Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
The first double duvet night was FANTASTIC!! The best night's sleep I've had for a long time. For the record, FB (like Mr Beest in the comments) is a very hot person so he has one half of the double duvet and I have a single on top as well - perfect. I am quite liking the idea of wool duvets as well - environmentally friendly, breathable, warm with you, cool with you - may have to check them out.
Inputted a few patterns today but not all I'm afraid - sorry - more tomorrow, if you're lucky.
This weekend we're at Knit Expo in Exeter. It's in the Corn Exchange from 10-4 so please come along and say hello. We don't do many exhibitions/markets as
a) most of them are a very, very long way from Penzance;
b) most of them cost a small fortune to get into;
c) most of them last a couple of days and, by the time you've added on accommodation, eating and transport it's simply not worth our while.
Exeter, on the other hand is:
a) only 2 hours drive;
b) remarkably cheap for a table (well done Belinda!);
and c) one night in a Travelodge at Exeter Airport is probably within budget!
We're going to have a whole mix of things there - all the Keep Calm and Carry on merchandise, sari silk, sock wool, Cornish Organic wool and all sort of other yummy goodies.
See you there!
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
Tuesday, 9 November 2010
Double Duvets
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Phew - well winter has blown into Cornwall overnight - which I know is relative for those of you who have snow at the moment (we have friends in Oxfordshire who constantly remind us that, as we have a banana plant in our garden, we don't really know what winter is) - but for us it's damned cold and T and I have officially declared tonight as a "double duvet" night. Once started, it's unlikely to end until about March.
T has the added element of a hole in his bedroom window. This was caused by a small inter-sibling altercation culminating in one boy throwing a can of deodorant at second boy and second boy ducking. They have to pay for the new window out of their pocket money so, inevitably, there has been a hole (and howling gale) through T's bedroom for over two years now.
As a result of the inclement weather, the shop was quieter than of late so, as promised, I inputted patterns like a loony pattern inputter. In order for our system to work I have to input the quantity in stock, various sub-categories (like, for example, if the pattern is for babies, children, women etc) then what the pattern's for (jumper, jacket, cardigan etc), then the picture, size details, needle sizes and, finally, number of balls per size. So - as you can see - it's not quick but it makes the site work well and you seem to like it - which is the key thing.
I started with Katia patterns - which are always good sellers. We have some new ones in the phenomenally popular Azteca:
and for little girls:
Lots of lovely Astrakan for babies:
and Sugar 4ply for babies as well:
There's also a lovely dress for girls in Surprise:
So having done whack of patterns in Katia (those are just a sample), I started on the James Brett. First the new Fusion - 4 patterns for ladies - here's a sample:
and then the new Woodlander DK:
and then the new Tints DK:
So - as you can see, I've been busy and there are new Baby Marble and Merry Go Round patterns coming tomorrow and 2 new patterns in Brushstrokes Chunky.
For now I have to put the cats out (far harder when the weather's cold - Deidre, in particular, is a cunning little swine and hides under the table - as Eric only has three legs, he's easier to catch) - in case you're wondering they do have the back passage (as we charmingly call it) to sleep in but if we leave them in the house Eric has a revolting habit of sh***ing in the kitchen and all the other local cats have a habit of coming in too. Hearing a cat fight underneath your bedroom in the dead of night is not something you want to wake up to, trust me.
After that, it's time to put a cover on duvet number 2 - I'll be warm and cosy tonight!
Phew - well winter has blown into Cornwall overnight - which I know is relative for those of you who have snow at the moment (we have friends in Oxfordshire who constantly remind us that, as we have a banana plant in our garden, we don't really know what winter is) - but for us it's damned cold and T and I have officially declared tonight as a "double duvet" night. Once started, it's unlikely to end until about March.
T has the added element of a hole in his bedroom window. This was caused by a small inter-sibling altercation culminating in one boy throwing a can of deodorant at second boy and second boy ducking. They have to pay for the new window out of their pocket money so, inevitably, there has been a hole (and howling gale) through T's bedroom for over two years now.
As a result of the inclement weather, the shop was quieter than of late so, as promised, I inputted patterns like a loony pattern inputter. In order for our system to work I have to input the quantity in stock, various sub-categories (like, for example, if the pattern is for babies, children, women etc) then what the pattern's for (jumper, jacket, cardigan etc), then the picture, size details, needle sizes and, finally, number of balls per size. So - as you can see - it's not quick but it makes the site work well and you seem to like it - which is the key thing.
I started with Katia patterns - which are always good sellers. We have some new ones in the phenomenally popular Azteca:
and for little girls:
Lots of lovely Astrakan for babies:
and Sugar 4ply for babies as well:
There's also a lovely dress for girls in Surprise:
So having done whack of patterns in Katia (those are just a sample), I started on the James Brett. First the new Fusion - 4 patterns for ladies - here's a sample:
and then the new Woodlander DK:
and then the new Tints DK:
So - as you can see, I've been busy and there are new Baby Marble and Merry Go Round patterns coming tomorrow and 2 new patterns in Brushstrokes Chunky.
For now I have to put the cats out (far harder when the weather's cold - Deidre, in particular, is a cunning little swine and hides under the table - as Eric only has three legs, he's easier to catch) - in case you're wondering they do have the back passage (as we charmingly call it) to sleep in but if we leave them in the house Eric has a revolting habit of sh***ing in the kitchen and all the other local cats have a habit of coming in too. Hearing a cat fight underneath your bedroom in the dead of night is not something you want to wake up to, trust me.
After that, it's time to put a cover on duvet number 2 - I'll be warm and cosy tonight!
Monday, 8 November 2010
More New Yarns!
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
I have no idea where the days are going at the moment - apparently I last blogged 6 days ago but it feels like yesterday, so much has been going on.
If you check out the front page you'll see our new "Keep Calm and Carry on Knitting" range of accessories:
I think the idea was born about half way down the second, or possibly third, G&T one night and FB put his photoshopping skills to work and, voila, we had the artwork done. We have mugs, cards, posters and car stickers and I'm currently embroiled in a battle with the boys to get a sticker on our car. We currently have Cornwall Farmers and Help For Heroes and the like and they're not keen on a knitting sticker but then, as I point out, the car does have "Cornish Organic Wool" slapped down the sides of it, across the back and the bonnet so one little car sticker can't really lower the street cred much further than it already is. Don't worry, I'll have won the battle before the day is out. And, anyway, whose name appears on the ownership docs? Mine! Buy yours now and pass on the message!
We've got two new yarns on the site as well - Rustic Aran, which follows on from the popular Rustic DK range and is proving very popular in the shop - a nice range of colours:
There's also the new range of Fusion from James Brett. Fusion is a slightly textured, colour changing yarn with marl running through it too - very pretty. Patterns are to follow when I get a spare couple of hours (hoping that will be tomorrow):
We also had a new baby yarn in from Stylecraft - Merry Go Round - which is proving very popular already. Colours are lovely:
Baby patterns to follow.
Put like that, it doesn't seem like we've been up to much but we had a huge delivery in from Stylecraft last Monday (9 enormous sacks) and then James Brett on Thursday (4 enormous sacks). This means that we're currently very good on stock of all the yarns from these companies. We are also now stocking 2ply, 3ply and 4ply in Stylecraft's Wondersoft range so you know where to look when you're planning that 2ply baby blanket!
On the finished items front, the M-in-L and I sat down last weekend and worked out the lining for my Baba bag:
It was incredibly simple to make - just 2 balls of Baba, one for each side, then sewn together. Lining made slightly smaller and then handles which I sewed in between the lining and the knitting. Baba is an expensive wool (it is pure wool!) but, at just 2 balls, most of us can afford this lovely treat!
Yesterday I finished the most fantastic scarf - I absolutely love it - watch this space for photos. Now back to the sleeves of G's sweater! Talking of which, G took his driving theory test this morning and got 100%! Proud parents - well done, G! Tomorrow T has GCSE Maths - the stress is unbearable - good luck, T!
I'm going to get my knitting out, keep calm and carry on.
I have no idea where the days are going at the moment - apparently I last blogged 6 days ago but it feels like yesterday, so much has been going on.
If you check out the front page you'll see our new "Keep Calm and Carry on Knitting" range of accessories:
I think the idea was born about half way down the second, or possibly third, G&T one night and FB put his photoshopping skills to work and, voila, we had the artwork done. We have mugs, cards, posters and car stickers and I'm currently embroiled in a battle with the boys to get a sticker on our car. We currently have Cornwall Farmers and Help For Heroes and the like and they're not keen on a knitting sticker but then, as I point out, the car does have "Cornish Organic Wool" slapped down the sides of it, across the back and the bonnet so one little car sticker can't really lower the street cred much further than it already is. Don't worry, I'll have won the battle before the day is out. And, anyway, whose name appears on the ownership docs? Mine! Buy yours now and pass on the message!
We've got two new yarns on the site as well - Rustic Aran, which follows on from the popular Rustic DK range and is proving very popular in the shop - a nice range of colours:
There's also the new range of Fusion from James Brett. Fusion is a slightly textured, colour changing yarn with marl running through it too - very pretty. Patterns are to follow when I get a spare couple of hours (hoping that will be tomorrow):
We also had a new baby yarn in from Stylecraft - Merry Go Round - which is proving very popular already. Colours are lovely:
Baby patterns to follow.
Put like that, it doesn't seem like we've been up to much but we had a huge delivery in from Stylecraft last Monday (9 enormous sacks) and then James Brett on Thursday (4 enormous sacks). This means that we're currently very good on stock of all the yarns from these companies. We are also now stocking 2ply, 3ply and 4ply in Stylecraft's Wondersoft range so you know where to look when you're planning that 2ply baby blanket!
On the finished items front, the M-in-L and I sat down last weekend and worked out the lining for my Baba bag:
It was incredibly simple to make - just 2 balls of Baba, one for each side, then sewn together. Lining made slightly smaller and then handles which I sewed in between the lining and the knitting. Baba is an expensive wool (it is pure wool!) but, at just 2 balls, most of us can afford this lovely treat!
Yesterday I finished the most fantastic scarf - I absolutely love it - watch this space for photos. Now back to the sleeves of G's sweater! Talking of which, G took his driving theory test this morning and got 100%! Proud parents - well done, G! Tomorrow T has GCSE Maths - the stress is unbearable - good luck, T!
I'm going to get my knitting out, keep calm and carry on.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Felting
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Felting seems to have been growing in popularity of late and, with several new felting wools around, we thought we'd better get in on the act and have a go at some samples. First up is Rico Poems - very like Noro (aran weight) but not the Noro price (not quite the intricate Noro colours either if one is being brutally honest but jolly nice just the same). First of all we (when I say "we" here I'm obviously using the royal "we" and, in most cases, "we" means that I thought of the plan and Tracey did the knitting) knitted up a Poems scarf - moss stitch, 2 balls - lovely:
Then "we" knitted up the bag for felting. Actually in this case I did do quite a lot of the work as Tracey knitted up the pieces and then I crochet-joined them and then she sewed on the handles and bunged them in her washing machine and then I finished it off with a felted button loop and pretty button - talk about a joint project! In any event - it turned out fantastically well and exactly to the size quoted on the Rico pattern (which was pretty blinking spectacular):
Here they are together - knitted and felted:
I never cease to be amazed at what an fantastic fibre the humble sheep kindly produces for us every year.
So, after that cheering success we decided to have a go at the Rico Filz & Fun which is a wool designed specifically for felting. The knitted piece looks like this:
Despite the moss stitch edging it's still rolling a bit at the top and our highly trained photographer (FB) didn't pin in out - sorry. With gay abandon Tracey bunged it into her washing machine again and it came out like this:
Other side:
Hmmmm - so - if we're being absolutely honest - not quite what we were expecting. Very thick and stiff and not brilliantly colourful. Overfelting? Possibly. Try again:
Ah ha - slightly more what were expecting - felted but not overfelted - with the different colours showing but, frankly, no sign of the fairisle from the knitted original. So - what's the difference I hear you cry. Well people, I felted the pink one in the tumble drier thanks to brilliant customer's suggestion. It took longer than it should have done as I didn't know what on earth I was doing. It went a bit like this:
1. Bung knitting in tumble drier, put on for 5 minutes (or approx 2 rounds of 4ply shooting stocking);
2. Remove knitting and observe that absolutely nothing whatsoever has happened;
3. Replace knitting for 4 rounds of shooting stocking;
4. Remove - observe that still nothing has happened, consider that brilliant customer may, in fact, be having a laugh;
5. Engage brain. Wet knitting and replace along with a towel for added friction;
6. Knit 4 rounds of shooting stocking;
Repeat 5 & 6 again for about 16 more rounds of shooting stocking et voila - felted piece. Brilliant! The brilliance of this method is that you can keep checking as the felting proceeds which you can't do with a washing machine unless you have a top loader. The 3 squares together look like this:
If anyone was wandering past my house on Sunday afternoon and wondered why I was sitting on the floor in front of my tumble drier knitting a shooting stocking - now you know!
Felting seems to have been growing in popularity of late and, with several new felting wools around, we thought we'd better get in on the act and have a go at some samples. First up is Rico Poems - very like Noro (aran weight) but not the Noro price (not quite the intricate Noro colours either if one is being brutally honest but jolly nice just the same). First of all we (when I say "we" here I'm obviously using the royal "we" and, in most cases, "we" means that I thought of the plan and Tracey did the knitting) knitted up a Poems scarf - moss stitch, 2 balls - lovely:
Then "we" knitted up the bag for felting. Actually in this case I did do quite a lot of the work as Tracey knitted up the pieces and then I crochet-joined them and then she sewed on the handles and bunged them in her washing machine and then I finished it off with a felted button loop and pretty button - talk about a joint project! In any event - it turned out fantastically well and exactly to the size quoted on the Rico pattern (which was pretty blinking spectacular):
Here they are together - knitted and felted:
I never cease to be amazed at what an fantastic fibre the humble sheep kindly produces for us every year.
So, after that cheering success we decided to have a go at the Rico Filz & Fun which is a wool designed specifically for felting. The knitted piece looks like this:
Despite the moss stitch edging it's still rolling a bit at the top and our highly trained photographer (FB) didn't pin in out - sorry. With gay abandon Tracey bunged it into her washing machine again and it came out like this:
Other side:
Hmmmm - so - if we're being absolutely honest - not quite what we were expecting. Very thick and stiff and not brilliantly colourful. Overfelting? Possibly. Try again:
Ah ha - slightly more what were expecting - felted but not overfelted - with the different colours showing but, frankly, no sign of the fairisle from the knitted original. So - what's the difference I hear you cry. Well people, I felted the pink one in the tumble drier thanks to brilliant customer's suggestion. It took longer than it should have done as I didn't know what on earth I was doing. It went a bit like this:
1. Bung knitting in tumble drier, put on for 5 minutes (or approx 2 rounds of 4ply shooting stocking);
2. Remove knitting and observe that absolutely nothing whatsoever has happened;
3. Replace knitting for 4 rounds of shooting stocking;
4. Remove - observe that still nothing has happened, consider that brilliant customer may, in fact, be having a laugh;
5. Engage brain. Wet knitting and replace along with a towel for added friction;
6. Knit 4 rounds of shooting stocking;
Repeat 5 & 6 again for about 16 more rounds of shooting stocking et voila - felted piece. Brilliant! The brilliance of this method is that you can keep checking as the felting proceeds which you can't do with a washing machine unless you have a top loader. The 3 squares together look like this:
If anyone was wandering past my house on Sunday afternoon and wondered why I was sitting on the floor in front of my tumble drier knitting a shooting stocking - now you know!
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Stuff We've Been Knitting
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
Somehow the planets all aligned today and we had a spare half hour, a bag of garments to photograph, a camera and the sun shining so we shot out into the garden and rattled off some photos of things we've been knitting recently. Turns out I wasn't in the most photogenic of moods (blame the sun in my eyes if you will) but, here goes:
Riot waistcoat sent to us by King Cole - not knitted by us - Tracey would never in a million years allowed that really obvious join on the right front! I like it although we've agreed it doesn't necessarily suit those who are - how shall I put this - more generously endowed than I am. FB likes it as he says it makes me look more generously endowed than I actually am!
The pattern looks like this:
and it seems to suit her! Glad to see she's also having a slightly dodgy hair day.
Second garment is in King Cole Misty:
As you can see - FB cunningly blended this with the plant in the background (these things aren't just thrown together, you know). This sweater is lovely and light and only took 4 balls, which was a real bargain.
Third garment is my personal favourite. We took this pattern in King Cole Haze:
and shortened the sweater so it looks like this:
it only took 2 balls and, because of the ribbing, is very flattering - a good result all round (and, again, makes me look more endowed than I am [or is that just the angle and light?]).
You may remember, back in August when the sun was occasionally shining, I started a pair of socks for my brother for his birthday in Riot. Well - finally - here they are (to be fair, they've been finished for a couple of weeks and sitting in the bag waiting to be photographed):
I did Tracey's 2 needle/sewing up method and have to say, I'll never do it again!! Will stick to 4 needles in future but I'm glad I gave it a go. Am v pleased with the way they jolly nearly match. Bro will have his present just over 2 months late!
FB then had red sheep to photograph:
For some reason they've never been photographed properly before but they have now so you can now buy them (and all their friends) on the site - here.
After all that, Deidre came to see what the fuss was about:
Here he is quite clearly wondering what the h*"l those red things are:
and, quite possibly, debating whether they'd be worth eating.
Have a good weekend - extra hour in bed tonight - oh yes!
Somehow the planets all aligned today and we had a spare half hour, a bag of garments to photograph, a camera and the sun shining so we shot out into the garden and rattled off some photos of things we've been knitting recently. Turns out I wasn't in the most photogenic of moods (blame the sun in my eyes if you will) but, here goes:
Riot waistcoat sent to us by King Cole - not knitted by us - Tracey would never in a million years allowed that really obvious join on the right front! I like it although we've agreed it doesn't necessarily suit those who are - how shall I put this - more generously endowed than I am. FB likes it as he says it makes me look more generously endowed than I actually am!
The pattern looks like this:
and it seems to suit her! Glad to see she's also having a slightly dodgy hair day.
Second garment is in King Cole Misty:
As you can see - FB cunningly blended this with the plant in the background (these things aren't just thrown together, you know). This sweater is lovely and light and only took 4 balls, which was a real bargain.
Third garment is my personal favourite. We took this pattern in King Cole Haze:
and shortened the sweater so it looks like this:
it only took 2 balls and, because of the ribbing, is very flattering - a good result all round (and, again, makes me look more endowed than I am [or is that just the angle and light?]).
You may remember, back in August when the sun was occasionally shining, I started a pair of socks for my brother for his birthday in Riot. Well - finally - here they are (to be fair, they've been finished for a couple of weeks and sitting in the bag waiting to be photographed):
I did Tracey's 2 needle/sewing up method and have to say, I'll never do it again!! Will stick to 4 needles in future but I'm glad I gave it a go. Am v pleased with the way they jolly nearly match. Bro will have his present just over 2 months late!
FB then had red sheep to photograph:
For some reason they've never been photographed properly before but they have now so you can now buy them (and all their friends) on the site - here.
After all that, Deidre came to see what the fuss was about:
Here he is quite clearly wondering what the h*"l those red things are:
and, quite possibly, debating whether they'd be worth eating.
Have a good weekend - extra hour in bed tonight - oh yes!
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Rizos Is On The Site!!
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
For once I've actually kept my promise and the new scarf yarn, Rizos, is on the site! It's another one of these fab trendy scarves and is sure to sell out ridiculously fast so buy now to avoid disappointment - no, really - do! I expect it will all be gone by Monday. It looks like this when knitted:
I got my new varifocal glasses today - very weird - and have realised that FB's new, fab computer screen is too wide for the glasses so the edges are out of focus - have to move my head to read from one side to the other - am concerned I might look a tad stupid but at least there's no-one else in the office to see! Can't decide whether to cycle in them tomorrow or not - could be a bit dodgy.
For once I've actually kept my promise and the new scarf yarn, Rizos, is on the site! It's another one of these fab trendy scarves and is sure to sell out ridiculously fast so buy now to avoid disappointment - no, really - do! I expect it will all be gone by Monday. It looks like this when knitted:
I got my new varifocal glasses today - very weird - and have realised that FB's new, fab computer screen is too wide for the glasses so the edges are out of focus - have to move my head to read from one side to the other - am concerned I might look a tad stupid but at least there's no-one else in the office to see! Can't decide whether to cycle in them tomorrow or not - could be a bit dodgy.
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
New Patterns!
Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk
We've been busy, busy, busy again today but, in between serving customers, I managed to update some patterns on the site. Two new patterns for babies and small children in King Cole's wonderful Bamboo Cotton:
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two for children in the incredibly popular Splash:
.jpg)
.jpg)
and a load of patterns in the new yarn "Twist" - some for children:
.jpg)
some for ladies:
.jpg)
.jpg)
and even one for men!:
.jpg)
I've also uploaded the new Debbie Bliss magazine, which is full of fairisle and flying out of the shop - so get your copy now if you want one:
.jpg)
and the latest edition of Inside Crochet (which includes a pattern for mittens in Cornish Organic Wool!:
.jpg)
Tomorrow I'll be inputting the latest scarf yarn from Katia - Rizos - which is flying out just as fast as the Can Can and Triana. By the time I got Triana onto the system, I think we only had 6 balls left - sorry! We'll get more in soon and I'll let you know when it's here - it knits up like Can Can and looks like this:
Rizos costs just £8.49 and one ball knits a scarf. These new yarns are brilliant and look fantastic and are really easy to knit. You'll need to order as soon as they're on the system though as I reckon they'll all be gone by Monday!
Weather was grim today so I didn't cycle but still had a slice of rich chocolate birthday cake when I came home - very naughty! Forecast is better for tomorrow so I'll work it off on my trusty velocipede. Never forget - a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!
We've been busy, busy, busy again today but, in between serving customers, I managed to update some patterns on the site. Two new patterns for babies and small children in King Cole's wonderful Bamboo Cotton:
copy-3.jpg)
.jpg)
two for children in the incredibly popular Splash:
.jpg)
.jpg)
and a load of patterns in the new yarn "Twist" - some for children:
.jpg)
some for ladies:
.jpg)
.jpg)
and even one for men!:
.jpg)
I've also uploaded the new Debbie Bliss magazine, which is full of fairisle and flying out of the shop - so get your copy now if you want one:
.jpg)
and the latest edition of Inside Crochet (which includes a pattern for mittens in Cornish Organic Wool!:
.jpg)
Tomorrow I'll be inputting the latest scarf yarn from Katia - Rizos - which is flying out just as fast as the Can Can and Triana. By the time I got Triana onto the system, I think we only had 6 balls left - sorry! We'll get more in soon and I'll let you know when it's here - it knits up like Can Can and looks like this:
Rizos costs just £8.49 and one ball knits a scarf. These new yarns are brilliant and look fantastic and are really easy to knit. You'll need to order as soon as they're on the system though as I reckon they'll all be gone by Monday!
Weather was grim today so I didn't cycle but still had a slice of rich chocolate birthday cake when I came home - very naughty! Forecast is better for tomorrow so I'll work it off on my trusty velocipede. Never forget - a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips!
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