GB Socks Away KAL 17

Yes the GB Socks Away KAL is returning for a third year! The chatter has already started in the BritYarn Ravelry Group but don't worry as we don't cast on until Friday 22nd September 2017.  There is plenty of time to place that little BritYarn order or to have a stash or patten rummage. Also in the chatter thread are the rules but for those that have taken part previously they are the same as previous years. 

A selection of socky yarns available at BritYarn

There will be prizes for both FO's and for chatter.   If you have never knit socks before come and join us.  This KAL in previous years has been the starting point for lots of new sock knitters.  Also it is not just knitting socks..... crochet socks are of course always welcome.  

For pattern ideas you can browse the special sock section of the BritYarn website.

Look forward to chatting with you in the BritYarn Ravelry Group.

A new hand dyed yarn from The Knitting Goddess

Long time readers will know I am a big fan of The Knitting Goddess (run by Joy and Bobbie from their studio in Harrogate).   Not only do they dye amazing colours but they all also passionate about British wool.  So imagine my excitement when an email popped into my inbox about their new yarn launching at Edinburgh Yarn Festival!  Then quadruple that excitement as they wanted BritYarn to help launch it!  

The yarn will make its debut on Friday 18th March at The Knitting Goddess stall at Edinburgh AND in BritYarn's shop! 

Silver

Now let me tell you about this amazing yarn.  It is 4ply and a blend of 85% Wensleydale and 15% Shetland (both British grown of course).  Each 100g skein is approximately 400m long and will cost £18.50.  The yarn has been spun (in Cornwall) to a high twist making it a great option for socks without nylon.  

I had a massive amount of fun swatching with this new yarn, it has lots of character and I just wanted to keep on knitting.  The high twist not only gives the yarn additional strength but also allows the stitches to stand out beautifully against the slight halo of the Wensleydale. 

Navy

It is not the softest of yarns to squish (it has a good sturdiness to it which I love).  I happily wore my blocked swatch next to my skin.  I had to smile when Joy told me she gets Bobbie to 'itch test' new yarns.  I do the same with Mr BritYarn!  Mr BritYarn is pretty sensitive to things which might itch / tickle.  I am pleased to report he wore the swatch for several hours and I had to remind if I could have it back..... a big thumbs up.  

The Knitting Goddess Wensleydale Shetland yarn is perfect for so many different projects.... not just socks and shawls but I am also thinking lightweight but warm garments ready for Spring! 

My blocked swatch

My unblocked swatch

Orders will be posted as usual while I am away at Edinburgh, thanks to Mr BritYarn.  So if you order early enough on Friday you could be casting on with this new yarn on Saturday! 

Images of the yarn used with kind permission from The Knitting Goddess.

A chat with Joy from The Knitting Goddess.......

Hello 

Many thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for BritYarn.  If you are sitting comfortably with a beverage to hand lets begin!

Could you introduce yourself to BritYarn’s readers?  

Waves hello! I’m Joy and along with my long suffering other half Bobbie I own and run The Knitting Goddess. The main part of my job is dyeing yarn, updating the shop and chatting online. Bobbie is responsible for producing all of the mini skeins, packing and posting and making sure that everything goes out in good time. We’ve recently started selling screen printed bags and pouches, so we’re both involved in that. I also do some teaching, and now that we’ve moved into the new workshop there’s lots more space for people to come and play.

I’d already had a couple of career changes before I started doing this – I worked in banking and then as a holistic therapist

I love the fact I can do lots of different things as part of running the business – I’m always interested in learning and trying new things.

How and when did The Knitting Goddess come about?

The business started completely by accident about 10 years ago. We’d been in Seattle on holiday and I bought cashmere to make a jumper. When I got it home I realized that although the batch numbers were the same the skeins looked quite different. So there was a change of plan to something multicoloured and I bought a couple of pots of dye. We then found somewhere that would sell us mill ends of cashmere and started selling on Ebay.

The first big change to the business came about when we moved to the Isle of Wight. The house we bought needed a huge amount of work and it wasn’t going to be possible to continue working as a therapist while chaos raged around us. So we got a bit more serious about the business and looked at ways to grow it.

The second big change for the business has been moving to Harrogate and finding dedicated workshop space. It’s bliss to have somewhere that I can make a mess and shut the door on it – and it’s also meant that we’re reclaimed some of our weekends and evenings. Having more space has also allowed us to offer more wholesale, so there are more places that people can buy our yarns.

The other big change that came about because of our move was switching to British fibre. We now live within an hours of several mills – and it seemed absolutely crazy not to support that. So all of our fibres in the shop are British (or British Territory) grown with the exception of the cashmere – and if we could find a British producer for that I’d look at swapping that over too.

What are your favourite woolly / fibre crafts?

I’ve played with lots of different woolly crafts but I’ll always be a knitter more than anything else. I learnt to crochet last summer, and while I love the speed I have to constantly look at my work, so it’s not always something I’ll pick up to take with me. Vanilla socks make the perfect travelling companion.

Everybody works in different ways… are you a traditional pen and paper person or do you prefer making full use of modern technology?

A bit of both – I love Pinterest and Instagram and I’d be lost without Ravelry. I still work with a paper diary though, and there’s a daily to do list that things get crossed off. Although there are great drawing apps I’d sooner pick up a pencil and doodle or sketch.

If you were only allowed to knit with (or dye) one British grown base what would it be and why? (a blend or 100% pure)  

Britsock – it’s that rare thing of a yarn which works for pretty much everything, it dyes like a dream and it doesn’t tie itself in knots in the dye pot. 

I adore Britsock, Could you share how this yarn was born?

We knew that we wanted a British yarn which would wear well for socks and be as close to an all purpose yarn as possible. We also wanted to avoid the processing which is needed to make a yarn superwash. I know it’s sometimes necessary, but we did everything we could to make this yarn be amazing and hard wearing without it. Adding nylon and British alpaca into the mix and having the yarn spun to a fairly high twist have both helped create a yarn with wears amazingly well and which is a pleasure to have next to your skin.

John and Juliet Arbon did an amazing job with the yarn. We were so nervous when the first box arrived – when you order a custom spun yarn you don’t know exactly what you’re going to get, but this was better than I’d dared hope.

Where do your get your inspiration from for the amazing semi solids, variegated and self striping yarns you dye. Do you have a favourite shade?

There’s a noticeboard which sits just t the side of my computer at home, and it houses a collection of postcards that I’ve bought because I love the colours or ideas that they represent. I also have a colour board on Pinterest where I collect anything and everything that appeals to me.

One of the delights of having this as a job is that if something doesn’t turn out as planned then it can often become something different but special. Or something that will make socks to be hidden under boots……

One of my favorite ever shades was called Undead – and that came about someone was typing about undyed yarn and autocorrect thought it knew better. So I had some fun imagining what colour Undead yarn would be (deep violet and plum, overdyed with charcoal). I must dye some more of that soon.

Left to my own devices there would be a lot of blue yarn in the shop – everything from pale sky blue through turquoise to dark navy. I do enjoy getting to play with lots of colours, but if I had one last pot of dye it would be blue.

Are there any future plans / projects you can share with BritYarn?

We’ve got lots of things planned! 

We’ve been chatting with Amanda (Ex Natural Dye Studio) and we’re looking at ways of providing yarn support and some new colour options. While I’m sad that Amanda has stopped dyeing, I’m thrilled that there will lots more amazing crochet designs to enjoy.

The 2015 clubs are coming to an end as the last parcels will be posted at the end of October. We have two amazing designers for 2016 – and there will also be a self striping yarn club.

We’ll be running another mini skein competition with Rachel from mylifeinknitwear.com before the end of the year. That was great fun, and so inspiring that I ended up dyeing 10 sets of mini skeins instead of one. 

How can people best keep up to date with the latest The Knitting Goddess news?

We send out a newsletter every Thursday which offers subscriber only discounts and other treats. You can sign up for that here http://theknittinggoddess.co.uk/newsletter.html

I’m @KnittingGoddess on twitter and @TheKnittingGoddess on Instagram

Finally there’s a Ravely group – Knitting Goddesses (and Gods) – so please say hello.

Don't forget our Britsock competition runs until the end of October in BritYarn's Ravelry Group.

Britsock by The Knitting Goddess Yarn of the Month October 2015

One of my favourite hand dyed sock yarns is Britsock by The Knitting Goddess.  

Britsock Multi Colours

Britsock is not your run of the mill (no pun intended!) British sock yarn..... it is custom spun in Devon for The Knitting Goddess and is a wonderful blend of 40% Bluefaced Leicester, 20% Wensleydale, 20% Alpaca and 20% British Nylon.    

Joy, the the super talented lady behind The Knitting Goddess, really has an eye for putting different colours together.  You can tell I am a bit in love can't you.......  Britsock comes in semi solid, multi colours (variegated) and self striping options.  

Britsock is a smooth yarn to work with, making your knitting or crochet just speed by.  I loved knitting my Planum socks, a pattern in Sock Anatomy by Clare Devine, and seeing how the different shades appear. 

The yarn produces a really soft but strong fabric, with a slight halo.  However, while the name suggests its a sock yarn it also makes stunning shawls or light garments.  Once my crochet skills have improved I would love to have a go at one of the designs in the Shawl Project with one of the semi solid shades. 

Planum Sock

To celebrate all things British and Socktober The Knitting Goddess and BritYarn are delighted to announce the 'The Absolutely British Britsock' competition.  To enter all you have to do is think of a colourway name and suggest 3 - 4 colours which relate to that name.  The names need to be something typically British.  It might be a traditionally British food, a catchphrase, place or event. All entries need to be made over in the competition Ravelry thread in the BritYarn Ravelry group.  The competition will close at Midnight GMT on 31st October 2015.

Joy and myself will have the hard job of picking a winner.  Joy will then turn the winning entry into a one off colourway.  The winner will receive a skein of Britsock dyed up in their winning name and colours and the remaining skeins will be popped into the BritYarn shop.   

  

Indian Summer Self Stripe

UPDATE: 12th October 2015.  The Britsock base is changing and Joy has wrote about it here. I can honestly say that I cannot feel or see any difference between the old and the new base. 

Sock and Yarn Ideas for the Great British Socks Away KAL

Have you decided on what socks and yarn you will be casting on for our GB Socks Away KAL?

Here are some of my favourites sock patterns and yarns if you are still undecided (as I am).

If you are new to sock knitting and fancy joining in the KAL you might want to have a look at Sock Anatomy by Clare Devine.  The book includes nine designs sized from baby to adults.  East design looks at a different technique and there are lots of diagrams to support you.  It is also a great book if you want to learn about different sock construction methods.  All the patterns use West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 ply, a great value British sock yarn which comes in a wide range of shades.

Another brilliant pattern is Rye, a free pattern by Tin Can Knits.  The socks are worked in Aran weight yarn and the super Tin Can Knit ladies have created some tutorials to accompany the design.  I think these would be great for wearing around the house to keep your feet warm and would be particular toasty in the WYS Bluefaced Leicester Aran.  If you don't fancy making adult size socks the pattern covers baby and children sizes also.

Rye by Tin Can Knits.
Image used with kind permission from Tin Can Knits

If you are looking for a book that will take you through a range of skill levels then Rachel Coopey's Coop Knit Socks V2 fits the bill.  Included in the book are twelve designs ranging from Dave, a plain top down sock to the pretty cables and twisted stitches of Eula.  These socks would look simply stunning in The Knitting Goddess Britsock.  If you were looking for a yarn which contained no nylon, Blacker Yarns Classic 4 ply fits the bill.

Britsock in the Tiffany colourway

When I looked on Ravelry there were 24,535 entries for sock patterns!  Here are a few links to my favourites.

• If you fancy making some crochet socks Ravelry has a large selection including Lounge Around Socks by Sarah Reed. 

• Joeli Caparco's Toasty Explorer Socks have been in my Ravelry favourites since the pattern was released.  These would make excellent hiking socks as they are made in a DK weight yarn.  Joeli has made herself a pair in the WYS Aire Valley yarn.

Joeli's Toasty Explorer Socks

• I tackled my first afterthought heel with these next socks.  It is Rosthwaite by Louise Tilbrook.  The design features easy cables which look really effective.  I made mine in West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4 ply.

My Rosthwaite Socks

I also hear that Karie Westermann will soon be releasing her sock patterns which she designed for the Old Maiden Aunt Sock Club earlier this year.  

I hope that has helped you on your way to choosing what to cast on for the #GBsocksawaykal.  The sign up thread is open so pop over and share what you will be starting on the 1st October.

The Great British Pattern Pick Autumn 2015 by Jo Milmine

Welcome to the second Great British Pattern Pick at BritYarn. In this series of blog posts, we’re aiming to bring you some of the best British-based design talent out there at the moment. We’ll also give you some suggestions as to which lovely yarns you could use for the project. All of our pattern enabling is fully compliant with BritYarn’s Woolly Principles, so you can be sure you’re shopping local!

The equinox has been and gone, and although we’re still enjoying the final, fitful bursts of the British summertime, thoughts are already turning to cooler weather. As the nights draw in and the promise of (yet more) knitwear weather, the mind drifts to pumpkins, turning leaves and cosying up in front of a roaring fire. Chunky knitting weather may well not quite have arrived yet, so in this edition, we’re looking at transitional pieces for the changing seasons. 

Scollay by Karie Westermann

Unless you’re been hiding under a rock, you’ll already know about the fabulous Scollay-along that BritYarn is hosting, along with Louise of KnitBritish podcast. I’m sure you’re already taking part, but if you need a little more encouragement, let me tempt you with this combo.

Scollay by Karie Westermann is a perfect cardigan to take you into Autumn. With the pretty lace detailing and straightforward construction, it’ll be an item that is as fun to knit as it is to wear. You can layer up whilst kicking through piles of fallen leaves with your pumpkin spiced latté or ward off a chill whilst on a country walk, before heading to the pub for a hearty meal. Yarn-wise, you could opt for Blacker’s West Country Tweed, to replicate that heathered look in the original sample. I’d recommend to silky lustre of Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop in Ruby, a colour recently added to the BritYarn line-up.

Earl Grey by Clare Devine

What’s Autumn about if it isn’t versatile accessories with beautifully cabled details to snuggle into? Step forward Clare Devine with the Earl Grey Duo. Timeless texture is sure to be popular both with the knitwear fanatic and the fashion-forward. The big question is: to pom, or not to pom?

If you want a real treat for this project, why not try the fabulous Chilla Valley Alpacas Alpaca and Lambswool, a single-farm blend of 70% Alpaca and 30% Shetland? This special yarn would have bags of fluffy warmth. For the more budget-conscious, opt for West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley Aran: a great workhorse yarn in a wide range of colours.

Lamitra Copyright Woolly Wormhead

If you have a penchant for lovely, handpainted yarns, you’ll always be on the hunt for patterns that showcase these yarns to their best effect. Luckily for us, the fabulous Woolly Wormhead has created an entire collection of hats that do just that, in Painted Woolly Toppers. A current favourite is Lamitra, a slouchy beret/tam with an eye-catching, rotating eyelet and garter stitch detail. The collection was designed to celebrate handpainted yarns; that being said, this design would work equally well in a solid as it would a variegated yarn. For a lively effect, choose Yarns From The Plain Mobberly 4ply in ‘Blackpool Illuminations’, or opt for the more tonally variegated ‘Ironbridge’ for a more subtle result.

Rainbow Pipes and Linen Stitch Socks Copyright Aurélie Colas

Socks are a great project to have on the needles any time of the year and they are also an ideal way to try out new techniques on a smaller canvas. You’d have to be made of stone to not see yourself in a pair of the gorgeous Rainbow Pipes and Linen Stitch Socks by Aberdeenshire-based Aurélie Colas. Not only do they look great, but you can expand your sock knitting repertoire a little at the same time!

Luckily, there’s a plethora of mini skein sets dyed by Joy at The Knitting Goddess in Harrogate available from BritYarn, along with a good selection of main contrast colours dyed on Britsock. This yarn is 100% British, including the 20% Nylon content, added for strength. What’s not to love?

Colossus Copyright Eden Cottage Yarns

Not quite cold enough for a full DK cardigan? Get your tank on to keep your core warm whilst allowing the arms to stay free, for those days when the weather doesn’t know what it’s doing. Knitted in the lustrous and silky Eden Cottage Yarns Milburn 4ply (and part of BritYarn’s featured pattern collection for August) Colossus is an intricately cabled tank. Style it over a shirt for a more formal look, or throw it over a plain, long-sleeved tee for more casual occasions.

Milburn 4ply would be the optimal choice for this pattern, but if you need a more cost effective alternative, consider the West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply.

Fuss Free Baby Cardigan Image Copyright Louise Tilbrook

Whilst we’re keeping warm, it’s also important to keep the smaller folk in our life toasty as well. With its simple, button down detail, the Fuss Free Baby Cardigan by Louise Tilbrook is a great option for this. It’s a free pattern for a cardigan that goes up to size 3-6 months, making it a perfect baby shower or new arrival gift. Coming in at under 100g of DK, it’s fantastic for stash busting and very easy on the pocket if you do need to buy yarn.

Being a huge fan of babies in bright knitwear, the West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley DK range gives a huge range of colour options at a very competitive price point. For a more traditional, muted palette, with a touch of luxury, UK Alpaca Baby Alpaca and Silk DK would fit the bill nicely. Supremely soft, this yarn would also be a superb choice for an heirloom blanket for the precious bundle.

That’s the round up of Autumn patterns for you. I’ll be back in Winter with some more great British designers and yarns!

Bio

Jo Milmine is a podcaster and blogger based in Scotland. She co-owns The Golden Skein, the company that brings meticulously curated luxury yarn clubs showcasing the finest hand dyed yarn the world has to offer. 

Through her bespoke consultancy business Jo works closely with independent dyers, sharing her business and yarn expertise and supporting them to achieve their goals.

Passionate about crafting (and comedy knitting patterns), you’ll find her podcasting as Shinybees, as well as on Ravelry, Twitter and Instagram as Shinybees. 

Website: www.shinybees.com