The Brockley Badger

Knitting Badgers with Brockleyknits

Brockleyknits is a knitting group in the heart of Brockley. Recently I had the honour to be invited to the group as they held a special meeting for the annual event Brockley Max. Upon my arrival I received very warm welcomes and greetings from many familiar faces. The group is very popular and I would guesstimate a number of 20 odd ladies and gent (yes, we also had a male knitter joining our little knitting circle) taking part in a special knitting get together. There was a choice of pattern, needles and yarn on the tables for those in need of a project .

One of the patterns offered was a knitted badger - "The name 'Brockley' is derived from either 'Broca's woodland clearing', or a wood where badgers are seen (broc is the Old English for badger)." I had never knitted an amigurumi before, naturally I had to give it a try! The Badger is a pattern available on ravelry.com, I will post pictures of the work in progress and the finished project soon - watch this space!
source Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brockley

The pattern is fairly easy to follow, although it does require some knitting skills, I would not class it as a beginners pattern. You will need some skills of knitting with colours, part of the badger is knitted in intarsia, the rest is a simple stocking stitch with increasing and decreasing. It is available from Jelly Bums for £2.20. If you want to read about the making of Jelly Bums, they also have a blog with exciting news, pattern information and much more! I used a DK Natural Merino Wool Yarn from knitshop.co.uk and 3mm bamboo knitting needles.

Picture: Jelly Bum Badger Knitting Pattern - www.jellybums.co.uk

Brockley Max is in it's eleventh year and brings the best talent and creativity the area has to offer. Brockley Max if offering exciting surprising, family-friendly activities, events, workshops and exhibitons across Brockley, Ladywell, Crofton Park and Honor Oak. The event to celebrate in SE London will be on again in Summer 2012. For more information please visit the website www.brockleymax.co.uk

If you want to join Brockleyknits, the knitting group in Brockley (Lewisham SE), they meet every 3rd Monday from 8pm at Mr Lawrence Wine Bar on Brockley Road. Plenty of parking outside and very easy to reach via public transport and everyone is WELCOME!!

Happy Badger Knitting!!
Julieta


Useful links:
Brockley - Wikipedia
Amigurumi Toys
Badger Pattern  - Jelly Bums Blog
Ravelry Badger Project - Ravelry.com
Brockley Max
DK Natural Merino Wool Yarn

The World of Socks

Sock knitting is one of the oldest forms of domesticated knitting, hand-made socks make the perfect gift for new born babies as well as young children and recently hand-made socks are becoming the ideal gift for men and women. Knee high socks have dominated the fashion industry, a stylist must-have and since Britney Spears' school uniform and knee high socks combination music video have socks been so pivotal to a young woman's outfit.

This revolution has grown so quickly that knitting books are dedicated to sock knitting, developing techniques and patterns to enhance sock performance and sock comfort.

Cookie A is a Californian knitter who specialises in sock knitting. Up until 2009 her work was developed by hand, but a course of machine knitting enabled her to develop machine knitted patterns as well as hand knits. Her work is published across several of her own books, entirely dedicated to socks. Her work combines traditional techniques as well as experimental stitches creating very beautiful socks. Find her work in her latest book 'Knit. Sock. Love.'

And Sarah Wilson, better known as The Sexy Knitter, has knitted these fabulous mustard colour knee high socks that were features in issue 29 of The Knitter. Using stocking stitch as well as a beautiful cable detail incorporated up the outside leg this is a truly masterful pair of socks. Finished with a delicate lace stitch around the top, these would look fab over boots or just lounging around.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonneterie-socks

Sock knitting is clearly not the easiest garment to master, as much as it takes a little getting use to knitting in the round, the heel formation is a real tricky task not everyone can master. There is nothing wrong with knitted socks without the heel section, and sleepy mornings I'm sure most people appreciate to not have to fumble with twisting and positioning the heel to the right place. However, the heel makes a perfect finish and something all knitters should at some point tackle.

The knitshop.co.uk, inundated with queries regarding sock knitting and the habitual challenges knitters have discovered, have devised an entire two hour workshop to help knitters knit the perfect sock. The workshop will also teach students how to work with double pointed needles, how to incorporate traditional sock knitting techniques and features as well as 'the heel bit'!

Julieta and the knitshop.co.uk team will host the workshop at the Lee Green Shop on the 2^nd of July. This workshop is set to be very popular so book you place in advance. The workshop is suitable to knitters who have a basic knowledge of knitting to experienced knitters. Materials will be provided as well as refreshments and students will be able to take home their work to continue! Places are limited, the workshop will have a maximum of 8 students so there is a lot of one-to-one tutoring and all queries can be dealt with. The workshop is a steal at just £12 for a two hour session and you can book your place over the phone, online by clicking 'self pick-up' at the checkout, or in person at the knitshop.co.uk.

Can't make the 2^nd of July? Julieta introduces 'knitting in the round' a two hour workshop on the 9^th of July dedicated to knitting in the round, techniques, tension and much much more.

Useful Links: 

Knitshop.co.uk - Workshops
Bonneterie Socks

Cookie A

Sarah Wilson - The Sexy Knitter

Socks Yarn
The Knitter