Musings of a Knitter - Di Gilpin's blog

after the most wonderful spell of weather I woke up to torrential rain and wind…so much for bringing on autumn….it feels as if we have leapt into winter!

Anyway, I don’t mind because I have been working with the most fab new fibres…from Artisan yarns…which I  am hoping to stock this year..

I have been sampling for the new book and really enjoying getting down to work with some of the best small producers in Britain…more on this later

This is the first photo of new design for the autumn…hoping to photo lots at the weekend up north whilst learning how to hunt for chanterelles with my friend Graham and his girls. This design is semi felted and knitted in pure British Jacobs yarn, which I used for the Cabbages and Roses commission….It’s a great shape with saddle shoulders and side panels……lots of you at UK Knit camp loved it, which is wonderful…the pattern will be ready by the weekend for those of you who have already bought the yarn…….thanks ..can’t wait to get feedback on the design!

Gooseberry and elderflower for Natascha

Here’s something we made earlier!

Now onto the rowanberry jelly!

This is a great recipe from an old friend on Skye…Ros Burgess…she wrote a great book about countryside and island cooking and making…the berries are ready Right Now…so for those of you who want to have a go this is what I do. Ros’s book is called ‘Notes & recipes from an Island Kitchen’..with fab illustrations from Judith MacLachlan.

Rowan Jelly

1.4kgs(3lbs) rowan berries

6 cloves (which I miss out)

450grs cooking apples – bramleys

1.1L (2pts) water

1 lemon rind (I used lime)

White sugar

Pick your berries (best right now before a frost and the birds have got to them) Take them from their stalks and put into the preserving pan with the chopped apples. Add the lime and the water. Simmer gently for an hour or so until the fruit becomes soft. Strain through a muslin bag or pair of (clean) tights over night and squeeze out the juice into the pan. Add 450grs(1lb) sugar to 600ml(1pint) if juice. Stir over a gentle heat till the sugar is dissolved. Bring to the boil and boil for 10mins. Keep testing till jelly starts to set. Pour into jars which have been sterilised and are warm. Cover, seal and enjoy! Great with cheese or with winter root vegs, meats or in sauces…..

This summer has been pretty wild really …not windy or wet but definately STORMY.  I can’t believe it is now September, but it is and I am so happy…autumn is coming and I love it!

I’ve really enjoyed writing up my notes over the past months but this summer I experienced how powerful this medium is for causing caos and unpleasantness. My dear friend Annie Modesitt experienced some horrendous bullying on the net, the storm which errupted over the UK Knit camp and the Ravelry group steering clear of Stirling …all really horrid stuff. I must admit it has taken me a few weeks to pluck up courage to continue with this journal but a light went on in my sleepy brain this morning and I realised what was important….

I love knitting and I love each single stitch that I knit….

What else is there to know…knitting shows me how to love..it opens my heart and allows me to share what I learn…that is what this diary is about. Knitting, sharing and finding joy in every stitch. The way to happiness…and when you find happiness you find love…

for all the bullying bloggers … hope you find happiness through your knitting , you will certainly not find it in angry words…..

So here I am at home….with dog, cat, son, garden, studio and lots of knitting to do and to write about..

dixx

There are a lot of fantastic creative makers and designers who are frequent visitors to the Bothy Studio, and it has been such a pleasure to meet them all! One of the loveliest designers (aside form Di, of course!) I’ve met since I’ve been here is Dorothy Wood. She is truly a crafty renaissance woman – she designs and creates beautiful Art Cards, knitting patterns, and jewelry, has written loads of books and is regularly published in magazines.

She’ll be teaching another series of workshops at the Bothy this Fall…for more info click HERE

Here are some fabulous photos of some of her gorgeous designs…aren’t they lovely??

I am thrilled to have a new live in helper for the summer…Natascha has arrived this morning…we are thrilled to have her here…she has brought loads of exciting yarns from the States for us to munch into and even her own yarns that she is making………it’s great because Natascha is going to put up her own blog thoughts too…so do look out for them and send us lots of feedback too…..

I sometimes have these ideas which go on and on and on…here is one. I started this in silk 5 years ago…it unravelled itself and now I am reknitting it. Some of the stitches have a mind of their own…here is my latest little gem:

Knit a few stitches…maybe 20. Knit back but wrap the yarn 4 times around the needle for each stitch. Next row…drop down the stitches and as you do so take the stitch off the needles and twist it round as you would a hank…put it back on the needle and knit it!

What next!

Dorothy has been teaching a wonderful bead knit workshop in the Bothy…the rain came down.. but everyone was snug inside the studio and working like mad

this was the last of our spring sessions and we are about to launch our new programme for September onwards……

I had some fantastic post today including a painting from Tilly who joined our knitclub on thursday evening with her mum…Tilly is making a wonderful bright red and pink scarfe and I hope she is going to add some roses!Tilly’s painting

Mum's roses

How to make your own garden party roses

Take a selection of oddments from your stash…all different weights, colours and textures. Use the appropriate needle for each weight i.e. 3.25mm for 4ply, 4mm for DK etc.

Cast on 137 stitches and knit one row into the back of the stitch.

Row 2 : K1, (slip 1, K1, psso) repeat to end. 69sts

Row 3 : Purl.

Row 4 : repeat Row 2. 35sts.

Row 5: Purl.

Row 6 : repeat row 2. 18 sts.

row 7 : Purl.

Break yarn and thread through remaining sts. and pull together.

Make lots and have fun!