Never At A Loose End

Monday, 3 April 2023

I knit a goat!

I knit a goat recently.

I'm not kidding! But this cute little fellow isn't just any old goat, he's a cashmere goat. What's more, he's made of cashmere from goats raised in Scotland, from the only herd of cashmere goats in the country. Whilst Scotland is famed for its cashmere, with mills in the Borders historically processing this luxury fibre, nowadays Asia is the primary source of these prized fleeces.

That was until Jillian and Neil McEwan decided to raise cashmere goats on their family farm in Angus.

"We introduced goats on the farm, specifically the South African Boer Goat and the Scottish Cashmere Goat breeds, for fibre production and their environmental benefits to our soils and nature. Goats have a low carbon footprint, produce the most luxurious Cashmere fibre and help to increase biodiversity."

It's one thing nurturing animals to produce a beautiful coat but quite another to turn that into knitting wool or fibre to spin.

"Every Spring, we ethically harvested our goats’ cashmere fibre, their winter undercoat, by hand combing, not shearing, to leave our goats with glossy new coats for the summer. Goats spend the summer months naturally casting their Cashmere undercoat, we are just giving them a helping hand."

Cashmere goats yield as little as 150g of raw cashmere a year, with removal of guard hairs reducing this by 50%, so there's probably only enough pure cashmere to knit a jumper for this wee fella!

To make a commercially viable yarn, the Lunan Bay cashmere is carefully blended with fleece from native Shetland sheep. As soon as the first batch was released last autumn, I purchased a ball of the 10% Scottish Cashmere / 90% Scottish Shetland wool which arrived accompanied by this lovely note from Jillian.

I knew I wanted to make fingerless mitts as I wear them every day in the cooler months. Tucked into my haul from last year's Wool at Portsoy event, is a scrappy pack from hand dyer Erin at Henny Penny Makes.

Erin of Henny Penny Makes at Portsoy August 2022

I was also lucky enough to win a pattern of my choice from Sophie McKane once upon a time in a yarn related Instagram giveaway. Sophie's Sheep Shuffle Mitts seemed the perfect project to marry Jillian's Lunan Bay cashmere blend with Erin's colourful scrappy pack.

I knit throughout January and was delighted with the finished mitts. I've been wearing them a lot!

But there was still a wee nugget of cashmere left....

Goat anatomy

Just enough to knit...

Fester the Goat pattern by Australian blogger Justjen

A goat!

Toys are notoriously fiddly to make, consisting of numerous pieces and endless ends. The sewing up and stuffing can take longer than the knitting. The eagle-eyed may have noticed I miscounted and made three ears (as well as two horns, a head, a tail, the body and an underbody) but I did achieve my aim to use every bit of the precious cashmere!

My plan was to present Jillian from Lunan Bay Farm with the tiny toy to display on her stand at the Scottish Wool Producer's Showcase, a wonderful event I attended in Perth last weekend. The Showcase highlighted breeders, producers, smallholders and mills from all over Scotland who bring native wools and fibres to market with an emphasis on animal welfare and provenance. Jillian gave a presentation about Lunan Bay Cashmere and I was thrilled to see my mittens appear on one of her slides!

It was only towards the end of the event that I could even approach Jillian's stall as it was so popular but I did spot a certain wee goat on display.

Lunan Bay Cashmere stand at The Scottish Wool Producers Showcase

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to meet Jillian and learn about her farm and her goats as well as being able to knit something I cherish with her beautiful wool.

Don't miss out on the antics of this year's kids on Facebook and Instagram

Visiting (my) Tribe

There was only thing I wanted to do to celebrate my recent milestone birthday - visit my two daughters with my husband. Be with my tribe, in fact. As both girls live in London, this was easy to achieve, and offered many possibilities for what we might do during this long weekend in late November 2022.

Birthday to do list: cuddle my daughter Eilidh's new puppy, eat cake and drink champagne

Since this mini-break was predominantly about me, I was also able to realise a long held desire to visit Tribe Yarns. Accompanied by daughter, Maddy, and my husband, Geoff, we travelled from London to Richmond-Upon Thames, the home of Tribe, on the most gorgeous winter day.

Maddy and Geoff in Richmond park

What holiday for me nowadays doesn't involve a trip to a yarn store? Especially when the only souvenir I want is some lovely yarn to remind me of my holiday! With birthday money burning a hole in my pocket and couldn't wait to look around.

Richmond was buzzing with only four shopping Saturdays left 'til Christmas but we dodged the crowds and walked to Tribe, a short distance from the railway station, along pretty streets lined with tempting boutiques and found the yarn shop nestled in at 17 Richmond Hill.

Curator of this cornucopia of yarn and notions is Millie Abrams, who could not have been more welcoming. Here's what Millie says about her own shop:

We have put extra special care into selecting the fibres and materials that will give you the most intense pleasure in the priceless minutes you choose to spend with your yarn and yourself. It's our obsession.

Millie graciously allowed me to take these pictures during my visit. I hardly knew where to start but urged my daughter to chose any skein that took her fancy from the rainbow wall behind us so I could make something for her. Maddy and Geoff then left me to fondle the merchandise, whilst they sought out a suitable hostelry.

The first thing that struck me in Tribe was the wonderful array of displays : a peg board, many hangers, an armoire and bureau as well as hoops and cubbies. So much gorgeous yarn to peruse.

Check out this marvellous printers tray, chock full of beautiful buttons.

Now - let's talk about these fluffies - adorable alpacas and the prettiest pom poms.

I had never seen so many knit and crochet samples in a yarn shop. Shawls, scarves, blankets and garments galore - they were artistically festooned, draped and hung over every available table-top, rail and bannister. They made me want to make EVERYTHING!

It's easy to feel like a kid in a sweetie shop when faced with such a selection of delectable yarns. Before my visit I had a good look at the shop's website, from the comfort of home, where I could match potential purchases with patterns in my library.

I also try to buy yarn I can't find elsewhere. Here I am, post visit, proudly cradling this scrumptious skein of cashmere/silk Artyarns Ensemble Light, bought with birthday pennies from my sister-in-law. It's the most luxurious yarn I've ever bought. Pure indulgence and the perfect splurge!

Also in my shopping basket was a very vibrant skein of Tribe Vibe Merino which was Maddy's choice. I was secretly delighted she picked this. It's unique to Tribe as it's hand dyed in small batches by Urth Yarns exclusively for the shop. When I asked Millie about notions, she recommended these jolly Cocoknits stitch stoppers and kindly gifted me a Tribe tote bag to keep all my goodies together.

Back home, I was eager to cast on and held the Tribe Vibe Merino together with some fluffy Drops Air from my stash to make these fingerless mitts for Maddy.

Mitten pattern by Tania Barley @thewoolbarrow

By February my needles were clear of other pressing projects and I was able to cast on the beautiful Artyarn. I chose the Winter Wander Shawl by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade. It's my fifth time making it! If you scroll right back to the top of this post, you'll see me sporting a pink version and I'm wearing it standing beside Millie. I always grab this shawl from my wardrobe as it's my favourite go-to neckwear. Three of the others I've knitted were gifts. I knew this would was the perfect partner for my precious souvenir yarn.

The pattern includes a lace section and I chose to use Drops Kidsilk in the palest cream. The blend of mohair and silk compliments the Artyarn and is as light as a feather.

Winter Wander Shawl pattern by Helen Stewart

I selected clear beads to enhance the picot edge. They add weight making the shawl drape beautifully - plus they look like tiny dewdrops.

A few weeks after I started knitting, the shawl was finished. I had fun styling it with my clothes, especially these two charity shop blouses, but it'll also go well with my linen daisy dress and new flowery rain-jacket.

The weather in Aberdeenshire is currently very changeable so today I've styled my new shawl with a light top as well as my cosy jacket!

I'm thrilled with my purchases from Tribe Yarns and knitting with them has been truly pleasurable. It warms my heart to think Maddy's mitts are also keeping one of my family tribe toasty too!

Tribe Yarns can be found at :

17 Richmond Hill, Richmond, TW10 6RE

Website : www.tribeyarns.com

Phone : 020 8940 0999

Email : connect@tribeyarns.com

A Crochet Commission

Have I ever made a crocheted garment before?

Well, it depends whether these strappy summer tops I've made for my daughter, Maddy, qualify?

Late last summer, Julie of Black Isle Yarns asked if I'd be interested in making a yet-to-be-released pattern designed in her wool. A proper sweater - in crochet - for her to use as a sample at wool shows. Not just any jumper either, but a design by Samira Hill of Eildon Hills Design being showcased in the Autumn/Winter 2022 issue of The Journal of Scottish Yarns.

The Eildon Wood Jumper, featured on the Journal's cover, is crocheted using Julie's Auchen yarn so it's the suggested wool for this pattern. Exciting for the designer as well as the yarn purveyor!

So, a little different from just being asked to make something for someone else, and a little different from the strappy tops I'd made in the past.

I needed to see if I was up to the task so I asked for a sneak-peek of the pattern in advance of its publication and made my decision. I'd do it!

Shortly after agreeing, I received a squishy parcel containing three skeins of Black Isle Yarn from Julie in a beautiful shade of deep indigo. Black Isle Yarns prides itself on provenance - Julie's yarns are custom spun from fleeces she's hand selected from farms and small-holdings near her home on the Black Isle, just north of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. Once spun to her requirements, Julie dyes the yarn herself using natural dyes and plants she's collected. It's hard to capture all the bluey purple loveliness of the wool I'd been sent.

I was itching to start and crocheted a couple of swatches right away to check my hook size.

I then footered about for more days than I should have, attempting to master the pine cone pattern in spare wool, then fretted about my lack of actual sweater progress.

Eventually I realised I just had to make a start.

A good decision because the pine cone and leaf yoke design appeared in hardly any time at all.

Followed by the body and sleeves.

The only section to pose a real challenge was the ribbing and it's the only part where I deviated from the written pattern. It just didn't look right being crocheted directly onto the body (no matter how many times I tried) so I ripped out what I'd done.

Then created the ribbed welt as a separate strip and crocheted it into place along the lower edge.

Once the sweater was complete it enjoyed a wee bath in some scented wool wash.

And was pinned into shape whilst damp.

A little over three weeks after I started, I was able to try on the finished crocheted garment!

But it wasn't really important how it looked on me - how would it fit Julie? I parcelled it up and sent it off. Though I'd kept in regular contact whilst I was making her jumper, I didn't tell Julie it was finished as a postal strike meant she might not have receive it in time for a wool show she was attending.

But I'm glad to say that it did arrive in time for Glasgow School of Yarn last October.

And it does fit Julie!

Julie and Black Isle Yarns will be attending the Unravel Festival at Farnham Maltings in Surrey from 24th to 26th February 2023 so, if you'd like to see all her wonderful wool, and the Eildon Hills Sweater in person, you know where to go!

Knotting Not Knitting

Most Wednesday mornings I attend my weekly knit group in the welcoming atmosphere of Nicky T's Cafe in Oldmeldrum. Nicola and her staff couldn't be more accommodating!

Last night, though, I joined six other ladies there for a macrame workshop run by Jana of Love and Create to make Christmas decorations. A tantalising array of beads, wool and festive accents was laid out before us as Jana welcomed us to the class.

A bag of materials and some pre-cut wool and string awaited each participant.

The closest I got to a photo of Jana!

Wasting no time, Jana jumped straight in and had us creating a woolly hat from a section of loo roll tube knotted with soft grey yarn.

Next, we knotted strands of string around a curtain ring and threaded longer lengths through a wooden bead.

Combing these strings created a beard and moustache to go with the woolly hat.

A quick trim, and a helping hand from the hot glue gun, meant assembly of our first decoration, a wee tomte or gnome, was complete - and the evening had only just begun!

We moved swiftly on to the next challenge - a macrame angel.

Jana utilised a clothes rail and climbing ropes to demonstrate in hugely magnified form how to make the required knots for our celestial creature.

Possibly the most challenging part of the evening for me was making the angel's wings but, lots of knots, a comb and a trim later, and she was done.

With our gnomes and angels finished, it was time for a coffee and cake break. Toffee Crisp cake for me - yum!

Jana ensured we made the most of our workshop by speeding onto making a Christmas tree next. Her clear, cheerful instructions soon had us wrapping green string branches around a central stem. Taping the star to the table offered stability for making these knots.

Didn't stop me wishing I had an extra hand at some points!

Keeping the momentum going for the knots we'd just learned, Jana patiently guided us though another two decorations before the end of the workshop. So intent was I on finishing, I didn't take any progress photos. Here's my evening's work -