PomKnits: a World Jewish Relief Project

PomKnits is a World Jewish Relief initiative to provide blankets to some of the most vulnerable people in the former Soviet Union. It’s an easy and fun way to get involved in the work of WJR and to help provide warmth to people in Eastern Europe where winter temperatures can reach as low as minus 30 degrees.

We ask our support to knit squares, 40 of which are then sewn together to become part of a beautiful patchwork blanket.

PomKnits has proved to be extremely popular and, to date, we have sent 730 Blankets made up of 29,200 squares to the people who need them the most.

But we are always looking for more knitters and would love for anyone to begin knitting squares on our behalf. You can knit in any wool, any color, and any design – we will be grateful for anything that will keep people warm!

Do join us and become part of a worthwhile and enjoyable project by helping in this satisfying, hands-on way. For more information or you have any questions please contact Clare on pomegranate@wjr.org.uk or 020 8736 1250.

Ravelry Pattern: Open Weave Shawl

 

Find the free pattern at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/open-weave-shawl-2

Merry Go Around: A photo that affects us someway.

Today we come together to share a photo that has affected us in some way.

This is mine;

D and I on the Dance Floor at Someone else's Wedding

I love this photo because we look so content and happy... It doesn't matter how much life throws at us we stand together and that means a lot to me.



'Ah but what did she say?'

 It also had something to do with what I whispered to D a few second before! Ah, but what did I say? Well part of that will remain a secret, something only D and I share... but for the main it was a moment of thanks, as we were celebrating no only D's 40th birthday at his brother's wedding (where D was best man), but it was also our 15th Anniversary of engagement... (we are taking it slowly LOL!)

It was a rare moment where we got to stand still... not too many of those precious moments these days, so thanks to the person who captured this for us.

What photo do you have that means the most to you?

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/
----------------

This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Laura at Blue Terracotta - http://blueterracotta.com/
Monika at Red2White - http://red2white.wordpress.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations - http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/
Kim at Vilt a la Kim - http://viltalakim.com/blog
Sara at Crafts of Texture - http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Samantha at Vintage is for lovers - http://www.vintageisforlovers.com/
Mariana at Florcita - http://florcita.eu/wordpress/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent - http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Jen at Painted Fish Studio - http://paintedfishstudio.com/
Mitsy at ArtMind - http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/
Bethany at Dirksen Dabbles - http://www.dirksendabbles.com/

Limited Edition Merino Blends in store!

I have several new shades in stock from the shows, under my Batts and Blends Shop, here at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Here are a few examples;

'Autumn Woodland'

'Nightfall'

Customer's Photos: Helena's Spindle Spinning

Helena of http://www.ravelry.com/people/Nylii shared with my ravelry group http://www.ravelry.com/groups/saras-texture-crafts some photos of her spinning. Here's what she tells us;
Thought I’d stick some photo’s here, I absolutely love the fiber I got from you Sara! I’m sorta (very) new to spinning, but this stuff is practically making itself pretty and I just have to sit and watch :D





It's fantastic to see new spinners using my fibre and hearing how they find the handle... Thank you very much Helena!
Sara x
www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

You Tube Tutorial: Starting Spindle Spinning Part 1

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Felt Making Tutorial: How to Make Olive Soap Solution

Olive soap is brilliant for felt making. I sell it in granule form and so wrote a tutorial for you at http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/how-to-make-olive-soap-liquid-from-soap-granules/

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Devon County Show 2011 - part 1

Just back and Ready for the sofa... All that walking makes me want to curl up like this Mohair goat!


A full post will follow as soon as I sort through my 130 photos (mostly sheep... What else!)

Have a fun weekend and I hope to see some of you tomorrow for the Yard Sale here at HQ.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Yard Sale at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com HQ!

This Sunday 10-1pm... all welcome!

I shall have a mix of fibres, fleece and yarns available.

iPod/Mobile Cover Project by Sara's Texture Crafts

Fun and simple to make, find the project at http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/sewing-tutorial-funky-ipod-or-mobile-cover/

This is also a great project for recycled fabrics and trimmings.

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Felt Making Tip: Curly Fleece

Check out the tips for wet felting and needle felt at: http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/2010/01/09/felting-tips-for-curly-fleece/

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Sara's Texture Crafts Ravelry Pattern shop

http://www.ravelry.com/designers/saras-texture-crafts

I will be adding patterns as I go along, so do pop in and queue your next knitting pattern!

Sara x

Hand Painted BFL in stock at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

I will be adding as many new shades as I can over the next month to my new range of BFL Hand Painted at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com, but the start is already in stock!

This is colour Ikat.

Romney Marsh/Kent Romney Fleeces

Romney is a lovely fibre to work with in felt making or spinning, so I have been hard at work finding a local Farmer to bring us the best of qualities. I'm very pleased to say that I have found that special farmer and have taken delivery of my freshly sheared Romney Marsh (Kent Romney) fleeces!

Please do take a look at them under my Kent Romney fibre shop page.
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Crediton Farmer's Market from June

 

Crediton Farmer's Market

Town Sqaure, first Saturday's of each month. June 4th - 10-1pm July 2nd - 10-1pm August 6th - 10-1pm September 3rd - 10-1pm October 1st - 10-1pm November 5th - 10-1pm December 3rd - 10-1pm Stock will be limited to a selection of my range, so if there is something in particular you wish to see or buy, please contact me ahead of time so that I can arrange them for you. It is also possible to pick up orders during these events, but please order these by email no later than 3 days in advance to give me chance to cut them. * These are cash only events.

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

iPod/Mobile Cover Tutorial

Fun and simple to make, find the project at http://sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com/2011/03/07/sewing-tutorial-funky-ipod-or-mobile-cover/

This is also a great project for recycled fabrics and trimmings.

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Customer photos: Quernus Crafts, Candyfloss Mice

Candyfloss Mice by Kirsten of www.quernuscrafts.co.uk

I'm very honoured that my Baby Pink Merino has been used as candyfloss for these miniture mice... how cute are they?!

Do check our Kirsten's website, as she has some really great product... I'm especially liking http://www.folksy.com/items/1711573-The-Beatles-Sergeant-Pepper-Cats-Sculpture !

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Customer Photos: Christine's Handspuns

1. merino brights, 2. merino scraps, 3. merino brights, 4. merino handspun

 

This is a collection of skeins of yarn made by Christine at http://www.folksy.com/shops/snowday

Christine has used one of my 'Fluff bags' of fibre in the Sale at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

I'd better get my skates on and make up some more bags!

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Creative Carding Packs at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Creative carding packs are geared towards those with a drum carder, who wish to start spinning, or felting with 'art batts'.

Find them here.

30g is just enough to make one well blended, wool-based batt. Each pack has a list of ingregients, just in case you need more from my Fibre shop.

If you have colours in mind then please type these into the options box below and I will try to match these as best as possible from my stock.

I will be making a tutorial for carding at some point so do keep an eye on the Learning Centre.

Find my current range of Art Batts for sale here.

Find Drum Carders for sale here.

Project Update: Sister's Christmas Fairy

Slowly leaving the ugly phase and starting to get features!


Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer Photos: Carolina's Handspuns

Carolina of http://www.etsy.com/shop/magickshop received one of my 'Fluff' Bags from the sale at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com. She uses fibre for spinning during her meditation sessions and used some of my fibres to create her yarns and crocheted items pictured. Aren't they fab?!

I'm certainly of the mind that spinning is a calming craft and so am really pleased to hear more about Carolina's meditation sessions and her work at http://magickshop.wordpress.com/ Do check it out for yourself!

This promts the question... how do you steal your moments to spin and how do you prep your environment to spin? Do you turn on a little music, or take to the garden, or some other quiet place?

Photo from post: http://magickshop.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/handspun/

Sara x

www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Hand Dyed Silk Ranges at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Back from the shows in April, May sees the arrival of my hand dyed silk ranges.

Mawata, Silk Cocoons and Rods

Tussah Silk

New Facebook Fibre Shop!

http://apps.facebook.com/bueglestores/sarastexturecrafts

Limited stock at the moment and payment by Paypal only... Please come and spread the word. Sx

Cooking, time out and trying to be frugal.

A second Bank Holiday weekend and what to do... We wanted to go out, but the truth was we were low on cash. Like everyone D and I have noticed prices go up and up over the last few months and so decided to take steps to save a bit of cash.

We checked on the veggies and they are growing nicely, so cooking up a store cupboard of stash was our next job.


D worked on a flan for deserts (2-3 meals) and some Foccacia bread (3 from one pack of ingredients and at less than a third of the price).


While I worked on some family sized Lasagnes (4-5 meals in that lot!) and


A tub of Hummus (about a weeks worth... I love hummus!)


All in all we saved about £10, just by making those bits ourselves. We also had some fun doing it... A nice way to spend time together.

We are planning our next cook-up day already.

What have you been cooking recently?

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Leicester Longwool Curls!

Leicester Longwool Pedigree Fleece - 100g

This fleece is a traditional washed fleece. This means that the sheep was dipped prior to shearing and as the pedigree animal is kept in the best of conditions the fleece is superb. It does still contain a fair amount of lanolin, which can easily be rinsed away if you prefer to do that before felt making, or spinning. However, most spinners prefer to spin this fibre while 'greased'

The shades vary from pale silver to shades of moorit brown, dark grey and tan. It really is stunning! Leicester Longwool is a heavy and lustrous fleece popular with spinners for its long staple length. It's also great for heavier crafts, such as weaving rugs, because it is hardwearing. Why not also try it in your felt making; it could make a wonderful textural addition!

Count: 40-60 Bradford/37-46 micron, Staple: 15 - 20cm

Find the fleece under my Fibre Shop at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com in the Leicester Longwool area.

New Schoppel Wolle Yarns at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

I have selected the Zauberball yarns for knitting socks. They are light, soft and full of colour!

 

Designed by Schoppel Wolle, this beautiful soft and airy single ply yarn feels like a hand spun lace weight yarn. The colours are chosen specifically to make the most wonderful self patterning stripe and every pair unique!.

Composition: 75% virgin Wool, 25% Nylon

Weight/Length: 100g/420m 1 ball makes 1 large pair of Men's socks. (Estimate 450g for Ladies medium jumper)

Needle size: 2-3mm or US 0-2

Tension: 10 x 10cm, or 4 x 4 inches: 30 stitches, 42 rows.

Care instructions: 40 degrees with mild detergent do not spin, tumble dry and do not iron.

 

New Colours include;

Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy 100g – AUTUMN WIND

 

Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy 100g – RIVER BED

 

You can find these in my Yarn shop at www.SarasTextureCrafts.comunder Schoppel Wolle - Zauberball

I have selected the Reggae Ombre yarns for felting, however do use them just as they are for a wonderful soft, chunky and airy feel.

 

Designed by Schoppel Wolle, this beautiful soft and airy, felted singles yarn is ideal for further felting if you want to. You could also use it in machine embroidery/embellishing, or just knit it as it is!

Composition: 100% virgin Merino

Weight/Length: 50g/100m or 109.3 yards

Needle size: 5-6mm or US 8-10

Tension: 10 x 10cm, or 4 x 4 inches: 18 stitches, 24 rows.

Care instructions: handwash only with mild detergent, do not spin and use the coolest iron settings. If you need to dry clean, use only a specialist service. If you wish to felt the yarn further, I recommend a 40-60 degree wash depending on your project.

(Swatched based on 60 stitch width and colour Parrot, other colours may produce different stripe variations.)

Here's a look at how it looks felted up...

New Colours include;

Schoppel Wolle Reggae Ombre 50g AQUA PLAIN

 

Schoppel Wolle Reggae Ombre 50g RIVER BED

 

You can find these in my Yarn shop at www.SarasTextureCrafts.comunder Schoppel Wolle - Reggae Ombre

Project Update: Sister's Christmas Fairy

She's not quite finished!


But I did manage a good start on her.


So far I'm using some wool stuffing and merino from my shop www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com