Friday Randomly Sharing

Happy Friday everyone! Welcome to FRS where I share what has caught my eye recently - but where you could also share what has interested you - so please make full use of the comment box!

- More and more projects are being finished, and thanks to the lovely weather here in Britain (couldn't it get more grey, seriously?) no pictures have been taken. All I am left with is starting a new project. I will test knit Pokiha for Libby - and at the same time test knit Blacker Yarns (from the pictures) so expect reviews soon. 

- I am sure a lot of you have, like me, either favourited or knitted color affection by Veera Valimaki. I have not knitted it yet, and I am glad, because there is a cool modification that is going round - the color-block-affection. I really like it knitted in this colour palette. I may have a new yarn crash - Madeline Tosh Merino in Moden Fair Isle.

- Apple Cider Sangria, anyone? I reckon it is the perfect transition to mulled wine - and it is vegan, so all fine right!?  

- I have not subscribed yet but I love the look and feel of 6 bits storybooks. I have a few magazines (and back issues) waiting to be read, but a girl cannot have too much reading outstanding. Anyone has subscribed yet?  

- It is always interesting to read sewing tips - some tool basics that are worth keeping in mind. 

- The new Pompom Magazine is out. Julie's review is here. 

- I love the idea of these Bento project bags. I may be looking at making one for myself - who's up for a DIY? 

- I just came across Nomads Clothing - an ethical clothing brand. It is not necessarily my style, but there are a couple of plain tunics that I quite like, and this blouse may have my name on it!

- I have been looking for a tank top pattern for my naturally dyed fabric. I was seriously considering the Wiksten pattern, but now we have a new contender - the Kate Top pattern by Tessuti Fabrics. It comes in two versions, I am tempted...

- Oh I am swooning all right - this knittng pattern will be in pre-order next week. How much knitting can I get done per day?  

- Women empowerment is something I am passionate about. So pleased to have in my feed an article about feminists to be inspired by. Aung San Suu Kyi is definitely one of my favourite feminist. Who inspires you? 

The Way I Blog :: Truly Myrtle ::

* Don't forget to enter my current giveaway here*

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you are all having a great weekend! As you can see I decided to blog regularly from now on, but I am still trying to find the right balance between crafting, blogging and of course my life. I have also often questioned the way I am/was blogging, and interact here. And as always when it comes to learning, I ask people I admire to tell me more about their experience. Libby will kindly be sharing 'the way she blogs' today (she also has a newsletter, a podcast, very active IG and facebook accounts... and 4 children - I mean whoah!). It is really instructive, and there are definitely points I will take on board for my own blog! Thanks so much Libby!

Hello everyone! Thanks for inviting me over Nat! I'm really happy to be here and to chat to you all about blogging.

WHO'S TRULY MYRTLE?

I'm Libby aka Truly Myrtle. These days I design knitting patterns and chat about my patterns on my blog but for a long time Truly Myrtle was an on-line space where I simply enjoyed sharing all my creative adventures. I chatted about knitting, sewing and spinning and generally had a ball.

Truly Myrtle started in 2012, a couple of years after I started following a bunch of craft and knitting bloggers. I felt so inspired reading about other people's projects and over time found myself wanting to take part and start a blog of my own. I was terribly nervous writing those first posts. Would anyone read them? Did I really have anything interesting to say? I tried not to let nerves stop me though - I grabbed my little digital camera and dove straight in taking lots of photos and putting together posts for my imaginary readers! I tried to tell a story or teach a lesson in most of my posts and that wasn't too hard because I am always trying new things and learning new stuff. For a long time my husband checked all my spelling and grammar before I pushed "publish" (he still checks my newsletters!) It's amazing the little mistakes that are easily missed and an error free post is much nicer to read.

I can't believe I've been blogging for nearly four years, it's been super exciting to see Truly Myrtle evolve into something. I didn't anticipate how a blog would connect me with so many fabulous people and I love the community that's grown around Truly Myrtle. I never imagined how much I'd learn (like how to write basic computer code!) and my creativity has been pushed and stretched, which has been super exciting.

I haven't ever had a hard and fast rule about how often to blog although mostly I have tried to post at least once a week. In general the frequency of my posts has tended to vary depending on what else is going on in my life. I've had times when I've had so much to say that I've posted three or more times in a week and others where weeks have gone by without a peep. A couple of times I've played with the idea of using just photographs for posts - once when we were having a "staycation" and again when we moved from the UK to live in New Zealand. I do make sure I label each of my posts so that it's quick to find them again. For example, I tag each of my podcast posts "podcast" so that I can link to them easily in my menu.

MY PROCESS

Photos are the foundation of all my posts. Over the last couple of years I've become more and more interested in photography so that now I can't really begin writing until I've taken some photos. A year or so in I decided that I wanted to shoot better photos so bought a DSLR and took a photography night class. Both really helped (along with a whole lot of practice).

The process of gathering my bits and pieces to illustrate my post, styling them and taking pictures sets my imagination whirling and it's during that time I get a feel of exactly what I want to write and where my post is going. When I'm writing a longer article (I publish a monthly "mini-mag" newsletter) I spend a bit of time researching - but then it's still always photographs before words!

All of Libby's patterns are available here

I wish I could tell you that I am a master at editing my photos but quite frankly I'm not. I import all my photos onto my Mac Laptop and use the very basic software in the photo programme to crop and adjust them. I try to take photos that need very little editing so that I'm not stuck later. For buttons and photos including text I use the free service PicMonkey. It's super easy to manage and does everything I need it to.

I'm very conscious these days of readers being overwhelmed with information and you hear a lot that blogs are dying in favour of short, quippy media like Facebook and Instagram. I've always tried to keep my posts a reasonable length. Partly, because I have only a limited amount of time available to write them and also because I know people are busy. Having said that my posts do vary depending on my mood and what I'm sharing! I don't have a particular format that I follow when I'm writing but usually I pop a picture in first.

BLOGGING GOODIES

I've learnt a lot through blogging - a lot about the process of blogging but also a lot about me.

Here are my top tips for getting started and writing a blog:

• Just start. Don't think about it too hard, just dive in and post something. It doesn't have to be perfect! It takes a while to find your "voice" so it's good to experiment and take risks.
• Be you. I can't stress this enough. It'll be easier to keep blogging if you are true to yourself and not second-guessing what people might want. People often tell me when I meet them that I'm just the same in real life. It's true! I can only be me.
• Don't worry too hard about what to write about. Look around you, the best topics are often right under your nose. Keep it simple and narrow your focus. I find it works best when I limit my posts to just one or two ideas.
• Tell a story. I love a good story and so will your readers. Especially a story that develops over several posts. I think you can turn almost anything into a good story. Remember the details, elaborate with pictures and enjoy yourself.
• Talk to your readers - both in your posts and in real life. Reply to them, ask them questions. Get to know them. It's exciting watching a community grow around you.
• Don't look at the numbers. Most likely they'll only depress you! I've only just installed google analytics - don't fret over how many people are reading your blog. Celebrate engaged readers that never miss a post and leave you lots of great feedback rather than getting thousands of readers that only dip in once.
• Meet other bloggers. This is super fun. Once you start blogging you're already part of a great community and people are mostly really friendly and welcoming. Visit other blogs and leave comments. You know how good that feels! If you want to collaborate with someone, take a risk and email them. You'll be surprised how many people you'll end up calling friends even though you've never met.

BALANCE

I've been doing a lot of knitwear design over the last year and the way I blog has changed a little as I've gotten busier. I tend to schedule posts in advance and pre-plan posts, especially when I'm releasing a new pattern for example. I've been thinking a lot lately about how my blog will evolve as my business grows and what's the best way to promote Truly Myrtle Designs. While I have started a podcast and a newsletter and those are going well, I'm also working on some exciting plans for my blog for the next year. There are so many interesting topics that grow out of knitting design - yarn choices, caring for knitted garments, sourcing great yarn, talking to other people in the industry, know how and tutorials. But many of my readers have been with me since the beginning and they enjoy hearing about the sewing, spinning and jewellery making I do, so I intend to make space for them too.

The thing I really love about blogging is that I'm the boss. Truly Myrtle is my space on the internet and I can experiment and play around there as much as I like. It's very fun.

Libby is wearing one of her latest designs - the Koru hat - which I intend to knit very soon.

Libby aka Truly Myrtle, is a knitting pattern designer living in rural New Zealand with her husband, four children, a big vege garden, a gaggle of chickens, a flock of sheep and a puppy.
She designs modern knitting patterns that are clear & easy to follow and a pleasure to knit and wear.
Join in the fun and explore the Truly Myrtle blog at www.trulymyrtle.com to find out about Libby's patterns, free tutorials, knit alongs and more crafty fun! 

Dotty about texture :: Knitting ::

I am currently testing Libby's Truly Myrtle forthcoming pattern (you can see it on her IG feed), and it is all about texture. It starts with the dots pattern, and all I can think of is adding dots to a cardigan or a jumper - it would make any block colour garment so much more exciting (for a yoke or on sleeves, maybe?).

Since the pictures were taken, I decided to actually knit a gauge... and realised that I needed to go up a needle size - doh! I knew it was a bit wrong really, hence doing a last minute gauge before I went really too far. I was not getting the light fabric Libby talked about. Anyway now that I am knitting with the new needle size, it is going fast. I should be finished by the end of next week, and will post more details then (it is the deadline, so I better finish on time!). 

Settler Shawl Giveaway... And the winnner is..

Number 16... i.e. my comment... on behalf of Manuela - who follows me on Ravelry but could not comment because she does not have a blog. I am sure she will be delighted, she has been quite excited about this pattern! 

Thanks for all of your comments! 

Settler Shawl | A finish and a GIVEAWAY {Knitting}

Here it is.. My kidney bean Settler shawl. If you are following me on IG, you know that it was blocked twice (forgot one repeat, oops), and that I kept on cursing the weather as I could not take any picture outside. So I came back home yesterday, and although it was raining in London, it was sunny once I was home. That was it, time to take pictures of the shawl. 

It is really difficult to actually capture the colour - it is even more gorgeous in real life. I have one more skein left and I cannot wait to knit a beanie hat, and maybe mittens (let's face it summer is over here in Britain - so may as well embrace the colder months). 

Libby released her pattern yesterday - congrats to her! This is really a beautiful modern shawl, and that can be worn many ways. I am much more of a scarf person, so this is a great addition to my wardrobe. When she asked me to test a shawl, I was worried about the shape of it, but I should not have been worried! 

Pattern: Settler Shawl by Truly Myrtle Designs

Yarn: Artesano Definition Sock yarn in kidney bean (one skein) 

Needles: 4mm

Modifications: None but it may be worth noting that my gauge was totally off, and it still the required length (in case you gauge for shawl...)

And now for the giveaway, Libby is generously offering a pattern to one lucky reader!

You have 3 chances to enter the giveaway:

1. This giveaway is open to my followers only - old and new. 

Let me know how you follow my blog in the comment box.

2.Follow me on twitter, and tweet about the giveaway - and mention @noaslibellule

3. Follow me on Instagram (natmadeinhome) and post the shawl picture and come back to leave me a third comment

The giveaway ends Wednesday 3 September at 5pm (UK time). Please, please, please leave me a way to contact you if you are a no-reply blogger Good luck!

Settler | Testing { Knitting}

It feels like I have not been knitting for a while - I was not feeling it for some reason. I have started Nord again whilst on holiday and suddenly I wondered how I could have lost my knitting mojo (the heat maybe?). And now I cannot stop knitting, hopefully that means that some projects will get finished (finally) and also that I will be able to start on baby projects (a little more than 3 months to go, and nothing is ready!)

And of course this is not an old project that needs finishing, nor a baby project. I am again testing for Libby (I tested Skeppe last year) and in the process made a decision regarding this beautiful yarn originally meant to be the Follow your Arrow KAL. I decided to frog and keep the yarn for the right project. And this is it - a shawl that will be worn more like a scarf, more my style. 

Although the patterns calls for a fingering yarn, which this is, my gauge is actually totally off - and there is not a lot I can do about it. I am still carrying on with this yarn, hoping to have a good go at blocking the shawl and make it grow, and end up with the right length. Fingers crossed. 

This project is a destash one, no new yarn bought, although I was tempted.

But I was reading about self-sufficiency in Extracurricular magazine, following Melody's WIP post, and I have now read mine cover to cover - I even made my husband read an article. It is a great start to understand how people interpret sustainability and how they include it in their lives. Totally inspiring. 

I will be linking up to Small Things today. 

Also check out le challenge today for a discount code at Mary Emmens vintage shop and a chance to enter her giveaway - this month's theme is ERA! 

La Fosse 9

Wearing: Beanie Hat, Made in Home (blogged here); 

Earrings (old, bought in Amsterdam), similar here; Brooch, thrifted; 

Denim shirt, New Look; Pull Isa, Made in Home (blogged here); 

Army green jeans, Patrice Bréal; Golden boots, bought in France (but similar here); 

Mulberry Satchel, old; Wild Horse bracelet, Venessa Arizagana

Truly Myrtle Giveaway Winner

And the winner is.... 

Chrissy from Stitched Together and I cannot wait to see Skeppe in a forest semi-solid dark chartreuse green!! 

Truly Myrtle GIVEAWAY

Not so long ago I test knitted Skeppe for Libby, and now that the pattern is finalised and published, she is offering one of the MiH followers the chance to get it for free! 

So what do you reckon guys? It is an amazing pattern! 

The giveaway is open to all followers - old and new - one comment per person. In your comment, let me know in which colour you will be knitting Skeppe, and how you follow Made in Home. 

It will end in a week's time, so Tuesday May 21 at 10am - the winner will be announced then. Good luck!

Pearl Tassel {knitting}

I finished it last week but needed to send my notes back to Libby for the test knit. And she is onto a winner, this pattern is going to be a success. It looks great, easy to wear and is a super fit. Unfortunately you will have to wait for her to publish the pattern before you can make yourself one!

I cannot tell you a lot about it, as the pattern is not yet released - but trust me is not as difficult as it looks, really - which is great. It makes it a very quick knit. 

I knitted it in Malabrigo worsted (pearl) - The colourway is great, as it goes with everything. 

Looks at the back of it, I can't get over it. It looks amazing 

In my feedback I asked Libby to consider making mittens for the pattern, that would make a very complete pattern, and guess what I have a bit of that malabrigo left over, so it would be perfect! I will of course let you know when the pattern is available and there may even be a giveaway...

Testing {knitting}

I have never test knitted before - never the right project, too pregnant to test knit garment, not enough time - until Libby presented Skeppe. I knew I had to make it. I love Libby's style (she makes one complete outfit - yes complete with accessories - every month) and I love knitting hats! The perfect match!

This is an interesting exercise - because of the stitch used but also because I never had my own patterns tested - it is all based on my notes. I do not make any money out of them either - so it is more about sharing a construction.. So it is interesting to see the directions given, the feedback expected, the details - what you can and cannot do. And of course, it is great to be part of the overall process!

I am hoping to finish it over this weekend, and model it!