I’m so pleased to be able to tell you all that I’ll be hosting two beginner knitting workshops on Sunday 26th February. Both classes will be held at my favourite shop in Nottingham – Debbie Bryan. Debbie’s charming gift and craft shop won Nottingham’s best independent retailer in 2016 – and deservedly so!
Winter kit
Christmas Knitting
We’re well and truly into the Christmas knitting season now. December has started, so it is now officially acceptable to talk about the festive season. If you haven’t already started your knitting your Christmas gifts just yet, don’t panic. There are plenty of inspirational, recent knitting pattern releases from some of the greats. You may not have enough time to get started and finished on some now (bookmark for later!) – but there are plenty of quick knits around. Giving you plenty of time to knit up a speedy Christmas gift.
Wool And The Gang
If quick knits are what you’re after, WATG are smack bang in the middle of their 12 days of making. Releasing ridiculously quick knitting and crochet patterns, as well as handy technique tutorials this week and next. Love the charging cable braid!
#wearyourknits
If you follow me on Instagram you’ll have seen me proudly parading my handmade knitwear for the past month.
What is it about Autumn?
It’s been a while since I’ve delved into the new knitting releases world. I had such a growing stash of projects and materials, that I had to reinstate the yarn embargo. That meant no pouring over beautiful skeins on Loveknitting or Loop. No Googling Brooklyn Tweed, Quince & Co. and Woolfolk. It also meant shutting my eyes as I scrolled through my Instagram feed, every time Melanie Berg, Melanie Hoffman or Andrea Mowry post oh-so-tempting knits…
But I’ve caved… Continue reading
Sonic Knits Christmas Kits with Fyberspates
I’m not even going to apologise for mentioning the ‘C’ word. I’ve already been knitting my Mum’s present for the last two weeks, so I’m fully in the pre-Christmas planning mode already! Get on board 🙂
If you’re struggling to find the perfect handmade gift for someone this year, I’d look no further. You all know I’m partial to a Sonic Knits kit – I’ve signed up for six months! And now I’m treated at the first of every month to a brand new set of knitting notions, British yarn and a great pattern to get stuck into.
Stitch & Story Bounty Throw
With autumn having descended so quickly, these last couple of weeks have plunged us into cold spells. Knee high boots and wooly jumpers are the norm, and you absolutely have to carry an umbrella. At. All. Times.
So this seemed like the perfect time to indulge myself in a huge knitted throw for myself! Something that I can tuck my feet up under on these darker, colder evenings.
Stitch & Story’s Bounty Throw fit the bill perfectly. It’s a wonderfully easy pattern, but switches up the stitch patterns frequently enough to keep a seasoned knitter like myself from getting bored! I picked their lovely shade of Olive Pastel, as it’s my absolute favourite!
Knitwear faves – 31/08
Right now, our blog and social media feeds are being filled with up-to-date AW15 knitwear trends. So it’s no wonder that this week’s knitwear faves features some of the most cosy, warming pieces of knitwear. It’s a good mixture of retail and make-your-own this week, so I hope this inspires you to buy or handmake some lovely knits – because these are just heaven! I have a feeling this autumn is going to be a good one.
A Q&A with Stitch & Story
Knitting’s been around for centuries. Literally AGES. It began with the Ancient Egyptians in the eleventh century, then burst onto the European scene in the twelfth and thirteenth century via France, Germany and Britain! So with such a long-standing, rich and varied tradition, how do you breathe new life into a craft that was at one time synonymous with ‘archaic’ and ‘old-fashioned’?!
That’s just what Jennifer Chan and Jen Hoang, Co-founders of Stitch & Story set out to do. Fed up with having to trawl the internet for a decent knitting pattern (we’ve all been there), both Jens set up shop – providing modern and fashionable knitting kits, top-quality 100% merino wool, as well as hosting their increasingly popular knitting workshops!
And I’ve had the pleasure of asking Jennifer Chan a few questions this week! I’m a massive fan of this wonderful independent knitting company, whose sole mission is to bring stress-free knitting to both the ultimate beginner through to the most seasoned of experienced knitters. You can check out Stitch & Story’s amazing offering on their website, as well as follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Continue reading
“I come from the land of the ice and snow…”
Where does a self-confessed knitaholic choose to go on holiday? Why, Iceland of course!
No relaxing on the beach for me and Mr Shortrounds this time round. Early in February we scooted off to Reykjavik and southwest Iceland to explore and take in the natural beauty that this stunning landscape has to offer! From geysirs and waterfalls, to black beaches and glacier walking – we weren’t disappointed. We were so lucky, we even got to see the Northern Lights!
It also offered the perfect opportunity to product test my soon to be available knitwear. Because what’s the point of making something that doesn’t work, right?! I’m pleased to report, that in temperatures of down to -10°C I kept wonderfully toasty. I may have had a freezing nose but I don’t suit a balaclava, so I had to make do.
Now I’m back, it’s full steam ahead to get Shortrounds Knitwear up and running. I’m just getting the final pieces together, so look out for an announcement on the launch very soon! In the meantime, without further delay, here’s a few snaps from our sub-zero mini break. See you soon!
Half-and-half scarf – free knitting pattern
I was thrilled to be asked to make another garter stitch hat for my friend Sarah. But as well as a hat, she wanted a matching infinity scarf to be paired with it. Challenge on!
As much as I love garter stitch, you can have too much of a good thing, and I wanted to create something a little more interesting than a plain garter stitch hat and scarf set. Inspired by this pin on Pinterest back in 2014, I set about recreating a bulkier ‘half-and-half’ pattern myself. It’s a lovely mixture of basketweave and garter stitch, which look like they were made to be knitted together in my opinion. The original pin has me yearning for a mint green scarf now, but I have to push that thought to the back of my mind and get on with more pressing things!