I love visiting yarn shows and festivals around the country as they are often the time when I discover new and exciting yarn talent that has been hiding on Etsy. This was certainly the case with Gemma of Snuggly Stars Yarn who I met at Wool at J13 and immediately started working with her yarns.

For the full video episode click below or scroll down for the text and photo version!

Snuggly Stars Yarn

Gemma wears many hats - full time mum, professional face-painter and indie yarn dyer. A juggling act that she seems to manage very well and where she makes the most of her creativity across all three disciplines. Snuggly Stars Yarns has been going for just over a year and Gemma has been busy popping up at Yarn Shows around the country since then. Next up on her circuit will be Yarndale (Skipton, 29th - 30th September 2018) and Nottingham Yarn Expo (Nottingham, 10th - 11th November 2018)

Gemma has been a crocheter for years but did a skills exchange with her granny and learned knitting for teaching crochet! One of the most interesting things about the way Gemma knits is that she learnt to do it in the Portuguese style and tensions the yarn by looping it round the back of her neck. This also means she favours the purl stitch over the knit stitch and will switch out patterns instructions so she leads with purl.

Gemma in her stand at Yarningham knitting in the Portuguese style

Colourways

Gemma has a very bight and vibrant colour palette and she's not afraid to mix up strong neons and contrasting colours. The yarns make a real statement and would be fabulous for the work of designer Stephen West. It brought me slightly out of my comfort zone with all the neons and pinks but I am so glad it did because the finished results were great. Gemma is also very committed to providing samples of what some of her stronger variegated colours look like when worked up - something I am so grateful for as a shopper. I avoids any disappointment and can actually really inspire you to pick up something you wouldn't have otherwise considered.

From Left to Right -

'Aubergine Dream' on a discontinued base (Faolan Mitts by Renee Callahan)

'Industry' on Darling DK (random hat pattern)

'Toasted Marshmallow', 'Rhubarb Crumble' and 'Golden Fairy Garden' on Darling DK (Jodi by Joji Locatelli)

'OOAK - Naughty Navy' on Tweedy Aran (Jackson's Bay Cowl by Zoe Carter)

Bases

If there's one word to sum up Gemma's bases then 'SQUIDGY' would be the best one to pick. I worked mostly with the Darling DK - an 8ply in Super Wash Merino and it has such a plush and bouncy finish.

But Gemma has explored and embraced several bases:

Fabulous Sock Base - 75% SW Merino 25% Nylon, fingering weight.
Bulletproof Sock Base - 80% SW BFL 20% Nylon High Twist, fingering weight.
Sparkle Glam Base - 70% SW Merino 20% Nylon 5% Gold Stellina, fingering weight.
Darling DK - 100% SW Merino, DK weight!
Beautiful BFL Base - 100% SW BFL, Aran Weight.
Plus there is also have an Aran weight the 100% SW Merino and the merino with donegal nep (what I used for my Jackson's Bay Cowl - SCRUMPTIOUS).

Giveaway!

Gemma has also got some other delightful trinkets in her shop and is also a Hiya Hiya Needle stockist. What makes my heart sing though are the acrylic badges of cats and the bright animal buttons. Head on over to the Ravelry Page to see how you can win the below: