Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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  1. From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work

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    This morning, I had the most relaxing and creatively fulfilling experience at a mandala drawing workshop led by Jane at Mandala Holmfirth. I walked in with a stressed mind, but left feeling completely refreshed and centered. The workshop focused on the art of mandalas—a form of circular design often used in meditation and mindfulness practices.

    A mandala is more than just a beautiful, symmetrical drawing. In many cultures, it represents wholeness, unity, and the universe, making it a powerful tool for mindfulness. The process of drawing helps bring focus and calm as your attention stays in the moment, much like in Zentangle, but with a more circular, structured approach.

    We started by creating a grid of concentric circles, using a compass at various sizes to form the basis of our mandala. From there, we added symmetrical patterns, some following strict geometric designs, while others were more freeform, using additional circular shapes to build layers of structure. Each ring of the mandala is like a chapter of a story, unfolding with every stroke of the pen. The slow, rhythmic process allowed me to become fully immersed in the creative flow, letting go of any outside stressors.

    What really made the workshop special was how personal each mandala became. No two were the same, even though we all started from similar circular grids. Some people added more intricate details and others stuck with simplicity, yet each design carried a sense of balance and harmony.

    Drawing mandalas is an excellent practice for mindfulness, bringing a sense of peace and creativity into your day. It was the perfect way to unplug and let my stress melt away, one circle at a time

    Venturing into the world of mandala art has been a bit of a spiritual adventure for me, blending mindfulness with my love of craft. I’ve explored this art form not only through traditional drawing but as you know also in fiber arts.

    One of my proudest achievements has been translating mandalas into a series of knitted brioche mandala art pieces. Using the intricate brioche stitch—a technique that lends itself to bold, two-color designs—I’ve created patterns that capture the symmetry and meditative qualities of mandalas, but in a soft, textured medium.

    In addition to my art pieces, I’ve designed two knitted patterns developed from the art I created..

    These patterns take the core principles of circularity, repetition and meditative brioche offering a peaceful, rhythmic process similar to mandala drawing. Each round builds on the last, resulting in striking, intricate pieces that evoke the same sense of balance and unity.

    I’ve also extended my passion for mandalas into more everyday expressions by creating greeting cards featuring my designs. These cards provide a unique and personal touch for any occasion
    From knitting to paper, mandalas have become a cornerstone of my creative work, offering endless ways to explore mindfulness, symmetry, and beauty in different mediums.

    Hope you like them xx
     

  2. My haul of British Breeds yarn

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    Hi there, 

    At the Knitting & Crochet Guild recent yarn sale I picked up a pack of 50 gram balls of Blacker Yarns, a colourful pack of blues and pinks along with some balls of Ecru. The yarn looked DK weight so I didn't investigate, just thought I could bring it all together into a wonderful colourful sweater. When I got home I looked at my haul in more detail and discovered that the Ecru DK was in fact a mix of different breeds of yarns and different yarn weights too. Just having these 5 balls in my hands really highlighted the different categories of British wool yarn, some being soft to touch whilst others being a lot courser and hairy,
    I decided to find out more.

    Categories and Uses

    • Fine wool: Soft, typically used for garments worn close to the skin (e.g., Merino).
    • Medium wool: Durable and versatile, often used for garments, blankets, and general-purpose knitting.
    • Longwool: Lustrous and strong, with excellent drape. Best suited for weaving and elegant, drapey projects.
    • Primitive breeds: Known for hardiness and often coarser textures, suited for outerwear, carpets, or more durable textiles.

    British sheep breeds are known for producing a variety of high-quality wools, each with distinct characteristics. The wool is categorised by texture, fiber length, and use, often classified into fine, medium, longwool, and primitive breeds. Here’s a summary of how my British Breeds yarn's fit into these categories.

    1. Welsh Mule

    • Category: Crossbreed (often between a Bluefaced Leicester ram and a Welsh Mountain ewe).
    • Characteristics: The wool is versatile, typically medium in texture with good softness and crimp. 
    • Use: Mainly in carpet blends.

    2. Portland

    • Category: Primitive breed.
    • Characteristics: Portland wool is finer than many other primitive breeds, with a short staple length. 
    • Use: Mostly by hand spinners in blends for apparel.
    • Location: This rare breed has a stronghold in the South West.

    3. North Ronaldsay

    • Category: Primitive breed.
    • Characteristics: This unique breed, has developed to adapt to the terrain of the Orkney Islands. The wool is variable, often with a mixture of fine undercoat and coarser outercoat fibers, suitable for different uses.
    • Use: Popular with hand spinners.
    • Location: North Ronaldsay Island, Scotland.

    4. Bluefaced Leicester (BFL)

    • Category: Longwool.
    • Characteristics: BFL wool is known for its fine, long, lustrous fibers. It's soft, drapey, and has excellent stitch definition, making it one of the most popular British wools for luxury garments.
    • Use: Ideal for next-to-skin garments, shawls, and accessories. Its fine, silky texture makes it a favorite for spinning and knitting.
    • Location: Mainly found in Northern England.

    5. Jacob 

    • Category: Primitive and multi-horned breed.
    • Characteristics: Jacob wool is medium in texture, with a range of natural colors, from white to dark brown or black. The wool has a medium staple length, making it versatile for different knitting and spinning projects. It is prized for its durability and loft, offering warmth and resilience while still being reasonably soft. Jacob fleece is often spotted, which allows for unique color blending in yarn.
    • Use: The wool is ideal for hand-spinning and felting, making it a favorite for those who enjoy working with natural, undyed fibers. It is also used for both outerwear and garments due to its balance of softness and durability.
    • Location: Jacobs are mainly found across the UK.
    Click here for 'The British Wool Org' incl lots of cute sheep photos

    *** CHECK OUT THE YARN SALE  ***

    Discounted yarns change all the time, so please keep checking them out for any bargains.

    I always discount the very last few knitting kits I have so then I can concentrate on developing new ones for you. Check them out here