Monday 31 August 2015


It's here and it's gorgeous! 

Find it here on Etsy:       Wild About Yarn Magazine Issue 1
                                                                            

The idea for a magazine dedicated to yarn has been fermenting in my mind for over a year now.  I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally see it hot off the press.   Each issue will have interviews with FOUR artists/makers/creators, a recipe in the section Kitchen Bites, a tutorial or two, a page for  Inspiring Instagrammers, tips, articles on yarn and related subjects and much more.



I hope you will embrace this new venture with me.   This is an independently published magazine though I'm not new to publishing. In 2003, I completed a degree in writing and literature and over the years, established the first Australian Book Arts Journal.  I have since written many published articles in several disciplines that I'm passionate about. 

If you know me, you'll know I love colour - the magazine has 32 pages of full colour bursting at the seams!   Do you recognise anyone you know in these photos below???? You might just find them in the first issue!


Alia Bland of @thelittlebeenz
Annmarie Fieldgrove of @knittinggirl71
(and Calvin of course)
Tanya Bechara of @hop'nfrogpottery making yarn bowls
and Ali Walker of @kaleidoscopeali



Happy reading and happy Yarning,
Lu x

Etsy: ludouglasdesigns
Instagram: @wildaboutyarn

If you would like to advertise in the magazine, please email me at wildaboutyarn@outlook.com for details and reasonable rates.  Wild about yarn Magazine will be in selected stores, galleries and available on subscription it has a Copyright Reserved category so please don’t scan full pages to send to friends.  

  

Sunday 30 August 2015

Making Yarn cakes by hand - Tutorial


       Making Yarn cakes without a Winder - tutorial

Hello dear Friends, 

                         It's now almost Spring here and although this is Australia,  anything ‘yarn’ is  STILL on the agenda!  I’m trying to finish some projects so I can start others (sound familiar?).



For a long time, I didn’t have a ball winder and an umbrella swift but they are now two of my favourite tools. However, there are times when I just want to wind some small balls for tapestry crochet or intarsia or for  some coloured stripes in a pair of socks without having to set up the equipment.

I've been  preparing for a series of  'Cafe Crochet Classes' in my city  where the participants will require small balls of yarn for the kits. This  has become the perfect excuse to do a tutorial on how to make small cakes  of yarn, and why hand winding is the  perfect solution.   

Remember, the first attempts might end up looking like mine did... but it won't be long before they stop looking like the pink ball and resemble the grey...


 Youtube short video below.
  

 I would love to know if you tried the technique.  email me at wildaboutyarn@outlook.com or post some pics to Instagram @wildaboutyarn
**(yarn from Spotlight Store) 



Scrumptious little balls of yarn...
















I hope it helps.  :-)  

Happy Winding,

Lu xx