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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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Home » Tools and Notions » Other useful things

Other useful things

A selection of useful things for yarnsmiths

  • andean plying tool scarlet

    Turtlemade 3D-Printed Andean Plying Tool

    £19.50     Select options

  • Niddy Noddy – 3D Printed by Turtlemade

    £24.00     Select options
  • plum yarn bowl

    Turtlemade 3D-Printed Yarn Bowl

    £40.00     Select options
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@catandsparrowuk on Instagram

Meet Brocket! I’m really excited to share this - @lizcorke.knits has designed this beautiful sock pattern, inspired by the curved shape of a deer’s antlers as they grow. I love Liz’s design aesthetic - it’s simple and elegant, and her designs really make the yarns shine. She’s knitted this in Cat & Sparrow Eco-warrior Sock - a sustainably produced blend of British Bluefaced Leicester and Tencel - which suits the delicate lace perfectly. It’s pictured in Green Room, but I have kits available in ALL the Eco-warrior Sock colours. Kits include the pattern and yarn. Even more exciting, I’ve just added five new colours to the Eco-warrior Sock range (swipe to see them). I reckon this pattern would look amazing in all of them. #sockkit #yarnkit #knittingkit #sockknittersofinstagram #sockknitting #joyofsocks #sockknitters #knitstagram #knittersofinstagram #knit #knitallthethings #knitsocks #catandsparrowuk #sustainableyarn
I did a fair bit of dyeing in preparation for Unravel, and didn't manage to photograph it all before I went to the show. I'm uploaded the new fibre colours, on Polwarth, Polwarth/Shetland/Silk and Merino/Alpaca/Silk, and I'm photographing the many, many new yarn colours today. Meep. ⁠ ⁠ Anyway, this is Fruit Salad on Polwarth, which is super bouncy and fluffy. These juicy colours work so well on Polwarth, as it has a rather matte finish to it, which allows the depth of shade to really bloom. I looooooove it! ⁠ ⁠ I've also had a bit of an issue with my site, as when I synced it with my point of sale software it put everything in the shop to 'out of stock' so if there's something you've been looking for, it might be back in again, as I've just fixed it. Technology is NOT my jam. ⁠ ⁠ I hope you're enjoying the lovely weather! Perfect for al fresco knitting, crocheting or spinning. I'm going to pop out for my lunch in a bit and do a bit of casting on.
I've been meaning to list these gorgeous Namaste Buddy Cases in the shop along with the Namaste Train Cases and they are finally here! I love them. They have such a satisfying snap closure, and a little concealed magnet inside to stop your stitch markers from spilling. The vegan leather is really sturdy and the cases are beautifully made. They're just right for a little collection of notions. They'd make a great gift too (just ask my Mum - she loves hers). Pop over to the shop to have a look! There's a linkinbio in my profile. I've also uploaded some new colourways in Polwarth, Polwarth/Shetland/Silk and Alpaca/Merino/Silk fibre for your delectation. I've been busy!
I've been meaning to list these gorgeous Namaste Buddy Cases in the shop along with the Namaste Train Cases and they are finally here! I love them. They have such a satisfying snap closure, and a little concealed magnet inside to stop your stitch markers from spilling. The vegan leather is really sturdy and the cases are beautifully made. They're just right for a little collection of notions. They'd make a great gift too (just ask my Mum - she loves hers). Pop over to the shop to have a look! There's a linkinbio in my profile. I've also uploaded some new colourways in Polwarth, Polwarth/Shetland/Silk and Alpaca/Merino/Silk fibre for your delectation. I've been busy!
First time I’ve had a chance to sit down since #unravel! Knitting in the sun. Good for the soul. #knittersofinstagram #handdyedyarn #catandsparrowuk #alfresco
#unravelfestival day 2! I’m in my lovely #ormesweater by @ewefeltything and we are ready to roll!
My haul so far at #unravel ... a gorgeous handmade magnetic leather cuff from @hideandhammer. I am in love. 😍#knittythings #handmade #knitaccessories
Meet Bubblegum Daydreams, a fab new colourway that dyes beautifully onto this crisp, white Kent Romney. It's a gorgeous fibre - soft enough for next to skin wear and delightful to work with. It takes colours so beautifully as well. I'll be bring a load of this to Unravel with me, as well as some other yummy colours.
Meet Bubblegum Daydreams, a fab new colourway that dyes beautifully onto this crisp, white Kent Romney. It's a gorgeous fibre - soft enough for next to skin wear and delightful to work with. It takes colours so beautifully as well. I'll be bring a load of this to Unravel with me, as well as some other yummy colours.
The next three-month tranche of the Flora & Fauna Fibre Club is ready to ship, and there are still places left. Inspired by plants and animals, you'll receive three instalments of the club, one a month, between May and July, in different formats - one batt, one hand-dyed top and one blended top. I usually try to put something extra in to inspire your creative journey as well - in the past there have been beads, feathers and sari silk - along with information about the source of inspiration. ⁠ I'll be shipping the first instalment early next week - don't miss it!
This this this this this! I can barely believe it's happening. I'll be there , with piles of yummy fibre and yarn, some Lykke stock, including umbrella swifts, Turkish spindles, yarn bowls, and all kinds of other goodies. I cannot wait. I'll be ably assisted by the lovely Nicky from @fromeyarncollective, and it's going to be a BLAST. We're both vaccinated and the whole event is being beautifully managed to avoid Covid risk by @farnhammaltings and @champagneandqiviut. Will you be there? There's a linkin.bio link in my profile to the event page in case you urgently want to buy tickets!
The #namastetraincase is back in stock! Hurrah. I’ve been waiting for these to become available since Christmas, as they flew out of the door last time. I’ve also added two other colours - classy dark teal and pretty blush. I love these cases. They’re so beautifully made, feature vegan leather and are the perfect size for a sweater quantity of yarn and all the notions you need. I’ll be bringing these to #unravel (YES! An honest to goodness, live festival) between 21-23 May (weekend after next). I cannot wait to see real people and interact and be a normal human (albeit with masks and social distance). Bring. It. On. ⁠ ⁠ #yarnfestival #lockdowneasing #unravelyarnfestival #farnhammaltings #catandsparrowuk #indiedyer #yarnyarnyarn #knittersofinstagram #crochetersofinstagram #crochetaddict #knittingaddict
I've got some more exciting news to share! I'm developing a collection of single-breed fibres, and am adding some more breeds to the current selection of Polwarth, Shetland, Bluefaced Leicester and Whitefaced Woodland. So far these are the only four breeds that I offer unblended, but I'm going to be adding to this over the next few months with Romney and Masham. First up is Romney, and there are several new colourways available, including this one - Tulip Fever - which I adore.⁠ ⁠ Romney is a longwool, and it's one of the finer ones available. It spins up easily, felts beautifully, and takes colours really well. It has a lovely, open handle, which makes it perfect for beginners. It's such a glorious, scrunchy, woolly fibre, and it smells delightfully sheepy. ⁠ ⁠ There's a link in the Linkin.bio in my profile, which will take you to a page filled with Romney. What could be better?
Things have been completely bonkers for a bit here at Cat & Sparrow, and I forgot to mention that we’re exhibiting at the Virtual Wonderwool Wales Event between 23rd and 25th April 2021.⁠ ⁠ This show is usually held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells, Wales but has gone online this year. Please join the Facebook group for FREE entry to brows the ‘virtual stands’ for lots of goodies to add to your stash! The Link to the Facebook group is in the Linkin.bio in my profile. I hope you'll join us - it's going to be lovely! ⁠ ⁠ #Wonderwool #Wonderwool2021 #Wonderwoolwales #VirtualWonderwool #Wonderwoolwales2021 #VirtualWoolShow #yarnshow #yarnshowvendor #virtualyarnshow #catandsparrowuk
Look what arrived! I’m so happy to have worked on this amazing pattern by @katiegreenbean. Katie’s wonderful artwork makes it even more of a joy. Size and gender inclusive, it runs across 16 sizes from child to 68” bust/body circumference. The yarn is gorgeous too - a blend of @riverknits #chimera (BFL that looks just like handspun) and #severn (a beautifully scrunchy, woolly Jacob. If you like yarn, jumpers, beetles and knitting, this is THE pattern for you. ⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ The lovely photos of Katie in the sweater were taken by Becks @tinyfibrestudio.⁠⁠ ⁠⁠ #beetlemagic #sweaterknitting #britishwool #handdyedyarn #indiedesigner #sizeinclusivity #knitstagram #knittersofinstagram #beetles #strandedcolourwork
Early morning colour-planning session. I've got a new base coming this weekend, to coincide with #wonderwoolwales, and I'm a little behind with my dyeing, so today is going to be spent in the dye studio. I wanted a little inspiration, and it's so lovely out there!⁠ ⁠ I don't always do this. Sometimes I grab dye pots from a shelf and see what happens. Sometimes I gorge on food photography and then let the inspiration spill out onto the page. I love playing with coloured pencils though. It's interesting to see which colours I reach for again and again. Today it seems to be a sort of soft stone colour, which I particularly like as it really ties colours together, almost like a foundation stone. ⁠ ⁠ Do any of these colour combos grab you?
I've been playing with my Saori loom again, and I'm so pleased with the mix of colours and textures in this soon-to-be shawl. It's my hand-dyed Oh So Fine DK in Making Hay, which is one of my favourite colourways, mixed with @shibuiknits silk cloud, and @habutextiles stainless steel for a bit of glitter. The stainless steel yarn is surprisingly soft. It has a pleasant, slight roughness against my finger tips. I've just got to finish it, give it a press and sort out the fringe.
This weekend I bought my old #SchachtLadybug spinning wheel back from the friend I sold it to a few years ago. I didn't realise how much I would miss it. My Majacraft is wonderful, but it doesn't call to me to sit down and spin as my Ladybug does, and now she's back in my life the floodgates are open and I've been finishing all the unfinished spinning projects. My bobbins are empty, but for these three. I'm planning to weave with them. From top left, clockwise, they are Girl from Mars, Irridescence on BFL, silk and mohair, and Plum Tree on Wensleydale and silk. I totally love weaving with my handspun yarn. It's my favourite thing to do with it. How do you like to use your handspun?
Woohoo! I got my digital #woolfork #sewingpattern printed up to A0 for me by the lovely @fabricatemirfield and it arrived today. I hate doing home-printed patterns because it's so fiddly, so this was a godsend. This weekend I'm getting my sewing mojo back and making myself a the short-sleeved tunic version. Honestly, I adore how @jacquelinecieslak has made this pattern so versatile, from dress to crop top, with or without sleeves. I'm not a terribly experienced sewer, and it's been a while since I did any, so I'm excited about this! I can actually see myself making all of the patterns in this book. I also love how Jacqui has laid out the knitting patterns, and how easy she'd made it to make adjustments for your own body type. I'm excited! I got mine from @fromeyarncollective if you want to get a copy!
Hooray! The next 3-month instalment of the #floraandfaunafibreclub is open for pre-order! ⁠ ⁠ This club is such fun to put together. Each month, in mid-May, June and July you'll receive a package of delightful fluff inspired by the natural world. Past inspirations have been as diverse as the Blue-ringed Octopus, the Oriental dwarf kingfisher and the Emerald Vine. Fibres range from hand dyed top to hand carded batts, and I always try and put a little something extra in there to inspire you. ⁠ ⁠ If you like the sound of it, you can hop over via the linkin.bio in my profile and place your order. Single and double doses are available, but places are limited. Come and join in the fun!
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