Thursday 28 April 2016

Tutorial Thursdays Month-Long Linky Party

Month Long Linky Party

Welcome back to another month of linking fun!


April is here, and with it the beginning of Spring in some areas, and Autumn in others ;) 

This time of year lends itself to loads of crafting possibilities :)


Get creative and share your craft tutorials with us all!


I would love to see them, so share them below :)

Feel free to link up all your crafts below.
I look forward to visiting all of the links I find below.

If you would like a button for your site feel free to use the one below:



Tuesday 26 April 2016

April-June Sock-Along Prizes


These are the wonderful prizes up for grabs for the next three months sock-along participants :)


Sponsors:

Marigolds' Loft

You still have over two months to get some socks off your needles :)

I hope you will be joining us!

To find out more about the Sock-Along go HERE

Monday 25 April 2016

On my Virtual Sofa - Suburban Stitcher

suburban stitcher

Today, I am again super excited to have a lovely lady over for a visit on my virtual Sofa.

Welcome Dianne @ Suburban Stitcher, so glad to have you over :)


dianne suburban stitcher

Please tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to your crafts. 

I have been surrounded by crafts my entire life. My mom owned and operated a custom drapery workroom out of our home, so I was constantly seeing her sew and create things, operate a business, etc. I did very little crafting while I was young (other than latch hook rugs). When I was in college, a friend’s mother taught me to cross-stitch. I was INSTANTLY hooked. I loved every bit of it. I was stitching everything I could find, and quickly started collecting a stash that to this day is probably larger than my yarn stash! After I had children, I took to quilting, but that was harder because I didn’t have a dedicated space for sewing. Eventually a friend of mine (a fellow multi-craftual lover) taught me to crochet and knit, and the rest is history.
Have you always knit at that speed, because you are incredible :)? 

I’m sure that I didn’t always knit very quickly at all. I do remember that my first few projects did take quite a while (months) and that was back when I knit one thing at a time! I think that once I realized that I could knit while doing other things…and mostly without having to constantly reference a pattern (like cross-stitch), I began to speed up. I still don’t know that I’m a very speedy knitter, but I do think that I don’t let even the smallest amount of time pass without taking advantage of it. I’m pretty much doing at least 2-3 things at once. I will knit a row or two while I’m standing waiting for a pot to boil, work on sewing a bag in between loads of dishes, etc. I just know that I want to monopolize on all of the moments I do have, and I’ve learned to make the most of them.
What do you do with all of your socks? Are they all for you or do you gift them? 

I wish that I could say that I’ve gifted a large percentage of my socks (or anything I’ve knit) but really I keep most of them. So many of my knitting projects are tied to memories about where I knit them, and what was going on in my life, so it’s like a physical scrapbook of sorts. I must have about 30-40 pairs of socks right now…and I still want more. I do knit pairs every now and then for others, but really…I give so much of my time and other things to the people in my life, that my knitting is one thing that I’ve allowed myself to be selfish with. Also…I’m THE WORST at following through with a project if I know from the start it isn’t for me to keep. I don’t want to do it because I know I can’t keep it. I’m much better off making something, and then deciding to gift it at the end.



If you had to arrange your crafts in sequence of importance to you what would that sequence look like? 

Well knitting for sure is first. I need to knit every day…for my mental health! Next would be sewing, and then probably stitching.
What does the Handmade Movement mean to you?

This term has always sort of made me laugh. Because I grew up surrounded by handmade items, it’s always been normal. My mom made many of my clothes growing up, even prom dresses! I’ve always had handmade items in my life, and most of my friends did also. I do think that perhaps it’s a bit more “trendy” to have handmade things now, but I don’t feel like I personally have more items now than I did in previous stages of my life.


dianne brown

Who are you most inspired by and why? 

I am super inspired by so many people! I absolutely love Amanda of heyporkchop/Frosted Pumpkin Stitchery and the cozy aesthetic she has created for herself. I am in LOVE with all things pastel, and particularly love the color palette that Robin Sample of October House uses. I bought some yarn from her at a festival this weekend and seriously it always feels like she jumped into my brain. I am very inspired by my friend Steph (supasteph on Ravelry) and all of the colors and projects she knits. She knits amazing lace and pairs amazing colors together. I’m constantly finding myself emulating what she creates. I also love the design aesthetic of Joji Locatelli. I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her over the past year, and I love the easy style of her designs. They are generally very wearable and cozy, and completely something that I can see myself wearing.
What is the one Craft tool you couldn’t be without?

Gingher scissors in the 8” size for sewing. Also Dovo embroidery scissors for snipping and carrying around. They are so beautiful, and I prefer to have pretty items rather than cutsie items.
What are your inspirations right now? 

I love all things pink & purple, and right now I’m particularly in a pastel pink, orchid, and lavender place. I love fresh flowers, all things girly, but also things that are cozy. I love clean colors and lines. I feel like have sort of a “clean vintage farmhouse by the seashore” style. :)

That was such a great chat Dianne, thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself with myself and my readers.

I could so totally understand some of your answers as I am a little selfish with my knitting too, although I must admit, I don't think I have ever knit whilst cooking - that is dedication to a craft ;)

Where can my readers find you on the web?

They can find me here:












For those of you who haven't watched Dianne before here is her latest Podcast for your convenience.




If you are a podcaster and would like me to give your podcast a try, or if you would like to come and have a chat on my virtual sofa, contact me, I would love to hear from you!

See you soon
x

Friday 22 April 2016

FO Friday Fun

fo friday fun

What did you finish this week?

Feel free to share all of your finished objects for this week below :)



Thursday 21 April 2016

Tutorial Thursdays Month-Long Linky Party

Month Long Linky Party

Welcome back to another month of linking fun!


April is here, and with it the beginning of Spring in some areas, and Autumn in others ;) 

This time of year lends itself to loads of crafting possibilities :)


Get creative and share your craft tutorials with us all!


I would love to see them, so share them below :)

Feel free to link up all your crafts below.
I look forward to visiting all of the links I find below.

If you would like a button for your site feel free to use the one below:



Friday 15 April 2016

FO Friday Fun

fo friday fun

What did you finish this week?

Feel free to share all of your finished objects for this week below :)



Thursday 14 April 2016

Tutorial Thursdays Month-Long Linky Party

Month Long Linky Party

Welcome back to another month of linking fun!


April is here, and with it the beginning of Spring in some areas, and Autumn in others ;) 

This time of year lends itself to loads of crafting possibilities :)


Get creative and share your craft tutorials with us all!


I would love to see them, so share them below :)

Feel free to link up all your crafts below.
I look forward to visiting all of the links I find below.

If you would like a button for your site feel free to use the one below:



Friday 8 April 2016

FO Friday Fun

fo friday fun

What did you finish this week?

Feel free to share all of your finished objects for this week below :)



Thursday 7 April 2016

Tutorial Thursdays Month-Long Linky Party

Month Long Linky Party

Welcome back to another month of linking fun!


April is here, and with it the beginning of Spring in some areas, and Autumn in others ;) 

This time of year lends itself to loads of crafting possibilities :)


Get creative and share your craft tutorials with us all!


I would love to see them, so share them below :)

Feel free to link up all your crafts below.
I look forward to visiting all of the links I find below.

If you would like a button for your site feel free to use the one below:



Wednesday 6 April 2016

Spring Break


Dear Readers,

I am off for the next two weeks as I will be away and visiting a course, and I really don't know where I could possibly squeeze in the time to share all my news with you all over that period.

Normal blogging will resume on the 25th April 2016 where I will have loads of cool things to share with you!

The usual linkies on Thursday (Tutorial Thursday Month-Long Linky Party) and Friday (FO Friday Fun) will be available and running for you to link up your weekly posts and visit each other.

See you on the 25th April.
x



Monday 4 April 2016

On my Virtual Sofa - Truly Myrtle


Today I am absolutely thrilled to have a wonderful person I have been following for quite some time over for a visit on my virtual sofa - Libby @ Truly Myrtle

Welcome on Marigolds' Loft Libby, I hope you are comfortable :)

 


Please tell us a bit about yourself and what drew you to your craft.

I’ve been playing with yarn since I was a small child after being taught to knit by my grandmother. My mother knits everyday and I grew up with the idea that this was a perfectly usual thing to do! I remember making up my own stitch patterns and experimenting with colourwork when I was about 11 or 12 but had no notion that this was what I was doing. I knitted and sewed throughout my teens and early twenties but as my legal career grew and I traveled, I experimented more with cooking than crafts. It was with the birth of my first baby in my early thirties that I rediscovered knitting and sewing and I haven’t looked back. I began blogging about knitting and sewing in 2012 and loved how many like-minded people I met from all over the world. Slowly things have evolved and these days I live in New Zealand with my husband and our four children aged 14 to 6 and enjoy designing knitting patterns and making most of my own clothes.

First you were a blogger and have since excelled at being a Podcaster. Why did you want to podcast?

Thank you! I really enjoy podcasting - maybe it’s because I enjoy talking! I’d been thinking about podcasting for a while before I plucked up the nerve to have a go. I thought it would be a cool way to reach my followers - there’s something intimate about speaking directly to people and I really enjoy talking about knitting, sewing and all things crafty. I never run out of things to say!

Truly Myrtle antipodes

I have been following your journey for a couple of years and have watched you grow from strength to strength, what does the future hold for Truly Myrtle?

It has been very fun journey. I started my blog with small children at home all day long and slowly things have grown as they’ve headed off to school. I’m not sure what the future holds for Truly Myrtle, I have a million ideas at any one time, it’s matter of working out what I can manage to do in the hours I have. I do tend to be a little optimistic about what I can get accomplished, so I’m forever chasing fun dreams. Right now I’m really enjoying designing knitting patterns and I think I’ll be sticking to that for a while yet!

truly myrtle maximus

What does the Handmade Movement mean to you?

I’ve always been a maker. My earliest memories as a small child involve yarn and glue and scissors and building things. My parents are both avid makers and we mostly stayed home and made things throughout my childhood. Making things is as essential to me as breathing. So, the "handmade movement" is a funny idea to me in some ways, because I’ve always lived it. It feels very normal. What is exciting however is that more people are getting involved - I love bumping into people that enjoy talking about wool as much as I do or who are crazy excited about the woodwork they’re doing in their shed. I adore their passion.

Who are you most inspired by and why?

Goodness that’s a tough question. I find inspiration in all sorts of people. I think I’m most inspired by people that get on and do stuff and give all sorts of ideas a go. People who achieve great things one little step at a time in amongst day to day family life are hugely inspirational to me. I guess that’s because that’s the kind of life I aspire to.

Mindful shawl Truly Myrtle designs

Where do you feel most inspired to design?

Definitely the car. There’s usually too many kids squabbling while they’re getting ready for school to feel relaxed in the shower. I should drive more often!

Your designs are stunning (I have recently cast on your Mindful Shawl and am loving the pattern :)), will you be moving onto bigger projects or is your niche hats and shawls? I for one would love to see a Truly Myrtle Cardie :)

Ooh I’m so excited to be moving to bigger projects! I am determined to get to grips with garment design this year and I have two garments that I really need to get finished and released. I have always been a “cardigan” person so that’s definitely where I’m headed.

Reminisce truly myrtle

What is the one Craft tool you couldn't be without?

My knitting needles. Lots of people claim to be able to knit on pencils in the absence of needles. Not me. I love my knitting needles, I’d wait for them.

Are their designers/artists who have inspired you along the way?

I majored in art history at University and was completely swept away by a variety of artists from the modernist movement. Their irreverence towards to the established system and their determination to explore shape, colour and dimension is thrilling.

nessa

What are your inspirations right now?

I’m hugely inspired by the colours of New Zealand and the wild, untamed country around me. The light here is intense and the colours are strong and alive. There’s nothing wishy-washy about the New Zealand landscape. We spent a couple of weeks camping in the Coromandel peninsula over the summer and I’m pretty sure I designed a whole collection in my head based on the colours and textures of the coastline!

If you were granted 3 wishes, what would you wish for to advance the Handmade Movement?

I’d wish that everyone would have a go. I firmly believe that creativity is inside every single one of us. It’s just a matter of figuring out how you enjoy being creative and feeling the confidence to have a go. I’m delighted to see a slow return to handmade and crafts so I think my wish might already be coming true. I’d also wish that people would wake up to the realities of cheap high street clothing and that they’d be a bigger focus on arts and crafts in schools.

Thank you so much for taking the time to come and have a little chat with me Libby, it has been an absolute pleasure to have you here.

Where can my readers find you on the web?

You can find me here:










You can find Libby's Podcast on her Website or on your podcast player under Truly Myrtle.

See you soon
x

P.S. If you are a podcaster that would like to come and chat with me, or would like me to watch/hear your podcast, feel free to contact me :)

Sunday 3 April 2016

Sock-Along Winners



The winners of the first draw of this year's sock-along have been chosen.

They are:

spinnwebstube yarn

Ulisme won the gorgeous skein of Spinnwebstube yarn

Tin Can Knits ebook

xevvsmom won a copy of her choice of E-pattern book from Tin Can Knits

wunderwolle

FeoragRuadh won the other gorgeous skein of Wunderwolle Sock yarn!

Congratulations ladies, I am sure you will enjoy your winnings!

Thank you so much to the lovely sponsors for these amazing prizes :)

If you would like to win something at the next draw (will take place on 2nd July 2016) then come on over to the Ravelry Group and join in the fun.

You can find out more info about the Sock-Along HERE

Hope to have you join us :)
x

Friday 1 April 2016

FO Friday Fun

fo friday fun

This week I have some more socks to share with you :)



These are my Interim Socks. I started these as an in-between project for when I am not knitting my Socks for the month.

If you want to know which sock pattern I will be knitting as of this morning, you can find all the info HERE

There is no pattern for these socks, I just made them according to my usual stitch count for socks for my hubby.

I love that the stripes are totally off from one sock to the next :)

The finer details:

64 st on 2.5mm
Yarn: Wollbutt
Size: 43

What did you finish this week?

Feel free to share all of your finished objects for this week below :)



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