Sign in

Cat & Sparrow UK

@catandsparrowuk.bsky.social
165 followers 129 following 39 posts

Rachael - owner of Cat & Sparrow UK - hand-dyed fibre and yarn emporium. Bristol, UK Knitter, crocheter, spinner, weaver, dyer. Catandsparrow.co.uk

PostsRepliesMedia
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 01/09/2025
Great Yarmouth is set to host the biggest neo-nazi music festival in over a decade. The Home Office has the power to block entry of overseas bands, which will scupper the promoters plans. But they won’t act unless we demand it. Email the Home Office now: hopenothate.org.uk/2025/08/28/g...
hopenothate.org.uk
Great Yarmouth to Host Britain’s Biggest White Power Concert in Years – HOPE not hate
Great Yarmouth is set to host the largest white power music gig held in the UK for at least 10 years, HOPE not hate can...
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Please come and join our community. I've set up a Mighty Networks framework where we can collaborate, inspire each other, talk through issues like international sales, pricing, marketing and work together, because life is better that way! #indiedyer #yarniebusiness #smallbusiness #knitdesigner
Are you a UK based yarnie business owner? (Text overlaid over a photo of some jars)Text on purple background: Do you dye yarn or fibre for your own shop or wholesale?Text over purple background: are you a yarn shop owner wanting to connect with more yarn and fibre dyers?Text over purple background: Are you a knitwear or crochet designer looking to connect with other designers or yarn dyers?
130
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Mood.
A tabby cat asleep on a sofa on her back, with her legs drooping off the edge and her front paws held up as if she’s boxing.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/06/2025
Do you sometimes come across a book that sings to you as you read it? It hasn’t happened to me since I read Great Circle a few years ago. Now it’s happening again with Enlightenment by Sarah Perry. It’s magical.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
I love dyeing Willo-the-Wisp Lace. Silk and mohair take dye with such intensity, I keep having to stop to drink it in (not literally - don't drink the dye water, kids). It's the same when I'm knitting with it, which adds time to my knitting, but gives me much joy. #knittingthreads #crochetthreads
050
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 17/05/2025
I've got some new custom blended fibre in stock. This is Kite Flying - a blend of Corriedale, Merino and mulberry silk. It's the most uplifting colour to spin - pops of pink silk really stand out from the rich turquoise. I absolutely love it.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
I had to cancel my stand and workshop at the Big Flock (which I am VERY sad about) thanks to a nasty dose of ocular shingles. I do not recommend. Good luck everyone, especially @birdstreetuk, who have worked so very hard to bring this into being. You guys are amazing.
110
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
I have mostly spent this week sleeping and saying ‘ow, my face’. It’s not been super fun.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
For an update on my week, google ‘ocular shingles’.
110
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Today’s perfect, magical song is Learn to Swim Part II by Joshua Idehen. Trust me.
000
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
It's only a few more weeks until #wonderwoolwales! I'm very excited to be exhibiting, and I'll be on stand N2 and I'll be bringing lots and lots of fibre with me, as well as sweater quantities of my #superherodk, #toastyaran and #rollingstonesock. Come and say hello!
A photograph of colourful yarn, largely covered by a text box, which says 'We are exhibiting at Wonderwool Wales 26th and 27th April, Royal Welsh Showground. Come along and join us for a wonderful woolly weekend. www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk'.
020
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
I know my hrt has stopped working because I am filled with unexplainable rage (in addition to the entirely explainable rage) and today I forgot the words for sieve and middleman. Also I have a twitchy eye, leg cramps and an itchy face. Also, I do not want to knit.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
My cat is a graceful and elegant creature but when she walks downstairs she looks like a sack of potatoes rolling down a hill.
000
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
It’s been a day. Went from ‘I’m really good at what I do and I am kicking arse’ to ‘I am a charlatan and should be excluded from all yarn-based things for the rest of eternity’ in the space of 3 hours. Still reeling from the whiplash.
110
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
New colourway alert! This is Hummingbird – a rich mix of royal purple, turquoise, peacock blue and deep petrol blue – dyed onto my Polwarth/Shetland/Silk blend. I love dyeing jewel tones onto this base, because it takes dye so very beautifully, and with such depth of shade. It's quite captivating.
A composite image showing some hand-dyed fibre in purples and bright jewel blues, set next to images of blue and purple hummingbirds.
090
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
Sad sock alert! Alas, my very special Roseraie socks, which I designed and knitted in my lovely NON-SUPERWASH #RollingStone sock yarn, made it into the laundry basket this week. Their adventure in the washing machine (30 degrees) and tumble dryer, has left them feeling a little shrunken. 😭
040
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 16/03/2025
ADHD is getting in the way of my knitting mojo because the thought of getting out my swift and ball winder is utterly exhausting and all my yarn is in hanks.
250
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Is Mum Does the Washing the best song I’ve heard this year? Yes. Yes it is.
010
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 02/02/2025
Towering achievement for today: successfully identified teatime themetime links on 6 music Radmac, AND got the variant B. It can only go downhill from here.
040
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
I’ve taken the day off today to spend the morning at Bristol Lido with my lovely husband. It’s absolute bliss and the food is always spectacular. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
A smiling grey haired woman sits next to an outdoor pool.
1100
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
This is in the Lendrum right now. I’m going to go and ply it.
A view of a spinning wheel from above with a bobbin full of purple and green yarn.
0100
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Look at this handsome beast. #allotmentlife #cat
A very fluffy orange cat sitting on our allotment box.
1101
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
I’ve been spinning up lots of samples lately. All new shop stuff. It’s been so much fun. #yarnspinning #handspinning #woollygoodness
0150
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Calling all UK-based indie yarn and fibre dyers and yarn adjacent people. I’ve created a community on Mighty Networks where we can support each other, network, collaborate and find information. It’s tough out there. Come on in! #indieyarndyers #yarn uk-dyers-connect.mn.co/share/-04pNt...
uk-dyers-connect.mn.co
UK Indie Dyers Connect
UK Indie Dyers Connect is a Mighty Network. Join us to share your tips, tricks and stories with other members.
040
Cat & Sparrow UK @catandsparrowuk.bsky.social · 11/01/2025
Well, here we are. I know that leaving Facebook and Instagram will harm my business and I’m struggling with it, but I’m also finding it next to impossible to justify staying.
1110