Watercolours & Lace is run by indie dyer, knitwear designer and botanical artist Julie Harris DipSBA. This is her story ...
"Having not painted since high school, I started dabbling with watercolours at the age of 40 and eventually became hooked on botanical painting, studying for and achieving a Diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists. I was then invited to join a group of flower painters based in Norfolk and Suffolk, the Iceni Botanical Artists, and had my first exhibition with them in September 2014.
"I've knitted for as long as I can remember, always preferring natural yarns and traditional techniques like Fair Isle, celtic style cabling and ganseys. Having discovered lace knitting a few years ago, I started to buy hand-dyed yarns from indie dyers - but was often disappointed by the harsh, striped effects many of these gave to my finished lace knits. They lacked the subtle, more sophisticated look I wanted to match the delicate fibres I was knitting.
"Then I realised I could dye my own. Mainly by trial and error, I found I could achieve the effects I wanted with a hand-painted technique, inspired by colours found in the landscapes and flowers I love to paint. My personal stash soon outgrew my craft room and started taking over the house. Friends and relatives began asking if they could buy my yarns and the lace accessories I was creating. All this coincided with leaving my previous job following spinal surgery and needing something to occupy my time as well as help with the household finances. So the idea for a small business was born - I decided to call it Watercolours and Lace to reflect my two creative interests.
"Having started with lace yarns, my range soon extended to include various 4-ply weights. As well as good quality wools - I’m particularly fond of rare breed yarns when I can obtain them - I also dye alpaca, cashmere, camelhair, silk, mohair and yak. I use British grown and/or spun yarns whenever possible. All are produced in small batches - sometimes only a single 50g skein, usually no more than 300g at a time - and no two dyelots will ever be exactly the same, because of the nature of the hand-painting process.
"My personal stash has continued to grow, but I can just about bear to part with enough to stock the shop (although my long-suffering husband, Alan, would prefer me to be a little less attached to a little more yarn!!)."
"Having not painted since high school, I started dabbling with watercolours at the age of 40 and eventually became hooked on botanical painting, studying for and achieving a Diploma with the Society of Botanical Artists. I was then invited to join a group of flower painters based in Norfolk and Suffolk, the Iceni Botanical Artists, and had my first exhibition with them in September 2014.
"I've knitted for as long as I can remember, always preferring natural yarns and traditional techniques like Fair Isle, celtic style cabling and ganseys. Having discovered lace knitting a few years ago, I started to buy hand-dyed yarns from indie dyers - but was often disappointed by the harsh, striped effects many of these gave to my finished lace knits. They lacked the subtle, more sophisticated look I wanted to match the delicate fibres I was knitting.
"Then I realised I could dye my own. Mainly by trial and error, I found I could achieve the effects I wanted with a hand-painted technique, inspired by colours found in the landscapes and flowers I love to paint. My personal stash soon outgrew my craft room and started taking over the house. Friends and relatives began asking if they could buy my yarns and the lace accessories I was creating. All this coincided with leaving my previous job following spinal surgery and needing something to occupy my time as well as help with the household finances. So the idea for a small business was born - I decided to call it Watercolours and Lace to reflect my two creative interests.
"Having started with lace yarns, my range soon extended to include various 4-ply weights. As well as good quality wools - I’m particularly fond of rare breed yarns when I can obtain them - I also dye alpaca, cashmere, camelhair, silk, mohair and yak. I use British grown and/or spun yarns whenever possible. All are produced in small batches - sometimes only a single 50g skein, usually no more than 300g at a time - and no two dyelots will ever be exactly the same, because of the nature of the hand-painting process.
"My personal stash has continued to grow, but I can just about bear to part with enough to stock the shop (although my long-suffering husband, Alan, would prefer me to be a little less attached to a little more yarn!!)."