
Crochet
My husband commented my mini Havana looked too short and didn’t I have some wool upstairs to finish it or could I get some? I must admit it would be better a bit longer…hmm yarn diet!
Dyeing
I didn’t manage to find time this week. Next week I am definitely getting the dyes out! Definitely!
Felting
I felted 2 shades this week and this time didn’t add sheep! I thought I would try them just in case there are people who prefer them without sheep. The photos aren’t great as I was in a bit of a rush and the purple heather doesn’t show well on the photo.


I sold at least 5 shades in September and have done a big order of the equipment for some more 20cm and 25cm (my normal sizes) but have also included a couple of 35cm and 40cm ones to try some larger sizes. I have also ordered a couple of clock and sewing bin kits to try those too! Then I ordered lots of prefelt that I use as the base and some fibre to dye for more shades. What I dye will go along with the fibre I bought from a local lady who has her own sheep and dyes and cards wool fibre. So I should be all set for being a one woman lampshade factory in the run up to Christmas. That and making more fairies and ornaments!
Knitting
I cast on a pair of socks on Monday evening but haven’t had much time to work on them. It’s a vanilla sock using Hermione’s Everyday Sock heel, it works so well for striped yarn. The yarn is WYS 4ply in wood pigeon and is left over from another pair of HES I made.

Spinning
Lots of prep for BritSpin this week and I posted on my blog earlier this week about preparations for it. I forgot to mention that the event raises money for a charity each year, so I have updated that post and will make sure my next post includes the details. This year’s charity is the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI). So a great cause.
Other News
A very admin heavy week has meant little time for crafting, but I am hoping that most admin for the committees I am on is 99% done.
My laptop had a melt down on Saturday, much trauma ensued when an important file couldn’t be recovered. Luckily I have a desktop I can use for zoom calls though whilst my husband repairs it.
I wanted to join in the minimalist challenge during October but I think I have enough going on and things I am trying to remember. So not this month…I may do it in January instead.
Today we are going to Inverness to buy some paint to make some pumpkin Minions! Hehe!
This is a Year of Projects post. Officially the Group is in its 10th year, but this is my 3rd year participating. If you would like to find more about the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry.
I really like the lampshade without the sheep. The colors are lovely. Although there are many sheep in the fields near where I live, I have yet to make one or incorporate them in my work. 🙂
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Thank you. I’d say in the town I live in, it is hard to travel 5 miles in any direction and not see loads of sheep, they dot the hillsides and the base of Ben Wyvis (the nearest mountain to us). Definitely part of the scenery here, but they don’t graze where the heather grows thickly. I haven’t attempted to do deer but I have done some ornaments with Highland cows on.
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The shades look beautiful ❤️👌
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Your shades are beautiful with and without the sheep. I am happy to hear they are selling so well. Your sock is coming along nicely. I have never tried the HES heel even though I have made those socks many times. I have two heel types I use (Eye of partridge and FKL) and they work well for me. I don’t know why I have not done the HES heel on the HES socks. Hmmmm…..something to think about. Sounds like you have been quite busy with admin items. I hope it settles down a bit for you soon. I also hope your laptop can be repaired. I would hate to not have mine available. Have a great week!
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Your husband is definitely a keeper! Are you going to extend your Havana?
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Yes, although haven’t bought the yarn yet
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Where do I find Hermione’s Everyday Sock heel instructions?
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Hi, the pattern for Hermione’s Everday sock is free on Ravelry. So if you download it and just follow the heel on any top down sock.
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The heather hills lampshade is beautiful. I love the heel you chose for the socks; that pattern is a classic.
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Go ahead and buy more yarn:)
As much as I like the shade without sheep, I miss seeing the sheep.
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I especially love the Heather Hills Shade and yes I agree that some might like a sheepless shade. I think the Hermione Everyday Sock is one of my favorite patterns. But i use the Fish Lips Kiss Heel because I find it the easiest for my brain. Socks are usually my “brain dead” knit so I don’t do cables unless it’s a special pair.
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Sounds like a busy week! Hopefully there’s a little more time for you to do more crafty things this week. Those lampshades look awesome.
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I am always in awe of your felted projects! You may just inspire me to use some of my spinning “leftover bits” and attempt needle or wet felting this year.
And I really like the sock! I was feeling a longing to make another pair after I accidentally showed up early for a fitness class and didn’t have anything to occupy me.
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I chuckled at your husband’s opinion of your Havana. I just finished a little gnome I was very proud of and my dh said it was a very odd looking gnome. Lol. I love your shades and I like the yarn you are using for the socks too. Good luck with the Brit spin. I decided not to join because I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with this and that this month, but I am still working slowly through my rainbox spin.
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lol – rainbow not rainbox
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I love your lampshades with or without sheep. 🙂 And those socks are scrumptious. What pretty colors!
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He’s definitely a keeper! Love your shades and the sock 🙂 You make such lovely lampshades and fairies – they are so unique and interesting! Glad you have found a new place to sell them.
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The lampshades are just wonderful. Do you have an online shop?
The socks is lovely. The yarn is great.
What’s the minimalist challenge?
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I only have felted scarves available on my Etsy shop, as the demand in the actual shop is keeping me busy and posting a lampshades will be expensive I think and I’d need to order the right sized boxes. I’ll be doing the minimalist challenge in January instead, but basically on day 1 you get rid of one thing, day 2 two things and so on! So by the end of the month you have cleared a lot of clutter. 😀
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love your sheepless lampshades, they do acquire an abstract quality, and they become gorgeous landscapes of colour – I’d love to see how they change when the light is on, really beautiful!
And oh, those socks!
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Can’t wait to see your pumpkin Minions.
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I couldn’t find any paint in the right colours in our DIY stores 🙁
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