March

I'm not saying I have a problem....

But these things seem to be breeding. 
I have done next to no large project knitting since Christmas, but instead have just been transforming scraps in to these freeform creatures. Cast on some stitches, knit some form of hat with very gradual decreases to make it pointy. Pick up body stitches, knit downwards adding some increases to give them fat bellies. Decrease rapidly to give them a flat bottom to sit on, stuff and add some lentils at the bottom to stop them falling over. Add in some i-cord arms, a variety of beard styles, and tiny little bits of stockinette for a nose and the potential for experimentation is endless. 

I've not wanted to start anything new because my St Distaffs Day Challenge project is approaching the knitting phase.  I've nearly spun all of my cashmere, and then it will be full speed with the knitting part to get it completed in time. 

After a year of very little teaching this spring has seen me busy nearly every weekend with talks, lectures and workshops. It feels very nice to be talking to people about textiles again, even if it is only over a screen. I've had to do lots of fresh photographing, because when I do things in person I can just hand things round to touch, but I'm very please with the set of talks I've now put together. 

Whilst we're on the topic of talks I have also put together this... which is for something coming up in the future that I am very excited about. It combines my love of colour theory, making practical items, and dyeing. For now the precise details are under wraps, but hopefully this wets your appetite. 
I'm buys working on the next Online Course focusing on Twist. It is very nearly finished... except I keep coming up with interesting things I want to include, and the RAF jets have been flying incessantly in this area for most of February, and you really don't want to hear me trying to talk over the horrendous noise they make. As a result I've only been able to do some of the video filming. 

We had some cold weather in February which put the garden on pause for a while, but I filmed this on a sunny afternoon at the end of the month. The spring flowering heather is always covered with insects at this time of year. If you have a garden it's well worth planting some, it starts looking great in February and is a really valuable early nectar source for butterflies, bumble bees and honey bees. The summer flowers get all the publicity, but actually the biggest difference you can make for pollinators with garden plants is to fill in the gaps in early spring and late autumn. 

Speaking of the future....
I may have mentioned that Hilltop Cloud dis celebrating it's 10th anniversary this year. 
As part of the celebrations I am asking you to go and vote for your favourite blends from the past 10 years. The full set of links are here, so please come and cast your votes.