What are your plans this wonderful summer weekend?

We've hit the solstice and it seems a bit counter-intuitive to want to knit, but hitting the inbox this week was a special offer from Kate - a free pattern download for all  newsletter subscribers till the end of the weekend for this lovely wee kerchief pattern!

But don't worry if you've missed the free download, you can always purchase your own copy, or buy the kit which includes a bag as well as the yarn any time.

So, that's my weekend pencilled in - a little bit of fun knitting!

I'm not sure anyone's told the weather, but today is the first day of spring! Today the nights and days are equal lengths and move slowly towards longer days!

To celebrate we're offering you a FREE colouring page to print off and keep!

Feel free to share!

Did you know I have a personal blog over at Patreon? It's true! As well as offering 'behind the scenes' and 'sketchbook peeks' for patrons, if you find the 'public' filter, or 'blog' tag you will find free blog content!

(By the way, I've done my first ever 'Watch Me Draw' video - if you subscribe as a patron you will receive exclusive access to it, plus a three page PDF full of the resources I use, a colouring in page for you to try to recreate the image yourself, AND a FREE A5 download of the image I have created! Click here to support my art. Thank you!)

Come and say 'hi'?

Would you look at that? Another weekend lies ahead! What are your plans for this spring, Mother's Day weekend?

I've got a date with my garden - there will be branch chopping, garden tidying, a burn pile to construct, outdoor furniture to paint, and, oh yeah, SEEDS TO START OFF. I'm late to the party, but given that the Met Office delayed spring because of the Beast from the East weather system I don't feel too bad about it. But it's time - I got a whole lot of growing plans. (By the way, I get all my seeds from The Real Seed Catalogue - open pollinated, heirloom seeds!)

And for indoors, or outdoors with tea, some knitting to keep me company. These luscious yarns by West Yorkshire Spinners in Peridot and Pink Quartz are such a tonic after the drab days of winter - perfect for spring!  I can't wait to cast on.

Have you felt the spring clean bug bite yet? I have. Loud and clear. Oh I'm itching to whip this house back into shape. I've pulled this gem off the book shelf to get me started on homemade cleaners. One of my truly favourite books. Time to get my pinny out and roll up my sleeves to fill these growing days with good, solid work.

Happy Mother's Day to all my U.K. friends!

You found it! The hunt for the FREE A5 print is over, today is the day!

This A5 print is available for download for TODAY ONLY - to celebrate Mother's Day in the UK (this Sunday, 11th March). You are welcome to tell as many people as you like, but after 24 hours this offer will end.

Hurry! Click the download now!

EDIT::  the link has now expired. Good luck hunting our next giveaway!

What are your plans  for the weekend?

Here at Green Man HQ I intend to settle into a crafty couple of days of sipping tea whilst reading the latest issue of Mollie Makes, stitching some embroidery dolls that I am finding relaxing (and cute), and possibly balling up that lovely skein of yarn to begin designing a pattern for autumn (I know, I know, it's not even spring!).

Soon the weather will warm up and there will a whole lot of garden work to be done. I'm enjoying the last few days of indoors cosy.

If you'd like to share your 'into the weekend' shots, then use the hashtag #intotheweekend on social media!

It's February. It's about that time that knitters of the northern hemisphere start to go a bit batty; we've knit the basics, we've knit some sweaters, the hats are running into their hundreds and yet, after all that knitting and keeping busy, it's still not spring.

We get bored with autumnal shades; winter blues and greys are wearing very, very thin. Then out of nowhere we start buying insanely coloured yarn and making something, anything, that will give us the colour rush we need before spring kicks in. This shawl is that nod to the February Funk that knitters experience. Instead of fighting the insanity, this shawl embraces it. Neon. If you want bright, it doesn't get any brighter.

You will need:

Yarn:    
1 x Caron Neon Pink Simply Soft Aran Yarn 170 g
 1 x Caron Neon Yellow Simply Soft Aran Yarn 170 g        
Needles 5mm 80 cm circular
Stitch Markers

Glossary:
CO = cast on
K = knit
P = purl
BO = Bind off
K2tog = Knit two stitches together as one, decrease stitch
P2tog = Purl two stitches together as one, decrease stitch
Kfb = Knit into the front of the stitch, before pulling the stitch off the needle knit into the BACK of the stitch, then remove – increase stitch
YO = yarn over
Sl1 = slip stitch knit-wise onto right needle without working it
PSSO = pull the slipped stitch over the new worked stitch


In  the pink  yarn CO 20
R1: K2, pm, K the rest of the row
R2: k2, (double YO, K2tog) x8, SM, yo, K2
R3: k1, Kfb, K to marker, SM, (K2, P1)x8, K2
R4: K9, change colour to yellow yarn, K to marker, SM, k2tog, knit to last 2 stitches, yo, K2
R5: K1, Kfb, purl to marker, SM, purl to the last 10 stitches, P2tog, purl in pink till end
R6: K7, Kfb, Change Colour, K to marker, SM, K2tog, K to last 2 stitches, yo, K2
R7: as row 5
repeat rows 6 and 5 three more times
R8: BO 8, DO NOT CHANGE COLOUR, triple YO, K2tog, (double YO, K2tog)x7, SM, K2tog, K to last 2 stitches, YO, K2
R9: K1, Kfb, Purl to marker, (K2, P1)x8, K2
R10: as 4
R11: as 5
R12: as row 6
R13: as row 5
Repeat rows 12 and 13 three more times, then row 8 and 9 once.
Repeat rows 10 to 13 ending with row 8 and 9  x18 more times.
Finish by repeating rows 12 and 13 then DO NOT finish with row 8 and 9, but continue as follows for lace-edge:

Lace edge finish:
R1: k2, PM, knit along the row, placing a marker every 12 stitches. If you get to near the end and it is clear the last stitches will not round up to 12 then you have a choice: either Kfb as many times as you need to increase the stitches, or if there are very few leftover, K2tog until you’ve reduced the stitches down, PM, K2. Purl the next row.
R2: K2, (YO, k1, YO, k11)* rep till end, K2
R3: purl
R4: K2, (YO, k1, YO, K4, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, K4)* rep till end, K2
R5: purl
R6: as row 4
R7: purl
R8: as row 4
R9: purl
R10: k2, (YO, sl1, K2tog, PSSO, YO, K11)* rep till end, K2
R11: purl
R12:  K2, (ssk, K1, K2tog, YO, K7, YO)* rep till end, K2
R13: purl
R14: K2, (K3, K2tog, YO, K5, YO, ssk)* rep till end, K2
R15: purl
R16: K2, (K4, K2tog, YO, K3, YO, ssk, K1)* rep till end, K2
R17: purl
R18: K2, (K5, K2tog, YO, K1, YO, ssk, K2)* rep till end, K2
R19: purl
R20: Picot Bind Off: CO 2 stitches, BO 5 stitches, rep till end.
 
Weave in ends and block your shawl!

If you knit one please share the results - you can find us on Ravelry here, and you can join our group and share results here.
Also, hashtag usage will help us find you #greenmanart #greenmanartmakes

Here is a simple, but stunning craft that can produce anything from a statement piece of art for the walls, to the basis of a Valentine's card.

YOU WILL NEED:

Stamps,
ink,
Paper that will hold ink well, here it is cold pressed watercolour paper,
Craft card and scissors,

1. Fold the craft card in half and draw half a heart. Carefully cut the shape out.
2. Using masking tape or washi tape attach the template to the piece of paper you'll be stamping.
3. Using one colour at a time demarcate the outline of the template, then work the empty space in the middle. 
4. Once the space is full remove the template and leave the ink to dry.
5. Voila! Original, beautiful art!

Thank you for dropping by! We are so excited to be in our new online space!
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Come say hi!