Handmade

Christmas and New Year 2015

| beth

Happy New Year! And here’s to a fantastic 2016.

Last year was a fantastic year for me and Mr Shortrounds. Not only did we shirk 90% of our DIY projects in favour of days and nights out with friends (oops must do better this year!), we travelled to some amazing countries and met some wonderful people!

Christmas was spent cosily with just Mum, Dad and Lil Bro this year. After a walk around the village, we settled in for a fantastic dinner prepared by Michelin star chef – Mum (ok well, she deserves at least two stars in my opinion). Presents were opening, champagne was quaffed and I don’t think I’ve laughed so hard in a long time! These pictures capture the perfect moment when my Mum turned her nose up at the champagne (saved for this very special occasion) – needless to say, we drank it anyway, and very nice it was too!

Christmas dinner spread | Shortrounds Knitwear Continue reading →

What I’ve been knitting lately…

| beth

It’s Christmas Eve!!!!! And after a few weeks of flying low under the radar, I’ve had some time to finish off a lot of knitting projects that were niggling at me to be completed (you know the ones, projects that keep you awake at night or torment you when you should be concentrating on life admin).

Knitted Christmas presents have been gifted, Etsy orders have been all tied up and commissions are complete. Since I started this little endeavour, I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment when I’ve not had something that I should be knitting for someone else. So now, I have all this free time over the holidays to knit for me – what a novelty! And one I’m not taking at all for granted. As much as I love knitting things for other people, I’m really looking forward to casting off on some knitwear that I’ve been working on for myself.

Mellow Sweater in Pickles Angora | Shortrounds Knitwear Continue reading →

Brooklyn Tweed Capsule collection

| beth

Can we just quickly talk about the most exciting news in my knitting calendar so far this month!

Brooklyn Tweed have just released their first ever printed knitting book – Capsule. A beautiful collection of knitted pieces designed by one of my favourite knitwear designers, Olga Buraya-Kefelian.

In what looks set to be the first of many similar projects, Brooklyn Tweed have given one knitwear designer centre stage to design a range of knitwear using their wool. Olga Buraya-Kefelian is unique in her construction and use of geometry in her patterns, a perfect way to kick off BT’s new series!

Personal favourites of this Capsule collection are the Cusp geometric cabled poncho and the stunning Tatara mitts. You can check out the entire collection here.

Which pattern will you be casting on first? Let me know by commenting below.

A Q&A with Figo Home

| beth

Way back in 2014 I wrote a post about this lovely Bristol based company. Figo Home is the brain child of Siobhan McGinnis, who set up shop back in 2013 pairing statement contemporary lampshades with classic hand-turned bases. The result – individual, personal pieces for each customer, inspired both by nature and wanderlust.

I myself have a classic geometric design that sits perfectly in our spare room and to this day we still get lovely comments from our guests. And I love the fact that no one else will have anything like it!

These beautiful lampshades and bases are 100% made in Bristol, England – a city I know and love from spending four years there at university. I was thrilled to discover this fantastic company, who’s name literally means ‘Cool Home’! And Siobhan was kind enough to join my Q&A series so you can get to know her and Figo too… Continue reading →

Knitwear designers 101

| beth

Google ‘knitwear designers’ and you get thousands of links directing you to mega fashion houses and large retailers. The large brands that pop into your head every day of the week. Not what I really wanted to see.

When I think of knitwear designers, names like Pam Allen, Jared Flood and Olga Buraya-Kefelian come to mind. Knitwear designers that inspire me to pick up my needles, purchase their wonderful patterns, or even get creating my own. Sadly, Google didn’t agree with me.

I’m not-so-secretly waiting for the day when slow fashion really takes over and these become household names not just for knitters. It’s slowly bubbling under the surface. Non-knitters are beginning to see the influence making-your-own is having over our generation, that even ready-to-wear companies are getting on board. Knowing where your fibres have come from, the farm where the sheep were reared, the dyer that dipped the skeins of wool…the list goes on. And whether I buy my yarn or patterns in the UK or across the pond, provenance is increasingly important for me.

The reward I get from taking time over my own clothing and homewares is entirely the reason I knit. And I’ve rounded up the list of knitwear designers who are (for me) synonymous with the slow-fashion movement.

Michelle Wang

Ondawa by Michelle Wang - Shortrounds Knitwear Continue reading →

My pick of the yarns

| beth

If you follow me on social media, you may or may not have heard that I am on a yarn embargo at the moment. No more ordering, until I’ve cast off a few ongoing projects, and dwindled my yarn stash down to half its current size!

That being said, we all know that as soon as we deny ourselves something, it’s all the more tempting. So I’ve been having a look at all of the lovely yarns I’ll be looking forward to buying once I have permission to do so!

Going forward, I’m definitely going to be more conscious of the types of yarns I buy, and where I buy them from. I also want to work with different fibres, weights and textures to broaden my knitting horizons! I’ve included links of where to buy all of these lovely yarns too, so please go and check them out, and the lovely companies that bring these skeins to our doorstep.

Alchemy Silk Purse

DyeForYarn Tussah Silk Lace

Shibui Knits Linen

Erika Knight Vintage Wool

Eden Cottage Theseus Lace