Beaker Button Blog

I'm using my blog for self publication this time. I do lots of talks and demonstrations, not to mention workshop, making Dorset buttons. One of the things that normally comes up is how fast can you make them, and I tell people that a good button maker could turn out a gross a day (that's 144 buttons!) I've always wanted to see how many I can make in a working day so I'm holding a Dorset button challenge on 20th February in the shop. I will be making as many as I can in 12 hours. I'm going to aim for 144 but that is one button every 5 minutes and even I'm not quite that fast, If you want to come and support me then please do. I won't be teaching but you can come and eat cake and drink coffee and squish the woolly goodness on offer. We're going to be raising money for Parkinsons UK, a charity close to my heart as I have a friend with Parkinsons. If you can't make the shop but you want to support the cause I've set up a just giving page here  so...

I don't normally use my blog to winge about the bad things that happen to me. I prefer to stay positive and see the bright side, and I like to project that bright side to my few readers. After all, you've probably got problems of your own to cope with, without having to listen to mine. However, something horrible happened at the Christmas Farmers market last year which made me really think. I thought I would share these thoughts with you all in the spirit of self discovery. I hope you don't mind. The Sunday before Christmas was a bad day for many reasons. We all have them I know, where if it can go wrong it will. Thankfully I don't get them very often but this particular Sunday more than made up for the lack. The crowning bad point was discovering that someone had stolen my needle felted rabbit from our stall at the farmers market. You might remember him if you follow our Facebook page. We made them as a group with Erica from Arts, Rush and Cane. He did a sterling...

Wreath Tutorial I've been promising this wreath tutorial for a very long time. Hope you all like it. Finished Wreath You will need a piece of foam lagging about 1m long. I bought mine from Wicks for about £2.50. Duct tape, preferably in a colour similar to the knitted or crocheted cover you will make, 100g of DK or Aran weight yarn to make the cover, DK yarn for the flowers in different colours, buttons for the flower centres (I used Dorset buttons obviously. For a Dorset button tutorial have a look here ), 4mm knitting needles, 4mm crochet hook, scissors and a yarn needle for sewing up. You can of course make the whole wreath in knitting or crochet, depending on your skills. Knit or crochet a flat piece of work slightly thinner and about 3/4 of the length of your lagging. I knitted mine in stocking stitch. Leave very long tails for sewing your cover on later. Bend the lagging into a ring and tape the ends together with duct tape. Wrap the duct tape at an ...

It's been a while I know. I've been updating (well, completely changing) the website so it's easier for my customers to use (once the kinks are ironed out) and easier for me (once I've learnt how to use it!) The whole process has been a very steep learning curve, what with learning HTML code, what the Google spiders pick up on, how to sort the data I'm putting on the site so it's easy and efficient to use. The bricks and mortar shop has had a makeover too. The shelves are now organised by yarn weight so you can see what you're looking for for your pattern much more easily. New shop layout This sorting fever has started to spill over into my personal life. For example I haven't touched my garden in over 2 years. I keep telling myself I'll get out and do something with the great load of weeds, brambles and fruit but each year slipped by without me noticing and the weeds and brambles get bigger and the fruit, well some of that got eaten. This ye...

This is a quick post to say that I'm putting the blog on hold for a couple of weeks while I work on the new website. It's going to be all singing and dancing, the new site, so it'll be worth the effort.  I've posted I below for those of you following the Alphabet blanket pattern and will continue with J very shortly.  Thanks for your patience. this weeks chart My unblocked I

Apologies for the delay in getting this post out.  I've been a little under the weather, having wrecked my shoulder.  Knitting has been a little difficult.  I'm on the mend now though so no more stalling.  This week I thought I'd share some my highlights of Wonderwool 2015.  We had a fantastic show and met (and infected) lots of new button makers.  I taught two button classes this year in the Wool school, which was great fun.  We sold lots of kits, wool, mini skeins and patterns.  I did managed to come home with a fabulous new pair of trousers from Elegant Chaos, so I didn't buy any wool. Below are some of the beautiful things at the show so I'll shut up and let the photos do the talking. This week's letter is below.  As always detailed instructions are here . Giant Cardigan by Lisa Hellier Giant Cardigan by Lisa Hellier Giant Cardigan by Lisa Hellier Giant Cardigan by Lisa Hellier Knitted Ginger Bread house by...