We haven't had a book review for a while, have we? Let's rectify that:- Knitting and crochet often get a bad rap. Both crafts are regarded by some as the fast route to frumpy, style-less, doom*. And yeah, there are some... interesting patterns out there. But hey, it's not as though all the ready-made clothes that you can buy are super-stylish, either. Fortunately there are plenty of designers who do understand how to breathe elegance into their work, and a fair few of those people have Continue Reading
Linen Drape, A Mini-Review
Well goodness me! Based on your reactions, anyone would think my last post was a joke, instead of the Terribly Serious Piece Of Journalism that it actually was. But thank you for all the acryla-love. Maisie says hi. (It turns out that acrylas can get addictive. You know that phenomenon where people tell a lie so consistently that they start to believe it themselves? Meanwhile, thank you again to Jo Ray for making this gorgeous beast.) Anyway, enough about the serious matter of Continue Reading
Labels For Your Yarnery: A Review And A Discount
For those who've never tried it, I have to tell you: blogging is mostly fun. The very best thing about it is that you get to chatter online with likeminded folk. A smaller benefit is that sometimes, you're offered free things to review. Mostly this is stuff that's relevant to your readership but you do occasionally have to write emails saying, "Thank you, but I'm not sure your drain clearance products would be of very much interest to readers of my knitting and crochet blog". (It irks the Stoic Continue Reading
Look, It’s Hazel Tindall’s New DVD! (Also, We Have A Giveaway Winner)
So there I was, trying to persuade the twinnage to stop putting worms in each other's hair, when my phone pinged with an email from none other than Hazel Tindall. (By the way, there is an extremely lucky giveaway winner to announce, right at the end of this post.) Just in case she's not on your radar, Hazel Tindall is from Shetland and she's the world's fastest knitter. In the time it's taken you to read this sentence, she's finished off two fisherman's keps and a jumper. She's fast, and she Continue Reading
Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible: A Review
One of the magical things about knitting and crochet is the way that traditions vary a little from country to country, so you'll probably never run out of interesting things to discover. Let's talk about Japan. I confess that until recently, my awareness of Japanese yarn-related traditions extended not much further than amigurumi. I'm not proud of that fact. But then Tuttle Press sent me a review copy of Hitomi Shida's new book, Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible (translated into English by Gayle Continue Reading
Let’s Have A Look At A Bag
We haven't had a product review for a while, have we? (Other than books.) Let's remedy that. (Also, your comments on the previous post have left me wishing that I had tried that door.) So. I was contacted by a company called Adore Haberdashery, because they were struggling to contain their excitement about a knitting/crochet bag that they've begun to stock. Given that I view walking to places as valuable knitting-time, this definitely sounded interesting. (I'm usually the woman you see Continue Reading
Every Which Way Crochet Borders By Edie Eckman: A Review And A Giveaway
This book review is part of a blog tour* to celebrate the publication of Edie Eckman's new book: Every Which Way Crochet Borders. Waaaaaaaay across the Atlantic in the US, is a woman who likes to live life on the edge. She's based in Virginia** (which is on the edge of the US, you'll note. Coincidence? I THINK NOT.) And this month, she's brought out her second book about ornamental crochet borders. Y'see? Life on the edge. This woman adores borders. Can you imagine living in her house? Borders. Continue Reading
Prym Ergonomics Review
Sometimes an opportunity comes along at just the right moment. Having posted the other day about visiting the Knitting and Crochet Guild archive, I was thinking a lot about the historical changes – or rather, lack of changes – in the tools that we use to work our yarn. And right when I was pondering the matter, the German company Prym contacted me to say, “S’cuse me Twisted, we’ve just revolutionized the design of the knitting needle. Would you care to take a nosey?” Obviously, I said Continue Reading
‘Head Over Heels’ Sock Yarn Review
See these? These are happy feet. If it weren't for the fact that they're pointing skywards, then they'd probably be dancing. Badly. So be glad that they're safely away from the ground. The reason for their joy is no doubt obvious. It involves some splendidly colourful new sock yarn. You may have heard already, but a few months ago, Stylecraft launched a range of 4-ply sock yarn called Head Over Heels. It's 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon, and it comes in six different marvellously Continue Reading
The Mindfulness In Knitting, A Book Review
It's fairly rare for my day job (clinical psychologist) to collide with the knitting thing, but today a new book is published that spans both of these worlds, and I've been given the chance to review a copy. "Well if you absolutely insist," I said. Actually, that last bit is a lie: I jumped at the chance. Allow me to introduce you to The Mindfulness In Knitting by Rachael Matthews, published TODAY by Leaping Hare Press. It's rather a beauty, don't you think? Not that I'm superficial enough to Continue Reading