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........

More wool!

I've been so busy since Christmas, adding new things to the store, we've now got an even bigger range of hand dyed yarn and I'll soon be adding a few new accessories, including buttons. I love these ladybird buttons that we're about to start stocking.

I'm trying to get everything ready for two promotions that we're involved in over the next few months. First of all is the Cloth Nappy Hunt which we will be sponsoring for the first time this year, there are some great prizes on offer, and registration is now open. Then in April we're going to be taking part in the Spring Mama Spectacular on the Mama Packs forum. We're going to be offering a few new things on our stall, and there'll also be some great items for sale from other work at home mothers, so it's worth checking it out.
In the meantime, pop by NZ Wools, and have a look at the great range of yarns and knitting accessories we have available, if you're after a certain colour or weight of wool, then please ask and I'll see what I can do.

I love ewe 2; another last minute valentine free heart crochet pattern

Crochet Heart Pattern

After making my last minute valentine knitting pattern last year, I thought that I'd better create something equally good again for this valentines day.  I thought for a little while and then came up with this simple crochet heart, based on a triangular granny 'square'.
As with all of our free patterns, you are welcome to make them for your own use or charity, but please get in touch if you wish to sell them.

Materials
Small amount of red yarn (I used dk)
Suitable hook for gauge (4mm in my case)
Glue
Card
Abbreviations
Ch; chain
dc; double crochet (us) or treble (UK)
trbl; treble (us) double treble (UK)
Pattern
Ch 5, sl st to form circle
Round 1; Ch 3, 2dc , ch 5, 3dc, ch 5, 3 dc, ch 5, slst to close round.
Round 2; ch3, dc into next two dc, * dc3 into ch space, ch 5, dc3 into ch space, dc into next 3 dc, repeat from * around slst to first dc to close round.
Round 3; ch3, work around outside of heart, dc into each dc below, at the corners dc 5dc into ch space, slst to last dc to close round.
Round 4; slst to corner of heart, turn heart, miss 4 sts and 8 trbl into 5th stitch, miss 4 sts and slst to next st, miss 4 sts and 8 trbl into 5th st, slst to corner and fasten off.

Making up
Sew in ends.
Glue the heart
Write the card and give it to a loved one.

© COPYRIGHT Kelly Jo Sweeney 2011

This pattern is offered free of charge for your own personal use. Please do not make items using this pattern for sale. Should you wish to sell items made from this pattern, then please contact me for details of my Cottage Industry Licenses.

kelly@nzwools.co.uk

For yarns, more free patterns and knitting and crochet accessories, please see my site: http://www.nzwools.co.uk

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.

More pattern testing

Well my crochet patterns for the Imogen, Hamish and Oliver shoes are now all tested and re-written ready to download. My testers were all fantastic, and having been through the process now, I think that it improved my pattern writing skills, as well as the patterns in question, so that's got to be a good thing. The end results are great too, and there are some great pictures on Ravelry of their versions.

I'm now trying to get little babe's going home cardi tested, haven't got any one signed up as yet (let me know if you'd be interested) but hopefully I'll have some volunteers soon. It's a lacy-cabled cardigan, to fit three sizes from newborn to 12 months, and this is a knit pattern rather than crochet. There are photos of it further down in my blog. As yet, it's un-named, so if you have any suggestions.....

Only three weeks (less in fact) until little babe is due to arrive now, so hopefully it won't be long until I can actually have a model for a couple of pics!

Finished items!

This hasn't really got a lot to do with the store, but I've finally got some finished items to share with you. First of all is my shawl, I'm really pleased with this, and it's only taken me a month and a half, which isn't too bad really:


I'm just glad that I've done it in plenty of time for little babe's arrival, especially seeing as I have a few other things that I want to make before he or she puts in an appearance. The other thing that I've made is a little cardigan for little babe to come home from the hospital in. I've used Elan Forever Green again, which is such a lovely yarn to knit with, and I'm working on the pattern at the moment, and hopefully once tested, it will be available. If I don't run out of time that is!
I'm really pleased with the way this has come out, the buttons look a bit large, but I couldn't resist, I got them from incy wincy stitches, and I think that they are fab. Certainly perfect for something a bit special like this.



I'm not the only one finishing projects either, my test knitters have also been doing lots of hard work for me. So far the shoes have all been tested by at least one person, and they're looking great. Hoping that some of the cardigans will be finished soon too.

Patterns ready to test

I'm so busy at the moment, it's just crazy. Not only have I nearly finished the shawl, but I've also nearly finished the coming home cardigan for little babe. Good job really as I've less than seven weeks to the due date!
I've also now got three more patterns ready to test, this time it's crochet patterns, and I've made three different styles:

The "Hamish" sandal

The "Imogen" Shoe

and The "Oliver" Shoe

If you would be interested in testing any of them let me know, they are all crochet, and are available either with US or British directions.

As well as all of this knitting and crochet activity, I've been adding to the range of products on the site. We've now got a far bigger selection of knitting accessories, including stitch counters, stitch holders and cable needles. We've also now got flexible Tunisian crochet hooks, if you want to try something a bit different.

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:

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?

MORE new stock

Finally I seem to be getting all the new stock in that I've been waiting for. Lots of new neeldes and hooks arrived yesterday. I've now got 100 cm circular needles, as well as the 50 cm. (More sizes to follow later) Bamboo dpns have also arrived and some bamboo tunisian crochet hooks. I haven't actually tried tunisisan crochet (or afgan stitch) myself, but I'm going to give it a go. They are the funniest looking things though, knitting needle at one end and crochet hook at the other.



I've had an email to say that I've got lots of lovely wool on the way too, should be leaving the mill on Monday, on route to me, so it won't be long until it's here. How exciting, it will just be a case of trying to avoid using it all myself now.....

Baby shoes

I've finally got around to finishing and listing some hand made items on the shop. There will be more to follow, but to begin with I've got a few hand crochet baby shoes, made by me with our lovely soft yarns. I've used both the Merino Soft 4ply and the Elan Forever Green Organic Merino.
They fit from newborn to around 6 months.

New stock

It's perhaps really quite sad, but I'm really excited about getting more new stock in. Yesterday I got a big box through the post, and rather than Christmas gifts, it had some new goodies for NZ wools There were some brand new bamboo circular needle sets, 16 needle sizes in each one, and some brand new bamboo crochet hooks. I bought some of these for myself to try a while ago, and it's all I'm using now, so I hope that other people will like them as much.




I also ordered some little craft shears (I think that's probably a better way to describe them than scissors) great for snipping off the ends of threads. They come in a choice of colours too, red, green and blue.

Busy busy busy

Well, the website has been up and running for a while now, and I'm quite pleased with it. I do need a bit more stock though, so I'm busy placing new orders for some things that should be available towards the end of the month/New Year.
I've got some lovely new organic merino baby wool on the way, and I've ordered some bamboo knitting needles and crochet hooks, so I'm going to be extending the range by quite a bit.
I've also been working on a couple of new free patterns to offer, just got to do a bit of double checking on this one, but hopefully the pattern for this lovely new wrap cardigan will be available in the next few weeks or so.
I'm really pleased with the way that this one has come out, and I think that I may have to make one for my little babe, better get cracking, because although he/she isn't due to put in an appearance until April, I've got a lot of other things that I want to try and make before then too.
I'm also hoping to make a few of my crochet shoes and knit some pairs of organic baby socks to sell on www.nzwools.co.uk too. I'm going to be busy for a while yet, I can see!