Phew...

Lace Club parcels are on their way....

Sock Club parcels are on their way....

One Off Wednesday is all ready to go, at 5pm (GMT) tomorrow....

Can I be excused for a nap now, please?

PS. Thank you everyone for commenting yesterday - it was lovely to hear from you all. Made my day!

October 31st, 2006 | |

Backwards, Forwards...

Does anyone else feel that their weekend was too short, finished too abruptly? Despite the extra hour, my weekend just whizzed by, and I'm a little crabby that it's Monday morning already.

Some highlights of the weekend: flitting between knitting projects, the scrap shawl, the new hat, the old socks for Mr P...... lazily flipping through the pages of Living magazine..... napping, a little..... shopping without spending (the most satisfying kind of shopping, to me anyway) in Edinburgh...... good food..... an entertaining movie........ and to finish off, a little sock knitting at an almost deserted roof top bar, overlooking the up and coming Leith waterfront. Ah, good times.

Now for some highlights of the week ahead: Sock Club and Lace Club will be shipping out tomorrow...... oodles of fabulous yarn for this week's One Off Wednesday......... two huge shipments of new yarns arriving (with a bit of luck, I might be able to sneak some previews into the One Off Wednesday loot)...... and some new 'extras' that I think you will love, which should go live towards the end of the week. It's going to be a busy week. Better get going!

PS. One little request: it gets a little lonely here sometimes, chattering away to myself. Leave a comment sometime, to let me know you're out there!

October 30th, 2006 | |

Weekend...

Ah, the weekend finally came.....Not that it hasn't been a good week - oh, it has - but it's been crazy busy. And this weekend I've earned my rest.

Tomorrow we're heading up to Edinburgh for some down time. A little gentle book shopping, a film, some sushi, a glass or two of wine. Ah, I'm looking forward to that.

But today, I'm especially looking forward. Today is going to be unusually peaceful, because I have the house to myself. This is a rare occurrence, since Mr Posh and I do everything together. Work, chores, rest, play. I can't tell you how fabulous it is, or how lucky I know we are to be able to spend 24/7 together, and enjoy it. One of the blessings of this business is that it has enabled us to be more of a partnership, and to discover how incredibly well we work as a team.

But occasionally, it's nice to have some alone time. I plan to potter, to drink tea in my pyjamas, to do a few rows of one project, a few rows on another. To work my way down a stack of old Martha Stewart Living magazines that I got off eBay. Maybe to watch an old black and white film.

And to enjoy the luxury of missing my husband. And welcoming him home again at the end of the day.

Enjoy your weekend, whatever your plans. I'll see you Monday.

xxx

October 28th, 2006 | |

In the Nick of Time...

Finally I can show you the socks I've been working on! These, I'm ashamed to say, took me nearly two months to complete. The swap deadline was end of October, so I only just made it. Phew.

They were knitted for the sock swap, and I knitted them for Cairi, who only lives down the road from me! The socks were knitted from our pure cashmere sock yarn, in the shade Stonewashed. I wanted to do an all over cable design that I found, that looks like waves breaking on a seashore (hence the colourway), but swatching revealed that all over cables on a sock results in a rather unyielding fabric, especially in cashmere which doesn't have much stretch. So I designed these as a compromise, inspired by a picture of some socks in Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears. Rather effective, don't ya think?

The cables run down the centre of the front and back of the swap, and 2x2 rib in between gives a snug fit. This sock pattern has a secret destination, about which more will be revealed at a later date. But Sock Clubbers get a sneak peek at the pattern next week, as it's a freebie for November's Sock Club members.

These were fun to knit, but I'm looking forward to going back to non-deadline knitting. Which of my current projects should I pick back up - the squishy hat, the Mr Posh socks, the Fair Isle tank top, the shawl, the baby something. Or shall I be completely evil and start something new.... I have all these scrunchy silk here (my beloved Bella), just crying out to be made into a funky scarf to brighten up winter days. Hmm, decisions, decisions.....

October 27th, 2006 | |

I'm so excited...

There was a bit of a feeding frenzy yesterday, as one customer put it, and most of the sale yarn has gone. But there's still some left, including some of my favourite sock yarn shades, and some scrummy silk. Go look before that goes too!

Plus, I have the best news today. I've just placed a huge order with a new supplier, and boy, these new yarns are TO DIE FOR. I have the samples here next to me, and I keep stopping to touch, stroke, and marvel over their softness and lustre. Pure cashmere, cashmere/silk, pure silk, and lambswool/angora/cashmere, in every weight from lace to chunky.

There's just enough in the pure cashmere sample skein for me to knit a baby something for a certain pregnant lady of our acquaintance. And it is exquisite to work with. I just wish I could show you, but she's lurking, aren't you, Kerrie?!

The new yarn should be here towards the end of next week, along with another big order from another new supplier. This one is a range of merino and alpaca yarns, one of which is a certain contender for best sock yarn on the planet. Oh, it's all good! Hopefully I'll be able to start getting some of the new yarns out to you, not next Wednesday, but the Wednesday after.

And if that wasn't enough joy for one day, I finished the swap socks!! I'm longing to show you, but can't until the recipient receives them. Suffice to say that they were worth all the slaving, and I think my Sock Clubbers, who will receive the pattern as part of November's shipment, will love them. Simple, sophisticated, but with a twist. Happy sighs all round.

October 26th, 2006 | |

Silk Heaven...

I am in love with this yarn. I want to marry it and have little silky babies. It takes dye better than any yarn I've ever dyed, and the sheen of the silk reflects the colour back really intensely. Plus, it's so scrunchable and pretty.

I've done quite a few skeins of this silk (Bella) for today's One Off Wednesday. I think it will make gorgeous wraps, scarves, and shawls for the winter party season, hence the rich glamorous golds, silvers, and purples.

If you don't fancy that, there's lots and LOTS more yarn coming up. 5pm - are you ready?

October 25th, 2006 | |

Send Soup...

I'm so stupid. While out on Friday night, seeing Marie Antoinette (a film that is far too self aware for its own good), I announced to Mr Posh that it had been months since we'd had a cold. And bam, the next morning, there it was. Thank heavens for Lemsip, I say.

Still, it gave me excuse to lay around the house being lazy most of the weekend. I did a great deal of knitting, plenty of reading, and even a bit of decorative fiddling around the house.

I'm trying to find the perfect shade of pumpkin paint for my living room. These yarns are my inspiration (good way to deal with stash overflow, don't you think?), but the right shade is still eluding me. Maybe I should mix up a HUGE batch of dye and paint it on the walls.......

Speaking of huge batches, we have plenty of goodies this week for you on One Off Wednesday. Credit cards at the ready at 5pm on Wednesday - a slightly later time than before to accomodate those of you who work/live overseas. I think there's something for everyone, from pretty cobweb lace weight to funky chunky.

And thank you so much, everyone who emailed about our Open Day. The general consensus seems to be that you would love to come to an Open Day, but most of you would prefer it to be in the New Year, since many have already arranged their visit to Harrogate, or have been to one of the other shows. So we'll arrange it for the Spring, and have a little garden party at the same time.

October 23rd, 2006 | |

Red Socks...

What an awakening I had this morning. I opened one bleary eye, on this cold grey morning, to find Mr Posh standing by the bed with a cup of tea in one hand, and lots of goodies crammed in the other. The best of which were these:

I'm participating in a sock swap at the Angel Yarns knitting forum, and these are from my swappee. Fabulous red alpaca socks, in the Snicket pattern I've been admiring on Magknits. This knitter did some serious stalking, and could not have captured my taste more perfectly. I love this design, LOVE alpaca, and LOVE red socks.

When I was a teenager, we had a boring black school uniform, which we weren't supposed to break. But I was a bit of a fashion rebel - still am - and I didn't want to look like everyone else. So every morning I would set off for school in my boring black, and once out of sight of the house, I would get out a pair of red ankle socks, and put them on over my tights, so that I had a bright red cuff peeping out the top of my pixie boots (hey, this was the 80's!). I felt like a real fashion leader. And I've had a serious soft spot for red socks ever since.

Aren't these fabulous? So soft, so beautifully made, so very me.

Other goodies that came with the post were a pile of old Martha Stewart Living magazines (bliss, I'm looking forward to going through them this weekend), and a huge order from Sally's Sizzling Sausages, of gluten free sausages. I ordered these last week - their customer service leaves something to be desired, because I had to email several times before I got a response - but they were worth the wait.

Snuggly hand knit socks, a big mug of tea, and a sausage sandwich for breakfast. Does it get any better than this?

October 20th, 2006 | |

Showing up...

First things first, today: my copy of Issue 1 of Yarn Forward came! So exciting, to see it come together after so much work. I think it's fabulous, but of course, I'm totally biased. Me and Kerrie go back a looong way, and I know how insanely hard she's worked to get this first issue out, and how she's put heart and soul into it. I was delighted to be involved, and I think the magazine will go to go from strength to strength in future issues.

Haven't ordered your copy yet? Go! Quick!! If you fancy knitting these socks below, you'll find the pattern in this issue.

So, the Posh Yarn open day..... We're thinking first weekend in December. I'm so glad so many of you want to come, because I'm longing to meet you all and put faces to names. I think it will be a fantastic day. Proper details to come, next week, when everything is finalised.

And if you can't make it, but you're going to Harrogate, maybe I'll see you there. I'm so excited to catch up with some friends there, especially Kerrie at the HipKnits stall. I haven't seen Kerrie in person since she took over from me at HipKnits last year, although we talk most days by email, and I'm dying to catch up with her properly, and see what goodies she's got to tempt everyone with. There will be tea, gossip, and quite possibly Sweet Georgia sock yarn involved. And I'm hoping that someone at the show will be selling Socks That Rock yarn, because I've been itching to get my hands on a skein or three of it.

Wheeee, I love shows! Can't wait for next year's Woolfest. And one day, one glorious day, I hope to make it over to Rhinebeck. Ah, there's a dream to linger over......

October 19th, 2006 | |

Later...

A word of warning: tea is full of caffeine. Drink too many pots of it, and you will be wide awake, starey eyed, and jittery, while the rest of the world snores around you.

Lack of sleepiness results in one danger side effect in this house - shopping. I often get midnight orders from customers, and heave sighs of relief that I'm not the only one whose credit card suddenly gets friendly in the wee hours. I currently feel the need to buy wellington boots, a shower curtain, new saucepans, and knitting books. I shall restrain myself to the latter, which are at least tax deductible. Well, I suppose I could get the saucepans through, at a pinch, but lets not push our luck.

I've just been looking at the latest batch of Rowan Classic books. More fine, stylish designs. Am I getting old, to prefer these to the fashion forward (but deeply unwearable, in the main) Rowan main magazine? I'm particularly drawn by this:

Scrumptious in a lavender cashmere/silk? I think so. Add that to the list. Maybe if I drink more tea, gallons and gallons, I could knit that in time for Harrogate....

Yes, I'll be there! But sadly, not as an exhibitor. We've just been too busy with wholesale orders to squeeze it in this year. So I'll be there in a strictly viewing (*cough* buying *cough*) capacity.

However, we are talking about the possibility of doing an open day in early December..... What do you think, is that a good plan? Would you like to come? Answers on a postcard, please....

1000 words instead of a picture...

Well, this is awkward. I'd like to show you photos from what I've been working on this weekend, but I can't. Each project is sort of secret - the socks (which are almost done) are for an online swap, the hat (which is competing for needle time with the socks) is a test run for a new yarn that I'm not ready to reveal yet, and the shawl has only crept up one or two rows since last time, so I wouldn't bore you with it. So, alas, a picture less post.

Unless I insert another gratuitous photo of lovely buttons here:

Ah, pretty.

So, how was your weekend? Mine was a funny blend of stressful and restful. Went out for a meal with friends on Sunday night, which was a good way to finish it all off. And boy, it turned cold here in the last couple of days. Mr Posh has been busily working on the log pile, and I've been digging out fleecy pj's, woolly socks, and the electric blanket. In fact, I'm off now to make myself hot chocolate, and put on a sweater.

I'm loving it, can you tell?

October 17th, 2006 | |

Did somebody order some mojo?

This has been a fabulous week. The small changes we've made to the business have made all the difference. I feel like I've got my mojo back. Work is going smoothly and quickly, creative juices are flowing, and all's right with the world.

We celebrate our six month anniversary of launching Posh Yarns this week, and to celebrate, there's been some exciting new additions to the website this week - did you spot them? As well as the three new yarns, which I LOVE, we've got two new pages......

A fabulous new range of solid silver buttons, from Twisted Lily Designs. These are so luxurious and special, I want to just keep them all and look at them each day.... I have a project in mind for the mini leaf buttons - a pair of simple cashmere gloves, with buttons at the cuff, in Moss. Wouldn't that be elegant?

And we're also delighted to launch a new range of hand crafted drop spindles, from Sublime Spindles. Such care has gone into the design and crafting of these, it will be a pleasure to spin with them. The wood is so tactile and beautiful, they are little works of art in themselves.

So, spin or knit, spin or knit.......I'll let you know what I decide. Whatever you are doing this weekend, have a good one!

October 13th, 2006 | |

Posh Yarn News...

Sale page is up!

New yarn is up! (two new cashmere/merino yarns and a new silk yarn)

And I'm ready for ya.......bring it on!

October 11th, 2006 | |

Putting a sock in it...

Edited to add: Sorry, that wasn't very clear. For those of you already in either of the clubs, your membership will still run its full course. We're just not renewing memberships after that.

Ahhh, I needed that. It's surprising what a few days off can do for you. I feel refreshed and ready to get back to work. Which is just as well, when I consider the huge pile of work that awaits.....

This week we're working hard to get three new yarns on the site. We have a fun crinky silk yarn, and two new cashmere/merino yarns - laceweight and aran weight - in a slightly more luxurious 50/50 blend. Yummy. There's more new yarn to come - yarn I'm so in love with that I'm considering leaving my husband for it - but that will be later in the month, or early November.

So that's one thing to look forward to this week. Another is - drum roll, please - One Off Wednesday. Lots of scrumptious yarn at discounted prices, which will go on the site at around 4pm UK time Wednesday. Credit cards at the ready!

We've been rethinking the direction of Posh Yarn during our time off, and one of the decisions we have made is to do more one off yarn. It's fun for us, and I hope for you too. It allows for more creativity when we dye, and it gives you individuality in the yarns you buy from us, as well as saving you money! We're hoping that this will soften the blow of.......

....the end of the Sock & Lace Clubs. Yes, we've decided to wind these down over the next few months. They've been great fun, but they are draining too much time and energy from other aspects of the business that need attention. Besides, I know a lot of you have been disappointed to miss out on membership. Now, there will be unique and discounted yarns available every week (or so) on the website, so no one misses out.

There'll be other changes coming over the winter, all for the good, so watch this space. If there's anything you'd like to see changed or added, get in touch. We'd love to hear your input.

October 9th, 2006 | |

Day at Beamish...

Photos from Friday's visit to Beamish, a heritage village. Do you notice a theme in what I was interested in?

October 7th, 2006 | |

Alnwick Gardens...

Photos from today's visit to Alnwick Garden.....

October 4th, 2006 | |

Edited to add:

Julie got it - 71 skeins! Congratulations Julie, and thanks everyone for your entries.

Competition Time...

So how was your weekend? I worked. And when I got tired of that, I cleaned the house. And did washing. And all kinds of boring chores. But I didn't mind any of this as much as you might think, because it was pay off for the few days I'm taking off this week. You see, on Tuesday my mother is coming up for a visit. It's the first time she's ever been up here, and I'm looking forward to showing her round. And to having a few days off myself to spend with her. I'll be checking in briefly each day, so you'll still be able to get hold of me if you need to.

But wait, it's the beginning of a new month, which can only mean one thing......Sock Club! I really enjoyed doing this month's colourway, which we've called Weekend in Vermont. It's full of all the lovely rich colours that usually mark this time of year, reds, oranges, browns. It will knit up into socks to brighten any dreary winter's day. And this month, I thought it would be fun to run a little Sock Club competition. So, take a good look at this:

This is all the sock club yarn, waiting to be packed up and sent out (which it now has been). How many skeins would you say are in that pile? The first to guess correctly will win themselves a skein of this colourway, which we dyed extra especially for the competition. Just put your guess in a comment on this blog, and we'll let you know when someone hits the jackpot.

See you soon!

October 2nd, 2006 | |