Autumn advances

HI all,

Been a while since I was writing last. In that time we have had a holiday to visit family and friends on Lewis, had scorching and unnaturally warm summer weather (not ideal for knitting, that’s for sure, although we stoically struggled on) and now that the evenings are drawing in again, thoughts turn from the garden to the pleasure of the inside fires and of knitting beside them.

I love having the fire on again. Now that the evenings are a bit cooler we light the stove in the living room to drive the damp coolness away, without needing to turn on the central heating yet. The days are still warm, after all.

My own thoughts are turning to Christmas knitting - a dread word to some and too soon! I hear others cry, but as a crafter it remains sadly true that we have to plan our time accordingly as made articles take such an age! Especially when we want to showcase our skill and make something we are proud to call hand made. We make items out of love and for our own pleasure, and hope that the sentiment of affection for our recipients shines through.

With that in mind, we have a new timetable of classes imminent where you can learn to Crochet, knit a sock from the toe up (advised for knitters who are beyond the basics) and a Knit to Fit session, where we take a pattern or design and adapt it to suit your body shape. Keep an eye out for these, and if you want to see a particular subject brought up or taught, please let me know!

Off now to add to the website. Lovely new winter ranges and colours coming in regularly so keep an eye on the shop pages for more yarny loveliness.

Spring is on its way!

I don’t know about you, but I am always heartened to see the days slowly lengthening at the start of a year.

Its been January for approximately 5 months, so to be finally into February, and to see dusk and not darkness when I leave the shop, is just lovely. Snowdrops are peeking out from the leaf litter, blackbirds are starting to strut about the garden again, and the winter knits are in full use still. Nothing says cosy like a woolly hat or shawl wrapping you up on a cold day!

There are some new and lovely yarns in store - new Scottish dyers are to be found at Fankle. We are now stocking the Eorsa DK yarn base from Iolair Yarns, a scrumptious mix of Superwash Merino, Yak and Silk (ooh!) and any day now we will be getting some mini bundles in from Henny Penny yarns - can’t wait.

Rainbow bundles are making me think of Spring, my favourite season. The air is full of sunshine, light, new buds and new possibilities - what’s not to love?

And I’ve added Rowan Felted Tweed and Felted Tweed Colour to the website, so you can plan your colourwork for the coming few weeks :)

See you soon x

Christmas is coming

Last shopping day - Sun 19th December

Christmas closing - Mon 20th Dec - Tue 4th Jan.

Reopening - Wed 5th Jan at 10 am.

Hi all,

Its a time (normally) of celebration and anticipation, this time of year. Lights twinkling, Santas popping up all over the place, adverts jingling with sleigh bells - and I’m trying my hardest to get in the festive spirit, but it is difficult.

Difficult because of the pandemic all around us, the constant need to be on our guard and be wary whenever we leave the house. Difficult because we cannot greet our friends and family impulsively, we have to prepare with lateral flow tests and make sure we have had our jags. Difficult because times are hard; money is tight and we have to be careful what we spend. It’s fraught with underlying tension and worry, where it should be happy and joyous.

But in the midst of this carefulness is also love. We wear masks and keep our distance for love of our fellows. We try to make allowances because we know everyone is suffering. We take our tests and think twice about mixing in large gatherings, to keep everyone safe.

And we give gifts, because its that time of year.

It’s quite good, in a way, to have to think carefully about what to get folk in this weird time. I’m making a few things for family and imbuing them with love and warmth as much as I can to show how much they mean to me. I’m looking forward to taking the time to see family and friends this festive season (all tested and with as much fresh air as possible!) and being in good company.

We can still gather (carefully) and feast (greatly) and laugh (lots) and relax (phew!). We can share each other’s company and put our feet up and watch cheesy films on telly. We can go for walks in the fresh air and wrap up warm in scarves and hats. We can play board games, play fight on Fortnite, argue over the washing up :)

So here’s to small gifts, chosen or made with love, and Christmas drinks with loved ones, and enjoying the holiday.

Best wishes for the season XXX

Planning Ahead

MY hubby will tell you the absolute irony of this blog post title, as I am generally incapable of planning for tomorrow, never mind further into the year, but I was minded to focus on this because the summer time is a good time to plan your winter knitting.

Knitting, crochet and handcrafts tend to take a back seat in the warmer months, because people are on holiday, planning days out, or catching up with family, with the garden, and generally making most of the vitamin D and the longer evenings. That doesn’t mean we have to stop crafting though.

These longer days are great for looking out your stash, sorting out bundles of yarn, checking out patterns you’ve had your eye on, and creating project bags ready for the autumn, when you can just pick up a complete project kit and get started right away.

It also worth remembering that knitting (and to a lesser extent crochet) takes longer than you think, so making a start now means you are going to have finished garments to wear in the depths of winter, or even a start to your (dare I say it!) Christmas presents.

Anyway. We won’t wish the summer away, but that doesn’t mean we can’t spend some time in the sun, playing with yarn and thinking ahead.

New Stock for a new Season

Afternoon all,

I’m adding bits and pieces slowly to the website; today I’m in the process of listing Janie Crow crochet patterns to the Pattern section. These are such a treat for the eyes, and there are charts and photographs to help you every step of the way, to complement the written instructions. I mean look at this; lush!

Janie Crow Jewelled Star crochet blanket

Also new is Rowan magazine 69 - chock full of wearable beautiful designs:

Rowan Magazine 69

And we are proud to announce the Ayrshire Hat and Cowl Knitting Pattern! Based on our own local landmarks, you will find striking images of Ailsa Craig, the Burns Monument, Turnberry Lighthouse, and the Barony A frame, bordered by waves and seagulls. There’s even a “wee cowran tim’rous beastie”! Knitted in the fabulous Kinross 4 ply, this is an ideal gift for locals and distant wanders alike.

Close up of the Ayrshire Hat and Cowl knitting pattern

Open again - Phew!

Hallo!

Last time I wrote, the shop was still preparing to open for the end of the month, and I’m delighted to say that We Made it! Lockdown easing means the shop is open again, and I was thrilled to welcome customers back in yesterday.

I admit I was nervous about reopening - not for any particular reason, but I think fear of the unknown is a constant in these strange times. As it turned out, the shop looked amazing and there was something for everyone who came in , so that was a relief!

Shop still looks amazing, but now I have to stop admiring it and get on with some work. Paperwork, my very favourite. Not.

It is lovely to be back .

Pic is of West Yorkshire Spinners Colour Lab DK in colourway Summer Pinks - perfect for a sunny Spring morning . We have all the multicoloured shades in stock, and can order in any solid colour for you too :)

April soon - Opening at the end of the month!!

Hi Peeps,

I’m delighted to say that, all being well, we should be reopening Fankle Yarns on Wednesday 28th April 2021 at 10 am.

Phew!

Its been a tough few months, and it may not be over yet - finger and toes and all appendages crossed - but we should be in a fit state to be back in circulation at the end of the month. I’m trying to get my fatigue-addled brain up to speed, and should have had a good run at it by then.

I have found it very hard to concentrate over the last year, as I’m sure many of you have. Unable to read long books, even, which is not like me. I think the longer days and warmer weather are helping though, the sunshine has a heartening effect on the spirits, and hearing birds chirping and bees buzzing makes everything that little bit better.

My projects have suffered a little too. There are plenty of things started (no surprise there) but I find I have had less inclination to stick to anything over the winter. This is also improving with the advancement of Spring, and there may even be a new sample or two in the shop once we reopen.

Famous last words!

Better go and do some dreaded computery stuff and stop procrastinating on here :D

See you soon!

Kathleen x

Spring is in the air

Isn’t it lovely that the days are finally getting longer? There’s some heat in the sun, although the nights are still chilly, and the flowers are tentatively peeking out from the leaf litter to cheer us all up and give us a burst of optimism for the coming months.

We have crocuses in our garden that are starting to purple up, and there are primroses showing between the planks in our industrial waste garden (sooo much work needed, oh my word).

What does that mean for the shop? Well, its looking cheerier with bright daylight shining in through the skylights for a start!

We’ve got new yarns in stock - I’ve listed Stewart Yarns in the online shop - and new shades of Cookston Crafts fingering weight. Plus loads of the natural shades of WYS Jacobs and BFL with the Home book to go with; the Bow Fiddle super long skeins are on the website, an excellent buy where one skein makes a decent sized shawl.

For babies we have Bo Peep Pure DK online, plus the Bo Peep DK in store (working on getting that online). Summer is great for cotton yarn, and we have shades of Rowan Summerlite DK for everyone. Such a lot of colour and prettiness around me!

Also recently listed are my favourite knitting needles Knit Pro Symfonie, and some quallity circulars Knit Pro Nova metal in a range of sizes and lengths.

On the whole, it’s all coming together. I hope all those who are eligible are getting their jabs, and that it wont be too long a wait for the rest.

Looking forward to seeing you asap.

Take care xxx

....2021 so far....

Afternoon folks,

Here we are in another lockdown. I hope this will be the last big push so that we can start getting vaccinated and making our way out towards the spring sunshine, when it comes. I am glad that most of us are staying safe and following the medical recommendations but I long for the days when we can be social again! I miss my pals and going home to see my family, but even travelling outside the county lines will be a massive bonus.

Ah well, just a little while longer.

We are still functioning, albeit like a one armed carpenter, but Fankle Yarns is still plodding along. I’ve got some new WYS Aran weight in, and the new home book is very tempting, especially at this time of year - all those blankets and woolly cushions make me feel v toasty! I’m hoping to have it on the website asap, so keep an eye out.

(Still trying to get my head around the technology - show me a knitting or crochet pattern and I can usually figure it out before long; throw some technology into the mix, and I’m like a toddler learning to tie shoelaces, but with less success…)

Ach well, onwards and upwards.

Apologies for those folk who have ordered yarn and it hasn’t arrived yet - the Postal Services are running way behind right now, so its out of my hands. Rest assured I put everything to the Post Office asap.

THERE IS FREE POSTAGE OVER £50, SO DONT WORRY IF IT CHARGES YOU, YOU’LL GET IT REFUNDED.

Anyway. Off to do battle with the forces of darkness! Or the website, for those of a less fantastic bent. Wish me luck x

Christmas is Coming

Afternoon Knitting and Crochet Peeps!

It’s coming to the end of our Level 4 lockdown in South Ayrshire, and I have to admit I have enjoyed a bit of time off, but now I’m raring to get back into the shop to see you all again!

Hopefully, all going well, the Scottish Government will allow us to reopen on Saturday 13th December, so expect to see us open and eager to help with your pre-Christmas yarn shopping.

Remember we also offer Gift Certificates, if you’re not sure what your recipient would prefer, or you could also invest in one for yourself - when the January bills bite, you’ll have a wee bit of yarn comfort to see you through :)

In any case, we look forward to seeing you again next weekend, and hope you are managing to keep well in between.

Happy Knitting!

Kathleen x

August and summer heat

Hi all,

It’s August 2020 already. I think 2020 is going to go down in modern history as the year that time forgot. How can it be August? its strange having a summer where you can’t do the usual summery things without a great deal of forethought - barbeques with friends, pub lunches in the sun, going on holiday, heading off to the beach.

At least as crafters we can counterbalance the weirdness with activity. And with the weather being so unpredictable (sun one day, showers the next) with our multiple talents and projects we will never be stuck for something to take our mind off things.

And speaking about multiple things, have any of you started your winter / Christmas knitting yet? I feel like I should be mouthing the word ‘Christmas’ in a Miranda fashion - in case the thought of it upsets people.

It is inevitable though. I confess I am one of those folk who start sporadic present buying about this time, so that come December I have the bulk of it bought. It spreads the cost out over a few months as well. And for those of us who like to make our gifts, it pays to start fairly early so that you have TIME to get through your list - who hasn’t stayed up late on Christmas Eve to frantically sew in ends or rush the last few rows?

Anyway. Now that I’ve sown that seed into your heads, please keep en eye on the website over the next few weeks, as I turn my flippity-flop butterfly-like minuscule attention span to the task of updating the shop.

Keep an eye out and get on my case if its not happening quickly enough!

Cheers and happy knitting x