Dear <<First Name>>

One thing you can be sure of, is that you will never EVER get a monthly newsletter on the 1st of the month...ever. Did I say never ever? I honestly battle with dates, it is amazing I remember my own childrens' birthdays. I have seen a lot of people struggling lately, with motivation, with anxiety, with the tiresome effects of living in these unprecedented times. I have always learnt the most through hardships, and believe that one needs to have the bad, to know the good. I found this quote and feel it is quite appropriate:

"Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging" - Joseph Campbell

I have certainly been finding life quite challenging right now, and am wondering whether my deeper powers are emerging? Would being able to Brioche and teach it online count as a deeper power? I shall keep embracing the tough, and waiting for those powers that I must have inside of me!

If you have not ever joined a knit along, let me explain the power that knitting with a group of like minded people gives you. The power to not give up, the power to actually finish an item, the power to inspire others as you motor along. The number of messages I had following the Franca knit along with Cocoknits was incredible. It is amazing how working on a project together, even from afar, can not only distract one from life's issues for small moments in time, but also give one staying power to complete said project (don't look at me - I am still on the sleeves!).

With this is mind, I would like to host another knit along, and am just awaiting the kits from miss la motte so that we can get going on our Peperomia sweaters. Peperomia is a colour work sweater by Wool & Pine, and the pattern is available on Ravelry. If you would like to be on the knit along list, then all you need to do is get the pattern, and then book/buy a miss la motte kit when they are available at Be Inspired (looking at June 2021). Once we all have our yarn, we will begin by swatching! Yes, swatching! I am currently writing an article about how to swatch and correct your gauge for the SA Craft Magazine so I need to put my money where my mouth is and swatch!

My focus this month is the long awaited free form crochet course with Dutch designers, Atty and Jose. This is one of the challenges I was thrown last year when covid hit. We had been planning the workshops and tours for over a year. Atty and Jose had been running workshops in and around Amsterdam to perfect their teaching technique, and to get ready for South Africa. They had booked flights, all the venues were booked, internal flights, car hire, and accommodation. Be Inspired relies on pop up shop income to boost sales and to gather new customers. The workshop fees cover costs, and the pop up shop provides the profit. Having to change this model, means that a lot of work and cost go into an online tour, without the profit a physical tour generates. 

Thank goodness for me, 99% of those booked on the tour, and retreat, have been so patient and accommodating. The hotel booked for the retreat also refunded the money paid in, by means of vouchers, so all was not lost there as I was beginning to suspect it might be. I had to dig really deep for those powers hiding in me to convert a potential disaster into a workable solution, and better than that we have a few new workshop attendees that have subsequently booked onto the online course. 

I am currently awaiting some final tying up of loose ends, and may have a few more spaces available - so email me if you want to be in the waiting list. You can read about the workshop here - although please note that it will be online, via zoom, and with prep videos, and not in person.
 

In a long awaited collab with Candice Leth, my talented sister in law, we are proud to announce box number 6 in the Local is Lekker series.

ColourSpun have hand dyed embroidery thread in 17 colours to correspond with Candice's beautiful Folk Art design, which a local business in Cape Town have printed onto tote bags.

Included in the box is a printed postcard of the original design, and a Stitch card illustrated by Claire Norden showing some simple stitches needed to embroider your bag. 

Starting in June, I will be making short videos of me, embroidering my bag, for those of you who want to follow along. These will be posted on the Be Inspired facebook page.
 

A new Cat is on the block! Phat Cats!

This delicious single spun aran weight yarns are a blend of merino, kid mohair and mulberry silk. All of my favourite things.

Phat /fat/ : highly attractive or gratifying (defn)

Available in three colours - Ginja Ninja, Mustard and Lilac

50 grams = 75 metres
45% merino, 45% kid mohair and 10% mulberry silk

use a 4,5 - 5,5 mm needle/hook (recommended but do not be bound by this nor by any other yarn label)

I am currently knitting Olivia, by Cocoknits, using a 4mm needle and the Ginja Ninja colourway. This is giving me close to the gauge in terms of number of stitches, and slightly more rows so I will be adjusting the pattern accordingly. (watch out for my guide on swatching in issue 10 of SA Craft magazine). See my swatching below using Mustard.

Floofies are as fluffy as my persian colleagues. And possibly more productive!

72% Kid Mohair and 28% Mulberry silk - what is not to love? The yarn is lace weight, but adding a strand to a cotton, or even to a merino creates a delicate soft and drapey fabric. Check out my article in the next issue (9) of SA Craft magazine for combining yarns to create more fun and texture. I am currently crocheting a blanket with a Durable colour cake (a cotton blend) held double with a Floofie - the result is a lightweight, blanket with a beautiful halo of softness.

Sock Knitting 101 - Saturday 12th June, 10-12 noon
Learn how to knit a sock, cuff down, putting in the start of an afterthought heel. A whats app support group will nurture you through this first stage until ready for finishing the heel and toes. For those who have progressed and practiced the afterthought heel, there will be an additional class for a heel flap and turning of the heel.
Entry: purchase of an Esteresa sock set and HiyaHiya sock needles (to be loaded)

Sock Knitting 102 - Saturday 26th June, 10-12 noon
Afterthought heel, followed by heel flap and gusset.
Entry: those who are learning for the first time and have fulfilled entry per sock knitting 101
For those expanding knowledge, and who already have sock needles etc from previous class, there will be small fee payable

Colourwork knitting - Friday 18th June, 7-8pm
Knitting with two hands. And two colours. Continental and English style at the same time, and how to catch floats.
Entry: purchase of a kit, and the pattern from Ravelry (to be loaded)

Poppy amigurumi class with The Copper Crochet Pot - Saturday 19th June, 10-12 noon
Learn some neat tips and tricks, especially when dealign with Poppy's tricky paws and feet.
Entry: purchase of a Poppy kit from Be Inspired
 

In another collaboration with Morgan from The Copper Crochet Pot, we proudly introduced Poppy. The cutest big eared, large footed, belly buttoned bunny!

Morgan is not only a talented dyer of yarns, but she is also a creative maker of things and an all round nice human! Morgan has again offered to give a free class, with the purchase of a Poppy kit from Be Inspired. 

Our last class with Morgan was a great success and most of the ladies went on to complete their Rose cats. Poppy's lesson will be on zoom, Saturday 19th June, 10-12 noon, and will focus on the more tricky parts like her paws. We will not be recording the class, so suggest you make a note in your diary and underline it twice!! Morgan's tips and tricks will be invaluable, but if you cannot make the class, there is a detailed pattern with step-by-step instructions and photographs in your kit.

The printed pattern, yarns, safety eyes, stitch marker and carrot button for Poppy are all included and tucked into a cute printed drawstring bag.