The Royal Wedding

Tomorrow at 11am Prince William & Kate Middleton are to tie the knot for the rest of their lives. The press and digital media not just in the UK, also abroad has been full of news, information and speculative details about the big day. Believe it or not, also the Knitting World has been taken over by the big event taking place on 29th April 2011. I have been putting together a collection of patterns and articles from the knitting magazines and the web for you.

Deborah from Simply Knitting says "the best bit is that you dont have to have blue blood, or even be getting married, to want to knit something.." Simply Knitting Spring 2011. There are some great patterns for your to try in this month spring issue, one of them being the Silken Cream p61. Not to forget the Gloves for a Spring Wedding by Just Call Me Ruby aka Susan Crawford, the co-author of A Stitch In Time and author Vintage Gifts To Knit, in which the pattern for those gorgeous gloves is published. So if you are getting married this year or one of your loved ones, these are an ideal accessory to finish the outfit of your dreams and feel like a real princess.

Simply Knitting also has a Royal Wedding Celebration supplement with 6 fantastic patterns to knit for perfect gifts and keepsakes. Your very own Union Jack cushion, a very royal Crown tea cosy or the very best bunting to decorate your garden or street party and much more.

Knit Today Magazine featuring 6 quick knits in honour of the royal wedding by Dorothy Wood. Lace gloves, Corsage Barrette, beaded tiara, patriotic bunting, flower gift bag and of course the Union Jack cushion. My favourite definitely being the Corsage barrette, which reminds a little of the fascinator - becoming more of the fashion for official events instead of large Ascot type headgear. Perhaps you remember, Knitonthenet the on-line knitting magazine featured a great pattern for fascinators knitted in knitshop.co.uk Mulberry Silk yarn.

Knit Your Own Royal Wedding this is a book that's just recently being published, in my opinion, of all this is the most hilarious thing I have seen this year. The book features pattern for Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Harry, the Queen, the bride and the groom and many more. The knitted dolls are made with astonishing definition of detail and most precise knitting. I have seen the book as well as the real knitted characters at one of the knitting shows back in March this year. Fiona Goble, the author of the book had a talk at the show, it was amusing and entertaining at the same time to listen to her incredible story of how she came up with the ideas and designed the most elaborate knitted dolls. The book Knit Your Own Royal Wedding is published by Ivy Press and costs £9.99.

The dress - the most speculation has been around the dress, what will Kate's dress look like?
Has the dress indeed been designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of the Alexander McQueen label.... "Catherine Middleton, the making of a modern princess" by Vogue.co.uk

What ever you do tomorrow on Will's & Kate's big day..... Enjoy your bank holiday with some great knitting and hopefully lots of sunshine.
Julieta @knitshop.co.uk

Here is a list of the products, patterns and magazines mentioned above:
Mulberry silk yarn, knitshop.co.uk
Simply Knitting, Knit Today
Knitonthenet
Susan Crawford Vintage Knitting, Just call me ruby blog
A Stitch In Time & Vintage Gifts To Knit
Fascinator Notorious
Sarah Burton, Alexander McQueen
Vogue.co.uk
Knit Your Own Royal Wedding
Simply Knitting and Knit Today to buy online
Gloves for a Spring Wedding

Needle Felting Kit review by Knit Today

The knitting magazine Knit Today featured one of knitshop.co.uk's products in issue 50, p50.

Buyer’s Guide - Pattern review: Featuring Knitshop’s Needle Felting Kit with Silk by Julieta:
"This flower makes a nice brooch (it’s easy - you just need to sew a pin onto the back), and is also good to sew onto a coat, or you can even use it to hide an annoying hole or snag in your favourite top! It’s made using needle felting techniques, and the kit is comes in contains everything you need to get started with this hobby: a felting needle, felting pad, merino wool tops, silk tops and fleece, and instructions. Each kit contains wool tops in four colours and there are six different colour schemes for you to choose from. You don’t need a great deal of patience for needle felting - this kit in particular won’t take long to complete. It’s also the sort of project that you can make a start on and then set aside and come back to later on. Once your flower is complete, consider decorating it with beads or Swarovski crystals to add an extra touch of sparkle."

Knit Today Magazine, issue 50, p73, Elizabeth Leight

This needle felting kit is also used in the beginners needle felting workshop at the knitshop.co.uk outlet in Lee Green.

The pattern is a free download from the knitshop.co.uk website, click here to purchase the free pattern.

Needle felting is a great and very versatile hobby. A flower, butterfly or motive of your choice is quick and easy to felt, it can be used as brooch or embellished to pep up your accessories.

The kit contains all necessary equipment and wool for you to start needle felting immediately. The needle felting kit is available from £4.98 without silk fibers and from £11.80 with silk fibers from knitshop.co.uk.