Gemini Knits

The Blog is Moving!

2010-12-05T16:35:00.001Z

From now on to find out what Gemini Knits is up to please visit the new site for my blog........

Ps....

2010-11-29T19:13:00.002Z

I've renovated the website today, its still a work in progress but I think its an improvement. What do you all think? :)

Go and have a look.... www.geminiknits.co.uk

And to celebrate I'm offering a special 10% discount on all my yarns in my etsy shop until the end of the year. Just enter the code "YayNewWebsite" into the coupon section when checking out!

Sarah x

The New Yarns

2010-11-29T14:51:00.004Z

There are changes afoot in the world of GeminiKnits.

I am working on things in the background which I hope to put in place in the not too distant future.

I have new yarns coming into the shop and am going to start dyeing them up in bigger dyelots for those of you who are working on larger projects.

The yarns, in addition to those I have in the shop already are.....

Superwashed Falkland Merino 4ply

Superwashed BFL Nylon 4ply

Alpaca/Silk/Cashmere Delight 4ply (and it is a delight! so soft, am completely in love!)

Suri Alpaca/Merino 4ply

Superwash Merino/Nylon/Stellina Sparkle 4ply (it sparkles! Can't wait to dye it)

Alpaca/Silk/Cashmere Laceweight

Superwash BFL DK

If there is a particular colourway of mine that you would like dyed up in one of the yarns or you'd like me to create something especially for you, just send me an email! geminiknits@hotmail.co.uk

Finally for today... I've discovered someone else is using the Gemini Knits name to try and sell some knitted goods. It's not me! I am the original Gemini Knits and have been using this name since I started 3 and a half years ago. With all my shops, sites etc I always use the same font and logo's.

Speak soon, Sarah x

2010-11-29T14:11:00.001Z

Congratulations to @sunshinewalks on etsy who was the lucky winner of my recent competition.

I thought I'd hold another to win more yarn in the new year to cheer everyone up in the lull after Christmas :)

My new yarns arrived on Friday, I am very eager to get going with them. All being well I shall begin the dyeing tomorrow afternoon. I'm just thinking up new colourways, although I am so in love with the alpaca/cashmere/silk and the sparkle sock that I'm not sure I can bear to part with them!

Sarah

COMPETITION!

2010-11-23T14:17:00.005Z

I thought I would hold my very first twitter competition. I'm very excited!

The prize is one skein of this gorgeous yarn - Gemini Knits Magical Mist Handpainted 100% merino

For the chance to win this lovely prize you need to follow me on twitter @GeminiKnits and RT this tweet......

For a chance to win a skein of this yummy yarn http://etsy.me/fqGiyX FOLLOW @geminiknits & RT this tweet. Ends 7pm gmt 28/11. Good luck!

The competition will close on Sunday 28th November 2010 at 7pm gmt and then a winner will be picked at random by the Husband.

Good luck to everyone!

New Shop!

2010-10-16T08:54:00.004+01:00

I now have 2 shops :)

My Gemini Knits etsy shop selling my handpainted yarns

And my newest shop Gemini Handspun selling my handpainted, handspun yarns - come and have a look!

2010-07-11T10:19:00.001+01:00

My productive morning yesterday :)

Next shop update will be Thursday 15th July at 8pm gmt - see you there!

2010-07-04T16:52:00.002+01:00

SUMMER SALE now on at my etsy shop GEMINI KNITS!

SALE!

2009-12-03T11:20:00.000Z

I'm having a sale in my shop Gemini Knits to make way for the new yarns and fibres I'm going to be adding :)

New Yarns!

2009-11-05T11:55:00.001Z

I now have in stock.....

Merino with nylon, tencel or bamboo & BFL in 4ply
Baby Suri Alpaca/merino (which feels divine!) & Merino silk in 2ply laceweight
Organic Merino in DK & Aran weights
BFL & Merino Combed tops

I shall be shortly dyeing them up and if you would like a specific colourway in any of the yarns, please let me know!

You can send me a convo at my etsy shop GeminiKnits or an email to geminiknits@hotmail.co.uk

2009-08-24T09:48:00.002+01:00

Birthday card for a friend

First attempt at gloves - WIP (I've developed second glove syndrome!)

Latest creations

2009-08-10T14:26:00.005+01:00

Bracelet for Amelia

Bracelet for me

First go at spinning with drop spindle

Cardigan for me in Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora

Catching Up

2008-03-13T12:00:00.004Z

I'm now a Mrs! Have been for the past 6 and a half weeks actually - can't say being married is much different to us just living together. Just has more paperwork to fill in to get my name changed over on everything!

Here's us on our wedding day - me, DH and my cunningly hidden bump :-) We had a wonderful day, sunshine, great relaxed company, yummy food and the best hotel suite ever!

We jetted off for our honeymoon a couple of days later and spent a lovely week mostly eating and sunbathing - I did take the opportunity to do some KIP-ing (Knitting in Public) by the pool. Didn't get any comments just a few looks and I'm now a bit closer to finally finishing those socks I promised DH!

With Bean's arrival less than 10 weeks away now I'm frantically trying to finish the blanket I started about 5 months ago - not much more to do, and will put the finished pics up here soon.

My biggest news and my proudest moment in my knitting life so far is that my yarns have been featured and given away in Let's Knit magazine this month. I'm a published artist!

I was dyeing more yarns yesterday and will have some new one's to put up in the shop over the next week.

Until the next time.......

Happy New Year!

2008-01-18T15:29:00.000Z

Goodness me! I can't believe its been that long since I last posted on here. I've had so much going on - here's one of the reasons...

This is Bean at almost 13 weeks......

....and this.....

... is Bean on Monday at 21 weeks and 5 days! We found out we're having a little girl :-)

So I've been dyeing lots of pink wool to celebrate! and lots of other colours too - they're drying as I type and will be up in the shop in the next few days and weeks.

**The shop will be shut between Thursday 24th January and will re-open on Friday 8th February when I will send out orders and deal with queries**

We're getting married next week and then are off for a week of relaxing in the sun - its all go for me this year!

The Arrival of the New Yarns

2007-10-30T11:00:00.000Z

I excitedly received the delivery of my new yarns on Thursday - They've come all the way from Uruguay and are so soft and yummy its untrue!

There's a new Merino single ply fingering weight which is beautifully delicate but very strong and two worsted weight Merinos - a 3ply and a single ply.

I've already had great fun dyeing them up and they will be in the shop shortly!

If you would like any special colourways dyed please just let me know :-)

What I've been up to

2007-10-19T13:06:00.000+01:00

I've neglected my blog and my knitting terribly for the last 6 weeks - my excuse? Well we've just moved house and only now am getting stuff sorted! We've finally got the electricians coming in on Monday and once they're done and out we can start the redecorating.

My most recently finished project is my clapotis which I am so proud of, its really warm too! Here's the finished article and me modelling - please excuse my scruffiness!

My other project I have on the go at the moment is (finally!) a pair of socks for the bf - I've been promising them to him for ages and here's my progress so far. It's the first time I've used my More Sensational Knitted Socks, a book which on first glance scared me totally but actually as lots of people tell you, if you just get on with it as the pattern says you end up with a sock! These are for size 12 feet, so quite a hefty sock and I'm knitting it in my own Sirius Gemini Knits sock yarn and I'm extremely pleased with the results! Especially the heel, I used an Eye of Partridge heel with 3-stitch garter edge, which sounds a lot scarier than it is.

I'm hoping the bf will get the finished pair before christmas!

New Colours

2007-08-30T12:33:00.000+01:00

Here's my latest colours added to my GeminiKnits etsy shop - and one I haven't added yet as I can't think of a name for it! I've started to use a lot of purple and I think I must be being influenced by the time of year - all the berries starting to appear and maybe thoughts of jam!

Retro - A 4ply merino with shades of purple and orange

Raspberrylicious - A 4ply merino with shades of magenta and pink

The as yet unamed yarn using teal,turquoise and black

Blackcurrant - A 2ply laceweight merino

Blackcherries - A 4ply merino with shades of purple and black

The 2ply merino laceweight version of Blackcherries

Marine Tangerine - A 4ply merino with shades of orange, teal and turquoise

First Pair Finished!

2007-08-21T09:16:00.001+01:00

Woohoo! Finished my first pair of socks on Sunday, I've got them on at the moment to keep my footsies warm with all this wintery weather :-)

Here's the second sock...

And the finished pair together...

I'm now armed with some of my own Sirius yarn and a copy of More Sensational Knitted Socks and I shall be starting a pair of size 12's for the BF!

Dark Eyes - New Creation

2007-08-17T16:12:00.000+01:00

Here's my newest creation - Dark Eyes. I've named it after my favourite fuchsia - here it is in my garden (and my dainty fingers!)....

And here's the yummy yarn...

Fleur In Action!

2007-08-17T07:31:00.000+01:00

Last week I was asked to make a custom order of my Gemini Knits Fleur merino yarn for Lavenderhouse and she has kindly sent me a pic of it on the needles :-) I'm slightly biased obviously but it is just so delicate and pretty!

The Latest Addition...

2007-08-15T12:28:00.001+01:00

This is the latest yarn to be added to my Gemini Knits store - Its called Vampirella and is a dark, sexy mix of magenta, black and grey. It is 100% merino 4ply/fingering weight yarn and I absolutely adore it!

Clapotis - The Progress So Far....

2007-08-08T08:02:00.000+01:00

So after my previous 6 attempts to start one of these something obviously clicked and I'm on my way! I'm really enjoying knitting this and was really keen to getting to the "stitch dropping" sections - its really very satisfying!

Here's the progress pics...

The dropped stitch sections

All the jingly jangly stitchmarkers!

Charmed Knits

2007-08-07T15:41:00.000+01:00

My copy of Charmed Knits - Projects for Fans of Harry Potter arrived today. I LOVE it! I can't wait to get started on some of the knits in there - my fave's are the Invisibility Shawl and the House Scarves. I took the sorting hat test the other day and turns out I'm a Hufflepuff! So I'll be knitting all my Hogwarts uniform in black and yellow.

Another book to add to my ever-growing collection of knitting books - will I ever get the chance to knit it all though!

Todays Offerings

2007-07-27T14:41:00.000+01:00

Here's the results of todays dyeing - I was looking through all the yarn I've got yesterday and realised that I could do with some more subtle colours! I've been experimenting with pale pinks, lemon, green and brown this morning. As you can see they're drying on the line currently all ready to be reskeined and put on etsy on Monday.

My Latest Dyes

2007-07-26T15:01:00.001+01:00

These are all up on my etsy site now - more dyeing to ensue tomorrow with self-striping yarn and lace weight all coming soon!

Group Photo!

Latest WIP's

2007-07-19T10:12:00.000+01:00

I've started my second sock - so no second sock syndrome for me*! This one seems a lot neater than the first though - I mean, it was my first ever go so its not going to be perfect but I'm fighting the urge to frog the first one to make it more perfect than the second! :-$

I got fed up with the white baby blanket that had been sitting in the cupboard for ages - I'm knitting it in 4 ply and was using the correct sized needle but it was making the stitches tiny and I think probably any children I have will have grown up by the time I finished it! So on Saturday night the bf and I had great fun frogging it and winding the yarn onto the ball winder (we know how to have a good time!) and I've now gone for a bigger needle and its made the blanket a lot more fluffy and a much quicker knit.

And finally..... this has been on my wish list since...well since I saw the pattern really! I've tried a few times to start a clapotis but each time the first line of the pattern has stumped me. I've had the yarn ready for about 8 months - I'm using Rowan Summer Tweed, still not quite sure about the yarn though. On Tuesday I decided I was really going to give it a go this time and I've managed about 18 rows so far - I seem to have gained an extra stitch somehow though so there could be some frogging to be done! Now I've got going on it, its actually a very pleasureable knit. More pics to come with more progress :-)

*Second sock syndrome - when you knit the first one and then find you can't be bothered to do the next one! You need to get cracking on the second one quickly to stop this from kicking in!

New Items Added to My Etsy Shop!

2007-07-18T15:06:00.000+01:00

Here are some of my latest creations to be added to my etsy shop-Gemini Knits
Goldilocks
Delphinium
Blue Skies and Cloudy Days
Ta Dah!

I'm waiting on another big delivery of merino/4ply and then will have lots more yummy yarn to add on there.

First Sock

2007-07-08T11:05:00.001+01:00

Just finished my first sock today - knitted using the Opal Feeling the bf got me for my birthday :-)

I knitted it using 2 circular needles - can't get the hang of double pointed one's yet! It fits perfectly, the next one I'll try to get the tension a bit more even when I'm changing over the needles as there are a few gaps.

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE

2007-06-28T16:43:00.000+01:00

Finally after 3 weeks of waiting (those who know me will testify I'm not good at patience!) my yummy yarn has arrived. Here it is in its full woolly glory.....

In the box!

Open the bag... My that's a lot of sock yarn!

On the floor... looks like a giant jelly fish!

I CANNOT wait to get started on this, the yarn is going in for soaking tonight and I'll be dyeing all day tomorrow - hopefully I'll have pics and the finished skeins up on my etsy site by Monday.

News on Gemini Knits Etsy Shop

2007-06-25T14:18:00.000+01:00

Just to let you all know - I'm expecting a huge delivery of yummy sock yarn this week (a bit later than expected) so there will be a LOT more yarn on my etsy shop from next week :-)

Birthday Present Pics

2007-06-25T14:11:00.000+01:00

I realised I didn't post pictures of my other birthday presents!

I got these from Dad - Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk Two pattern book and 9 yummy balls of Alpaca Silk yarn - When I ordered it I thought it was teal but actually it is a dark jade colour and will a suit a red head perfectly :-)

I'm knitting this and I've managed the left front so far and just cast on for the second - Its a nice knit actually, more pics as I complete more.

2007-06-21T16:43:00.001+01:00

Just before I go home for the day I thought I'd share some pictures taken from my garden with you - I started growing these when I first moved into my little house and now 3 years on, just when I'm moving they start to flower! I've been enjoying coming home and counting how many of the flowers are now out on my passion flowers.

Trip to Devon

2007-06-21T10:22:00.000+01:00

Mum and I went down to Devon last week to visit my Grandpa - it rained as always but we had a great time (as always!) We had a lovely lunch in Peter Tavy, the church is in the photo.
Mum and I were staying in Tavistock - the view from our window looks out onto an old stream built into the hill - The more I stared at the wall out there the more I could see a face in the rocks - I took a picture of it - I don't know if you can see it too but there is a woman's face with her eye's closed, the moss is her hair. Mum and I decided she was a wood nymph!

More Stitchmarkers!

2007-06-19T12:33:00.001+01:00

I've just listed these on my etsy site - gorgeous mini pegs! I love them!

So I'm 29 now.....

2007-06-06T11:55:00.000+01:00

It was my birthday on Friday and I was the "big" 29 - the bf and I were discussing it the other day, its a bit of a non age. No one really says "oh you're 29" its more "one more year to go eh?". I had a great day, did nothing - didn't get dressed till about 1pm! Was too busy sorting out stuff to do with the move. Got some gorge flowers from the bf (first time he's bought me any!) and som e addi turbo's (knitting needles) and opal sock yarn
I've attached pics of the before and after as I've done the ribbing and am not into the leg bit of the sock - woohoo! first sock ever!
I got a ball winder and swift too - and just ordered my niddy noddy yesterday! I was taken to the theatre for my birthday treat - we went to see Avenue Q up in London - was really funny, I loved it. Even bf thought it was ok and he hates musicals - think of it as a grown up Sesame Streets or Muppet Show, then off to dinner with my friends to Ping Pong on the Festival Terrace near Waterloo. Paul Weller sat on the table opposite us! That made my birthday even more.

And Finally For Today.....

2007-05-31T11:49:00.000+01:00

As its my birthday tomorrow (yippee!!!) I thought I'd share the yummy strawberry birthday cheesecake I made over the weekend to celebrate - sadly there is none left now. It was just too delicious to last very long!

Dyeing to Meet You - haha!

2007-05-31T11:43:00.000+01:00

This is what I've been wanting to do for ages - dye my own yarn. Its part of my master plan and I finally had a go yesterday morning. I used food colourings and the undyed dk I got in my little starter kit. I divided the yarn up into 3 different skeins to be able to experiment more with the colours, soaked the yarn in vinegar over night and then got cracking in the morning. These were the results - one thing though...the smell of the wet yarn and vinegar was nearly too much for my delicate tum! I've now been given the advice to wash the yarn in fabric conditioner afterwards to make it smell nicer. A tip I will be carrying out! I've ordered some acid dyes and some sock yarn now and I can't wait to have a go next week.

Adventures in Felting

2007-05-31T11:10:00.000+01:00

I have been a busy girl recently! My latest knitting creation is this...my first booga bag. This was a first in quite a few ways - I'd not knitted a bag before, I had to pick up about 70 stitches and then knit in the round and it was my first attempt at icords and felting! I'm very pleased with the result. The felting was acheived by putting the bag and icord separately in the washing machine in net bags and putting 2 pairs of old jeans in to help bash them around a bit. Two washes on 60 degrees later et voila! A lovely little felted bag.

Stitchmarkers

2007-05-22T12:50:00.000+01:00

I've been busy making stitchmarkers - great fun! I'm going to be selling them on ebay and maybe etsy - if you're interested click on the title :-)

Booga Bag Progress

2007-05-21T12:52:00.000+01:00

This is the first bag I've ever knitted - I'm learning more skills every day! I've learnt how to do an icord (see previous post) on 2 double pointed needles, bit tedious though. I have to do 6 feet (!) of it for the handles for the bag. The bag itself I had to pick up about 75 stitches and I'm very proud of the results so far :-) I'm hoping to have finished it by the weekend (ha!) I'll post more pics then, the before and after of the felting.

Recent Finished Projects

2007-05-16T10:41:00.000+01:00

I've just finished another of these blinky blanks made with Blue Skys Alpaca Organic Cotton - Its lovely to work with and the blanket is a pleasure to knit - luckily I bought enough to make me one when I get round to it!

The hat and the mittens were made with Jaeger Baby Merino DK.

Tiny Sock Yarn Stash (It will get bigger!)

2007-05-16T10:39:00.002+01:00

Booga Bag

2007-05-16T10:39:00.001+01:00

Clapotis

2007-05-16T10:38:00.000+01:00

Baby Blankets

2007-05-16T10:37:00.000+01:00

For Knitting Baby Stuff

2007-05-16T10:36:00.000+01:00

My Stash in Pictures

2007-05-16T10:30:00.000+01:00

I've been on a self-enforced stashalong for nearly 2 months now. I've had one day off, last Friday, when I bought some gorge Debbie Bliss cotton angora for a cardi from my new Fitted Knits book. I've made a resolution only to buy yarn for projects I have in mind now so I don't have lots in the stash that I don't know what to do with. Anyway, to prove the boyf wrong - who believes I have far too much yarn and don't know what to do with it - I've taken pics of all my stash and will have along side the projects I aim to use it for - ha!

Baby Hat

2007-05-14T16:42:00.000+01:00

This is my latest finished project - another hat meant for a one year old child but in fact nearly fits me! Its from the Debbie Bliss How to Knit book (which incidentally taught me to knit, about 18 months ago now) I've changed it slightly - I'm not brave enough to work in two colours yet. This is my first project using two circular needles and knitting in the round - I'm extremely proud. Got a bit cocky at the end and tried to knit an i-cord with dpn's (double pointed needles) but still can't work them out!

2007-05-14T16:40:00.000+01:00

Poor neglected blog :-( (Half years resolution - must try harder!)

Yarn Diet :-(

2007-04-25T15:23:00.000+01:00

I had to self-impose a yarn diet after my latest haul - I blame the others on the knitting forum for encouraging me and Lidl for having all the goodies!! These are the new additions to my stash, my cupboard is now full to bursting - all apart from the Rowan Summer Tweed (one day to become a clapotis) is from the Friday night dash to Lidl's. There were some good barg's and only on offer for a week! Emerging some time later with a much emptier purse I made myself promise not to buy more yarn till my birthday. Only a month and a bit to go - my want/need for some Debbie Bliss can only be contained for so long!

2007-04-24T19:34:00.000+01:00

So the bf and I went to Alton Towers last weekend to celebrate his 28th birthday (he's my toyboy!). Its always been on my "places to go" but always seemed like a bit of faff to get to. I booked it all as a "surprise" and we made a weekend of it - was so much fun! After an initial panic over the hotel (read some seriously awful reviews) we set off on the sunny Sunday morning Alton Tower virgins. Me slightly apprenhensive with the motion sickness I seem to suffer from these days. Beautiful day, hardly anyone there, no queues, was perfect. My favourite ride was the Ripsaw - kind of like a boat where we sat in 2 huge lines and it turned us upside down while jets of water shot up in the air and soaked you - cue lots of screaming and laughter! I DID NOT like Oblivion! Honestly thought we were going to die, I'd not really thought it through, once we dropped the sheer drop I had no idea where we would end up. I think probably my screams were pretty much heard over the whole of the park. We didn't go on that one twice! Its my birthday in almost a month (yippee!) got to think of something equally as exciting to do for me now.

2007-04-23T14:57:00.001+01:00

**Gemini Knits would like you to bear with her while she works out the way this programme works properly!**

The Anticipation....The Excitement

2007-04-23T14:47:00.000+01:00

Well peeps as they say.... today is the first day of the rest of my life. Yes, I've set up my own blog - woohoo!

Now just got to keep it going.....(here's to hoping)

These are my two latest WIP's - they're both baby blankets, a current obsession of mine. One is just ongoing till I decide its big enough - could take forever! The other is a blanket of 20 parts, this being part 1. We'll see how far I get....

I'm just dipping my toe in the water today, I can't promise I'll write every day but we'll see how we get on. I'll post more knitting pics soon

xxx