Rodent Romance

Since last week I have finished Neon Tracks, a chunky cowl out of my leftover hand dyed from the Owls jumper. I have become particularly obsessed with this shade. Gorblimey, everything must be Gorblimey. The pattern is another free one of the amazing Ravelry, called Comforting Herringbone Cowl by Rose Jordan. 

 It's a really simple and effective pattern knit in the round with chunky wool = super quick project. I find its good for me to keep a balance between having some quick and easy projects on the needles/hook, as along with some projects that are a bit more of a time investment. Keeps me always interested.

Now onto some mouse related matters. Some of you may already know Rachel the Town Mouse. 

Her life is chalk full of knit club, shop minding, and wine. But lately Rachel has felt she wanted someone in her life to share this lovely life with. She's tried online dating, which never amounted to anything. Why couldn't she just meet a nice mouse man who would love her, appreciate her knitting skills and serve her tasty beverages? Is it so much to ask??

Enter Gustavo. He was on a delivery route with goodies from the Sicilian Bakery down the road. GTS just happened to be on that route, requiring some biscuits as a special treat. 

Rachel, ever cautious, thought Gus seemed like such a kind Italian mouse. I'm pretty sure Mr. Gustavo was bowled over by Rachel's charm and whit. 

So they exchanged numbers and have set up their first date. What is more romantic than two rodents exchanging their life story and views over a plate of spaghetti? Stay turned for the next chapter in Rachel's love life.

Ae Fond Kiss & YORK

Ae Fond Kiss, and Then We Sever tells the tale full of heart ache. In its honour, I have knit a collection of teeny hearts. This are now strung up in the shop window, and so they will remain for Valentine's Day. Multi-purpose says I! The free pattern can be found here.

Now many of you will know that I was off to York on a very mini holiday earlier this week. What a success! Pretty scenery, yarn, buttons, Pad Thai, and plenty of knitty chat.

The Best Tree

View from the bridge

The walk into Toon

And next we get into some yarny business in Ramshambles. I HAD to buy some yarn. Really, I was forced. This expression is actually full of terror if you examine closely.

Vicious kidnappers aka Yarn Shop Ladies

All in all an excellent mini break finished off by a few hours knitting in this charming cafe.

Angelic Knitters

My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose

Yes, this week is yet another post starting out with a reference to Robert Burns. This week's tune is My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose. And in that spirit I knit a headband. The pattern is called Caliometry by Kathryn Schoendorf, and I've just added a couple of wee roses to the side.
  


















Originally I intended to add a bigger rose, more to the tune of THIS pattern. But as you can see below, my rose looks more like brain coral. Hence the need for some rejiggering.

Now we have some very exciting workshops ahead. Vala has added in a new Fair Isle workshop and another combining both knitting and crochet, as mentioned in last week's post. 

Clare is on the books for some fun things. Heels, magic loop, two at a time socks, beginner lace shawls, beading in lace and some very beginner options as well. All the options are available for pondering over on the website. 

I'm actually working on a sample for the short rows workshop, featuring the Aviatrix Hat by Justine Turner. This wee person hat is super cute and knit flat using short rows. It's like magic!

This workshop is taking place on the 8th and 15th of March at 11:30am - 1:00pm and will cost £30. Here is my Ravelry project page if you would like to take a closer look.

To a Mouse

To a Mouse is a well known poem by Robert Burns. So here is a mouse for this week's Robert Burns theme release. A very proud and manly mouse. Welcome him to the window display!




In other news, there are a couple new workshops on the books. First of all is the Fair Isle Wrist Warmers workshop.

Photo by Vala

There is also the Finishing Workshop, which combines both knitting and crochet together and effectively finish off your garments.

And for all you New Lanark fans out there, GTS is doing a promotion for the month of January. Buy 3 balls of New Lanark and get 1 free (most inexpensive item will be free). Just mention this blog post in order to take advantage of this sweet offer!

Drum roll please. I've finished OWLS by Kate Davies. I fashioned this out of my hand dyed, and as I made it cropped it took just a smidge over 4 skeins. This makes for some super duper cozy owls.  

Auld Lang Syne. It's a Robert Burns Kinda Month

I was such a busy bee today. There was loads of hand dyed to be labelled and hung, a window to change, a new Wool of the Month to put out, and of course tea and chats. Therefore, I did not get round to posting an update on the new window display and Robert Burns business till just now. So this week's tune is Auld Lang Syne. Combine that with Ginger Twist's Wool of the Month, and this is the result. Delicious Guernsey stitches.

This is the Guernsey Triangle by Jared Flood. It's really a fabulous pattern that takes classic Guernsey stitches and puts a modern twist on them by incorporating them into a triangle shawl. We should not forget traditions. Rather like old friends and old times, eh? Sounds a bit like a familiar tune.

I fashioned my small triangle with 2 balls of Guernsey 5-ply by Wendy in the natural colourway. This is January's Wool of the Month. Feel free to take a look at my project page on Ravlery. 

I've just finished with next week's Burns items, and it may be my favourite...

GIVE AWAY and Happy New Year!

The names have been put into a hat, and the lucky winner has been drawn. You may recall from last week that a little give away is being conducted. Drum roll please! And the winner of a complimentary copy of SOCK ANATOMY is...Aphaia! The pattern shall be sent to you via Ravelry. Congrats. :)

Don't worry if you didn't win folk, because all Ginger Twisters have a coupon code of their own for 20% off. So use it! The code word for your Ravelry checkout cart is 'ginger1'

As January is the month of Burns Night (the 25th), GTS' theme for the month is Robert Burns and his works interpreted into wool. A new item will be added to the window display each week, along with the poem or song it relates to. As I've not been in the shop since the 2014 has come along, the window display will be changing when I open back up on the 3rd. Tomorrow's themed item will feature the Wool of the Month to the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Oh what could it be??

In the meantime, here is a taster of recent additions to my knitting world.

OWLS by Kate Davies

Maize by Tin Can Knits

Wingspan by Maylin Tri'Coterie Designs

There are a few other things that have yet to be photographed. Luckily I was a good girl and got a fancy new camera for my Christmas!

Ginger Twist Studio has now been open 6 months, and its really been an whirlwind. Fun, exciting and stressful at times. I'm really excited for what potential the new year holds. But after running the shop for 6 months, this busy bee has been able to take a few days off over the holidays. Hallelujah! Mind you, I am spending most of this free time knitting and dyeing yarn (while in my lounge wear) and hanging out with my loved ones. It's been fabulous. And I'm now very much looking forward to getting back into the shop tomorrow.

Boxing Day Give Away: SOCK ANATOMY

Happy Boxing Day! The shop will be reopening tomorrow, and in the meantime, I thought some bloggy bits were in order. Today consists of sock chat (I know, I know! I just can't stop talking about them). I don't even consider myself to be a serious sock knitter. But enough about me, let us move onto someone who is a serious sock mistress.

Clare Devine is just too clever! You may have already heard some hubbub over her e-book on the interwebs. SOCK ANATOMY is an e-book priced at £9.00, which is a fantastic deal. It's 53 pages on sock techniques and methods, and includes some adorable baby sock patterns. This allows you to practice different techniques on a smaller scale (with less pressure), and you can then implement these techniques into your adult sock knitting. It does not matter if you do not have a baby to knit for.

My favourite pattern from this book is Flexor. I've whipped up these teensy things using scraps from the shop stash; some Ginger's Hand Dyed Delight 4ply and King Cole Merino Blend 4ply.

Flexor by Clare Devine

This particular pattern uses an afterthought heel, which is a fantastic method for those beginners who may be terrified of heels. There are also instructions for both top down and toe up, take your pick. I used to be a toe up sort of gal, but have been converted to top down over the past couple years. 

Use up your wee scraps for wee socks!

Now we come to the GIVE AWAY bit. Which sock pattern out of Clare's new book is your favourite? Post your answer in the comments section below,and be entered into a drawing to win a copy of SOCK ANATOMY! The winner shall be drawn next Thursday the 2nd of January. Start your year off with socks!  

Alternatively, if you don't win or you just can't bear to wait, Clare is offering a discount to all you Ginger Twisters out there. Use the coupon code 'ginger1' in your Ravelry checkout cart, and this will give you 20% off SOCK ANATOMY (coupon code is valid until the 14th of January, so get on it like a bonnet)!

If you fancy reading more about Clare, please take a gander at this interview with her on a previous GTS blog post. You can also find her on Ravelry as knitsforklipskaap.