A new episode of Weekend Waffle is live on the YouTube channel
A withybed built and you can see what we have be up to in the Polytunnel!!
It’s all rather exciting!! ๐
A new episode of Weekend Waffle is live on the YouTube channel
A withybed built and you can see what we have be up to in the Polytunnel!!
It’s all rather exciting!! ๐
How to process firewood!! Well how we collect and process it!! ๐
You can find a short video here of what we do!!!
Someone LOVES the chainsaw helmet!!!
Especially the visor!!! ๐
And whilst the chain saw was out!! Himself chopped me up some logs to make a log circle in the littlie’s forest school area!
So the crafting podcast is becoming weekly!! And on a Monday!!
This will be a weekly round up of the crafting activities I get up to!
This week’s round up can be found here
Episode 13
Sunday 18th March
So I’ve made it this far!!! Still got bump in tow!!
Lots of little bits to tell you all about this week, some sections are a bit light on content this week, because we’ve had disturbed nap times due to toddler illness ( joyfully he threw up in the car the other week so that was a heap of pulling apart the car and car seat to wash!!)
Plus more getting ready for the new baby, growing season by sorting out the seeds etc..
Well it’s another snowy day here in Wales and it’s freezing!!!
I’m wearing James’ fleece as it covers the bump!! And I’m wearing a cowl my Mum knitted for me!! It’s a Song of the Sea cowl by Louise Zass-Bangham and the Pattern is on Rav.
Knitting
I’ve managed to finally block my samples I had knit up and have subsequently tweaked patterns etc!! Now just need to get some more projects off the needles so I can cast on the full projects for those!!
I have two FO’s
Two little baby hats!!! The pattern is my Jelliebean Baby Hat pattern and it’s on Rav, I’ve knitted one in Rainbow heirloom solo light and one in some left over hedgehog fibres, plus a small amount of my own hand dyed yarn to stripe in so I was definitely not playing yarn chicken!! These are in my bag that the lovely Zoe of Pins and Needles made me.
I am halfway down the foot of the second sock for my Dad’s birthday
These are a Plain top down vanilla sock knit out of Weavers Loft sock yarn which is 75% super wash wool and 25% nylon, so good and hard wearing for much use for my Dad! These are in my fantastic Thimble and Thread Makes Harry Potter bag.
I have managed a heap more rows on my Hazels shawl and the leaves are really starting to come through now!! Ive knit this in River Knits 4ply fingering in the colourway Indian Giant Squirrel and it’s a pattern I am working on for release after the baby is born
I have decided to start using my progress keeper on my weasley sweater, because I can’t for the life of me remember whether I have even knitted on it since I last podcast!! The progress keeper I am using is a lovely tardis one from Jennie of Owl about Yarn.
Sewing…
Yep none…. No FOs….
But I have managed to cut out some fabric for a commission project and have some more to cut out this week so I can get sewing on that!!
However I have managed some mending/darning etc!!
I’ve mended The rainbow jumper which is the DayDreamer pattern by Jennifer Steingass, James’ socks and two pairs of Williams socks!!! Some knitting required…..
Weaving…
Zero…. Too much getting the desk cleared and the loom hoiked about at this stage of bumpness…
Crochet….
Also zero!! But to be fair I have been awaiting the plying of the Icelandic to carry on with that….
So that leads me into Spinning….
I have Navajo or chain plied the Icelandic!! Just need to skein it, wash it thwack it and it’s good to go into a crochet project…
And I have thread plied the Sara’s Texture crafts exmoor BFL!!! I’m really pleased with how it’s turned out and can see more thread plying in my future especially with the beautiful variegated skeins of yarn. Mainly because I believe my yardage for this skein of yarn is going to be HUGE!!! in comparison to the Icelandic which will be minimal as it is three ply and super chunky!!
Acquisitions!
So I have received the fabric I ordered for the commission project
Cotton
Terry
Rip stop
And I have ordered more rip stop and received it to make the boys waterproof dungas using the Made By Jacks Mum Free Range Fun Over Trousers.
And also this last fortnight I had a really happy post day!!!
The Lovely Anita from the Gaga Knits podcast has sent me some beautiful gifts!!!
A beautiful little cardie for the newbie when he decides to put in an appearance.
A book for Will which he has had read several times already!!
And a beautiful roving of Fondant Fibre in merino and mulberry silk!!! Part of their Illume collection called awakened spirit.
Thank you soooo much Anita you are so very kind!!
Shop update
I’ve been inspired this week to get my backside back to the dye pots!!! So hopefully (baby arrival allowing) later this week I shall have a little shop update with these two colour ways!!! Daffs and Crocus, they are currently drying out, having been my first attempt at yarn dyeing on the wood fired stove!! Man I needed to haul lots of wood!!! Or it seemed that way because I can only bring in small amounts at a time, not the big basket!! However I digress there are two bases, a sport weight merino base, which are the slightly softer colours, and the Stardust sock weight base which are the more vibrant colours!! So keep an eye on Tyddyn Bryn on Etsy later this week for them to pop into store!! One time limited dye lots, using up the last of the undyed I had in stash…. The next time I dye I shall have to do another big restash of the undyed before I dye!! And who knows when I might get time to do that!!! It has been two years since I last dyed yarn I believe!!!
Woodwork….
I’ve been out varnishing the sign for the front of the house again, and giving the bird boxes a quick coat too to protect them…
Farm update…
So James hired a mini digger a fortnight before I was due to pop….
He has now dug raised beds in the slurry it, which he needs to blockwork out…. watercourses…. Potato beds….. Flattened an area for me to make into a digging zone for the kids….
I’ve sourced some tractor tyres for digging pits for the boys…..
We’ve scoped out a pond site, but it wasn’t safe to take the digger to it….
In looking at that though I have found loads of my basketry willows have grown and need cutting back allowing me to get more plants going…
And Friday next if no one comes forward we become accidental sheep owners…. Still no idea if it’s multiple deal…. As in whether she is I lamb or not…. But we have bought some feed to supplement her diet in case and come next week we shall book a vet out to see her and register her as ours.
The chicks are growing well and feathering up… They are much bigger much faster than the last two, and are certainly eating more, drinking more and stinking more!!!
We’ve baked more cakes…. Muffins of the White chocolate and Rasberry variety and the banana and chocolate chip variety!!
I shall add a little photo montage at the end of all the farm happenings…
Sooo….
I hope you have enjoyed this weeks podcast!! I’m not sure when I’ll get to podcast next…. Baby is due Friday next!!! So in the meantime Happy crafting everybody!! And you can find me as Tyddyn Bryn on Instagram, Twitter and Ravelry, there is a Tyddyn Bryn Facebook page…. The Tyddyn Bryn Etsy shop, which I am going to attempt to keep open…. But we shall see what occurs in the next couple of weeks…
If you enjoyed the episode please give us a thumbs up at the bottom and I hope to see you all soon!!!
So the past two weeks have been filled with visitors and LOTS of outside work….. not much time for crafting except in between visitors and knitting of an evening!!
We started with a few days with my sister and niece and nephew!!
Someone was very pleased with his visitors!! And we had wall building round the Polytunnel!!
Playdoh….. painting…… forest school trip!
Bird box building and painting….
Phew very busy!!
Then last week my parents came for a few days!
It turned colder…. but we have meshed the fruit cage….. planted and frost fleeced a few plants that had been delivered…. blueberries in pots in some good Ericaceous compost as our soil isn’t right for them but we need them as young sir would eat his body weight in blueberries!! Well fruit in general!!
Then we had lots more Polytunnel progress…. just a shame on the final day the wind picked up so we couldn’t get the plastic on….
We had a wood delivery too…. didn’t get as much in last year as this year has required!! It’s all a learning process and bear in mind this time last year we were only able to collect wood every other weekend!!!
Any way all this done plus toddler wrangling…. plus catering…. keeping the home fires burning…. and growing a baby….. phew
We have had a quieter weekend this weekend sans visitors!
Finishing some jobs in the fruit cage….
Using sawdust to make paths…. cable tying the mesh further and pegging it down….
Then today….
Chipping the brash piles we’ve had lying about from hedgerow sorting!! Finally seem to be making some progress in rejuvenating some of the hedgerows and hope we will be able to lay some of them in a couple of years to thicken them up and really sort them!
Well the traditional goal posting for the new year is here!!! Last year I wanted to read 26 books!!!! Ha!!! Between the farm and moving and working till July and toddle chops I don’t think I even managed one!!!! And with a new baby arriving this year I need to be realistic about what I can manage….. soooooo with that in mind…..
Husbundle is good about giving me some toddle chops free time to concentrate on shop/work type stuff!! So I plan to……
Mum and I set up the Brinkley loom she bought me for my birthday/Christmas present this year!!! And I plan to try and weave a little each day!!! It’s very addictive though so I am going to have to be quite strict on my time as this will happen during naptime as I DO NOT need a small “helper” running his cars up and down the warp threads!!!! Which happened this morning….
The next kind of goes without saying….. and happens each evening in order to keep me awake long enough to watch the odd TV programme!!!
Sewing!!!!! I’m having a blitz on cutting out patterns and starting to cut out some fabric but I plan to try and get one garment done a week!!! Sewing I can do when toddle chops is around to “help” as he will play with his toys in the box in our room for a short while….. longer if he has Winnie the Pooh, Thomas, Go Jetters or the Octonauts playing!!! Hurrah!!! So I can get a decent amount of sewing in, but pattern cutting and fabric cutting is a toddle chops free pastime so therefore depends on James being free or nap time!!
And finally…..
My wheel has languished since before toddle chops was born, but I can manage just fifteen minutes a day surely!!! Plus my fluff stash has expended past its initial one (large) box!!!! Must contain it and use it!!! Both in spinning and now weaving!!! Hurrah!!! Hoping the weaving also uses up more of my odds and ends of yarn too!!!
I plan to keep sketch journalling once a month, gradually working through my stall stock and adding it to my Etsy shop…..
Woodwork will happen at times….
Plus I have a few plans for some new bits and bobs for the shop….. but I need more time with my year planner to sit down and work out all the details for this…..
So lots of craftiness and plans for the crafty business afoot!!! Stay tuned!!! I will post some more in depth what I plan to sew….. what I plan to knit…. etc etc as I get more organised!!!
I’ve been a busy bee out in the workshop and generally here at the small holding and have produced a few new bits and bobs for my Etsy shop
What do you all think?!
Pop over to the shop to have a looks at these and all the other bits and bobs I have in there!!!
More will be added each day for the foreseeable!! So keep checking in and maybe you might find that elusive last few little Christmas presents?!!!!
Tyddyn Bryn on Etsy!!!
Also have you seen the most recent podcast?! Over on the Tyddyn Bryn YouTube channel for anyone who wants to watch a bit about my crafting and some general farm happenings!!
So I have been knitting on Some Christmas socks and the wool is working out ok!
Then I’ve finished a project from the WIP wall of shame!!!! Yay!!!
Meet the leaf babies!!
So more about them later this week!!
Then I’ve been out in the workshop working on some wood crafts and pyrography….
Then for little Sirs Forest school group I’ve been asked to knit some elf clothes so the children can make some little elves!!
I finished proto elf last evening!! Along with a few other projects to be revealed later this week!!
So stay tuned this week for lots of shop updates and FO posts!!!
New Podcast recorded Wednesday 22nd November 2017
Hello and welcome
Been at least 2 months since my last podcast
We’ve been really busy….. Visitors at the farm in the form of my Dad, and James’ parents both twice!
We’ve built a workshop
Had a lot of stuff done round the place, but I’ll update you on that in the around the farm happenings at the end!
So on with Knitting!!
I’ve finished two sets of little person socks, one just last evening….
Both are knitted up in Tyddyn Bryn sock yarn, one is the rainbow colourway, the other in some leftover blues….
I’ve knit up three yes three Weasley Sweaters. The pattern is free on Rav and by Alison Hansel… One is for William in the toddler size, then one each for my niece and nephew for Christmas, so my nephew who is five has the medium child and my niece the small adult size…
I knit William’s first as per the pattern and need to sew up, after that I knit the niece and nephews in the round!! Yay no sewing up, just ends. Now I need to complete the Duplicate stitching on the fronts for the lettering…. Any suggestions for a good tutorial for me to watch to see how to do the lettering?! It’s a new thing for me to do!! Eek!!
I cast on last night for my next Xmas knit…. Some socks for Dad, using this cortina sock wool, which the lovely Jen from Owl About Yarn gave me. I’m not sure at the moment but I think for Dad and James it may be a bit thin…. And not so hard wearing… So I’m going to knit an inch or so then decide whether I hold the yarn doubled to knit slightly thicker socks….
Lots of Xmas knitting plans now over the next month but I obviously won’t be able to talk much about them in case the giftees are watching!!!
Sewing….
Cor I did this load of sewing AGES ago now….
I have finished the lounge curtains all hemmed and hung and everything!!!
I’ll try and insert a pic, otherwise look out for em in the photo segments!!
Ive managed to make two pairs of cord trousers for young sir… From the simplicity pattern I’ve shown you previously pattern number 1566. They fit him lovely in the largest size… So this is the last time I’ll use this pattern for him!! I have another pattern for joggers that goes up to age three I think which I’ll have to dig out!!
I’ve finished one set of dungarees using the simplicity pattern 1566.
Now William has a long body and shorter legs so I was a little trepidatious about the pattern working ok on him…. Especially as I didn’t have popper tape just my prom popper inserter…. So he has worn them twice…. And each time I feel I’m constantly redoing up the poppers right in the crotch…. So these are shelved now and will be used for small bean due in March!!! Who we have found out is also a boy!!
I have another pair of the dungarees cut out… In the brown cord… This time I think so he can wear them a bit I will sew the bottoms as trousers not poppered legs, which will give plenty of seam allowance to use at the crotch… It means they’ll just be on and off able as a whole garment but I’ll live with that!!
Plans on the sewing front include making up the pile of stuff I’ve got cut out, recovering the kitchen chairs, recovering cushions for the lounge… Then I’ve got loads of patterns and fabric stashed to work through!!
Acquisitions….
So…. Since my last Podcast…. And basically since we moved… I’ve obviously acquired all the Hayfield Bonus Aran to do the Weasley sweaters…. And enough t DK myself one after Xmas knitting is finished!! Which I probably won’t be able to wear till after the baby is born!!
I’ve been lucky enough to be able to make a flying visit to the lovely West Wales Wool Show in Narberth and the lovely Zoe of Pins and Needles and Jen of Owl About Yarn have been busy bees at various yarn shows, but we’re kind enough to take some time up north and visit a few yarn stalls for me!!!
Soooo my yarny acquisitions are:
River knits; mermaid, shroom, Indian giant squirrel and so what if I’m a pansy.
Fleabubs and Lala;
Mothy and the squid;
Owl About Yarn; Tibetan owl
Mum has been busy knitting and shopping too!!
William and James have both had new matching hats!!! James has barely taken his off, William has made a game of removing his and running off!! Ahh toddlers!!!
Mum has sent me a couple of gifts too,
A lush apron dress which should continue to fit as an extra layer even as I get bigger!!
And a yarn goddess T shirt!!!
Both of which I think she got at Ally Pally where she went this year and did a couple of workshops!! I’m now waiting on her to visit so she can show me what she learnt… Double knitting etc!!!
I’m sure I’ve acquired a few other bits, but can’t for the life if me remember!!
Other crafty things….
So no longer just the podcast just knitting and stitching!!
I’m going to start including some of the other crafty things I’m getting up to.
I’ve been repainting and fixing a dolls house originally made by mainly Dad and a bit myself as a teaching resource, to make it into a barn for the small boy to play with….
I’ve started to make a sign for the front of the house…. I’ve planed and sanded a chunk of oak, which was part of the original barn roof, used my pyrography tool to burn the lettering for the name…. Realising about three letters in we have the longest house name in the world!! I’m now varnishing it many many times so it survives the weather up here!!
I’ve made little man his own workbench for the workshop so he can play while we get in with some things out there…. It’s one of those things I’ll gradually add to….
Cooking…
We had a load of apples to process so I’ve made apple jelly, stewed Apple, and apple cakes and scones!!
We grew an enormous marrow so I’ve made marrow chutney, using James Martins recipe off the BBC website!
I’ve made some chocolate caramel crackers and there is a blog post in TyddynBryn.com with the recipe!
I’ve made my own mincemeat this year for mince pies!! Using the Delia Smith recipe on the BBC website
Delia also came up trumps with a fab leek and potato soup recipe this month!! Well worth a go if you like soups!!
Shop update
No shop update this time but it’s something I’m slowly getting to!!!
I shall be putting a call out soon for test knitters for a few different patterns, keep an eye on Instagram and in the Rav groups etc for those!!
I am also trying to wind all the lovely alpaca yarn into skeins and get that into the shop, but so far each time I get the niddy noddy out a small human makes off with it or tries to help….
I am also working on a few other items for the shop…. But these will be hush hush till such time as I’m ready for a reveal!!!
Farm happenings!!
We have done LOADS!! I’ve done some more in depth blog posts recently over in tyddynbryn.com, and a photo story on here, but a quick run down is:
Built, furnished, moved stuff into a workshop in Barn one,
Built a polytunnel frame, which just needs some more base securing before its skinned out,
Built a fruit cage frame, ready to mesh skin
Planted a box and forsythia hedge
Had a ton of fencing done with gates and everything cos we are posh like that!! Lol.
Had the hedges cut
Cleared out and sorted side one of barn one,
Collected and processed some wood…. Loads still to go!!
Planted bulbs
Chickens!!! (If you missed the live hatching back at the end of September the video is in the Tyddyn Bryn Facebook group and one hatches at about 38 minutes or about then!!)
Etc etc!!!
I hope you enjoy the photo story!!!
Finally
Tyddyn Bryn out and about
We have decided to try and go out and explore our local area as much as we can…. Which hasn’t been much yet…. But we’ll get there!!! So far William and I have started going to a Forest school toddler group and we have been to Poppit Sands for a wander and some lunch! Lovely beach!!
Here’s the last photo story!!
Thank you for watching!!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the podcast this time!! If you did please click the like button at the bottom and or leave a comment, I’ll try to reply in a timely fashion!!!
Show notes are going to be on the blog at tyddynbryn.com and in the Ravelry group….
You can find me as Tyddyn Bryn on rav, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest etc. If you don’t want to miss any instalments click subscribe!! I currently podcast when I can, but hope to start getting onto at least a once a month routine if not fortnightly!!!
Busy times again here as always it seems but now the workshop is nigh on finished and now functional!!!!!
So I decided to crack on with a few jobs I’ve been planning for a while…..
Firstly, I made something to occupy the small human whilst we are in the work shop and to stop him porcupining all the available holes in workbenches etc with screws!!!
A work bench!!
Then I decided it would be a good idea our home had a name sign!!!
So I cleaned up a lovely chunk of hard wood, which incidentally used to be part of the old barn roof itself….
I marked out the lettering with a pencil and a stencil I printed off from the computer and cut out using a craft knife…. Then using my pyrography tool I burnt the name into the wood…. Currently I’m on the second coat of varnish of about seven!!!
So whilst I’m varnishing I’ve started another project for the boys!!! (As will be come March, bump two is a little boy!!) I am turning a dolls house Dad made and I roofed and painted…..
I used in my classroom for a few years as both a teaching resource and as a choice time activity/play resource…..
Now it starts its journey to being a barn for the boys to keep their toy tractors and farm animals in!!