I am running a ‘Learn to Knit’ 6 week course as part of Ards & North Down Council’s Spring Arts and Crafts programme. First week was last night, and everyone learned to cast on, cast off and do knit stitch, and some got as far as purl and stocking stitch.

Especially well done to the two ladies who had never knitted before.

I was away for a few days visiting a good friend in Glastonbury and of course the knitting came too.

I had lots of remnants from previous projects and donations, so I knotted them all together, wound it up on a wool winder and am using it double to make a long gilet.

In the background you can see some sourdough dough that I had mixed with a good, well risen starter – it was ready to bake the next morning.

My current commission is to spin some dog hair and make mittens, hats, socks and scarves for the client’s young nieces.

The dog hair is quite short and will not spin at all well on its own, so I have blended it with some alpaca, spun it as a single, and plied with a fine, commercial acrylic yarn.

First two hats completed