: Read and listent to some of the resources above Google specific breeds Go to fibre events – and talk to people Keep up a general awareness – instagram/social media Swatching Meet My Yarn KAL Challenge you to introduce your favourite yarn to the group by creating a swatch in April It could be for a specific project or it could be for the joy of taking some yarn for a walk! Tell us about the yarn, the qualities – if it is a specific breed, any special story about the yarn and what you discover about it from your swatching. My hope is that it will encourage reluctant swatchers to give it a try and for enthusiastic swatchers to show off their work! I’m really excited to share that the KAL will be sponsored by The Fibre Company and their new Cumbria yarn. You might have heard my interview with Daphne Marinopolous – the founder of the Fibre Company on podcast episode 66.