Blog
Snowy spring
Visual take on a strange week of icy blue (sea) and springy greens (land). Does anyone else have the April showers song from Bambi going round their head?
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More Leaves
We love it so much we can't get enough of the leafy goodness... Get it here, and stick it in a project bag. OOof.
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Frozen Planet - Guest Blog II
Alexander Kumar is a 28 year old British doctor currently living at Concordia Station in Antarctica, where he and his colleagues are conducting Human Spaceflight research for the European Space Agency. The team are completely unreachable at the most isolated, coldest place on the planet until November. In Alex's second blog post he fills us in on his latest experience with his hat, which is hand-knitted by Sandra Manson in Jamieson & Smith's Real Shetland Wool. .................................................................................................................................................... Every month or so, we clean our melt water tank. The melt tank is how we get our water. We load fresh ice into the unit daily and then melt it. Every month the unit has to be cleaned. Before we clean it, we use the opportunity to take a swim in it. Bear in mind it is outside (and we live in Antarctica)! Having nearly lost my ears last time I swam, I decided to try out Sandra's Shetland hat. It was just the ticket - my ears survived. Here are some photos of me wearing the hat taking a swim in -78 degrees Celcius. You can see my colleague and Glaciologist, Sebastien Aubin, who was not so lucky to have a Shetland Hat- just take a look at his hairstyle... I was extremely grateful to have Shetland here protecting my head. Next time, I will take Sandra's knitted mittens in also. Cheerio, Alex ........................................................................................................................................................ Thankyou Alex, we're looking forward to the next instalment already! x
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Shetland Daisies
We're delighted to have put a kit together for Shetland Daisies by Kieran Foley of Knit/Lab. Ooooh. Lovely, no?The design combines intarsia, stranding and lace stitches. After drooling over Kieran's images for a while, we've decided that this combination of different techniques makes Shetland Daisies even lovelier because it's challenging in a way that makes you consider the colours and stitches, and revel in the finished piece (while everyone else goes green). Wool (2 Ply Jumper Weight) here, and Kieran's beautiful pattern here. x
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The loveliest 50 things you ever did see!
We just got a (late) delivery of Lucinda Guy's new book 'Knitting Motifs for Babies and Kids' and oh my goodness, we're totally smitten. The book of 50 charted designs, in Jamieson & Smith yarn, are just so lovely. The first section has ridiculously helpful advice on choosing colours and yarn, and placing motifs. The designs are then split into sections, and are followed by helpful instructions on finishing and using different stitches and techniques.Although these motifs have been developed for little ones, I think they can work just as well on adults garments. I'd like a kitsch cardigan with little kettles and flowers. Well, actually... I'd like one with carrots and radishes, one with elephants and hearts, one with birds and cats, and a big sloppy jumper with robots... I could go on and on, there are so many combinations and oh, have a look for yourself.x
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Sneak preview
We are getting very excited about stocking beautiful products from Aamos Designs as part of the J&S Cooperative, which aims to promote products made using Real Shetland Wool. Aamos Designs is a local textile design company based in Scalloway. Owner and designer, Emma Blain, combines traditional and contemporary elements to achieve striking pieces which are fashionable, timeless and just plain cool, all at the same time. The range of cushions and blankets use Jamieson & Smith 2 Ply Jumper Weight, and will be available very shortly from www.shetlandwoolbrokers.co.uk. Ooh, and we've got more exciting stuff lined up...
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