Would I miss a yarn giveaway???

Weird and Twisted, one of the fabulous handspun art yarn shops on Etsy is having a yarn giveaway to celebrate their third anniversary. And it's not just any giveaway, oh no, the lucky winner will receive a full skein of art yarn, spun especially for her or him! The colours or theme will be based on the 3 inspirational photos all participants in the giveaway have to post on their blog.

To receive a full skein of art yarn spun for...meeee would be my yarn addicted heart's dream!

For more information, please go to Weird and Twisted's blog:
http://weirdandtwisted.blogspot.com/2011/03/blog-candy-win-skein-of-handspun-art.html

Now when I went through my photos, all I found at first glance were yarn pics, fibre photos, knitwear, more yarn, my Turkish spindles, yarn drying in the garden, knitwear, baskets full of fibre, yarn on the window sill, knitwear in progress, yarn everywhere...

To post yarn pics for a yarn giveaway would be a bit like a busman's holiday, so then I looked some more and found these...

Helen's Bay, Northern Ireland

The Belfast Wheel beside the City Hall, now moved to God-knows-where...(Wheel, I miss you!)

The inside of a sadly no longer functioning lap top

Somehow, I am quite surprised about my selection. I had planned (and started) the 3 inspirational pictures all landscap-y, happy, rainbow-y, flowery, Irish-y and colourful, and what came out was quite...urban, metallic, mechanical and powerful, with two things that are no longer at their original place or working as they used to. Oops! What does that say about my mind tonight?

Maybe the common theme is movement...maybe...

Confessions of a yarn addict...

Yesterday, my new Turkish spindle arrived, the second I purchased from Threadsthrutime on Etsy:

Like boys and their toys, I wanted a bigger one than the beautiful one I have already, so that I can spin more yarn at once, and thick one, too!

I was like a Pavlov dog whenever I heard the postman's arrival this week - would it be today that my spindle cometh? Some girls are waiting with baited breath on their prince, I wait for my spindle! At least, the spindle can't turn into a frog..but might as yet spin me gold. And it will certainly spin me...YARN!

Now my house is not only coming down with yarn, but also with fibre! I have carded batts, rovings and tops in baskets in my living room studio, and I buy them faster than I understand the difference between a carded batt and a top!

 Looking like a painting - 'Fireworks' Custom Blend Merino combed top by Shunklies on Etsy

Once upon a time, I was a dedicated shopper of fashion, now, I confess, if it comes to buying clothes or buying yarn, yarn wins hands - or rather knitting needles - down. Occasionally, I have days of beans and spuds just to be able to purchase more yarn! Sometimes I do wonder what people wear nowadays, and if I am still able to dress properly. But who cares - I've got yarn, people, I've got yarn!

I even knit up scraps of old jeans, silk strips, t-shirt yarn and my old cotton shirts.

I suspect that if a peoples' revolution were to break out in Belfast city centre, I would cling to my yarn stash like bankers to their bonuses!

The colours, the texture, the sheer feel of it, and the greed of possession, of having it sitting in my stash ready to be whipped out when an idea strikes me - that's the joy of being a yarn addict like me! My living room studio explodes with colour and fibre - it may be a grey and miserable day outside, but beautiful yarn is running through my fingers, or colourful strands of merino twirl around my Turkish spindle.

 My own handspun yarn in 'sea colours'

The way my stash is growing, I wouldn't need to buy any new yarn for years to come, because I am no octopus and have only two hands, so I won't knit my beautiful treasures up for a long time yet. However, being a crafter and an advocate for slow fashion, that's not a bad thing, because it's the sheer joy of having fibre and developing ideas - each box of yarn is a box of possibilities, of knitwear and wearable art to come!

 Spring will spring, unique wearable art neckwarmer by purlsofcolour
(knitted recycled Sari silk ribbon at the back)

Once I have finished a piece, I nearly find it sad to let go, although I am thrilled when it finds a buyer. Still, yarn has left my stash...it brings a tear to my eye, but then...there is space in the box...hey, an excuse to...buy new fibre! Do I hear the postman at the gate? Are these my yarn parcels from lindsaycrafts and woollygathering???

Let is snow, let it snow, let it snow...

I am a spring and summer babe, but there is something about a cold crisp but sunny winter's day that has a certain magic to it. Coming home to hot chocolate with mashmellows and cream, and a whole big stash of handspun yarn is pure bliss. Do I sound like the Cadbury's advert now?

The weather forcast tells us that it could snow in Belfast this week, and it's going to be -2C tonight. It was already so cold this morning, that despite my super warm boots, which are designed for Continental winters, my toes were freezing. Luckily, as a knitter, I have plenty of warm scarves and hats in my wardrobe, but I am a bit low on mittens and warm socks. At present, I am knitting myself a really warm cowl in gorgeous teal and turquoise yarn from Yarns at Etsy, and adding some of my own slightly wobbly beginner's handspun yarn in shades of purple and blue. I am looking forward to a chilly day to wear it once it's finished.

So what's in my shops at the moment that would make the very cold spell a very fun time for people? Here's a selection of Purls' warmest pieces which will not only keep you snug and warm, but also brighten up your day with their colourful designs.

Colour against the Big Freeze

This hat in Irish and Welsh yarn will certainly keep your head and ears warm. I can't promise that snowballs will bounce off, but at least you'll not be cold!

 Walking through Autumn Leaves

Although this handknit beret hasn't got earflaps, it's so big, soft and slouchy, you can nearly hide underneath it. Also hides a bed head perfectly. A lot of the gorgeous yarn comes from Lindsaycraft's shop on Etsy, and the handpainted yellow yarn is from Pancake and Lulu, also on Etsy.

 

 Mulled Berry cowl

Cowls are really in trend this season, and I love this cowl so much, that I am making myself a similar one! I actually re-wrote this traditional pattern for circular knitting. The beautiful berry coloured handspun yarns are again from Lindsaycrafts, and look so berry, you want to eat this cowl (but don't, it's too nice to end up in somebody's stomach!) 

And yes, you can see me in the mirror taking this picture of my bear model!

Be daring!

When I bought some gorgeous pencil rovings from Shunklies on Etsy, I knew I had to knit really BIG! So I whipped out the big needles and used a usually dainty lace pattern to make a statement. I added a bit of recycled silk yarn in turquoise and purple so that this cowl is truly unique.

Be noticed!

Using another one of Shunklies' pencil rovings and some pink pencil rovings, I handknitted a scarf that can be used as a wrap, a cowl and a shawl, but I guess using it as an invisibility cloak is out of the question, because you'll definitely be noticed!

Tweed Scarf got the Blues

Handknitted from Irish Aran Tweed, banana fibre and recycled silk yarn, this big scarf or wrap consists of two halves that mirror each other. It's a unique piece that is just made for keeping warm outside, and inside a cold old house (like mine).

If you want to see more unique colourful handknit accessories, please check out my Etsy and DaWanda stores. And if you are living in the Southern Hemisphere, and the sun is shining brightly *sigh*, I do have some light knitwear in cotton, cotton ribbon and bamboo, too!