Woolly Chic

Specialising in British wool, ethical yarns and unique kits
  

    • Helen Ingram

    Social Crafting

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    Filed under: Crochet, Knitting, News Tagged with:

    For those of us that love to knit or crochet, this is something we mostly do on our own in our homes. However, knitting and crochet are such portable crafts that they can also be taken anywhere, and I am often found knitting in a train, crocheting in cafes or packing far too many projects when I go on holiday. They are also perfect activities for social crafting!

    I have found there is a real joy in sharing my passion and interest with other people, who feel as excited about creating beautiful crochet stitches or spectacular knitted fabric as I do.

    I belong to a wonderful Crochet Group in Hitchin that meets every Tuesday, 1 – 3 pm at the St. Ippolyts Parish Hall near where I live. Every week there is an opportunity to share what we are making, find someone to ask about a pattern that we don’t quite understand or fix a mistake. But mostly, for two hours, it is time to sit and work away at our latest projects, enjoying the company of like-minded friends.

    We are a group of all different skill levels, ages and backgrounds and everyone is welcome!

    I have talked to lots of people about this group and many people have said that they would love to come, but cannot make it during the day. So from September, I will be starting up craft nights at the hall on the last Monday evening of every month. All the details of these groups are listed below.

    I also organise Afternoon Tea and Craft events, Craft Parties and if you cannot crochet, but would like to learn, I teach crochet workshops at various different venues in Hertfordshire.

    Woolly Chic Knitting and Crochet Groups and Events

    When? Every Tuesday, 1 – 3 pm or the last Monday of the Month, 7 – 9 pm (except November and December)

    Where? St Ippolyts Parish Hall, Waterdell Lane, St Ippolyts, Hitchin, SG4 7RB

    How much to attend? £2 – £3 which covers the cost of hiring the hall and refreshments

    The benefits of social crafting

    I recently watched the latest Fruity Knitting Podcast that talks about the benefits of social crafting to combat social isolation. The whole of this YouTube video is great, but if you want to see the section about this, scroll forward to about 48 minutes https://youtu.be/FsZScAMEV5c?t=2891

    Happy Easter!

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    Filed under: Video tutorials Tagged with: ,

    Crochet_Bunny_Egg_Cosies

    In this video tutorial I show you how to crochet a cute little Easter Bunny Egg Cosy. Learn how to make a magic loop and crochet UK double crochet stitches in the round (amigurumi style). You can buy the ColourLab DK yarn for this project from our website.

    To download the written crochet pattern for free click here

    How to crochet a corner to corner rectangle

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    Filed under: Video tutorials

    In this short video Helen shows that corner to corner doesn’t have to be square! Learn how to make a rectangle shape using the corner to corner crochet technique.

    I have made these videos to accompany my new design for a top that combines corner to corner with squares. It is currently being tested and will hopefully be published soon.

    The yarn used to make the rectangle is Katia’s Fair Cotton.

    Woolly love is in the air

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    Filed under: Crochet, Knitting, News, Wool shows, Workshops

    At this time of year there is much to make your heart sing. I love the bright but chilly weather of February, there are slowly more hours of daylight each day and signs of spring slowly emerging with snowdrops and crocuses popping up!  I also love cosying up in the evenings with my crochet or knitting.

    If you haven’t tried knitting or crocheting with my HeartSpun yarn, now is a great time to, as it is currently on sale on my website!  

    HeartSpun was created out of a love of both British Wool and the environment and is made from 70% British Bluefaced Leicester wool and 30% Tencel (a fibre made from wood pulp).  I have lots of lovely colours available in both 4ply and DK including Scarlet, Pink, Raspberry and Magenta!

    Valentine Colours of HeartSpun
    Colour of the Year!
    Magenta HeartSpun

    Scarlet HeartSpun 4ply and DK is now back in stock, just in time for Valentine’s Day!

    Did you know that Magenta is the Pantone Colour of the year? I have this gorgeous colour available in both my HeartSpun 4ply and DK yarn and also the beautiful Fair Cotton, which is 100% organic and fairtrade.

    Afternoon Tea and Craft event at Needham House Hotel on Friday 24th March, 1- 4pm
    How about treating yourself to an Afternoon Tea and time spent crafting in the luxurious setting of Needham House Hotel?  Tickets are £33.50 and includes a luxurious afternoon tea, including choice of teas, coffee and a Woolly Chic Goody Bag.
    This would make a lovely Valentines or Mother’s Day present!

    Crochet Workshop Gift Vouchers are also the perfect present for anyone who would like to learn to crochet or advance their crochet skills.

    The voucher can be used on any of my crochet workshops that take place at The Haberdashery in Hitchin or towards one to one tuition at a time of their convenience.

    Learn to Crochet Cables and other textured stitches
    Beginner Crochet Workshops

    Woolly Chic Workshops
    I really love teaching crochet and I have lots of great workshops coming up at The Haberdashery in Hitchin:
    Beginners Crochet Granny Squares Workshop
    Tuesday 21st February, 7 – 9.30 pm, Tuesday 21st March, 7 – 9.30pm, Tuesday 18th April, 7 – 9.30pm
    Crochet Cables and Textured Crochet 
    Tuesday 28th February, 7 – 9.30
    Crochet Mandalas Workshop –
    Tuesday 7th March, 7 – 9.30 pm  
    Introduction to Amigurumi Crochet workshop
    Thursday 9th March 10 am – 12.30 pm
    Tuesday 2nd May, 7 – 9.30 pm
    Crochet Bunting and Tapestry Crochet-
    Thursday 16th March 7 – 9.30pm
    Easter Crochet – Tuesday 28th March, 7 -9.30 pm
    Crochet Flowers – Tuesday 11th April, 7 – 9.30pm 

    All workshops are £30 and include all materials and refreshments.
    For more information and to book a place visit  https://www.woollychic.co.uk/product/crochet-workshop-at-the-haberdashery-in-hitchin/

    Brand New Organic Cotton
    Made with one ball of Fair Cotton Granny!

    New Products I love!
    I have just taken delivery of some lovely new self-striping organic cotton, called Fair Cotton Granny!  Each 150g ball consists of 12 exact colour cycles to make 12 granny squares with 3 different effects: gradient colour, multi-colour and mono-colour.  In between each granny square cycle there is a section of cream yarn. Free patterns are available for this yarn on Katia.com.  I couldn’t resist trying it out and have been crocheting squares for a new design of top, which I hope to be publishing soon!

    Wishing you lots of love and best wishes this February!
    Happy Crocheting and Knitting!
    x Helen
    www.woollychic.co.uk

    valentines_yarn_heart
    yarn love
    Hearts_Flowers_Crochet_Tea_Cosy
    Fair Trade Cotton

    Definition of a Yarn Influencer

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    Filed under: News

    HeartSpun_yarn_on_steps_of_beach_hut

    I was honoured to be asked by The Cambridge Yarn Festival to become one of their official Yarn Influencers! I met Jem and Camilla at their Seaside Knitting Retreat and was so inspired by their enthusiasm and many talents and so jumped at the chance to wear that badge with pride!

    It got me wondering though, what makes someone a Yarn Influencer and what does the term really mean? Simply, I suppose a Yarn Influencer is someone who shares their love of yarn with others!

    I certainly love to talk about yarn and all things wool related! And you all know how passionate I am about British Wool and environmentally sustainable and ethical yarns…. Hopefully I have managed to influence some people to change how they think about the fibre content of the yarn they use for their knitting and crochet!

    I don’t think that to be a Yarn Influencer is to be held up as an expert though! Because whilst I have researched a lot about environmentally friendly yarn and the different varieties of wool from different sheep breeds, there is so much more I would like to know! I teach crochet workshops in Hitchin, Hertfordshire and am confident I could tackle most crochet patterns, but I also love to learn new tips and stitches from other teachers and I am very much a novice / curious knitter! I have recently discovered a love of knitting socks and I have enrolled in an Online Ultimate Sock Masterclass run by the Knit School to learn how to knit toe up socks!

    I think ultimately one of the best things about being a Yarn Influencer is being part of a larger woolly community! Meeting other like-minded talented people is always so inspiring! I certainly met a wonderful group of fantastic woolly folk on the retreat!

    I had a wonderful time last weekend at the Seaside Retreat, organised by Jem of Under The Olive Tree Knits and Camilla of Knitting Needle Lane. The Retreat took place at the beautiful Wells Next-the-Sea in Norfolk. As part of the weekend activities, we visited two wonderful wool shops – Venetia’s Yarn Shop in Fakenham and Owl Tree Crafts in Sheringham and if you are ever in Norfolk, I would recommend you find a way to visit them both! We were also treated to a workshop on how to make a Japanese braid, we all cast on Jem’s new shawl pattern, were given tips on how to take better photographs on the beach for social media and we also got to try our hand at Yarn Dyeing! I came home feeling totally inspired and I even managed to create my own Instagram reel and take part in an Instagram Live session, which was way out of my comfort zone!

    Photographing HeartSpun yarn on the beach
    HeartSpun yarn at Wells Next-the-Sea
    Hand-dyed yarn drying
    Mini skeins of hand-dyed yarn
    In balls, waiting to be knitted!