August update

I've just signed up for my first CAL (crochet along) on Ravelry. The pattern ( www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-circles-scarf ) is a lovely scarf designed by the talented Valerie Bracegirdle and she used mini skeins of my yarn for her prototype. I've got one and a half skeins of Silver Berries in my stash for personal use, so I thought I'd join in, expand my crochet skills and make something nice for myself.

Here's the yarn:

I'm starting to think about my September (and beyond) markets and am getting autumn/winter stuff on the needles. I've got a new yarn for this season, which is a nice and bright space-dyed wool-acrylic mix in three colorways. I've used a chevron design again (my favourite!) and I'm pretty pleased with the result:

 

The colors remind me of liquorice allsorts - my favourite sweet - and the scarves will be going out starting with my October markets. 

 

I'm starting a new market this year in Ware, the Artisans of Ware craft fairs, which begin for me on  6th October. It looks like a great venue - indoors too, yay! I went to a college in Ware for a while and it's a nice town, not too far from me. September at St. Albans is my first though on the 8th. I've been off for a couple of months and it will be nice to get back - fingers crossed for dry weather. 

 

I've taken the plunge and joined Facebook too www.facebook.com/WillowKnits so there's another way to keep in touch with people.

 

On the Needles

I can't just stick to one project at a time - It's always exiting to see how a new yarn or pattern will work out and always a bit of an effort to finish off. Here's what I'm working on at the moment:

Firstly, I'm often asked to make some scarves that would appeal to men - always difficult as I don't think men should just be confined to choosing between green, brown, black and navy blue - and this is one of my first efforts. I admit that it is green and black, but I think the space-dyed yarn and the checkerboard pattern make it a lot more appealing.

Secondly, I'm making a lace scarf in a fine shetland yarn from Jamieson & Smith - I sold a lot of these in my Etsy shop before Christmas and am taking the opportunity to re-stock while I have some quiet time. I've got mainly pink and blue yarn in stock, plus a little lemon, but have ordered some other colors which should be arriving next week.

Finally, a new color of fluffy yarn for my Farmers' Markets stall.