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Cat and Sparrow UK
Cat and Sparrow UK

beautifully crafted fibres and yarns – made in the UK, shipped worldwide

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Drum rollllll … here it is! My limited edition colourway for the Spring theme of the Virtual Yorkshire Yarn Fest. I just love snowdrops, and to me they signal spring, so I couldn’t really choose any other inspiration than this for this colour way. It’s dyed onto Eco-warrior Sock, which is a super strong mix of British BFL and sustainably-produced Tencel. I’m knitting a sock with it right now and it’s divine. Light, strong, silky and soft. Perfect for socks. ⁠ ⁠ After my YYF Instagram Live (over on the @yorkshireyarnfest account), which is at 2pm GMT tomorrow, I plan to chill and do some knitting in front of a movie. What are you all up to?
It's the Virtual Yorkshire Yarn Fest again tomorrow! I really enjoy this festival - I love the variety of vendors and seeing everyone's lovely crafty things. ⁠ ⁠ I'll be on at 2pm, GMT for 15 minutes, chatting about yarn and fibre. I'll have a special Spring themed yarn available specially for the show, which I will be on sale tomorrow and Sunday. It's a corker of a colourway, inspired by snowdrops, which I find irresistible. They're a portent of spring that just cheers the soul. ⁠ ⁠ Hopefully I'll see you there! #knittersofinstagram #yarnparty #yarnfest #yarnlove #yarnaddict #knitsagram #strikke #knittersofig #fiberfestival #crochetersofinstagram #knitting #crochet #virtualyorkshireyarnfest
I just uploaded a video of me spinning some of this divine Polwarth/silk blend (the colourway is Plum Tree) on one of my supported spindles from @thespindleshop. The lap bowl is from @spanish_peacock. I've only just really got into support spindling - I'm usually a drop spindler - and I'm absolutely hooked. It's so relaxing, and I love mixing up the styles. I usually spin worsted on a drop spindle and woollen/semi-woollen on a support spindle, which gives loads of opportunity for variation. Do you have a preference? What's your favourite spindle? ⁠ ⁠ #supportspindle #spindlespinning #spinningyarn #wemakeyarn #polwarthwool #spinsupported #russianspindle #catandsparrowuk #handspinning #spinnersofinstagram #spinstagram #spinspiration #spinningfromthefold
I just uploaded a video of me spinning some of this divine Polwarth/silk blend (the colourway is Plum Tree) on one of my supported spindles from @thespindleshop. The lap bowl is from @spanish_peacock. I've only just really got into support spindling - I'm usually a drop spindler - and I'm absolutely hooked. It's so relaxing, and I love mixing up the styles. I usually spin worsted on a drop spindle and woollen/semi-woollen on a support spindle, which gives loads of opportunity for variation. Do you have a preference? What's your favourite spindle? ⁠ ⁠ #supportspoindle #spindlespinning #spinningyarn #wemakeyarn #polwarthwool #spinsupported #russianspindle #catandsparrowuk #handspinning #spinnersofinstagram #spinstagram #spinspiration #spinningfromthefold
Yay! Another Fibre in Focus blog post is afoot! This one focuses on Polwarth wool - one of my favourites to dye and to spin. I don't often work with fleece either - I'm a fully prepped kinda girl - but I have had Polwarth fleeces in the past and they are divine. Head over to the blog (linkinbio) to find out why you should love Polwarth. (Hint - because it's amazing).
Look at this beautiful version of my #autumnleaveshat pattern that @_irislily_ made when she test knitted it for me. It's just gorgeous, and apparently great for chilly Canadian winter days. I love these two colours of Superhero DK together (Watery Tart and Heart of Gold) - the leaves stand out beautifully against the sky blue background. Thank you so much Nichole for making it look so amazing! ⁠
I'm so excited about this event on Sunday. The last time I took part in #theknittearetreat was so much fun, and this Nordic Edition promises to be fabulous. The event itself runs from Friday night, where it kicks off with a talk about aspects of Nordic knitting from @kariebookish. Saturday features talks about colour theory from @riverknitsuk and knitting traditions and yarns from @midwinteryarns. Then on Sunday there's this jam packed marketplace! I'm on at 12.30 (GMT) and will be chatting about fibres, yarns and patterns, because that's what I love to do. The line up is stunning, so I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else has going on. Join us! It'll be awesome! Check the linkinbio for more details.
They’re live! My new pattern, #gildedcagemitts, is available in the shop. Swipe to see the four limited edition yarns available with them. The pattern is a quick, fun knit with a simple slipped stitch pattern and Estonian braids, which are my new favourite thing. A twisted rib cuff and top finishes it off and the thumb features a slipped stitch accent. They’re super cosy. I can vouch as it’s -1 outside and my hands were toasty! #knittersofig #knittersofinstagram #knitstagram #knittingpattern #knitwear #knitweardesigner #knittingaddict #indiedyersofig #yarnaddict #yarnies #fingerlessgloves #
I went out for a walk the other day, and took my camera, because I was on the hunt for snowdrops. For some reason, there are absolutely no snowdrops to be found in the area I wandered in, but I did find these beautiful fungi. They're Wood Ear or Jelly Ear fungus, and I love the delicate dusty pink and orange colouring, with a little tinge of lilac around the edge. A colourway beckons ...⁠ ⁠ They grow almost exclusively on elder trees, and are also known as 'Jew's Ear' or 'Judas' Ear' Fungus, after Judas Iscariot, who hanged himself from an elder tree after betraying Jesus to the Romans. The debate rages within the Mycological Society as to whether or not the name is anti-semitic, with plenty of non-Jewish, older white men in the 'I've always called it that, so it isn't, and anyway, Judas was a Jew so what's the problem' camp. I prefer Jelly Ear, although to me it looks like a mouse's ear. Anyway, interestingly, it has long been used as a treatment for sore throats and jaundice, and it has anti-tumour properties, as well as the potential to lower cholesterol. It senses rain so it knows when to fruit - more rain, means more rot, means more chance to thrive. I didn't know all this when I took its picture. I'm a bit in awe of it now. Isn't it pretty?
#sockknitters - talk to me about heels! What's your favourite heel construction and why? ⁠ ⁠ I'm designing a pair of socks at the moment, and am bamboozled by the sheer number of heel options. I normally do a short-row heel, but ventured into an #afterthoughtheel last time. I've got quite wide feet, so I have to adapt my heel to make it a little shorter than most patterns, otherwise it'll just slip off my foot, and I'm curious about the effects of other heels. ⁠ ⁠
I'm really excited about #virtualflock on Saturday, and not just because I'm one of the vendors. @clare_birdstreetyarn and @mrb_birdstreetyarn were running this lovely event before Covid hit, and it was a joy. Cake, tea, silly games and yarn were the order of the day. Now they've taken it online, and it will still feature silly games and yarn, and also some fabulous makers (and me) will be posting updates and doing instagram lives as well. I'll be launching a new mitt pattern and some limited edition yarns to go with it, so don't miss it. I'm very excited!⁠ @jojobutler⁠ @stitching_me_softly⁠ @jojotwinkletoes⁠ @yarniadesigns⁠ @layfamilyyarn⁠ @pixieyarn⁠ @thelittlegreygirluk⁠ @abbyquinn28⁠ @norahgeorgeyarns⁠
Spending a lazy Sunday with a cuppa and totally geeking out over my new, slightly nerve-wrackingly expensive book. It’s THE BEST. The four pages dedicated to scarlet delve into history, anthropology, etymology and statistics. I’m in heaven. What are you up to? #nerdcore #textilehistory #happyplace #booklover #bookstagram
This is so exciting!!!!! Juliet Bernard has designed this lush hat for The Knitter issue 160, which is out now. I love how the two colours work together and the colourwork is perfect! Made my day. 😍😍😍😍😍. #knittersofinstagram #knittersgonnaknit #knittingaddict #fairisleknitting #strandedknitting #hatknitters #hatknittersofinstagram
I've been at it again. Blogging. It's been a while. I had a whole ton of ideas to write about and then Christmas hit and everything seemed to speed up until it was all a blur, and then I fell over. Anyway, I'm up and tippy tapping away again now, and I realised that when I talk about fibres, lustre is something that crops up a lot, as it should. It's a fundamental part of a fibre's character. But what does it mean in practical terms? Wonder no more. I've put together a post looking at some of the characteristics of lustrous and non-lustrous fibres and how they can affect your yarn choices. Hit me up with any questions and I'll do my best to answer them! Link is in linkinbio on my profile. 🤗
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, although perhaps not in this cold, dank British weather. This does remind me strongly of those big chunks of Neapolitan ice cream that you used to get, all wrapped up in cardboard. I think this looks much more enticing though. It's a blend of Merino and Tencel - loads of fluff, shine and softness. There's a new batch in the shop, ready to be snaffled. Hurrah!
Feeling creative? These are two newly uploaded colourways in Oh So Fine! 4-ply - a silky, strong and soft blend of #bluefacedleicester and #silk in a fabulous #sockyarn. The paler green is PistachiOMG, and the moody teenager in the room is Dark & Stormy. Is there a pattern you think would suit these two colours together? Do share! I have #castonitis and could do with some inspiration!! This yarn is perfect for weaving with as well, because it's so strong. It has the most gorgeous sheen, which works really well on woven fabric. ⁠ ⁠ (If you want to see the full range of colours, click on Linkinbio in my profile).
Happy weekend everyone! What's on your craft agenda? ⁠ ⁠ I've got some of this lined up, but I'm not sure I'll get to it this weekend because I'm buried under WIPs that actually have deadlines. Gasp! The pressure! This is lip-smackingly good, though - I love Polwarth, and this is a blend of Mulberry silk and Polwarth that's just divine. The two together make a beautifully lustrous, poofy, warm and snuggly yarn with a hint of luxury. This is Plum Tree. There's a touch of pistachio in there as well, which really lifts the plum and wine colours, and I love how the silk sucks up the colour to contrast beautifully with the wool. I'm going to take this one slowly and spin it on my growing collection of support spindles. ⁠ ⁠ #spinstagram #catandsparrowuk #spinnersofinstagram #spinningfibre #polwarthwool #mulberrysilk #polwarthsilk #spinnersofig #yarnspinning #felting #needlefelting #feltersofig #wetfelting #fibrelover
Happy weekend everyone! What's on your craft agenda? ⁠ ⁠ I've got some of this lined up, but I'm not sure I'll get to it this weekend because I'm buried under WIPs that actually have deadlines. Gasp! The pressure! This is lip-smackingly good, though - I love Polwarth, and this is a blend of Mulberry silk and Polwarth that's just divine. The two together make a beautifully lustrous, poofy, warm and snuggly yarn with a hint of luxury. This is Plum Tree. There's a touch of pistachio in there as well, which really lifts the plum and wine colours, and I love how the silk sucks up the colour to contrast beautifully with the wool. I'm going to take this one slowly and spin it on my growing collection of support spindles. ⁠ ⁠ #spinstagram #catandsparrowuk #spinnersofinstagram #spinningfibre #polwarthwool #mulberrysilk #polwarthsilk #spinnersofig #yarnspinning #felting #needlefelting #feltersofig #wetfelting #fibrelover
Occasionally a dyelot doesn't come out as expected. This is a version of Flaming Galah, which is usually a silvery grey with rich ruby flecks, but I accidentally doubled the black dye quotient, and boom, a stormy grey emerged that is definitely not the pale silver of a galah. There are two of these available, and once they're gone, they're gone. This yarn is just divine - it's a heavy lace bfl/silk blend with a ton of shine and drape. It's super strong as well. ⁠ @yarnaddictanni used it in her beautiful Nerys shawl pattern, which appeared in @theknittermag issue 146.
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