Durable Soqs are beautifully soft, wool and polyamide blend sock yarns that can be used to make socks, cowls, scarves, or garments. There are more colours available, which I will be adding to the Be Inspired range in the next few months. Solid sock yarns are great to add to self striping yarns for a break in the pattern - for heels, toes and cuffs. Or use them to make stripey socks, or colour work cowls. yes, my mind is abuzz with dreams and ideas.
Add Soqs to your stash
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It's Winter kit time. Best time to stock up on your winter knits to make sure you have something to snuggle up with as the days get shorter, the nights longer and colder. In Durban, we so look forward to bringing out our winter knits and crochet shawls for the next few months!
These kits are in stock in the shop. If there is something you would like but don't see just drop me an email so that I can help put together something amazing for you!
Just click the pics to read the listing, and/or to order your next wip.
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Alpaca is a natural fibre which is shorn each year around September. This is crucial for the health and well-being of the animal. Alpaca continue to grow fleece throughout their lives making this a wonderful renewable resource.
Alpaca is hypo-allergenic. Generally, the remnants of lanolin on sheep wool can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Alpaca is completely free of lanolin. The “itch” that is sometimes felt in products made from animals fibre is usually a result of coarse fibres which prickle the skin. Very fine micron alpaca, particularly if it has been combed, does not cause this prickle.
Alpaca is warmer by weight than other animal fibres as a result of the microscopic air bubbles within each fibre. These air bubbles, as well as the fine nature of good quality alpaca, offer exceptional insulation.
Alpaca, although considered an expensive fibre, is durable and long-lasting if given proper care. Despite its extreme fineness, it is stronger than any other “wool”. Garments made by the Inca hundreds of years ago have been found in near perfect condition.
Alpaca fibre is extremely waterproof and will wick moisture away from your body, keeping you more fresh and comfortable.
These colours have been hand dyed especially for Be Inspired, and can be bought singularly, or in a set of seven contained in a bespoke cotton bag. The yarn is so soft and would knit or crochet up into a luxurious throw or baby blanket.
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We have had a few knit alongs this past month. The first was the Franca - I am on my sleeves and so close to finishing. I may try and finish one sleeve this weekend! The Franca was a knit along hosted by CocoKnits - we had a few zoom sessions and then weekly emails detailing the next section. Those of us who were unfamiliar with the CocoKnits Method of visually knitting a sweater are now die-hard fans! We are hoping CocoKnits hold another knit along this year - if not, we are going to create our own. Below are the beautiful makes of the SA Team!
The duck egg coloured Franca's were created using Be Inspired's own yarn brands - Yarn Tails (in Tom Kitten) and Floofies (in Grinch) held together. The red Franca is in cowgirlblues chilli pepper red double knit.
For those wanting to learn the CocoKnits method - the books are back in stock and well worth the cost.
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The other item we knit together was from one of my online workshops - Colour Work - the Winter Hellebore Cowl by Wool & Pine. This workshop supported miss la motte as the yarn of choice, and Karen also joined us on the zoom class as well as in the support group so that was so interesting and we all learnt a lot. The cowls are all unique, and beautiful. I am so impressed with these first timers! I will be running another colour work class in June, with a different pattern, and using a miss la motte and Floofies combo.
Below are some examples of work produced after our colour work class which is proof that zoom, and support groups online, do work well!
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Recently, cowgirlblues contacted me and asked if they could do some once off special colours for me. Of course I replied yes, and remembered back to my many years ago Cape Town visits where I would buy this yarn, not knowing anything about them or their processes.
The inspiration pics were sent, and the yarns were created. I have named them Dream, Hope, Faith and Silver Linings.
I had a dream. And the hope that one day, I would be able to do what I love and inspire and teach and encourage others. With that dream and hope came faith that I could, would, make it happen. Through all kinds of odds, and upheavals, through storms and rain there were rainbows and silver linings.
This collection from Cowgirlblues is a once off colour collab, inspired by the colour I love, the dreams I have, the faith and hope that's always there, and an open heart looking for silver linings along the way.
Thank you to Bridget and cowgirlblues for feeding my Dream! These once off colours are limited editions, 5 of each and once they are gone, they are gone.
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Other exciting news: Durable mini Coral cotton yarns are loaded - they are the same as the Scheepjes Catonas but infinitely easier for me to import so they will be growing in colour range over the next year, and will replace the Catona's. They come in 20 grams and 50 grams.
We are planning a Pepperomia knit along with miss la motte this winter, so watch this space. Hoping to get kits up and out before end of May 2021. Please email me to be on the alert list.
Be Inspired stocks the South African Craft magazine and back issues are available.
Lots of new books were loaded, and more Modern Folk Embroidery will be here soon for those on the waiting list. Also coming is Crochet Pokemon for Pokemon fans!!
Please follow me on Instagram and Facebook to get daily updates of new arrivals and classes. Comments and sharing helps make sure more people see my content, and that it pops up in your feed. We don't like FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
Stay safe, catch you online :)
x Chantal
Chief Yarn Enabler |
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