Crafts of Texture: August 2011

Wednesday, 31 August 2011

Customer Photos: Carolina's Rune Bag

Carolina used some of my wool to spin and make her wonderful rune bag. You can find carolina's shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/magickshop

Thank you for sharing Carolina!

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Customer Photos: Pauline's Batt spinning

www.sarastexturecrafts.com batt

I love it when customer's send me pictures... this is one from Pauline, who bought the above Zwartbles blend batt.

You can see she has captured the shine and beauty of the Zwartbles and retained the blended colour as a feature... I love it!

Thank you for sharing Pauline!

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Monday, 29 August 2011

Celebrate Wool Week with LoveWool UK

Anybody can be part of LoveWoolUK and they can do anything – felting, spinning, weaving, knitting, crocheting or crafting.

To join in, they simply have to do something with wool during Wool Week and the venue is anywhere! Living-room, coffee shop, beach hut, cliff top, schoolroom, library or why not put your pyjamas on and have a knit-over!

Signing up on-line at campaign for wool.org (online from mid-July) is free and entitles you to free knitting patterns from Rowan and Jamieson & Smith, the first 100 will receive a felting pack from British Wool too.

“We really want to give wool its wings and we hope that all those wool lovers will join in and make this something really great.” Bridgette Kelly at the British Wool Marketing Board said.

www.campaignforwool.org

www.facebook.com/lovewooluk

LoveWool UK is the exciting new promotion from the Campaign for Wool (CfW). It is a free-style event for the knitting and craft enthusiast and will happen all over the UK during this year’s Wool Week from 5th to 11th September.

The aim is to have a huge celebration of wool at a grass roots level and show the real people power behind this amazing wool promotion.

The CfW knows that many people want to show their support for HRH’s The Prince of Wales’ initiative to celebrate this fabulous natural fibre from our amazing sheep.

Saturday, 27 August 2011

New stock at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com

Ok... I have been listing away and here is this weeks update of new stock;

1 - Sewing and embellishing Shop. I have listed lots of new equipment pieces at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/644-equipment.aspx These include Fiskar scissors, rotary cutters and a really good 12-in-1 tool (pictured).

2 - Knitting and Crochet shop. I've listed some smaller sundries, such as stitch markers, row counters at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/632-equipment.aspx and some circular bamboo needles (pictured) at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/631-needles.aspx

3 - Feltmaking and Spinning shop. I have listed some more fleece at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/category/592-fleece.aspx which includes some Wensleydale (pictured) and Shetland.

I also started to list some new handdyed fibres like this Finger Roving in colour Bohemia at http://sarastexturecrafts.com/products/8560--merino-silk-finger-roving-hand-dyed.aspx

There will be lots more to see next week, so do come back when you can!

Sara x

www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Friday, 26 August 2011

Company of Weavers - Autumn Term Courses

I recommend this...

If I had the time I'd be there... Fantastic courses by a very good tutor.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Thursday, 25 August 2011

NCFE Fibre and Textile Courses at Bicton College

I saw some of the student's work at Fibrefest... Wow!

So I picked up a leaflet to pass on the info to you.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Devon Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers Exhibition

Do pop along if you can... They are a very talented group!

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Tuesday, 23 August 2011

Filling up with Hand Dyed Fibres

Taken at Www.sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com

Monday, 22 August 2011

Limited Edition Blends back in stock at www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Taken at www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Sunday, 21 August 2011

Fibrefest Day 2

Wow, what a lovely day! The sun came out and that brought lots of people to the show.

I finished my demo, a spindle spun yarn in Blackberry Bush. I enjoyed spinning this and talking to new spinners as I did so.

I just want to thank everyone who came today. It was lovely to meet you.

I can see I have lots of stock to prep over the next few weeks for the website ;)

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Saturday, 20 August 2011

Fibrefest Day One

I just had a few bits to tidy up this morning. So we went in early.

Good job really, as it gave me enough time to buy some fleece!

Then it really poured with rain, so much so I was surprised people made the effort to come... A resilient bunch, those fibre addicts!

By the afternoon all change and beautiful sun (and a hog roast bap with apple sauce), had us feeling a bit brighter.

We had a really lovely day, catching up with friends, customers and meeting new addicts... Thank you very much for coming to say 'Hi'.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Thursday, 18 August 2011

Spindle Demo for Fibrefest

Final prep day today, so I'm freeing up my spindle to make room for my demo at the show.

I'll be honest and say I've been suffering from a headache for the last couple of weeks (I'm so over it already!), so I'm not sure how much I'll get done... But I'm hoping to work with some of the new blends I had made up this year and some carded art batts.

If you get chance pop by and see me!

Sara x

Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Big Thank You to D!

See the full gallery on Posterous

He has been home helping me today. He has taken much more of an interest in carding and after selling the few batts he made for Fibre-East, he's been looking forward to making for the next show.

He managed half a box, which is a great help... So thanks D!

Sara xx

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Finishing My New Yarn Cowl For Fibrefest

I really want to get this cowl finished for Fibrefest at the weekend. I'm using it to show how one of my new yarns will knit up... And of course something to keep me warm this winter! I just need to get the buttons on...

Monday, 15 August 2011

My moment of Truth captured by Bev

The rather lovely Bev, a fellow student captured my 'cutting off the weave' moment yesterday... Very pleased with myself!

I'm hoping to start finishing the ends this evening and considering which way to wash the piece. Fortunately Louise Cottey (our tutor) has given us some really good handouts, so I'm feeling in safe hands.

Thanks for sending me the photo Bev!

Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Sunday, 14 August 2011

Weaving Day 4.

Today was a chance to try some new weave patterns and finish off our weaves.

I tried Herringbones, balanced and unbalanced twills. I just need to finish the piece and my sampler is complete.

My head is now full of pattern, colour and texture ideas... I just want to get a loom now! I think I'm going to get the Ashford 4-shaft table loom, possibly 60cm width.

I had a really lovely day and made sure to ask Louise Cottey (our expert tutor), if I could add her details under the community section of my website at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com ... I think it might be www.louisecottey.wordpress.com I shall add the details soon for you, as I know there were still 3 places left for the September term. I really do recommend Louise as a tutor, she is very patient, knowledgable and inspirational.

I really loved working with the small group of students too, everyone had a different approach to their weaving... Exactly the sort of mix you need for a good group... And I'm looking forward to seeing all of them next week at Fibrefest.

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Saturday, 13 August 2011

Weaving Day 3

See the full gallery on Posterous

Today I got to start weaving my weft threads. Louise Cottey (our tutor) walked us through basic tabby (plain) weave and simple structures using our warp design. Remembering which shafts to lift was hard... I think I relied on the 'talking to myself' method!

Later in the afternoon we started balanced twills, which I forgot to photograph. This was probably my favourite stitch patterning so far.

I also love finding that different warp designs would give us different effects with the same weft structure.

Everyone in the class has such lovely work, every one of us is quite different in our approach to colour and texture... This makes learning from each other just as inspirational as my individual journey.

Last day tomorrow :(

Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Friday, 12 August 2011

Weaving Day 2

See the full gallery on Posterous

Today was all about setting up the loom. We haven't quite finished, but it's coming together!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow as we'll get to start putting in our weft and actually weaving... Still my heads buzzing tonight, so I'll go put my feet up I think.

Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Thursday, 11 August 2011

Weaving class day 1

Wow, what a first day! My head is full of warp ideas and calculations... But such a wonderful day!

We worked on our warp design first, highlighting which yarns would be suitable for warp threads and which are best for weft.

I'd made a mistake here, but hadn't noticed and moved onto the warping mill.

A huge skeining frame really...

Which required looping the yarn in certain ways to then take to my table loom. I made a second mistake here.

Here's my loom... I'm just starting to warp-up. This is where I noticed my earlier mistakes... But actually, I don't think anyone would particularly notice this and it all works out in terms of warp balance and finished warp width.

I'm really looking forward to tomorrow!

Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com