Mini Scarf

I've been an on-off knitter for years; I've only ever started two big projects, a poncho which took me about 2 years to make, and a long cardigan which I've been working on for the last 18 months (currently on the sleeves so getting there, albeit slowly!). The trouble is, I have a week or so where I knit every evening and then I get sidetracked by my beads again.

However, recently I stumbled across Creative Open Workshops which are evening craft courses run at the Custard Factory in Birmingham and I've been learning to crochet. The beauty is they're all quick projects than can be completed in one or two evenings, perfect for me!

Doing the courses (I now have a room full of crocheted hats because they're so fun to make!) has got me investigating other quick crochet and knitting projects, and last night I found the quickest of all... In less than an hour I made a mini scarf!


It was so simple to do, and knitting on 12 mm needles meant it grew incredibly fast. I finished it off with a wooden toggle button I found in one of my craft boxes, and I love it! The wool is awesome too, it's made from Rowan Big Wool Tuft which has fluffy bits of wool sticking out all over. Unfortunately I think this wool is discontinued now but I found some on ebay.

Making them is so addictive and so quick though that I got most of the way through a second on the train this morning.... Not sure what I'm going to do with all the spares I can see I'm going to make!

Interview with Silky Prudence

This week I've interviewed Sara, the brains and fingers behind Silky Prudence. This is a gorgeous shop, full of knitted items; ranging from evening shawls to cosy neckwarmers, you're sure to find something here.

Let's get started... we'd like to get to know a bit more about the person behind Silky Prudence.

If you were an animal, what would you be?

A bit unoriginal but I'd have to be a cat – I have two and would to swap lives with them for a day. I watch them when I'm working and they're either sleeping, eating or playing – three of my favourite things!

What is your favourite time of day?

Early mornings when no one else is around. I love getting up and standing at the back door with a mug of tea, listening to the birds singing and smelling the wafts of lavender coming from my little herb patch. It sets me up for a few hours designing and making before everyone else gets up to shatter my peace and quiet.

Cadbury’s or Galaxy?

Galaxy for me please!

What’s your favourite colour?

Green. Especially deep forest and emerald green.

And now about your work.

How did you get started?

I come from a very crafty family; my mum is a whizz with a sewing machine and a pair of knitting needles so all my clothes were handmade, right down to my school uniform. She taught me to sew and bought me my own little Sindy dress-making patterns – I distinctly remember making a kimono for one of my Sindy's and being very pleased with myself! Her mum, my Mama, taught me to knit when I was 5 and I taught myself to crochet when I was at university and sat at the back of extremely dull English lectures.

What’s your favourite material to work with and why?

Kid mohair-silk blend. It feels so ephemeral that it's like working with cobwebs and when I'm making a piece with it I can imagine its new owner feeling like a fairytale princess when she wears it.

When you need some inspiration, where do you go?

Into my garden to look at the different colours and textures of the plants and flowers - I love the way Nature doesn't care about colour coordination and just throws things together that look stunning. And I adore Haberdashers - there are three that I go to in London just to gaze upon the rows and rows of ribbons, buttons and pretty, pretty things; VV Rouloux, The Button Queen and Barnet Lawson. It makes me so happy!

What’s the first thing you remember making?

Apart from the Sindy kimono I think it was probably a very wonky dishcloth from the times spent sitting on Mama's knee as she taught me to knit. My first 'proper' thing was a Breton jumper when I was about 15 and it was huge!

What’s your favourite item in your shop?

It would have to be my lime Grace Scarf:

I love the combination of the soft fluffy mohair with the zingy lime colour.