Whizzzzzzzzzzzzz..........ing by.

Hello, just whizzzzzzzzzing by............... like the day, which has passed in a flash. All of a sudden I realised I hadn't taken the photos I was going to take for you, of my stripey dress that I'm knitting.

I had to pop in, to say hello, despite my rush, and I skimmed through my photo files looking for something to show you.

Bunting! Just the ticket before I head off to my Wednesday night knitting group.

This bunting had been put up for the Smailholm fete I went to about a month ago. It was a tiny affair. I love the smaller fetes and country fairs, everything is so much more homemade, and the people are often more jolly and personable. There's often a 'make-do-and-mend' ethos to them, where people chip in and donate or re-purpose, which gives an immense charm to the event.

There was a smattering of stalls in the village hall, and generous cream teas on offer. A lady near the exit had a table with her handspun yarn laid out. I bought a couple of skeins, sorry I don't have a photo of it for you just yet. The lady was spinning some yarn as I approached, and I couldn't help getting engaged in conversation, she was so friendly. She has a shop in Folksy, which you can see here, and a blog here.

I love handspun yarn, there's always so much love that goes into the creation of each skein, and every skein is different, with it's own personality.

Mia, who hand dyes and spins yarn, has a magic touch. I wasn't going to mention her untill I'd photographed the gorgeous skeins I bought in her etsy shop here, but as I'm on the subject of handspun yarn, I thought I'd mention her. Her blog is called Min Inspiration, and you can reach it here. I just had a quick look at her blog, and it looks like she's spinning some delicious colourways at the moment, the brighter combinations make my mouth water.

I really must dig out my small collection of handspun fibres and let you have a look.

I've always been quite reticent about buying handspun fibres, even though I love the stunning results you get in each skein, because I've never known what to do with it. Just gazing at the yarn in it's skein gives me a lot of  satisfaction. Part of me doesn't want to undo the skein, and then there's another little urge, to use the yarn, be practical.

I think that what I need to do is knit, or crochet, (probably knit, as crochet uses so much more yarn than knitted fabric), some swatches with each skein, see how they look, and then try out a little idea that has been forming in my mind, to put these handspun yarns to some use. And I need to take some photos for you so you can see all this yarn I'm talking about, don't I?!

Gosh, the time! I really have to go! I've been talking longer than I meant to. See you Friday. Love Vanessa xxx

Comments

[Gill]

Hi Vanessa
I'm looking forward to seeing photos of your hand dyed yarn - I'd love to have a go myself!!
I've already found min inspiration - another great blog!
Enjoy your knitting group tonight - my crochet group has started to change with the change in ownership of the shop we meet in and I'm not sure if I like it
Gill xx

[Penelope]

Hello
I just love the idea of choosing my own colours to dye yarn with. Thanks for sharing your links and bunting pics, i am a bunting girl through and through xox

[Isabelle]

I thought as I was reading "that's not whizzing by" :o))
I love bunting, and don't they look great on your photos!! Very poetic!
A vendredi!
Isabelle xx

[Alice @ Crochet with Raymond]

Oh Vanessa I have a big bag of specialty hand spun wool too and I just don't know what to do with it!
No project seems enough for this beautiful wool!!!!!
Loved your bunting, lovely!
It's funny to think you're probably at your knitting group this very moment and I'm in my pj's on thursday morning eating breakfast, about to go to work!!!!
XXXXX

[Laura]

The bunting is so cheerful! Enjoy your knitting group!

[MiA]

Hi Vanessa!
Thanks for such nice words about my yarns <3

Yes, I am spinning lovely colours at the moment. One skein is finished tonight but the light is too bad to get nice pictures, I have to wait until tomorrow to blog it and list it over at etsy.

You make wonderful things! Something magic will come out of your collection of handspuns :))

Have a nice day!
MiA

[Jenni at Baame Kniits]

I love hand spun yarn....still a beginner at it tho :-)

That bunting looks great!

[Planet Penny]

There's something really jolly aqbout bunting, isn't there? I have some in my studio and some in the courtyard outside the studio door which has got sadly frayed in all the wind and rain. Looking forward to seeing your latest project,
love Penny and Higgins xx

[Petit Filoux]

What lovely photos, I just wish the sky was that colour today!!

[Anne Donald]

Hi Vanessa - I clicked on a link from another blog to have a look at yours ..... and was amazed to find you writing about Smailholm and buying yarn from Lindsay (aka the Border Tart) I assume you live in the area .... I live in Cavers, just outside Hawick. It's a small world sometimes!! Regards, Anne

[Dorien]

You already got the bunting out, on my blog there is something for you to go along with it.

[Pipany]

I love bunting whether it is big, small or beginning to look weather-beaten. Pretty pics as ever Vanessa x

[Pipany]

I love bunting in all its different sizes Vanessa. Gorgeous pics too x

[alisonb2]

That looked like a fun day at the fete. Thanks for sharing.

[Caren]

Lovely pics Vanessa - I love those wee fairs too (we'd probably call them gala days here in New Zealand).

[Lindsay]

Thanks for the nice comments, Vanessa! It was lovely to meet you at Smailholm and I hope our paths cross again before too long. I am VERY impressed at the size of the knitting projects you undertake - puts my handspun hats and gloves into perspective, though!