I have still been working, if somewhat silently. There’s been Knit Nation, organising next round of Squee! club, getting stock for Loop order and dyeing and winding up almost half so far, dyeing up a contract order for a Wensleydale flock owner in Suffolk plus looking after the children and taking them on occasional days out. Which means shop updates have been few and far between which is a little frustrating, but give me another two weeks, and I’ll be ready to roll with them again.

In the meantime, we spent our week’s holiday in Suffolk this year – a beautiful county – so I thought I’d share some of my holiday snaps (oh joy, I hear you cry – holiday photos, my favourite!)

A Tribute to Suffolk – by Debbie Orr

Suffolk seems to me to be a county of many contrasts. Huge skies, vast arable fields, blowy North Sea beaches, Suffolk pink cottages and weathered beach huts.

I could mention our total awe at the original size of the now ruined Abbey of  St Edmund, but I think I’ll start with something woolly. A trip to the wool town of Lavenham, noteworthy for its medieval half-timbered houses and textile-related past. There are clues to its history everywhere.

Wool Cottage

Dyers Hall

Indeed, we learned that the dyers’ quarters in the town were on Water Street.

With a town so rich in textile history, just had to visit the museum.

In fact, the building itself will appear in the next Harry Potter film. The film crew descended on the town back in January and created a snowy scene using the museum building as a backdrop.

Inside did not prove disappointing.

A basket of naturally dyed yarn

How much would I have loved to take these antique skein winders home with me to put them to good use.

And this umbrella swift is not altogether unlike the one I use on a daily basis!

Outside was the dye garden filled with potential colours for wool.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the lovely Queenie Amanda when I saw this – the true queen of natural dyeing.

This was the area around the farm where we were staying. It’s easy to see how artists such as Constable and Gainsborough were inspired by such a rural idyll – perhaps without the hefty telegraph pole!

And the unused dark timber barns dotted all round the countryside! If only I could’ve picked one up and brought it home – what a perfect workshop that would have been.

More Suffolk photos

Beach huts at Southwold

Vast sky

Beach at Great Yarmouth with wind farm

(not technically Suffolk – but Norfolk)

Yummy cream tea at shabby chic cafe in Southwold

Random Hollyhock on the beach

Enormous Scallop Shell sculpture on beach at Aldeburgh

Houses decorated for Aldeburgh carnival

And imagine my joy on stumbling across Wibbling Wools in Bury St Edmunds – lovely yarn shop filled with modern yarns and several knitters on squidgy sofas. Was very restrained and just bought a book as family plus dog getting restless outside as I was spending too long browsing.

And having a holiday meant some actual completed knitting. I finished my Austin Hoodie – yet to get a decent photo of it, but have been wearing it often – even wore it without ends sewn in when we stopped for something to eat after I’d just finished it in the car!

And in true Two Ronnies style, I made “four candles” or is it “fork handles” for the Jackson’s 135th birthday knitted cake and a length of golden icord for part of the decoration. There’s no getting away from it – the shape of these is somewhat amusing.

And finally, something of which I’m pretty proud – a contract dye order for Tracy Ranger who owns the Gedgrave Flock of Wensleydale sheep in Suffolk.

Tracy runs an on-farm shop where she sells wool from her flock and also attends the Orford Country Market every Saturday with her wares. If you’re interested in Skein Queen-dyed Wensleydale, she also does mail order. If you’re a spinner, she also sells rovings and locks and the occasional sheepskin.

Laceweight (left to right): Green Apple, Faded Roses, Rambling Rose, Figleaf, Buddleia and Damson Plum.

Aran (left to right): Carrot Juice, Cranberry Jelly, Damson Plum, Cox’s Pippin, Green Apple

Contact info. for Tracy is here.

Some of you may have seen the details in The Knitter magazine. As you know, I’ve had a six-month break from the clubs but am ready and raring to go again with lots of new ideas and fresh inspiration.

So, I’ve amalgamated the Queen’s Reading Room and the Queen’s Film Club into one this time round and called it the Queen’s Surprise Club.

As a member, you will receive a yarn of my choosing from my range of luxury yarn bases – most of which are listed here. My clubs are always just about the yarn to keep costs as low as possible, but you will also receive an inspiration sheet explaining how the colourway came about. And inspiration will be drawn from literature, film or tv – so could be anything from Hemingway to True Blood or Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

You can choose whether to received one skein per month or two skeins. And choose whether to have semi-solid, variegated or a surprise option.

The first book to provide inspiration will be Room by Emma Donoghue. (Please don’t be put off the setting and subject matter – it’s beautifully written).

Prices are for three months (end of Sept, Oct and Nov.)

Single skein per month – £45 for UK and Europe – £47 ($70) for Rest of World

Two skeins per month – £85 for UK – £87 for Europe – £90 ($135) for Rest of World

To join the Queen’s Surprise Club, simply email me at skeinqueen@gmail.com. Remaining places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

For existing members who rejoined, I hope you are looking forward to having a yarnie parcel dropping on your doorstep over the next few months and don’t forget, you can chat about the club and exchange yarn at Skein Queenery group on Ravelry.

This is where you’ll be able to find the yarn.

This is where you can find more information on the yarn.

And this is some very exciting news for September which I’d like to take the opportunity to share with my fellow SQueenies. More on that at a later date.

Heathered Pink – Opulent – 100% cashmere – 3 skeins

French Rose – Blush – merino/cashmere – 1 skein (enough for some Sweet Chicory socks)

Plumberry – Blush – merino/cashmere – 1 skein

Plum Betty – Blissful – BFL – 1 skein

Wicked Stepmother – Blissful – BFL – 1 skein

Dragonbird – Blissful – BFL – 2 skeins

Crimson Dreams - Encore – BFL/nylon – 1 skein

Lipstick – Encore – BFL/nylon – 2 skeins

Gretel - Encore – BFL/nylon – 1 skein

Grape – Kimono – silk – 4 skeins

Love – Kimono – silk – 3 skeins

Flamenco – Glister – silk – 5 skeins

Delft Blue – Glister – 4 skeins

Olive Branch – Glister – 5 skeins

Electric Lime – Squash – superwash merino – 2 skeins

Olive Snook – Squash – superwash merino – 2 skeins

Summer Bunting – Crush – superwash merino/nylon – 1 skein

Misdemeanor – Crush – superwash merino/nylon – 1 skein

Bon Temps – Crush – superwash merino/nylon – 1 skein

I’m off to Scotland with the royal children and dog, but am planning to bring the hand-dyed yarn with me to be able to post out should any purchases be made, but will be shutting the rest of the shop so that only the hand-dyed yarn will be available. Have since discovered how complicated it is to keep just one shop department open, so am going to close the entire shop and it will be available for browsing only.

It will reopen on my return around 22nd August. Happy summer!

PS Squee! club sign-ups on my return.

This is my humble, eclectic hand-crafted Skein Queen stand.

Lots of summery colour and bunting.

And even some fibre.

Suzanne (alabamawhirly) showing off the Twitter Bird kits which proved very popular.

And… in total contrast… here is the spectacular Wollmeise stand! We spoke to the uber-talented Claudia before the show briefly and she was lovely. I wonder what she made of the stampede to her stand when the doors opened on Thursday evening. I guess she’s used to it!

These two little beauties had to come home with me. The top one is Lavendel and is earmarked for a pair of Manolo socks from the latest Twist Collective and the bottom one is Ruby Thursday laceweight destined to become a Whisper cardigan – when I don’t know! But in the meantime, I’ll just admire.

The very best bit was getting to meet so many customers and friends – and from all over the world – France, the States, New Zealand and E. Europe – oh, and from just down the road in Newbury.

This is Charlie modelling her incredible Snowbird by Heidi Kirrmaier knitted using different colourways in SQ Desire.

And here’s Jen from The Knitter modelling her delicious Whisper cardigan by Hannah Fetig which she knitted using just two skeins of Lotus Yarns heavy laceweight cashmere in Silver as part of our KAL in Skein Queenery.

And Kira in her gorgeous Whisper cardigan knitted in a mystery yarn that is extremely beautiful.

And the lovely Gerri stopped by to show me this scarf she’d woven using SQ Kimono silk together with a Posh Yarn silk – absolutely stunning – I just haven’t captured the colours and skill in this photo, but it was wonderful to see.

And thanks to the help of Kira, Mela and Mel, we were able to take a break from time to time and meet some of our fellow exhibitors and friends.

Suzanne with the lovely Sarah at Ysolda‘s stand.

Ysolda wearing the very special Coraline I made in April. (This was taken in Ysolda’s photo booth on her stand but there’s another very dodgy one taken at the Ravelry party afterwards, isn’t there, Jen TechEd?!)

Juliet from John Arbon Textiles – this was pre-show as I’m sure she didn’t get a chance to sit down during it!

By Day 3, delirium was setting in this corner of Skein Queenery.

Mela, Mel and Suzanne.

Mela (looking very efficient with her measuring tape), Mel and me.

Crashed out at the end of the show post car-loading and pre-Ravelry party with our delicious feast of four croissants and a packet of Fig Rolls!

And then time for the Ravelry party. As guests entered, Jess and Casey (Ravelry founders) greeted everyone, and the party was underway.

This is Charlotte (on the left) who had created the longest Clapotis I’ve ever seen – 3 skeins of Noro for this one.

I only managed to get one slightly shaky photo of the party itself as I was busy hobnobbing and chit-chatting with everyone, but if you want to see more, try joining Knit Nation group on Flickr.

It was great getting to meet and chat to Jess, but also the Loop team, Ysolda, The Knitter peeps, Debora and Mim from Simply Knitting, Susan Crawford, my lovely customers over from France (very exciting), Emma from Atomic Knitting and at this stage, my mind goes blank, because sheer and utter exhaustion had set in!

I was proud to be one of the sponsors of the Ravelry party and delighted to receive one of these project bags which each guest received as a memento.

And I’d rather not mention exactly how many emails went back and forth with Jess to get this logo right – eventually had to call in the services of my graphic designer, Pat, who saved the day.

We all got given a raffle ticket on the way in to the party and mine was number 60. Every time a number got called, I got stupidly excited (remember, by this time, completely exhausted and one glass of wine had been had!) and poor Meghan from Loop had to nudge me when my number actually was called!!

I’d won THE most beautiful prize – a cute Ysolda bag containing not only a Damson kit with a skein of Malabrigo in Ravelry Red, but also both Whimsical Little Knits books – it made my night! Thanks, Ysolda – so generous.

So that’s it. Knit Nation is over. And here are the remnants. Thank you to Alice Yu and Cookie A for organising it.

I have just enough hand-dyed yarn left for the shop update – now on Thursday evening – but there’s still plenty of Lotus Yarns cashmere in the shop – a couple of colours are low in stock due to its popularity at the show. Please note I’ll be on holiday from 7th August to 22nd August.

And finally, and with no more ado, the winner who managed to free the giant skein of delicious hand-dyed yarn from the Twitter birds by saying why it should come home with her in 140 characters or less was Lucy Honour. Congratulations, Lucy – I’ll be contacting you to see where to send it.

Lucy’s winning entry was:

The giant skein of delicious hand-dyed yarn should come home with me because I could make a big enough flock of twitter birds to re-enact the Alfred Hitchcock film in Hyde Park.

I liked this entry because it encapsulated the bird theme perfectly, the size of the skein and our location.

The runners up who were close but no cigar, were:

Tamsyn Spooner with – I have three children (8,4 and 2) and it’s the summer holidays.

Deadly Knitshade with – Otherwise my flying knitting machete monkeys will be angry. You wouldn’t want to make them angry.

Jen Arnall-Culliford with – Yarn is for life and not just for Christmas.

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to enter and hope you enjoyed our bit of Twitter bird fun.

Nearly ready but so much still to do today. Thought I’d give you a preview of some of the yarn for Knit Nation.

I’ve gone for lots of summery colours but there should be something for everyone – lots of Olive Snook, lots of red, lots of cobweb, some fibre, lots of Enchant and several skeins of most.

And while we’re talking of Enchant (which incidentally the Skein Princess thought was made up of 70% baby – she didn’t see the word “alpaca” on the next line of the label! Well, it is as soft as a baby’s bottom!) I just have to show you these two beautiful Austin Hoodies – pattern by Connie Chang.

This gorgeous pink one was knitted by Maki in Japan. She used just 2.4 skeins of SQ Enchant in custom dyed Rambling Rose colourway to make size 32. It just suits her beautifully – I love this version.

And this version is by Suzanne (alabamawhirly) knitted in custom dyed SQ Enchant also, this time in the Motmot colourway. Again, the colour suits her perfectly, especially with her floral dress. Suzanne used 2.6 skeins to make the second size.

Two beautiful garments on two lovely ladies.

Right, onwards with the Knit Nation preparations… hope to see you there – don’t forget to say hi.

…I see another colourful batch of yarn to be named and labelled all ready for Knit Nation. About halfway through now. All suggestions for colourway names welcome as my brain’s gone into meltdown and I’m getting a wee bit too creative.

Skein Queen celebrated three years of trading back in June and to mark the occasion, I could think of no better way than asking the outcasts over for a bite to eat and some Kir Royales to thank them for all their support over the years.

It happened to coincide with our appearance in Simply Knitting magazine which Barbara (wildfennel) brought over for us to ogle over.

As so tastefully modelled by Suzanne (alabamawhirly), there’s a whole feature on the Jelly Tea Party hosted by the outcasts for Susan Crawford back in June.

Then Mela discovered another “What’s on the Needles” column featuring yours truly which I’d completely forgotten about and they had a good giggle at the photo – I think the words “convict” and “drunkard” came up – I really need to get some decent photos taken for this kind of thing!

It was a night filled with food, drink, good company and lots of giggles.

And didn’t you know, coral is the new yellow!

I did promise to let you know how you could win this delicious giant 500g skein of hand-dyed yarn worth £50 at Knit Nation at the end of the month.

So, I’ve been having a bit of fun putting together a competition based on social networking site, Twitter (but you don’t have to be on Twitter to participate).

To free the yarn from the birdcage, on a slip of paper provided at the show, the idea is that you state why in 140 characters or less the yarn should come home with you. I shall read all the entries on my return to SQ HQ and choose the most imaginative or clever or funny or endearing entry, announce the winner here on the blog and the yarn shall be sent directly to you to do with as you please. So, if you’re going to Knit Nation, get your thinking hat on now!

You may have noticed that the yarn is guarded by some little knitted Twitter birds.

I designed these to be knitted in one piece, starting at the tail, shaping through the body and then the head. The beak is formed by using your cast off stitches. Just a fun way to use up scrap yarn or mini squeens.

At the show, I’ll be selling the Twitter bird patterns and the Plushness mini skeins used to make them.

There will also be a limited number of kits available for £5 each.

Little Desire is half the amount of a normal skein of Desire.

Perfect amounts for a small child’s garment, gloves or scarves – get started early on your winter knitting!

To get your hands on a bit of Desire, in whichever shape or form, the place to be is the SQ shop at 8pm BST.

Beachcomber – Desire – 3 skeins

Charlottesville - 2 Desire, 1 Little Desire

Copperhead Road – 2 Desire, 1 Little Desire

Dragonbird – 3 Desire

Magenta Plum – 5 Little Desire – with some paler areas on these skeins

Plum Betty – 1 Little Desire

Wisteria – 5 Desirable

Summer Bunting – 1 Desirable

These next three skeins are toning but not the same:

Astrantia I – 1 Desirable

Astrantia II – Desirable

Astrantia III – 1 Desirable

Preparations for Knit Nation are going well. Lots and lots of sock weight and laceweight so far – just wish the sunshine we’ve had over the past few weeks was still with us when yarn dried outside in an instant.

Rain = not good at all for yarn drying.

Tomorrow will be the last shop update before the show – the next update being early August.

The Skein King and I are also developing a brand new sleek SQ website which is exciting but extremely time-consuming. Can’t wait til the reveal…

But have still squeezed in some knitting time. Am making progress on my Austin Hoodie and have incorporated some Socks That Rock in Rook-y as a second colour into the woven section. I love that it’s not a solid black, but has hints of teal and purple.

And finally, congratulations to Alabamawhirly and Patinha who have already finished their Austin Hoodies on the Skein Queenery KAL on Ravelry. And the Whisper cardigans (another KAL) are coming on beautifully too. Can’t wait to see all the photos – and some in person at Knit Nation.

PS Did you know there’s a Skein Queenery Facebook group now. Come and join!

]]> http://www.skeinqueen.co.uk/blog/?feed=rss2&p=2084 2 http://www.skeinqueen.co.uk/blog/?p=2071 http://www.skeinqueen.co.uk/blog/?p=2071#comments Sun, 11 Jul 2010 18:51:40 +0000 admin http://www.skeinqueen.co.uk/blog/?p=2071 You may have pondered on why I haven’t been restocking the gorgeous Lazyhill Design stitch markers lately. Well, the truth is, my good friend Rachel Roberts, who is behind the brand, has been somewhat busy of late.

She’s moved house from Old Windsor to the beautiful village of Abbotsbury in Dorset, just one mile from Chesil Beach.

She’s also acquired a puppy this year, is getting married and still working full-time at our old workplace. But has miraculously squeezed in the time to open a brand new gift shop stocked with tempting items made in the UK.

The Lazyhill Gallery is now open so if you happen to be in Dorset

over the summer break, it’s well worth a visit.

Of particular interest to knitters or crocheters, Rachel is stocking Made by loumms project bags – I own one myself and wouldn’t be without it – not only gorgeous fabric and buttons, but practical too.

I love the fresh airy feel of the shop – yet it’s not stark with the warm wooden floors and duck egg blue fixtures.

I still have a limited supply of Lazyhill stitch markers, but sadly once they’re gone, they’re gone.

But our loss is Rachel’s gain and I wish her all the best in her new, exciting adventure.