OK, would you like the free pattern for this fairisle cowl that I designed? You would? Well there's a link to the pattern near the bottom of this post. Enjoy! It's a fairly generous one size, that would fit an adult or teen. The version in the pictures was made using all 16 shades of Stylecraft Batik, but of course you could use fewer colours, or indeed a different DK/light-worsted yarn entirely. The cowl is worked in the round, so although you'll have a fair few ends to weave in, there's Continue Reading
Stylecraft Batik Yarn Review
It's about time I published a review of Batik, Stylecraft's brand new yarn. (Disclaimer: I didn't pay for the yarn, so clearly my fickle head has been turned by this freebie and not a single word of the following is to be trusted.) I wanted to thoroughly road-test the yarn before I wrote this, so I got the knitting needles out and started designing something that incorporated all sixteen shades:- You know what you need in the heat of August? A nice warm, fluffy cowl, that's what. So I Continue Reading
Quick And Easy Hack For Controlling Bobbins In Colourwork
In this post, an easy hack for how to control all those bobbins when you’re doing complex colourwork, especially intarsia. :-) Colourwork is a fantastic thing in knitting and crochet: it’s like painting with yarn – even painting in three dimensions, should you choose to engage in that level of crazy. I love most colourwork - stranded/fairisle especially, but also, slipped stitch work, and stripes. But I do not love intarsia*. Intarsia hurts my sanity. It’s a technique in which even the tiniest Continue Reading
It’s The Knitting And Stitching Show!
Wow, what a day. For those of you not in the UK, the Knitting And Stitching Show is the yarn-related event of the year in this country, held amidst the splendour of Alexandra Palace on a hill in London. It started today, and runs until Sunday. May I just at this point thank Stylecraft Yarns for my complimentary ticket - very much appreciated, you kind people. Settle in, my friends. This threatens to be a long post. With many photos. Help y'selves to some of that wine. There will be moments Continue Reading
The Carnival Bag, And The Stylecraft Giveaway!
Welcome to day five of the Stylecraft Blog Tour! Fancy a free pattern and a chance to win a whole caboodle of yarn, regardless of where in the world you are? Read on, Macduff... So, just for the benefit of anyone who is new round these 'ere parts, (hello at the back, there), a few months ago I co-judged Stylecraft yarn's competition to find a new shade for their range of Special DK. With me were the editor of Let's Knit magazine (who waited very patiently in the car park before we went in, Continue Reading
Story Of My Life
So shall we get back to discussing knitting and crochet? That said, I do have lots more 'musical' (I use that word very loosely) tales to tell you about The Purlz, if you'd like to hear them? Anyway, in other yarn-related news... A while ago, the Knitting And Crochet Guild (KCG) ran a competition with lovely Yarn Stories yarn to design knitted/crocheted squares inspired by the KCG historical collection. These squares were for a blanket. This was my entry: a crazy messy knitted hybrid of Continue Reading
Subverting The Medium Of Colourwork
Friday, my fine friend, you have been a long time coming this week. And by the way, ANYONE WHO RECEIVED AN EMAIL NOTIFYING YOU OF A BAG PATTERN POST THAT DOESN'T YET EXIST, PLEASE SEE THE END OF THIS POST! Anyway, the Knitting And Crochet Guild / Yarn Stories competition is closing. Did you enter? Best o' luck if you did. I can't wait to see everyone's entries when they're shown online. For anyone who hasn't seen it, the Knitting and Crochet Guild promotes both crafts within the UK and also Continue Reading
The Skirt Post
Ah, the skirt. (And thank you to the kind people in the comments threads who've been asking about it.) This post could probably be retitled 'How not to design a skirt, you fool!' but it will at least give you a laugh or two, I hope. For those of you who are new around these 'ere parts, allow me to elaborate. I decided on a whim to design a knitted stranded skirt and a crocheted bag, ahead of judging the Stylecraft competition. It seemed like a good idea. And whilst the bag was done in plenty Continue Reading
Hello West Yorkshire!
Another quick one. I've just arrived in Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, ahead of tomorrow's judging for the Stylecraft competition at their mill in Slaithwaite. If you entered, very good luck! I can't wait to see all the colours that you've sent in (although I'm a teeny tiny bit nervous about the objects that might have been sent in!!) I know that they've received loads of entries, so it'll be quite a (happy, colourful) task. Here's the view from my hotel room: rubbish photo on iPad camera because Continue Reading
This Isn’t Going To Work, Is it?
A quick one, my fine friends, because I'm knitting against a deadline. And for now, the deadline seems to be winning. :-( I haven't even drafted this post on paper; just opened the little flap in my brain behind which all the crazy lives, and let it all dribble out uncensored onto the keyboard. Consider y'self warned. And maybe fetch a stiff drink. So Tuesday is Stylecraft judging day with Lucy from Attic24, and having self-imposed this ridiculous deadline of designing/knitting a new skirt to Continue Reading