TURNING SOLID BOBBINS.

Modern chunky bobbins are usually made in pieces. The benefit is less wood wastage, but problems arise when build up of yarn puts pressure on the ends of the bobbin causing them to wobble or pop off. We experience terrible tangles, and wasted time faffing with Superglue and clamps.

Well this Christmas, my Dad is coming to the rescue by turning 'Solid Bobbins' in Elm.

The only super glue needed is to fill up some little wood worm holes.

(Film made on phone)

LOUDER THAN BOMBS- ART, ACTION AND ACTIVISM.

We are pleased to announce we have been invited to take part in a show;

"Louder than Bombs- Art, Action and Activism" at the Stanley Picker Gallery in Kingston in the spring.

Our plan is to challenge the fashion and textiles industry with a bike powered wool mill / disco / boutique / protest platform, with which you are invited to participate.

There are seven artists taking part and each project seems to echo a song from The Smiths, 'Louder than Bombs'. Our song for the work in progress is 'Money Changes Everything.'

More info to follow. See you there!

SPEED WEAVE DARNING.

Father Christmas never fails to amaze me.

This year he brought the 'Speedweve,' Lancashire's smallest loom, made especially for darning. Darns come out square, for a modern look. Little hooks, twist to lift alternate threads, easing the weave, which is fast and effective. Genius.

(I'm down to phone camera, hense lo-fi images.)

ROBIN HOOD BEAR.

Congratulations to Sarah Cobb, who has knitted a Robin Hood bear, who rides through the glen in the most handsome trousers, crocheted from Prick Your Finger's hand spun "Bethnal Green Forest".
There is no doubt that this curious bear is a rebel. Sarah wants to knit him a hat, and is asking for suggestions.
A pukka trilby with crochet feather?

THE RETURN OF MR. COOPER'S GUERNSEY.

Mrs Cooper said to Mr. Cooper many times,
"Don't leave your valuables in the back of the car, because someone might break in and steal them!"
Most of the time, when parking the car, Mrs Cooper's words resounded in Mr. Cooper's head, but one sunny day in Somerset, a big green hill beckoned Mr.Cooper, and off he went on his walk, forgetting about the back seat.
At the summit, scanning the view, he noticed two men breaking into the back of his car. Pegging it down the hill, on reaching the car, his bags and new camera were no where to be seen.
Several months later, Mr. Cooper received a telephone call from the Somerset Police. They had recovered his bag from a hedgerow, sadly minus the camera, but his favourite guernsey was almost in tact, apart from a few large holes, where some slugs had tucked in.
(Yes, slugs and snails have been known to eat good quality wool)
Mrs. Cooper asked us to darn it, and it is now ready to be worn by Mr. Cooper on more adventures.
Mrs. Cooper doesn't think Mr. Cooper will make the same mistake again.

TINA TURNER, WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER HERO.

But we do need shoulder pads. Back in fashion and now in stock at Prick Your Finger, £3 a pair.

IN THE BLEAK MID WINTER, WE SEND YOU LOVE AND A CHALLENGE.

Season's greetings to you all!
Here are the first and last verses of Christina Rossetti's 'In the Bleak Mid Winter,' knitted in a word search, for you to puzzle over through the longest nights. There are clues to the words too, listed below, and the little words like 'in' are all present.
I am fully aware that it is impossible to do this on a computer screen, and it is meant as your Christmas card, so if you require a larger version to print out, please e-mail info@prickyourfinger.com and I shall e-mail you a copy .

1. Charmless, inhospitible and dreary.
2. Half way through the coldest season.
3. Popular snowman in children's song.
4. Experienced after eating too many sprouts.
5. Another way of spelling 'maid'.
6. Noise made with pleasure or pain.
7. The planet we live on.
8. Up right on both feet, past tense.
9. Not soft.
10. Used to flatten creases.
11. We are advised to drink 8 glasses a day.
12. A rolling _ gathers no moss.
13. Atmospheric water vapour, frozen into ice.
14. Not recently. (4,3)
15. To be generous.
16. Lacking in money.
17. Tender of sheep.
18. To take along.
19. Baby lamb.
20. Learned.
21. Male.
22. My share. (2,4)
23. Pumps blood around the body.
24. _ from grace.

In the bleak mid-winter,
frosty wind made moan.
Earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone.
Snow had fallen,
snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak mid winter,
Long ago.

What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb,
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.
Yet what can I give him?
Give him my heart.