Wool + 28 degrees = never mind

After loads of grey, wet weather, the sun finally burst on to the scene here in southeast England, bringing with it steamy temperatures and vast fields of newly exposed pale skin. The weather also made working with wool something of a trial, so my crafty energies have been redirected for the moment. After a trip to Dorney Lake in the sweltering sun, I decided that the girls needed new hats for the summer. Enter a bunch of cotton scraps and a lovely free hat pattern (link will download the pdf).

I managed to whip up a couple of these, including the cutting (which I hate with the firey passion of Mount Doom) in an evening. They were so quick and easy, that I've cut out pieces for three more, two for friends of the girls, and one for an impending baby addition to our circle.

Getting photos was a bit tough. First, the bad nighttime shots (I love that these are reversible, and that frog fabric gets me every time).

Then, the unwilling children shot.

And finally, a few candid shots.

Of course, having finished these, the past four days have been grey clouds interspersed with pouring rain. Just the thing for new sun hats and the half-term holiday!

Jubilee!

The bunting is hung, the flags are out, and everything (except the weather forecast!) is lined up for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebration this weekend. It's an amazing time to be in London, particularly as someone who grew up in the royal-obsessed States. I've come up with my own celebratory knit for the event:

Introducing the Jubilee Mitts, a quick-to-knit lacy fingerless glove, perfect for the "changeable" summer weather here in the UK (or anywhere else for that matter). The pattern includes three sizes (small [medium, large], approximately 6 [7, 8] inches in circumference, unstretched) and requires 160 yds/146 m of sport-weight yarn.

The pair above are worked in The Fiber Company Canopy Sport (now called Fingering), which is an absolutely divine alpaca/merino/bamboo blend. The lace pattern is an easily memorized 6 stitch/6 row repeat; thumb gussets are worked in stockinette. All hems are worked in garter stitch for a clean finish.

Many thanks to Knitosphere, WoolyTanis, knitsign and PixieEars in the Ravelry Free Pattern Testers group for their test knitting and excellent suggestions.

As a special offer, from now until midnight BST on 5th June, 2012, buy the Jubilee Mitts for only £0.60! After that, the pattern will be available for $5.00*.


* Because life is more interesting in multiple currencies...

Update now live!

Head on over to the shop for some gorgeous new stuff! Fibers include BFL, Corriedale, Dorset Horn, Falkland and Wensleydale. Happy spinning!

Here comes the sun

It has been an absolutely spectacular week here in southeast England, which has lifted the spirits of all concerned. Except for on the way home from school, when the girls moan about it being "Toooooo hoooooot Mummy!" The poor things, you'd think they'd never lived in Hell Houston.

Anyway, the improved weather has inspired me to do two things. One: to finish the knitting part of my Gemini tee...

Still needed: weaving in of many ends (damn stinkin' hemp yarn with lots of knots!) and a good wet blocking. Maybe tonight.

I've also gone on a total run and done a bunch of dyeing.

That's four out of six colorways drying in the glorious sunshine. The other two will be joining them in the next few hours, and I'm hoping to get an update posted on Sunday afternoon. As long as the weather and the photography gods smile on me!

I hope everyone has a glorious, sunshine filled weekend!

Sunny weather = dyeing mania!

What happens when it finally stops raining in London and the sun comes out? Massive piles of enthusiastic dyeing. In the past three days, I've dyed four colorways, and am gearing up for a shop update early next week. I'm aiming for Sunday late afternoon, giving everyone overseas a shot at the lower shipping rate for the new colorways, but it remains to be seen how the photo gods smile on me. Or don't, as the case may be...

The update will include six colorways (two of which are combined together in a mini-colorwork package), and five fibers: BFL, Falkland, Corriedale, Wensleydale and Dorset Horn. Inspirations include George R. R. Martin (again!), Monet, local British fauna, satellite photos of the Mississippi delta and the usual biological dyes. So check back on Sunday for new fibery goodies!