If you have been reading my blog for some time you know that when I travel anywhere I always visit the local yarn store if I can. I can happily say that I was able to visit Ginger Twist Studio when I was in Edinburgh.
This yarn store was a small, inviting place with a good variety of yarn. The friendly owner, Jessica James, was there and happily answered answered any questions I had. On display were the actual knitted pattern samples by the infamous Scottish native Ysolda Teague. It is quite a thrill to be able to see the pattern knitted up in person when you have only ever been able to admire it on Ravelry. Here are a few of her lovely samples:
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| Chickadee |
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| Wee Carson, Wee Leisel and Wee Chickadee |
Ginger Twist yarn was the owner's own line of locally hand dyed yarn. The colours were just beautiful.
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| Ginger Twist Yarn |
After much debate I came away with this beauty: Splendor, a fingering yarn that is 50% merino and 50% silk. A beautiful combination of blues and purples.
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| Ginger Twist Splendor |
The other kind of yarn I had heard a lot about was Bluefaced Leicester, a drapey and lustrous yarn. (See this article which explains the difference between merino and BFL) Ginger Twist Studio carried West Yorkshire Spinners yarn and I ended up buying three beautiful DK skeins that are 100% Bluefaced Leicester. I regret not buying a couple more skeins because this yarn is absolutely gorgeous and I would have loved to knit it into a cardigan.
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| West Yorkshire Spinners yarn: 100% Bluefaced Leicester |
While travelling throughout the Highlands of Scotland sheep of all kinds were always out in the fields. It was a thrilling sight for me, I have to admit. I even visited a sheep farm and got to help shear a sheep. I was going to add a photo of this momentous occasion but the photos my husband took of me were far from complimentary, as I was bent over the sheep. You will just have to take my word for it : )
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| These collies were directing traffic |
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| Everywhere we went in the Highlands sheep were in the distance |
I wish I had more time to find stores that sold other yarn but the locations and shops we visited were sadly lacking in this area.
Now to find some patterns for my yarn from Scotland....
