Christmas Gifts

The knitshop.co.uk understand how difficult it can be to find the perfect gift for someone special. Christmas is just around the corner and many of you will be thinking of what you can find for relatives and friends.

We have conveniently put together some ideal gift sets that would sit perfectly under the tree and make a knitter, crocheter and felter very happy. These gifts are also a fantastic idea for crafty people who are perhaps interested in becoming involved in knitting, crochet and felting and need a little encouragement.

Firstly, the knitshop.co.uk offer gift vouchers. All year round and especially at Christmas our gift vouchers, for varying amounts, are purchased for keen knitters who may need to top-up on yarns, needles, patterns and books. We recommend knitshop.co.uk vouchers for anyone who may not know what to buy a knitter, the vouchers can be used in-store and online and are valid for anything the knitshop.co.uk offer including the various workshops and courses on offer.

We also create knitting, crochet and felting kits, which we feel is a fabulous gift for beginners or improver looking to work on their skills. Our kits will contain all tools and materials needed to achieve one complete project as well as the all important instructions and handy-tips leaflet.

The kits make a great gift for children and adults and the instructions are easy to follow for all ages. We endeavour to make sure the skills picked-up from the kits can further be applied to projects the artist can later work on by their selves. An endless gift of learning and improving is priceless. Our felting kits start at £4.98.

Books are a welcome gift any time of year. From pattern books to inspirational books and magazine, knitshop.co.uk offers all of these, and we are happy to help you find the perfect book or magazine for that someone you love. We have a huge variety of coffee table books with beautiful images and inspirational projects, to dedicated pattern books and even beginner books and self-teaching books. A book is something that is kept for many years, can be referred to over and over again and most people will appreciate a book under the tree!

Magazine are also ideal, we offer several key knitting magazines that offer several monthly patterns, regular articles about knitting artists and designers and have up-to date information about materials, boutiques and emerging techniques, machinery and more. 

We also recommend our workshops and courses as a perfect gift for a creative loved one. knitshop.co.uk offers a huge amount of regular workshops during the week and at weekends. Designed for beginner, improver or technically advanced knitters, crocheters and felters there is a workshop for everyone.

Workshops will last for two hours and have a maximum of eight students. Julieta Brandao will lead the workshop and her and the knitshop team endeavour to go at a pace that all students can manage and each person will receive individual attention. The workshop will also include all tools and materials necessary to achieve the project and the two hours should be enough for everyone to complete a finished project. The skills learnt at the workshop can be used in further projects within the students own time.

knitshop.co.uk also offer 6 week courses for knitting, crochet and felting. In these courses, beginners and improver can learn the basic skills to begin knitting, crocheting or felting and progressively through the weeks the candidate will learn useful techniques, how to read patterns and how to choose yarns for each project. These valuable skills will hopefully encourage students to carry-on in their own time and progress further within their chosen discipline.

Courses and workshops can be purchased online, in-store or over the phone and will be a much appreciated gift for someone creative. Workshops start at just £12 for a two hour session and are held in Lee Green South London.

Links to this post:

Gift Vouchers from knitshop.co.uk

Courses and Workshops, Schedule and online booking

Felting Kits for Children and Adults

Books, Magazines and Pattern

Make your own Fairy Lights

Fairy lights adorn your tree, shimmer in windows, decorate a wall and glisten in vases. Fairy lights are an all year round mood lifter, they'll glow in a room and most importantly they light-up your tree at Christmas.

Knitshop.co.uk are offering, due to very popular and persistent demand, a fairy light felting workshop. Just in time for decorating your tree before Christmas, this workshop will encourage students to learn the art of felting and to felt beautiful artefacts to surround fairy lights ready to adorn your Christmas tree or interior décor.

This limited workshop will be held at the Lee Green knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet in South London and will be held by Julieta Brandao. This will be an extended workshop, three and a half hours, from 2.30pm until 6pm on the 26^th of November. Make sure you book your place in advance as this workshop is sure to sell out in the next few days.

The workshop will begin with a crash course teaching the basics of felting, choosing materials and the best techniques to achieve felted fabrics and artefacts. Based on picture felting the skills gained here can be used for other personal projects.

The workshop will go at the students pace, with all beginners and improvers welcome. Attention will be focused individually so that all students understand the basics. The class will progress onto the fairy lights project, choosing colour palettes and designing felted art forms to surround the fairy lights.

Creativity and individuality is encouraged, this promises to be a very exciting and unique course. The knitshop.co.uk team will help students create their art-forms and fix them to the fairy lights. All students will be able to complete one project during the course of the class or will be well instructed to finish the project in their own time and will be able to take this home and use within their own home.

The class includes all materials necessary as well as light refreshments.

The class is aimed at candidates of all abilities and we welcome any novices. Children are also welcome to attend the class as long as they are accompanied by an adult. The class promises to be a relaxing environment with plenty of socialising and Christmas vibes!

The Felted Fairy Lights Workshop is followed by two fantastic Christmas themed felting workshops

Jewellery Felting 3rd December, 3-5pm

Felted Christmas Decoration - Needle Felting 2-5pm

All three workshops cover different topics and are going hand in hand to create your very own stunning Christmas Jewellery and Decoration. 

The class can be purchased online, in-store or over the phone but early application is recommended.

Enjoy!

Links to this post: 

Fairy Light Felting Workshop

Felting Materials and Equipment

knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet in Lee Green

The Perfect Finish - Professional Finishing Techniques

Edges of knitted fabrics can sometimes be a little untidy, the cast-on and off can be a little loser or tighter than the rest of the fabric, and simply for further decoration to your fabric or garment, finishing techniques will create the perfect finish.

There are a vast range of techniques that can be applied to fabrics, and just some of these will be covered in the knitshop's 'Professional Knitting Finishing Techniques' workshop.

The Perfect Finish - Finishing Techniques Workshop:
25 and 26 November, 11am - 1pm from £12.00 per 2 hour session

Casting off

Simple but effective is the cast-off technique. It is key to keep your tension the same as the entire fabric, but more easily said than done, for many people a cast-off will result in a taught tension.

The best way to describe casting off, is to knit two stitches as you have been the entire fabric. The second first of the two stitches is dropped, by being looped over the second stitch and then off the end of the knitting needle, leaving one stitch on the needle.

Knit a second stitch, and repeat the above by dropping the first stitch, looping it over the second and off the needle. Carry on the process, being very careful with your tension, until one stitch remains. I usually cut the remaining yarn and bring it through the last loop and create a knot and weave the yarn back in.

Odds and Ends

All knitted fabrics will have yarn ends, either from yarn breakages, changing colours or similar activities that leave yarns hanging from your fabric. The best way to finish off your fabrics is imply to weave these ends in on the wrong-side of the fabric so it is less likely your stitches will come apart and the ends are tucked away neatly and safely.

Crochet hooks or darning needles are ideal to weave the yarn back into your stitches, however simply threading a sewing needle will achieve a similar finish.

Binding or Stitch decrease.

Another ideal way to finish a fabric is the 'fashioning' or decreasing of the fabric and stitches. Usually this will be used for garment finishing techniques for sleeves, necklines and similar.

Again a similar technique to casting off is used, however the fabric is not cast-off all in one row. Decreasing the number of stitches by casting off a few stitches with each row is the usual pattern. Decreasing will usually occur on the edges of the fabric, each garment will propose a different pattern which, should be followed to achieve the best fit and finish for your project.

Linking

Linking pieces of fabric is a great way to eliminate or finish edges, but also to create a new finished edge. Linking can be done by hand or on a linker. Two edges are cast onto needles and then can be immediately cast off or knitted further so two edges make one. Linking also means two different knitted fabrics can be linked together, and this can be a form of finish. One example is; a fine knitted strip linked to a chunkier fabric. This is a perfect edge for a cardigan. Another example is a ribbed edge, such as a cuff, can be linked to a chunkier and wider sleeve.

Mattress Stitch

The perfect seamless seam. This works best on chunkier yarn, finer yarns require patience and small stitches. But the results is a fabric that has a seam, but it is invisible.

Firstly iron flat your fabrics and lay them flat side by side, correct side facing upwards. The aim is to stitch together the selvedges so they continue and give the illusion of a continuous fabric. Use a sewing needle and the same yarn the fabric is knitted with and use a stocking stitch to join the pieces. Pull tight.

Ribbed Edge

A basic technique is ribbing. This technique is simple and adds a little elasticity to your fabric. However incorporating elastic with your knitting yarn can added elasticity to create edges such as cuffs, waistbands and more.

The rib technique uses knit and pearl stitch in the same row. Knit three stitches, pearl three stitches, knit three stitches and carry on until the end of the row. On the next row, you'll need to stick to your three stitches pattern, but where you did three knit stitches, this time do three pearl stitches. This will result in a vertical stripe design with knit and pearl stitches on the same side of the fabric.Ribbed edges can be linked onto a fabric or you can integrate the stitch from another.

Felting

Sometimes a finishing technique can be felting your fabric. Some projects may require a combination of felted and non felted fabrics. Mixing non felted and felted pieces creates a wonderful and original finished project. Always test your yarn to see how much it will shrink by when felted. And similarly if you are adding a felted piece, make sure you knit-it up large enough to shrink. Felted panels can be cut to size.

If you do want to participate in one of our workshops please reserve a space at http://www.knitshop.co.uk/156-workshops - all our workshop are held at the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green.

Links to this post:
Workshop booking page
How to find the knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet in Lee Green

Pictures of A Stitch In Time Vol 2 using knitshop.co.uk yarns

Cryscelle - Front Cover
Mulberry Silk Yarn black and silver white
page 100

This Attractive Affair
Cotton 4ply mercerised bordeaux and oyster
page 35

Striped Sun Top
Cotton 4ply mercerised coral pink, mint green, arctic white
page 49

Box Coat
Tundra Wool Yarn dark green
page 218

Ribbon Threaded Jumper
Cotton Plied Wool Yarn apricot
page 310

Jumper with Collar Flowers
Cotton 4ply mercerised shell pink and arctic white
page 284

Cocktail Jumper
Mulberry Silk Yarn light pink and black
page 387

 

A Stitch In Time Vol 2 is available to purchase from knitshop.co.uk.
"The book takes you on a journey through knitting pattern history from 1930 to 1959. This substantial treasury contains 80 stunning, c;assic patterns for women..." A Stitch In Time Vol 2

"This truly amazing book is for all knitters, young and old, and of all abilities."

Photography: Susan Crawford
Pictures are curtsey of Arbour House Publishing LTD

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

A Stitch in Time, Volume 2

Step right up for A Stitch In Time was a blog featured by knitshop.co.uk and now it has finally been published and is available to everyone, Susan Crawfords' masterpiece, combining a variety of vintage knitting patterns from 1930 - 1959. 

If you haven't already taken a peek at A Stitch in Time, Volume 1, then you are missing out on some really stunning knitwear patterns. However, A Stitch in Time, Volume 2, is here and worthwhile having a flick through because this coffee table book has some amazing images of the final garments.

This beautiful book contains many patterns for all levels of knitting ability, and the images are really inspiring. Obviously, the most important feature of the book, the patterns, are sublime. Wonderfully explained with a step-by-step pattern, beautifully illustrated.

The patterns range from 1930's to the 1960's, a variety of jumpers, cardigans, dresses and more. There is a little something for everyone in this book, and for anyone who is just starting to knit, the book will walk you step by step through choosing yarn, colours and f course the pattern. The result is a wonderfully knitted vintage-inspired garment followed to a 'T' from the pattern or with some artistic inspiration of your very own.

Of course, what knit pattern book is complete without a little helping hand from the knitshop.co.uk team? Knitshop.co.uk yarns were used within several of these projects as they are perfect to achieve a vintage inspired garment.

Knitshop.co.uk yarns have been featured on the front cover of the book, a real privileged. Susan's stunning Cryscelle was chosen to adorn the front cover and for this piece the Mulberry Silk was used. A perfect choice in yarn for such an amazing theatrical top. The striped silver white and black Mulberry silk reflect the light stunningly and the sumptuous silk makes this a great top for evening wear as well as office and day-wear.

Firstly, on page 35 is featured the pattern 'This Attractive Affair'. A beautiful 1930's inspired pattern which makes an ideal gift for someone deserving. Susan opted to use our 4ply mercerised cotton in Bordeaux and Oyster Colours. This rich palette is warm, perfect for this winter's trend but also spot on for the colours of the 1930's. This light weight yarn is soft to the touch but strong and easily washable.

On page 49 you will also find our 4ply mercerised cotton. A fabulous summer knit pattern, this 'Striped Sun Top' includes our coral pink, white and mint green cotton. We encourage you to use a variety of your own favourite colours, but Susan's choice really accentuates the shape of the top and will be stunning in hot sunshine.

This is followed by 'The Box Coat' on page 218. A 1940's inspired coat knitted in Tundra Wool. This chunky yarn, ideal for winter knits is a clear winner for this pattern. The thickness of the final fabric will keep you warm through this winter and more to come. The choice of the dark green yarn is ideal for winter 2011 and represents the palettes of the 1940's. knitshop.co.uk also offer a mustard yellow which I feel is also ideal for this pattern.

Patterns from the 1950's includes a fabulous jumper with glorious flower and collar detailing, 'Jumper with Collar and Flowers' on page 284. Very 1950's this pattern is great for children and adults. I love how this can be combined with pencil skirts or glamorous trousers as well as your every day jeans. Knitted in 4ply mercerised cotton makes this a light and warm jumper. The cotton works well in the finer detail of the flowers and is sure not to aggravate the skin around the neckline like a wool could. Susan opted for knitshop's shell pink, Arctic white and canary yellow for the floral detailing, but again the choice is yours.

Another great jumper is the 'Ribbon Threaded' jumper found on page 310 An inspired use of ribbon makes this jumper very cute and pretty. The apricot yarn brings out the girly pattern and we can definitely recommend this to any knitter who enjoys using various materials aside from just yarn. A fun pattern, Susan chose to use knitshop's Cotton Plied Wool for it's softness and warmth. We recommend needle size 3-4 which is also recommended in the pattern.

Finally, knitshop.co.uk yarns were used in the 'Cocktail Jumper' on page 387. Another 1950's inspired pattern for knitting, this jumper uses the Mulberry Silk for a sumptuous finish. Ideal for drinks parties and formal dinner parties, we love this pattern for it's unique design. The light pink Mulberry Silk was combined with the black to achieve another glorious pattern by Susan Crawford.

Which is your favourite vintage pattern? Email us your pictures of your A Stitch In Time garments!

And Happy Knitting!!

Links to this post:

A Stitch In Time Vol 2 - order your book today for delivery tomorrow!

A Stitch In Time Vol 1 - still available at knitshop.co.uk

Cotton 4ply mercerised - oyster, bordeaux, light pink, mint green, coral pink and white

Mulberry Silk Yarn - black, silvery white and light pink

Cotton plied Wool Yarn - apricot

Wool Yarn Tundra - dark green

Step right up for A Stitch In Time

Susan Crawford Vintage Blog

The Lacet Wrist Warmer

We're offering 6x 50g hanks of Merino Wool / Mulberry Silk to one lucky winner who sends in a picture of their Lacet Wrist Warmer. Tackle the Lacet Wrist Warmer pattern using any knitshop.co.uk yarn and then take a picture of the finished pieces. Get creative and make sure your wrist warmers are unique and beautifully finished. Take a picture and send it to the knitshop.co.uk team. Competition deadline has been extended to 15 November 2011. The winner will be contacted by email.
Good luck!

knitshop.co.uk's very own Julieta Brandao, is well known for designing and calculating knitting and crochet patterns to be featured in magazines, across the internet and further afield.

Julieta strives to create a variety of patterns that can be used by all knitters of varying skills and this latest pattern, the Lacet Wrist Warmer, is a fantastic pattern aimed at beginner and improver knitting levels.

Perfect for the autumn, the Lacet Wrist Warmer is elbow long, although this can be adjusted, and comes up mid-way on the hand. A thumb-hole means that the wrist warmer leaves your fingers available to continue day to day activities.

The wrist warmer can be worn as out-door cold weather accessory, matched with your winter coat or jacket and even as an indoor garment to be styled with your daily fashions. The knitshop.co.uk found hundreds of uses for this wrist warmer, including; working in the garden, working in a warehouse, typing in your office, walking the dog and more!

Lacet Wrist Warmer from Knitting Magazine issue 93

Julieta has chosen to knit-up her pattern for the Lacet Wrist Warmer with knitshop.co.uk Mulberry Silk and Merino Wool. This deep crimson red featured in the sample is perfect for this autumn and will carry you on into the spring trends. The mulberry silk is soft to touch and work with and the Merino wool is warm, adding depth and softness to the piece.

The combination brings out a fabulous colour and texture but also the best qualities from the both yarns. Pick your favourite colour from our wide selection of yarns and make the wrist warmer personal. Stripes and multi-tonal colours are a perfect way of putting your mark on these.

The pattern itself is lacey and uses some techniques that are perfect to use in other projects. The laceyness of the pattern makes the wrist warmer even warmer, trapping air and creating a layer of warmth, lovely and cosy. The wrist warmer is knitted in the round and we suggest using double pointed or circular bamboo knitting needles. You can buy these through us! We also suggest using a DK weight yarn, which is 8ply for UK yarns.

If you're keen to start making your own wrist warmers, or even think this makes a wonderful gift for someone who needs to keep their hands and wrists warm, the you can purchase the pattern which was featured in the Knitting Magazine issue 93.  The pattern will soon be available to purchase as a single pattern from knitshop.co.uk in the pattern section and you can place this in your shopping basket and check-it-out with all your other goodies.

Enjoy! And remember we're always here to help with any knitting problems and qualms you may have!
Contact us or visit the Boutique Outlet at 326 Lee High Road, Lee Green, London, SE13 5PJ

Links to this post: 

Mulberry Silk/Merino Wool Yarn

Knitting Magazine - Lacet Pattern
Double Pointed Bamboo Knitting Needles

Circular Bamboo Knitting Needles
Simply Wool Yarn - DK 100% wool yarn