Knitting on holidays

Taking your knitting with you on holiday

One of the best times you catch up on your knitting and crochet projects is when you're on your summer holiday. All those hours spent killing time at airports, on planes, trains and boats is time that could easily be spent casting on and getting stuck into the first few inches of a new project. If you're not driving, so much the better: plonk your knitting bag by your feet, strap yourself into the passenger seat and get those needles clacking. Take it from us, you can get through an awful lot of stocking stitch in a round trip from London to Cornwall. Given the unpredictable British summer, working on a cover-up on your way to week away makes a lot of sense.

If you're traveling overseas, you'll probably need to pack light. A small crochet or knitting project such as a child's top is ideal. You might need to plan ahead about how to transport it, though. Airlines have differing policies about what you can take in your hold luggage. Aviation regulations state that you can take your knitting and crochet with you on international flights leaving the UK, but we wouldn't take a bet on you managing to get your favourite 30cm needles past security.

Short bamboo and plastic needles with blunt ends have a better chance of being waved through, but you're still at the mercy of the whims and mood of the airline ground staff and the airport security staff.

Single Point Bamboo Knitting Needles

Security advice changes frequently, so check current rules about what you can and can't take onboard in the terms of carriage for your airline as well as on international aviation websites. A piece of yarn onto which you can thread your in-progress knitting is a wise precaution. Some airlines confiscate projects as well as the projects they're on, so don't take a favourite project on your trip.

Don't take aviation policy as gospel either: Gatwick Airport has recently changed its policy and now expressly prohibits knitting needles. Crochet hooks may be okay as they are less likely to be seized on as 'sharp objects that could be used as a weapon'. As if!

Other airports that are part of the same airport group as Gatwick now also ban knitting needles, so if you've previously snuck some bamboo needles through in your hand luggage at Manchester Airport or Edinburgh, you may have to rethink your plans for what to pack.

We've taken circular needles on Easyjet and other European airlines without fuss (in fact, the Easyjet cabin crew thought it was a great idea and thought they might follow our lead and take up knitting in between shifts too). However, the Easyjet dangerous goods page says knitting needles mustn't be carried on the person or in the cabin, so perhaps we just got lucky.

At the BA check-in desk at Heathrow Terminal 5 they told us we couldn't take knitting needles in our hand luggage (until we waved a piece of paper showing the airport's regulations contradicting them). Internal US flights specifically say you're allowed to take your knitting stuff with you (as long as scissors are blunt and shorter than 4in), but whether you make it through security with them is down to security staff's discretion.

On flights from Stansted, for example, the security policy is that knitting needles are allowed.

Eurostar says it's happy for passengers to take and use knitting needles as long as you don't walk around the carriage brandishing them.

You can take a print-out of the rules stating that you're allowed to carry your crochet hook or needles, but there are plenty of anecdotes online of people still coming up against airport staff who won't let you through security with them.

In summary, your best bet is to make tracks for the US, since you can knit onboard when leaving the UK and on your return and spend a blissful 12 hours knitting in each direction. Or you could take a train (perhaps the Eurostar) or enjoy a staycation instead.

Bamboo Ciurcular Knitting Needles

Julieta who knits anywhere and everywhere says: "if you want to take your knitting onboard I would recommend to take circular bamboo needles they are shorter and look less threatening. I would also recommend to take cheap needles, that you don't mind loosing (just in case) and a spare string so if they take the needles off you you can at least safe your knitting and get a new set when you arrive on your holiday destination."

One last thing for you to consider, the policies from your returning country or airport will most likely be different again! So make sure you are prepared and know the rules and policies in other countries and airports.

Links to this blog:

Easyjet dangerous goods page: http://www.easyjet.com/en/dangerous-goods

Gatwick Airport security advice: http://www.gatwickinformation.co.uk/gatwick-airport-INF-information-security-rest-proh.php

Heathrow Airport security advice: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/faqs

knitshop.co.uk bamboo needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/278-bamboo-single-point

knitshop.co.uk bamboo crochet hooks: http://knitshop.co.uk/290-bamboo-crochet-hook

knitshop.co.uk circular needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/309-metal-circular

Manchester Airport security advice: http://www.manchesterairportflightarrivals.co.uk/manchester-airport-INF-information-security-restr-proh.php

Stansted Airport security advice: http://www.stanstedairport.com/stansted-airport-guide/airport-security/security-faqs#Sharpitems

Eurostar knitting needle statement: https://www.facebook.com/eurostar/posts/10151128733736426

UK government aviation rules: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items

US TSA regulations: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items#4

Product of the Month July

Look chic in a classic summer top

This Attractive Affair is a fantastic classic summer knit. This vintage short-sleeved top can be worn as either a loose-fitting jumper or as a jacket. It’s quite the number to be seen wearing as you stroll down the promenade on the French Riviera.

Devised by wonderful vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford, This Attractive Affair is a loving recreation of a garment from the 1940s. The two-tone colour scheme is an exact match for the colours that would have been available to knitters in the early part of the 20^th century too: the pattern has been specially designed for Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn. The shades for this 100 percent mercised cotton yarn were handpicked by Susan, who is renowned for her painstaking research into all aspects of vintage knitwear.

This Attractive Affair

The shades of Coquette used in our version are Oyster and Wine. However, there are now 13 shades of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn to choose from as we have recently added Sapphire, Carnation and Snow to the range.

This Attractive Affair requires between eight and 13 balls of Coquette for the main colour, plus three to five 50g balls of the contrast colour. Instructions are given for 32in to 48in busts. Since the colours are changed at the end of a row, you don’t need to have much experience with colourwork in order to make this lovely top.

Julieta wearing This Attractive Affair

The main part of the garment is knitted in four pieces, with both main body pieces knitted side-to-side. You then knit the side panels in the more usual top-up manner. The jumper’s set-in sleeves are also knitted sideways and have separate cuffs grafted on to them. The intriguing oversized collar is made from four small pieces. The pattern is knitted on straight 3.25mm needles. You will also need four small buttons.

This Attractive Affair is one of 79 patterns featured in Susan Crawford’s book A Stitch In Time Volume 2, which you can buy from knitshop.co.uk along with the needles and Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn you’ll need to make this striking garment. 

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn

This Attractive Affair was featured in the current issue of The Knitter as a pattern on page 41. We currently stock a limited amount of printed pattern that are available to purchase from the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green or per mail order +(0)20 7099 8864

Coquette usually costs £4.95 for a 50g ball of 125m of mercerised cotton. As the newest addition to the knitshop.co.uk range of yarns, Coquette is available for just £4.45 per ball for a limited time.

Previous blogs about A Stitch In Time 2 

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/stitch-in-time-volume-2-is-finally.html

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/pictures-of-stitch-in-time-vol-2-using.html

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk: http://www.knitshop.co.uk

This Attractive Affair pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/this-attractive-affair

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Susan Crawford Vintage: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html

A Stitch In Time Volume 2: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/patterns-magazines-books/2141-a-stitch-in-time-2.html

July Workshops

Boost your crochet skills this July

Summer lends itself to cool cottons and lighter knits, so this month’s workshops focus on some of the more delicate projects you can get stuck into.

We start July with a crochet class covering how to read a pattern containing instructions for lacework. Our Lace Crochet workshop on Friday 12 July is ideal for anyone who knows how to crochet and wants to learn how to combine the tight chains of double and treble crochet with the more open fabric that you can create with lace. We’ll build on the basic doubles you know to how make and show you how to make double doubles, slips and half trebles to add variety to your crochet design. We’ll be using fine crochet threads and small steel crochet hooks, so prepare to concentrate in order to complete your first lacy crochet project. 

If you like the idea of crochet but haven’t yet mastered holding a crochet hook and turning chains, our Crochet For Beginners class on Friday 19 July is just for you. We’ll use the techniques demonstrated in this two-hour class to get you started on your first crochet ‘make’. Choose whether you’d prefer to crochet a flower or to learn how to make a classic Granny square. 

Crochet Cotton Granny Square

With the school holidays starting later this month, we’ll also be offering two classes aimed at under-16s. Our Let’s Get Hooked class on Friday 19 July and 26 July shows kids aged over five how to knit with their fingers. Those who quickly master the technique of finger-knitting will then get the chance to try their hand at crochet.

All classes are held at our Outlet Boutique at 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ from 11am to 1pm. 

Workshop at the Boutique Outlet

We’ll provide all the materials needed for each class and, where relevant, give you a pattern to take away with you so you can complete a project you started in our workshop at home. We’ll also provide plenty of support, so feel free to email or call us should you get stuck with a project we’ve shown you in our classes.

Note that children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times when attending knitshop.co.uk classes. Hot and cold refreshments will be provided.

Once you’ve learned the basics you’ll be able to try making some of the downloading projects in our pattern library or featured in our magazines. We’ve a great selection of cotton yarns and crochet hooks to get you started.

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk Cotton Yarn range: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/22-cotton-yarn

Metal crochet hooks: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/311-metal-crochet-hook

Crochet For Beginners, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2793-beginners-crochet-workshop.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2791-lets-get-hooked.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 26 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2792-lets-get-hooked.html

Woolfest 2013

Meet knitshop founder Julieta Brandao at Woolfest

We’re delighted to tell you that knitshop.co.uk will be at this year’s Woolfest, helping vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford show off the fantastic garments that you can make using Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn.

Woolfest is one of the longest-established and most popular knitting events in the UK. The two-day show takes place in Cockermouth in Cumbria on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June. It’s held at Mitchel’s Livestock Centre, which means there are plenty of wooly friends to meet too. In fact, Woolfest is one of the few events at which farmers sell raw fleeces.

knitshop.co.uk founder and designer Julieta Brandao will be on the Susan Crawford Vintage stall at Woolfest. She and Susan worked together on the composition and colours for Coquette. The beautiful yarn is made of 100 percent mercerised cotton. It is tightly spun and knits to a 28 stitches by 36 rows tension on 3.25mm needles. 

 

Susan has recreated many of the patterns from her A Stitch In Time Volume 1 and A Stitch In Time Volume 2 books especially for Coquette. The books feature 75 patterns lovingly recreated from classic patterns of the 1930 to 1950s. You can buy Susan’s books from the knitshop.co.uk Bookshop.

Some of Susan’s wonderful designs from A Stitch In Time are available as single patterns through knitshop.co.uk. For example, her stunning Tropicana vest looks amazing knitted in Coquette Canary. You’ll be able to see many of these at Woolfest. Exclusive to Woolfest are the single pattern, Julieta's favourite 'This Attractive Affair' and 'Ribbon Threaded Jumper'

 

This Attractive Affair in Wine and Oyster

You can buy Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn direct from knitshop.co.uk for a specialist introductory price of £4.45 per 50g ball. It usually costs £4.95 per ball. of course, we’ll be selling it on the Susan Crawford Vintage stall at Woolfest.

Ribbon Threaded Jumper in Pumpkin

Julieta is most excited about attending Woolfest again, after having had a stand 2 years in a row she wasn't able to go back for 3 years due to her now nearly 3 year old son and the distance from London to Cockermouth. 

Tickets to Woolfest cost £8 per day, or £14 for a two-day ticket. There are no concessionary rates for this event. Just turn up at Woolfest and buy a ticket on the door. Doors open at 10am on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June. The event closes each day at 5pm.

Links to this blog:

A Stitch In Time Volume 2: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/patterns-magazines-books/2141-a-stitch-in-time-2.html

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Knitshop.co.uk Bookshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/166-book-shop

Susan Crawford Vintage: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com

Tropicana Vest pattern: http://webmail.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2778-tropicana.html

Woolfest Cumbria: http://woolfest.co.uk

Katy Tee Cotton Top

Sophisticated Katy Tee Cotton Top pattern

Recreate the glamour of the early 20^th century with a gorgeous fitted top that sparkles and draws the eye. knitshop.co.uk’s Katy Tee Cotton Top looks fabulous in deep, dramatic shades such as Wine or Amethyst. Add gold or silver coloured beads to amp up the luxe effect. 

Katy Tee Cotton Top from Knit issue 41 in Wine

The Katy Tee Cotton Top is an easy knit that looks stunning. The pattern covers dress sizes 8 to 18 and knits to a 4ply tension.

Katy is knitted using Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn and finished with ‘rocaille’ seed beads. This delicate beaded edge makes it feel very glamorous. Designed by Meg Crowther, it has a distinctive vintage feel thanks to the defined shaping around the waist. Most of the pattern consists of stocking stitch, with the shaping worked by decreasing at either end of a row.

Julieta wearing Katy Tee in Amethyst with purple beads

Meg says, “While looking around for a design for parties, I felt the beading around the hem and sleeves would add that little bit of sparkle and glamour.”

Katy is a great showcase for knitshop.co.uk’s brand-new Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn, which creates fine knitted fabrics that drape flatteringly over your curves. The crisp cotton holds its shape well and really shows off the pattern. Beads are added at the start of each piece so you don’t need to thread them as you go. Just count the stitches as you cast on and slip a gold or silver bead firmly into position. The pattern makes it clear when you need to place another bead.

Katy looks elegant teamed with wide-legged, floor-skimming trousers, linens and high heels or with a pencil skirt. We’ve used the bold Amethyst shade of Coquette yarn for our version of Katy. For a completely different, but equally stunning effect, choose one of the paler shades of Coquette and use brightly-coloured beads. Rocaille glass beads are available in lots of different colours, while Coquette comes in 13 delicate and more striking shades.

You’ll need between 8 and 13 balls of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn to knit Katy, plus three 3.25mm needles (a pair, plus an extra needle so you can finish with a neat three-needle castoff). You will also need around 130g - 190g of size 6 Rocaille beads to complete this sophisticated garment. 

Sleeve with beads

Katy Tee Cotton Top was originally featured in Knit Magazine, issue 41 using the colour Wine.

And the best at the end...... use the Voucher Code below to download Katy for free today. Voucher Code: KatyTee2013

Links to this blog:

Katy Tee Cotton Top pattern: http://webmail.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2798-katy.html

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Coquette Amethyst yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/coquette-vintage-cotton/2779-amethyst-coquette.html

3.2mm bamboo needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1564-325mm-dp-13cm.html

Beadmonster Rocaille glass beads: http://www.beadmonster.co.uk/page3.htm

Meg Crowther Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/meg-crowther

Product of the Month June

Get set for summer with this Tropicana vest pattern. 

The sun is shining steadily and shows no sign of leaving, so it’s hardly a surprise that at knitshop.co.uk our thoughts have turned to summery knits. With a brand-new yarn to experiment with, we can’t wait to get our needles out and give Susan Crawford’s Tropicana vest a try. 

Tropicana by Susan Crawford

We’ve recently launched our own vintage cotton yarn range, known as Coquette. The 4ply all-cotton yarn, developed in partnership with respected knitwear author and designer Susan Crawford, is perfect for lightweight spring and summer knits. It’s also bang up to date thanks to the vogue for all things vintage and the popularity of Downton Abbey and the new Great Gatsby film. 

Tropicana knitted in Yellow Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn

Tropicana is a fantastically-detailed pear-and-trellis pattern top that offers a figure-hugging ribbed fit and falls flatteringly beneath the bust. Team it with linen trousers or a pair of shorts for a casual holiday look. Previously available as a recommended pattern for our Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn, we’ve updated Tropicana to knit using Coquette. 

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn

This brand-new yarn knits up into garments with beautiful drape while also showing off the finest detail in your patterns. In other words, Coquette rewards you for the extra effort involved in knitting more complex designs. We think the more eye-catching shades in the 12-strong Coquette yarn range work especially well for Tropicana. If Canary yellow isn’t your colour, Aquamarine or Pumpkin will look every bit as good. 

Canary Coquette Vintage Cotton

You’ll need six skeins of Coquette and a pair of 3.25mm needles. Choose a contrasting shade of ribbon to complete the look. As if the pattern and the challenge of a new yarn weren’t enough to tempt you to get the needles clicking, we are also running an introductory offer on Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn. A 50g (125m) ball usually costs £4.95, but for a limited period we’ve discounted them to £4.45 each. 

Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn

The Tropicana Vest pattern is available as an instant PDF download in versions for either Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn or Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn. Grab a copy now and make a start on your summer holiday wardrobe. Just imagine how good you’ll look in Tropicana once you’ve a tan to show off!

Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn, Oranke, Ice Blue, Teal, Yellow, Light Pink and Dark Silver Grey

Tropicana by Susan Crawford

Links to this blog:

Tropicana Vest pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2778-tropicana.html

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Mulberry Silk Twist Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/31-mulberry-silk-twist

3.25mm bamboo needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/2063-325mm-100cm-bamboo-circulars.html

Susan Crawford blog: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html

June Activities and Workshops

Choose from 10 knitting and crochet classes this June

If you’d like to take your knitting or crochet skills to the next level, it makes sense to use a workshop to set you on the right course. As well as helping you master a new technique, you’ll learn about common pitfalls that can throw you off course – and how to avoid them. No one likes having to unpick their work and redo it, so you may as well learn how to get it right first time. Being shown how to do something is a lot easier than following instructions in a book too. Though YouTube tutorials can help, there’s no substitute for personal tuition where you can ask questions of a professional tutor.

Julieta teaching Marcia at a knitting workshop

All of knitshop.co.uk’s classes are tutored in small groups of no more than eight. Classes progress at a pace to suit you, with all materials for a project provided. You can choose whichever colours of yarn you wish. We also offer as much post-workshop support as you need. We’ll always help out if you get stuck completing a project.

June’s workshop schedule gets under way with our knitting class for kids, Swing The Needles. This two-hour introduction to either knitting or crochet introduces under 16s to essential needlecraft techniques. They’ll learn to cast on and knit their first few rows. Using these skills they’ll be able to make their first knitted items such as a purse or mobile phone case.

Halloween Kids knitting workshop at Lee High Road

We’ll also be holding our improvers’ knitting class on Saturday 1 June. Intended for anyone who knows how to knit and purl, Knitting: The Next Step covers how to increase and decrease stitches – essential techniques for making your first garments.

Sugar And Spice Ginger Pattern in Mulberry Silk Twist

Once you’ve learned how to increase and decrease you’ll be able to tackle projects such as Sugar And Spice Ginger Top, a flattering ladies’ top that hugs your curves knitted in Mulberry Silk yarn, you may remember the blog about Mulberry Silk Twist and Sugar And Spice Ginger Top. Alternatively, you could try knitting the Simply Wool Waistcoat. Our pattern is suitable for kids up to four years old. It looks great in either a single shade or the two colours of Simply Wool yarn we’ve used. Just change yarn colour at the end of the rows indicated.

We’re also holding several classes on colourwork this month. Learn about different ways of incorporating multiple colours at our dedicated Knitting With Colour class on 8 June, or focus on Fair Isle knitting on Saturday 15 June. You’ll learn how to knit a Fair Isle Wrist Warmer.

If crochet is your thing, check out our Crochet In Colour or Crochet A Coloured Square classes on 7 and 21 June. We’re also holding a special Increasing And Decreasing in Crochet workshop on Friday 14 June designed to help you move on from making granny squares to crocheting items of clothing.

Decreasing and Increasing Techniques are used for cute, little crochet items.

Once you know how to increase and decrease the number of chains on each crochet round, you’ll be able to tackle Cimasol, our brand-new summery top pattern designed especially for Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn, pattern coming soon.

knitshop yarns and British designer Susan Crawford collaborated to bring to you "Coquette". Coquette Vintage Cotton will be exhibited for the fist time at Woolfest by Susan Crawford Vintage, come and meet Julieta and Susan at Woolfest. Woolfest will be held on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June at Mitchell's Lakeland Livestock Centre, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 0QQ.

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn by Susan Crawford

Classes cost £15 each for adults or £10 for under-16s. To book one of our classes, either call us on 020 7099 8864 or click on the workshop’s link and choose ‘Add to cart’ then ‘self-pickup.

Early Bird Booking for July workshops. Book now online at knitshop.co.uk and receive our special discount available online. Click here to book July classes.

All classes are held from 11am to 1pm on Fridays and Saturdays at knitshop.co.uk’s Boutique Outlet at 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ (nearest stations Blackheath or Lee Green).

Links to this blog:

June workshop schedule: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/156-workshops

Kids’ workshops: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/319--kids

Sugar And Spice Ginger top pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2725-sugar-spice-ginger.htm

Simply Wool Waistcoat pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2757-simply-waistcoat.htm

Simply Wool yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/126-simply-wool-yarn

Fair Isle Wrist Warmer: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2732-fair-isle.html

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton