I'm thoroughly enjoying my making at the moment. There’s been lots more spinning of very local sheep fleece, a new knitting project using yarn from John Arbon Textiles* , some impending flax processing, and I've also been kitting out my new dye studio to get all ready for my return to work in September. I also recently finished Patrick Grant's fantastic book, Less, which I talk a bit about in this…
I'm having loads of fun playing and sampling bits of the fleece I've been gathering from small local flocks, scouring a little bit at a time and mostly carding but combing some. Knitting is on a bit of a go-slow at the moment, but I'm putting the final details on the cardigan I've been knitting in my undyed Zwartbles yarn before beginning a new knitting project using some yarn from John Arbon…
I've just finished plying my latest bobbin of my wool/flax yarn, a very long standing spinning project I have been documenting on YouTube (skip to 3:12 if you want to jump straight to the chatty bit!). Join me for a chat about my spinning plans, an almost finished handknit cardigan worked up in my undyed Zwartbles yarn , an unreasonable quantity of fleece, and the garden finally beginning to come…
A longish, rambly chat from the studio to show you my current craft projects, a few tiny vague knit design sketches, some updates I've made in my workspace, plus a tour of what I'm growing in the front and back gardens, and aaalll of my seedlings. My current craft projects, why I started designing knitwear and a fun garden tour. Hello hello! The weather has been incredible lately, and so the…
I've been doing some bits and pieces of knitting over the last few weeks, but have to admit that Spring is getting to me and I'm spending more time sowing seeds and making garden plans! I hope you'll enjoy a little look at what I've been making, and a peek into the chaos that is the studio as I'm very slowly trying to organise it. My current knitting projects, spinning project plans, books I've…
Hallo everyone. I've tried to film a couple of times previously but have been thwarted by a noisy baby. But here we are! Some time in my studio to show you few yarny bits and pieces, as well as a tiny bit of garden and cooking My current knitting projects, spinning progress, and a knit design in Laine's 52 Weeks of Sweaters Hello hello! I'm back, this time with a mum bun to chat craft projects ,…
It’s my last public crafty podcast video for a few months! Join me to see my recently released knitting patterns and some knitting, spinning and embroidery projects that I'm hoping to finish soon for a bit of a clean slate! Three (sort of) new knitting patterns, scrap yarn projects and finishing up some WIPs. I wasn’t sure if I was going to have time to film another podcast before going on…
Settle in for some pom pom making with hand-spun yarn for some new felted slippers for my child, plus a look at my newly released Quickbeam knitting pattern, my finished hand-spun Pediment jumper, and current knitting and spinning projects. New cardigan knitting pattern, a hand-spun jumper, silly felted slippers and more long draw spinning practice. Winter is definitely settling in now, and it’s…
As you might have noticed, I'm currently growing a teeny tiny human! With just a few weeks to go before I begin my maternity leave, I thought I'd better share a proper update on what’s going to be happening with all things Skua over the next year or so. Sorry, this is going to be a bit of a long one (you know I'm almost incapable of concision, right?), but hopefully, it’ll answer any questions you…
After putting it off for quite a few weeks, I finally attempted to tackle the yarn chicken situation with my Pediment jumper project. Help! I need to save my knitting project… I have two problems with my current knitting project, and one of them is fairly major: I don’t have enough yarn to finish this jumper. I am knitting a Pediment Sweater , one of my own knitwear designs. Pediment is a boxy,…
Join me for a bit of a chat about my current knitting and spinning projects, including my latest knitting pattern release, the Tortilis Mitts, and some nice autumn leaves in the woods! New ribbed mittens knitting pattern, lots of knitting projects, super local Zwartbles yarn, spinning plans and illustrated art prints. I’ve been having so much fun with all my craft projects lately. There's been a…
A few years ago, I got some Zwartbles fleeces from a local smallholding, just a 10-minute drive from me here in south-west Wiltshire. I took a long time to skirt and sort it, and finally sent some off to a local mill to be processed – half into spinning fibre and half into yarn. Now that the wool is back, I thought I’d take you along as I spin, swatch, and sample my new batch of local Zwartbles…
A little look at my latest craft projects, and some yarn chicken nonsense. There’s knitting, weaving and spinning, plus plans for a new cast on. Plus, a look at some limited edition hand-dyed yarn and British wool spinning fibre I’ll have at Tetbury Wool Fair on Sunday! Hand-spun yarn for a weaving project, knitting plans, a game of yarn chicken and book recommendations I’d love from you. I’m…
This is my preferred method of fibre prep for batts or wool top: splitting and pre-drafting the fibre for speedier spinning, and making it easier to spin a fine, consistent yarn. These particular batts are wool and flax tow, but I use this method for most batts or hand-dyed wool top before I start spinning. Splitting and pre-drafting batts to spin fine yarn When I’m handspinning, splitting and…
I’ve got some new craft projects to add to my list of WIPs and there’s so much I am feeling really excited about. I think with the changing of the seasons, I am just ready for Autumn and all the crafts and layers of knitwear that come with it! A look at my latest knitting project, a finished object, ambitious weaving plans, 5 knitting patterns for Autumn and my new bramble skirt. The arrival of…
It's a vlog celebrating late summer! A little look at the British wool yarn and spinning fibre colours in my August shop update, along with some sewing plans, a walk with a friend, and some tiny harvests from the garden. I was planning on sharing a little more of the prep for the shop update, but after a small incident involving my floor loom, I got a bit carried away with show and tell! A show…
This month I'm mostly plodding on (enjoyably) with my ongoing spinning and knitting projects, and have started scheming in earnest for some imminent weaving on my floor loom. I'm really savouring these slow craft projects, knowing where the fibres have come from and spending so many hours with each material to eventually turn it into some kind of finished textile. Updates on current spinning…
After years of skirting, dyeing, carding and hackling, I'm blending up my wool I hand-dyed with onion, woad and rhubarb, with my precious hoard of processed flax tow. I started working on and planning this spinning project in 2020, and it's so close to becoming real handspun yarn! How to blend wool and flax tow fibres on a drum carder for a handspinning project One of the biggest benefits of…
Summer is upon us, and that means some garden time! Join me for a look at some of my recent knitting, weaving and spinning projects, as well as a little garden tour and some calming flax processing at the end. A finished weaving project, updates on my spinning project, new knit designs and a little flax processing. It’s been a while since I filmed anything, as I had to take some time off for…
A relaxed and somewhat lengthy chat, answering your questions about my crafts, knitting, spinning, dyeing and weaving. Answering all your questions about my creative, craft-filled life All my current craft projects are at stages where I can’t really show off any progress, so we’re doing something a little different today. It’s been a while since my last Q&A - let’s catch up on my creative,…
The garden is properly coming to life and full of green - and my latest spinning project matches! I'm so close to finishing an ongoing knitting project in handspun yarn, and there's a look at some of the hand-dyed spinning fibre I have available at the moment. A new spinning project, spring greens and limited edition hand-dyed spinning fibre. If you’re a regular to the blog, or my podcast, then…
I designed a blend of British breeds wool tops for spinning, and wanted to see how the naturally heathered grey wool would take dye. I ended up spinning my dyed sample batch into yarn, then weaving that into cloth and sewing it into an (almost) zero-waste tweedy skirt. I sewed a skirt out of hand-spun fabric made using hand-dyed British wool fibre Some ambitious craft projects are meticulously…
I'm full of creative energy now the days are getting longer, and I have quite a few big multi-stage textiles projects in progress. I'm making exciting plans for weaving cloth with hand-spun yarn on my floor loom, which I'm just beginning to get used to. Embracing spring crafting with slow making, hand-spun yarn and lots of creative energy There’s something magical about spring and these longer…
Processing flax for spinning into linen creates waste called tow, and I'm turning the tow into fibre I can spin for a future weaving project! Transforming flax tow into usable fibre for sustainable spinning I recently started working with some flax I got from Flaxland , and if you've ever processed flax fibre for spinning, you’ll know it produces a surprising amount of waste. Those lovely long…
Today I'm talking you through my latest joyful craft projects including my plans for a weaving project using a blend of hand-dyed British wool fleece and flax I am planning to spin together. At the moment, at the beginning of 2025, I am trying to focus a little bit more on meaningful craft projects that I enjoy. After a year of knitting to (a lot of!) deadlines, I am looking to inject a little bit…
A look at 8 botanical knitting patterns to inspire your next knitting project including a closer look at my latest plant-inspired knitting pattern, Hedgebind. Expect to see some stranded colourwork, leaf-like cables and beautiful details to please the plant lover in you. 8 plant-inspired knitting patterns to include in your winter (and spring) knitting plans In one of my previous knitting…
Today I'm sharing my plans for adding more joyful and playful crafting into 2025 as well as showing off my teeny tiny willow harvest for basketry. Joyful plans for playful crafting plus a teeny tiny willow harvest for basketry I'm wearing my Tree Hay Tank The knitted tank I’m wearing is Tree Hay; one of five designs found in From This Land: A West Country Collection. It’s a collection of knitting…
An introduction to From This Land: A Westcountry Collection, my now published collection of unisex knitting patterns made using local British wool. An introduction to my Westcountry collection of knitting patterns: From This Land. From This Land: A Westcountry Collection has been a labour of love over the past year and I am delighted to finally announce its official release! Watch the video above…
A look at Beechmast, my latest knitting pattern release, along with some special edition autumnal hand-dyed, British wool yarn, a new knitted scarf design and some spinning fibre developments. Meet Beechmast, my latest knitting pattern design in collaboration with John Arbon Textiles. After about a year in the making, I’m thrilled to share Beechmast, my collaboration design with John Arbon…
Spend a bit of time with me as I use Swiss darning to mend a worn-out elbow on a hand-knitted jumper. Swiss darning is basically duplicate stitch, but the missing stitches require a bit more work. The hand-knitted jumper I am mending here is my Sarcactus jumper, one of my own knit designs created for Making Stories Issue 4 . If you like the look of this and would like to knit one for yourself, you…