Trefriw Woollen Mills - A Daytrip

Trefriw, I discovered today, is an absolute marvy place.  The bus journey between there and here is brilliantly scenic - lots of rolling hills and dappled forests and grazing sheep.  No pictures of that I'm afraid, so I'll make up for it by bombarding you with others I took today ;)

But of course, you're here for the wool not the flowers!  ;)

Trefriw Woollen Mills are amazing.  Honestly.  A fully working mill, they're completely open to the public to wander round and see the process of tapestry making from raw wool to carding and winding and weaving.

I was particularly fascinated by the spinning mules, since they were invented by Samuel Crompton in my hometown of Bolton.  More-or-less all of my primary school years were spent learning about how the Industrial Revolution wouldn't have been possible without ol' Sam C.  That's probably not entirely accurate, but it was amazing to think that a lot of my ancestors - right up until my grandmother's generation - would have been working in mills like this one on exactly the same machines.  It was spellbinding to see (and hear!!) them in action :)  Have you ever seen the programme "who do you think you are"?  It felt a bit like that, but if I was Welsh and not Northern...

Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures inside the mill, as I wasn't sure how permissible that was, but I couldn't resist taking this one:

Oh crikey!!  Just LOOK at all those cones of pure wool, spun right there in the same room.  I got quite giddy just at the sight of it all!

And if I thought that was exciting, boy was I happy when I got to the shop!  I really wanted a traditional bedspread (they are seriously gorgeous, but they are also seriously pricey so I'll have to save up).  I settled myself with some wool instead...

And I already have plans :D  I think it'll be perfect for a new pattern I've been contemplating.  More on that to come soon!

I hope that your day has been as happy :)  And if you do get chance to visit Trefriw, I really really recommend it!

Kim x

Pretty Little Petals [Free Pattern]

Strictly speaking, this post was intended to be the "Part Two" section of the Granny Oblong saga.  Except that I went on a frogging spree, and now the whole thing is sitting in the "in progress" box (which has a lid, so I don't have to look at them for a while! :P)

But since you were promised a pattern, and since this is called "eggbirddesigns" not "eggbirdthefrog", a pattern ye shall receive!!  I hope you like it :)

Pretty Little Petals

ETA:  You can now link to this pattern on ravelry here

Notes

sp - space

sl st - slip stitch

sc - single crochet

dc - double crochet

ch - chain

The pattern is written in American terms, however if you prefer UK terms there is a fab 'translator' here.  I used an assortment of DK weight and light DK yarn and a 3mm hook.

To Begin: create a magic loop (if you're unsure how to do this, click here).  Work 6sc into this loop and pull tight.  Join with a sl st into the first sc [6 sts total]

Round 1: Ch1, 2sc into each space around.  Join with a sl st into the first ch1.  [12 sts total]

Round 2: Ch1, *2sc in next sp, 1sc in next sp* - repeat between * 6 times [18 sts total]

Round 3: Change colour.  In new colour ch1, 1sc in each sp around [18 sts total]

Round 4: Ch3 (counts as first dc), 5dc in the same space.  Sl st into the next two sps.  *6dc in the next sp, 1sl st in the next 2 sps* - repeat between * 4 more times.  Join with a sl st into the initial ch3.

Round 5: Ch1, *sc around the petals (ie into the 6dc from the previous round), and sl st into the second of the sl sts from the previous round* - repeat between * 5 more times.

To finish, just sew in your ends, and hurrah!  Teensy little flowers to enjoy.

I'm not sure what I'll be using these for yet.  Perhaps I'll get round to working out those oblongs, or perhaps I'll put them to some other use...  Either way, I look forward to seeing how you guys interpret them :)

*This is the flower that originally sat at the centre of the blocks.  As far as I'm aware, this pattern is an entirely new one.  However, it is a pretty basic pattern, so there's every chance that someone else has already created the same.  If you think this might be the case please let me know and I can give proper credit where it's due.