knitshop.co.uk: February 2015

Friday, February 20

Foxtail Curly Boa Scarf pattern

Here’s something really fun we’re sure you’ll love to knit. The latest addition to the knitshop.co.uk pattern library is a funky scarf you won’t be able to resist wrapping around yourself. It’s a simple pattern, so it’s a great project for fairly new knitters to try. The curls are created using short rows and by changing needle size part way through. You’ll also get plenty of practice with slip stitches!

Foxtail Curly Boa knitted in Orange Mohair Silk Yarn
Model: Alina Brandao

The Foxtail Curly Boa Scarf pattern was exclusively designed by knitshop.co.uk favourite Meg Crowther and is great fun to make. Gauge isn’t critical with this easy-to-knit pattern. It will work well with any 4ply or DK yarn.

Our version uses Mohair Silk Yarn – a wonderful combination of 70% mohair and 30% mulberry silk. We love the cheerful yellowy orange shade of Mohair Silk Yarn that Meg has used. It would also look great in lovely mellow yellow or in the fashionable dark grey. Each skein of this luxurious 4ply wool is 125m long. You’ll need five balls of it to make a really long version of the Foxtail Curly Boa scarf.

A fun and funky scarf that will keep you warm and cheerful.

For a different effect, take a look at the great variegated shades we stock including the striking Blue Tit Silk Lace Yarn. This comes in generous 250m skeins, so you’ll only need two or three skeins to knit an amazing multi-coloured curly boa.

If you prefer solid shades, there are plenty of Merino Wool Mulberry Silk Yarn options from the brightest of blues to the sunniest of yellows as well as lots of muted shades such as Dark Gold.

For a lighter option, check out our choice of Cotton Plied Wool Yarns. Perhaps the Blue-and Pink or Blue-Green shade will take your fancy. If you need any advice on a suitable choice of yarn or how much to buy, just drop us a line at info@knitshop.co.uk.

Mohair Silk Yarn in Blue, Red, Yellow, Brown and Rust Red.

As well as your chosen yarn you’ll need a pair of 3.5mm needles and a pair of 6mm needles.

Links to this blog:

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

Foxtail Curly Boa Scarf pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/3231-foxtail-curly-boa-pattern.html

Blue Tit Silk Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/164-silk-knitting-yarn

Blue Merino Wool Mulberry Silk Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/silk-wool-blend/838-blue-mulberry-merino.html

Dark Gold Merino Wool Mulberry Silk Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/silk-wool-blend/830-dark-gold-mulberry-merino.html

Knitshop.co.uk patterns: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/161-knitshop-pattern

Mohair Silk Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/57-mohair-wool-yarn

Sun Yellow Mulberry Silk Merino Wool Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/silk-wool-blend/829-sun-yellow-mulberry-merino.html

Blue-Green Cotton Plied Wool Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-wool-yarn/1314-blue-green-cotton-wool.html

Blue-Pink Cotton Plied Wool Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-wool-yarn/1315-blue-pink-cotton-wool.html

Cotton Wool Plied Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-wool-yarn

3.5mm Bamboo Knitting Needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1694-bamboo-knitting-needles-35mm.html

6mm Bamboo Knitting Needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1349-6mm-23cm-sp-bamboo.html

Friday, February 13

Product of the Month February

Addi needles now available at knitshop.co.uk

A great pair of needles gives wings to a creative project. knitshop.co.uk has added the popular Addi range of needles to the expanding range of knitting and crochet accessories on offer. Better yet, Addi needles are February’s Product of the Month, which means we’re selling them at a special discount price. Until the end of February, you can buy any Addi needles for a 15% discount.

Addi Knitting Needles in various sizes and types available now
at knitshop.co.uk

Addi Needles are made in Germany and come in a range of materials including metal, aluminium and bamboo. The highly regarded Addi Turbo Circular range, which knitshop.co.uk is stocking, has extra-long gold tips for precision knitting and crochet. These make it much easier to work on complex patterns and fine yarns and because you can consistently pick up stitches using the fine needle point, you can also knit or crochet faster!

We’re already contemplating embarking on a sumptuous shawl made from the wonderful multi-coloured Blue Tit Silk Yarn with a little help from some 100cm-long 3mm Addi Circular Turbo needles. The generous connecting cable allows you to splay out the whole garment along their length with no danger of your stitches slipping off the end.

Blue Tit Silk Yarn - so fine it is best knitted with lace needles.

Circular needles are great for small knitting and crochet projects too. Choose 80cm Addi circular needles if you’re making children’s clothes or our smaller 40cm or 50cm bamboo circular needles if you’re making hats, toys or gloves. Circular needles are also a must if you’re making socks.

Our pattern library includes both fine lacy designs such as Lacet Wrist Warmers and Reo Wrist Warmers and chunkier ones such as Roving Wrist Warmers that use fast-to-knit 12mm Addi Circular Needles.

You’re also sure to love our Alina Kolibra Wool Hat which knits up on 4.5mm double-pointed needles using a single skein of knitshop.co.uk Kolibri Wool Yarn.

super fine needles for super fine knits!

knitshop.co.uk now stocks a huge range of needles from ultra-fine 1.75mm Addi Turbo Circular Needles right up to giant 25mm ones We offer a choice of cable lengths and materials including steel, aluminium, plastic and bamboo. Feel free to email us for advice on which needles would best suit your projects.

But we also love the giant needles for super chunky knits!

Thursday, February 5

Workshops at knitshop.co.uk in February

knitshop.co.uk has lined up an exciting selection of knitting and crochet classes in February. They range from self-contained workshops in which you create a specific item to classes focusing on particular techniques that you can apply to lots of different projects.

We kick off with an introduction to knitting in the round with our Knitted Wrist Warmers workshop on Friday 6th. Wrist warmers are a great first project to practice working with double-pointed needles – a technique recommended for anyone who dreams of making seam-free garments. They’re quick to knit and could make a thoughtful present – a gift for your Valentine, perhaps?

REO Wrist Warmer knitted in Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn

On Saturday 7thand 14th we’re running introductory crochet classes. Here, you’ll learn the basics of this rewarding craft, from holding the hook and making a foundation chain to creating simple crocheted items. The 14th February crochet class, Let’s Get Hooked, is for children. Adult places are £15 while under-16s cost £10.

We’re also holding a Swing The Needles kids’ knitting class on Friday 13th February while our adults’ Learn To Knit workshop is on Friday 20th February.

Knitted Lace Shawl
New Pattern in Spice Nigella Seeds coming soon.

If you’re looking for a more ambitious project, our Crochet A Lace Shawl workshop on Friday 27th February could be just the thing. Making your own shawl is a major – and majorly rewarding – undertaking. Getting the initial setup correct is critical, which is where our expert tutoring comes in. We’ll provide a quiet and relaxed environment where you can fully concentrate. You need to be a confident crocheter to tackle a large project like this but our Crochet A Lace Shawl workshop will help build on your own previous experience.

For something more frivolous, try our Amigurumi Crochet workshop on Friday 21st February. Amigurumi is Japanese for cute knitted or crocheted toys. Using simple crochet techniques you’ll make quirky creatures that you can customise and bring to life by stitching on eyes, nose and mouth. This workshop is suitable for those new to crochet as well as anyone who has mastered the basics.

Boutique Outlet in Lee Green, come and join us for one of our workshops
on Friday's and Saturday's from 11am.

All knitshop.co.uk classes are taught by fully qualified, experienced needlecrafters. They take place from 11am to 1pm at our Lee Green boutique store. You’ll have a choice of projects to work on during your two-hour workshop and will be able to take it home along with instructions for completing your item. We offer both email and phone-based post-class support, so feel free to get in touch with any help you need.

We also run monthly SOS classes that are free to attend. The next SOS class is on Saturday 27th February. Please book a place using the online booking system so we don’t end up oversubscribed!

Links to this blog

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

Amigurumi Crochet workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2407-amigurumi-crochet.html

Crochet For Beginners: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2425-7-february-beginner-crochet.html

Crochet A Lace Shawl workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/3049-lace-crochet-shawl.html

Kids’ Crochet workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2408-14-february.html

Kids’ Knitting workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2698-swing-the-needles.html

Knitting and Crochet SOS class: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2980-free-sos-clinic.html

Knitted Wrist Warmers workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/1995-6-feb-knitted-wrist-warmer.html

Learn To Knit workshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2672-beginners-knitting-workshop.html