Author: Tess Young

Natural Plant Dyeing: Adding a fabulous new orange to the palette with Bidens

May 31, 2023

Towards the end of last year, as leaves tuned colour, the weather turned colder and frost threatened some tender dye plants, I began to plan some more dyeing experiments; a combination of trying to replicate previous colours and discover new ones. This potential for new colours comes as we explore further what plants will thrive in our clay soil, and in hot dry summers that can transition to cold waterlogged winters overnight, or in the … More Natural Plant Dyeing: Adding a fabulous new orange to the palette with Bidens

Remembering Rana Plaza 10 years on, and asking, ‘What’s changed’?

April 25, 2023

Yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster. A disaster in which more than 1,134 people died and another 2,500 were injured. The 4th largest industrial disaster globally, the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, mostly affected female garment workers producing garments for fast fashion brands in the west. While Rana Plaza represents an exceptional event, the factors that made it possible are all too common in the garment … More Remembering Rana Plaza 10 years on, and asking, ‘What’s changed’?

A first FO of the year: How to knit a sweater in a couple of weeks

March 17, 2023

After a sluggish start to the new year and a lot of indecision about what to knit next, I took a step back and thought about what I like to wear. What, if anything, could I complete in the next month or so that might slip right into my wardrobe? Then it occurred to me that the sweater I reach for most often, and which could perhaps do with a break, was the everyday sweater … More A first FO of the year: How to knit a sweater in a couple of weeks

Late Wovember Italian Wool Inspiration: Beautiful blended undyed shades

February 1, 2023

Today I want to share my final Wovember inspired post on the local Italian wools I bought at La Fierucola in Florence last November. This yarn enables me to spotlight two more Italian sheep breeds, and a Spanish cousin. Despite so many stunning naturally dyed shades on the stall, this time I was attracted to the beautiful natural greys of Verde Filo (Green Thread) Lab, it was a hard choice, but I think you’ll see … More Late Wovember Italian Wool Inspiration: Beautiful blended undyed shades

Starting a new Starter and other early year activities

January 23, 2023

Hello there! I just wanted to pop in before this years blog content continues apace to say Happy New Year. I hope everyone got through the end of the year in good spirits and the new year has started well. I never know quite where the first weeks of the year go and this year is no different. We were in the UK for Christmas and France for New Year, with family in both places. … More Starting a new Starter and other early year activities