~ May News ~

What an exciting few weeks, since I last managed

to get a news letter written!!

 

 

Several Mr Darcey Designs have been published

in all kinds of magazines. Hooray!!

As I mentioned in the February newsletter,

a scarf, in Manos silk blend

with tiny iridescent beads,

has been published in Simply Homemade, Issue 3

and features on the front cover!!!

It only takes 1 skein to make a scarf

approximately 1m long

(2 skeins if you want an extra long scarf!)

-as always I am available via email

(mrdarceyscottage@btinternet.com)

if you need any help.

There is also a Special Reader Offer for the yarn!!

Look out in a future edition of Simply Homemade

for a pretty summer bolero,

with a soft ruffled edge

in the new Manos yarn, Serena

(60% baby alpaca and 40% pima cotton)

It is beautifully soft, a dream to knit with

and comes in a range of gorgeous subtle

gentle colours

-ideal for that little summer knit!

There are several new patterns available

for this yarn

including my design for a little lacey vest top,

with beads,

(again!-can you see a theme developing here ??)

featured at the neckline, hem

and around the armholes.

These patterns can be seen

on the Artesano website

(www.artesanoyarns.co.uk)

and yarn and patterns

are available from Mr Darcey.

Take a look at the FREE pattern page

at the Artesano website

for a brand new range of patterns for Manos wool

(all available for FREE download!!)

My contributions to the range

were the sampler shawl -

Brunswick (an ideal way to try out

all kinds of new stitches in a huge shawl /throw

-keep it on the back of the sofa

for cuddling under when watching late night TV!)

  and Manitoba

 

(a lacey swing jacket

in a beautiful sea green colour)

My latest design for Artesano coincides with

 the  launch of new colours in

the Manos Laceweight Range.

(5%cashmere, 20%silk, 75%baby alpaca)

It is an easy to wear sloppy Joe tee shirt style top

called 'Gee Whizz it's you' -

the yarn is very soft and light

and comes in a gorgeous range of colours.

There has been so much interest in this design,

that I am offering the yarn and pattern

as a Special Offer Kit -

normally this would retail at over £80

but will be available for the Special Price of £70

with FREE Postage.

There is also an additional bonus pattern

for a matching striped scarf to use up the yarn

left over from the tee shirt knit.

It is available in a Pink colourway

~ as in the picture ~

(Fuschia/cream/red/pink and olive/

baby pink/teal and pink)

or in a blue/grey colourway

(Deep Blue/cream/baby blue/ petrol blue/

aqua and cream/grey and cream)

-see side menu for details of how to order.

There are currently more kits being developed

so keep popping back to the website

as I will add them as they become available.

The Summer edition of Verena is now on sale

but I understand that there has been

some difficulty obtaining

the English Language version here -

however you can still download the patterns

from the Verena website.

The 2 designs I have featured in this edition

are Monterrey -a longline jumper

in Artesano DK alpaca

in charcoal and deep yellow,

with pearl beads (beads again!)

at the neckline and cuffs -

the jumper has a separate band tied at the hip

-the design was based on

the flapper dresses of the 1920's !

The second design is a little summer tunic top,

based on the empire line dresses

of the Regency period

-very Jane Austen!

Again in Artesano Dk Alpaca in aqua,

with a matching Hummingbird variegated yarn

providing the accents.

Fans of 'The Knitter' magazine will have seen

the Ariel top and gauntlets featured in Issue 29.

A pretty little vintage style fitted lacey cardigan

with short sleeves and tiny silver buttons

and matching gauntlets -

On the workshop front, my Fair Isle Workshop

for Black Hills Yarns in Henley on Thames

had to be postponed

but will now take place on Saturday 4th June

so plenty of time left to book your place

-contact Penny at Black Hills Yarns.

The Summer Bunting Workshop

meant that some people had their  very own,

handcrafted bunting for the Royal Wedding!

 

If you missed this workshop

but would like to have a go

then drop me an email

(mrdarceyscttage@btinternet.com)

and I will let you know when

the course will be running again.

The popular Freeform Knitting and Crochet course

is running again on Saturday 10th September

and can be booked with Heather at Cool Contours

(heather@coolcontours.co.uk)

14th -22nd May is Oxfordshire Arts Week

and Cool Contours is the venue

for 4 different artists

-open from 12-6pm -all the details can be found

on the Cool Contours website

(www.coolcontours.co.uk)

 Recently the needles have been flashing along

to get other designs ready for deadlines

including 4 for the Autumn edition of Verena

and several more for other magazines

(Watch this space!)

so there has been a lot of knitting

and not much housework

at Mr Darcey's Cottage of late

-I have an ironing mountain to rival Everest!

But keep watching for

the latest Julie Ferguson knitting designs!