Thistle Dubh Ewe

Knitting Project Bags and Knitting Notions

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Scottish Crafting Podcasts Galore
    • Scottish Events: Crafting and Fibre Festivals
  • Etsy Shop
    • Order Cancellation Form
  • Ask Me A Question
  • About TDE & Me
  • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Contact Me
Home » A Crafting Life: General Musings

by Lou Leave a Comment

Commemorative Shawl Knitting

A Little History

At the start of last month, Gilbert Baker died. He was just 65 years of age. The name may not mean anything to you but his legacy certainly will. Gilbert was the creator of the rainbow flag; a vibrant symbol for the LGBTQ community and one that is globally recognised. He said he wanted to use something from nature to represent that our sexuality is a human right and to convey the concepts of diversity and inclusion. Originally the flag consisted of eight colours and was only later reduced to the six we’re familiar with now.

Pride Flag

The 6 Stripe Rainbow Flag

  • Red – life
  • Orange – healing
  • Yellow – sunlight
  • Green – nature
  • Turquoise – art
  • Violet – human spirit

The creation of the flag was a challenge from Gilbert’s friend, Harvey Milk, who wanted a symbol of pride and hope for the gay community. Milk was the first openly gay person to hold high public office in a major American city in 1977 having campaigned on a platform of positive hope for young gay people. That city was of course San Francisco.

The Project

The reason I’m sharing this sad news and wonderful snippet of history with you is to explain my latest choice of shawl knitting. The Pride Delta, available on Ravelry, is a colourful and eminently wearable shawl.

Shawl Knitting

Aileen’s Pride Delta – Photo © littlebushbaby

My friend and fellow Scot, Aileen D-A aka littlebushbaby, is the designer. As this talented lady put it, the shawl is for those times in our lives “when we need to show our different stripes.” Given the state of the world right now, this is clearly one of those times. The crafting community, in my experience, is also all about welcoming people of all stripes which means this project is a match made in heaven. There’s a triangular shaped version available too.

The Shawl Knitting Materials

I call my shawl “Diversity + Inclusion = Beauty + Strength”. A nod from me to the ever wise Maya Angelou whom I greatly admire. The direct quote is “It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” This will be a British wool project. I’m using J.C. Rennie’s lambswool for five of the rainbow stripes. It’s available in 10g miniballs from Clare at Wee County Yarns in Clackmannanshire.

Lambswool skeins

A selection of Lambswool miniballs

The final stripe is going to be Jamieson & Smith jumper weight as I have some in stash. Not quite turquoise but I like it!

Balls of Jamieson & Smith wool

Royal Blue 2Ply from Jamieson & Smith

These yarns will bloom wonderfully when the shawl is complete and blocked. The only decision left is what to use for the main colour. I want an undyed yarn and a slightly darker grey than Aileen used. If anyone has favourites to recommend, do leave me a comment. I’ll be sure to check out your suggestions.

 

Filed Under: A Crafting Life: General Musings, Craft Projects, Knitting Projects Tagged With: J C Rennie, knitting project, lambswool, rainbow, shawl knitting

by Lou 3 Comments

10 Reasons Why I Love Wool Crafts

Or more to the point, 10 Reasons Why I Love Wool.

Working with wool is something I love for many reasons. I thoroughly enjoy using all kinds of natural fibres within my wool crafts of course, and those of you who are familiar with my products will be used to seeing everything from cotton to jute making an appearance. Wool though, particularly British wool, has a very special place in my heart.

I’m still surprised when people ask me what makes me so passionate on the topic as I’d assumed it had been discussed to death over the years by enthusiastic knitters, spinners and felters everywhere. Apparently I was wrong! So let’s take a little look at why and if you’re interested in discovering more, you can follow some of the links I’ll provide as we go along.

The List!

  1. First and foremost, wool is 100% natural.
  2. Wool is completely biodegradable. It’s a sad but common sight to see farmers burying unwanted fleeces in their fields.

    Fleece

                  Raw Wool

  3. Wool forms part of the natural carbon cycle.
  4. Wool is anti microbial and odour resistant. Bear that in mind the next time you ask why anyone would knit a pair of socks!

    Hand Knitted Socks

                   Hand Knitted Wool Socks

  5. Wool improves indoor air quality; making it a great option for rugs, carpets and home furnishings.
  6. Wool is a renewable resource i.e. it can be used repeatedly because it’s replaced naturally.
  7. It’s breathable which is better for clothing and bedding. Synthetic materials tend to make us sweat.
  8. Wool crafts allow me to help secure the future of native sheep breeds. Blacker Yarns, along with many others working in unity, helped to collect, process, spin and dye Boreray wool in recent years. This has successfully upgraded the Boreray breed from critical to vulnerable in the most recent survey by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. How awesome is that?
  9. Wool helps me to support my local economy. From independent hand dyers and wood carvers to local yarn shops and smallholders, every time I purchase tools and materials for my crafts, I’m putting money into another small business.
  10. Safety! This amazing material is fire resistant and fire retardant. You’ll find it’s often used for toy stuffing, upholstery, carpets and host of other applications.
Blanket Tiles

Start of a crochet blanket in merino wool

I could make more, equally compelling, points but I’m sure you get the gist. We’re incredibly lucky to live in a country that has an abundance of this natural material and if you’d like to know more about wool in general, check out the Campaign for Wool‘s site.

 

Filed Under: A Crafting Life: General Musings, Craft Business Concerns, Craft Materials, Eco Crafting Tagged With: fibre, green living, wool, working with wool

by Lou Leave a Comment

A Crafting Life – Learning To Crochet and Philosophy

Learning to Crochet

Practice stitches. Making a scarf as I learn to crochet.

I had an epiphany yesterday that surprised me so much I wanted to share it no matter how difficult it might be to put into words.

In recent weeks I’ve been learning to crochet. Slowly. It’s great fun but it’s also incredibly challenging for someone who’s a knitter. At least for this someone. 😉 The whole process is very different in so many respects from knitting, from the abbreviations and stitches involved to the use of only one hook instead of 2 needles. In fact, the basic “how to hold the hook and yarn” was so awkward that it took me days of perseverance to get a remotely natural looking technique going.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: A Crafting Life: General Musings

Welcome!

Louise at Thistle Dubh Ewe

Let’s Keep In Touch!

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

  • A Crafting Life: General Musings
  • Craft Business Concerns
  • Craft Events
  • Craft Kit Review
  • Craft Materials
  • Craft Projects
  • Eco Crafting
  • Knitting Projects
  • Local Scottish Craft
  • Our Scottish Crafts on Etsy
  • Recycled Crafts
  • Tumblethumps

Instagram It

thistledubhewe

Louise Lockhart
Beautiful tartan on the cutting mat today, and not Beautiful tartan on the cutting mat today, and not just any tartan! Purple tartan! 😁 Pattern matching as best I can. I'll have 5 medium/sock size bags from this fabric, all going well, so a very limited run. #knittersofinstagram #britishknitters #tartanstyle #projectbags #knittingaccessories #etsyuk #sockknittingbag #knittingbags #igknitters
Last of the gnomes for now. They've been so popula Last of the gnomes for now. They've been so popular, thanks for all the orders folks! ☺️ This shawl bag is in a new colourway. A brighter blue on an ice blue background. Super winter-y. ❄️ It will be heading off to its forever home this weekend. Expect more spring appropriate fabrics in the coming weeks as I live in hope of warmer weather. 😁 #knittingbags #projectbag #knittingaccessories #knittersofinstagram #britishknitters #etsyselleruk #shoplocal
Another couple of custom bag orders that flew the Another couple of custom bag orders that flew the coop last weekend. 🥰😊 More gonks heading off to southern climes this weekend. Last posting date has now passed for this year but the Etsy shop will remain open (link in profile) through the holidays 🎄 for orders posting in January. #knittersofinstagram #knittingbags #knittingstorage #projectbag #gonksofinstagram #knittersofig #britishknitters  #shoplocaluk #etsyukseller
Latest custom order that went off to its new home Latest custom order that went off to its new home last week. 😍 A sweater size bag, perfect for those larger cold weather projects. #winterknitting #knittingaccessories #wipbags #projectbag #etsyukseller #smallbusinessuk #sweaterknitting #knittingstorage #gonks
It's a chilly night here in West Lothian, obviousl It's a chilly night here in West Lothian, obviously the perfect time for some therapeutic sock knitting. Especially since there's more sock yarn on the way! 😙 I started this beauty 3 years ago 😳 and have no idea why it's never been finished. The pattern is so easy to follow and I really like the contrasting colour and pattern in the panel below the cuff. Ruth, the designer behind the pattern, did a great job with this one. 👏🥰 I am going to have more actual pairs eventually. 😂 #socktawk #britishknitters #yarnink #womenwhomake #knitlife #socknittersofinstagram #mindfullymade
My lovely friend Lucy is hoping to re-open her LYS My lovely friend Lucy is hoping to re-open her LYS, Purl A Row, after a recent move from Cornwall to Lincolnshire. Under the current circumstances it's proving to be a bit of a struggle, so any and all support would be deeply appreciated. Even if it's just sharing the information with others! 😊
If you're looking for a knitty treat for yourself or even a gift for a knitting friend, do check out the luxury Christmas boxes that Lucy has available. Her Knit Lit box series has proven very popular, so you might also be interested in the new Woodland Box subscription boxes which start in January. 👏😉 All sign up links can be found on the website at the link below! #shoplocal #smallbusinessuk
Posted @withregram • @purl_a_row I'm so pleased to offer you all this luxury Christmas knit box. Numbers are limited and I will not be able to add more once they have sold. 
For all the exciting details follow the link or go to the website and sign up links page.
https://forms.gle/4MqJm7DggG4mTxEF7
#PURLAROW #LYS #WOOLSHOP #YARNSHOP #SUPPORTINGSMALLBUSINESSES #KNITBOX
Follow on Instagram
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

What I’m Pinning

  • Faerie Knitting: 14 Tales of Love and Magic by Alice Hoffman and Lisa Hoffman - Signed Edition Coles Books
  • Celtic Grace Knitting pattern by Cheryl Beckerich
  • Ravelry: Silver Forest pattern by Jennifer Steingass
  • Learn How to Knit this Fancy Celtic Cable Pattern by Studio Knit with FREE written and chart pattern, along with video tutorial.
Follow Me on Pinterest

A Little History At the start of last month, Gilbert Baker died. He was just 65 years of age. The name may not mean anything to you but his legacy certainly will. Gilbert was the creator of the rainbow flag; a vibrant symbol for the LGBTQ community and one that is globally recognised. He said he wanted to […]

Say Ello!

Connect With Me On Ello

Pages

  • Home
  • Blog
    • Scottish Events: Crafting and Fibre Festivals
    • Scottish Crafting Podcasts Galore
  • About TDE & Me
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Me
  • Ask Me A Question
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Etsy Shop

Copyright © 2023 · Thistle Dubh Ewe design by Lovely Confetti

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Accept To find out how to delete cookies Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary
Always Enabled