knitshop.co.uk Christmas Shopping Guide

What to buy the avid knitter? Yarn! Yarn! Yarn!

The softest, warmest yarns come from natural fibers – and knitshop.co.uk stocks nothing but. We’ve got handspun pure wool, exceptionally soft alpaca – ideal if you want to be sure sensitive skins won’t be irritated – merino, silks, mohair and more.

Step inside the knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet for some knitting and crochet inspiration.

Our best-selling Kolibri Wool Yarn is a vibrant mix of complementary shades. Jumpers, hats and scarves all look great knitted up in this lovely wool yarn. Choose from 10 very different shades. It knits up beautifully on 5mm or 6mm needles and also lends itself to felting.

For sheer luxury, it’s hard to beat the feel of knitshop.co.uk’s Mohair Silk Yarns. This exceptionally soft yarn keeps you really cosy yet hardly weighs anything. It’s ideal for wraps, scarves and anything lacy. A 125m mohair and silk skein costs just £5.95 and there’s a choice of nine pretty colours.

Knitting Kits

Knittingkits are always popular and have the advantage of being guaranteed to include everything the recipient needs to complete their project.

We’ve put together a chunky hat knitting kit based around our Kolibri Wool Yarn. The hat pattern, bamboo needles and a hank of Kolibri Wool Yarn in your favourite colours cost just £11.80.

Felting Kits

The Butterfly Felting Kit, for example, contains four colours of felting wool, a felting needle, instructions and a small punching pad so. If you prefer, we also have a Flower Felting Kit. Both are just £4.95 each.

CREATE your very own knitting, crochet or felting kit as a present - visit the Boutique Outlet and we will assist you in to create your own knitting, crochet or felting kits. Choose a pattern or a book of patterns  and enough yarn and the accessories to complete the project.

Gift-Wrapping Service

To make your gift of knitshop.co.uk products even more special, we can gift-wrap them for you. Our gift-wrapping option has proved popular with our online customers, so this year we are extending the service to items bought at the knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet. Whether you’re buying in person or online, we’ll gift-wrap items for you for just £2.

Gift Vouchers

Yet another option is to give a knitshop.co.uk gift voucher. Available in £20 and £40 versions, these allow the delighted recipient the chance to choose anything they wish to from our site and store. This includes all knitting, felting and crochet yarn, accessories such as needles, as well as our popular creative workshops.

Of course, it may be that you’re looking for something Christmassy to make and to give as a present. We’ve lots of ideas for you here, too.

Christmas Gifts to Make

Our pattern gallery includes gloves, scarves, mittens, jumpers, knitted camisoles and felted bags. We’ve also got festive knits such as our new Christmas Tree TeaCosy pattern and a crochet snowflake design

You’ll find even more designs in our Lee High Road Boutique Outlet. Stop by and see our complete collection.

knitshop.co.uk is at 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ. We’re open 11am to 5pm Thursday to Saturday

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk Boutique Outlet - http://knitshop.co.uk/content/6-about-knitshop

Kolibri Wool Yarn - http://knitshop.co.uk/176-kolibri-yarn

Needles & Accessories - http://knitshop.co.uk/274-knitting-crochet-accessories

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

Kolibri Hat Knitting Kit - http://knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2666-kolibri-hat-knitting-kit.html

knitshop.co.uk Pattern - http://knitshop.co.uk/161-knitshop-pattern

Christmas Tree Tea Cosy

ChristmasTree Tea Cosy pattern – a festive pattern for you to knit

One of the joys of Christmas is all the decorative items to transform your home and welcome guests. Knitted and handmade Christmas decorations are often far nicer than coloured paper and plastic ones – and they have the advantage of being usable year after year. Trimming the tree with homemade baubles, Santas and snowmen figures is a popular tradition in many families.

Practical items can be jazzed up and made festive too. Christmas is such a sociable time of the year, when we invite friends and family into our homes to enjoy the seasonal cheer. It doesn’t always have to involve a glass of mulled wine either. We’re just as likely to be putting the kettle on and catching up over a pot of tea. Producing a festive teapot and a mince pie or Yule log is Christmassy too.

knitshop.co.uk has created a special pattern for just such occasions. The ChristmasTree Tea Cosy transforms even the plainest teapot – and of course has the benefit of keeping your tea warm while you chat. Knitted on 5mm needles using knitshop.co.uk’s Alpaca Fino Yarn, this cheery tea cosy is likely to be talking point all of its own. 

 

The front and back of the Christmas Tree Tea Cosy are both alike. It can be knitted by anyone with a bit of knitting experience. Because it knits up on 4.5mm and 5mm needles, it doesn’t take long to make, either.

As long as you know how to knit stocking stitch and how to increase and decrease, you’ll be able to tackle this fun project. The bobbles that represent the baubles on the tree are easy to incorporate into the pattern too and add a 3D element to the tea cosy design.

As well as written instructions, the pattern includes a clear reference chart showing where you need to change colour to make the Christmas tree and where the baubles should be added. We’ve used yellow Alpaca Fino Yarn for the baubles, but you could choose any colour from the range.

The knitshop.co.uk Christmas Tree Tea Cosy has overall dimensions of 21cm wide – measured from spout to handle opening – and 18cm tall. To achieve this, you’ll need a tension of 16 stitches over 22 rows on 4.5mm needles.

You’ll need a set of 4.5mm double-pointed needles as well as straight 4.5mm and 5mm needles. knitshop.co.uk stocks these, as well as the beautifully warm and soft Alpaca Fino Yarn on which this pattern is based. 

 

For the main colour, you’ll need a 100g hank of knitshop.co.uk AlpacaFino Yarn in red (item 40AF0420C). The Christmas tree design uses a hank of green Alpaca Fino Yarn (item 40AF0540C). And yellow for the bobbles (item 40AF0400C).

Links to this blog: 

Christmas Tree Tea Cosy Pattern - http://knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2632-christmas-tree-tea-cosy.html

Alpaca Fino Yarn - http://knitshop.co.uk/56-alpaca-yarn

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

Maglia Di Lana

Maglia Di Lana scarf – a pattern for you to download and knit

Who doesn’t love to be wrapped up warm in a cosy scarf? With the winds howling and the temperature plunging, it’s not much fun having to brave the elements. Knowing you’ll be snug in your favourite knitwear can make all the difference. Coats and boots are practical, but scarves and hats add personality to your winter wardrobe. We don’t think you can have too many of them.

The shops are full of cosy accessories at this time of the year, but there’s something special about a scarf you’ve made yourself. Or one you’ve knitted as a present for someone special. Natural fibres are a must – they’re incredibly cosy and luxurious.

At its most basic, a scarf is simply a few dozen rows of garter stitch. At its most impressive it’s a riot of multiple colours and textured patterns. You don’t have to spend ages creating cables or lacework, though. Simple patterns can be really effective too – especially if you’re working with chunky yarn and striking colours.

knitshop.co.uk’s latest pattern, the Maglia Di Lana scarf, knits up really quickly on large 9mm needles and uses a straightforward drop stitch pattern that creates a lattice effect.

Maglia Di Lana translates as ‘knitting with wool’. The versions we’ve knitted to accompany the pattern are in the vibrant shades reminiscent of Hawaii and the more muted blues, cream and brown combination we’ve called Himalaya. The larger scarf requires two 100g hanks of knitshop.co.uk Handspun Wool Yarn, while the smaller scarf can be knitted from a single 100g hank.

We knitted our Maglia Di Lana scarves using 9mm bamboo needles. For the tassels, you’ll also need a crochet hook. A 6mm hook is ideal.

The Maglia Di Lana scarf looks fantastic and the instructions are very straightforward. We’ve rated this pattern suitable for knitters of any standard. It’s an ideal first project for beginners – with impressive results! Just download the pattern and choose your favourite colours of Handspun Wool Yarn.

Materials

9mm needles (we prefer bamboo)
6mm crochet hook

Small scarf (approx 130cm long): One 100g hank of knitshop.co.uk Handspun Wool Yarn (http://www.knitshop.co.uk/112-handspun-wool-yarn). Example knitted in Himalaya (item number 20HS0840C)

Long scarf (approx 240cm long): two 100g hanks of knitshop.co.uk Handspun Wool Yarn (http://www.knitshop.co.uk/112-handspun-wool-yarnapprox). Example knitted in Hawaii (item number 20HS1200C)

Links to this blog:

Maglia Di Lana scarf Pattern: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2621-maglia-di-lana.html

knitshop.co.uk Handspun Wool Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/112-handspun-wool-yarn

9mm bamboo knitting needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1352-bamboo-knitting-needles-9mm.html

6mm crochet hook: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/bamboo-crochet-hook/1627-6mm-bamboo-crochet-hook.html

Knitting and Crochet Accessories: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/274-knitting-crochet-accessories

Let It Snow - Snowflake

Winter is knocking on our doors, Christmas is just around the corner and it would seem that the snowy weather could be upon us in the next few weeks.

Just in time for the Christmas season Julieta is teaching how to make a crochet snowflake and she has designed a new snowflake pattern which will be released in time for the Crochet Workshop at the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green. This crochet workshop is an improver - advance class, it is best for candidates that have basic crochet knowledge and are looking to improve or refresh their skills. In this Snowflake workshop students will be shown the necessary techniques to achieve decorative snowflake textiles pieces.

Let It Snow Snowflake Pattern using fine crochet thread

Julieta and her knitshop.co.uk team will be focusing on the ideal way of holding yarn and needle, feeling comfortable as you crochet and achieving a smooth technique. The pattern uses basic crochet stitches as well as trebles and double trebles which are demonstrated by the tutor during the class. The two hour workshop will be a dedicated class with a maximum of eight students so that everyone goes at their own pace and as much attention as possible is focused on each student.

The class will also progress onto a variety of crochet techniques to achieve the decorative snowflakes. Each candidate will be able to complete at least one project during the 2 hour workshop or will be well instructed to finish the project in their own time and be able to carry on making snowflakes and similar projects at their own pace from home and beyond.

knitshop.co.uk will provide all materials necessary to complete one project and you'll be able to take home your work. The team at knitshop.co.uk are also keen to teach students to read patterns and charts so students skills can be applied to further own projects well after the class is over. Julieta and the team will be teaching students how to translate patterns into crochet and will answer and questions and qualms regarding this difficult, but useful, art.

If this workshop sounds like your kind of hobby, then come on down and take part. Whether it's for fun and make friends or if you are a keen crocheter. The next Snowflake workshop will be held on the 2nd November, from 11am until 1pm and again on the 7th December. This two hour workshop is a steal at just £15. All materials are provided as well as refreshments and smiles from the team!

Let It Snow Snowflake Pattern using 4ply cotton yarn

 

Make sure you book your place before the snow comes down! Call the knitshop.co.uk team, check-out online or simply visit in store to book your spot.

Can't make the workshop? We have plenty more workshops on offer to keep your cockles warm through-out the winter. But we are also offering a free snowflake pattern. Make sure you place this in your shopping basket online and checkout, to download your pattern, Free!

http://knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/1972-free-pattern-let-it-snow-snowflake.html

Links to this post:
FREE Crochet Snowflake Pattern
Crochet Workshops at the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green
Location and opening hours of the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green

Autumn treats

Autumn, the summer has past, leaves are falling and the days are slowly becoming shorter. Autumn is the time to craft and reflect after a busy summer full of activities and days out. A cup of tea in front of the fire place with candle light, lighting up the room, working on something precious that you keep to yourself or give to your loved ones as a Christmas present. Well, at least this is how I always imagined. I haven't got a fire place but I most certainly enjoy a cup of evening tea with lemon and honey and work on my aran cardigans and jumpers.

I think craft skills are something wonderful to have and I believe skills should be taught from a young age but equally you'renever too old to learn something new.

This autumn and winter, I will be teaching a range of different classes at our Boutique Outlet in Lee Green. The knitshop.co.uk workshop schedule includes beginners' classes, master classes and childrens' workshops as well as FREE Taster Sessions.

If you are interested in finding out more about the knitshop.co.uk workshop schedule for this autumn and winter, please visit our website www.knitshop.co.uk.  All workshops can be booked online, in person at the Boutique Outlet for via telephone. 

Here are a few workshops that I think are most exciting:

Kids Knitting & Crochet Workshops

Fridays and Saturdays during school holidays, 11am - 1pm

Traditionally in school holidays knitshop.co.uk is offering knitting and crochet workshops. We are dedicated to teach creative minds how to finger knit and crochet. We actively encourage students  to knit or crochet something to take home with them after the workshop. 

All childrens' workshops are priced at £10 for two hours and include all materials needed for the workshop.  These workshops are a brilliant activity to keep the children entertained during the school holidays. All students under 18 must attend with a parent, carer or guardian, who can also take part in the knitting fun!

Felted Beads And Necklace Making Workshop

Saturday 29th October, 3pm - 5pm

Our jewellery design workshop is available to all skill levels and are a great new skill to learn this autumn to create some unique and inspired jewellery. Participants will be shown the techniques of achieving three dimensional felted pieces perfect to create beads or sculptural shapes for decorative jewellery.

Taught by Julieta, the course includes all the materials necessary for the two hour workshop as well as a project to take home and keep you inspired and creative. The workshop is available to be booked online for just £19.00.

Knitting & Crochet Workshops

every Friday and Saturday 11am - 1pm
Our regular knitting and crochet sessions are running every Friday and Saturday. Do you want to learn to crochet, refresh your knitting skills or simply enjoy good company? - Visit our Boutique Outlet for one of our creative sessions and join the fun. Remember to book your place to get the discounted pre-booked rate, book now online or call 020 8144 4523.

We have some amazing new classes this autumn, but also our traditional classes that have been running for over 3 years at the Boutique Outlet. 

Crochet A Christmas Snowflake

Knit A Mobius Cowl - A Cowl With A Twist

Learn To Knit or Crochet

To name just a few, If you want to learn a new skill, book your space now at knitshop.co.uk and join the handmade craft revolution by making something for yourself or your loved ones!

Happy Stitching

Julieta and the knitshop.co.uk Team

Links to this post:

Patterns available at knitshop.co.uk

How to find the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green

October, November and December workshop schedule

New Season Cotton 4ply Shades

We've introduced four new shades to our mercerised ply cotton collection. The knitshop.co.uk team have been busy researching this year's trends and colour must-haves and we've developed these four beautiful colours to add to our yarn selection.

Rose Pink, Electric Blue, Canary Yellow and Pumpkin Orange are all welcome additions and we're sure you have a key project this year that will deserve a bold and intense colour such as these.

Mercerised cottons are popular for their finish and lustre but also for it's strength and how successfully it dyes, which is how we've achieved these intense shades. Knitshop's mercersied come in fabulous ranges of colours from primary colours to more unusual colours that can really help make knitting and crochet projects more personal and bespoke.

We offer around 15 shades in the cotton 4ply including scarlet, leaf green, coral pink and silver. These new colours will certainly war-up the collection and the shop is certainly bursting with colour at the moment!

Rose Pink
This light and yet hearty pink is ideal for girl projects from baby knits to girls hats, boleros, and more. The girls here are loving the pink option, of course, and we have a variety of projects underway with this pink cotton involved. We suggest blending it with the Pumpkin Orange.

Electric Blue
We know this blue will be used widely within projects as it is bang on trend this 2012. A very bold yarn, if you're not confident about using this within projects, perhaps think about using it as a stripe and not a block colour. We think this would be suitable for many of Susan Crawfords vintage knit patterns found in A Stitch In Time volume I and II.

Pumpkin Orange
Another trendy colour for the season, we just love this new addition. Almost sour, this again is intense and bold but fantastic to brighten darker shades such as greys, silvers and charcoals. A very uni-sex colour, we think it's an all round success!

Canary Yellow
Who does not like yellow? This is such a beautiful shade of yellow, it takes all the best of yellow and pours it all onto this cotton. Bright, intense, cheerful, what more do you want for a yarn. We suggest Tropicana by Just Call me Ruby.

The mercerised cotton 4ply is sold in pull out skeins of 50grams at just £3.90 for each ball!

Cotton Special offer:
£2.90 per ball if you buy 20 per colour or more. And £3.00 off if you buy 10 per colour online!

Keen to get stuck in and use these new yarns? We have a perfect pattern for you. The Lily Jacket pattern is available instore and soon online. A girly jacket, all the girls here are desperate to use the Rose Pink!

The Lily Jacket pattern designed by Meg Crowther from the knitshop.co.uk was first seen in Knit Magazine last year. We've been inundated with keen knitters writing in with images of their Lily Jacket project knitted up with our Mercerised cotton. Julieta's colour choice: bordeaux, oyster and pastel pink, making the jacket rather smart-looking. We're keen for more knitters to try their hand at the pattern and incorporate the new yarns.

Best of luck with the 4ply mercersied cotton!

Links to this post:
Rose pink
Electric blue
Pumpkin orange
Canary yellow
Cotton 4ply Collection

Interweave Magazines

Knitting and Crochet Magazines new to knitshop.co.uk

New to knitshop.co.uk are the Interweave Magazines offering a variety of reads including Knitscene, Knits and Crochet. We are offering several issues from all these stunning magazine series.

These quality glossy magazines are informative and provide a fresh view to the knitting and crochet art. The knitshop.co.uk team is particularly keen on the creative opportunities featured across the magazines offering plenty of projects and opportunities to knitters and crocheters to get involved, start new projects and improve their skills.

We are also keen on the technical aspect, these magazines offer lots of advice on developing techniques and including them in projects making the most of your knitting and crochet needles and adding a contemporary feel to your knitting and crochet.

The suggested yarns are all available at the knitshop.co.uk or we can advise on something similar to what the projects offer. We recommend these magazines as gift subscriptions or for treats to keep knitters and crocheters in the loop.

Crochet by Interweave

This seasonal magazine offers in each edition at least 20 projects to get your needles into. These well explained and illustrated projects are for all levels of crochet and will challenge anyone's fingers and needles. Techniques are explained and developed in a lovely section dedicated to improving crochet techniques. These should encourage crocheters to pick-up their needle and yarn and to experiment not just with the technique, but how to hold needles and yarn and more.

Available form just £4.99, four times a year, this will certainly keep you entertained throughout the seasons.

Knitscene by Interweave

Knitscene delves into the finer points of knitting focusing on technique, easing your knitting experience and making sure you become a confident and comfortable knitter.

Issued every season, four times a year, this magazine is filled with amazing tips and step-by-step advice for techniques that can be practised and applied to further projects. The magazine also includes several new contemporary designs and projects to get your knitting needles moving and get you occupied during that particular season.

The magazine has a fabulous social atmosphere with letters from knitters and discussions to get involved in and get you thinking.

The magazine explores every aspect of knitting from techniques, to finishes to complete patterns and various methods of knitting. A lovely all round magazine that we strongly recommend for any knitting fanatic.

Knits by Interweave

Similar to Knitscene by Interweave this magazine also focuses on techniques through step-by-step articles and projects within the magazine. Quarterly, this magazine takes a more traditional angle looking at historical knitting and bringing it into the modern world.

Both magazines are worth a browse and we feel that the strength in their projects and advice will sway your decision as to which one suits you that season. From just £5.99, it's not a sin to get hold of both magazines to really get your knitting juices flowing.

Enjoy!

Links to this blog: 

Knit scene Magazine & Interweave Knits 

Interweave Crochet