Posh Yarn

Straight off the niddynoddy, one of six skeins, ready to be a colourwork cardi. More photos to come, because I’m very proud of this epic spin!

This is the year of the epic project for me. Spinning the yarn to make a colour work cardigan (I’m nearly halfway through the spinning!). And knitting squares to make a large blanket (I’m trying not to think about all the ends…..). It feels fitting to embrace big, slow projects right now, as that echoes the work going on in the rest of my life. How about you, what’s your 2023 knitting / spinning / crafting plans and goals?

One of the things I love about spinning yarn is how much creative freedom you have. There are so many variables: the way you prep the fibre (stripping, predrafting, chunking, combining, spinning style), the weight and style of yarn you spin, the plying choices you make. All of these variables mean that two spinners can buy the same colourway and create wildly different looking yarns. As I dye the fibre, I’m aware of that, and enjoy the idea that I’m co-creating with whoever buys and spins it. 

I’ve been working on a little sample project showing what different results you can get by tweaking a few things. I started off with a brightly variegated roving, with two contrast rovings, one deep blue, one charcoal grey (not pictured). First I spun the variegated roving as a singles yarn. Then I stripped a piece of that roving in half, spun one half, spun the other half from the opposite end, and plied those together (this is my favourite of all the samples). Next I tried out combo drafting, where you hold two different colourways and draft them together. I found it surprisingly difficult to draft them evenly, as you can see from the samples. I got an uneven yarn, with one colour then the other trying to dominate (my wrestling them back into tandem caused slubs). I tried again, this time spinning from the fold, and this spun a more even yarn, although the two rovings still didn’t want to draft evenly together. Finally I spun one ply with the variegated and one with the blue, and plied them together. This is my least favourite, but I think would look nicer if I’d chosen a less intense colour than the blue.

It’s important to stress how much spinning mutes colours (which get further blended when knitting). This is why I tend to dye very saturated, bright colourways. When you spin, the colours mix and tone each other down; this can be moderated further by plying choices. You can choose to keep the colours more intense and saturated if you spin singles, or if you chain ply to keep the colours unmixed. But generally speaking, the colours will mix and blend visually, making what might look like a garish variegated colourway a much more pleasing, harmonious yarn when spun.

Posh Roving is live!

If you’re a spinner, please follow our new IG account, We’ve got some fabulous fibre coming up for you in the New Year! This was my first handspun after a break of ten years, it’s a bit uneven, but I love it. This is a fractal spin, and will knit up into stripes, but with a more blended effect than you get without that fractal splitting of the braid.

Finished spinning up my fractal singles, ready to ply next. There’s 50g (ish) on each bobbin (these Kromski bobbins seem to be able to take a lot of fibre, they’re not even half full!).

COMPETITION TIME!

As 2022 draws to a close, we’re in reflective mode here at Posh HQ. I’ve been looking back on the projects I’ve worked on throughout the year, and deciding which one I’m most proud of. I think it’s Slip Stitch Party, it was just so much fun working with so many colours, and the finished shawl is so pretty.

We want you to tell us which of your 2022 projects you’re most proud of, and why. You can post here or on our Ravelry group. On December 31st, we’ll pick a winner, who will receive a £50 Posh Yarn gift voucher! Please tag your buddies in a comment, so they get a chance to enter too. Your project does not need to be made from Posh Yarn, and can be any type of fibre/textile craft, from sewing to knitting to spinning to weaving. Inspire us all!

Mama got herself a spinning wheel! And you know what that means: Posh spinning fibre, coming soon. While the cat was away yesterday, the mouse had a play in the dye studio, and this was the result. Not what I originally planned, but I’ll take it. 😉 My first spinning project planned is for Trinigan by - I intend to use Morag Worsted for the solid, and handspun for the contrast. This is Cheviot wool, a lovely fibre with lots of lofty bounce. I don’t think I’ll end up using this dye lot, I want something brighter, with more orange and yellow in it, but it would be rude not to add it to my stash, right? The plan is to fractal spin a gradient for the project, so you get those lovely long colour changes throughout. Oh, I should tell you about my wheel! I got a Kromski Fantasia, I’m a fan of double treadle wheels. I’m very happy with it, and delighted to find that after a decade away from spinning, muscle memory stepped in, and my first spin was pretty good! I think I’ll concentrate on the spinning and leave the dyeing to The Master though….

How to do neon without it being scary….

SO close to finishing this shawl, just 10 rows to go! I am immensely proud of it, and can’t wait to show the finished design. Test knitters are working on the pattern as we speak! I’m thinking, kits. A little Xmas present to yourself. What do you think?

It’s Dye Day…….

Can you believe, this is one glorious colourway! I’ve been filming Tony’s dyeing process, so look out for some behind the scenes videos, coming soon, including how he creates complex variegateds like this beauty.

Nearly halfway! I’m loving the challenge of designing. Already thinking of names (and scoping out test knitters!). There’s still 1 skein of this red Elinor left in the shop if you want to be a shawl twin!

We have a gorgeous update for you tomorrow night (8pm)! It includes Gretchen Lace, Daphne Sock, and a stunning new bit of fluff (swipe right). Susannah Heavy Lace is 74% brushed suri alpaca, 26% mulberry silk, 100% delectability! I see a lot more of this in our future….

After a week of mis-starts (seriously, I have pulled this back for one reason or another fifteen times!!) the shawl design I’ve been working on is finally taking shape. A deceptively simple monochrome beginning, which will lead into some exciting colour work and texture. I am VERY excited about this project, and already have a bank of ideas for a second shawl pattern….

Fresh off the needles: Asiri shawl. Really enjoyed this project! Even if the thought of weather cool enough to wear a shawl is currently but a dream.

What’s on your needles at the moment? I’m working on Asiri, by

This is one of the stunning colourways that will be in our next shop update, on Wednesday June 22nd, at 8pm.

I have just updated the shop with some gorgeous new yarn, including lots of combination options in Alyssa Sock, Esme Sock, and Gretchen Sock, for those of you still looking for the perfect pairing for Annywl (or anything else!). Look at some of these beauties!

Since we’ve had so many new followers recently, we thought we should say a proper hello to you all! We are the heart, soul and hands behind Posh Yarn. I am an artist, with a lifelong passion for textile arts. I founded Posh Yarn in 2006, and my husband Tony joined me soon after. I taught him how to dye, but he quickly proved to be a far better dyer than me, which is kinda annoying! Tony is a brilliant colourist and innovative dyer, always experimenting and pushing the limits of saturation in his colourways.

We live and work in a quiet spot in the countryside, close to one of the most beautiful beaches in Wales. From this idyllic location, the yarn, lovingly hand dyed in small batches, is shipped to knitters around the world.

Our team is rounded out by two soppy golden retrievers, who are banned from the dye room, but still sometimes manage to get purple paws!

Ask any question you’d like to know about us….

🎉 Congratulations:

just.vibin


You have each won the Annwyl shawl pattern, together with the yarn to knit it, specially dyed for you!

And we also have pattern codes for:




q.hutchinson



Congratulations, winners!

But since you are all so excited about this gorgeous pattern and I feel bad that I can’t make you all winners, here’s a special discount code for the shop, which will give you 10% off any purchase this week! ANNWYL

In todays dye pots, the delicious Tabitha, kid mohair & mulberry silk.

I thought it might be helpful if I post which shades are being listed in the sample sale tonight, so you can plan accordingly.

Alyssa Sock

A Little Mouse With Clogs On
A Sigh Is Just A Sigh
Beside The Singing Seas
Beware Marilla’s Currant Wine
Big Bad Lady Wolf
Dress Code: Moody
Feel Free To Curtsey
High Kicks And Feathers
I Kissed A Frog And I Liked It
I Should Coco
If Bees Had Knees
Let’s Talk Scandal
Monarch Of The Glen
Moonlight On Silvery Lakes
Paint This Town Redder Than Red
Sailing Far Away
Save The Drama For Your Mama
Soft Sunlight Through The Trees
The Call Of Cornish Seas
The Pines Are Singing Sad Songs Tonight
The Queen Of Hearts
The Thrill Of Victory
There’s Something About Autumn
Ways To Be Wicked
When She Walks She Dances
You Are Rocking That Pink Carnation
You Go To My Head

Ophelia Sock

A Little Mouse With Clogs On
A Sigh Is Just A Sigh
Are You For Teal
Beware Marilla’s Currant Wine
Big Bad Lady Wolf
Dress Code: Moody
High Kicks And Feathers
I Kissed A Frog And I Liked It
I Should Coco
If Bees Had Knees
It Was A Dark And Stormy Night
Let’s Talk Scandal
Monarch Of The Glen
Moonlight On Silvery Lakes
My Castle In The Clouds
Overture And Beginners Please
Paint This Town Redder Than Red
Save The Drama For Your Mama
Soft Sunlight Through The Trees
The Call Of Cornish Seas
The Thrill Of Victory
There’s Something About Autumn
Ways To Be Wicked
When She Walks She Dances
You Are Rocking That Pink Carnation

Attention sock knitters! Heidi Knick (hnick on Ravelry) has just released a wonderful new sock pattern featuring Ophelia Sock. She has kindly given me 5 pattern downloads to give away, and I am adding to that a skein of Ophelia Sock for each lucky winner! All you have to do to enter is follow us on Instagram, and like or comment on this post. On Friday evening I will randomly select five winners. If you have a sock knitting buddy and you think they’d love this, please tell them!

Will They Listen If You Make No Sound? New to the gallery today.

Slip Stitch Party is coming along nicely; I do love a pattern written in sections, the variety keeps project ennui firmly at bay. What other patterns might I like next, with that same variety of different sections? Do share!

On the principle that life is a lot sweeter when sprinkled with daily little treats, rather than occasional big ones, we are starting something new on Posh Yarn. Each day we will add one or two new colourways to the shop. In addition (and this is the part that will make you prick your ears up, I’ve no doubt!) every day a base will go on sale, for one day only. The new yarn will be added starting tomorrow, but the sale has already started!

Attention UK customers: we are no longer VAT registered, so you will be paying the same price for your yarn (i.e. 20% less) as everyone else!

Our latest collection has just gone live! https://weareposhyarn.com/inspired-exclusives

We were inspired this time by Emily Dickinson, a truly remarkable person who lived a life of truth & courage, one that is particularly relevant to us now. You can read about it here: https://weareposhyarn.com/blog/emilydickinson