Yarns From The Plain

Hello from my newly decorated conservatory! This episode I natter about nibbling sleeves, compare spinners to moths, and contemplate future plans. Giveaway If you would like to be entered into the giveaway for either a skein of laceweight Posh yarn or a skein of sockweight Posh Yarn, leave me a message by February 4th telling me which one you'd like to win and why. You can leave a message here on the show notes, over on the show notes on the Blogspot site, over at the Ravelry group, or drop me an email on yarnsfromtheplain AT googlemail DOT com. Off The Needles I finished the Rainbow Scrappy Liesl. Details are here. I have been spinning the Cheviot I got in the Secret Santa on the UK Spinners board on Ravelry from Shunklies (no pictures yet I'm afraid). Woolsack Update The Cheshire Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers have started their Woolsack cushion campaign by making little squares. Something I Really Like BBC Drama Gratuitous Conservatory Picture Here's one taken the day the floor was laid. Che

Full show notes will follow shortly. If you'd like to enter the Posh Yarn giveaway, leave a message here or over at the Ravelry board telling me why you would like to win a skein of laceweight Posh Yarn or a skein of sockweight Posh Yarn.   Happy New Year! Nic x

Hello from an unseasonably mild Cheshire Plain. This episode is another brief one, just to keep me sane I think... On the Needles: I now have a pair of finished Mrs Beeton, knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and Debbie Bliss Party Angel in pale greys. The ends are not yet woven in and I need to wrap them soon. I cast on a second pair using the charcoal DB Cashmerino DK but it won't be finished. I'm also using my first ever wheelspun yarn to make a small scarf for my Dad, using the One Row Handspun Scarf pattern by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. No photos I'm afraid. Half finished and unlikely to be for Christmas morning. Something I really Like: Christmas Countdown by Frank Kelly Music: Intro music is Sans Day Carrol-Sussex Carol-Deck The Halls by James Edwards, from the Magnatune Compilation album Christmas Music and the piece in the middle is Six Noels Anciens: Venez mes enfants (Patriquin) by Stephane Potvin and the Con Brio Choir, from Goode Christemas Musicke, both available from Magnatune. The final piece i

Hello from chilly Cheshire! Just a brief episode today, updating you on the Christmas gift knitting here on the Plain. On the Needles: One finished Mrs Beeton, knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK and Debbie Bliss Party Angel in pale greys. Listener Suggestion for Quick Gift Patterns: Daisy Frog suggested Fast & Easy Fingerless Mitts; Helenhfj suggested Gradient Mitts and the Little Shells shawlette; PokedaGoblin suggested the Cranford Mitts; FatCat suggested Starving Artist and Starving Musician. Music: Intro music is Sans Day Carrol-Sussex Carol-Deck The Halls by James Edwards, final music is Dancing Day Part II: Coventry Carol (Rutter) by Stephane Potvin and the Con Brio Choir, both from the Magnatune Compilation album Christmas Music, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We h

Hello from a very wet Cheshire Plain. Today I dream about a future space, announce a winner and gibber not so quietly about the nigh-on uncontrollable urge to knit Christmas presents. Congratulations to PokedAGoblin, who has won the lovely Crafts From The Dungeon Mayan Spinner from Episode 31. Suggestions for quick(ish) present knits: Quick Cable Slouch Hat by Azure Calorimetry by Kathryn Schoendorf One Row Handspun Scarf by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee A cowl knit in chunky yarn, like the ones here and here I knitted last year. Fetching and Dashing by Cheryl Niamath Mrs Beeton by Brenda Dayne (Ravelry downlad available from here) Scar by Julie Gardner Tidepool Socks by Rainy Day Goods Links: Sarah Hazell Fibre and Clay Rowan Colourscape Chunky Woolsack Sheepfold (Scroll down to find the utterly delicious Methera) Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed, as used in my Chocolate Stripes sweater Music: Intro music is Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, final music is Shchedrik - Carol of the Bells by Kitka

Hello from a blustery Cheshire Plain. This episode is entirely focussed on the Woolsack project, including an interview with JaneKAL My Woolsack Cushions are detailed here and here. Links: The Woolsack site (www.woolsack.org) has a long list of suppliers of British Yarn. I've mainly been using yarn and fibre from Sheepfold and Blacker Yarns. Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic

Hello from a chilly Cheshire Plain. In this episode I talk about extra spinning, the joy of little hats and saggy knees. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! Giveaway: To win a Mayan Spinner from Crafts From The Dungeon, leave a comment here, on the show notes at the http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/ site or over at the Ravelry group, finishing off this sentence: "I want to win a Mayan Spinner because..." Leave your comment by 24th November 2011. On the Needles and the Bobbin: Apologies for the lack of pictures, but the decreased levels of light are thwarting me at the moment. I've made Tubey and Waltzer from Wee Woolly Toppers and a couple of Christmas Pudding Hats from Debbie Bliss's Kids' Knits for Heads, Hands and Toes. I've spun extra yarn for my handspun Rainbow Liesl, which I will cast on soon. I've also been working on Woolsack cushions, but more on those next time. Review: Big Girls Knits by Jill Moreno and Amy Singer Tears: Rem

Hello from a drizzly Cheshire Plain. In this episode I talk about all the other things I've been doing instead of knitting, play with a new toy and wax lyrical about squash. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! Not on the Needles (!): Something that will potentially become a Kauni Wrap... ...some Tunisian crochet... ...some scrap spinning... ...and some Polymer buttons. Review: Mayan Spinnner Kit, £15 plus p&p. including a hand-carded batt and instructions, from Crafts From The Dungeon. Giveaway: To win a pretty Mayan Spinner just like mine, leave a comment here, on the show notes at the http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/ site or over at the Ravelry group, finishing off this sentence: "I want to win a Mayan Spinner because..." Leave your comment by 24th November 2011. Something I really like: Cooking with squashes! One favourite is a stuffed squash using a Schwartz Spices mix, another is a risotto I created this week,

Hello from an autumnal Cheshire Plain. In this episode I consider startitis and finishitis, worry about pilling and get over-excited. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! On the Needles: I've finished the I remember Mama socks, knitted a swatch and picked up the Stripey Noro Messenger Bag again. Review: The Scrumptious Collection Volume 1 from Fyberspates Something I really like: Wales' performance in the Rugby World Cup! Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). TTFN, Nic

A repost of Episode 29 in the hope that it's not eaten by iTunes this time!

Show notes to follow ASAP, currently available on yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com (limitations of mobile browsing!)

Hello AGAIN from the Cheshire Plain! This is the last episode in this marathon catching up session, honest! We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! In this episode I talked about various events linked to the Cheshire Spinning Guild (the Ravelry Group for the Guild is here), including the Exhibition at Dunham Massey and the trip to Woolfest. I also mentioned the Wool Experience and the gorgeous ice cream at Blaze Farm. Here is the Great Wheel in use at Blaze Farm: I also attended a Woolly Wormhead sideways hat workshop at Fibre & Clay, based on her book Going Straight. My hat needs maybe an hour's more work before it's finished. And talking of finishing... which of these should I finish first? 1.Posh Yarn Featherweight cardigan 2. Poshman Mittens 3. Stripy Noro Messenger Bag 4. Modern Quilt Wrap 5. Tank Top in Noro Kuryon Sock Yarn 6. Lizard Ridge Afghan 7. Olympic Medal Socks (I'll probably take these on holiday anyway) 8. Pondemonium child

Hello from a wet Cheshire Plain. OK, it's raining, but after the heatwave I've experienced over the last week, I'm enjoying feeling cooler! Sadly I'm still arguing with the new mic, so I've used the hand-held again. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! This episode is sub-titled the ME, ME, ME show (thanks Louise!) and features a detailed run down of the items I entered in the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show at the weekend. Firstly for the Knitting Class, I submitted my Mint Choc Chip scarf, which is the Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. In the Baby Knitting, I made this sweater, the February Baby Sweater from the Knitter's Almanac. I found meleliza's Ravelry notes very helpful. For the Crochet Class, I made the Circles Scarf by Linda Permann (details of my project here). For the Embroidered Picture, I finished this that has been lurking in my embroidery UFO bin for a very long time. The motifs are based on those in Jo Verso'

Hello from a sunny Cheshire Plain. Apologies for the long delay in re-recording this. Even now, I haven't quite worked out the new mic as I needed to swap to the hand-held recorder for the last part. We have a listeners' map! Please go on over to pop in a pin - I'd love to see where you all are! On my needles and spinning wheel: Between Episode 24 and the beginning of May, I finished two bears for the Mother Bear Project. I also plied more of the the Picperfec singles into a 4 ply with a view to making a Liesl. Otto Coco Review: Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant, published by Storey Publishing. Agricultural Shows: I'm gearing up for the Oxfordshire County and Thame Show on the 30th July. I also mention the following shows: Wigtown Show: 3rd August Bakewell Show: 3rd&4th August Fishguard Show: 5th August Cranleigh Show: 7th August Sedgefield Show: 14th August Gillingham & Shaftsbury Show: 17th August Hawkshead Show: 23rd August Poynton Show: 27th August Bucks County

Hello from a blooming Cheshire Plain. In this episode, come with me as I go to Wonderwool Wales! Apologies for the occasional background noise, I've tried to even the levels out as best I could. On my needles and spinning wheel: I've been working on a bear for the Mother Bear Project, some Baker's Dozen Squares and my sock yarn blanket. I've also tried plying the Picperfec singles into a 4 ply and it's just what I want! At Wonderwool I met up with guzzisue from the Spinnotts (click here for more info about them) and ambermoggie at the Ravelry Meet-up area. I also spotted Jess in the finger-crocheted hat (sorry, can't remember your Rav name!) teaching Angie and Penny how to spin: I spotted more historic mill bobbins at The Threshing Barn and bought one. I also bought some fibre from Freyalyn's Fibres and some felted jewellery making cupkits from Bryncurl Workshops. I also saw some sheep! First some Shetlands... ... then a gorgeous Leicester Longwool... ...and finally some Manx Loaghtan (but I o

Hello from a blooming Cheshire Plain! This episode I share a little industrial heritage, show my maths geek credentials and ponder travel plans. Review: Patricia Ackroyd's talk at the Cheshire WSD Guild meeting last week and the Heike Gittins workshop at Fibre and Clay. Heike Some of the other course delegates     What's on my wheel and needles: The Picperfec fibre continues apace, I think it's time to "swatch ply" to see how thick the finished yarn will be. The sock yarn blanket is also growing nicely and this weekend I've completed a Moebius (Möbius?) cowl in Rowan Felted Tweed and Rowan Kidsilk Haze at the worshop. Something I really like: Making travel plans! Any suggestions for the South Western states of the USA?     Upcoming Events: Wonderwool Wales at Builth Wells, Powys, 9th and 10th April; Woolfest in Cockermouth, Cumbria, 24th and 25th June; Knit Nation in London, 15th-17th July; a range of workshops at Fibre and Clay, including another Moebius Knitting workshop on 17th September and

Repost of Episode 22 in MP3 format.

Hello from a defrosted Cheshire Plain. In this episode I talk last minute Christmas knitting, share discoveries over my sense of self and raise a glass in toast! On the Needles: Here's a photo of the second Christmas cowl, knit in Thistledown Yarns as promised last time: I also completed these socks at the last minute: The pattern is Scar by Julie Gardner and can be downloaded for free here from her blog. Details of this pair can be found on my Ravelry projects page here. I have also cast on a third cowl, again in the Rowan Colourscape Chunky: Review: Rowan Colourscape Chunky Something I Really Like: My new D-SLR camera and playing on Flickr! And yes, this was me during the podcast today. Not quite mastered the art of smiling yet... Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to

Hello from a frozen Cheshire Plain. In this episode I make excuses for not knitting, visit a new shop and drink mulled wine- hic! On the Needles: I finished the second Christmas cowl, made from Thistledown Yarns. I've not yet put it on Ravelry in case it gets spotted, so no photos yet, I'm afraid. Review: Purl City Yarns, Manchester Something I Really Like: Christmas decorations and the wonderful smells of Christmas. Music: Rondopolska by Barry Philips, from the album Tråd, available from Magnatune. Links: Garnstudio Drops; King Cole; Designer Yarns; Green Eyed Monsters; Wild Fire Fibres; Fyberspates; Natural Dye Studio; Lorna's Laces. Feel free to leave a comment here or at http://www.yarnsfromtheplain.blogspot.com/, or email me at yarnsfromtheplain@googlemail.com. We have a Ravelry group here, so come on over to chat. You can find me on Ravelry as talesfromtheplain and on Twitter as talesfromplain (although Tweeting can be sporadic!). Have a peaceful and relaxing Christmas! TTFN, Nic

Hello from a slushy Cheshire Plain. This week we've had snow, along with most of the UK, although the thaw started yesterday. Still plenty of the white stuff on the Peaks in the distance though! This week I talk about gifts, acrylic and music and announce the winner of the draw for the Boysenberry Biffle+ from Easy Knits. On the Needles/Hooks: I'm stockpiling a few 8x8 inch squares, although I have no photos to share. I've turned a short row heel on the first Biffle+ sock and started my own design of circular lace shawl in Kidsilk Haze. This morning I finished my first Christmas gift, a cowl for one of my cousins. Review: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Worsted Something I Really Like: Christmas music! What's your top recommendation for trimming the tree? Let me know. Upcoming Events: A variety of day courses at Fibre & Clay in the new year, including learning to crochet, Tunisian crochet and Moebius knitting. Details on their website or telephone 01565 652035. Purl City Yarns have an evening with Natural