Sublime Natural Aran Yarn and Pattern

So, at the end of what has proved to be a rather busy month, I can finally reveal what I've been working on for none other than Black Sheep Wools! In order to promote some new yarn, they wanted me to review the yarn and create a brand new pattern that will be available for free download from their website. Having been creatively bone idle for most of the summer I was itching to do something and this was the perfect opportunity to get my hands on the knitting needles again. 

The yarn is Sublime Natural Aran in Ecru, Portobello, Smithy and Gracie. The colours are beautiful - Portobello and Gracie are really rich, almost jewel-tones while Smithy is more marly and makes for a nice contrast with the other colours.The yarn is really lovely to knit with and, although at first I thought it was quite lightweight for an Aran, it thickens out to make a nice soft and fluid material. It is 100% wool, so it is a little fuzzy but lovely and soft, and I reckon this will keep me nice and cosy during the winter months. It's also made in England and supported by the Campaign for Wool, so you can rest assured that by buying this yarn you'll be doing England's sheep and wool industry some good!

So onto my pattern, which I hope showcases just how gorgeous this yarn is. Interestingly enough, the colours that were sent to me are reminiscent of the colour palette of the Anglesey landscape, which is lucky for me as I already had an entire project's worth of research! However I decided to expand my research and develop my Final Major Project even more, moving away from my painterly, abstract knits and looking back at traditional Welsh or Fair Isle patterns.

After knitting a few samples up I became very interested by figuring out ways to translate woven patterns into Fair Isle. Weaving, especially tapestry weaving, gives you more freedom with the amount of colours you can use whereas Fair Isle only allows you to use two per row, so this involved some tweaking and simplifying of traditional patterns such as check or welsh blankets. I really liked my Welsh Tapestry Blanket sample - both the way it looked and how it links back to my original inspiration worked really well and so I got to tweaking it, crafting it into a cowl shape and size and voila! Ready to knit!

Welsh Tapestry Blanket example

My samples, and Sublime Natural Aran Swatches

I'm really pleased with how it's turned out and I can't wait to see what you all make of it too! The rib gives a nice border and prevents the edge of the cowl curling over to reveal the inside, something I wasn't so keen on in my other three cowls. It's nice and tall too - so it'll definitely keep you warm on the side of a Welsh mountain.

The pattern is available to download from Black Sheep Wool's free pattern page right now and you can get the yarn from here! Simples.

Painting

The majority of my research for any project is drawing and painting-based. My FMP was no exception, and I explored all ranges of media - stick and ink, watercolour, acrylic - before producing quite a few fully-realised paintings. The colours and shapes within these paintings then developed further into my digital prints, knitting patterns etc, so they really are the core of my project. Some, naturally, are more successful than others - and they vary from quite illustrative to bolder, almost simplified scenes. At all times I was thinking of the textures that expressive brushstrokes can create - something which I find more important than making it look photo-realistic, especially when working towards a textiles outcome. 

Cottage at South Stacks, Anglesey

Heather on Mynydd Twr/Holyhead Mountain

Cottage behind the rocks, South Stacks

View to Snowdonia from Beaumaris

Mynydd Twr/Holyhead Mountain

South Stacks Lighthouse

All these are now available to buy as a set of 6 cards, or if you REALLY like them - some are available to buy, smartly mounted and ready to stick into a frame! Check them out...

First up - the final outcome!

Thought I'd share some pictures of my FMP exhibition, as I really think it sums up my project, and therefore my products pretty well!

I was so glad I ended up with 2 boards rather than just the one, as I think leaving either the paintings, knitting or digital prints out wouldn't have been a fair representation of my project - everything connects and compliments each other. I'm ESPECIALLY glad that my birds had their space to shine - because who doesn't want to see little birdies wearing scarves?

The opening of an Etsy shop

Over the past few days and weeks I have been in the process of preparing some products and pieces from my Final Major project to sell in my very own Etsy shop!!

So in order to (perhaps) drum up some publicity and interest beyond the realm of my family and friends, I'm going to post up some images and information, letting you know what to expect to be able to buy!

My project was all based and inspired by the beautiful island of Anglesey - a place very close to my and my family's heart. I have very fond memories of staying in rented cottages as a young girl, being taken to places like Newborough Warren and Beaumaris. Nowadays, we go for epic walks around the coast - often missing lunch and making up for it with huge quantities of fish and chips.

 It was one particular walk around Holyhead that really inspired me to look at Anglesey in more detail - and thus, a project was born!

And an Etsy shop was opened right here.