My Shameful Secret

That made you all click over here, Sorry!
So my name is Leona, and i'm a start-aholic! I currently have ten projects on the go or that need to be done before Christmas (knitty peeps, yes i have added stuff as well Christmas presents! - yeah thats clever LJ just add projects on, give yourself more work) I was down to nine, eeps. Thats also not to mention the projects that are bagged up with a pattern and yarn, but havnt been started, but they dont count right, nope nope, they do not count!
So my plan at the start of December was to actually complete all the projects i have started before i go off for Christmas (23rd) so that i can cast on my Christmas project, which will be a Sceles by Anna Maltz, and yes she is kind of my hero at the moment (dont tell her i said that! there will be basement rumors!) I fell in love with Miss Ginger Twists one back at the IBYC this year and was like, WANT GRABBY HANDS!
Anyway back to the plan. I thought this goal was achievable, its really not! Oh man why! does anyone else have this problem? Has anyone else set any ridiculous crafting goals? does anyone else have a Christmas project that they work on over the holidays? Does anyone else just want to crawl into their stash and cast on four more things? DESIGNERS STOP RELEASING PATTERNS FOR A FEW WEEKS!
Right Shame myself time!

Right Project number one is my fingerless gloves knit in stunning White birch fibre arts (Louise Pants sent me it from America.) I started these dudes on the 15th of September when i popped through to Edinburgh for the Yarn Festival meet up, they literally need three fingers done! If these are not done by tomorrow, then SHAME! SHAME ON YOU LJ!

Next up is Itaca by Stephen West started on May the 2nd, I fell in love with this shawl after fondling it at Loop in London, i am however thinking about frogging this bad boy as like my Mahy i think i have knitted it on too small needles and it will be super small. Still not 100% sure if i will pull it out or not. but a shawl, with sea shells! WHAT

Christmas socks (Dave by Rachel Coopey) in the limited edition West Yorkshire Spinners holly berry. The deal was all of our knitty committee would knit a pair and all have matching socks....SUPER CUTE!  however Diane and I are totally slacking, since i took this photo however i just need to do the heel on sock one and actually do the second. Can i knit a sock in a week and a half? probably, am i going to, probably not. I should really try harder! 

My doodler (The Doodler: Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL 2015by Stephen West) , oh how this started off with good intentions. i was on track with the first clue....then i wasnt! When did the KAL start? October no it was novemeber, i have no idea how i dropped the ball on this one. I cant forsee this being done before the 23rd, maybe it should be the first one i work on after the new year?

The last photo of a project i can show you is my Scollay (Scollay by Karie Westermann) oh dear the most shameful, i started this on the 18th of July for the scollay along...yup...this was my main project i wanted finished, it languished about in a bag after i had cast on the ribbing, then about October i decided to pop it on my knitting machine. BOOM. that was stressful, knitting machines are really difficult bits of equipment. ANYWAY i just need to graft the last oxter (underarm) weave in ends, plop on some buttons and steam out the seams (the joys of knitting machines) and done. Again if this isnt done this evening i will be pretty miffed. 

Projects i cant really show you or tell you what they are due to them being Christmas Presents, but i can tell you i have three things to knit for presents, and a scarf that i promised a friend :/ i am an epic fail of a friend SORRY  STEPHEN!  Oh also a shawl for my mum from some Rusty ferret she bought. not so urgent to get done, but yeah.

I will check back in on the 23rd and update you with whats been done and what hasnt! Some one please beat me if i havnt done at least half of these! 

An Interview with Julia Billings

 

I'd like to introduce you all to Julia Billings, our new tutor here at fluph. When the infamous Clare Devine introduced me to Julia i knew she would fit in at fluph perfectly...she also likes the two mutts

fluph - Julia, you are new face to the Scottish knitting scene, can you tell us a little bit about where you are from?

Julia Billings - I'm from Melbourne, in the south-eastern corner of Australia. My husband and I moved to Glasgow a couple of months ago and are finding it pretty similar in many ways: the architecture, the weather, the dry sense of humour... it's not so different! Melbourne is a lot bigger though so it's lovely to be able to get out of town more quickly...

f - so why Scotland?

JB - We were after a change- we'd both lived in various places in our late teens and twenties and were keen to do so again. I think that many Australians feel a connection to Scotland because so many of us have ancestral roots here... so it was in part a chance to connect a bit more with that. But we both love getting out into nature and you can't beat the Scottish landscape for beauty and drama! And, for me as a knitter and knitting teacher, it's a dream to have the chance to explore some of the Scottish knitting traditions and to learn from some amazing knitters. I'm especially excited to get back up to Shetland for Wool Week after visiting there a few years ago... A magic place!

f  - So a few times I have found myself describing what a certain Scottish word means to yourself (and the Devine) what's your favourite word so far?

JB - Weegie, mostly because it sounds so great (and is very similar to another word that makes me laugh!), bairn and hen. I like the sounds of words and it's great for that here!

 f  - Can you tell us a cool Ozzy phrase? possibly to do with knitting? (does that exist)

JB - Umm. I don't know of any knitting phrases and I never know what is Australian and what isn't! But I do like the Australian habit of shortening words and adding -o to them, like bottle-o for the bottle shop or off-licence! I think it adds a fun rhythm to the way we speak!

f - always find it really interesting what made people pick up the needles/hook so where did your love of yarnyness begin?

JB - I had a go at crochet in my early twenties but it wasn't until about 10 years ago that I learnt to knit. I was working in horticulture at the time and there were a lot of cold mornings in the nursery so I decided that I better knit myself a scarf! Around the same time, a friend asked me to go along to a spinning course with her and I got hooked on spinning- and then I had to knit my yarns up into samples for the course... and after that, it became a big part of my life pretty quickly. Horticulture can be an amazingly creative job but it's pretty hard work and my hands loved the softness of yarn after a long day in soil and water. I don't spin anymore but I still knit all the time.

f - You made quite a splash at Edinburgh yarn festival with your beautiful recycled tweed pouches and machine knitted cowls, What kind of things do you like to do in your spare time?

JB - Thanks, that's lovely of you! Do you mean knit-wise? I'm a pretty pragmatic knitter, in that I only make stuff that can be worn- and worn hard. I suppose garments, big, sturdy shawls and hats are my mainstays. I love colourwork and do a bit of that but mostly I like to make things that are interesting to knit but that are wearable for me. So small details, interesting construction and lovely textures are what I look for in designs.  

And, when I'm not knitting, I'm mostly outside hanging out with plants. 

f - now the imporant stuff, how do you take your tea/coffee?

JB - Just quietly, I don't drink much of either- terrible, isn't it?! But I love Rooibos, straight and strong. 

f - It was Love your yarn shop day on Saturday, what do you love about local yarn shops?

JB - Having the chance to learn from people who know more than I do about a yarn, a technique or a tradition. I've worked in yarn shops for years and the two-way exchange of knowledge is the best. You just don't get that in an online sale.

f - Favourite cake?

JB - Sturdy, spicy ginger cake. Or carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Or baked cheesecake...

f - A question close to my heart, dog or cat?

JB - Oh, don't make me choose! I think it depends on the time and place. When I was a teenager, it was dogs. Then I shifted to cats, mostly because of one very special cat. Right now, I live in a 4th-floor flat and am beginning to think a floppy rabbit might be the only option I have!

f - What draws you to a yarn?

JB - Texture and then colour. I'm drawn to yarns that have been very lightly processed, the kind that still smell of sheep and have a good bit of bounce in them! And I love yarn from coloured sheep and fibre with a bit of a halo, like alpaca and North Ronaldsay.

f - Tell me what your stash is like?

JB - At the moment, it's pretty small! I'm not a huge stashed but I did have to pass on a lot when we packed up the house and I only brought my absolute favourites with me. Stuff like Rowan Scottish Tweed (why did they discontinue that stuff?!), Isager Spinni, some handspun and a colourwork mitten kit from beautiful Finnish natural dyer Riihivilla. But I did buy a few yarns at Edinyarnfest though so it now includes some John Arbon, North Ronaldsay and Ripples Craft Hebridean/ Shetland!

Julia will be teaching a range of classes with us at fluph, so head on over to the workshops page and see if you fancy learning something new.

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Cause im so Sockalicious baby!

Huh! another drops offer! well ok then.

For the Month of March its 25% off all sock wool from Drops, so Fabel and Delight are the two in store.

Need some socky inspiration, I highly recommend following along with Shinybees and her year of the sock over on Ravelry and on her Podcast.

Of course our sock queen Clare Devine's blog is also a fantastic place to get some inspiration!

Gifts for knitters...that isn't yarn part 6

Pom Pom makers are the business! These dudes are a great stocking stuffer they come in tiny tiny size or GIANT, they are so much quicker and easier than the old cardboard style and much cooler! !

Warning, you may end up with everything covered in pom poms! 

Gifts for knitters...that isn't yarn part 5

AHHHH I HAVE MORE YARN BOWLS!!!! the wonderful Catherine (and the wee man and Troll) just dropped off these three beauties. These would make the best gift for that special yarn lover in your life. Handmade from start to finish at a studio just down the road. I cant stop looking at them. Wolfie wanted in on the action! £40 each....now to try and persuade Mr fluph that I need one!

Happy birthday fluph!

Today is fluph's official one year birthday!

I have pondered what to write here for a few days, wow its hard!

This year as been a whirl wind. I cant believe its one year on and im still open. I remember having sleepless nights worrying that no one would come and buy what i had on offer. I have been involved with so many cool things with more planned for next year, i have met some of the best people that i would have never even dreamed of meeting, never mind hanging out with.
I have the best bunch of customers i could ever wish for. You guys are amazing, and i wouldn't be here without you.
My knit night peeps, every week you keep me going, make me laugh, are always up for crazy things (need i mention the penguin again?) I love you all so much!
My friends and family you have been my rocks! I also love you guys alot!

So from all the fluph crew (Arthur, Oskar, Mr fluph and myself)
Thank you so so much! I'm off to have a Chinese and a cup of tea to celebrate!

Gifts for knitters...that isn't yarn part 3

 Socks, Socks, Socks! Who loves socks? We love socks...well im learning to. If the knitter or crocheter in your life is a sock knitter then these are for you, Fully handmade in Scotland these sock blockers are a thing of beauty.
But what are these for? well once you have finished your socks with beautiful details, cables, a bit of lace...or even a plain vanilla sock, you give them a little soak in some luke warm water, and put them onto these badboys to dry. the blockers help stretch out your stitches and make your socks look amazing.
Ladies size 6-7 in stock however other sizes can be made to order. A mere £26 for these hand crafter beauties

Gifts for knitters...that isn't yarn!

Hello blog, long time no speak! I had lost my blogging mojo for a while there, but I feel I have wrangled it back. so I'm sorry for being on a hiatus! anyway...on with the show!

So over the past week quite a few folks have been in looking for gifts for mums, partners, friends whom are all knitters, and the feeling I get is that they get a little overwhelmed with all the yarn, not being knitters or crocheters themselves they don't know where to start. So instead of me saying OMG the West Yorkshire spinners is amazing, or mmmm the drops alpaca is so soft, i have decided to do a wee series of things in the shop that would be a well received gift for any yarny fan...that isn't yarn.

So today's pick is the gorgeous hand made, right here in Dundee, ceramic and stoneware buttons. Not to gush too much but I love these buttons, Laurence does an amazing job using old pieces of lace to put texture onto some of the buttons. These would look fab on a cowl, or as a finishing touch on a hat, or as a eclectic mix of buttons on a cardigan. A fantastic stocking stuffer at only £4 per card of buttons.