Thursday 18 December 2014

Happy Christmas

Just a very quick note to say that over the Christmas/New Year period Three Bags Full be open on 30th and 31st Dec for all your knittery needs. Hope you all have a lovely time. See you in 2015!




Friday 21 November 2014

Furry hat!

So, this is the furry-edged hat pattern I promised a while ago. We've got the fun fur yarn (Abakan from Bergere) in a couple of shades - the natural; brown and a pretty blue colour. And both hats I've made so far have been in brown Abakan coupled with brown aran, but I'm thinking maybe the brown and a nice cream or something like that next...

Size: fits average woman's head (by which I mean, it fits me)

Materials: 50g Abakan, 100g aran (if you want a longer furry turnback, you'll need 100g Abakan)
5.5mm x 40cm circular needles, 5.5dpns

Method:
Cast on 60 stitches loosely, using the circular needle and the Abakan. Join into a circle and mark the start of the round.

Knit and knit and knit until your ball of Abakan is all used up. If you're using two balls for a longer brim then knit till your two balls are all gone or the brim's as long as you want it to be.
Break off the Abakan and join in the aran wool.

Work a knit row followed by a purl row for a total of 6 rows.

Work in k2, p2 rib, starting with k2, until hat measures 10" (or length required) from cast on edge.

Start decreasing as follows, transferring stitches to dpns when necessary:
Round 1: *k2, p2, k2, p2tog, rpt from * to last 4 stitches, k2, p2
Round 2: work stitches as presented
Round 3: k2, p2tog, *k2, p1, k2, p2tog, rpt from * to end
Round 4: work stitches as presented
Round 5: *k2tog, p1, k2, p1, rpt to last 3 stitches, k2tog, p1
Round 6: k1, p1, k2tog, *p1, k1, p1, k2tog, rpt from * to last 3 stitches, p1, k1, p1
Round 7: k2tog all the way round.

Thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Sew in ends. Turn back fur brim.



Saturday 15 November 2014

Advice needed!

Okay, it's Saturday morning, it's cold - and everyone craves a new woolly jumper when it's cold, don't they? - and it's Christmas present buying time. But in four hours we've had just one customer and our takings won't even cover the morning's rent. So, I'm looking for pointers as to what's stopping people buying from us...

I know some of you will be thinking: What is she talking about - I'm forever in that shop?! And that's great - we do have a core of regular knitters and crocheters, and I'm definitely not trying to encourage anyone to buy more than they do currently or more than they can comfortably afford or use; what I need to do is re-build the customer base we used to have and which seems to have been very depleted since we left the Piece Hall.

So...is there a reason you used to buy from us, but don't anymore? Maybe one of the following?

You prefer to buy from a local bricks and mortar competitor?
You prefer to buy from an online competitor?
We don't sell the yarns you want anymore?
You've stopped knitting or crocheting?
You've moved away from wools onto less expensive acrylics and mixes?
Wool just isn't a priority when times are hard?
You've never managed to find our shop since we moved?
You're fed up of the parking problems in the town centre?
Or something else entirely?

If you don't want to answer on a public blog please email me on threebagsfullwoolshop@googlemail.com (I know! longest email address ever!)
Thanks. And very many thanks to those of you who shop with us, whether regularly, now and then, or once a year - it's very much appreciated.


Friday 17 October 2014

Free pattern - chunky cowl

What do you think of this?
It's a very simple, very cosy cowl for the cooler months. So much more twenty-first century than a scarf, y'know? Or maybe not, but there are definitely times when it'd be an advantage not to long, loose, trailing, woolly ends getting in the way. And, throwing principles and normal preferences to the wind, I've knitted this prototype in acrylic - well, mostly acrylic: Cygnet Grousemoor Chunky. Feel free to use Debbie Bliss Riva or Adriafil Mistero or some other more luxurious mix. I shall be doing at some point.
Anyway this is what you do:
Using chunky yarn of your choice, cast 97 stitches onto 5.5mm needles, and work 6 rows of k1, p1 rib in main colour.
Then work 2-colour pattern as follows, where a = main colour and b = contrast
Pattern row 1: k2a, k1b, *k3a, k1b, rpt from* to last 2 sts, k2a
Pattern row 2: k1a, * p3b, p1a, rpt to last 4 sts, p3b, k1a
Repeat these two rows until 28 have been worked. Break off colour b.
Work 5 rows of k1, p1 rib in main colour.
Cast off loosely in rib.
With right sides together sew side seam using a simple overstitch.
Sew in ends.

Tuesday 7 October 2014

I heart hearts



In between the lacy scarf and the vintage jumper and the baby blanket and any number of other projects, I've mostly been making these lately. I fear they're becoming addictive - any small amount of leftover yarn becomes half a heart; any even tinier scrap becomes lettering. I'm thinking maybe loveheart bunting?


Monday 15 September 2014

Day off today...

...so a chance to photograph a couple of home-based WIPs.
This first is a sample garment in the new Roam sock yarn, and what I'm making is a simple 4 ply baby jumper.
 There are five different colourways combining self-striping and heathered effects, and they're all named for countryside features - this one is Cairn. I'm a big fan already.

And second, we have a little scarf that's been languishing, altho' having dug it out to photograph, I'm wondering whether my day off would also be a good time to take up the needles again on this particular project. It's made with two balls of Crystal Palace Kid Merino, knitted together to make a supersoft fabric. The pattern is just stocking stitch, with a garter stitch border to minimise the roll at the edge, and a lacy panel from a stitch directory worked in at each end. Very easy. We sell the Kid Merino at £4.75 a 25 g ball - both solid and variegated colourways. It's similar to the Debbie Bliss Angel, although it costs less as it's a less luxurious mix (no silk in it!).
Okay now, back to the knitting...

Wednesday 10 September 2014

The WIPs are running away with me

Here I am, allegedly recording the WIPs and some of them are managing to get themselves finished before I've even taken the photograph. Totally out of control. So, here's one that I made earlier, as they say:
The wool's Knitcol - a couple of orphan balls, the last of a dyelot - and the pattern's from the new UKHKA booklet 1000:
This next one certainly won't be running away with me. I thought it'd be a fab idea to have a gansey all knitted up as a shop sample. So I allocated a few balls of the cream Wendy 5 ply and found a pattern and, well, I didn't expect to have to start with 21 rows of garter stitch on 2.25mm needles... It'll be fine. Really. I just need to do a couple of rows a day and then in a week or so I can swop to the 3mm needles and I'll just be racing through it from then on, won't I?

Many, many more on the needles - a present for later in the year, a hat for Christmas, the vintage jumper which I threatened to un-needle and then changed my mind because most of the tiresome knitting into the back of the stitches bit is nearly over now, the lacy scarf, the mohair scarf, the Bergere jumper I've been knitting forever, the cushion, the wristwarmers...

Feeling quite tired now.

Friday 29 August 2014

New stock for winter!

So...a good couple of days at Three Bags Full - a consignment of the lovely Peter Pan Merino Baby arrived, including one new shade and then, shortly after that, three new yarns: the 100% British Ramsdale DK, Wendy Mode DK and our new sock yarn, Roam Fusion, arrived. Plus lots of new patterns.
The Ramsdale (£3.50) has the tagline 'Born Bred and Made in Yorkshire' (there should, of course, be a comma in there, but they didn't ask me to proofread the text so what can you do?). It's 60% Masham wool, despite the picture of a Swaledale sheep on the label (who exactly designed that label??) and it's lovely - here, take a look:
The Wendy Mode is kind of a replacement for the Patons Diploma Gold - which I think is fab, but it doesn't sell much and is a bit expensive for a mix. The Mode, on the other hand, despite the 1960s Corrie name (Miami Modes anyone?) will sell at £2.20 and it feels pretty soft to me. I'll be knitting up a sample just as fast as my fingers and other jobs will allow.
Amd then there's the Roam. This is truly lovely. A new, classic, multi-coloured sock yarn and I can't wait to try this one out either! It'll sell at £7.50.
If you're an online customer (Hello!) the Roam and Ramsdale will both be on the web, I hope, by the end of next week.




Wednesday 27 August 2014

Gotta love self-striping

A WIP with a difference. well, a couple of differences. For one thing this is going to be a pair of mittens for me. Yay! Mine, all mine. And for another well, just look at those colours...
This was an orphan ball of discontinued Noro Aya (not esp suitable for mitts) in shades of lilac, blue, pink, green... oh, every colour of the rainbow really. And all interestingly arranged in the ball so that while the first mitten has come out in various shades of lilac, the second one looks like it's going to be vibrant spring green with touches of blue and scarlet,
and maybe just a smidgeon of purple to pull the whole thing together.
I can at least be sure no on else will have a pair like them.

Sunday 10 August 2014

Pair of mittens, a baby dress, cuddly toy...

Okay, there's no cuddly toy, but among my many other WIPs, there is a pair of mittens (lately, there's always a pair of mittens):
 The pattern's mine and the yarn is Louisa Harding Handbeaded Grace (now discontinued) and Grace, but you could use any DK. That bit of beadedness around the bottom makes them a bit more special, say, for a present, but you could use a sparkly yarn or a sequinned one or whatever you like.

And then there's a baby dress, which just qualifies as a WIP as the bottom is curling up so it needs - aargh! - blocking. Well, what I mean is I'll run a cool, gentle iron over it - nothing scientific or complicated enough to require a technical term.
(In case you're wondering, yes, I'm already regretting photographing it on top of the kitchen tablecloth.)
This pattern's out of the current Love Knitting for Baby magazine. I'm trying to find out if it's available elsewhere, but no luck so far. The mag doesn't give either a pattern number or a designer's name, so no help there. I used three balls of Peter Pan Merino Baby which is a very soft and lovely baby wool which we sell for £3.55 per 50g ball. You'd need four for anything bigger than the 0-6 months size, but still a very cute dress for a reasonable price and a lovely quick knit.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

WIPs

I said I'd record my WIPs on the blog so, belatedly, here are the first three:

Believe it or not, the wool's not blue; it's a gorgeous deep green in Fyberspates's multi-tonal Vivacious DK. Must admit I'm only knitting this scarf for the sheer thrill of using this fantastic 100% superwash merino. The stitch definition is second to none. Yes, obviously we sell it...£14.50 for 115g. (Don't ask me why it's in hanks of 115g - makes it seem more expensive than it actually is which is a shame.)

And then we have another scarf which I'm thinking of as a craft fair type item.
It looks a bit crinkly, doesn't it? But I've made one already in a similar pattern (pattern taken from a stitch directory, with a garter stitch edge added) and did the unthinkable, actually blocked it!, and it came out beautifully. This is in the Debbie Bliss Rialto DK Print, which is gorgeous wool but for some reason never really took off at Three Bags Full, despite my many hours of knitting a sample hoodie. Anyway, it's reduced to £4.20 in the shop if you'd care to try it. (RRP £5.95)

And finally, something a bit different for me, a baby blanket in 100% acrylic:
Very simple feather and fan type pattern which seems pretty forgiving as I keep losing stitches but the pattern doesn't mind. A sneaky kfb here and there and we're back on track. I really am a very sloppy knitter. (Especially when I'm knitting through a 10pm edition of Big Brother - doesn't help my concentration one bit.) This is a present and needs to be finished for November - better pull my socks up, have already been knitting it for several months. And what's with the acrylic? Well, I make a point of not selling anything I wouldn't knit with myself so I had to try this one out to make sure it was up to my exacting standards! And it is. Very soft and lovely. It's the Designer Yarns Baby Joy - not the cheapest acrylic at £2.60 per 50g ball but definitely one of the nicest. (RRP £2.95)

Only about a dozen more to photograph and fess up to...



Tuesday 22 July 2014

Bags, blankets, toys, scarves, wreaths, cosies, flowers, purses....

Look at the fab patterns on this page! And the following 5 pages too - there are loads of them...all super-cute.

I know, there are very many beautiful patterns on ravelry, so why am I picking out these? Well, mainly because not only are they very lovely and very professional and very accessible for both advanced and beginner knitters, but also because the designer, Frankie Brown, doesn't charge for her patterns but instead suggests that you might like to make a donation to her chosen charity, the Children's Liver Disease Foundation, via her JustGiving page. So far she's raised over £8500 - how fantastic is that?

More power to her elbow. And yours, of course, if you make up one of her patterns.

Saturday 5 July 2014

Look what you can make with...

...just three balls of Debbie Bliss Angel. Regular customer Shirley has just completed this lovely shawl and it's even more beautiful in the flesh than in the photo.  Fabulous knitting.

(And just by chance I've recently added a few discontinued shades of Angel to the bargain basement basket...)

Friday 4 July 2014

Cheap Debbie Bliss!

Well, I hope that title's being interpreted correctly - I'm not in any way casting aspersions on DB's personal life; I'm merely drawing your attention to the fact that we've reduced the TBF stock of Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran, as it's been discontinued.
So...buy one of our remaining full packs for £35.00, or a smaller quantity for £4.00 each ball.
This deal's not on the website as the Railto's never been on there, but if you're interested and not able to come to the shop, do get in touch - threebagsfullwoolshop@googlemail.com - and I'll set up a special order.
(RRPs would be respectively: £55 per pack and £5.50 per ball.)

Tuesday 1 July 2014

Three little...

Three little pigs...maids...dresses! I didn't get round to photographing my many WIPs, mainly as I can't be sure at the moment exactly where they all are. I'll start that this week - but, in the meantime, here are three little dresses I've made for craft fairs.


The green one's knitted in a cotton/acrylic mix from Cygnet, called Cottony DK. Nice yarn. I bought just one pack to try out and will buy more when our stock of cotton's diminished a bit. So many have been discontinued this summer, it'll be lovely to stock up on something new that should stick around for a while. It'll retail at just under £2.00 for 50g. (Let me know if you have an urgent need for some and I can add that to our next Cygnet order.)

The red one is in some Cygnet acrylic DK, which we don't normally stock. I special ordered it for a customer and the remainder is now in the bargain basement basket if anyone would like it. (300g for £4.75.) Acrylic's not usually my first choice, but this was good quality and knitted up well. And it's a gorgeous colour!

And the yellow one - well, that's another cotton/acrylic mix altho' I've lost track of what exactly it is. Not something we sell, so you really don't want to know...

Saturday 21 June 2014

An interview with me!

at: http://libroediting.com/2014/06/21/kath-kilburn/

And in the meantime, I've started several new WIPs. This blog is, I think, going to turn into a record of knittery stuff started, finished and languishing. Actually that sounds okay; it might enable me to keep things a little more under control. Trouble is, you spot some pretty wool, you see an ace pattern and, before you know it, you're searching for the right size needles (which are, because of your serial startitis, at present in use for something you haven't touch since 2009) and then away you go. It could probably be classified as a psychological condition.

Newest starter for me currently is a very pretty scarf in Crystal Palace Kid Merino, which I think has been discontinued and which people seem to overlook in their eagerness to get at the similar, but softer and more luxurious, Debbie Bliss Angel. Anyway, I was feeling sorry for it - such pretty colours and so neglected, so I picked up a couple of balls of pink and away I went.

And, any minute now, I'm going to start a baby boy tank top in my last hank of West Yorkshire Spinners's owl print Blue Faced Leicester. They decided to start producing this in balls a while ago instead of the hanks (which I preferred) and I have just one hank left so, rather than have it sitting there all pathetic, I'm going to knit it into something cute and practical.

Pictures next time!

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Two ball baby cardigan

Make a baby cardigan from just 2x50g balls of baby wool? - sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Here's one...okay, two...I made earlier. The lovely, lacy pattern is from Peter Pan and I knitted it up in the now discontinued Peter Pan Sweetheart, which was a very soft cotton/acrylic mix, altho' you could choose the Wendy Merino or whichever baby double knitting yarn you favour for your baby knits.

Busy at present building up our stocks of completed items for our first craft fair of the year at Hollingworth Lake at the end of June. Would be lovely if you could come along and say hi. We'll have a mixture of completed garments, yarn and kits, and maybe some of Mike's lovely photographic and beery crafty stuff too.
Looking forward to it!

Thursday 15 May 2014

Ranco sock yarn/4 ply discontinued and reduced

Isn't it gorgeous? And now reduced to £6.95 per 100g hank in the shop and online. As someone who still craves Noro Yuzen - which was discontinued several years ago - I can assure you, you'll miss it when it's gone. And I'd hate you to end up Rancoless and regretful. So, grab it while you can and make a start on those Christmas presents...


(Many other colourways available.)

Friday 9 May 2014

Facebook!

Just a reminder for any non-facebookers out there - and I was one for many years! - you don't have to be on facebook to read messages! If you google Three Bags Full Halifax, a link to our facebook page appears about fourth from the top. There's no need to join, unless you want to comment or send a message; you can click the link and keep up with any shop goings-on while keeping your non-facebook integrity intact.



Friday 2 May 2014

Such a rubbish blogger!

But we're still here and still offering great yarns and wonderful value. We've just reduced the two remaining shades of our special purchase Noro Silk Garden to £7.50 a ball (RRP is £9.95) - you'll find it on the website too, under Clearance.

And in the shop only, we have the remaining Patons Linen Shadow at a frankly daft £1.00 per ball. (This means, as I facebooked the other day, that with a free pattern from t'internet you can make yourself a fab market bag for £4.00! How brilliant is that?)

Also going to add the remaining Cygnet Essentially Cotton to the £1.00 basket as soon as I remember where I put it - that'll increase your choice of colours a bit.

But we've got lots of lovely new stuff too...Bergere Cabourg - a hemp/acrylic mix; the wonderful Adriafil Stella Jacq, which is a clever jacquard patterning aran weight wool, and several new shades in one of my favourites, Bergere Caline, to name but a few.

Lots more good stuff instore, as they say!



Sunday 20 April 2014

WIPs and FOs

The WIPs haven't changed much since I last examined the shameful pile of stuff that needs more attention before I can sign it off. But...does this collection count as a finished item? I've been knitting up sample swatches of each colourway of our new multi coloured aran, Stella Jacq from Adriafil. I'm thinking myself lucky that there are only 6 varieties available. You can see from the picture what a range of shades there are, but you can't tell how lovely it feels to knit. And it's 100% machine washable wool.

So, what I'm thinkig now is, is Easter too soon to start knitting for Christmas? The answer, of course, is no...



Tuesday 1 April 2014

Mother's Day

Look what I got for Mother's Day:
Thanks, Maddie!

(And Joe made me a card featuring a ball of wool. They know me so well.)

Tuesday 18 March 2014

The undisciplined knitter

I start many, many projects; most of them end up completed, but it might be some months - years even - down the line. This weekend I gave myself a stern talking to and ended up with:
a child's pretty bag in lovely Noro Aya, and...
a toddler's cardigan which looks grey, but is actually pistachio green, and...
a baby hat in the new Debbie Bliss cotton mix yarn, Juliet. It was a sample ball and I'm not sure I'll be buying the yarn but still, it looks pretty cool knitted up and the patterns for it are mighty fine too. Decisions...I'm no good at decisions...but I'm getting better at finishing stuff.


Sunday 9 March 2014

Animals! Poppies!

A British Wool Weekend update...


So, we were all making farm animals to be displayed at the show and sold for a donation into the Help for Heroes tin. (We were, weren't we??) Here's the first of the family of mice I'm creating:


Photo: You never get just one mouse, do you? So I have a few more to make - big ones, baby ones - as my contribution to the knitted farm animals being requested for British Wool Weekend 2014.They'll be sold at the show with proceeds going to Help for Heroes. BWW14 is also requesting knitted or crocheted poppies in support of the British Legion. If you'd like to contribute anything but won't be going to the show, please feel free to drop them off at the shop and I'll pass them on to the organiser.


Now, there's a new request, an alternative to the farm animal theme is the Make a Poppy for the British Legion option. This is in remembrance of the outbreak of war in 1914 and all poppies made will be sold with proceeds to the British Legion.


There are lots of patterns - many of them free - for animal and poppy making, available online. Any size, any style, is the remit - be as creative as you like!

Saturday 1 March 2014

Teeny, tiny...

12" circular needles! Yes, you could make a sock on these. Or possibly a wrist-warmer. Needles with a built-in discretion factor - great for knitting in the pub. Or at the park. Or under the desk at work.


This is my fledgling baby hat, knitting up so much easier than on dpns. They're made of stainless steel and cost £5.95, and IMO are well worth it for the satisfaction and ease of far fewer pointy bits.


Photo: Feels like spring this morning - at least I walked down to the shop without a hat - so here's my own version of teeny tiny knitting. As miniature as I get anyway: cotton DK being knitted into a baby hat on a 12" circular needle. If you like knitting in the round, but aren't so keen on dpns...you might like to give these a go for the little items that are too small for regular circulars. 
(The wool's a sample ball of the new Debbie Bliss flecky cotton, Juliet. Very lovely, altho' I haven't bought any yet for stock. What do you think? - anyone got any strong feeling about flecky cottons?)

Tuesday 25 February 2014

Spring workshops

It might not be logical, but I always think of crochet as a spring activity. Possibly because one of the first things I crocheted many years ago was a sleeveless waistcoat - very flower power. I think the girl on the pattern was wearing it over a bikini, which I never did. It wouldn't have gone down well in the sales office of the carpet factory.


I digress...


So, these are our springtime workshops:




23rd March - Beginners' Crochet




13th April - Next Steps Crochet




1st June - Crocheting with Wire.


They're all on Sunday afternoons from 12-4.00pm, and they all cost £25.00, which we ask you to pay in advance please, at time of booking. (I need you to book in advance because in the unlikely event we don't get anyone definitely coming, we'd have to cancel.) You just need to bring a 4mm crochet hook for the first two; everything's provided for the Crocheting with Wire workshop.


Please get in touch if you'd like more detail or if you would like to come along:
threebagsfullwoolshop@googlemail.com
07941133155

Friday 14 February 2014

British Wool Weekend

At Three Bags Full we're big fans of British Wool Weekend which is a lovely show, celebrating British wool and supporting British farmers and fibre folk. It always takes place the first weekend of September, so this year that's the 6th and 7th. And guess what? This year we'll be having a stand on the Sunday, so I'm busy planning lots of British yarn kits and stuff so we'll have lots to offer. Am very excited as this is a big step up from a craft fair at the Piece Hall!

If you'd like more info on the show, there's a website: www.britishwool.net. Or you can join the ravelry group called British Wool Weekend 2014, where I'm posting snippets of show info now and then. Remember, tickets booked in advance cost less and, if you book before the end of June, your details will automatically be entered into a whole series of prize draws so you might end up with a lovely surprise as well.



Saturday 8 February 2014

Officially open!

Yesterday was the big day - buns were baked, balloons blown up, tablecloths were used, the mayor was invited... I hope you're getting a sense of the occasion? If not, here's a picture to help:
Serendipity (teddy bears and dolls' houses)
Red Patch (puzzles and games)
Maria's Stamps (postcards and...er, stamps)
Three Bags Full (wool, patterns, accessories and knittery gifts)
...all now even more ready to welcome customers old and new.

Thursday 6 February 2014

WIPs revisited

Have just posted this picture:

 
on facebook as 'my current work in progress. In reality, of course, there are many WIPs - the vintage jumper, the dinosaur (where is that now?), the wristwarmers, the bobbly cushion, I could go on - but this is my favourite. It's a 4ply knit from one of the two new Bergere magazines.
 
The exciting thing for me is that we still have two even newer Bergere mags to come. But then, I'm sad like that.
 
Italics. How did that happen?

Wednesday 22 January 2014

Settle down now!

Okay, you're all too young to remember Ken Goodwin. Anyway, it's more accurately a matter of nearly settled down now...

Lately I've been trying to intersperse time spent sorting out stuff (piles of wool in the back room - would I work faster if I didn't now have the luxury of a 'back room'?) with some time spent ordering new lines and new colours in old lines. One yarn I'm testing out at present is Crystal Palace Sausalito, a gorgeous and soft multi-tonal 4 ply - a classic sock yarn mix, but not just for socks. Take a look at www.straw.com for all the gorgeous free patterns they offer. This ball looks a bit stunned under the glare of the camera's flash:
If you love sock yarn generally, don't forget we have Bergere's wonderful Goomy 50 in stock - just £3.75 for 50g. Which reminds me, I must finish those wristwarmers I started as a sample knit...another job to add to the list...

Friday 10 January 2014

Blood everywhere...

These are the blood drops I made and sent off for the NHS knitted blood drops appeal. I managed eleven with the oddments of red wool I had and very satisfyingly mindless knitting it was too. Sometimes you just need a dose of mindlessness, y'know? Forgot to wait for the labels I was meant to attach, but they didn't seem to mind too much. Wonder what's going to happen to all these blood drops...seems to be shrouded in mystery.


And we have up to thirty little heart bags, made by the Thursday knit group, to send off to Ruth and Belinda's Heartsease project, supporting disadvantaged children and young people. If you fancy using up some scrap yarn to make simple little heart-shaped bags, the appeal runs till St Valentine's Day, so you've plenty of time.

It's amazing we can find these really, never mind summon the energy to actually send them anywhere...half the shop's still in boxes, the electricity meter still needs registering and I realised latish on that when the first few customers arrived we still had masking tape around the architraving. Anyway, we're in the new premises - The Old Bank, Silver Street, HX1 1HS, if you're looking for us. It'd be lovely to welcome you to our new location.

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Cleaning and painting and packing and unpacking

And feeling very, very tired. That was our Christmas this year. We worked right through trying to knock the new place into some sort of order, but now we're here! It's not perfect, but it's a palace compared with how it was. Old building, been empty a few years...you can imagine. Come and look!

Anyway, when I said we worked through, I exaggerated - we had Christmas Day and Boxing Day off. And I got some lovely yarny presents this year. Here they are:
Yes, those are hand carders - for carding my fleecey fluff which is now approximately clean -  very approximately - but not at all smooth and spinnable. And I got what looks like a fab fiction book of short pieces by writers on knitting. Looking forward to that. And the other book is called Wool,  so I've included it, but it's actually a sci-fi book, so I'll enjoy that too - it has chapters titles like Casting Off...interesting.

Hope you got lots of lovely yarny stuff too.

New address, in case you're looking for us, The Old Bank, 2 Silver Street, Halifax, HX1 1HS. It's the big, grand, old building which looks down Crown Street