Tag Archives: knitting

NEW ONLINE SHOP – beinspiredfibresonline.com is now live!!

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Happy to announce that the new online shop is now live and ready to process your orders.

Hedgehog Fibres Merino Sock

Recent arrival of many old favourite Hedgehog Fibres Merino Sock colours have now been uploaded onto the new online shop.

Lett Lopi – Icelandic Wool

Icelandic wool has been in short supply since the start of the pandemic, I have just had a recent delivery of a few colours, please check the latest Lett Lopi stock availability on the new online shop.

The old online platform from Selz is now redundant and I have started processing orders on the new beinspiredfibresonline shop which is a BigCommerce platform. New product updates and migration of products to the new site is ongoing. I am sure there will be teething problems, there always are, please be patient!

Knitting and Crochet Classes Autumn and Winter 2017

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List of forthcoming classes, for more information and to book online and pay via paypal, please visit: https://v1.bookwhen.com/beinspiredfibres or pop into the shop and pay by card or cash.

September 2017

Introduction to Fair Isle Knitting in the Round with Carol Meldrum

Sunday, 24th September 2017 – 10.30 – 13.00

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October 2017

Learn to Crochet – Introduction to Basic Crochet Stitches with Carol Meldrum (Beginners)

Sunday, 29th October 2017 – 10.30 – 13.00

Learn to Crochet Granny Squares and other Motifs with Carol Meldrum (Beginners and beyond)

Sunday, 29th October 2017 – 14.00 – 16.30

November 2017

Learn to knit Fair Isle in the Round with Carol Meldrum – (Beyond Beginners)

Sunday, 19th November 2017 – 10.30 – 13.00

Steeking and Finishing your Fair Isle Knitting – (Beyond Beginners)

Sunday, 19th November 2017 – 14.00 – 16.30

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December 2017

Learn to Crochet with Carol Meldrum – (Beginners)

Sunday, 3rd December 2017 – 10.30 – 13.00

Professional Finishing Techniques for your Handknits – (All levels)

Sunday 3rd December 2017 – 14.00 – 16.30

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Learn Tunisian Crochet in Edinburgh

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Final classes coming up for 2016..

Learn Tunisian Crochet with Carol Meldrum – £30 – Sunday 11th December 2016 – 10.30 -13.00

Why learn Tunisian Crochet?  If you like your crochet fabric to look like a knitted fabric, then knowing how to use a Tunisian hook and a few basic stitches, can really help you speed up  making a wide range of projects quickly, from simple scarves, wraps, bags to larger home accessories such as blankets and throws.

Be inspired and learn a new technique, this course is suitable for people who know some really basic crochet.  You will learn how to use a Tunisian/Afghan crochet hook and the basic essential stitches and how to follow a simple pattern in this introductory class.

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Introduction to Free Form Crochet with Carol Meldrum – £30 – Sunday, 11th December – 14.00 – 16.30

Expand your basic crochet knowledge with this fun and inspiring Free Form Crochet techniques class with Carol Meldrum, Author and Designer.

Suitable for refreshers and  beginners with some experience  of basic crochet, who wish to be inspired beyond traditional crochet.

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Book online: www.bookwhen.cm/beinspiredfibres

Learn Two Handed Stranded Colourwork for Fair Isle and Scandinavian Knitting

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DON’T MISS THIS One Day Colourwork Workshop Taught by Karie Westermann, Blogger and Knitwear Designer

Two Handed Stranded Colourwork with Karie Westermann

Saturday, 3rd December, 10.30 – 16.30 – Lunch included (£55), Suitable for Beyond Beginners.

This course will teach you how to knit continental style, holding yarn with left hand, compared to the English throwing method, stranded colourwork principles and techniques for both Fair Isle and Scandinavian knitting traditions, how to read a colour chart and understand colour theory.  You will also cast on for a small project in the round and practice the two-handed technique.

Book Online: www.bookwhen.com/beinspiredfibres

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Two Handed Stranded Colourwork Knitting Techniques

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One-Day Workshop with Karie Westermann, Knitwear Designer & Consultant

For Advanced Beginners  and Experienced Knitters

Sunday, 12th October 2014 – 10.30am – 4.30pm – Lunch included – Course Fee £53/£55, materials are not included, but there will be 10% discount on the day for purchases for the class

colourworkpromoPlaces are still available, reserve your  online at: www.bookwhen.com/beinspiredfibres.  Last opportunity to book!

What is two handed knitting?

There are many good reasons for wanting to use the Continental style of knitting: it is fast, it is efficient, and it is brilliant for colourwork!

This class focuses on knitting colourwork using both hands and two different knitting techniques at the same time!

You will learn how to knit and purl Continental style and we will also take a look at yarn dominance and colour theory. (Please note this is not a learn-to-knit workshop but rather a workshop for English/throwing-style knitters who are looking to expand their arsenal of techniques and also for those who already knit continental to practice using the English method.)

About the teacher: Born in Denmark and currently residing in Scotland, Karie Westermann is a creative and multi-talented knitwear designer, knitting and crochet tutor, and translator. Karie has an impressive portfolio of collaborators including Rowan Yarns, Old Maiden Aunt Yarns, the Island Wool Company and the Edinburgh Yarn Festival. She is thrilled to be sharing her passion for Nordic knitting traditions and modern aesthetics with local knitters.

LEARN TO KNIT using Modern Techniques

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Be Inspired Fibres has now been opened for a month, and I want to thank all the lovely well wishers from both local Marchmont residents and visitors from afar, who have managed to find me and supported the shop. It is very quiet at the moment around Marchmont, since most families and students have gone away for the summer, but I have kept myself busy researching and planning classes and workshops for the autumn.

Tawny Owl

It is great to see that the yarn shop has re-awakened some people’s intentions to start knitting again. The shop aims to inspire people to be creative whether they have been mesmerized by the wonderful colours of the Crazy Zauberballs or seduced by the luxurious silky cashmere.

For those new knitters who prefer to learn in an informal, interactive and more social setting, rather than from youtube videos, Be Inspired Fibres will be hosting a series of designer-led knitting classes and workshops scheduled for September and October at the shop. You will also find a list of classes on another page, which I will update on a regular bases.

Barley hat

Oats Cowl

We start the season with Emily Wessel’s 3 x Monday evenings course – Learning to Knit using Modern Techniques based on the soon-to-be released patterns by Tin Can Knits.

You will also get to choose whether you want to knit a beautiful hat or a cowl using some Malabrigo worsted weight yarn.

Emily Wessel will guide students through a project from start to finish, knitting in the round and seamless, using circular needles and the magic loop technique or double pointed needles. When you have mastered these essential skills, they will be extremely useful for follow-on projects such as mittens, gloves, sweaters, fairisle and socks.

Immediate feedback from a teacher will help students gain confidence quickly and will help them spot and correct mistakes early. This course is highly recommended for either complete beginners, refreshers or improvers, who need some support to get them started. This class is scheduled for Monday evenings between 6.30 and 8.30 – Sept 2nd, 9th and 16th.

Introduction into Lace Knitting

As Emily will be away in October, we will try to fit in An Intro into Lace Knitting before she leaves. This course is a 2 week x 2hrs on Monday evenings, 23rd and 30th September, so if you are a confident beginner or improver, you may be interested in learning about basic lace knitting techniques, chart reading, life lines and blocking. If you book both Emily’s classes at the same time, you will get a 10% discount on the total amount.

PLEASE VIEW SCHEDULE & BOOK ONLINE http://www.bookwhen.com/beinspiredfibres

Please email me at beinspiredfibres@gmail.com or call me on 0131 629 2059 to register.

Starting up a new business – online

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There is never a good time to start up your business, sometimes, you just have to go for it and to just simply get on with it.  These days you don’t have to sink a fortune into a retail or office space.  You can just start up an online business and be based anywhere at home or in a coffee shop.  It is amazing how technology, the internet and social media have transformed the business landscape and how we work.

My virtual office

My virtual office

For the past few months, I have been working on getting the structures together, the web site, the blog, the online shop, registering the company, sorting out a business bank account, researching suppliers and customers.

I must not forget, I am also still a house wife, so I still have to do the school run, escort the kids to their extra curricular activities, cook dinner, do the washing and the ironing, plus cleaning. It is a real juggling and balancing act!

Having the right attitude is crucial, life is about learning and I am enjoying the journey and the challenge.  I still have a lot to learn, but I have never been much of a techie, but putting together this blog, website and all the other social media tools has been very interesting, especially, as I am on a very limited budget and I am doing it by myself.

Being a knitter has really helped, as we know there are always a solution to a problem and we enjoy figuring things out, but also as a member of a few knitting groups, there is always someone who can help and fill in the missing pieces.

Social media and networking

Be Inspired Fibres

Be Inspired Fibres

Without a physical presence, an online business has to rely on other means of reaching people. Online social media is great for spreading the word, but it is also important to physically meet and see prospective customers to understand their preferences. I am therefore really grateful for the opportunity to exhibit at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival in a few weeks time. Read my 60 sec interview with the organisers here: www.edinyarnfest.com/60-second-interview-be-inspired-fibres

Shop update

Just in time for the Edinburgh show, the online shop is now opened for browsing and shopping. I can only do minor tweaks on the web site, but the tictail online shop solution, I am using is perfect, because of its simplicity and especially for a start-up like me.