January Sale!!

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

Yes, it's that time of year again when we take stock (literally) of discontinued yarns, packs of yarn which just aren't selling (for whatever reason) {and why some aren't selling remains a continuing mystery} and final packs of one colour {very often a really lovely colour} and we discount them and put them up for sale so we can make room for new lovely spring and summer yarns!

For those of you in the Penzance area, most of these packs are now proudly displayed in our window and for those of you not lucky enough to live in deepest, darkest Cornwall these packs are now on the site in our "SALE PACKS" area.

Most are in packs of 10 but some are more and just a few are less so, for example, the last 8 balls of Adriafil's wonderful pure wool Baba are now packed up and reduced by 25%:

 (you see what I mean, why is that gorgeous colour the last one left?) - or, indeed, this last pack of Monello (11 balls in the pack, 25% off):

There is also 25% off last few packs of Debbie Bliss Fez (85% merino, 15% camel) and 25% off the very last few packs of Debbie's Bella ( 85% cotton, 10% silk, 5% cashmere) 3 colours with 3 different quantities - what's not to love?!

And the last 10 balls of this gorgeous Duo Plus from Adriafil:

Check our the sale pages - once they're gone, they're gone!!

Christmas is For Walking!!

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

Well ... tomorrow has arrived (and nearly gone) and still no sign of phone or internet, although there are lots of men in BT jackets and hard hats up and down ladders and poles in the vicinity of our house so we're keeping everything crossed.   It's really quite amusing when you phone up (from work) to try and find out what's going on to be told that there's a "hole" in your line - well, yes, I guess that is what happens when a lightening bolt thwacks through your line and into your house.  We count ourselves lucky; our neighbour's entire electricity fuse box blew off her wall - she came home late on Friday and couldn't understand why we all had power and she didn't!

In between the eating, drinking, lashing rain and howling winds, we managed some wonderful walking over the festive period.  Here, in no particular order, are a few views of the glorious area where I'm lucky enough to live:

 

Guy and I at Mulfra Quoit (burial mound):

Avoiding bogs on Boxing Day!:

 At Zennor Quoit (another burial mound):

Going home:

Farewell 2013 and Welcome 2014 - With A Bang!

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

This is the time of year when every blogger reflects on the past 12 months and looks forward to the next 12 and I am no exception.

Without getting too gloomy, 2013 was a difficult year for us with 3 funerals in as many weeks in March, one of which was under such shocking and tragic circumstances that - in all honesty - none us have really recovered even now.  On the upside we achieved a long held ambition and went cycling through Cambodia, which was simply out of this world, and the boys went on to travel through Asia together which was a great success.  But, on balance we were all looking forward to putting 2013 behind us and welcoming 2014 with open arms - and what a welcome we got!

Early on Friday morning as the wind howled and the rain lashed, we heard the first ominous rumble of thunder.  Having lost numerous computer modems to lightening, FB shot downstairs and unplugged our phone lines, the computers and everything else he could think of.  Thank goodness he did!  At 8.15am there was an almighty Bang and Crash as our house was hit by lightening!

What had, in fact, happened was the electricity pole in the field above our house was hit and the force then shot down the electricity telephone lines and our line is screwed into the chimney at the top of the house and that is where the lightening hit!  Unfortunately for poor Guy, this is right next to his bed - which got him out of bed with a major start, as a blue flash thwacked through his room - apparently lightening makes a "thwacking" noise as it shoots past your head!

This is what lightening does to a telegraph pole:

And this is how far bits of the telegraph pole fly when it's hit by lightening:

That piece of wood, people, is some 100m from the pole - thank goodness there were no cows in the field.

Amazingly, the power was restored within 9 hours (well done Western Power Distribution!) but we're still waiting for phones and, consequently, internet.  Luckily all shop work is done here in the shop but poor Guy desperately needs to get some University work done so he's been here in the shop with me today (which is really quite nice but I'm not sure he feels the same!).

There was a lot of knitting done in 2013 and there's been quite a lot in 2014 too - it's amazing how much time you have when you haven't got a phone or access to all the nonsense on the internet!  All being well, "normality" will return tomorrow.

Happy 2014!

Christmas Ideas Part III - Sparkly Socks!

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

Just in time for Christmas we have some fabulous sparkly sock yarn from Opal - who can resist?! The colours are inspired by the artist Hundertwasser so they are gorgeous and the sparkle just makes everything so lovely and festive!  Here they are:

Now the only problem is, which colour first?!

Got Milk?

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

Those of you who have been reading this for a while may remember that, back in July 2011, we were lucky enough to be invited to the wedding of some good friends of ours:

It was a glorious and very happy day and, as Stephen is a dairy farmer, there was something of a cow theme going on:

Roll on 2.5 years and, as is the way of these things (if you're lucky), a small addition to the family has now arrived - baby Henry.  So, what do you give a baby of dairy farmers?  A blanket with cows on it, of course!:

I knitted the blanket back in the summer and then waited for his arrival before crocheting on a suitable coloured edging and swiss darning his initials.

Welcome to the world wee Henry - you're a very lucky boy to have a set of truly lovely parents.

(We'll have to open a book on whether his first word will be "tractor" or "cow"!!)

Christmas Ideas Part II

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

For those of you wondering about the title, Christmas Ideas Part I was our mugs:

Christmas ideas Part II are hats; specifically my Furetto Edged Hat:

This hat uses one ball of Life Chunky and one ball of Adriafil Furetto - however, in fact, it only uses half a ball of the Life Chunky so with an extra ball of Furetto you can knit two hats!!

We had a Stylecraft delivery yesterday so now have more colours of the chunky so - as well as the combination shown (Life Chunky "Crocus" teamed with Furetto shade 71) you can also team:

Life Chunky "Olive":

with Furetto green (shade 75):

Life Chunky "Oatmeal":

with Furetto beige (shade 77):

and Life Chunky "Black":

with Furetto black (shade 78):

Two balls of Furetto and one ball of Life Chunky is just £15.33 - which, for 2 hand knitted, fur edged, warm and cosy hats, is a bargain if ever I heard of one!

What's more - the pattern is free when you buy the Furetto yarn!!

It's 5 weeks today - you have been warned!!

"Keep Calm and Carry On Knitting" Mugs Back In Stock!!

Knitwits Yarns knitwitspenzance.co.uk

I'm really not one for doing anything Christmassy until December and I certainly don't put any decorations up until Christmas Lights Switch on in Penzance (30th November in case you're in the area) but, on the other hand, like most people I have started putting odd things away as and when I see them.

This year Tom will be in New Zealand for a hot and sunny Yuletide so I'm very conscious of last posting dates for him (although we have managed to find a local supermarket in Christchurch which will deliver gifts of food and alcohol to him - which, let's face it - is what he'll most appreciate!).

If, like me, you are gathering ideas and frantically knitting gifts then we have a few ideas here at Knit Wits to help inspire you.  For knitters in your life (and if you are a knitter and would like one of these then do send the link to someone near and dear to you!) our Keep Calm and Carry on Knitting Mugs are firm favourites:

We order these locally and there was a delay with our latest order but they are now back in stock in good time - hoorah!  Still only £6.99 + P&P these make a perfect stocking filler or present for a knitting tea (or coffee) drinker!

Here in the shop the absolute number one favourite present being knitted is a cowl made from Debbie Bliss Angel Prints - balls are literally flying out to be knitted into these quick and easy cowls - a really simple knit (5mm circular needles and 100 sts) and just one ball - perfect for presents and a fantastic range of colours: (also available in plain colours for those who don't want the stripes)

Top tip: make sure you cast on - and off - LOOSELY!

Next week - more ideas for quick, warm and cosy presents - only 5.5 weeks to go!!