Here are some things I'm currently waiting to dry.
Don't forget the shop update on Friday... Lots of new blends, Gotland fleece and wool sampling packs.
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Dye Days at Last!
Sunday, 26 February 2012
Fleece Club Teaser... Gotland!
Yay... The Gotland fleece is here!
I had a wonderful morning on the Farm yesterday. We saw some Ruby Red Calves, the new sheep dog (a very well trained pup) and we met the mothers to be... The Gotland Ewes.
These beautiful ladies are fit to burst now with only a few weeks to go. They were shorn a couple of months ago, so that we fibre addicts could benefit from the best of their fleece before the lambs took the nutrients out of it... For which I thanked them personally!
So spoiler alert... I have set aside a beautiful fleece for Fleece Club (at www.sarastexturecrafts.com if you haven't yet signed up)! It has a real mix of pewter and silver across the staple and will make the most wonderful yarn or felt piece... I came away from the farm with a beautifully soft woven blanket for my bed :)
I will have plenty of fleece in the shop too, which will follow in this weeks update (2nd March) and I plan to dye some up for those of you who would like to try it (I sold out at Fibrefest last year in an hour, so keep your eyes open for it!)
Hope you are enjoying your weekend,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Friday, 24 February 2012
Needlefelting progress... Devon County Show Production
A fair bit left to do... But at least it's a start, right?!
Customer Photos: Margaret's Needlefelting
Today's feature is work from Margaret of Knockie Bears. This is her first attempt at needle felting... isn't he fab!
The kit I sold Maraget had a foam pad, needles, merino wool and basic instructions for figure work, which you can products to make up here. I wanted to encourage new crafts among my fellow fibre addicts and I think Margaret's Scotish fellow has turned out wonderfully!
Maragret is a craftslady I have known for a while on-line and her work is just fab... Check out her bears at https://www.facebook.com/KnockieBears. Perfect for any little one in your life!
Thank you for sharing Margaret!
Sara x
Thursday, 23 February 2012
I will be showing at the Devon County Show 2012!
17th-19th May 2012 - http://devoncountyshow.co.uk/
I extremely pleased to announce I will be showng at the Devon County Show this year, in the West Country Crafts Marquee.
Demo: Needlefelt gardens and Spindle spinning
Stock: yarns, fibre, kits and gifts! Cash or cheques payments.
If you need to pick up an order, please let me know 3 days in advance with full payment. This will ensure I have enough time to process.
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Earth Mother Picture!
This is Earth Mother soon to arrive at www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Spring Time and Earth Mother.
I'm so happy to be back to dyeing and am pleased to share with you my first pictures of the first dye batch... Earth Mother, which is a beautiful rich mix of green, moss and yellow, inspired by Spring. I've dyed up some silk, some Blue Faced Leicester and some sock yarn.
As soon as they are dry and I can take pictures, I will add them to the next available shop update at www.sarastexturecrafts.com
If you'd like to be notified when they are in the shop, please sign up for the newsletter on the website.
Have a great day!
Sara xx
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Monday, 20 February 2012
Free Video Tutorial: Drum Carding Basics - Part 2
This video is available on my How to Make site at www.sarastexturecrafts.wordpress.com and on YouTube at http://youtu.be/8FlF0qxH7l4
Part 2 of the basics behind using your Drum Carder. We look at basic carding and blending a multi colour batt (or Rolag).
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Crochet Slippers... my second crochet project ever!
I haven't been crocheting long... a matter of weeks, with a few stitches per day, so planning a second project was a bit scary without Mum on hand to help.
I went through my queue on Ravelry and found that I didn't have any crochet patterns at all, so restarted my search. The parameters were simple, it had to be easy and quick, so that I wouldn't get frustrated.
I came across a pattern by Erica Jackofsky, Simple Crochet Slippers, which reminded me of Espadrilles. After printing out the pattern I began to feel very lost... It wasn't that the pattern lacked direction, I just didn't understand how I was starting and what my stitch pattern/3-D form should look like... and that frightened me off. I think this is one for later, when I have had a bit of practise doing 3-D, rather than flatwork,
So I spent a few days ruminating about this... surely I could figure something out myself? So yesterday I started my own creation, using very basic rectangle constructions and a bit of sewing manipulation.
They didn't take me long and I'm able to wear them tonight... great, because it's a bit chilly! What d'ya think?
Now I have made one pair I know where I need to learn about shaping... and so with time I hope to perfect my own slipper pattern that I can use again and again.
Hope you all had a lovely weekend... back to work tomorrow for me... and hopefully weather permitting some dye tests!
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Craft Day Saturdays
D has got to an important point in his on-line game, so I take the excuse this time gives me to get crafting at the weekends. It's also a good excuse to stay home when at this time of the year money is lacking in the excess!
We walked to one of the local garden/farming/equine centres here in Crediton earlier, as I needed some small plant pots for the gifts and demo I'm creating for the Devon County Show in May... Anyway there they had a very cheap Willow log basket at £14.99. Which when I consider the time and cost of hand making something of this size (and the time I don't have right now, although I do plan to make more) and given the fact it's not the best made in the world item... It was very reasonably priced and did the job I had in mind.
First I used it to store my groceries in while I shopped at Morrisons, but now it holds my 'show production' fibre which is soon to become yarn. It's so much prettier and more sturdy than the mesh laundry baskets I use in the stock room to hold prepacked bags of fibre (like the fluff bags on the website).
So I've spent most of the day spinning and although I haven't really made a dent on the pile of fluff in my log basket, I do feel like I got something done. I shall leave the yarns on the skein winder until tomorrow, so that any over twist evens out and relaxes. Then I can start to set them and put them to dry with the yarns I made during the week.
Now I think I'll watch a bit more of the podcasts I've downloaded (The KnitGirlls, 90% Knitting, Dramatic Knits and A Cat and Her Yarn... All on iTunes) and pick up some crochet... I'm hoping to get some slippers turned out by the end of the weekend. Well that's the plan anyway... After all it's only the second project I've crocheted, so anything could happen!
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend?
Sara xx
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Friday, 17 February 2012
Shop Update 17th Feb 2012 - FLEECE CLUB!
Welcome to the next shop update! Today I have a number of different products for you, so pull up a chair and let’s go through them.
Featured Product: Fleece Club!
Fleece club is a 3 month delivery of fleece from this year’s clip.
The idea is that you will be introduced to varying breeds of sheep throughout the offer. These will be in small amounts that are easy to wash and process, giving you something new to play with in your spinning and felt making.
So how does it work and what do you get?
There is one easy payment at the checkout and this pays for the 3 deliveries. Each delivery will contain;
· Information about the fleece you have received and recommendations for washing, processing and spinning... if they differ from the basic instructions.
The first delivery will include basic washing and processing instructions.
Breeds may vary depending on what I can source from Farmers, but could include; Ryeland, Massam, Teeswater/Kerry Hill Cross, Wensleydaye, Teeswater, Manx Loagthan, Romney Marsh, Shetland, Leicester Longwool, Zwartbles, or Gotland.
Colours will vary too. So for example, if I give you a white Teeswater sample, then you may receive a black Wensleydale sample. This will vary your sampling, so that you can keep track of the fleece as you spin or felt it and also introduce you to the wonderful natural shades available.
Other products available in the update include - Weaving, Spinning and Sewing Accessories, including Looms;
· Ashford Katie Loom at £570.00 Katie loom
· Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom 3 widths starting at £120.00 Rigid heddle loom 4 widths
· Ashford Tapestry Loom in 2 sizes starting at £375.00 Ashford tapestry loom
· Texsolv Heddles in 2 lengths starting at £11.00 Texsolv heddles
· Reed hooks at £2.30 Reed hook
· Heddle Threading Hooks at £4.25 Threading heddle hook
· Joy Spinning Wheel threading hooks at £5.75 Joy threading hook
· Ashford Mini 108pt hand carders at £45.00 Mini hand carders 108 pt
· Ashford Classic drop spindle at £10.00 Classic drop spindle
· Olfa quilt ruler at £5.85 Olfa Quilt ruler
· Pony split ring stitch markers at £1.75 Split Ring Stitch Markers
· Pony large row counter at £1.20 Large Row Counter
Knitting Patterns;
Sara x
Next Update Due: 2nd March! This will include New Limited Edition Blends and wool samples.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
A Valentine Day-Trip
D took the day off today, saying it would be nice just to lounge around the house... 'I still have some work things to do', I said. So I dutifully checked my emails and packed my orders... Then I thought, 'I wonder if anyone would miss me... It is after all just one day.' And so off to the beach we went (just got back).
We had a wonderful day at Bude, just over the Cornish border. Yeah, it was a bit cold from the wind and the sky was full of cloud... But you know, sometimes it's just nice to cut loose for a day!
On the way back we saw lots of the newborn lambs had been put out in the fields. This is very exciting, as for some Farmers it's not too far off of shearing time... And for me that means lots of lovely new fleece! Bliss!!
Wishing you all a happy Valentines Day.
Sara xx
Monday, 13 February 2012
Basket Weaving Course Details
Remember the course I mentioned in my podcast (Dreaming in Fibre, Episode 8)? Well here's a flyer with some more details for you...
I totally recommend it!
Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
I totally recommend it!
Bye for now,
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Friday, 10 February 2012
Free Knit Pattern: Rainbow Moss Stitch Headband
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This is a simple pattern using my handdyed yarns.
Skill Level – Beginner
Yarn – Sara’s Texture Crafts
Aran weight, Shetland or BFL base. Hand dyed.
165m (180yrds) per 100g.
You can use a hand spun yarn; you are looking for an 8 WPI finished yarn.
Yarn and fibre from www.SarasTextureCrafts.com
Download the pattern here: Rainbow Moss Stitch Headband Pattern and cast it on on Ravelry at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-moss-stitch-heandband
Sara x
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Spinning day!
I'm working on a few different product ideas and playing with colour... Making it fun and varied makes for a happy sweat shop right?! Lol!!
Talking of spinning... Crediton spinning group meets this Friday 2-4pm at the local arts centre (£2.50 sub). I'm planning to go, so do come say 'Hi'.
Sara x
Www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Friday, 3 February 2012
SHOP UPDATE and Magazine offer!
Special Offer
Spend £30 or more and get a copy of Ashford's 'The Wheel': While stocks last I am offering this fab magazine from Ashfords. This edition includes lovely weave patterns, some felting and art yarn and some knitting ideas.
I am an Ashford agent. If you need any Ashford products not listed on the website, please email me for prices and delivery times.
Latest bi-monthly stock updates:
3rd Feb 2012 -
Final batch of current handspun and handdyed yarns are at Yarns by Brand: Sara's Texture Crafts. Including the 'Tourmaline' yarn from the picture above.
Final batch of free tutorials at Tutorials and Classes. This is an on-going project, so check out future updates too.
A Merino colour card is also available for purchase.
The 'shop by colour' category is now fully useable.
Ashford equipment and general wool stock is also now up to date from January's busy sales.
2012 prices for Ashford's and general wool stock are now running... some went down this year, others I managed to keep the same and others including some wheels went up. As always I have tried to work on the margin I take to make changes less painful, hence a price drop in some areas. I thank you for your continued support on this.
Sara x
Next Shop Update is on the 17th of Feb 2012 at www.sarastexturecrafts.com
Customer Photos: WonderWollens Headband
Karen from WonderWoollens on Etsy at http://www.etsy.com/shop/WonderWoollens, bought some of my BFL hand painted tops, in colour Sweet Pea.
She hand spun it and used it for colour fair isle knitting, which became a headband for her shop.
You can find the headband at http://www.etsy.com/listing/88265051/headband-earwarmer-fairisle-handspun?ref=pr_shop It has to be the perfect weather for this now right?!
Doesn't it look snugglly!
Thank you for sharing Karen!
Sara x
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Customer Photos: Helen's First Spindle Spinning
Some time ago Helen purchased a 100g bump of my Limited Edition colour 'Nightfall', which is a Merino blend at www.SarasTextureCrafts.com She set about learning to spindle spin with the fibre that day and came back to see me at several shows after to show me the progress.
Here is the fibre as it arrived from me...
Here is the fibre on the spindle... wow, super fine!
And here is the fibre spun up into a 2ply lace yarn and being knitted into a shawl.
Thank you so much Helen for sharing that, I have loved watching your project and spinning passion grow over the last year.
I love to see people's projects, so don't forget if you have made something with my fibre or yarn, contact me at info@SarasTextureCrafts.com for a chance to be featured!
Sara x
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