Sale
20 November – 3 December 2012
All yarn 20% discount
Shop Online – www.colourspun.com
Don't forget to visit my pattern stores on Craftsy, StitchedStuff on Etsy.com and Ravelry
Have fun! :)
Welcome to ColourSpun - the blog. Here you will find all sorts of stories about the many happy hours I spend creating and making both in my studio and while out and about - just generally indulging my passion for fibre and everything fibre related. Hope you enjoy visiting.
Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts
Thursday, November 15, 2012
ColourSpun Sale
Don't forget to visit my pattern stores on Craftsy, StitchedStuff on Etsy.com and Ravelry
Have fun! :)
Friday, March 25, 2011
A Knitting Adventure with South African Yarn
Leave all your cares behind and embark on a wonderful adventure across our beautiful, wild, diverse, colourful country, South Africa, to find 22 accomplished yarn makers who will tell you their tales and with their yarn, tempt you to explore different knitting techniques to turn the 40 projects in this book into infinite possibilities.
A book for both new knitters and old, who, each time they pick up their needles, venture forth on a journey – some long, some short but all filled with the creative spirit that makes each destination their own.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this book possible and to everyone who takes it along on their own knitting adventure.
With lots of love Dana
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Colour - with a capital C
The last few days seem to have gone by supersonically - my feet don't seem to have touched the ground, literaly! I had my bum glued to my chair for a solid 3 days catching up on admin so that I could submit my tax yesterday, which was of course the deadline. I really hate admin but I'm going to try to be better at it from now on .... no promises though :)
Yesterday all my new dyes arrived - WOW. I can't wait to use them. I thought I'd spend today immersed in colour, but realised that I wouldn't be able to wash the yarn till Monday and by then it will be rather stinky. I'll have to wait till next week to start playing. I've had a really busy day anyway, I'm proofreading my book and took a little break for a visit to the nursery. I bought some beautiful flowers which will be planted by Eric tomorrow. The garden is starting to look good again. It was hit really hard by early black frost last winter and has taken a long time to recover. Hopefully we will escape the frost this winter coming.
Tomorrow is knitting. I look so forward to meeting with the girls on a Wednesday morning. Heidi was round today and is working on the most amazing crochet project using the African Flower motif. I won't let her cat out of the bag except to say - it's 3D. I can't wait to see her progress tomorrow - she is soooo clever! I'm working on a cardigan in my new chunky cotton. It's a lovely lime green colour.
AAAND ........It's Hobby-X time of the year again in Jo'burg, at the Coca Cola Dome at Northgate to be precise. I'll be working on the Craftwise and Stitches stand from Thursday to Sunday. If you're in Jo'burg - come over and say hello. Hobby-X is one of my favourite exhibitions and I really enjoy the time I spend there. There is always so much to see and do, I love seeing what great craftwork others are doing and all the new supplies that each Hobby-X brings. This year we will be hosting In2crafts @ Hobby-X, a whole range of different craft workshops, each lasting 90 minutes and designed to give the delegates a taste of what that craft offers. I've been given some time off to attend 2 workshops - both mosaic, a craft I've never tried before. I'll be making a mosaic tapestry in the first one and a mosaic pendant in the second. I'm looking very forward to being taken out of my comfort zone.
See what else is on offer here and while you're looking, you may like to join the In2crafts community - it's free!
xxx
Yesterday all my new dyes arrived - WOW. I can't wait to use them. I thought I'd spend today immersed in colour, but realised that I wouldn't be able to wash the yarn till Monday and by then it will be rather stinky. I'll have to wait till next week to start playing. I've had a really busy day anyway, I'm proofreading my book and took a little break for a visit to the nursery. I bought some beautiful flowers which will be planted by Eric tomorrow. The garden is starting to look good again. It was hit really hard by early black frost last winter and has taken a long time to recover. Hopefully we will escape the frost this winter coming.
Tomorrow is knitting. I look so forward to meeting with the girls on a Wednesday morning. Heidi was round today and is working on the most amazing crochet project using the African Flower motif. I won't let her cat out of the bag except to say - it's 3D. I can't wait to see her progress tomorrow - she is soooo clever! I'm working on a cardigan in my new chunky cotton. It's a lovely lime green colour.
AAAND ........It's Hobby-X time of the year again in Jo'burg, at the Coca Cola Dome at Northgate to be precise. I'll be working on the Craftwise and Stitches stand from Thursday to Sunday. If you're in Jo'burg - come over and say hello. Hobby-X is one of my favourite exhibitions and I really enjoy the time I spend there. There is always so much to see and do, I love seeing what great craftwork others are doing and all the new supplies that each Hobby-X brings. This year we will be hosting In2crafts @ Hobby-X, a whole range of different craft workshops, each lasting 90 minutes and designed to give the delegates a taste of what that craft offers. I've been given some time off to attend 2 workshops - both mosaic, a craft I've never tried before. I'll be making a mosaic tapestry in the first one and a mosaic pendant in the second. I'm looking very forward to being taken out of my comfort zone.
See what else is on offer here and while you're looking, you may like to join the In2crafts community - it's free!
xxx
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
....back from the Sea
My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea,
and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Quotes
10 days flew by and I'm home again from a lovely holiday with good friends in Plettenberg Bay. We spent some time in the Tsitsikamma forest and Nature Reserve.
There is an amazing tree in the Plaatbos Nature reserve that is a magical part of this enchanted forest, tall and strong with a kindly face it silently watches all who pass.
and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Quotes
10 days flew by and I'm home again from a lovely holiday with good friends in Plettenberg Bay. We spent some time in the Tsitsikamma forest and Nature Reserve.
There is an amazing tree in the Plaatbos Nature reserve that is a magical part of this enchanted forest, tall and strong with a kindly face it silently watches all who pass.
There are Rain Spiders who spin leaves into their huge webs that hang from the branches, the spider clinging to the underside protectively waiting for the young to hatch
...and how beautiful is the ocean at the Storms River mouth, it inspired the colours for the ColourSpun Cotton Club
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Yarn Clubs
At the dyeing workshop we had last week, the ladies attending convinced me to start yarn clubs. I have decided to start with 3 different ones.
The ColourSpun Mohair Club
This club will offer 150 -200g of different types and weights of mohair - fine, DK, brushed, loopy etc. (not necessarily all at the same time) and will always include an extra special yarn. All will be hand dyed in colours inspired by nature.
The ColourSpun Cotton Club
This club will offer 150 - 200g of different weights of 100% cotton yarn, from fine to chunky.(not necessarily at the same time) It will also always include an extra special yarn. All will be hand dyed in colours inspired by nature.
The ColourSpun Bits & Bobs Club
Suitable for freeform and modular knitting projects, this club will offer 150 - 200g of a lucky dip mixture of different ColourSpun Natural Designer Yarn, including Merino wool, mohair, cotton and art yarns. All will be hand dyed and some may be hand spun.
Each club will deliver 4 times a year and is limited to 20 spots and then a waiting list will be set up.
The cost of the club yarn will be discounted by 20% off the normal retail price.
The details of the each club will be posted on the ColourSpun Group on Ravelry . The first offering will be the ColourSpun Mohair Club at the beginning of February, followed by the ColourSpun Cotton Club at the end of February and the ColourSpun Bits & Bobs Club at the beginning of March.
Hope you'll join in the fun
The ColourSpun Mohair Club
This club will offer 150 -200g of different types and weights of mohair - fine, DK, brushed, loopy etc. (not necessarily all at the same time) and will always include an extra special yarn. All will be hand dyed in colours inspired by nature.
The ColourSpun Cotton Club
This club will offer 150 - 200g of different weights of 100% cotton yarn, from fine to chunky.(not necessarily at the same time) It will also always include an extra special yarn. All will be hand dyed in colours inspired by nature.
The ColourSpun Bits & Bobs Club
Suitable for freeform and modular knitting projects, this club will offer 150 - 200g of a lucky dip mixture of different ColourSpun Natural Designer Yarn, including Merino wool, mohair, cotton and art yarns. All will be hand dyed and some may be hand spun.
Each club will deliver 4 times a year and is limited to 20 spots and then a waiting list will be set up.
The cost of the club yarn will be discounted by 20% off the normal retail price.
The details of the each club will be posted on the ColourSpun Group on Ravelry . The first offering will be the ColourSpun Mohair Club at the beginning of February, followed by the ColourSpun Cotton Club at the end of February and the ColourSpun Bits & Bobs Club at the beginning of March.
Hope you'll join in the fun
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Rosy Cotton Top
I have been trying for days to post here and the block where I need to write my post just wouldn't open. I finally realised that it was opening on "Edit HTML" and not on "Compose"?! Anyway here I am again.
We have finally settled on the name for my book, which should be on the shelves in May, it is - "A Knitting Aventure - with South African Yarn" and the Afrikaans one will be " 'n Brei Advontuur - met Suid Afrikaanse Wol". The original title was unfortunately too long :( I will be getting the 2nd draft from the layout artist today or tomorrow and am looking very forward to seeing it with all the changes done. As soon as the cover is finalised I'll post it here.
In the meantime, I have a lovely pattern for a cool summer top to share with you. It can also be knitted in wool for a warmer winter version.
for a downloadable pdf - visit my Craftsy pattern store here
The instructions given are for bust size 96 – 102 cm (38 – 40”) but if you want your garment bigger or smaller, alter the number of stitches and rows to obtain your required size. Remember that this top is meant to fit loosely.
Materials Required
300g ColourSpun 100% cotton DK in main colour available from ColourSpun Natural Designer Yarn
Other cotton yarn or ribbon for embellishment
4.5mm knitting needles
4.5mm crochet hook
Abbreviations
c/on = cast on
c/off = cast off
ch = chain stitch
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 together
Sc = single crochet
St/s = stitch/es
Stst = stocking stitch
Yo = yarn over needle (each yo counts as 1 stitch)
On knit rows bring yarn to front of work and then over needle to knit next stitch
Tension
16 stitches and 22 rows = 10cm over stst
Instructions
Sides and Sleeves – work 2 identical pieces
Pattern – (over 10 rows) starting with a k row work 9 rows stst, k 10th row. Repeat.
C/on 155 sts and work 45 rows in pattern as set above
Next row: c/off 29; p 97; c/off 29. End and break off yarn.
Rejoin yarn to sts left on needle and continue in pattern as set; work 34 rows
Next row: c/off.
Back
C/on 36 sts and work 5 rows stst.
Next row : k5 (yo; k2tog; k4)x5; k1
Next 5 rows: stst
Repeat last 6 rows 16 more times
C/off.
Front
C/on 36 sts and work 5 rows stst.
Next row : k5 (yo; k2tog; k4)x5; k1
Next 5 rows: stst
Repeat last 6 rows 12 more times
C/off.
Assembly
Stitch back and front pieces to side pieces (see photos for reference).
Fold garment in half along shoulder line and complete sleeve and side seams.
Edging
Work edging around neck, sleeves and bottom.
Using either main or contrasting colour, work 2 rounds of sc around edge
Next round – [2sc; (1sc,2ch,1sc)into next st] to end.
Remember to decrease in each neck corner by skipping 1 or 2 sts on rounds 2 and 3 to keep your work flat.
Finish your garment by lacing contrasting yarn or ribbon through the holes in the back and front and winding the ends into a rose. Stitch to hold in place.
Enjoy!
We have finally settled on the name for my book, which should be on the shelves in May, it is - "A Knitting Aventure - with South African Yarn" and the Afrikaans one will be " 'n Brei Advontuur - met Suid Afrikaanse Wol". The original title was unfortunately too long :( I will be getting the 2nd draft from the layout artist today or tomorrow and am looking very forward to seeing it with all the changes done. As soon as the cover is finalised I'll post it here.
In the meantime, I have a lovely pattern for a cool summer top to share with you. It can also be knitted in wool for a warmer winter version.
for a downloadable pdf - visit my Craftsy pattern store here
Cotton Top
The instructions given are for bust size 96 – 102 cm (38 – 40”) but if you want your garment bigger or smaller, alter the number of stitches and rows to obtain your required size. Remember that this top is meant to fit loosely.
Materials Required
300g ColourSpun 100% cotton DK in main colour available from ColourSpun Natural Designer Yarn
Other cotton yarn or ribbon for embellishment
4.5mm knitting needles
4.5mm crochet hook
Abbreviations
c/on = cast on
c/off = cast off
ch = chain stitch
K = knit
K2tog = knit 2 together
Sc = single crochet
St/s = stitch/es
Stst = stocking stitch
Yo = yarn over needle (each yo counts as 1 stitch)
On knit rows bring yarn to front of work and then over needle to knit next stitch
Tension
16 stitches and 22 rows = 10cm over stst
Instructions
Sides and Sleeves – work 2 identical pieces
Pattern – (over 10 rows) starting with a k row work 9 rows stst, k 10th row. Repeat.
C/on 155 sts and work 45 rows in pattern as set above
Next row: c/off 29; p 97; c/off 29. End and break off yarn.
Rejoin yarn to sts left on needle and continue in pattern as set; work 34 rows
Next row: c/off.
Back
C/on 36 sts and work 5 rows stst.
Next row : k5 (yo; k2tog; k4)x5; k1
Next 5 rows: stst
Repeat last 6 rows 16 more times
C/off.
Front
C/on 36 sts and work 5 rows stst.
Next row : k5 (yo; k2tog; k4)x5; k1
Next 5 rows: stst
Repeat last 6 rows 12 more times
C/off.
Assembly
Stitch back and front pieces to side pieces (see photos for reference).
Fold garment in half along shoulder line and complete sleeve and side seams.
Edging
Work edging around neck, sleeves and bottom.
Using either main or contrasting colour, work 2 rounds of sc around edge
Next round – [2sc; (1sc,2ch,1sc)into next st] to end.
Remember to decrease in each neck corner by skipping 1 or 2 sts on rounds 2 and 3 to keep your work flat.
Finish your garment by lacing contrasting yarn or ribbon through the holes in the back and front and winding the ends into a rose. Stitch to hold in place.
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)