Update

Hello all,

Well, we are coming up to that time of year again.  Dare I mention the “C” word!  We at the Wool Shed are all well into our Christmas knitting but we can’t say too much in case any recipients read this!

Our formal workshop programme has finished for the year and we are now planning for 2010.  We have been extremely pleased with the feedback from our workshops with the highlight undoubtedly being Liz Lovick’s Shetland and Fair Isle weekend.  We are hoping for a second bite of the cherry next year.

In the meantime we are running small group ad hoc workshops in spinning, knitting and crochet which are are also being well received. Suggestions for future workshops are always welcome.

Why not take a look at our featured yarn section on the shop website.  You get background information on the yarn and manufacturer as well as 10% off for shoppping online. The featured yarn changes each month and sells out quite quickly so make a date in your calender so you don’t miss out!

So goodbye for now.  Keep warm and dry!

Barbara & Anne

 

 

Workshops at the Wool Shed

A big workshop weekend at the Wool Shed – Fair Isle yesterday and Shetland lace today ; both with Liz Lovick. Look at her blog (http://northernlace.wordpress.com/) for a report on the Fair Isle day.

Fairly busy!

The Wool Shed goes to Portsoy Festival

Knit2gether – the knitting circle from the Wool Shed had a stand in the Living Traditions marquee at Portsoy Boat Festival on Sunday.  Penny Lockwood, Gill Marshall and Anne Mansfield represented the shop with examples of their own completed projects including garments and knitted flowers and vegetables.

Penny manning (womaning?) the stand.

A fantastic time was had by all.  Our neighbours in the marquee, the Portsoy Knitters for Charity, made us most welcome.  One of their number was a spinner who demonstrated during the day as did weavers and other yarn crafters. 

 

We were extremely lucky to be there on the day Norman Kennedy, master weaver was present.  He gave a demonstration of “Tweed Waulking”, an ancient tradition from the Western Isles.  A dampened and soapy bolt of woven tweed cloth is tied into a long loop and placed along a table.  People then bang the cloth on the table and rotate it to give it a light felting.  This has the effect of slightly shrinking the cloth and helping to make it weatherproof.  Traditional waulking songs are sung to keep the rythmn and help the workers along.  Norman Kennedy led the singing (in Gaelic) and regailed the crowd with humerous tales.

Gill (in white sleeveless top) waulking the tweed.

 

Hazel Tindall, officially the fastest knitter in the world was also demonstrating.  A wonderfully modest and unassuming lady, she took time out to talk to Penny about her knitting.

Penny talking with Hazell Tindall

 

Our offer of knitting tuition was also taken up with Penny teaching the basics as she does in informal workshops at the Woolshed.  The next one is Saturday 18th July.

 

Tired but happy, the crew left about 4pm having had time to explore and look around the festival.  We certainly enjoyed ourselves and will go again.  The crafting community is certainly full of kind and interesting people willing to pass on their craft and share the pleasure of creation with anyone who shows an interest.

Spinning

 

Weaving

Gill having a go at giant knitting!

Featured Yarn July 2009 – Manos Del Uruguay Wool Clasica

Can you believe it is July already?  Kids on holiday, sunshine and warm(er) temperatures and the long, lazy evenings.   Not exactly the time of year when knitting comes to mind, I have to say.

However, I have just ordered the yarn to knit my first Christmas present of the year.  I know, I know, the “C” word should be forbidden until at least November but us knitters have to plan ahead.  I refuse to be knitting into the wee hours on Christmas Eve in a mad dash to get those socks for Auntie finished.  Sound familiar?

Wool Clasica is a beautiful soft 100% wool yarn from Manos Del Uruguay from South America.  Click here to find out more and claim your 10% off for July.

Manos Del Uruguay Wool Clasica

Chocks Away!

This is the Red Baaron, Barbara’ entry in the knitted sheep auction at Woolfest (posing in the “ready for takeoff” position). This is now a popular part of the Woolfest programme, taking place in the main auction ring and conducted as a normal sheep sale would be with judging beforehand and the sale conducted by the head auctioneer. The proceeds go to Farm Africa, a charity dedicated to helping agricultural developement in Africa.
Red was unplaced by the judges but the bidding audience placed him first by quite a long way in that he made the top price of £58 – well above any of the 40 or so other entries.
The sale raised more than £1000 for the charity.

The Red BaaRon

Featured Yarn July 2009

Today is the last day to take advantage of our 10% off offer for the Featured Yarn for June 2009 – Araucania Ruca, the sugar cane yarn from Chile.

Tomorrow the featured yarn for July comes from South America and is made from a much more common fibre.

Grounded!

We visited the Flying Flock recently (click on “Whats in a name” for an explanation!) at the farm where they are lambing. This is keeping them busy for the moment; then they have to be sheared; and only then will they be off on their travels again.

The Flying Flock at home

Sprungwatch

Our oystercatcher has now flown the nest leaving only a few bits of eggshell. This happened overnight which might make you think that something dreadful must have happened – and there was a cat keeping a beady eye on progress! However oystercatchers are precocial (isn’t Wikipedia wonderful!)which means the young are mobile almost straightaway after hatching. This is a good thing given where they choose to nest and probably means that our birds made it to a place of safety.
It’s best to think that anyway.

Another landing at the Wool Shed

Not the best of photos perhaps, but this in an Oyster Catcher which has parked itself behind the shop and is now sitting on eggs.We will keep you posted on progress – it’s not the safest of places but then Oyster Catchers seem to like living dangerously!

Oyster Catcher on eggs

Featured Yarn – Coming Soon

The Woolshed is pleased to announce the arrival of  our “Featured Yarn” slot .  The aim is to highlight a particular yarn which we feel has that something extra. 

We may select the yarn for several reasons such as seasonality,  innovative colours or construction method, an interesting background to the manufacturer, extra special pattern support, or simply because we love it!  We will give detailed information about the yarn with suggestions on how to make the most of its features.  We will also offer a 10% discount for the month it is featured so that you can give it a try without troubling your conscience!

The yarn we have selected for June is a natural n0n-animal fibre from a yarn company with an interesting ethos.  Anyone care to make a guess?