The Crafty Maniac

My finished object! A cowl knitted with the yarn I spun with advent calendar yarn #siobhancraftsadvent #handknitting #slowfashion #traditionalcrafts #handspunyarn #mineallmine

Oh dear! I might call it a night before I have to join in the second ball of yarn #makingprogress #callingitanight #myeveningknitting #handknitting

Knitting a cowl in a 3x1 rib with my lovely advent yarn #handknitting #slowtextiles #makersgonnamake #madeforme

Out for a long walk today through the woods and back along the beach #natureinspires #redjanuary #fitterknitters #getoutside #furtherthanithought

My FO, thrummed mitts for Miss Crafty Maniac knitted from 100g of Aran weight pure wool with (very) brightly coloured wool thrums #handknittedmitts #traditionalcrafts #purewool #handmadegift

I won at yarn chicken!!! Pictures of the finished object on the way... #iwonyarnchicken #handknitting #thrummedmittens

Pause to make more thrums! #thrumhungrymitts #thrummedmitts #traditionalsolutions #handknittedmitts

Walking out in the local woods before more mitt knitting. My usual January craft mojo block has not appeared and I think all this time outside is helping #redjanuary #getoutdoors #natureinspires #fitterknitters #craftmojo #projectplanningonthemove

Usually in January I have a bit of ‘craft block’ but I have been going out daily for walks or to split wood to feed the fire. Maybe the outdoors is keeping my craft mojo going #natureinspires #craftmojo #getoutdoors #fitterknitters #redjanuary

Somewhat amusing that today I have mainly been doing chores around the house. When I finished and decided to sit and knit the power went out for two hours! I sat and made more thrums 😄

First project of 2019; thrummed mitt number 1 #secondmittsyndrome #handknitting #knittedaccessories #thrummedmittens #smallcraftbusiness #projectplanning #madeinscotland #itscoldoutside

There are still people who seem unclear about what it does to the sheep when the shepherds shear them:
It’s a good hair cut in the hot weather and prevents them from overheating and dying. For those who think it is cruel I ask them to question how cruel they think their hairdresser is.
The shearer wants to keep the sheep as healthy as possible; the fleece does not bring in vast amounts of money and if the vet needs to tend to any wounds they will not break even. (That said, if anyone has tried giving a cat a pill or a dog a bath, you know that they wriggle and things can happen.)

First project of 2019; thrummed mitts for Miss Crafty Maniac. Don’t look directly at it... all this pink can do things to your eyes!! The bit that takes the longest is making the thrums which are little figures of eight of fluffy roving. These get knitted in to the mitts with the ends inside all ready to felt with wear, making them warm and partially waterproof. The fact that they look like little hearts is a happy coincidence. That’s it for tonight though #purewool #handknitted #madeinscotland #allfingersandthrums #pink

My final project of 2018. No Unfinished Objects. I will cast on something new next year!

As the sun pours over the last day of 2018 The Crafty Maniac wishes you all a Happy Hogmanay 🐏 #hogmanay #newyear #ceilidh #smallcraftbusiness #projectplanning #fibrefun #thecraftymaniac

As the sun pours over the last day of 2018 The Crafty Maniac wishes you all a Happy Hogmanay 🐏

Our visitors at Crafty HQ have left so I’ll be back to work tomorrow planning crafty adventures and creations for 2019 🥰#fibrefun #projectplanning #smallcraftbusiness #madeinscotland #fibreartist #handspinner

Two skeins of advent yarn. I am loving the sparkle and the colours. This might become a slouchy hat 🤔 #siobhancraftsadvent #slowspinning #fibrefun #projectplanning #handspunyarn #spinnersofinstagram #chainplied