It's Here - Rowan Belle Organic DK Yarn

Just thought I'd check Rowan again to see if they are listing the new yarn I have been using....
surprise !!
yes it's now listed on their website.... and you can download a colour chart.... woo hoo!

Here is their website:  Rowan Yarns

I feel in love with this yarn as soon as I started crocheting with it.... so soft and a nice warm feel to it....
a blend of 50% organic wool and 50% organic cotton.....

I used it to make a hat, mittens and scarf set for a one year old !

and enjoyed working with the yarn so much made a second set.

See my blog about it....  Baby Scarf Set

Anyway I am very excited we can now all look at the colours available in this new yarn.  It is available in ARAN and DK.

Check your local stockists here:  Rowan stockists

Hope you all try it out and enjoy it as much as I am... still crocheting with it...... think I am addicted..... Doh!

My Favourite Yarns

Are you looking for some great natural fibre yarns? at a great price?
Well, my all time favourite has always been Bendigo Woollen Mills in Australia.
They are Australia's largest hand knitting yarn mail order manufacturer, with a huge variety of different yarns and colours to choose from.

I still have a major stash of their yarn back in storage in Australia - and lately have been keen to get my hands on it.  Must convince my family I really can't live without out and they just must get themselves down to the storage sheds, dig it out for me, and post it to me here in the UK.  It will be way cheaper than me going out and buying more here!  Wonder if it will work...... convincing them I can't live without out????
I use the 100% Cotton yarn for making baby hats, mittens and booties - and the best offer from Bendigo Woollen Mills it comes in 200g balls - which is equivalent to 4 x 50g balls.  No annoying joins if you need to make larger items..... and oh so soft and also available in 4ply and 8ply.

Do check it out Bendigo Woollen Mills in Australia - no I am not getting a commission for this plug - I just LOVE the yarn.!!!!!!!!!!!

Sirdar Bamboo Wool

Here is a trial pattern pixie hat I made with Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo ............

Specially developed to be incredibly soft, gentle and smooth for Baby, this yarn is a new blend with natural bamboo and wool fibres.

Great colours and really nice to crochet with........

I am working on making the pattern available soon.

Rowan by Amy Butler

A quick word on Rowan yarns - and what's new - I found their new yarn accidentally in John Lewis in Milton Keynes whilst travelling north to visit family for the weekend.
Apparently, this yarn just hit the store shelves that week - and I am surprised - it is now a couple weeks since I bought the yarn and Rowan still don't have the new yarn listed on their website - was hoping to view the colour chart etc.
Here is a page which gives us an intro to what is coming..........
http://www.knitrowan.com/amybutler.html
I love the yarn a blend of 50% merino wool and 50% cotton - beautiful colours and perfect for my project.
It is definitely my favourite new yarn - soft and warm and perfect for toddler hats, scarves and mittens (see previous post)........ and I think will be perfect for grown ups as well.
So....... I am hoping their colour charts will be available soon.......
Here is a snapshot sample of some of the colours I bought....... and finished hat and mitten (see previous post)

my focus was finding an olive green in a natural fibre yarn...... and then a contrast in purple/lilac....... the best colour combination luckily was the Rowan by Amy Butler and Rowan Wool Cotton -  both are delightful and work well together........ so happy !

Baby Scarf Set

I am always amazed at where some crochet requests lead me.........
now I am crocheting keyhole scarves for one (1) year olds......
I really enjoyed making this set - a request from a special customer.......

My standard pixie hat and mittens and a keyhole scarf.

Finding the right colour was a bit of a challenge and then making sure a natural fibre yarn carried the colour.............

After some disappointing searching - colour charts on internet not matching the yarn etc. and then even the colour charts with yarn seemed to be a different dye lot and just wouldn't do at all......
patience is a virtue..... they say..........
and yes I managed to find the right yarn .........
I was just searching too soon..... the yarn had just arrived on the shop shelf.......... thank you Rowan by Amy Butler and Rowan Wool Cotton............ a perfect match.

Divine colours and both yarns crochet together perfectly - same tension and weight.
A soft and smooth DK weight yarn - providing warmth and comfort with 50% merino wool and 50% cotton blend.  Definitely my new favourite yarn.

As I started crocheting I knew straight away I love this so much........
I must get a couple balls more of a few other colours..........

and yes when I finished the scarf set - I just loved the way it came together - so I made a second set - with a different contrast colour.  Just couldn't help myself............

How perfect is that???  now where is that grandchild?

Focusing the Mind

I crochet for relaxation

the mind relaxes and the body relaxes

stress is released

I am calm

each stitch I am

a mindful awareness of the present moment

I become

an objective spectator

of my thoughts

they come, they go

I don't follow

no pressure

the brain slows down

Counting slowly

as I breathe

each stitch

I work, I think

attention on the stitch

mind still, body still

active attention

Meditative crochet

guides me now!