Product of the Month August

A Stitch in Time Volume I - new edition now available

If you’re an admirer of vintage clothes and patterns, you’ll absolutely adore Susan Crawford’s fantastic books A Stitch in Time. They have just been republished with updated yarns and even more detailed instructions about how to create your own vintage knits.

In the five years since A Stitch in Time Volume I was published, vintage knitwear fans have taken this book to their bosoms. It’s become a bible for needlecrafters keen to reproduce the fashions, colours and fit of the clothes of the early 20^th century. In fact, the first three print runs quickly sold out. Now, however, A Stitch in Time Volume I is back and is available as an ebook with updated patterns designed for the very latest yarns.

A Stitch In Time Vol 1
by Susan Crawford and Jane Waller

Garments featured in this wonderful homage to knitwear from 1920 to 1949 include the beautifully detailed Rose Jumper which is finished with a row of matching roses along the botton of the yoke, and heavily textured tops such as It Cannot Fail To Please.

A Stitch In Time Volume I features 59 divine items of clothing that flatter the shape of any woman and Susan has updated the original patterns to work with today’s yarns. You can view the full gallery of patterns on this Flickr web page.

Light and Lovely - Coquette Vintage Cotton
in Spearmint and Sapphire

Susan’s genius is her attention to detail. Even the names of each garment evoke the period from which they’re taken. For effortless beachside glamour who could resist Sea-Waves And Sunny Days Ahead – a modest but neatly fitted bathing suit? 

Several of the designs are perfect to be made in  Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn, the 100 percent mercerised cotton yarn Susan launched in conjunction with knitshop.co.uk this spring. Coquette’s vintage credentials include the feel of the yarn, the 13 shades Susan chose to match her vintage knitwear and crochet designs and the traditional method of winding the yarn. It even has a centre pull just like the yarns 1940s knitters would have used. 

 

Call of the Sea - Coquette Vintage Cotton
in Sapphire and Snow

A Stitch in Time Volume I New Edition costs £20 for the complete ebook. Alternatively, you can buy selected patterns from the book direct from knitshop.co.uk. The patterns available to be used with Coquette Vintage Cotton: 

The Call of the Sea

Sea Waves and Sunny Days Ahead

A Dashing Little Swim Suit

Knitter’s Delight

Light and Lovely

Here are the latest accessories 

Knit These Slim-Line Undies

Each of these patterns can be knitted using knitshop.co.uk Vintage Cotton Yarn on 2.75mm to 3.75mm needles or crochet hooks. For more information about when each pattern will be available contact info@knitshop.co.uk.

Knitter's Delight
Coquette Vintage Cotton in Oyster

Links to this blog:

A Stitch In Time Volume I New Edition: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/A_Stitch_in_Time_Volume_1.html

A Stitch In Time Volume I Flickr gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/astitchintime_vintage_knitting/sets/72157622459568509

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

3.5mm metal crochet hook: www.knitshop.co.uk/metal-crochet-hook/1761-35mm-metal-hook.html

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

Susan Crawford Vintage: www.susancrawfordvintage.com

Knitting and crochet workshops this August

knitshop.co.uk offers a full range of knitting and crochet classes at our Boutique Outlet shop at 326 Lee High Road, Lee Green. During the summer we are holding beginner knitting and crochet classes for kids every Friday and well as several classes aimed at boosting the confidence of new knitters.

The Swing The Needles class from 11am to 1pm is held every Friday in August and is ideal for under-18s keen to experiment with either knitting or crochet. The two-hour Swing The Needles class introduces kids to what may become a lifelong skill. Handmade items are a real source of pride for their creator and we love introducing youngsters to this fantastic form of creativity.

Participants learn how to hold the needles and yarn and how to cast on and create their first stitches. Depending on preference and aptitude, attendees can elect to learn the basics of crochet instead. Here, we’ll show you how to hold the crochet hook and how to make your first double crochets and chains. 

 

Kids Felting Workshop at the Boutique Outlet

The class is suitable for children from five upwards too. As an alternative to knitting younger children can be shown finger-knitting. Note that youngsters will need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Refreshments and all the equipment needed are provided. Kids classes cost £10. 

Kids Knitting Workshop at the Boutique Outlet

 

Improve your knitting

Many of today’s adult knitters learnt as children or teens and continued to knit, or learned when they were young and have rediscovered their passion for these crafts.

If you’re new to knitting or are picking it up again as a skill you learned years ago, you might like to try one of the knitting classes we’re running that are aimed at nearly-new knitters.

In particular, the class on 9 August Learn to Read a Pattern will be invaluable. Here, we’ll talk you through the terms that are used in knitting and the techniques you’ll need to master in order to follow a pattern. We’ll use a simple knitted flower pattern as an example and give you the pattern and yarn to take home afterwards so you can complete the project in your own time. We offer email and phone support should you have any queries. 

Knitting Workshop at Manor House Park

Knitting isn’t just about squares and oblongs – if you want to make clothes, you’ll need to know how to shape your knitting to fit the wearer. To do this, you need to be able to decrease and increase stitches. Our class on Friday 16 August is devoted to Decreasing and Increasing. There are lots of ways of making extra stitches or reducing the number of stitches on a row. We’ll show you the most common methods and also explain when to use one particular technique rather than another so your knitting ends up smooth and without any holes.

Finally, on Friday 23 August we’re holding a general class Improve Your Knitting Skills. Here we’ll let you into some tricks of the trade and help you gain confidence when taking on more complex projects and trying techniques such as knitting on double-pointed needles or trying new stitches. If you’ve got a project you’re keen to try or one that’s in progress, bring it along for advice on how to tackle it. You might like to try one of our patterns or knit something from one of the magazines or books we sell.

Knitting Workshop at the Boutique Outlet on Lee High Road

As with all our classes, Improve Your Knitting is held between 11am and 1pm with no more than eight participants per class. Classes cost £15 each. Full instructions and materials will be provided and we offer email and phone support afterwards.

Links to this blog:

Swing The Needles kids’ class 9 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2807-swing-the-needles.html

Swing The Needles kids’ class 16 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2808-swing-the-needles.html

Swing The Needles kids’ class 23 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2809-swing-the-needles.html

Learn To Read A Knitting Pattern class 9 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2811-12-jan-granny-squares-crochet.html

Decreasing And Increasing 16 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2813-knitting-dec-inc.html

Improve Your Knitting 23 August: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2814-beginners-knitting-workshop.html

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

Knitshop.co.uk bookshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/166-book-shop

Knitshop.co.uk magazines: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/163-magazines

Knitting on holidays

Taking your knitting with you on holiday

One of the best times you catch up on your knitting and crochet projects is when you're on your summer holiday. All those hours spent killing time at airports, on planes, trains and boats is time that could easily be spent casting on and getting stuck into the first few inches of a new project. If you're not driving, so much the better: plonk your knitting bag by your feet, strap yourself into the passenger seat and get those needles clacking. Take it from us, you can get through an awful lot of stocking stitch in a round trip from London to Cornwall. Given the unpredictable British summer, working on a cover-up on your way to week away makes a lot of sense.

If you're traveling overseas, you'll probably need to pack light. A small crochet or knitting project such as a child's top is ideal. You might need to plan ahead about how to transport it, though. Airlines have differing policies about what you can take in your hold luggage. Aviation regulations state that you can take your knitting and crochet with you on international flights leaving the UK, but we wouldn't take a bet on you managing to get your favourite 30cm needles past security.

Short bamboo and plastic needles with blunt ends have a better chance of being waved through, but you're still at the mercy of the whims and mood of the airline ground staff and the airport security staff.

Single Point Bamboo Knitting Needles

Security advice changes frequently, so check current rules about what you can and can't take onboard in the terms of carriage for your airline as well as on international aviation websites. A piece of yarn onto which you can thread your in-progress knitting is a wise precaution. Some airlines confiscate projects as well as the projects they're on, so don't take a favourite project on your trip.

Don't take aviation policy as gospel either: Gatwick Airport has recently changed its policy and now expressly prohibits knitting needles. Crochet hooks may be okay as they are less likely to be seized on as 'sharp objects that could be used as a weapon'. As if!

Other airports that are part of the same airport group as Gatwick now also ban knitting needles, so if you've previously snuck some bamboo needles through in your hand luggage at Manchester Airport or Edinburgh, you may have to rethink your plans for what to pack.

We've taken circular needles on Easyjet and other European airlines without fuss (in fact, the Easyjet cabin crew thought it was a great idea and thought they might follow our lead and take up knitting in between shifts too). However, the Easyjet dangerous goods page says knitting needles mustn't be carried on the person or in the cabin, so perhaps we just got lucky.

At the BA check-in desk at Heathrow Terminal 5 they told us we couldn't take knitting needles in our hand luggage (until we waved a piece of paper showing the airport's regulations contradicting them). Internal US flights specifically say you're allowed to take your knitting stuff with you (as long as scissors are blunt and shorter than 4in), but whether you make it through security with them is down to security staff's discretion.

On flights from Stansted, for example, the security policy is that knitting needles are allowed.

Eurostar says it's happy for passengers to take and use knitting needles as long as you don't walk around the carriage brandishing them.

You can take a print-out of the rules stating that you're allowed to carry your crochet hook or needles, but there are plenty of anecdotes online of people still coming up against airport staff who won't let you through security with them.

In summary, your best bet is to make tracks for the US, since you can knit onboard when leaving the UK and on your return and spend a blissful 12 hours knitting in each direction. Or you could take a train (perhaps the Eurostar) or enjoy a staycation instead.

Bamboo Ciurcular Knitting Needles

Julieta who knits anywhere and everywhere says: "if you want to take your knitting onboard I would recommend to take circular bamboo needles they are shorter and look less threatening. I would also recommend to take cheap needles, that you don't mind loosing (just in case) and a spare string so if they take the needles off you you can at least safe your knitting and get a new set when you arrive on your holiday destination."

One last thing for you to consider, the policies from your returning country or airport will most likely be different again! So make sure you are prepared and know the rules and policies in other countries and airports.

Links to this blog:

Easyjet dangerous goods page: http://www.easyjet.com/en/dangerous-goods

Gatwick Airport security advice: http://www.gatwickinformation.co.uk/gatwick-airport-INF-information-security-rest-proh.php

Heathrow Airport security advice: http://www.heathrowairport.com/heathrow-airport-guide/heathrow-security/faqs

knitshop.co.uk bamboo needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/278-bamboo-single-point

knitshop.co.uk bamboo crochet hooks: http://knitshop.co.uk/290-bamboo-crochet-hook

knitshop.co.uk circular needles: http://knitshop.co.uk/309-metal-circular

Manchester Airport security advice: http://www.manchesterairportflightarrivals.co.uk/manchester-airport-INF-information-security-restr-proh.php

Stansted Airport security advice: http://www.stanstedairport.com/stansted-airport-guide/airport-security/security-faqs#Sharpitems

Eurostar knitting needle statement: https://www.facebook.com/eurostar/posts/10151128733736426

UK government aviation rules: https://www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/personal-items

US TSA regulations: http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/prohibited-items#4

Product of the Month July

Look chic in a classic summer top

This Attractive Affair is a fantastic classic summer knit. This vintage short-sleeved top can be worn as either a loose-fitting jumper or as a jacket. It’s quite the number to be seen wearing as you stroll down the promenade on the French Riviera.

Devised by wonderful vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford, This Attractive Affair is a loving recreation of a garment from the 1940s. The two-tone colour scheme is an exact match for the colours that would have been available to knitters in the early part of the 20^th century too: the pattern has been specially designed for Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn. The shades for this 100 percent mercised cotton yarn were handpicked by Susan, who is renowned for her painstaking research into all aspects of vintage knitwear.

This Attractive Affair

The shades of Coquette used in our version are Oyster and Wine. However, there are now 13 shades of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn to choose from as we have recently added Sapphire, Carnation and Snow to the range.

This Attractive Affair requires between eight and 13 balls of Coquette for the main colour, plus three to five 50g balls of the contrast colour. Instructions are given for 32in to 48in busts. Since the colours are changed at the end of a row, you don’t need to have much experience with colourwork in order to make this lovely top.

Julieta wearing This Attractive Affair

The main part of the garment is knitted in four pieces, with both main body pieces knitted side-to-side. You then knit the side panels in the more usual top-up manner. The jumper’s set-in sleeves are also knitted sideways and have separate cuffs grafted on to them. The intriguing oversized collar is made from four small pieces. The pattern is knitted on straight 3.25mm needles. You will also need four small buttons.

This Attractive Affair is one of 79 patterns featured in Susan Crawford’s book A Stitch In Time Volume 2, which you can buy from knitshop.co.uk along with the needles and Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn you’ll need to make this striking garment. 

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn

This Attractive Affair was featured in the current issue of The Knitter as a pattern on page 41. We currently stock a limited amount of printed pattern that are available to purchase from the Boutique Outlet in Lee Green or per mail order +(0)20 7099 8864

Coquette usually costs £4.95 for a 50g ball of 125m of mercerised cotton. As the newest addition to the knitshop.co.uk range of yarns, Coquette is available for just £4.45 per ball for a limited time.

Previous blogs about A Stitch In Time 2 

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/stitch-in-time-volume-2-is-finally.html

http://knitshopcouk.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/pictures-of-stitch-in-time-vol-2-using.html

Links to this blog:

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

This Attractive Affair pattern http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/this-attractive-affair

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Susan Crawford Vintage: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com/Home.html

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

July Workshops

Boost your crochet skills this July

Summer lends itself to cool cottons and lighter knits, so this month’s workshops focus on some of the more delicate projects you can get stuck into.

We start July with a crochet class covering how to read a pattern containing instructions for lacework. Our Lace Crochet workshop on Friday 12 July is ideal for anyone who knows how to crochet and wants to learn how to combine the tight chains of double and treble crochet with the more open fabric that you can create with lace. We’ll build on the basic doubles you know to how make and show you how to make double doubles, slips and half trebles to add variety to your crochet design. We’ll be using fine crochet threads and small steel crochet hooks, so prepare to concentrate in order to complete your first lacy crochet project. 

If you like the idea of crochet but haven’t yet mastered holding a crochet hook and turning chains, our Crochet For Beginners class on Friday 19 July is just for you. We’ll use the techniques demonstrated in this two-hour class to get you started on your first crochet ‘make’. Choose whether you’d prefer to crochet a flower or to learn how to make a classic Granny square. 

Crochet Cotton Granny Square

With the school holidays starting later this month, we’ll also be offering two classes aimed at under-16s. Our Let’s Get Hooked class on Friday 19 July and 26 July shows kids aged over five how to knit with their fingers. Those who quickly master the technique of finger-knitting will then get the chance to try their hand at crochet.

All classes are held at our Outlet Boutique at 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ from 11am to 1pm. 

Workshop at the Boutique Outlet

We’ll provide all the materials needed for each class and, where relevant, give you a pattern to take away with you so you can complete a project you started in our workshop at home. We’ll also provide plenty of support, so feel free to email or call us should you get stuck with a project we’ve shown you in our classes.

Note that children need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times when attending knitshop.co.uk classes. Hot and cold refreshments will be provided.

Once you’ve learned the basics you’ll be able to try making some of the downloading projects in our pattern library or featured in our magazines. We’ve a great selection of cotton yarns and crochet hooks to get you started.

Links to this blog:

knitshop.co.uk Cotton Yarn range: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/22-cotton-yarn

Metal crochet hooks: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/311-metal-crochet-hook

Crochet For Beginners, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2793-beginners-crochet-workshop.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 19 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2791-lets-get-hooked.html

Let’s Get Hooked, 26 July http://www.knitshop.co.uk/workshops/2792-lets-get-hooked.html

Woolfest 2013

Meet knitshop founder Julieta Brandao at Woolfest

We’re delighted to tell you that knitshop.co.uk will be at this year’s Woolfest, helping vintage knitwear designer Susan Crawford show off the fantastic garments that you can make using Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn.

Woolfest is one of the longest-established and most popular knitting events in the UK. The two-day show takes place in Cockermouth in Cumbria on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June. It’s held at Mitchel’s Livestock Centre, which means there are plenty of wooly friends to meet too. In fact, Woolfest is one of the few events at which farmers sell raw fleeces.

knitshop.co.uk founder and designer Julieta Brandao will be on the Susan Crawford Vintage stall at Woolfest. She and Susan worked together on the composition and colours for Coquette. The beautiful yarn is made of 100 percent mercerised cotton. It is tightly spun and knits to a 28 stitches by 36 rows tension on 3.25mm needles. 

 

Susan has recreated many of the patterns from her A Stitch In Time Volume 1 and A Stitch In Time Volume 2 books especially for Coquette. The books feature 75 patterns lovingly recreated from classic patterns of the 1930 to 1950s. You can buy Susan’s books from the knitshop.co.uk Bookshop.

Some of Susan’s wonderful designs from A Stitch In Time are available as single patterns through knitshop.co.uk. For example, her stunning Tropicana vest looks amazing knitted in Coquette Canary. You’ll be able to see many of these at Woolfest. Exclusive to Woolfest are the single pattern, Julieta's favourite 'This Attractive Affair' and 'Ribbon Threaded Jumper'

 

This Attractive Affair in Wine and Oyster

You can buy Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn direct from knitshop.co.uk for a specialist introductory price of £4.45 per 50g ball. It usually costs £4.95 per ball. of course, we’ll be selling it on the Susan Crawford Vintage stall at Woolfest.

Ribbon Threaded Jumper in Pumpkin

Julieta is most excited about attending Woolfest again, after having had a stand 2 years in a row she wasn't able to go back for 3 years due to her now nearly 3 year old son and the distance from London to Cockermouth. 

Tickets to Woolfest cost £8 per day, or £14 for a two-day ticket. There are no concessionary rates for this event. Just turn up at Woolfest and buy a ticket on the door. Doors open at 10am on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June. The event closes each day at 5pm.

Links to this blog:

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

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Knitshop.co.uk Bookshop: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/166-book-shop

Susan Crawford Vintage: http://www.susancrawfordvintage.com

Tropicana Vest pattern: http://webmail.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2778-tropicana.html

Woolfest Cumbria: http://woolfest.co.uk

Katy Tee Cotton Top

Sophisticated Katy Tee Cotton Top pattern

Recreate the glamour of the early 20^th century with a gorgeous fitted top that sparkles and draws the eye. knitshop.co.uk’s Katy Tee Cotton Top looks fabulous in deep, dramatic shades such as Wine or Amethyst. Add gold or silver coloured beads to amp up the luxe effect. 

Katy Tee Cotton Top from Knit issue 41 in Wine

The Katy Tee Cotton Top is an easy knit that looks stunning. The pattern covers dress sizes 8 to 18 and knits to a 4ply tension.

Katy is knitted using Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn and finished with ‘rocaille’ seed beads. This delicate beaded edge makes it feel very glamorous. Designed by Meg Crowther, it has a distinctive vintage feel thanks to the defined shaping around the waist. Most of the pattern consists of stocking stitch, with the shaping worked by decreasing at either end of a row.

Julieta wearing Katy Tee in Amethyst with purple beads

Meg says, “While looking around for a design for parties, I felt the beading around the hem and sleeves would add that little bit of sparkle and glamour.”

Katy is a great showcase for knitshop.co.uk’s brand-new Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn, which creates fine knitted fabrics that drape flatteringly over your curves. The crisp cotton holds its shape well and really shows off the pattern. Beads are added at the start of each piece so you don’t need to thread them as you go. Just count the stitches as you cast on and slip a gold or silver bead firmly into position. The pattern makes it clear when you need to place another bead.

Katy looks elegant teamed with wide-legged, floor-skimming trousers, linens and high heels or with a pencil skirt. We’ve used the bold Amethyst shade of Coquette yarn for our version of Katy. For a completely different, but equally stunning effect, choose one of the paler shades of Coquette and use brightly-coloured beads. Rocaille glass beads are available in lots of different colours, while Coquette comes in 13 delicate and more striking shades.

You’ll need between 8 and 13 balls of Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn to knit Katy, plus three 3.25mm needles (a pair, plus an extra needle so you can finish with a neat three-needle castoff). You will also need around 130g - 190g of size 6 Rocaille beads to complete this sophisticated garment. 

Sleeve with beads

Katy Tee Cotton Top was originally featured in Knit Magazine, issue 41 using the colour Wine.

And the best at the end...... use the Voucher Code below to download Katy for free today. Voucher Code: KatyTee2013

Links to this blog:

Katy Tee Cotton Top pattern: http://webmail.knitshop.co.uk/knitshop-pattern/2798-katy.html

Coquette Vintage Cotton Yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/323-coquette-vintage-cotton

Coquette Amethyst yarn: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/coquette-vintage-cotton/2779-amethyst-coquette.html

3.2mm bamboo needles: http://www.knitshop.co.uk/knitting-accessories/1564-325mm-dp-13cm.html

Beadmonster Rocaille glass beads: http://www.beadmonster.co.uk/page3.htm

Meg Crowther Ravelry page: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/meg-crowther