easy kids knits projects

Before I pop these pictures into my pattern book photo gallery, I wanted to share the beautiful interpretations of the patterns from my books by the wonderful Gabrielle. She is becoming prolific at knitting from both Easy Kids Knits and Easy Baby Knits for her adorable red headed grandchildren and I love how she gives each new project its own individual twist. She loves to choose the prettiest shades of gorgeous yarn from Loop yarn shop and then lets the colours dictate the end results.

Here are two very sixties style interpretations of the smock top from Kids, which is so very pretty.

I am sure Gabrielle won't mind me mentioning that the flowers were an addition to try to hide what she considered as untidy finishing round the neck, but I love the detail and the reason for it! My one big tip for knitters is to enjoy the pattern and knitting and not be too perfectionist with it - after all you could always go and buy a machine made sweater if you want perfection, and knitting is supposed to be relaxing.

Here, the mistake has become a beautiful feature of the top and I love how she has used the differing placements in each smock.

She has also made the ballet style wrap top and bonnet from Baby into a cute little set for the newest addition to the family, and there are those sweet little flowers again - not to hide anything this time, just to add a bit of colour. Gorgeous.

Keep up the good work Gabrielle!

I love to see your finished projects, so please do feel free to send me them, or to point me in the direction of them on Ravelry.

new patterns

Well folks I am on a roll now! The snow break from my work at the college has given me time to sort out a load of patterns I have had sitting around in my cupboard for months . Two new ones are up now on Ravelry.

The Oversized Beret is a very simple pattern, ideal for beginner knitters bored of scarves and has the option to knit it straight or in the round.

Sash Style Belt does what it says on the tin - not a practical belt, but a pretty adornment to cinch in a little black dress or layer over sloppy cardis.

Get 'em while they're hot!

Autumn/Winter new collection

I cannot believe that I have actually started publishing the patterns for my Autumn/Winter collection while it is still mid-winter (and boy, it really is winter this year). I am finally getting on top of the pattern writing and am aiming to get most of the collection up in the next few weeks, which is great. The first two patterns up are a beautifully warm 'snood' type affair, reminiscent of the 80s fashion accessory and of the cowls seen everywhere on the A/W 09/10 catwalks.
Cables and subtle stripes add texture and interest and the Rowan Cocoon yarn is really cosy and great to work with.

The Chunky ribbed hat was bourne out of the freezing weather and the emergency of needing a final, very quick to make Christmas present! This is also a great pattern for those of you who want to try working in the round. The Debbie Bliss Como yarn, with its touch of cashmere, is very soft and warm and with the stylish, retro shape, the original proved a huge hit with the recipient.

You can buy both these patterns singly on Ravelry now, and the ebook will be up shortly, with more patterns to be added including a simple yet beautful scarf pattern with at least three different variations, some elegant wrist warmers, a crocheted cape and a couple of suprises.

spring/summer collection

It's up! you can find the new collection as an ebook on Ravelry. Sorry it took so long. Now onwards and upwards with the Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection...such is the non-stop life of a knitter and all that.

better late than never

At long last, I have managed to write up the cropped aran sweater pattern I showcased on here months ago. It is the last of the Spring/Summer collection of patterns to be published, so in the next few days I will make sure I get the whole lot onto Ravelry to buy as a set. In the meantime, if you just want the cropped sweater, get yourself onto the wonderful Ravelry to purchase it.

autumn/winter

It has been a busy week, which culminated in a fun day taking pictures of the first finished items from my Autumn/Winter patterns collection. The weather was beautiful and the warm colours of the woods inspirational.

Here is a sneak peak. The patterns will be up on Ravelry very soon...

pick of the crop

As summer slides slowly out of view, I am almost ready to publish the final pattern from the booklet of five designs from my summer collection. It is just going through final pattern checks and charting and hopefully will be up on Ravelry in the next week or so. The sweater takes inspiration from the cropped shapes which were around in the spring/summer collections, but will also wear well into the winter with the layering theme from the current collections. It is also very simple to lengthen if the cropped style is not for you.

With the trees turning colour and having already swept up the first batch of leaves from he garden, I am working on the collection for winter, with woolly warmers being the main focus of the English Heritage theme. Look out for the first projects from that sometime in October.

spring/summer 2009

Finally I have managed to get the bulk of the project I have been working on for ages finished and on the website. I decided at the beginning of this year that a collection of my own monty patterns would be a perfect vehicle to present a more fashion forward, trend led collection of garments. Being an independent designer, working to my own deadlines, instead of that of a publisher, I can create high trend designs more quickly than when I write books. It is fair to say that even though we have vast amounts of beautiful, classic and contemporary knitting patterns around, there are fewer publications which cater for each traditional season of the fashion world. However, I have tried to keep the patterns wearable and classic, as nobody wants to spend time knitting a garment which is unwearable by the next season.

The patterns and inspiraton can be seen in full on my website, where they will be available to buy shortly. In the meantime, you can buy them from my montyknits shop on Ravelry.

If you don't knit, but want to own a one-off, bespoke garment, contact me and I shall be happy to hand make you the garment of your choice to your measurements.

I am hoping to have my timetable sorted sufficiently to have a new set of patterns based around the Autumn/Winter 2009/10 catwalks out by the beginning of October, so watch this space for an exciting capsule collection based around a British Countryside theme!

new/old patterns

Recently I have been trying to tidy up my life. I have far too many things on the go at once to be disorganised, but unfortunately I am. Very. So, I suddenly realised that the exclusive copyright to a few patterns I submitted to some magazines has been finished for a while, meaning I can self publish them.

This is a great practice the magazines are trying to do to help out knit designers, as the compensation in relation to the time put in to this sort of work is generally rather poor. So, I have been busily sorting out layouts for new patterns to sell on Ravelry and have posted two up there today; Violet hat and a Christmas stocking, which you may recall in different guises from earlier posts. The whole process is really rather exciting to me, however, the next step is to get ordered enough to sell them over my own website, too.

(Wow, this pattern seems really incongruous in the middle of a summer heatwave, but I guess if you are well prepared person, now is the time to knit for Christmas...

I'm definitely not that organised!)

daisy chain

New pattern for sale on Ravelry; I have finally gotten round to writing up a pattern for one of my necklaces! I thought it was the perfect time of year to post it, with all the lovely flowers out in force in my garden, and it is a perfect precursor to the collection of patterns I am launching very soon.

Hope you like it.

Felicitous news

The Felicity Shrug I designed for my friend's bridesmaids is up to buy on Ravelry! Just in time to make it for a summer wedding cover up - even if you aren't the bride, just knit it in a bright and beautiful colour!

teddy's debut

I have finally pulled my finger out and registered to sell my single patterns on the brilliant Ravelry. My first project to go live is teddy, a wonky but charming toy for a worsted/aran weight yarn. More to follow very soon; watch out for the recipe for the shrug I designed for my friend Felicity's wedding, the boxing day jumper and a very exciting group of patterns which I shall launch here in mid April. Keep your eyes peeled, and if you are into knit or crochet and haven't yet joined Ravelry, its great, get yourself on it, and search me out there, my username is montyknits.