Crochet and Peg Loom

Workshops...

Busy weekend of workshops...crochet, followed by peg loom weaving in Carmarthen on Saturday and then more crochet in Hay on Wye on Sunday morning.

I love teaching and inspiring others to make and create, it's super rewarding and a joy.

Xxx

Llandovery Sheep...

...festival

Great weekend at my local sheep festival...doesn't every town have one?

The sun shone, the spinners spun, weavers wove, burgers sizzled, wool sacks raced, a town crier (a real one, not a little 'un having a tantrum!) choirs sung, Wales won the rugby and the sheep on stage were well behaved...well almost....

I am looking forward to next year already 

Me and my little helper Deri Bevan...she demonstrates peg loom weaving exceptionally well

Sheep on stage...why of course...

My fav...the proud Jacob ram

More lovely sheep...

My stand, already to go...not sure about the hazard type though...weaving is not That dangerous!

(Funny what you miss until you see it back in an image)

Great weekend, met fabulous people, had lots of fun, talked the hind legs off a donkey...

Now to prepare for the next one...west Wales Wool Show in Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, 10th October

Xxx

Plant dyed wool...

...super results from my plant dyeing adventures.

Himalayan Balsam flowers make a lime green....

and Rosebay Willow herb flowers give a gorgeous smokey mauve tone to Blue Faced Leicester wool that's been blended with Merino...making an extra super soft wool

Plant dyeing is such fun and if you are careful...weighing ingredients and logging the results...you can get the same colours time after time.

Always boil up flowers first and leave to steep overnight...use the liquid from your plant 'tea' to dye your wool.

A top tip to get a better colour take up....* always pre mordant your fibre for at least an hour before dyeing, I use alum and cream of tartar*

Drain your fibre and add to your dye bath (a large saucepan that will not be used for food) making sure it's covered with the dye liquid.

Add alum, copper or iron by the teaspoon, depending on what colour result you would like to achieve.

....there's lots of great books out there about using minerals as mordants.....

Generally, I find that copper gives a bright green, iron, either a red or green depending on what the dye bath contains. 

Alum is the most neural of these minerals and will usually give a 'true' colour

**** this is only a very rough guide, I suggest having fun and try them all. Use the same quantity of dye stuff in 3 different pans, same fibre choice and enjoy the different results from each***

Well, there you are, a little bit about the joys of plant dyeing

It does feel great getting out there and gathering berries, leaves, nettles or widely grown weeds!

Just a little word of caution...always leave enough plant for the wildlife and for its own recreation. Wear gloves, as some may be an irritant to the skin. Always have permission from the land owner. Use containers that will not be used for food use.

Then have some fun

xxx

Himalayan Balsam with copper

Rosebay Willow herb with iron

Using the dye bath a 2nd time achieves paler results...the greenhouse works as a great place to dry wool on a showery day...

HRH Prince Charles...

...came to a private viewing of 'Cambrian Wool' and the amazing items that had been made from this super, first class, top quality wool by designer/makers

I have been lucky enough to have my iPad cover design chosen to proudly display the 'Cambrian Wool' label.

This means that my item has been made from wool farmed in the region and also made in the area too. Hopefully this will become a way for the public to recognise the provenance of items sold under the branding and ask for 'Cambrian Wool'

The initiative was set up to help promote wool production in this one region of Wales and HRH Prince Charles is the patron.

It was a great honour to meet the Prince and talk to him about my design.

A great day was had by all.