The Shop is now back open!

We’re home, after a wet week in Padstow, to find out that Oxford had one of it’s best weeks of weather so far this year!

However I am not disheartened. I have FOs to share, have read inspiring books, and feel set to get on with the rest of 2008! There is lots to do.

For now I’ll leave you with two delicious things:

Orangette’s Butterscotch Pots, which I am a little in love with at the moment, (they look faffy, but really aren’t and regardless, they are so worth the effort.)

and,

My friend Mootthings, who writes posts exactly the way she tells stories out loud. (If you don’t get to hear about her adventures over knitting, drinks and bowls of chips on a wednesday, you can read about them instead.)

More later, (after washing and cooking, sleep and catching up on the Tour de France. Go Millar! You argyle crazy boy!)

The shop will be down from tomorrow - Friday 27th June 5pm - till Tuesday 8th July, while W and I take a much needed holiday.

Any orders that come into before tomorrow will go in the post either tomorrow or saturday morning (depending on when the order comes in.)

When we get back, I’m ordering more sock yarn, and going on a bit of a dyeing frenzy, all being well. I have new kit, and new colours to try out. It’s very exciting!

I also have a project in the works that I hope is going to show off the new Oxford Kitchen Aran Yarn. :)

In the meantime, enjoy the sunshine. Back next week. x

Firstly: QueenoftheFroggers finished her Swallowtail Shawl in Oxford Kitchen Yarns sock yarn. It’s superb. Go look! :)

Secondly: I owe a stack of emails to people. hopefully i’ll get my arse in gear tomorrow, and get them sorted out. Sorry.

Thirdly:

I have the lurgy. (Thank you man who coughed on me on the bus.) It’s not a serious lurgy, but I’d rather head it off at the pass if I can right now, which meant getting the jobs that really needed doing done, and then curling up in bed with plenty of drink and my knitting.

I’m sure you’ll be shocked to hear how much knitting for bump has been going on recently. But little projects are perfect for the summer, especially along side the bigger projects I want to get done. This is a bit of both. It’s a baby version of the Elizabeth Zimmermann Garter Stitch blanket (here is Brooklyntweed’s recently completed version.)

I’m knitting it in Oxford Kitchen Yarn Aran, with the center panels in undyed and the outer sections in a colour that has yet to be decided upon. (It’s a good way of working out how much yarn i’m going to need, since one center panel is an eighth of the whole thing.)

Also on the needles is a Shetland Shorty in 21st Century Yarns Silk.

I’ve had this yarn for a few years now. I bought it orginally to make some sort of wrap to wear at our wedding. To be honest the scarf/wrap i made didn’t get much wear, though it worked with the outfit. But I had alot of the silk left, and i’ve always wanted to make something from it, even if it meant ripping back the original scarf. (Which it probably will, and i’m fine with that.)

I’m hoping the Shetland Shorty will work well. (Though it’s slightly on hold till i get a pointer needle since the k2togs in silk are driving me a bit batty.)

As for recent FOs…

Everyone Needs A Blue Rabbit

Ravelry post or Lion Brand Link to Pattern.

This was knit with Debbie Bliss Wool/Cotton (and luckily I have enough left over for another couple if it proves popular.)

It was a very quick, very cute knit. A good alternative to baby socks or booties if you need a last minute gift.

Blue Sky Country Kiddie

Ravelry post or Link to pattern.

Oh Blue Sky Alpaca Silk how i love you! (And I still have 1 1/3 skeins left to make something else - maybe some fingerless mitts for me - I’m thinking of getting a skein of the red, and striping them. :)

I really love this pattern. In fact I’m planning to knit another one, though sleeveless as per the original pattern, from the left over ball of cash cotton left over from my tunic top. :)

I added the lace - it was crying out for something to be added to it, given i was using an even coloured yarn.

Drops Autumn Leaf Scarf

Ravelry post or Link to pattern.

This was made using the 22g i had left over after making my sideways garter stitch scarf (which I love!)

It proved to be a totally down to the wire project, but i had *just* enough yarn thank goodness.

(This is another pattern that knits up in no time at all. And it looks like it’ll stay on really well. At least while they are small. :)

Mossy Jacket

Ravelry post or Link to pattern.

This was my first time knitting with Noro. Again, it was another knitting down to the wire project. In fact I ended up knitting the sleeves from two ends of what was left of the second ball, so that i could keep them even. I think I ended up with about 6m of yarn left to spare.

The moss edging is Kilcarra aran.

And finally…

Our tv room. Finally decorated the weekend before last. \o/

Sleeveless Tunic Top by bergere de france
My Ravelry Post: here
Yarn: Rowan Classic Cash Cotton - sea foam, 5 balls (though i bought 6, and without the adjustments - see notes - it would have needed all 6.)
Needles: 3.25mm
Notes: The pattern calls for it to be knit in as a front and a back, so I converted it to knit in the round, and lopped a good 2 inches off the length, since otherwise it would have been closer to a dress, which i wasn’t sure was going to work since I’m 5′6″ and naturally pear shaped.

The yarn is incredible. Seriously. I don’t like knitting with cotton, but this stuff is special and has a lovely colour range. (That said, right now it’s liable to pill, though i’m hoping it’ll settle down after a while.) It’s certainly very soft, and smooshy, for a cotton.

It’ll be interesting to see how this looks after the baby is born. I’m hoping it won’t be too loose the flappy as a top. (That said, i think there is room to grow in the body of the top, so i’m hoping it’ll get lots of use for the next 4 months at least.

It is now possible to order batch quantities of Oxford Kitchen Yarn yarns to make larger projects, like jumpers, cardigans, jackets and the like.

I currently have the ability to dye about 800-900g of yarn in one go.

Since this yarn is hand dyed, I would suggest that you knit with two skeins at one time, alternating every few rows, to even out the colour where necessary.

Custom orders do not cost extra.

You only pay for the yarn you buy, and I feel it is important to allow you to approve the yarn before you complete your purchase. Currently this means contacting you with images of the dyed yarn, before you are billed, and they are sent to you. However if the customer preferred, I would be happy to post a single skein for approval rather than images (though additional postage will be required.)

Here is the current price list for OKY yarns:

• Sock = £12 per 100g (425m approx.)
• 4ply = £5.50 per 50g (185m approx.)
• DK = £5.50 per 50g (110m approx.)
• Aran = £5.50 per 50g (77m approx.)
• Lace = £16 per 100g (1200m approx.)

A deposit equal to the price of one of the skeins ordered is required (plus postage if mailing a ‘test’ skein has been organised), once a custom order has been agreed. However given that natural dyeing is not an exact science, this will be refunded if the customer rejects the finished yarn, either via the images or ‘test’ skein.

The rest of the bill will be settled before the rest of the yarn is sent through the post. (Usual refunds still apply.)

Do Not Fear the Dreaded ‘Running Out of Yarn’ Problem.

Wherever possible, I will dye at least one extra skein of yarn in the same batch, and hold it for 4 months, so that it is there if you need it. (After that 4 months it will go into the regular stock to be re-sold, unless I hear otherwise from the relevant customer.)

How to Order:

You can contact me here to start organising a custom order, or to ask any questions about the custom order process.

Important Information:

• OKY is a tiny company, and though I try to keep and range of undyed yarn in stock, I need to check that I have enough yarn to fulfill your order before I commit to it.
• I try to keep my regular dyestuff in stock, but some of the dyes I use are seasonal. However I will always offer alternative colour suggestions wherever possible.
• Custom Orders are likely to take about two weeks from ordering to dispatch, but currently I will need to confirm this on an order by order basis, since there will be periods of time when this is not possible.
• All payments will be set up via paypal money requests, unless otherwise organise with me.

Small Disclaimer:

Given that this is a new venture for me, changes maybe made to the Custom Order process where necessary. Wherever possible, this will not affect custom orders that have already been agreed.

You can find all this information now here at the shop.