Judes’ Mobius Knitting workshop here in Bundanoon is nearly full. If you are  still interested please e-mail ASAP.

It is on March 19th and costs $50 plus materials.

Some exciting news. I have been accepted to exhibit at Woolfest in Cumbria at the end of June. So with this in mind  I have taken this opportunity to highlight not only my products but the products  of some of Australia’s leading Independant Wool producers and dyers. I want to show that we have great products  produced here in Australia by some very talented Independent  Artisans.

Those joining me in this venture are Wendy Dennis  with her wonderful Polwarth Fleece, Tops and yarn produced on the Dennis family farm in Victoria. Wendy’s products can be seen on her website http://www.tarndwarncoort.com.au

Pam Goble from Lara Downs Mohair with her Luxury Mohair products. Lara Downs mohair is produced on Pam’s farm in Victoria. See Lara Downs products at  http:/ www.lara-downs.com.au 

Gill Venn  from Fibreworks brings her unique hand dyed  yarns and fibres. Visit Gill at  http://www.fibreworks.net.au  to see the colours of Australia.

We are all looking forward to this venture and bringing the wonderful yarns and fibres of Australia to a wider audience.

Go to http://www.woolfest.co.uk  to see all the exciting things that will be happening over the 2 days of Woolfest.

As usual we are well into the New Year before I get around to this.  I have been working on some new coulourways to add to Waratah Fibres range. These include Desert Shadows, Brolga Dreams, Fairy Wrens and Bush Haze.  All my colourways are available on my range of fibres and yarns.I am working on sourcing some new yarns to add to my range. One is a 50% silk/50% Wool in a fingering weight. I have experimenting with dyeing in a slightly different way to produce more depth of colour. The results are promising and should be ready soon.  Pictured is Desert Shadows on Merino and Harlequin on Wensleydale.

Don’t forget that Jude Skeers is doing a workshop in Bundanoon for Waratah Fibres on 19th March at the CWA Hall. Jude is well known in the knitting community and his Mobius knitting workshop is well worth doing. Cost is only $50 plus materials.

Now my big news for 2011 is that I will be attending WoolFest in Cumbria UK at the end of June. I am hoping to promote a few of our great Aussie producers and Indie Dyers. Unfortunately this means I may be missing from a couple of venues that I normally do in May and June. But hopefully I will succeed in promoting some of our great fibres and yarns to the UK market.

Harlequin

My last new yarn is a fine wool Boucle.This yarn is great for fine knitting or using together with a thicker yarn in maybe a solid colour. I put it with a solid Wensleydale to crochet my Twirly Whirly scarf. Jude Skeers has also used it in a couple of his Mobius knitting and his Jackets too I believe. I am sure it would be great for weaving as well. It adds texture to all of these mediums. Availabe in all Waratah Fibres Colourways in 100gm Skeins at $15.50.

Another new yarn is what I call a Slub Yarn, This is a yarn that has thick and thin but overall knits up like and 8ply. Once dyed it comes up rather soft and is great for scarves and shawls.

Tropical Birds

I have knitted and crochet this yarn and I just love it. Colours are available in both  one off’s and ny Waratah Fibres colourways. Comes in 100gm skeins at $15.50.

At the moment I am using this yarn to knit basketweave scarves which I then creatively dye.  These new Art Scarves are available in a variety of colourways.

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This yarn is a 60% Wool 15% Silk 15% Bamboo and 10% Nylon sock yarn which would be great for scarves, shawls as well as baby knits. It knits up beautufully though I did use smaller needlesa than the recommendation when I kntted socks with it. I have some left over so thought I would try a pair of Beaded wristletts. The colours are at the moment mainly one off”s  but they can be dyed in my standard colours if  so desire.

After a very busy several months I have realised that I have been neglecting to tell everyone where I am and what I have been up to recently.I have just come back from Bendigo where I was attending the Sheep Show.  Bendigo was very favourable weather wise this year though it did rain as we were packing up, typical I guess. A lot of networking was done over the weekend and it was great to catch up with friends and make new friends as well.

Waratah Fibres next outing will be the Craft and Quilt Show in Canberra from 5th to 8th August. So hope to see some of you there.

After that I have a few weeks in which to start dyeing some new yarn that I have got. It is a boucle silk yarn and it promises to be rather yummy.I also have got  some new sock yarn which is a mix of merino,silk,bamboo and nylon. Can’t wait to get started on that. I did dye a couple of skeins, well I couldn’t wait, but I guess you know that story.

In October I will be found at the  NSW Spinners and Weavers Open Day in Sydney on 9th. Good opportunity to come and see what I have for spinners. My Blue faced Leicester has been hand dyed in one off colours . I also now have some rather  luscious 70% Silk/30% Merino which I have dyed in my unique colourways. A dream to spin to create a very  luxurious yarn .

New this week is some wonderful 70% Silk 30% Merino Tops. These are Hand dyed in several exciting colourways and  are available in 100gm  and will cost $20.95. Hopefully I will have some photos to add next week.  Some of the colurways include Harlequin, Bush Haze, Coral Seas, Bush Odessey, Black Swan and several more which I still need to name. Inspiration seems to be lacking today. 

Welcome to Waratah Fibres first Yarn Club.

Helen has been dyeing up a storm recently and  is now offering her first ever Hand dyed yarn Club. This will be 100grams Hand dyed Sock yarn for three months. There is enough yarn to knit a pair of socks but of course you don’t have to knit socks, the  yarn is suitable for scarves  and shawls as well . The yarn I am using this time is a  4ply wool and nylon mix and I have used two different methods to hand dye. Each colourway is unique to the Club and will not be offered  for general sale until after the Club has finished.

The club will run for 3 months and will be $99 for the three months  or monthly $33.This includes postage which will be  express post packs. Please email helen@waratahfibres.com.au  with your interest in joining the club. Payment can be made either by Credit Card, personal cheques or I can now offer Paypal. If you are wanting to pay by Paypal please note that the email is hrippin @bigpond.net.au.  At the moment this offer is only available in Australia. I can offer to International but I will need to email amended postage costs.

This Club is open now and will close about the middle of December so I can get your first lot of yarn to you in time for Christmas.