New Year, New Look

Welcome to 2015!  This is the year where I will FOCUS on the yarn dyeing and the social media aspects of  the business.

As a new start, I've decided to redesign the website and the online shop.  I do hope you like the new look.  Please do stop by for a look at the shop.  I'll be adding a Gallery with photos of your wonderful, completed projects.  If you'd like your work featured, please do email me.  (ling@whimzy.co.uk)

Going forward, I will be making the new colourways unique, not to be repeated, one off colours.  I've got 3 fun colourways for this week's update:

From left to right - Into the Woods, Winter's Here and Anarchy.  They reflect the colder darker months at this time of year,

I've also got a special promotion of Sokkusu O Mystery Grab bags  - 2 skeins or 3 skeins for a bargain price of £20 or £30.  If you have preference or specific colourway in mind, please do email me as I may be able to accommodate if I have those colours in stock.  Here's some of my picks. 

Culinary adventures

Apart from knitting, crochet, weaving and occasional sewing, I have another passion.  I love cooking.  As a teenager living at home, I never bothered to learn to cook.  The most I could make was a cheese omelette, made with 2 eggs and 1 triangle of Laughing cow cheese.  Mmmmm - yum!

When I left home, many,many years ago to head off to University in a foreign land, I realised that I missed Malaysian food a lot.  Being a poor student, the only way to remedy that was to learn to cook.  Many expensive phone calls to Mum later, I learnt to cook.  I've not looked back since.  I love learning to make new dishes, cooking the same old family favourites, baking.... It does help that hubby and the children love to eat and they're adventurous.

Over the holidays, the children and I tried making cured salmon.  It was inspired by an episode of the Hairy Bikers cookery show.  After a little research on the interwebs, here's my recipe:

Gin cured salmon

500g side of salmon
5 tbsp of sea salt
5 tbsp of sugar
small bunch of dill
zest of 2 lemons
5 tbsp of gin

1 Pat the salmon dry and check for bones.

2. Place salmon on a sheet of clingfilm.

3.  Mix all the curing ingredients in a bowl.  Rub into both sides of the salmon.  Wrap the fish tightly in clingfilm.  Place in a shallow dish.  Weigh it down with something heavy.  I used a bottle of bubbly (which needed to be drunk with salmon!).  Leave it in the fridge for a night or two.

4.  When you're ready to serve, slice the salmon fillet into thin slices.  I served them on slices of crusty baguette, thinly sliced cooked beetroot and a dollop of creme fraiche.

I'm feeling hungry now....

Feeling blue?

For anyone who knows me, I'm really not a Winter person at all.  I hate the cold, the grey, the wet, the long dark days....  So it doesn't surprise me at all that my next 2 projects were blue and grey.  There's a winter theme here!!

First up, is a simple ribbed manly cowl for hubby's BFF.  It's knitted in Sokkusu X in Lapis and HB2.  In fact, I thought the skein wasn't dyed very well as it had quite a light patch through it.  Having knitted it up, I think it looks quite nice.  There's a bit more variegation in the finished item.  I used the HB2 only in the corrugated ribbing so it isn't very obvious.

My next project is another woven scarf.  I had woven it just before Christmas and it was hubby's present.  I used 3 colours of Sokkusu O.  The warp is Lapis and Sky Blue.  The weft is Bones.  It's definitely a manly colour choice.  It's another plain weave scarf.  I love making plain weave scarves as it lets the colours stand out.  I've got some interesting colour choices for my upcoming woven projects.  I'm not sure how it's going to turn out but I'm hopeful it'll work out!  Keep your eyes peeled!

  

New directions

I do love learning something new.  I learnt to weave in 2013.  I bought a rigid heddle loom ages ago and had a lesson from a weaver.  There it sat for years, half completed and very much unloved.

I made the decision to remove this project and make a fresh start.  Several youtube lessons later and I was ready to start.  I made a very simple plain weave scarf.  I used Fontainebleau in Sokkusu O as the warp and Triton in Sokkusu O as the weft.  A few evenings later, I completed the scarf!!  It wasn't perfect but it wasn't too bad for a first attempt.  Tension was the main problem,  The edges were a bit wonky.  It's not very even. Having said that, I'm inspired to make more.

New Year and new start

Happy New Year!!  

I can't quite believe how quickly another year has gone by.  I remember having this exact thought, exactly a year ago.  And here we are, one year later......

2013 had been a year of changes and new adventures.  The new business is still in its infancy but going well. I'm learning a lot about running the business.  I'm having loads of fun with the dyeing.  I'm so grateful for all the support from my wonderful friends, family and customers.  Thank you!!!

One of the drawbacks about making your hobby into the day job, is losing some of the love and enthusiasm for the crafting.  For the last 2 -3 years, this is how I felt.  My Ravelry project page hadn't been updated.  I have tons of started but not finished projects.  I'm surrounded by so much yarn that I'm not interested in yarns, or projects.  Towards the end of this year, I made the decision to actually make and finish some projects.  And to enjoy the crafting.  One of the projects that I really enjoyed was making the button ornaments.  In fact, the whole family got involved too and we had a brilliant time.

My next (almost completed) project is a crochet wreath.   There are so many beautiful crochet wreaths out there and I was inspired to make one too.  It took me a few days to crochet the striped band and the snowman.  I ran out of time to crochet the snowballs but luckily, the white styrofoam balls look OK.  I have a whole year now to put the finishing touches!!

My New Year's resolution, with regards to crafting, is to keep making.  I love making things whether it's knitting, crochet, food, sewing, jewellery and I must remember this.   

Getting ready for Christmas

It's been busy in Whimzy land - life with 3 children and running a business means that I really have no time to do anything!

Today - I decided to have a little fun and make whimsical Christmas decorations.  I have a stash of beads, buttons and jewellery making equipment.  A quick look in Pinterest for some inspiration and here's what I made.  Colourful Christmas tree ornaments.  They're so much fun to make.  I had a little help from Dee and my 3 children when they got in from school.  I think they'll add a splash of colour to any tree.

Photo Challenge Day 1 - UFOs

I really did intend to photograph all my UFO's (UnFinished Objects and long abandoned projects), except that 1 September fell on a Sunday and that means hubby is around the house.  It would take me a fair few hours to dig around the stash and project piles to find ALL the UFOs I have.  I'd have to also admit how many uncompleted things I have!!  I don't think I'm ready to do that.

The longest UFOs I have is Mr Mouse - I started him when I was in University (nearly 25 years ago!)  He was a little stuffed toy that just needed some eyes and ears but because he was my first stuffed toy, he was a bit wonky so I never finished him.  I'm sure he's hiding somewhere in a deep, dark corner at the bottom of a cupboard.

I also have a cardigan which I started for my daughter when she was born.  It was little wrap cardigan in a Dusky Pink colour in Rowan 4ply soft.  She grew too quickly for me to finish that.  And when my second daughter came along, I thought I'd finish that for her, but that never happened too.  I'm such a bad mummy!!

I did manage to take some photos of UFO's that I did manage to find.  This is a crochet blanket that I started 2 or 3 years ago.  I was doing quite well until I ran out of the cream yarn.  I have managed to find more yarn, now for some motivation to finish the blanket.  It might be a lap blanket........

This hexagon is supposed to be a Norah Gaughan tank.  I don't even remember why I didn't continue with it.  Maybe I'll knit a second hexagon and make it into a little bag for one of my daughters.

FO Friday

I want to showcase another beautiful FO in Sokkusu O.  This is Afternoon Tea Shawlette, by Helen Stewart.  The pattern is in Knitty.  It was knitted by Dee.  The colourway is Haymitch - a semi-solid pale blue.  

And if you head over to Dee's blog - you'll notice that she's running a Yarn Photo-A-Day Challenge.  I'm definitely going to participate as I've noticed that I don't take as many photos any more - not of my children, or my knitting (maybe because I've not done much!) or just generally.  I'm looking forward to where this journey takes me.  I'm a bit frightened by Day 1 already - UFOs - where shall I start?  I'm not sure if I could fit it all into 1 shot!  #YARNPADC - come join us in Flickr, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr.

Another work in progress

It has been lovely visiting my parents in Kuala Lumpur.  I can't believe that we've been here almost 3 weeks and it's almost time to head back to London.

The nice thing about being on holiday is the holiday projects.  This time I took 1 knitting project and 1 crochet project.

With my knitting project, I wanted to knit a sample in the Silkie Merino in the fingering weight.  So I jumped on the bandwagon and started a Song of the Sea cowl, by Louise Zass-Bangham.  Here's the link to the pattern on Ravelry.  OMG - I love the Silkie Merino base.  I think I might make myself a top in that base.  It's perfect for this warmer weather.  This is the progress so far.  I just have one repeat of the large waves left to go.  Hopefully, this won't take much longer......  The colour is a silvery lilac (it has more variegation in real life) which I may name Daenerys.

And my other project is a crochet project.  My intention is to make a blanket in all the colourways of Sokkusu O.  Well, I say all, but I don't have all of the colourways, especially the one hit wonders.   The pattern is from Purl bee - Bear's Rainbow blanket.  The link is here. Here's the progress so far. It's going to be a long term project!!!

A newly completed project

I can't believe in the recent heatwave, I finally finish a woolly scarf.  The pattern is Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery.  It's a free knitty pattern - available here.  The yarn is Sokkusu X in Spruced Up, a club colour from last year.  It took 1.3 skeins of yarn.  I knitted it in 4mm needles.

I'm really pleased that I've finally finished this.  It feels amazingly squishy and soft.  I'm glad the weather isn't right to wear the scarf.  I'm happy to wait a few months before I need to wear it!

A new KAL

Over on the Ravelry group, we are running another KAL.  This time we're knitting a shawl.  The pattern is Holden Shawlette.  It's a fairly straightforward pattern.  I had knitted one ages ago in Sunshine Yarns.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lingy143/5729960854/sizes/o/in/set-773527/

It's time for me to knit another one in one of the Whimzy yarns.  I think I've decided to try one of the new yarn bases - Silkie (a merino/silk blend in fingering weight).  I would cast on straight away, except I can't find a single pair of 4mm needles.

Feel free to join us in this knit-along.  There's no requirement to use Whimzy yarns.  Just have fun!

New sock book by Rachel Coopey

Talented designer Rachel Coopey (coopknits on Ravelry) has a new sock book out.  The books are available here : http://coopknits.bigcartel.com/.

We had started a KAL on the Whimzy ravelry group here : http://www.ravelry.com/groups/whimzy

The first pattern for the KAL was Calamint which was knitted in Sokkusu (in Summer Crush) in the book.  It's a gorgeous pattern and quite straightforward, which is perfect for my no-brain knitting.

I've knitted less repeats for the leg as I don't like long socks.  Now I just need to find the motivation to finish sock number 2! The yarn is Sokkusu O in Hydrangea.

A promise to .....

blog more often.  I used to have personal craft blog, many moons ago, where I updated it regularly, had followers, followed others.  But that fell to the wayside.....  Then I decided to start this blog as part of Whimzy, to share colour inspirations, behind the scenes look at yarns, sharing projects and WIPs etc, but a month on, I have failed miserably.

Must.Do.Better.  Really, I must!

I've been really busy organising the new studio, getting new yarn bases and test dyeing them.

Here's a sample of some the new yarn bases:

 Lorelai - (From L to R) in Laceweight merino/silk, Fingering weight Merino/Silk, Fingering weight Merino/Nylon high twist, Single ple merino

Lost Meadow wannabe (these came out very green and pale but still gorgeous)
(From L to R) in Laceweight merino/silk, Fingering weight Merino/Silk, Fingering weight Merino/Nylon high twist, Single ple merino

Queenie
(From L to R) in Laceweight merino/silk, Fingering weight Merino/Silk, Fingering weight Merino/Nylon high twist, Single ple merino

What do you think?  Do you like any of these bases?

A new day, a new adventure.....introducing Whimzy

A big change took place in February this year.  I had been working with Alice on Socktopus for the last year and a half and I'd been getting ready to transfer the business to Hong Kong, where Alice is based.  When suddenly, Alice made me an interesting offer on the Sokkusu business.  One which I was really tempted by......

So, here I am, two months along, with a new company, new studio space but essentially doing the same thing that I'd been doing for the last year and the half - dyeing Sokkusu yarns.  I won't lie, it's been a steep learning curve with regards to setting up a business, designing a website, getting workspace, getting a logo designed..... this is list goes on.  In fact, there still much to do, but I'm getting there.

The website is ready(ish) - it's here.  I'll be offering most of the old Sokkusu colourways on the website as well as creating lots of new ones.  My first collection is based on a deep yearning for Spring and Summer   as we've been stuck in this never-ending cold spell since late September.  The first snowflakes were fun and interesting but now, months later, I've had enough of the grey and the cold.  I need some warmth and some splash of colour.  What do you think of the collection?

From left to right:

Top row - Hydrangea, Spring Storm, Hyacinth, Cornflower, LFB, Green Apple

Bottom row - Fuchsia, Dusky Rose, Madder, Tulip, Goldenrod, Daffodil

Over the coming months I intend to produce a range of colours as well as increasing the yarn range.  As well as stocking popular colours, I will be introducing new colourways every few months.  I am looking forward to producing a range inspired by the upcoming Hunger Games movie.  Please feel free to post any suggestions or ideas you have on the blog with the best suggestions receiving a little surprise from me.

As a final incentive, I am offering a 15% discount for all orders made through the website until 21 April.

Thank you for joining me on this journey!

Ling x