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.