Beaker Button Blog

We went to Unravel this Sunday and had such a good time I thought I'd write about it this week.  I save all year for Unravel.  I put £1 in my money box every time I take over £100 in the shop.  That way I have stash growing funds without having to feel guilty.  I went with Kay and met up with Mum, Debbie, Mandy and her friend.  Kay and I spent the day together, meeting up with the others for lunch and a well earned hot chocolate in the afternoon.  Our first sweep revealed some gorgeous yarns, beautiful fibres and an intriguing rug hooking kit.  Both Kay and I decided not to spend on the first run round. Sunday is a nice day to go as it's not so busy.  I had time to talk to the very nice people who supply Beaker Button with Soak (the perfect stuff for washing your hand knits, delicates, holiday clothes, Dorset button jewellery, blocking.... the list is endless), and I now have a bottle of Flatter to try. Flatter is for spray blocking (if you have...

I've got lurgy today. I haven't felt this unwell for years so it's a bit of a cheat post this week.  I've been rearranging the shop so I have a working and dyeing area. Somewhere to design and write my third book (knitting patterns this time, with Dorset buttons of course), to dye yarn including our new Mini Skein club , and to build my button kit wholesale empire. So here's the cheat bit. I haven't had time to write up the granny square pattern I'd planned for this post. This is a fingerless mittens pattern I wrote a little while ago instead. It can be downloaded as a PDF from Ravelry here . Stripy Knitcol Mitts Abbreviations below Tension: 5cm x 5cm square = 9 sts x 13 rows in stocking stitch, Size 4m needles or appropriate size to achieve the correct tension, yarn needle for sewing up. 50g Knitcol or similar DK weight yarn. 1 size fits most. Left glove Cast on 34 sts Row 1: *K 2, P 2* repeat last 2 sts, K2 Row 2: *P 2, K 2* repeat to last 2 s...

As promised, an update on how our Fair Trade mitten knit went, mostly in photos.  We had a great time (and in true Spitfire Knitter tradition ate far too much cake!).  We made 12 pairs between us on the day and took four home to finish so altogether there were 16 pairs, two of which have sold already.  Helen from Fayre's Fair is donating the money to her chosen Fair Trade charity when they're sold. Hope you enjoy our selection of photos from the day. Kaye's first pair (she did two altogether) Bunny ears! Hard at work not so hard at work Fair trade coffee kept us going Manos Classica is sooo lovely to work with Sue's concentration face Heidi taking a break after finishing her first pair Our efforts on the day Kaye and Mum working from each end of the same ball.  Very spaghetti