Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs

2022 News Archive

The focus of 2022 was Creative Course 1, which is an introduction to costume techniques in knitting, felting and embroidery, from beginner level onward. Using the canvas of two different shapes of hat, this course shows you how to knit and felt a three-dimensional garment piece and then explores a wide range of embroidery options. The skills developed and learned during this course are the first stepping stones to making full costume pieces. The course comprises over 8 hours of video tutorials which will hone your techniques while making a range of hats. I look forward to helping you continue the development of these skills with the intermediate level Creative Course 2 in 2023, where I will move into more complex shapes and larger pieces.

2022 also brought new patterncard kits. We started with the Ruffled Raven Collar – a feathered design which can be made to very different effect in a range of our Hebridean 2 Ply.

The Peigi Waistcoat patterncard kit followed on soon after.

For those who like to knit with our Hebridean 3 Ply we released the Maidenhair Pullover patterncard kit.

This year we introduced a new shade of our Hebridean range in both 2 & 3 Ply. The new Glen colour is a perfect mossy moorland colour which you can see here in 3 Ply knitted up in the Maidenhair Pullover.

We also welcomed back new dyelots of Lapwing, Bogbean, Storm Petrel and Tormentil Hebridean 3 Ply.

We added the Firebirds Cardigan patterncard kit in a jewel-like colour palette for summer.

We followed up with the matching Firebirds Hat Set.

Virtual Yarns: Home of Alice Starmore Yarns And Designs

I was filmed in my studio and on my croft for the BBC's Great Coastal Railways series, which aired in Feburary. The episode can be found in BBC I-player. I also made an appearance on the BBC Radio 4 podcast Torn talking about Fishermen's gansies in the Outer Hebrides. You can listen to the podcast here, (or where you get your own podcasts).

Cape Cod design by Alice Starmore

We showed off some favourites along the way. Jade made a Mary Queen of Scots from Tudor Roses in our new Glen 3 Ply, while I knitted up a Lapwing Pullover from Glamourie in Kelpie and Shearwater.

Ruffled Raven Collar patterncard kit design by Alice Starmore in Hebridean 2 Ply yarn

We went out on many photoshoots, from Glasgow to Glencoe, the Ayrshire coast to the East Coast and Loch Lomond to the Hebrides, we covered a lot of ground to show you our designs against some lovely Scottish backdrops.

Hawk & Hound patterncard knitwear design by Jade Starmore in pure wool Hebridean 2 Ply hand knitting yarn
Angels Cardigan patterncard kit design by Jade Starmore & Witch Hare Patterncard Kit by Alice & Jade Starmore in Hebridean 2 Ply yarn
Maud Hat Set patterncard kit design by Alice Starmore in Hebridean 2 Ply yarn
Maidenhair Pullover patterncard kit design by Alice Starmore in Hebridean 3 Ply yarn
Thoroughbred patterncard kit by Alice Starmore in Hebridean 2 Ply
Firebirds Cardigan and Hat Set patterncard kit designs by Jade Starmore in Hebridean 2 Ply yarn
Alice Starmore at Virtual Yarns Creative Course No.1 - Knitting, Felting & Embroidery
Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs
Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs
Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs
Dunadd patterncard kit by Alice Starmore in Driftwood Hebridean 3 Ply
Anne Boleyn design by Alice Starmore from the book Tudor Roses
Alice Starmore Scottish Hand Knitwear Yarns and Designs

We also went into the studio with Evie, Precious and Kayla to show our feathered collars in a different setting.

Alice Starmore Scottish Hand Knitwear Yarns and Designs
Alice Starmore Scottish Hand Knitwear Yarns and Designs
Alice Starmore Scottish Hand Knitwear Yarns and Designs
Alice Starmore Scottish Hand Knitwear Yarns and Designs
Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs
Virtual Yarns - Home of Alice Starmore Yarns and Designs
The Queen of the Waves Hand Knitwear Design Collection by Alice Starmore

We ended 2022 by introducing the Queen of the Waves Collection from our St Kilda project, a layered up series of designs which will continue to appear throughout 2023.

The Queen of the Waves Hand Knitwear Design Collection by Alice Starmore

The Queen of the Waves collection started off with the Sulaire Spencer, shown here with short sleeves in our Whin Hebridean 2 Ply.

The Sulaire Spencer with long sleeves in Mara Hebridean 2 Ply.

The Queen of the Waves Hand Knitwear Design Collection by Alice Starmore

Now that 2022 is coming to an end we will take a brief pause before launching into 2023, with the Queen of the Waves collection bringing knitting, weaving and further costume development as the year goes on.

The Queen of the Waves Hand Knitwear Design Collection by Alice Starmore