Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Loch an Eilein Gallery Closed for the Winter
The Loch an Eilein Gallery on the Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore is now closed for the winter.
Wednesday, 31 July 2013
Janet & John Opens Tomorrow
So, as well as a hand knitter, as of tomorrow, I'm now a gallery/shop owner in Glasgow's West End. You can visit the Janet & John website to find out more and also the shop Facebook page.
My knitting forms only a small proportion of the arts and crafts available to buy in Janet & John. Here are some pictures of Baljaffray Handknits items in the shop:
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| Price & Kensington teapots sold with cosies |
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| ipod/mobile cases of various sizes |
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| Antique towel rail |
Saturday, 13 July 2013
Janet & John Opens On August 1st
Our little arts & crafts shop/gallery opens on August 1st, upstairs in De Courcy's Arcade, Cresswell Lane, Hillhead, Glasgow, G12 8AA. You can find out more from our website or Facebook page.
Janet & John will stock a variety of arts and crafts, including Baljaffray Handknits.
Janet & John will stock a variety of arts and crafts, including Baljaffray Handknits.
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Vintage Yarns
I've been using some amazing vintage yarns lately. I got a massive bag for just £1 from The Magpie's Nest in Govan a few weeks ago. The shop is next door to The Magpie's Eye, which is one of the shops that stocks my work. Admittedly, some of it's contents were unusable, but there were also some real gems.
Among other things, I have been combining many of the DK, 3ply and 2ply yarns from the bag to make unusual colour combinations. By using 6mm needles and a mixture of yarns that equate to super chunky when combined, I was able to produce a number of items including Kindle cases and purses.
I sourced a variety of vintage buttons to complement these. These seem to have become scarce locally, so I ended up using a company on ebay. For others, I used hand-made buttons from Laura Wilson Designs and Made By Aleks.
And then on Saturday, I went to the Oxfam DIY shop on Byres Road, close to where our new arts and crafts gallery is opening on August 1st. There I found four 1oz balls of the most amazing yarn I think I've ever knitted with. At first, I wasn't even sure it was vintage, as it's in such a good condition. It's called "Moon Gold" and was made pre-1983 by Bernat Klein in Scotland. I used just over half of it to make this rather special slouchy hat.
The yarn is a luxuriously soft mixture of cashmere, wool and rayon, with an amazing gold lustre. Bernat Klien pioneered these kinds of natural/synthetic mixtures in at his factory in Galashiels between 1970 and 1983, at one time employing 250 local hand knitters to test his yarns and accompanying patterns.
I thought such special yarn needed a simple lace pattern to show it off to its best advantage. This version of my slouchy hat has 3 rows of eyelets nestled between 4 rows of plain stocking stitch.
Among other things, I have been combining many of the DK, 3ply and 2ply yarns from the bag to make unusual colour combinations. By using 6mm needles and a mixture of yarns that equate to super chunky when combined, I was able to produce a number of items including Kindle cases and purses.
I sourced a variety of vintage buttons to complement these. These seem to have become scarce locally, so I ended up using a company on ebay. For others, I used hand-made buttons from Laura Wilson Designs and Made By Aleks.
And then on Saturday, I went to the Oxfam DIY shop on Byres Road, close to where our new arts and crafts gallery is opening on August 1st. There I found four 1oz balls of the most amazing yarn I think I've ever knitted with. At first, I wasn't even sure it was vintage, as it's in such a good condition. It's called "Moon Gold" and was made pre-1983 by Bernat Klein in Scotland. I used just over half of it to make this rather special slouchy hat.
The yarn is a luxuriously soft mixture of cashmere, wool and rayon, with an amazing gold lustre. Bernat Klien pioneered these kinds of natural/synthetic mixtures in at his factory in Galashiels between 1970 and 1983, at one time employing 250 local hand knitters to test his yarns and accompanying patterns.
I thought such special yarn needed a simple lace pattern to show it off to its best advantage. This version of my slouchy hat has 3 rows of eyelets nestled between 4 rows of plain stocking stitch.
Monday, 10 June 2013
I'm Opening A Shop
My husband John and I are planning to open a small arts and craft gallery/shop early in August. It will be on the first floor of De Courcy's Arcade (Eli Handmade, which currently stocks some of my work, is on the ground floor of the same building).
As well as selling some of my knitting, we will be stocking many other artists' and crafters' work on a commission basis.
More details to follow, both here and (more frequently) on my business Facebook page (see link on the left of this page).
As well as selling some of my knitting, we will be stocking many other artists' and crafters' work on a commission basis.
More details to follow, both here and (more frequently) on my business Facebook page (see link on the left of this page).
This photo is quite an old one off De Courcy's Arcade's Facebook Page, and there's no longer a flower seller at the entrance. Follow the link to find a useful map.
Monday, 1 April 2013
Hats From Special Yarns
I've been working with some beautiful yarns from different sources lately which have inspired me to create some unique hats.
This one was created using beautiful chunky yarn from Strathearn Fleece and Fibre. Using wool from their own sheep, they produce hand crafted yarns of every weight that are a delight to work with. This particular hat is now available from the Loch an Eilein Gallery on the Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore. Incidentally, another picture of this hat has proved to be my most popular posting on Facebook.
This hat was also knitted using chunky yarn from Strathearn Fleece and Fibre. It has a slightly fuller and more feminine shaping than my standard unisex beanie.
The yarn for this slouchy hat came from Snip, Tack and Sew in Crieff. The wool and acrylic mix yarn is beautifully soft. The yarn gradually changes colour to give these vibrant bands in the finished hat. This particular hat is also now at the Loch an Eilein Gallery, but I loved it so much that I went back to Crieff on the way home to purchase some more and I knitted an identical one. Now the replacement hat has sold as well!
This one was created using beautiful chunky yarn from Strathearn Fleece and Fibre. Using wool from their own sheep, they produce hand crafted yarns of every weight that are a delight to work with. This particular hat is now available from the Loch an Eilein Gallery on the Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore. Incidentally, another picture of this hat has proved to be my most popular posting on Facebook.
This hat was also knitted using chunky yarn from Strathearn Fleece and Fibre. It has a slightly fuller and more feminine shaping than my standard unisex beanie.
The yarn for this slouchy hat came from Snip, Tack and Sew in Crieff. The wool and acrylic mix yarn is beautifully soft. The yarn gradually changes colour to give these vibrant bands in the finished hat. This particular hat is also now at the Loch an Eilein Gallery, but I loved it so much that I went back to Crieff on the way home to purchase some more and I knitted an identical one. Now the replacement hat has sold as well!
Wednesday, 20 March 2013
Up to Aviemore
The Loch an Eilein Gallery on the Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore opens again for the summer this Saturday (despite the fact there's still snow up there). For a second year, I have the privilege to be exhibiting/selling my work there in 2013.
For more information, take a look at their website here.
For more information, take a look at their website here.
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