In today's episode I'm back to my fantasy knitting queue, with a subject that's very close to my heart. Shawls! They are such great travel projects, which makes them a great fit for the Summer Series. Any excuse to talk about shawls! We're right in the middle of The Shawl Society, so at the moment my mind is even more full of shawls than usual. When I'm so busy designing shawls I don't often get a chance to knit someone else's patterns, so I thought I'd take this opportunity to let my inner shawl fangirl out to play. I'm chatting about some of my favourite shawl designers and some of the patterns I love most. 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 Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Located on charming Walcot Street in the heart of Bath’s Artisan Quarter is A Yarn Story. Specialising in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres from around the world, A Yarn Story is a destination shop, both in-person and online! Major yarn and accessories brands include Hedgehog Fibres, Madelinetosh, Shibui Knits, ChiaoGoo and Cocoknits – and of course many more! Start creating your own yarn story… Show Links: Making Magazine Magic Cake Ruffle Shawl by Paula Emons-Feussel Cave Point Shawl by Paula Emons-Feussel Quince and Co yarn Pure Joy by Joji Locatelli Interpretations 3 Pom Pom Magazine Expressive by Jojo Locatelli Be Kind by Veera Välimäki Lakelet by Renée Callahan Rockhopper by Anna Maltz The Book of Haps Events: Curious Handmade Country House Retreat Oct 20 – 23 // Cumbria, UK There are still a couple of twin share places available for the Autumn Country House retreat. If you are interested in finding out more you can email me - helen@curioushandmade.com That's all for this week! Happy knitting, and I'll talk to you again soon! I'm a Creative Bug affiliate!

Welcome to the second episode of the Summer Series! Today we're chatting about the beautiful things that Mette loves to make for her country house, especially her recent tea towel project. Mette will be teaching a workshop on Natural Dyeing at our next Curious Handmade Country House Retreat. It's such a fascinating subject that I thought all of my listeners (and not just the lucky retreaters!) would love to learn more, so I invited her to tell us a little bit about her methods. 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 Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Located on charming Walcot Street in the heart of Bath’s Artisan Quarter is A Yarn Story. Specialising in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres from around the world, A Yarn Story is a destination shop, both in-person and online! Major yarn and accessories brands include Hedgehog Fibres, Madelinetosh, Shibui Knits, ChiaoGoo and Cocoknits – and of course many more! Start creating your own yarn story… Curious Handmade Country House Retreat Oct 20 – 23 // Cumbria, UK There are still a couple of twin share places available for the Autumn Country House retreat. If you are interested in finding out more you can email me - helen@curioushandmade.com Show Photos: The famous tea towel: Some detail from Mette's dyeing notebook: Privet:   Hibiscus:   Logwood: The magic Privet hedge: The collection of naturally dyed silk scarves. The flower petal fabric: Show Links: The natural dyeing books I mention in this episode are: A Heritage of Colour by Jenny Dean The Modern Natural Dyer by Kristine Vejar Kristine's website: A Verb for Keeping Warm If you won't manage to make it to the retreat or would like to get started with natural dyeing ahead of Mette's hands-on workshop, check out Kristine's great two part class at Creative Bug: Natural Dyeing Learn the basics of natural dyeing in this two-part course, enabling you to create fabrics and garments in your very own original hues. Kristine uses all natural dyes in her process, and she discusses how to create a variety of shades by using different dyes, fabrics and dye bath times. In the first part of this class, you will learn how to work with silk, a protein fiber, dyeing it a lovely purple shade with Logwood.  In the second part, you will learn how to work with cellulose fibers, dyeing a pair of cotton socks red using Madder extract. An ebook about natural dying that will appeal to everyone, but with special interest to vegans: Botanical Colour at Your Fingertips Rebecca Desnos That's all for this week of The Summer Series! Happy knitting!

This week I'm introducing the newest Shawl Society pattern and chatting about my stash and my "fantasy knitting queue." Show Sponsor: 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 Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Show Links: Happier Podcast Designing Your Summer Episode 67 Little Bobbins Podcast Dahlia Cardigan by Heather Zoppetti Blue Sky Alpaca Yarn Copper Corgi Juno Fibre Arts Yarn 50 Shades of Gradient The Shawl Society News: This week I released the 2nd secret pattern from The Shawl Society: the Amulet Shawl. Amulet was inspired by the mystical beauty of an ancient Egyptian carving of a powerful scarab beetle with wings outstretched to provide shelter and protection from harm. The elongated triangle shape of this shawl recalls the scarab’s wings, which are also echoed in the graphically striking rib section. The most important characteristic of any amulet is the power ascribed to it by its owner, and I have tried to infuse this design with some of that energy and intention. The sacred significance of handmade objects is something that every knitter knows. Made for yourself, it is an eloquent act of self-care. When knit for a loved one, it is a compelling symbol of comfort and love. The pattern has two sizes and can be knit with one colour or two. Optional beads add a bit of sparkle for special occasions! There is a mini KAL running for Amulet until and the prizes are amazing: 1. Seven Sisters Arts is giving one of her beautiful Gradient Sets to one of the winners! I'm obsessed with the Ravens Wing gradient. 2. Marce of the wonderful Brown Berry Chronicles podcast has generously donated a $30 gift certificate to the luxury eco skin-care company Lola Blue Living. The Shawl Society patterns are exclusive to members until the end of this session in November, but it's not too late to join! There's an overall KAL running until then too, with lots more prizes on the way. Joining The Shawl Society feels like stepping through a hidden doorway. You know you’re about to escape into something fresh, unexpected, and full of possibility.The Shawl Society is a pattern subscription club for anyone who adores the element of surprise. Membership entitles you to six amazing months of secret shawl patterns (one pattern will be released each month – June to November) to knit along with your fellow initiates. Participation in the Shawl Society also opens up a world of secret codes, exclusive discounts from boutique yarn producers, and members-only pop-up sales.The six designs in this mystery collection cover the entire shawl spectrum. You'll encounter different shapes, sizes, and techniques, and the difficulty level will range from relaxing patterns you can knit as you lounge at the lakeside all the way to challenging projects to ignite your sense of adventure. The shawls will be released one by one, and each will take you on a journey. All you have to do is follow the path as it unfolds, one step at a time. The Shawl Society - JOIN HERE

In today's episode I talk a bit about my recent sock craze. I also dive deep into my fantasy queue of socks I'd like to knit, exploring some lovely patterns and the delicious stash yarn I'm planning to use. Perfect holiday knitting for the kickoff of The Summer Series! 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 Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Located on charming Walcot Street in the heart of Bath’s Artisan Quarter is A Yarn Story. Specialising in hand-dyed yarns and luxury fibres from around the world, A Yarn Story is a destination shop, both in-person and online! Major yarn and accessories brands include Hedgehog Fibres, Madelinetosh, Shibui Knits, ChiaoGoo and Cocoknits – and of course many more! Start creating your own yarn story… Show Links: Monkey Socks Fish Lips Kiss Heel Knitting Expat Podcast Hiya Hiya Sharps Knit Pro Zings Seven Sister Arts Sock Blanks Cobble Stone Sock Pattern Beyond Vanilla Socks - Part 1 Mina Makes Lollipop Yarn - Downton Abbey Susan B Anderson How I Make My Socks Pattern Susan B Anderson Podcast Maria Elena Bliss Mrs Brown's Bags Yarn Ink Flower Shock Socks Pattern Grocery Girls Podcast Canada KAL This Creative Bug course I mentioned in the show is a great way to get started with socks. Here's the description Hudson Valley Winter Socks These top-down, worsted weight socks will keep your toes warm all winter. You’ll learn how to knit a short row heel and toe, as well as a ribbed cuff alongside Jill. Short row heels and toes are re-knittable if after years of wear if your favorite pair develops a hole. So if you have been curious about knitting your own pair of socks but never taken the plunge, this workshop is for you. That's all for now! Happy knitting until next week!

Today I'm talking about summer plans and trying to get organised for a big trip. Show Sponsor: 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 Northbound Knitting, Eden Cottage Yarn, the Fibre Co and many more. Show Links: Happier Podcast  Happier Episode 67 Talisman Shawl and the Talisman FO Thread (The Mini KAL due date is July 3rd!) The Wool Kitchen Northbound Knitting The Fibre Company Arranmore CH Country House Retreat After the wonderful time we had in Cumbria in March, we decided straight away that we wanted to go back and knit in the lovely Eden Valley again. And rather than wait until next year we thought we would have a retreat this autumn to celebrate the beginning of knitting season!  We also thought it would be nice to have a weekend retreat for people who couldn't manage during the week. And it was so beautiful in the spring that we thought we would do the same format just before Edinburgh Yarn Festival again next year as well!! The following dates are confirmed: Autumn Retreat 2016 Thursday 20 - Sunday 23 October 2016 Spring Retreat 2017 Monday 6 - Thursday 9 March 2017 Please email me at helen@curioushandmade.com if you are interested in joining us for the October retreat as registration is now open (the Spring retreat will open for registration later in the year). If you would like to be kept up to date with more information sign up to the Curious Handmade Events and Retreats mailing list here: Sign up for CH Events and Retreats updates: * indicates required Email Address * First Name * Last Name *