Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Contrary to my last post, FB has decided that we shall offer 20% OFF ALL CORNISH ORGANIC WOOL for Wool Week. Prices have now been changed on the site so the sale price is now showing - buy now to avoid disappointment for FB's amazing generosity!!
I'll report back when we return from the big smoke.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Friday, 8 October 2010
Wool Week
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Wool Week is nearly upon us and the excitement is nearing fever pitch. The shooting stocking is knitted to the "stop" point but the tri-colour scarf is alarmingly short and probably too complicated to knit on a train - am undecided as to what to do about that little predicament except knit like fury tonight and pray the knitting fairies do a few rows in the wee small hours when I'm snoring.
I held my first "Learn to Knit" class last night which, I'm hoping, went well. Everyone there had actually done a bit of knitting so we ventured into the varied ways of casting on and all agreed that cable cast on is the neatest. Next week Tracey is going to teach the thumb method which may confuse all over again! I've sent them home with their homework which seemed to delight everyone - not like physics or chemistry when at school!
I start tomorrow with my flu jab (an annual thrill) and will then decorate the shop window for Wool Week. For one week only we're offering 10% off all Cornish Organic Wool!! Prices will change on-line tomorrow afternoon so keep an eye out to catch this special offer!
Some lovely new sock wools from Rico coming online tomorrow too - keep an eye out for them - you won't be disappointed!
Wool Week is nearly upon us and the excitement is nearing fever pitch. The shooting stocking is knitted to the "stop" point but the tri-colour scarf is alarmingly short and probably too complicated to knit on a train - am undecided as to what to do about that little predicament except knit like fury tonight and pray the knitting fairies do a few rows in the wee small hours when I'm snoring.
I held my first "Learn to Knit" class last night which, I'm hoping, went well. Everyone there had actually done a bit of knitting so we ventured into the varied ways of casting on and all agreed that cable cast on is the neatest. Next week Tracey is going to teach the thumb method which may confuse all over again! I've sent them home with their homework which seemed to delight everyone - not like physics or chemistry when at school!
I start tomorrow with my flu jab (an annual thrill) and will then decorate the shop window for Wool Week. For one week only we're offering 10% off all Cornish Organic Wool!! Prices will change on-line tomorrow afternoon so keep an eye out to catch this special offer!
Some lovely new sock wools from Rico coming online tomorrow too - keep an eye out for them - you won't be disappointed!
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Knitting for Savile Row
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Sock knitting for Savile Row has taken up most of my knitting time this week - it started off as a sock but then the publicity blurb said I'd be knitting a "Shooting Stocking" (this is Savile Row after all) so the sock was tinked/frogged back (actually, that's a lie - I just ripped the whole wretched thing out and went to bed).
Day 2, I re-calculated the number of stitches (given that the rib is now going round someone's calf, not their ankle) and started again. Knitted the rib, no problem, then started on the body (on slightly bigger needles for a bit more "give" in the calf area. Knitted about 1" then re-considered and thought, maybe, I should be knitting in rib to give even more "give" in the calf area. Consulted a few photographs of shooting stockings - they are, indeed, knitted in rib. This time I did, carefully, tink/frog the whole lot back stitch by stitch. (Incidentally, do you know that the term frog comes from the fact that you rippit, rippit [ribbit, ribbit - get it?!]).
Day 3, re-calculated the ribbed leg and set off again. I'm now back onto small needles and approaching the ankle. Have decided to turn the heel and then stop so I can demonstrate on the foot bit. Concluded that turning the heel and trying to talk to people and be generally charming and not c**k it up totally would be too much to attempt (I know my own limitations).
In my head, I've designed the second project - thick woolly (obviously) winter scarf with tri-coloured cable. Designing in my head and putting into practice and writing up the pattern are three completely different things. I have one week. On the plus side, I have 5.5 hours on a train next Sunday afternoon.
There's also the matter of the second sock - to start or not to start - that is the question.
PS: T returned home safely at 4.30am on Saturday morning. Starving hungry. Went to bed after a fried egg sandwich. How can anyone be hungry at 4.30am? Of course, forgot, he's a teenager. He seems to have had a great time and might even have done a bit of geography.
PPS: Bad news - Deidre's ear has started to smell again. Can I cope with ear drops and shooting stockings in one week?
PPPS: More bad news - we ran out of oil (£500) and the car spectacularly (and hideously expensively [£500]) failed its MOT just two days after it had a £100 puncture. That, on top of very little sleep, is a very bad combination.
Sock knitting for Savile Row has taken up most of my knitting time this week - it started off as a sock but then the publicity blurb said I'd be knitting a "Shooting Stocking" (this is Savile Row after all) so the sock was tinked/frogged back (actually, that's a lie - I just ripped the whole wretched thing out and went to bed).
Day 2, I re-calculated the number of stitches (given that the rib is now going round someone's calf, not their ankle) and started again. Knitted the rib, no problem, then started on the body (on slightly bigger needles for a bit more "give" in the calf area. Knitted about 1" then re-considered and thought, maybe, I should be knitting in rib to give even more "give" in the calf area. Consulted a few photographs of shooting stockings - they are, indeed, knitted in rib. This time I did, carefully, tink/frog the whole lot back stitch by stitch. (Incidentally, do you know that the term frog comes from the fact that you rippit, rippit [ribbit, ribbit - get it?!]).
Day 3, re-calculated the ribbed leg and set off again. I'm now back onto small needles and approaching the ankle. Have decided to turn the heel and then stop so I can demonstrate on the foot bit. Concluded that turning the heel and trying to talk to people and be generally charming and not c**k it up totally would be too much to attempt (I know my own limitations).
In my head, I've designed the second project - thick woolly (obviously) winter scarf with tri-coloured cable. Designing in my head and putting into practice and writing up the pattern are three completely different things. I have one week. On the plus side, I have 5.5 hours on a train next Sunday afternoon.
There's also the matter of the second sock - to start or not to start - that is the question.
PS: T returned home safely at 4.30am on Saturday morning. Starving hungry. Went to bed after a fried egg sandwich. How can anyone be hungry at 4.30am? Of course, forgot, he's a teenager. He seems to have had a great time and might even have done a bit of geography.
PPS: Bad news - Deidre's ear has started to smell again. Can I cope with ear drops and shooting stockings in one week?
PPPS: More bad news - we ran out of oil (£500) and the car spectacularly (and hideously expensively [£500]) failed its MOT just two days after it had a £100 puncture. That, on top of very little sleep, is a very bad combination.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Pattern Books and Other Ramblings
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Please forgive me, for it has been 6 days since my last ramble. Do not, for one moment, think this occurred as a result of FB whipping me off to a few days on a tranquil desert island for that much needed rest. In fact, life has been as busy as ever.
We had friends down for the weekend who we haven't seen for 9 years. As with all true, good friends we picked up as if we'd only been out of touch for a week or so, but with non stop talking for 36 hours so we could cram the last 9 years in. We took them over the top to our favourite pub and they were very jealous of our walk to our "local":
Dear T has gone on a Geography field trip to Barcelona which involved a 4am departure from school on Monday morning. Yes - you did read that correctly - 4 am. When I did Geography O level (as it was in those days) we went to Dorset and stayed in a B&B in Swanage - how times have changed!
Knitting has been dominated by Wool Week in two weeks time - for which I have been asked to demonstrate knitting in Savile Row! On Monday, October 11th Savile Row will be closed to vehicles and will be laid with turf and filled with sheep (see here for an artist's impression). We're going up, decked out in Cornish Organic Wool finery obviously, to launch the start of Wool Week, designed to bring British wool to the fore and back into British fashion and shops - and not before time. Supported by The Prince of Wales it's a movement we strongly endorse. Having said that - how can I make a knitting demonstration really scintillating? - it's a challenge, that's for sure. But then again - if you've never seen a sock being knitted - it might be quite fascinating. We'll take lots of photos.
And now time for a teeny, weeny rant (and I've been working out how to put this diplomatically for the past couple of days). For the avoidance of doubt and before I rant, I'm sure we are all aware that patterns in pattern books are not allowed to be photocopied. Copying them breaks all copyright rules and is unfair to the designers who designed the patterns, the photographers who took the lovely pictures, the printers who printed them and, ultimately, the yarn companies who paid for them. Every pattern which is photocopied denies all these people the money they deserve and - in the end - ensures that future pattern books will be more and more expensive. Imagine then - customers who come into the shop, spend about 45 minutes looking for exactly the right yarn, checking yardages and availability until they've found exactly what they want (wool is strewn across the shop by this stage) and then refuse to buy the pattern book. They want a photocopy and this is denied them (with the law being carefully explained to them). They even go so far as to say, "go on, there's no-one else here, no-one will ever know". The photocopy is still not forthcoming. They then storm out of the shop, leaving all the wool they've so carefully chosen with the immortal line, "we'll go to our local wool shop, they'll photocopy it for us". There are 3 points to this: 1) if your local wool shop will photocopy patterns, please remember it is illegal, 2) please don't ask a shop assistant to do something that's illegal - it isn't fair, 3) if you ignore point 2) and do ask the assistant to do something illegal, please don't be surprised/stroppy/bad tempered when she refuses. End of rant. Thank you.
To our great surprise we had a small delivery of Rico's Can Can yesterday. It's flying out fast so catch some while you can - I have no doubt it'll be gone by Saturday - this yarn really is the must have for this autumn (and the instructions are printed inside the ball band so no worries there!!)
Please forgive me, for it has been 6 days since my last ramble. Do not, for one moment, think this occurred as a result of FB whipping me off to a few days on a tranquil desert island for that much needed rest. In fact, life has been as busy as ever.
We had friends down for the weekend who we haven't seen for 9 years. As with all true, good friends we picked up as if we'd only been out of touch for a week or so, but with non stop talking for 36 hours so we could cram the last 9 years in. We took them over the top to our favourite pub and they were very jealous of our walk to our "local":
Dear T has gone on a Geography field trip to Barcelona which involved a 4am departure from school on Monday morning. Yes - you did read that correctly - 4 am. When I did Geography O level (as it was in those days) we went to Dorset and stayed in a B&B in Swanage - how times have changed!
Knitting has been dominated by Wool Week in two weeks time - for which I have been asked to demonstrate knitting in Savile Row! On Monday, October 11th Savile Row will be closed to vehicles and will be laid with turf and filled with sheep (see here for an artist's impression). We're going up, decked out in Cornish Organic Wool finery obviously, to launch the start of Wool Week, designed to bring British wool to the fore and back into British fashion and shops - and not before time. Supported by The Prince of Wales it's a movement we strongly endorse. Having said that - how can I make a knitting demonstration really scintillating? - it's a challenge, that's for sure. But then again - if you've never seen a sock being knitted - it might be quite fascinating. We'll take lots of photos.
And now time for a teeny, weeny rant (and I've been working out how to put this diplomatically for the past couple of days). For the avoidance of doubt and before I rant, I'm sure we are all aware that patterns in pattern books are not allowed to be photocopied. Copying them breaks all copyright rules and is unfair to the designers who designed the patterns, the photographers who took the lovely pictures, the printers who printed them and, ultimately, the yarn companies who paid for them. Every pattern which is photocopied denies all these people the money they deserve and - in the end - ensures that future pattern books will be more and more expensive. Imagine then - customers who come into the shop, spend about 45 minutes looking for exactly the right yarn, checking yardages and availability until they've found exactly what they want (wool is strewn across the shop by this stage) and then refuse to buy the pattern book. They want a photocopy and this is denied them (with the law being carefully explained to them). They even go so far as to say, "go on, there's no-one else here, no-one will ever know". The photocopy is still not forthcoming. They then storm out of the shop, leaving all the wool they've so carefully chosen with the immortal line, "we'll go to our local wool shop, they'll photocopy it for us". There are 3 points to this: 1) if your local wool shop will photocopy patterns, please remember it is illegal, 2) please don't ask a shop assistant to do something that's illegal - it isn't fair, 3) if you ignore point 2) and do ask the assistant to do something illegal, please don't be surprised/stroppy/bad tempered when she refuses. End of rant. Thank you.
To our great surprise we had a small delivery of Rico's Can Can yesterday. It's flying out fast so catch some while you can - I have no doubt it'll be gone by Saturday - this yarn really is the must have for this autumn (and the instructions are printed inside the ball band so no worries there!!)
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
New Season, New Knitters, New Patterns
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
The beady eyed amongst you might have noticed a new "Workshops" button on the front page of the site - right next to the "Blog" button. As a result of many requests, we've decided to launch a series of Learn To Knit lessons and other workshops that may be of interest. As I think I've mentioned before, Learn To Knit lessons start on October 7th and Tracey and I are currently working out what other lessons may be of interest to our customers. If anyone has anything in particular they'd like us to cover, then please get in touch - either via the blog or by email to julia@knitwitspenzance.co.uk or on the good old phone - (01736) 367069.
For us knitters (and, indeed, parents) if often feels like September is the real "New Year" to us - the time when children move up a class at school and the re-start of the knitting season (for those, unlike me, who stop knitting for the summer - why?!!!); so it seemed like the right time to start classes and workshops.
It's also the time when loads of new yarns and new patterns come in - as you may have noticed - and, to that end, I have new patterns in the phenomenally popular Marble Chunky range. And there are some patterns for children (only girls, I'm afraid):
and for their mums:
I've also inputted all the Debbie Bliss Andes patterns. I can't decide what to knit but am very tempted by this:
As always - so many projects, so little time!
The good news is that eldest son (G) has told me that "all the girls are wearing knitwear in College - it's really trendy" - at last people - we are on trend and what we've all known all along is now known by the youngsters - knitwear is "cool"!!
So - I am ......................... (drumroll here, please) ........................ knitting a sweater for G!! Yes, 17 years old and he' requested a hand knit sweater, not too hot (college is boiling), not too expensive (in case he loses it), blue (but not all over blue as he'd then just look "blue" with jeans on as well) and nice and soft (obviously). FB couldn't quite believe the time it took to come up with the perfect combination (now he knows why some customers spend over an hour in here) but we came up with Bamboo Cotton in this colour:
with occasional stripes in this:
to break up the blue. I'm loving knitting it - my bog standard DK, round neck sweater with raglan sleeves pattern. Watch this space for G modelling it in about a month's time (it was a condition to me knitting it and he's agreed!).
The beady eyed amongst you might have noticed a new "Workshops" button on the front page of the site - right next to the "Blog" button. As a result of many requests, we've decided to launch a series of Learn To Knit lessons and other workshops that may be of interest. As I think I've mentioned before, Learn To Knit lessons start on October 7th and Tracey and I are currently working out what other lessons may be of interest to our customers. If anyone has anything in particular they'd like us to cover, then please get in touch - either via the blog or by email to julia@knitwitspenzance.co.uk or on the good old phone - (01736) 367069.
For us knitters (and, indeed, parents) if often feels like September is the real "New Year" to us - the time when children move up a class at school and the re-start of the knitting season (for those, unlike me, who stop knitting for the summer - why?!!!); so it seemed like the right time to start classes and workshops.
It's also the time when loads of new yarns and new patterns come in - as you may have noticed - and, to that end, I have new patterns in the phenomenally popular Marble Chunky range. And there are some patterns for children (only girls, I'm afraid):
and for their mums:
I've also inputted all the Debbie Bliss Andes patterns. I can't decide what to knit but am very tempted by this:
As always - so many projects, so little time!
The good news is that eldest son (G) has told me that "all the girls are wearing knitwear in College - it's really trendy" - at last people - we are on trend and what we've all known all along is now known by the youngsters - knitwear is "cool"!!
So - I am ......................... (drumroll here, please) ........................ knitting a sweater for G!! Yes, 17 years old and he' requested a hand knit sweater, not too hot (college is boiling), not too expensive (in case he loses it), blue (but not all over blue as he'd then just look "blue" with jeans on as well) and nice and soft (obviously). FB couldn't quite believe the time it took to come up with the perfect combination (now he knows why some customers spend over an hour in here) but we came up with Bamboo Cotton in this colour:
with occasional stripes in this:
to break up the blue. I'm loving knitting it - my bog standard DK, round neck sweater with raglan sleeves pattern. Watch this space for G modelling it in about a month's time (it was a condition to me knitting it and he's agreed!).
Monday, 20 September 2010
Knitting and Walking
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Before we went for our weekly walk, FB and I took a few pics of knitted garments for the website. If you've spent any time looking at patterns on the site, you'll have noticed that - occasionally - there's a picture at the top of the garment featured in the pattern as we've knitted it. So, for example, Debbie Bliss has done a garment in Fez like this:
and we've knitted it like this:
or Katia have done a top in Degrade like this:
and we/I have knitted it in Samba like this:
I always feel like a bit of a lemon when being photographed (I couldn't be a model for all the tea in China) but I think it does help to show the garments in lots of different ways.
The real surprise was this sweater:
which I'd never even tried on before as it's done in this colour:
which I thought was absolutely not my colour and something I'd never buy or wear and it turned out like this:
which FB thinks is his favourite jumper of them all!
After that we went for a walk. Straight from home and up the hill. This is the view from just above our house:
then along towards Greenbarrow Mine:
Look at these amazing colours:
Past the Nine Maidens standing stones: (FB getting a bit artistic at this point)
and on to Mulfra Quoit:
That huge stone I'm leaning against would have once sat on top of the others - if anyone can tell me how ancient man moved those giant lumps of granite, I'd love to know. View from the Quoit:
Then home via a lovely green lane:
For the true knitters amongst you, the purple jacket I'm wearing is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan (now, sadly, discontinued).
Next week's walk is as much a mystery to us as it is to you - watch this space!
Before we went for our weekly walk, FB and I took a few pics of knitted garments for the website. If you've spent any time looking at patterns on the site, you'll have noticed that - occasionally - there's a picture at the top of the garment featured in the pattern as we've knitted it. So, for example, Debbie Bliss has done a garment in Fez like this:
and we've knitted it like this:
or Katia have done a top in Degrade like this:
and we/I have knitted it in Samba like this:
I always feel like a bit of a lemon when being photographed (I couldn't be a model for all the tea in China) but I think it does help to show the garments in lots of different ways.
The real surprise was this sweater:
which I'd never even tried on before as it's done in this colour:
which I thought was absolutely not my colour and something I'd never buy or wear and it turned out like this:
which FB thinks is his favourite jumper of them all!
After that we went for a walk. Straight from home and up the hill. This is the view from just above our house:
then along towards Greenbarrow Mine:
Look at these amazing colours:
Past the Nine Maidens standing stones: (FB getting a bit artistic at this point)
and on to Mulfra Quoit:
That huge stone I'm leaning against would have once sat on top of the others - if anyone can tell me how ancient man moved those giant lumps of granite, I'd love to know. View from the Quoit:
Then home via a lovely green lane:
For the true knitters amongst you, the purple jacket I'm wearing is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan (now, sadly, discontinued).
Next week's walk is as much a mystery to us as it is to you - watch this space!
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Where Has This Week Gone?
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Not entirely sure where this week has gone but I am sure we have some wonderful new yarns for you. Briefly: Woodlander from James Brett:
20% wool, which knits into stripes but somehow looks almost felted when it's knitted - very clever. We've now knitted up a sample square so will photograph that so you can see what I mean.
Tints:
All over specks - again, sample square on its way.
There are also new colours in Marble DK and Marble Chunky - new patterns on their way too - possibly on Saturday if I find the time!
Finally we have the glorious new yarn from Debbie Bliss:
Andes is a DK alpaca/silk mix which is unbelievably soft, yet with a silky sheen - a real treat - even if just for a hat or scarf! I'm still deciding what to knit and with what colour but there's one thing for sure - I will be knitting something with this amazing yarn!
That's all Folks!! - look out for patterns on Saturday.
Not entirely sure where this week has gone but I am sure we have some wonderful new yarns for you. Briefly: Woodlander from James Brett:
20% wool, which knits into stripes but somehow looks almost felted when it's knitted - very clever. We've now knitted up a sample square so will photograph that so you can see what I mean.
Tints:
All over specks - again, sample square on its way.
There are also new colours in Marble DK and Marble Chunky - new patterns on their way too - possibly on Saturday if I find the time!
Finally we have the glorious new yarn from Debbie Bliss:
Andes is a DK alpaca/silk mix which is unbelievably soft, yet with a silky sheen - a real treat - even if just for a hat or scarf! I'm still deciding what to knit and with what colour but there's one thing for sure - I will be knitting something with this amazing yarn!
That's all Folks!! - look out for patterns on Saturday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
