A Wovember wool spotlight: La Fierucola, Florence, and the sheep of Italy

November 17, 2022

While it is still Wovember, I want to spend a little time sharing some new to me local sheep and to introduce you to the wonderful wool they produce. The history of Italy and of wool are tightly intertwined and extend across a network of European wool trading that pre-dates the formation of the state of Italy in the 19th century. By the 13th century Florence was already an important wool centre and this is … More A Wovember wool spotlight: La Fierucola, Florence, and the sheep of Italy

Buddha’s Knot Tea Cosy: A free pattern download

October 24, 2022

One of my plans for this autumn has been to work on what I have begun to call my legacy patterns. Some of these like the Buddha’s Knot tea cosy have been published previously but haven’t been available for a while now, others have never quite made it to the point of publication, despite some being very close. Buddha’s Knot was first published back in 2010 (!) and was withdrawn a while ago now because … More Buddha’s Knot Tea Cosy: A free pattern download

Pan co’ Santi – Time for a little traditional seasonal baking

September 30, 2022

I was reminded when I was doing the grocery shopping that it’s Pan co’ Santi time of year again. Like many seasonal items, it’s appearing in the shops earlier and earlier each year, but what the heck, I’m not sure you can get too much of it and if you make your own it doesn’t really count as out of season does it? Traditionally made to mark all souls of the the Festa dei Morti … More Pan co’ Santi – Time for a little traditional seasonal baking

A Summer in the Making: A new Finished Sweater

August 29, 2022

Goodness me, sometimes yarns can be as prevaricating and evasive as people. You know the sort, those that lurk in the stash for years, hiding behind the prettier and softer skeins, wary of putting themselves forward as candidates for any particular project. Then, when they do it’s with such a lack of conviction that the combination of yarn and pattern doesn’t work and they enter false start and disqualification territory. Although I have to admit … More A Summer in the Making: A new Finished Sweater

Pie dish dyes: Quick and easy stovetop dyes to make your scrap projects sing

August 17, 2022

In my previous post about my serial Barn Raising blanket projects, I spoke about dyeing up leftovers of solid coloured yarns to make fun variegates and speckled yarns. Today I want to show how I do this using just kool aid, a pyrex pie dish, a few small glasses and a tea strainer to create fun colour effects. In the past I’ve shared how I used microwave dye methods to create tonal and long colour … More Pie dish dyes: Quick and easy stovetop dyes to make your scrap projects sing