Thankyou for all the great and positive feedback about the rebranding from Wild Fire Fibres to Eden Cottage Yarns, I am very excited about it – wish my new business cards would hurry up and arrive! The website www.edencottageyarns.co.uk should be live this week, at which point I’ll change on etsy too, but for now it’s still http://wildfirefibres.etsy.com . I guess my blog will have to change *again* too!

The new website, not yet live, will be http://edencottageyarns.co.uk, and the etsy shop will be changing to http://edencottageyarns.etsy.com. I’ll be using that as the shop until my own website’s integrated shop gets sorted.

Etsy should automatically redirect from http://wildfirefibres.etsy.com

Apart from this, the yarns and colours aren’t changing.

Why?

Well, it’s been niggling at me for a while that Wild Fire Fibres doesn’t mean anything to me (it was a random name), and it’s become apparent that it’s not terribly catchy or memorable. So, with having moved to Cumbria, changed my surname, and gone full-time-yarnie, it seems like the right time to pick a name that reflects my business attributes, inspiration and ethics. Since I live in Eden Valley, Eden was where I started. Eden Yarns is unfortunately taken by two yarn shops in the US, so I went for Eden Cottage Yarns, since it’s a cottage industry!

If you have any questions feel free to contact me. When the new website goes live I’ll be running a great little prize draw to celebrate, so look out for that (You can join the mailing list if you don’t want to miss out).

Firstly Laveliere by Cecily Glowik MacDonald:

Yarn: Wild Fire Fibres Maya DK

Edits: 1) Half length sleeves, 2) Three smocking repeats on border, then a purl row, then 24 rows in stocking stitch folded back to create a wide hem, 3) unintentionally ran out of yarn four rows before the end so had to use a different blue – pleasantly surprised at the nice ‘tailored’ look it creates, 4) added a little waist shaping.

Conclusion: I LOVE this cardi. The yarn is soft and not itchy, it’s super-warm, the half length sleeves are very practical, and the hem looks great.

Secondly, Ten Stitch Blanket by Frankie Brown:

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden Lite in colours 2042, 2048 and 2021 mainly, also Drops Karisma colour 21 (grey).

Edits: 1) Made in stocking stitch, 2) worked attached edging slightly differently (explained on Ravelry), 3) crocheted border to try and flatten it.

Verdict: Although I love this blanket and it’s lovely and warm, it was mind-numbingly boring, and in hindsight I should have just stuck with garter stitch, or at least done a moss stitch border or something, as the crochet border isn’t enough to make it lie flat and I’ll have to either do more or line it.

In other news, the Wild Fire Fibres Three Seasons Lace Club has launched, and there are only ten places, so sign up HERE while you can!

Anyway, I stashed some proper Gansey yarn – it’s Frangipani’s 5ply in Ocean Deep, very lovely. I am hoping this will be my selfish Christmas knitting.

I had a sudden urge to do a few small projects and stashbust, so I did two Dufton Hats and published the pattern (finally).

This one’s a smaller one in chunky angora, for my  Mum (I’m going to do one for me too, it’s sooooo buttery soft.

Check out that fabulous fluffy halo!

And I made a two tone one in Maya Chunky (discontinued, but I’m tempted to bring it back just for the winter) in Natural and Atlantic. There’s quite a bit leftover from both hats, so I’m slowly gathering all my chunky oddballs and going to do a scrap hat or something with them.

The bobble is absolutely huge, and the hat is such a perfect fit, I love it!

There’s no more knitting news, because I finished my Lavaliere  and wore it out last night, and I absolutely love it but don’t have any shots of it yet. I’m back to work on my Antique Rose Willow, Ripple blanket and spinning 400g of rainbow merino.

So in other news, my ancient gate (which was wonky and is rusted right through in places)…

Got replaced by this beauty - handmade locally, of course.

There was a yarn update last week, though a lot of this has now gone. It’s Titus 4ply in French Kisses, BFL Sock in Atlantic, and the new Theseus Lace in Teal.

As you can see, Theseus Lace (merino and silk) is super-glossy, shimmery, and beautiful. There will be an update of more tomorrow so look out for it!

How could I leave without the obligatory autumn leaves photos?? These were all taken in my garden last week, and no they are not enhanced in photoshop (other photo editing software is available)  :)

Finally, if you’re not on the mailling list, get yourself on it for news, updates, and exclusive offers!! http://eepurl.com/gk11n

And with that I shall get back to my dye pots, my glossy white paint (skirting boards, etc), and then catch up on x factor and knit/spin/crochet by the fire for the evening.

I appear to be collecting vintage/antique bone china crockery from charity shops and friends.. my collection has increased since this photo and now includes a tall teapot and another set of even smaller (and more impractical) cups and saucers. The bottom plate is a rustic stoneware one, which I also love.

As I was taking the ashes from the stove out this morning I noticed the colours of the leaves really stand out against the darker, wet stones. Since I’ve introduced a colourway called Autumn, based on these colours (which I dyed a kilo of today), I thought I’d photograph them.

My poor camera got pretty soggy (as did I). My neighbour’s sweet peas look so pretty in the rain but I was getting worried about my camera so maybe I’ll photograph them tomorrow.

There’s not been any progress on my knitting really – I’m about 1/4 through my ripple blanket, and still really addicted. Lavaliere is edging slowly closer to the bottom edge, and my shawl is abandoned, and I’ve cast on a pair of DK baby yak and baby camel socks… (that was really sensible!).

I am pleased to announce that my pink bobble hat was reunited with my noggin yesterday, with the event of the colder weather (I really must publish that pattern!).

Firstly, a handspun Ambleside Shawl.

A holiday in Scotland, with lots of beautiful woodland mushrooms.

Finishing things, like this Print O The Wave Stole in Manos Lace.

And these plain and simple fingerless mitts.

I published a pattern the other day, called Grizedale and featuring asymmetrical cables. Shown here in Wild Fire Fibres BFL Sock in Broken Stones.

Whilst in Scotland we had a lovely walk on a beach somewhere in the North.

I did some more on my Ten Stitch blanket – it’s now about half double bed sized, and I have four balls of Silk Garden Lite left. So going to work through them, then put it on hold again until I have more yarn! I adore this blanket but it’s slow, and since the yarn is no longer cheaply available on eBay, it just got a lot more expensive! If it’s a useful size with the yarn I have, I may well just finish it.

We also had lochside walks in Scotland.

And I cast on Lavaliere in Wild Fire Fibres Maya DK in Cornflower. I’m totally in love with it, but since I’m on the finaly 4″ of stocking stitch on the body, it’s suddenly taken a back seat.

I had a wee teaching trip to Blackpool mid September, and this end of the journey was all dramatic and stormy.

At the Westcliffe, I taught a weekend of lace, which was successful and great fun.

I’ve made some Munchkin Pumpkins..

And more teeny tiny socks.

Wild Fire Fibres is now Rayburn-powered, and far more sustainable. Burning smokeless fuel, and wood from sustainably managed forests, the Rayburn powers the hot water, the heating, the cooking, and as you can see, it simmers yarn and dries it simultaneously.

Here’s some of the yarn I’ve been dyeing recently. This is Maya DK in Wisteria.

And Maya DK in Caledonian Pinewood.

This is Tempo 4ply in Damson (I’m SO in love with these skeins).

And Titus 4ply in Autumn (I’m also totally in love with these).

There’s plenty more where they came from.

I’ve spun this merino/silk from FeltStudioUK. It’s 3ply, and weighs in at 100g/670yds/28wpi.

Finally, I am crocheting a blanket in Drops Karisma. It’s the Neat Ripple Blanket by Lucy of Attic 24. It is the most addictive thing I’ve ever made – it’s super-simple, super-beautiful and super-quick. The Karisma is lovely and heathery and soft, I think I may need more though. I just cast on a random amount and it’s double-bed-sized, which is great, but will take more yarn. Luckily Karisma is cheap!

Well that’s all for now folks. Today I have to do my accounting for August and September, and I’m just nearly finished making a sparkly purple handspun cuddly heart for a small child. I need to hang the washing out and do some stuff around the house, then go bask in the sun  do some gardening. I’ve done a drawing which I want to watercolour over, too.

The yarn is King Cole Bamboo Cotton, it took 5.5 skeins (I think), and edits include: extra seven rows on body, 1/2 length sleeves, hemmed sleeves and three buttons not five.

The super-cute buttons are from Textile Garden.

I am now a total hem-convert. Not only do they look great, but they are a snug hiding place for teeny tiny wee creatures, like this mouse with his banana.

In other news, there’s lots of new sock yarn in the shop.

They are Titus 4ply in Harvest Gold and Silverdale, and BFL Sock in Wishful Thinking and Laurel.

I am now also selling hand dyed fibre. What you see here are braids of BFL in Lammas, Cloudy Skies and Antique Rose. I’ve stashed a braid of Lammas for me.

Finally, I said my goodbyes to my Manchester friends today, and on Friday finished work at Purl City Yarns. Charlotte gave me two skeins of Wollmeise Twin in WD Cassis, which are destined for cardiganship. Aren’t they stunning? I love the combination of plum with red.

I will be online only intermittently now until the 10th of Sept, then offline for probably two weeks, so basically until the end of Sept (due to awaiting new phoneline, then for the broadband to come on).

Bye bye Manchester, I have absolutely loved living here, and although I’m excited about moving, I’m also sad about leaving.

Here’s a taster:

The colours here are Illusion, Wisteria, Laurel and India.

I’ve stashed five skeins in Cornflower, to make a Lavaliere with, I can’t wait!

I wanted to play with it but got told off.

It’s there because this fireplace…

Has been removed…

Revealing this fireplace behind…

The oak mantle is still in the wall (the top, darker piece of timber), and the lower piece of timber is also oak, but will be the mew mantle. You can actually see daylight through the back wall. I didn’t actually know this was happening so soon, so had a bit of a shock when I walked in.

I have no new knitting -I’m just plodding on with Coraline. Although one of our dogs picked up a ball of Bamboo Cotton and it totally fell apart and got strewn about the lounge floor (much to my step Dad’s dismay, on my behalf). I wound half of it back up and gave up on the rest. It’s clearly a sign. Even the dogs know it. Despite all the setbacks, I’m about halfway through the smocked yoke, and it does look lovely (it better!).

AudreyM kindly photographed me in it last week. It’s Le Facteur by Sarah Fama in Fyberspates Sparkle Sock. It took less than 300g too! 

Edits: Sleeves much smaller than stated, deep V was very deep so started increasing every 4th row about halfway down (as opposed to every 8th row). The lace around the neck doesn’t exactly lie flat, I’m not sure whether this will be something I can ignore or something that reall irritates me. I’ve not had chance to really wear it yet. Apart from that I love it, love the fit and the colour and the lace. The pattern was a pain to read though – there’s (ironically) too much information scattered about really. I’d do it again though if I didn’t have eleventybillion other things queued.

What else… there’s new yarn!

Merlin DK (alpaca/merino/nylon – 100g/270yds – machine washable). This is a batch in Plum, which is available here. It’s difficult to get machine washable, hand dyed DK, so that’s why I thought it’d be a great addition, as well as being super-soft, a little hairy and just all round great.

I have also got a new colourway in Pegasus Lace – French Kisses. It’s a rosy red, with slight variation. There are five skeins available here.

I’ve also added Pegasus Lace in the popular Persia colourway to the shop. There are three of those.

Finally, I really want to make a Wray in Pegasus Lace, and had stashed it in Atlantic (see previous post), but changed my mind and decided on Purple Lotus. This is much richer than I can pursuade my camera to show!

I’m making headway on Coraline (The Most Boring Knit Ever), and am on the second sleeve. I didn’t like the puffy, michelin-man sleeves, so have gone for 3/4 length hemmed, fitted sleeves. I just want this thing finished so I can wear it!

Finally, I’m also nearly done on my super-secret project too.

In other news, I’m doing the couch to 5k training (running), and am just at the end of week two and it’s going really well. There’s a gym in Appleby, which I’ll join when I move. Talking of moving – I now only have three weeks left in Manchester (eek!), and a lot to do on the cottage yet. There will be before and after photos in September, I promise.

And now… off to the gym again!