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Becca

Kingston Lacy Advent Day 5: Propagation

First, an apology for the spelling mistake on the label for today. I only noticed when it was far too late! The greenhouses in the kitchen garden at Kingston Lacy were, and still are, used for propagating a large number of plants. As you would expect, I’ve taken a lot of inspiration for the colourways in the calendar from the various plants and flowers in the extensive gardens. I needed more neutral colours, so I started looking in more unusual… Read More »Kingston Lacy Advent Day 5: Propagation

Kingston Lacy Advent Day 4: Stables

You may remember if you read yesterday’s post that Kingston Lacy House was originally built from red brick which was covered over in the 1800s. The stable block, which is where the National Trust café is now located, remains in the original red brick.

Kingston Lacy Advent Day 3: Kingston Lacy House

While the original house at Kingston Lacy was built from red Brick, during it’s refurbishment in the early 1800s it was faced with local Chilmark stone. The chimneys at the corners were also added at this time.

Kingston Lacy Advent Day 2 (2): Marigold

The Kingston Lacy estate has a large kitchen garden which used to grow the produce to feed the residents of the house. It’s still used to grow various fruits and vegetables which is available for visitors to purchase. These bright and cheerful marigolds are grown alongside the pumpkins and squashes to naturally deter pests. They add a gorgeous lively colour to the garden too.

Kingston Lacy Advent Day 1 (1): Spring Tulips

Tulips are one of my favourite flowers, and I found these during the initial walk around Kingston Lacy that inspired the Advent calendar. They were part of a display just to the side of the house by the formal lawns that changes throughout the year. The pinks and yellows are cheerful and happy, and while the Bluefaced Leicester yarn displays a more accurate portrayal of the colour of the tulips, I still think the darker and more vibrant colour that… Read More »Kingston Lacy Advent Day 1 (1): Spring Tulips

A large, grand pale stone house is in the middle of the image. A lush green lawn is in front of it, and the sky is blue with light fluffy clouds.

Kingston Lacy Gardens Yarn Advent Calendar – Introduction

It’s nearly time to begin opening the Kingston Lacy Gardens Yarn Advent Calendars. Here’s a brief introduction to the estate, which you’ll learn more about over the next 24 days. (Note: If you have a 12 day calendar, look out for your days in brackets in the title). The inspiration for this year’s Advent calendar came to me while walking through the gardens of my local National Trust property, Kingston Lacy. Usually during spring, Christmas is far from people’s minds,… Read More »Kingston Lacy Gardens Yarn Advent Calendar – Introduction

Kate Harvie’s Harvest Festival Vest

I met Kate Harvie, a knitting designer, while running #WoolHour over on Twitter (yes, I still refuse to call it X!). Kate was inspired by my Leaf Litter colourway on the DK 40% Bluefaced Leicester, 40% Shetland, 20% Alpaca base and says: “When I first saw this beautiful autumnal yarn I imagined a tank top with large, soft cables. Here it is. The cables remind me of the bread plaits we used to make for Harvest Festival when I was… Read More »Kate Harvie’s Harvest Festival Vest

Featured Project Friday – Malinda Law’s Pullover

Featured Project Friday is back! Every second and fourth Friday of the month I’ll be featuring a project made with Bluebell Yarns. If you’d like to show off something you’ve made, please send me an email, I’d love to hear from you. Today’s featured project is this wonderful pullover by Malinda Law. She used Falkland Corriedale Advent mini-skeins combined with some undyed yarn. In Malinda’s own words: “Pattern from Paton and Baldwin’s 189 ‘Three Men’s Pullovers’ sold for 3d, designed… Read More »Featured Project Friday – Malinda Law’s Pullover

Putting Plans Into Action

You may remember that last year I was looking at changing the way I run Bluebell Yarns a little. I did a bit of a trial run with my Autumn Leaves collection, and now I’m ready to put the plan into action. What’s Changing? I will have a core range of colourways available on all my yarn bases. These will sometimes be dyed to order, although I aim to keep the most popular colours in stock as much as possible.… Read More »Putting Plans Into Action

Looking back and looking forward

Happy New Year! Looking back at 2023 I can’t believe how quickly 2023 sped by. I filled it with all sorts of yarn and non-yarn related things. I exhibited at multiple yarn shows, ran yarn clubs, released some fun new yarn and began to change how Bluebell Yarns works to make it work better for me. I also joined a local concert band and did lots of events with them, continued conducting a small community orchestra, and even did some… Read More »Looking back and looking forward