Why does wool matter?
Why does wool matter? Last weekend I was at Fibre Quest, a show at Fern Hill Farm on the Mendips. The aim of the show is to reaffirm the connection between farm and fibre and” … read more ›
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Gorgeous Yarns, our blog is about things that matter to me, and information I want to share.
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Using stitch markers with your knitting
Which stitch markers? Stitch markers are quite a personal thing! Some prefer a loop and dangly bead or charm which slide along your needle, some prefer a clip and charm, more useful for crochet to … read more ›
Drying and Storing your Natural dyes
Have you grown any dye plants this year or foraged for anything that gives good colour? Many dye plants can give colour as a fresh leaf/flower/bark/seed, but you may not want to use them immediately … read more ›
A brief history of blue in natural dyeing
Blue can be a difficult colour to find naturally to dye with so how do natural dyers create blue colours? Let me tell you more…. There are two main sources of blue for natural dyers; … read more ›
My first natural dye book is at the publishers!
I’ve been working on my first natural dyeing book for 18 months now and its finally at the publishers. It has been a really fulfilling commitment of time but I have really enjoyed all the … read more ›
A brief history of Logwood for natural dyeing
A brief history of Logwood for natural dyeing Logwood and many other natural dyes have been used for hundreds of years to dye textiles. Exploration and discovery of the New World established new trade routes … read more ›
Natural Dye stuff for Yarn Dyeing
Natural dye Stuff for yarn dyeing at Gorgeous Yarns! Here at Gorgeous Yarns I am passionate about yarn dyeing using natural dye stuff. The range of colours is amazing; bright, rich colours, soft pastel colours … read more ›
My Top 5 dye plants to start in the spring
As the spring dye plant growing season comes closer, I can’t help but feel the urge to get out into the garden again. Today on the blog I thought it would be nice to talk … read more ›
Sustainable vegetarian yarn options.
What are some sustainable non-animal yarn options? When I wrote the blog ” Knitting yarn: How can you be more sustainable? “ I didn’t include many vegetarian yarn options. I talked about cotton and bamboo, … read more ›
How eco-friendly are natural dyes for yarns?
Have you ever wondered how eco-friendly natural dyes are for dyeing yarn at home? Maybe you’d like to learn a little more about natural dyeing? In today’s post I’m going to do just that! We … read more ›
Colourfast natural dyes – How long do the colours last?
Have you ever wondered about how long natural dyes last? Maybe you’d like to learn a little more about natural dye fixatives? In today’s post I’m going to do just that! We will explore how … read more ›
Why luxury British yarn is a more sustainable choice for your knitting
Why do I use British yarn? As a natural dyer and teacher I talk a lot about sustainability in the dye process with my students, especially when it comes to the plant stuff we use. … read more ›
How Easy is it to dye wool yarn with Calendula flowers?
Calendula flowers are easy to dye with! Keep on reading because today I want to show you some of my dyeing and the range of colour options you have when you dye with these beautiful … read more ›
Easy Solar Dyeing: how to get started
Solar dyeing is a fascinating and creative process. Wondering how easy it is to dye yarns and fabrics using the power of the sun? Keep reading as I share a quick and easy way to … read more ›
5 Benefits of Knitting with Wool
Knitting yarn – Find yourself wondering if you should buy wool instead of acrylic? Keep reading because I want to share my experiences and feelings about knitting with wool yarn. Before we start…. I am … read more ›
How to work out how much knitting yarn you need for your project
Do you have a pattern or project in mind and want to substitute your own choice of yarn? Perhaps you are designing something and want to calculate how much yarn you will need. Let me … read more ›