“The yarn clubs run four times a year
for three months each, and feature three
different yarn bases with colours based on
a common theme. We usually offer them in
two different yarn weights, normally lace
and 4ply. Numbers are very limited, as
each skein is painted individually, and the
colourways are always new to the range,
not being made generally available until
after that particular Club has finished.
We both love Scotland and have enjoyed
exhibiting there several times over the last
few years. The landscapes are just stunning
and have inspired our latest Yarn Club
- Glens and Braes.
“Being a Norfolk girl, born and bred, and
having lived here all my life, I also love the
local landscapes and am inspired by our
sandy beaches and big skies. Our garden
faces west, so we enjoy the most
spectacular sunsets, and these have
inspired a number of my colourways.
“As a botanical painter, I do of course
also love flowers. Many of my colours
are named for them, as well as having
landscape-inspired titles. And food -
chocolate colourways are always on the
yarn menu, as well as those inspired by
all the berry fruits and citrus.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been
given by another dyer or member of the
knitting community?
“To knit or crochet what you love, and to
make sure you love what you make, by
using the best-quality materials you can
afford. If you’ve going to spend days,
weeks or even months making something
beautiful, you’ll enjoy the process much
more if you’re using good-quality yarn and
needles, and you’ll be more likely to enjoy
wearing the finished item. It’s the same
with watercolour painting - any artist will
advise you to use good-quality brushes,
paint and paper to get the best results.”
Do you have any plans for 2020 that you
can share with us?
“I’m busy working on some new knitting
designs - our next mystery knitalong shawl
design should launch later this spring. I
also want to create more garment designs,
particularly some Fair Isle ones, as well as
more of the lace shawls I’m probably best
known for.
“I’m also collaborating with a company
called Great Escapes, which offers tutored
weekend breaks on various needlecrafts
in rather nice country house hotels in the
south of England. We’re hoping to trial
workshops on knitted and crochet shawls
for the first time this year, so I’m really
looking forward to meeting some keen
knitters and crocheters for those.”
1 Julie particularly
loves shades of blue,
purple and magenta
2 She is a botanical
artist who is inspired
by flowers; this colour
is called Bougainvillea
3 Julie’s ‘Haruni’ shawl
design 4 Her BFL mini
skeins are ideal for Fair
Isle 5 Summer Garden
is one of Julie’s most
popular colourways1
2
3
45
Luxury bases include a
merino-silk-yak blendArtisan dyers
The Knitter 43 Issue 150