A little scarf project that came out of nowhere 🎩
I attended Woolly Good Gathering this weekend, which was brilliant! I just wish I could have stayed longer. I met new people and caught up with some people I've missed!
As anticipated... I left Edinburgh with a bag full of goodies including some gorgeous shades of Bukom DK from my ol' pal Lydia @wekuyarn 💜 I treated myself to some Royal Purple and Teal. Still got plenty left!
I think I'll make another of these little scarves.. maybe in a hand dyed or solid colour yarn 😁
#vintagestyle #bowtie #knittedscarf #skinnyscarf #wekuyarn
GREAT BRETON 🇬🇧🫖 My solo project for the final of the Game of Wool was a fun one. I really enjoyed having more free reign on the final challenge!
I wanted my 'showstopper' hat to have a feminine, formal, country feel. I was inspired to try houndstooth and a quartered crown from a vintage pattern I saw - the Shepherd Check Breton from "Hats by Beehive'' - a 1940s Canadian publication. I very much wanted the hat to be asymmetrical though, coming down more at one side to shade the face a wee bit - add some mystery 🕵🏼♀️😎 I considered putting a ribbon around the crown but instead opted to 'knit in' a ribbon of moss stitch in green. This tied in nicely with the green band around the fold of the brim which I hoped would add some definition around the edge.
I thought a feather might add some more country flair (I did have a pheasant feather... but felt more flamingo on the day 🦩🤪) and I added a wee starfish brooch to reflect where I live now; from the country to the seaside 😊
Finally, I sewed my morse code patch inside the hat. When making it, someone asked "what if the judges read it upside down?'... and that's when I discovered that GOW in morse code is the same either way you read it! A morse palindrome - a happy discovery 😁 If you didn't already know it, I highly recommend looking up how knitting was used in intelligence - some fascinating close-call stories 🧶
#gameofwool #vintagestyle #morsecode
This is my grandmother, Rona. Someone I'm very proud of! She was an extremely talented musician, craftswoman and business lady. She was an award-winning accordion player in Scotland and her tunes were quite a hit wherever she played 🪗
When I knew her, she was busy with embroidery but could turn her hand to anything and make a good job of it. I remember her teaching me piano, making jam, making soup, and spending hours at the sewing machine. Like me, she also loved country music 🤠 and I remember her toe tapping in her cowboy boots as she stood and chatted, twirling her car keys - she also liked her cars. So many of the things I'm drawn to, it turns out she was too. I really wish I'd had more time with her.
She ran a post office for many years and several other small businesses alongside. I think she had a wonderful attitude and would not be stuck. The more I'm told how alike we are, the more I want to be just that! 🏝️
EDIT - something quite interesting that I've since learned is that the gentleman she is shaking hands with is Ian Mackintosh Black, a commonwealth and Olympic swimmer 🏊🏼♀️ my life echoes this! 🧶
P.s. don't be fooled by the photo of me playing accordion - she's probably playing some very complicated traditional reel and I'm playing twinkle twinkle little star 🤪
Finished crochet shirt! 💜 I am so thrilled with the outcome of this project. I used a Lee Target pattern 'Crochet Shirt' - date unknown. Does anybody know? I found it on a charity shop rummage in Troon. This is the best fitting crochet garment I've ever made, and that's no surprise with the techniques and shaping involved.
Very fitted, formal and a real gem of a pattern!
I used beautiful yarn for this project from the wonderful @kingcoleltd - Eternity DK in the colour Regal 👑 it's just gorgeous. The buttons are from the Button Box in Devon - the perfect shade of purple.
I just love it! 😁💜
#vintagecrochet #vintagefashion #slowfashion #crochetshirt
I'm just back from the most delightful week visiting @susancrawfordvintage at her Springtime Knitting Retreat 🪻 which was everything a 'retreat' should be and more!
I learned new techniques, switched off from the world and took in beautiful surroundings in the sunshine 🌞 time passed far too quickly but I'm so happy to have come home absolutely bursting with inspiration and connected to new friends from around the world.
We made some pretty springtime mitts in Susan's workshop, learned to hand dye yarn with Charlie and Meu and visited the home of Beatrix Potter before afternoon tea 🫖
It was just perfect and you best believe I brought home a healthy supply of wool... so I'll be reliving my wonderful holiday through some souvenir projects 😎🤪
My most sincere thanks to Susan and her family for everything and to my fellow retreatees(?!) for being such a lovely bunch 💕🌷
#knittingretreat #lakedistrict #assamarrawoolstudio #handdyedyarnuk #vintageknittersofinstagram
Thr 'Ownlee' 🧶 A lovely little companion for Edwardian crocheters that I've had in my collection for a little while. This is the early version of the yarn holders that you see today that go around your wrist. Isn't it lovely?
I wish I had the little booklet that came with these - I learned that mine was missing from this wonderful article /2020/01/the-wristlet-crochet-ball-holder.html?m=1 - thank you to Barbara! @kcguild have a wonderful collection of these interesting little items!
Have you used a wrist yarn holder before? I haven't really tried it yet! 😁
#edwardian #antiquecrochet #vintage #knittinghistory
I just had the most fantastic day at Lunan Bay Farm's Goats in Coats Festival 2026! The opening day of the festival was my chance to judge the knitting competition and gee whiz.. did I have a tough decision to make! 🤩👏🏼 There were hundreds of exceptionally well crafted coats - all so imaginative and full of thoughtful details. The little kids were far too cute and the sun was shining as we admired all of the fantastic entries from around the world 🌎🌞
I found myself in woolly wonderland at the cozy cashmere corner, catching up with the immensely talented @lisa2hatsstudio 🦞💙 yarn, fibre, spinning, knitting and cashmere of course!
I met some lovely people today and I cannot thank Jillian enough for allowing me to part of this extraordinarily special event 🧶🐐 it was a joy to meet the team. Thanks also to my best friend @katelyttle_xx for joining me on this woolly adventure! 💕😁
#goatsincoats #lunanbayfarm #knittingcompetition
It's almost time for the @lunanbayfarm Goats in Coats festival! There have been hundreds of entries for the knitting competition from all over the world 🌎 I cannot wait to see them all! Very much looking forward to a wee cuddle with the goats and learning more about Scottish cashmere! 🐐🧶
On Saturday 11 April, it'll be time to choose the winner 🏆 Will it be you? 👀
#goatsincoats #scottishcashmere #cashmerefarm #lunanbay #lunanbayfarm
Have you seen these before? This is one of my favourite little crafty items that I've added to my collection over the years. A Mauchline ware sycamore crochet thread ball with Chintz decoupage design 🌻 a dainty little thing!
These are very collectible items these days after being so popular from 1820 to 1933 when the W & A Smith Boxworks in Mauchline was destroyed by fire.
#antique #history #craft #crochet #victorian
A mother's day gift for the most wonderful mammy and grandPAWrent 🐾 💐💕 thank you for all that you do for us.
I used some beautiful spring inspired yarn, courtesy of Liz from @scheepjes who so very kindly sent me some Arcadia yarn to enjoy 🧶 really lovely stuff! I used shades Bamboo (green) and Hillier (Pink) 🌷🐑
#sockknittinglove
#alwaysbyyoursidesocks #scheepjes
Thank you all for the amazing entries that we have received so far for our Goats in Coats knitting competition. We have received over 150 entries and have been bowled over by the response. The competition closes on 5 April. @thegameofwool finalist @ailsa.makes.things will be judging the competition at our Goats in Coats festival on 11 April. Our newborn kids will be wearing the top 70 coats during the festival which will run from 11-12 and 18-19 April. All entries will be displayed throughout the festival. Good luck!!! #goatsincoatsknits #goatsincoats #cashmeregoats #scottishcashmere
