Oh dear!

Well time just seems to have run away from me lately, and it's months and months since my last post here.  Mind you it's been a while since I've had anything to really post about.  I've been busy with quite a bit of custom dying, and I've been busy on a few new patterns, but until now they've been a long way from being ready to be released.  Until now that is, my latest pattern is now live and ready to down load:

My T-bar baby shoes, a crochet pattern available in both US and British terms, is now on NZ Wools.  I've got a few more in the pipeline too, so watch this space........

New pattern out now!

My latest new knitting pattern has just been released after being tested by my wonderful testers (thank you!) I'm really pleased with it, and hope that you will be too.

You should be able to find it here.
As will all my paid for patterns, you can get it free if you buy your yarn from me, simply place and order for yarn, and I'll send you a code to download the pattern free of charge.
Look out for another new pattern in the next few days.....

It's been a while..

Well it's been a while since my last post, since Little babe made an appearence on 23rd of April, I haven't really had much time for posting on here. She turned out to be a little girl, and we've called her Lena Jo, she's a total sweetheart, and her big brother's love her.
Although things have been quiet for the last few months, on the NZ Wools front, I've been working on quite a bit of new stuff. I have a number of new patterns in the pipeline, that are at the testing stage now. (Let me know if you'd like to test a pattern) and a few new ideas that have yet to be created. I've also got a lot of new knitting and crochet accessories to add and there will be some new yarn added soon.

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?