Ever dreamed of opening your own wool shop?

If so, you might like to take a look at our new ebook: So you'd like to open a wool shop...

Find out what worked for us and the stuff we should've done differently. Loads of learn-from-our-mistakes tips! We've covered finding a place, choosing stock, customer service, those sticky money matters, just about everything you need to know.

Available now from the Amazon Kindle store for £3.38.

 

Wavy Gravy Hat

I know, I know, it's hardly woolly hat weather! But still, you see a ball of wool all on its own, looking gorgeous, and you find just the pattern... So, I couldn't resist this quick-knit little hat which is made from a free pattern by Iconoclastknit.

And this is it being modelled:

Yeah, she looks a bit pouty, but I'm sure it's nothing against the Wavy Gravy, altho' it's come out slightly (very) swimming hattish, so if I was making another, I'd add a rib edging and make it more slouchy. And after that I'd probably make a matching scarf. Because you just can't have enough woolly self-striping.

EDITED TO ADD: so, I wrote this and then I lay in bed - y'know those nights when you can't sleep? you've no new worries and it's not too hot and you try all the deep breathing you can, but you still can't sleep? - well, anyway, I lay in bed thinking that was so ungracious, to knit up a free pattern and then say nothing positive about it, just that the finished product looks like a swimming hat! Well, let me add: this is a pretty pattern. And I'm always grateful for free patterns, especially those offering great ideas for using up oddballs. And even more especially for those that include a note saying the designer doesn't mind if you sell your finished objects. But maybe my head's too big and my hair's too long for it to look good on me. I'm picturing it in a different yarn actually - something pale and slightly silky. And I'm seeing it atop a sleek blond bob. A little fringe peeping out at the front. And a cute kiss curl on each rouged cheek. There's a 1920s vibe about it. So, nice pattern. Try it.

So you want to open a wool shop...

...well, watch out for our new ebook - with exactly that title - which should be published next week.

It's a new venture for us and has been, as they say, a steep learning curve, but now it's nearly ready. It's kind of a how-not-to-do-it guide - light-hearted, but with loads of information too. I'm hoping it'll be available on kindle from early next week and will be at a special low price for the first week, so sneak in fast if you'd like to read it. (Don't forget if you don't have a kindle - and I don't! - you can download free from Amazon a kindley-type thing to your pc or laptop that allows you to read kindle books on your own computer.)

This is Mike's lovely, simple and clear, cover photograph: