Join us for a special knitting and finishing techniques class at the studio and enjoy 15% discount all June for subscribers!
Posted by Di Gilpin on
Amazing 15% discount for the whole of June on Knitting Kits, wool and patterns! The code is for all our wonderful subscribers who we love hearing from!
May was a super busy month in the studio and it looks as if June will be too! Sheila and I are working on some great new designs for the Autumn, including a fabulous piece for issue 6 of the Scottish Yarn Journal! As you can see it is very much inspired by Gansey patterning and I have been playing around with new tree and star patterns. I draw up the charts using a pencil and graph paper. The graph paper is usually to scale and I download it from a great site where you can size your own paper depending on tension! http://tata-tatao.to/knit/matrix/e-index.html This is great for creating paper patterns to actual size, as you would in making clothes! I can then check sizing and fit on our mannequin (or anyone who may be in the studio on the day!).
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Some of my favourite gansey style patterns include the Seol tunic, scarf, mittens and beret patterns. They concentrate on the motifs and patterns working them in a very contemporary way. This is the Seol scarf, which we are reworking as a gilet at the moment! Note the beautiful edging! We are exploring edging in our class on Saturday 8th June and there are still a couple of places! Our next Gansey class making a stylish mini scarf is on Saturday 22nd June! The Seol Mittens are wee works of art, with the Eriskay lace tree, diamond, Inverness diamonds and rigging (mini cables) on the palm to give extra grip when wearing!
Fife is really looking at its best at the moment. I spend many hours wandering through the woods and gardens of the Balcarres Estate finding inspiration for our super special retreat in September. There are places still available!
