Black Isle Yarns

28/05/2025

08/05/2025

Yesterday I took a skein of yarn on my morning walk. Ever since I opened the first sack of this yarn I've had a thought in my head, one of those that keeps popping back. Taking it out to the woods confirmed my feeling that the yarn's undyed shade - a pretty, soft fawn - is very reminiscent of oak bark.
❇️
Which is why, if you'd joined me in the woods yesterday, you'd have seen me balancing yarn on various oak boughs! It probably doesn't come as too much of a surprise that I love oaks. So, having a yarn the colour of gnarly oak bark makes me very happy indeed!
❇️
I'm absolutely delighted with this yarn and am looking forward to sharing more details soon. Any guesses which breeds of sheep are involved (there are two, approximately 60:40%)?

30/04/2025

Just over a week until our Crochet with Natural Colour workshop on Saturday 10th May! I had a lovely morning yesterday with Sophie going over the final details and checking the room we'll be using (the old stables at Brodie Castle, an amazing property). The stables are tucked in behind the castle and we'll have easy access to the grounds and gardens - we're hoping for good weather so we can eat lunch outside (I spotted several favourite dye plants nearby). If not, we have a lovely room to stay in!
❇️
We still have a few spaces available and are really looking forward to this day. In the morning I'll introduce natural plant dyeing, with readily available local plants, and we'll dye several mini skeins for you to take away. I'll cover all that's needed so you can continue your own dye adventures at home.
❇️
In the afternoon Sophie will teach her specially designed crochet scarf pattern - beginning with colours I'll have dyed in advance and then continuing at home with the yarn shades we'll dye on the day.
❇️
All the details are on Sophie's website and there's a link to it from my website (you can follow through from my profile). If you have any questions please just ask!

14/04/2025

Just popping in to let you know that Wilkhaven Sweater Sets have been listed on the website for pre-order. I'll make up sets with just enough (plus a little extra for safety) for each size and (as I've done previously) sizes 3-5 are discounted. There's a lot of yarn involved in each set - but this is a very special sweater!
❇️
Sets are made in my Shetland Heavy 4ply, a buttery soft, plump and smooth, pure Shetland worsted spun yarn. The latest batch, from 2023 and 2024 fleeces, is on its way north to me from the mill. As always, I'll be naturally dyeing the Harvest Gold and Dark Indigo, to work alongside natural grey and white for the four beautiful colourwork shades.
❇️
The wonderful pattern is by my very talented friend Emily and is designed to suit a wide range of bodies (in sizes from 39.75" to 66.25"). My own Wilkhaven, shown in this photo, is my absolute favourite knit, has been worn very regularly for several years and still looks as good as new.
❇️
I updated the website on Saturday night - my newsletter subscribers had first dibs at the update but there's still some lovely yarn there. There's more details about the Wilkhaven sets online but lf you have any questions please just ask!
❇️
The link in my profile will take you to yarn and Wilkhaven Sweater Sets on my website.

02/04/2025

I'm really chuffed to be introducing dyed Gotlandish Alpaca Light DK for .
❇️
It has been such a pleasure coming up with a set of colours which I hope will work well with the four undyed shades.
❇️
From top left:
- Mulberry (dyed with cochineal)
- Harvest Gold (dyed with walnut and fustic)
- Natural Grey
- Rockpool (dyed with pomegranate and indigo)
- Natural Cream
- Dark Indigo (dyed with indigo)
- Shivelight Cowl Mini Skein Set, all four undyed shades x 35g each
- Brocade (dyed with walnut and lac)
- Natural Charcoal
- Indigo (dyed with indigo)
- Natural Silver
❇️
I have the car all packed up and ready to set off tomorrow morning. See you in Edinburgh!

28/03/2025

Hello, hello! Just to say that I am working away preparing lots of gorgeous yarn for next weekend - despite the lack of evidence so far.
❇️
After a great weekend at Dornoch Fibre Fest in mid March I launched straight into planning and dyeing for Woolly Good. There'll be lots of Auchen Light DK, Killen Sock and Gotlandish Alpaca Light DK heading to Edinburgh next week (along with the last of, but still a pretty good selection, Breac 4ply and Muirton Light DK).
❇️
Things are almost at the more photogenic stage and I'll start sharing yarn-y photos soon. In the meantime I thought you might like these from an especially beautiful walk on the morning after Dornoch - walking on a sunny day in one of my favourite local spots is perfect after-show medicine!

15/03/2025

Good morning from Dornoch Fibre Fest! It's a beautiful day up here in lovely Dornoch and I'm looking forward to a day filled with familiar and new faces and lots of woolly chat.

09/03/2025

09/03/2025

Very much looking forward to next weekend's trip to Dornoch for Fibre Fest!

03/03/2025

Starting the new week with a shop update! I've just added some gorgeous new colours in Auchen Light DK (above) and Killen Sock to the shop. There are also all four undyed shades of the newly spun Gotlandish Alpaca Light DK, Breac 4ply/Sport dyed and undyed, three different mini skein sets in Killen Sock and undyed Gotlandish Alpaca mini sets too. I'll keep the shop open until the morning of Friday 14th March when I'll remove all stock for Dornoch Fibre Fest (see below).
❇️
I had a great time at Unravel - thanks to all who stopped by and supported my wee north of Scotland business, we were a long way from home! It's always great to chat about how my locally sourced yarns are made and my love for natural dyeing.
❇️
I've got a fun few weeks coming up. Dornoch Fibre Fest is the weekend after next (15/16 March), Woolly Good Edinburgh is 4/5 April and Tangled Galashiels is 30/31 May. Busy times! I'll try to open the online shop in-between but may not manage. If you have your eye on anything in the shop it may be worthwhile catching it now while you can. 😊

11/02/2025

Thanks so much for the shop update support. It felt a bit daft to squeeze in an update before heading off to tomorrow but I really wanted to ensure that online folk didn't miss out. Given the very generous and heart warming (for this small business owner) response I'm so pleased I made the effort to squeeze in the update. Thank you 🤗.
❇️
There's a little Breac 4ply/Sport left (in some of the beautiful dyed colours shown here plus the two undyed shades), most of the Gotlandish Alpaca Light DK has gone (but I expect to have enough for future updates) and there are still a few Killen Sock Mini Skein Sets left. I have more of all of these set aside to bring to Unravel with me, so don't panic if you're going to be there this weekend!
❇️
I won't manage to post orders before I head off tomorrow but I will post them on my return, by Friday 21st Feb. I'll close the online shop tomorrow morning and hope to have it open again by the end of the month.