Pattern testing

Well I've finally got myself into gear and started to look at my patterns, I've re-written one already, and renamed it too. So now I'm getting people to test it for me, especially as I've finally sorted out extra sizes. At the moment I'm working on a second pattern, the crochet wrap cardigan, which I've also re-named. If you would be interested in testing any of my patterns for me, please let me know, you can contact me via http://www.nzwools.co.uk

Other than that I'm busy working on things for little babe, I can't believe how fast time is flying by, but at least some of the important things, like the shawl aren't that far off being finished. It's looking really good too, I'm really pleased with the result so far:

Trying out some of our yarns.

I've got a 101 things (at least) to get done before baby number three arrives at the end of April, but I couldn't resist having a go at a knit along on Ravelry. I needed a new soaker for Mahe, and I wanted a chance to knit with one of our bulky yarns, so it seemed ideal.

The actual knitting only took a couple of days, and I was really pleased with the finished item, the yarn looks really good knitted up. I'm planning on doing Kai a jumper in the same yarn, because it looks so lovely and warm, if it doesn't all sell out before I get chance that is!

I love ewe; a woolly valentine

I meant to get M a card in town the other day, but of course, I didn't. So what's a girl to do, it's valentine's day tomorrow and the shops I can walk to are next to useless. I can knit one of course! So with a scrap of red wool, a bit of glue and some cocktail sticks, and what do you know I've got a lovely knitted valentine card. It's not really a pattern, but should you wish to knit a heart for yourself, you can find the pattern via the free patterns link on our site.

A new pattern

Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration actually, as yet there is no new pattern, just an idea... But I'm about to start working on a new pattern for a cardigan for little babe, and once it's done, I will of course be sharing it with you all.
I'm going for a straight forward v neck cardigan with raglan sleeves for this one, with a thin cable detail up each side of the front. All I can say for sure is that I know what colour I'm going for, being as I don't know what flavour little babe will be, I thought that I'd go for a nice neutral yellow colour, and so I'm using the Asana Yellow from the Forever Green Elan range. I'll up date you when I've actually started knitting some of it.

Why use 100% pure new wool?

There are many lovely acrylic yarns on the market today, and often they are cheaper and easier to wash than pure wool. So, why would anybody want to use 100% pure wool instead?

There are a number of advantages to wool, that acrylic, and other synthetic yarns just can't match.

Pure wool is a natural fibre and so it breaths, this has two advantages, it helps to keep you warmer in cold weather, and cooler in warmer weather.

Wool also wears better, and so lasts longer than acrylic yarns, it's less likely to pill and far more likely to keep it's shape than it's synthetic counterparts. Special baby items made from wool can be passed on, and used by many different babies, while still looking as good as new, while your own favourite cardigan or jumper will last longer, and look good for longer if made out of wool.

Wool is also a natural fibre, so it is less likely that people will have any allergy issues with it. Our Forever Green Élan Organic Merino in particular, is ideal as a baby yarn,being soft, natural and so is perfect next to a newborn babies sensitive skin.

This yarn will need hand washing, so if you are looking for something that is a little easier to care for, then the Merino Soft 4ply baby wool, which is machine washable, is an ideal yarn to consider. It is also very soft, and ideal for creating baby wear, or treating yourself to something special.

Many parents like to use cloth nappies for their children, as they do not like to have the chemicals found in disposable nappies next to their children's delicate skin. Wool makes a fantastic fibre to create a nappy cover or wrap from, due to it's ability to breathe, repel water, and yet absorb moisture at a microscopic level. The same fibre that can keep sheep warm and dry or cool and dry depending on the weather, is perfect for keeping your baby comfortable and dry. Our DK, aran and chunky weight wools are perfect for hand knit or crochet wraps, soakers, shorties and longies.

Being a natural fibre, it is far kinder to the environment to produce than synthetic counterparts. Combined with its other benefits, perhaps the questions should not by why use 100% pure wool, but why wouldn't you use 100% pure wool?

Dying to tell you more...

Well, I've now managed to actually knit something from the yarn that I dyed, and on the whole I'm quite pleased with the results. The self striping effect worked far better than I had hoped, and I think that these little socks have come out very well.


As ever, there are a few little things that I would change next time I have a go at this, mainly the blue colour. Although it came out nice and strongly as I had hoped, it wasn't quite the shade of blue that I was looking for. I don't know if I can create that shade using food colouring, but I'll have to have a play and see what happens.
My next plan is to try a more random, variegated colour scheme, I think a mixture of yellows and oranges, quite subtle tones this time, might be nice for a few baby items. I'll certainly give the self striping a go in the future though.