GET KNITTED SHEFFIELD GALLERIES.

'Get Knitted' at the Sheffield Galleries is now open, and there are lots of goodies to see....

We're off up there tomorrow for the private view.

You can coo over the knitted wedding, laugh at the old Cast Off footage, marvel at Shane Waltner's amazing interactive party knitting, as seen here, and hot your self up over the knitted formula 1 car tyres! And don't forget you get my free pattern for knitted Sheffield Steal knife, fork and spoon.  

For more information go to www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

PSYCHOSTITCHGEOGRAPHY 3.

We know that our Rosemary has a lot going on in her head. You can see it in her eyes. 

Here are the workings of her citrus bracelet, avaliable in orange and lime.

BUZZING INSIDE.

On Halloween last, we had a fancy dress competition. The prize was one of Louise's knitted flies. Quite late in the evening a zombie walked in with a chinese takeaway and we instantly made him the winner. 

Nine months later, David Laurence sent us this picture of his winning fly in a bell jar. Now we know who the zombie was, and to be honest, it wasn't really that much of a suprise. The life of the fly however, was a suprise and we are delighted to think of it buzzing on his busy desk. 

YAYOI KUSAMA- SELF OBLITERATION (1967) Part 1

Our knitting friend from across the pond, Sabrina Gschwandtner just recommended this film for me to study. Sabrina is coming to stay next week and we are going to the country to make a knitted movie.  I hope it gives you inspiration for any picnics or camping holidays you might be planning this summer.

CAPTAIN PATCH STRIKES BACK.

Congratulations to Captain Patch, or Ian Tea the Choir Master as we formally know him, who made history today by fixing a rip in the shoulder of his jacket. Ian used pins and a needle for the first time since school, and fluently described the experience to Anna McNamee of Radio 4's woman's hour at the same time.  For more about Ian's patch, and all the other going's on at Prick Your finger today, please listen out for a piece about the rise of sewing machine culture, due to be broadcast sometime on R4 in the not too distant future. 

DIANA'S DYES.

Prick Your Finger is proud to present a new range of beige wool, hand dyed in the English Lake District by Diana. 

For those of you who haven't met Diana, she is actually my mother. 

Diana has dedicated her long summer evenings to picking leaves and flowers, to create this full beige range.

Working clockwise from top left we have, the yarn in it's original state, yarn dyed with huckleberries grown by a Russian,  foxgloves with a copper mordent, mediaeval blue comfrey with copper mordant,  mediaeval yellow comfrey with a copper mordant, rose petals from a mediaeval courtyard, and finally in the middle, ivy from an 18th century kitchen garden wall.

Once looking at the rainy landscape, Diana said there are many shades of grey and now she has proved there are many shades of beige to be found in plants, and plants to be found in many places.

 We know it is only a matter of time before she hits on the bright colours! 

Hand Dyed Beige Range is very reasonable at 50p/10g.

SHEEP AUCTION.

Congratulations to Woolclip, organisers of Woolfest, and especially Cecilia Hewitt, for hosting the most spectacular knitted sheep auction that has ever been held anywhere, ever. I am still waiting for pictures of the auction, but here are the 120 sheep in 47 lots, waiting for the auction to start.

Knitters from far and wide knitted flocks of lost sheep, who all found homes and gathered £1,176 for  'Farm Aid.'  

As he slammed his hammer, Adam the auctionier said many of the knitted sheep ended up dearer than real sheep.

More pictures to follow. 

Well done everyone!