Book Launch

Last week, I attended the launch party of new knitting book, The Knit Parade, written by Rebecca Rymsza of Where's Me Jumper. Like the company, which makes bespoke knitwear, it was a really fun launch and The Knit Parade is a fantastically fun book. It is great to see a 'young' knitting book, with a contemporary and humorous edge and plenty of original and complex intarsia motifs, something I specialised in on my MA. I love the use of pompoms in the styling - one of my favourite things - and the way that the sweaters are unisex; they are shown on both male and female models.

 The launch party had plenty of poms in attendance, and just about everything was knitted, including the walls and 'dance floor'. I was also quite taken with the drinks selection, provided by Brittains Vodka. I am not a big drinker, or a vodka fan, but boy is that stuff good! We sampled quite a few flavours, just in the name of research of course, and the Black Forest flavour was my personal retro favourite.
Oh, and did I mention the disco heads...all a bit 80s school disco, which took me back! This book allows you to knit your own version of a Where's me Jumper jumper, with a smaller price tag, if you are an intarsia lover, go get it!

M is for...

My friend Cheryl knitted this gorgeous, bright bunting as a birthday present for my Millie and we love it! Cheryl makes knitted items to order over at her lovely shop The Purly Queen, do go take a look. We had such fun taking these pictures, and Millie of course couldn't stand the bunting being centre stage...

As I mentioned, it is Millie's birthday this weekend and we are throwing her an Alice in Wonderland party as she is obsessed with anything Alice since seeing her big cousin Taylor as a card in a school play. I am off to make bunting and aprons and things, will post more about it later in the week.

Oh dear, take a look at that fringe I stupidly tried to cut while Millie was bouncing on the bed....

hexagon motif cushion

The September issue of Inside Crochet is out this week, the inspiration for the issue is the humble granny square, and my contribution is this hexagon motif cushion based loosely on my favourite shape for granny motifs. 

The patches use puffs and popcorns instead of some of the traditional three treble groups so familiar in regular granny motifs. It is simple, quick and fun to hook and is easily adaptable for throws, chair covers and other interior uses, so hopefully it inspires you to pick up the hook! 

Issue 45 is out on Friday and includes a range of patterns inspired by the traditional granny square, as well as the regular collection of fashion, kids and homeware.

Baby Shower

Today I finally handed over the beautiful blanket I sewed up for my little friend Emmi. She is the beautiful daughter of one of my best friends and late last year her friends and family knitted a bunch of squares at her baby shower to go into a blanket that I hope she will have always. I think this is the best blanket I have ever pieced together, what a gorgeous bunch of colours and textures and haphazard shapes. Sorry Gemma and Emmi that it took so long, but the weather today was almost autumnal, so perhaps it is good timing... 

Tomorrow, issue 45, September, of Inside Crochet goes to press, so here is a last minute taste of the last summer issue (already?!) IC44. I will give you a sneaky peek at 45 once it is to bed. Less than two weeks to buy this issue in the shops, so go get it if you see something you like. 

  

Yup, that is the littlun, managed to sneak her in yet again!

All the lovely images are as usual by the wonderful Britt Spring

 

15 mins of fame

Walton top, by me, in issue 43 of Inside Crochet, modelled on my littlun

The very lovely Kat Goldin of the fabulous Crochet at Play, Slugs on the Refrigerator, Crochet Camp, Capturing Childhood (shall I go on?!) and now Blogtacular fame, has a little interview with me as part of this summer's Crochet Camp over on her Slugs blog. I feel happy, humbled and a tiny bit famous, not only by the interview but by the comments by very nice people, both familiar and new to me, since. Do hop on over there and take a peek, Kat's blog is such an inspiration, as are all her projects. (Plus you can win a years digital subscription to Inside Crochet!)

Image by Britt Spring, top from Issue 43 of Inside crochet

P.s. Let me know if you are thinking of going to the Blogtacular weekend next year, I am considering it and the more folk I find out I can meet in real life, the more I want to go!

The latest issue of Inside Crochet is out and in it, my first ever pattern for a pair of socks - there they are, on the cover (along with my littlun in those very retro raspberry clamdiggers, how does she keep creeping into the mag I wonder?!).

I had wanted to design some lacy socks for a while, but other stuff (life!) just kept getting in the way. Anyway, here they are, and really easy too - much easier than knitted ones! Hope you like them. You can buy the mag now in all good newsagents, or at pocketmags.

All the lovely images are by the wonderful Britt Spring (apart from the rubbishier ones on the line, which are obviously mine!) do go and check out her new, updated blog which looks rather good.