The Choosing of the Yarn

Knowing what yarn to choose for a particular project can be a bit tricky, but it can be done. You don't always have to purchase the exact same yarn used in a project, Why not put your own spin on a  pattern? Just bear in mind, there are several things to consider when substituting a different yarn: weight, yardage, fibre content, and colour. Hint hint: Ravelry is great for finding out what weight a yarn is classed as, if it does not specify on the label.

I love the Shawl Collar Cardigan by Anna Wilkinson (as modelled by Joan). Alpaca was used for the original design that I presently have displayed in the shop, but anything in a dk weight will do.  Now alpaca has a significant amount of drape, but I thought this cardi would really suit a yarn with a bit more structure. Enter Brigantia Luxury Double Knit. And don't forget the buttons!

What yarn and colours would you choose?

Designer of the Month: Anna Wilkinson

The month of April sees a new Designer of the Month at GTS Headquarters. Put your hands together for the amazing Anna Wilkinson. I must admit that I was immediately drawn to her designs, as many of them have a vintage feel (crop that jumper!) with fun & funky colours. 

Anna had a knitting book published in 2012: Learn to Knit, Love to Knit. This book is now being stocked at Ginger Twist Studio. Come in for a look at all her amazing samples and a flip through. There are so many lovely things she has sent me (all from the book). They shall be rotated round the shop throughout the month. Here is Joan sporting another school girl rendition. This seems to be one of her favourite fashion themes as of late. 

Wouldn't the College-Style Cardi look great in these 2 colourways? Mmmmmmm. 
 

The new 4ply by West Yorkshire Spinners

Spill the Beans: Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl

I have admittedly been behaving a bit coy and cryptic over social media channels as of late, but I do love a good secret. And what good is a secret if other's can't be yearning to know what it is?! Now it is time to spill the beans! This year shall be the first year of an official yarn crawl for Edinburgh. It has been deemed:

  

And all the villagers rejoiced!! It's about high time Edinburgh had this event under its belt.  So mark your calendars for Saturday 21 June, 2014. There will be more information to come on obtaining your Yarn Passport, joining a group, the after-party and more. But for now, here are the shops that are taking part. We are a trio of fantastic ladies (I dare anyone to contradict!).

Jess (me) at Ginger Twist Studio

Cathy at Kathy's Knits

Mei at Be Inspired Fibres

Here is a photo that was taken by Cathy's kind husband during a photo shoot for the Edinburgh Evening News. Watch this space, and you can also keep up to date with the Indie Burgh Yarn Crawl by liking the Facebook page, and join the Ravelry group.

Cathy and I with quite a haul!

Forget- Me-Not

Earlier this morning I was busy wrestling with blocking wires and pins in order to block my Simmer Dim by Gudrun Johnston, and Song of the Sea by Louise Zass-Banghan. And I am now just about to run to shop, so pictures will come later. Anyhoo, it just struck me that I was so busy plotting yesterday that I forgot to do the regular blog post! Oh my! 

So this is all I will update you on for the moment. And I hope to update you all with some exciting Edinburgh related news very soon. 

*Hint: Yes, yarn is involved.

Steeking: Lucas and the Singing Bowl

GTS has its first guest blogger, the one and only Lucas. Imagine we are all sitting round the campfire and Lucas has a flash light which he is shining up at his face from below (which puts ones nostrils all aglow). This is the tale of the spooky Steeking! (dramatic pause for effect) MWAHAHAHAHAHA! Okay, take it away Lucas.

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Steeking (definition): an eight-letter word that strikes fear into the hearts of knitters everywhere, usually followed by the shocked reaction “You want to do what?!” You heard me right; I’m going to cut a big hole in my knitting.

Steeking is a technique whereby front openings, armholes or necklines are cut out of a piece of knitting after the body is already finished. Steeking allows you to knit garments completely in the round; by not having to work a wrong side the knitting process is faster, results in a more consistent tension especially when doing colourwork, and you have far fewer ends to weave in when you’re done. 

Photo by Lucas

Photo by Lucas

These all sound like great benefits at the beginning of a project – it’s amazing how quickly the bravado fades when the scissors come out.

Photo by Lucas

Photo by Lucas

D-day for me was last Monday. After six months of working on my Dale of Norway “Berge” jumper the garment-pieces were assembled, the scissors were new and sparkling, and the amazing Town Mouse Knitters were gathered around ready to toast my success or pick me up if disaster struck. 

 















But the knitting gods were pleased with us all that night (maybe it was Cyria’s virtuosic talent with the Tibetan singing bowl?) and the scissors cut true. With the new armholes installed I mopped my forehead, took a quick gulp of stout, and just carried on where I left off – with this big hurdle now cleared the finish line finally came into view.

Steeking is totally scary but it isn’t magic. By getting advice from your friends, learning from resources in print and on-line, and having someone there to keep your nerves calm and your scissor-hand steady, you can do anything. A well-tuned singing bowl doesn’t hurt either.

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If you would like to keep an eye on Lucas' progress, check out his Ravelry project page...rumour is the jumper has been finished.

My So-Called Obsession with Neon Green

Let us chat about my subconscious desire to in-cooperate this shade of Lime by Navia into every possible project until there is none left. This one 50 gram ball of worsted weight magic has made it into:

Voar (lovely knitted work compliments of K.M. Bedigan)

Torshavn

My interpretation of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Wristwarmers with Contrast Rib by Anna Wilkinson

And now here it is again in the form of a coffee cozy. Meet the Expercolator, warmer and keeper of the coffee.

Free pattern on Ravelry

This was what finished off the remains of my Navia Trio stash. And now here is what remains:

I also may or may not have recently procurred a lil' neon green notebook.

And I shall leave you with a wee shout out about workshops. The Magic Loop Workshop with Clare is full up for this month, but there are spaces in next April's class. Early bird gets the worm, if that bird wants to learn to get by without double-pointed needles!

Wool of the Month: Navia Trio

March is the month for Navia Trio, a delicious blend of Faroese, Shetland and Australian wool. This takes on the form of a worsted weight yarn full of bounce and magic. Look at those shades!

5 shades of the Navia Trio are currently available at GTS, and I've planned on getting more in. It suits colour work really well. And now for the samples. Here is Torshavn by Susan Crawford, which is actually based on an old Faroese stitch pattern. How perfect is that?!

Torshavn by Susan Crawford

Meet VOAR by K.M. Bedigan. Voar is the Shetland word for Spring. And what could sing Spring more than bright turquoise and neon green? These fingerless mitts are actually a sample for a Fair Isle Workshop happening later in the month. There are still a few spaces available, so please do inquire if you are interested. 

Or for those of you already in the know, get the pattern. If you buy 2 balls of Navia Trio from GTS, get a coupon code for your free copy of VOAR.  

Voar by K.M. Bedigan

Speaking of Shetland, I had a lovely visitor in the shop today. Louise Scollay is a delightful wool lover with an infectious laugh. I immediately got the sense we were kindred spirits. There was bonding over tea and cake, as Louise brought along her fancy schmancy recording equipment to include moi in her podcast. 

Woolly ladies

For those of you who have never heard of the amazing Louise, she does a podcast called 'Knit British,' which supports the use of British yarns. So if you enjoy a good woolly podcast, stay tuned for Ginger Twist Studio's guest appearance!