Giant Christmas Mitten re-knitted

Today we are pleased to present to you our new version of the Christmas Mitten. The pattern was originally designed by Julieta Brandao in the super chunky Merino Wool Yarn Roving. However, we now have an updated version for you, using the brand new Thick & Easy Wool Yarn.

Giant Christmas Mitten, knitted in Merino Wool Yarn Roving
and Thick & Easy Wool Yarn.

Basically you knit the Christmas Mitten from the same pattern, using the Thick & Easy colours: Chilli Red and Olive Drab Green or Cherry Red and Papaya Whip.

The Christmas Mitten is knitted in the round and grafting is used to finish off the mitten. The knitting is done in a basic 1x1 rib to start with, and the rest is simple stocking stitch in the round.

Giant Christmas Mitten
knitted in Cherry Red and Papaya Whip

Using a 6-8mm needle, depending on your tension. For loose knitters we recommend a 6mm, or for tighter knitters we would recommend you use an 8mm circular needle, alternative you can use the longer version of the double pointed needles.

Thick & Easy Wool Yarn
colours from left to right: Seal Brown, Eggshell Beige,
Olive Drab Green, Papaya Whip, Blue Teal and Blue Black.

You will need two hanks, 1 per colour and you will easily get 3 mittens out of two hanks of Thick & Easy Yarn.The yarn is currently on offer for £5.92 / 100g hank. The pattern you can download for free this month from our website @knitshop.co.uk.If you are interested to read more about the original Giant Mitten, visit our previous blog post here: http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.bg/2013/12/giant-christmas-mittens-to-stash.html#uds-search-results

Christmas Mitten, perfect as stocking for your little ones.

For any questions, pattern help or instructions you can contact the shop on (UK +44) 020 7099 8864 or email us through the website, click here to open the contact us form.


Links to this blog:

Thick & Easy Wool Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/106-thick-easy-yarn

Giant Christmas Mitten Pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2919-giant-mitten.html

Knitting Needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/274-knitting-crochet-accessories

Christmas Gifts from knitshop.co.uk

It is the Christmas spirit that we carry in our hearts that lights up the Christmas magic around us. It's been a while since knitshop.co.uk's last blog post, however we do want to keep the tradition of posting a blog about Christmas Gifts available from knitshop.co.uk.

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. By Norman Vincent Peale

Our number one Gift this year and every year is something given with love. Something you made for someone you love..... choose from a selection of patterns at knitshop.co.uk, here is some that you can still tackle until the big day:


Purple Velvet Wrist Warmer, using an aran weight yarn, a more experienced pattern as it combines lace and cable stitches at the same time.

Purple Velvet Wrist Warmer designed by Julieta Brandao
using Kolibri Wool Yarn.

Linen Light Ladder Stitch Scarf, this was originally designed for the Cotton Linen Yarn from knitshop.co.uk, however it looks gorgeous in absolutely any yarn, is easy and quick to knit up. Choose your loved ones favourite colour and give it a go!

Linen Light Ladder Stitch Scarf designed by Julieta Brandao
using Cotton Linen Yarn.

To name just two patterns, find more on our website, some of them to download for free. And do not forget to check out our FREE DOWNLOAD of the month.

We can also offer you a selection of books and magazines that are an easy stocking filler and always a joy for crafter's. Or choose from our great selection of knitting and crochet yarns.

As said by Julieta Brandao, the owner and founder of knitshop.co.uk and knitshop yarns:

"For a Knitter I believe it is true to say that Yarn weighs more than Gold!"

And last but not least you can always get a Gift Voucher from knitshop.co.uk.
What ever you choose to give to the special people around you this Christmas, be sure it is something special for them!

Merry Christmas!
Your knitshop.co.uk Team. 



Links to this blog:

Purple Velvet Wrist Warmer: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2896-purple-velvet.html

Linen Light Ladder Stitch Scarf: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2702-ladder-stitch-scarf-pattern.html

FREE Download of the month: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/content/11-free-patterns

Books and Magazines at knitshop.co.uk: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/140-patterns-magazines-books

Knitting and crochet yarns: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/81-knitting-yarn

Gift Voucher from knitshop.co.uk: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/188-gift-voucher

Product of the Month August

Chill out with August’s Yarn of the Month

It’s a summer of intense heat punctuated by thunderstorms and cold snaps, making it very tricky to know what to wear. Pack a lightweight wrap made from knitshop.co.uk’s Product of the Month and you’ll keep your options open.

This month, we’re offering a 15 percent discount on our Cotton Linen Blend Yarn – a lightweight yarn made from 70 percent cotton and 30 percent linen. This means you’ll be able to get your hands on this beautiful variegated yarn for just £6.78 per 100g skein.

Cotton / Linen Blend Yarn in the colours Passion Flower, Carnation Red
Lilac Flower, Freesia, Goldenrod Cornflower and Grape Hyacinth.

Tailormade for summer, Cotton Linen Blend Yarn is ideal for making lacy tops and wraps. It comes in gorgeous summery shades, each named after colourful, fragrant flowers. Grape Hyacinth is a melange of blues; Goldenrod mixes yellows and subtle grey-green shades while Passion Flower is a glorious riot of purple, red and yellow.

Cherry Blossom and Freesia feature more delicate pinks and pale greens while Hibiscus blends deep pinks and purples and Lilac takes in mauves and violet.

Make a wrap from this Linen Light Scarf Pattern.
FREE download of the month.

Cotton Linen Blend Yarn comes in 100g skeins of 220m and knits up on 3.5mm to 4.5mm needles. The striking colours and light but strong yarn are ideal for openwork knitting and crochet designs such as shrugs and lacy vests. If you’re after a quick knit, you can’t go far wrong with our exclusive Linen Light Summery Scarf pattern. It uses a single skein of yarn and uses a simple repeat pattern that is easy to master. We recommend knitting the scarf on 6mm needles to create an open, lacy effect.

You can either use a single skein to make the scarf or use two or three skeins of Cotton Linen Blend Yarn to make a wider fabric to create a wonderfully light summer wrap. Just cast on two or three times as many stitches as the pattern states. 

We’re offering the pattern free this month in conjunction with our Product of the Month 15 percent discount offer, so as well as getting a great deal on a wonderful summer weight yarn you’ll get a pattern to use with it.



Links to this blog:


3.5mm bamboo needles (34cm long): http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1694-bamboo-knitting-needles-35mm.html

4.5mm bamboo needles (34cm long): http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1698-bamboo-knitting-needles-45mm.html

6mm bamboo needles (34cm long): http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1369-6mm-34cm-sp-bamboo.html

Cherry Blossom Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/143-pastel-cotton-linen.html

Freesia Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/138-green-lilac-cotton-linen.html
Goldenrod Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/146-goldenrod-coneflower-cotton-linen-yarn.html
Grape Hyacincth Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/145-blue-cotton-linen.html
Hibiscus Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/144-lilac-pink-red-cotton-linen.html
knitshop.co.uk Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/21-cotton-linen-blend

Ladder Stitch Scarf pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2702-ladder-stitch-scarf-pattern.html

Passion Flower Cotton Linen Blend yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/142-passion-flower-cotton-linen.html

Product Of The Month: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/content/17-product-of-the-month

Lilac Flower Cotton Linen Blend Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/cotton-linen-blend/89-lilac-flower-cotton-linen.html

Julia jumper – pretty lily-patterned design

Spring is on its way and with it thoughts of slightly lighter knits. You no longer need to be swaddled in several layers of warmth. A light jacket and long-sleeved top will suffice as you venture outside and breathe in the welcome springtime air.

The change of season provides the perfect excuse to indulge in some springtime knitting too. Chunky jumpers can be replaced with flattering fitted designs. With this in mind, we’re incredibly proud to bring you our Julia jumper.

This beautiful jumper starred on the cover of Yarnwise magazine, August 2012 – something we were very proud of, since it’s knitted with knitshop.co.uk Cotton Plied Wool. Designed for knitshop.co.uk by Meg Crowther, the Julia jumper features a lily motif. Meg chose the lily in memory of Meg’s cousin, who loved these flowers. It’s knitted in DK weight yarn which is both lightweight and offers good stitch definition – all the better to show off the lovely lilies.

We’re delighted to be able to offer the Julia jumper pattern for download from our website for just £1.

You will need between five and seven 100g hanks of knitshop.co.uk Cotton Plied Wool, plus single-pointed and double-pointed 4mm needles. The yarn is spun from a mix of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent wool, resulting in a combination of light weight, durability and warmth.

The yarn comes in 100g skeins of around 225m, meaning you only need a few balls to make a complete garment. The Julia jumper therefore costs a very reasonable £35 to make – and delivery is free.

knitshop.co.uk Cotton Plied Wool comes in a fantastic selection of colours. Choose the cornflower blue shown in the pattern or a sunny yellow. Cotton Plied Wool also comes in cheerful reds and orange shades or a more subtle pale blue or light green.

These solid shades will give the Julia jumper a vintage look and ensure the lily pattern stands out on the shoulder and sleeves. For a more contemporary look choose the variegated blue-pink, green-blue or earthy brown-green combination. Browse the colour options for Cotton Plied Wool here.

For more knitting and crochet patterns see the knitshop.co.uk patterns page.

Links to this blog:

Julia jumper pattern: http://knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2726-julia.html

Cotton Plied Wool: http://knitshop.co.uk/167-cotton-wool-yarn

4mm bamboo needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1696-bamboo-knitting-needles-4mm.html

4mm double-pointed needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1714-4mm-dp-20cm.html

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

Meg Crowther Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/julia-jumper

Yarnwise magazine: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/yarnwise-magazine-51-august-2012

Knitshop January workshops part 1

Happy New Year!

Made any new year’s resolutions? How about learning a new skill or knitting technique? knitshop.co.uk has a full programme of workshops to choose from, all of which take place on Friday and Saturday mornings at our Boutique Outlet in Lee Green, near to Lewisham and Blackheath

Because it’s still the school holidays, our first two workshops are for kids. On Friday 3 January our Let’s Get Hooked class introduces basic knitting or crochet skills. We focus on how to hold the crochet hook and build a foundation chain. At the end of the two-hour class, attendees will know how to work their first crochet stitches and will have a crochet project to take home with them. Under fives are welcome to attend too, but we usually teach them finger knitting. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

 

kids as little as 3 years have joined our crafting fun
at the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green.

On Saturday 4 January, our Swing The Needles class covers everything beginners need to know about learning to knit. As well as learning how to cast on and knit your first stitches, you’ll find out how to choose suitable yarn and match needle size and yarn type so your projects come out the right size. You’ll have a choice of yarn and colour for your first knitting project, which you’ll be encouraged to complete at home. 

Swing The Needles - Kids Knitting Workshop

Granny squares are a classic crochet design and can be combined to make some fantastic homewares and accessories. Crochet A Granny Square is a great first class for anyone who wants to learn to crochet. It’s also ideal if you know how to make crochet chains but want to move on to a creative crochet project. The class is on Friday 10 January and includes all the instructions and materials you need. A second class, on Friday 17 January, also covers crocheting a granny square, but also looks at how to combine several granny squares to make a larger crochet project. 

one of the projects that you could make in the
Knitting in the Round workshop at the Boutique Outlet

 

If you can knit and want to move on to making hats, gloves, toys and garments you’ll find many projects easier to complete if you knit them ‘in the round’. Using this technique you knit in circles, so there are no bulky seams to sew up at the end. During our Knitting In The Round class on Saturday 11 January we’ll be knitting an elegant wrist warmer using four knitting needles. We’ll explain everything you need to know to complete them at home and give you the pattern to refer to.

January is packed with great new workshops so watch out for another blog about our end of January workshops coming very soon!

Meanwhile you can browse the Products of the Months and get your FREE download of the Month and keep knitting!

Links to this blog:

January workshops: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/241-january-workshops

Crochet A Granny Square workshop, Friday 10 January: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2913-crochet-a-square.html

Knitting In The Round workshop, Saturday 11 January: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2914-9-july-knitting.html

Crochet Finishing and Combining Techniques, Friday 17 January: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2915-crochet-a-square-finishing-techniques.html