As we said in issue 48, we've got so many clubs on our list that we couldn't fit them all in the magazine! We'd like to put them all up on the blog, but we won't put your details up unless you contact us and say that's OK.

We know a lot of people use their personal email address or mobile number as the contact for their group and may have concerns about having those details up on the internet. Don't forget: there are lots of free email services online, so you can start a new email address for your knitting group. We like gmail.com (run by Google) but there are lots of others.

We're getting in touch with all the groups, and messages are coming back in slowly. If you'd like to see your group here, please email us or leave a comment on this post with the following information (we'll delete the comments as we add the information to the list, to make it easier to search and keep current):

1. Yes, I am happy for these details to be posted online.
2. My knitting group is called ____
3. I am the organizer. My name is ____
4. Knitters can contact me by (either/both) phone/email at ____
5. We meet in ____ town in ____shire in the North East/North West/Midlands and East/South East/South West/London/Channel Islands/Isle of Wight/Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland/Other
Optionally, you can tell us a bit more about the club, give us the URL for your website or if you're happy for people to just turn up tell us when and where your club meets (e.g. "Jen's Cafe, 13 Market Street, Anytown, Someshire, 7-9pm every first and third Tuesday").
To keep the list manageable, we may not post all the information you give us.

Wales

Abakhan Knitting Group - Mostyn, Flintshire
Call the shop 01745 562 100 or visit www.abakhan.co.uk for details.
More info: First Tuesday of every month, 10-12. Free of charge.
Added 22/04/09

Northern Ireland

Knitty Gritty Belfast - Belfast, Ulster
1.Yes, I am happy for these details to be posted online.
2. My knitting group is called "Finish my Row"
3. I am the organizer. My name is Nikki
4. Knitters can contact me by email at ropeadope_ie@yahoo.com
5. We meet in Belfast, Castlecourt Starbucks every Wednesday from 4.30 onwards.Contact Kate Moore by email at knittygrittybelfast@gmail.com
More info: We meet in Starbucks, Elmwood Avenue (beside Fat Buddha) at 8pm on the first Tuesday of every month.
Added 22/04/09

Finish My Row - Belfast, Ulster
Contact Nikki at ropeadope_ie@yahoo.com for more information.
More info: We meet in Castlecourt Starbucks every Wednesday from 4:30pm onwards.
Added 22/04/09

Scotland

Kirkcaldy KnitClub - Kirkcaldy, Fife
Kirkcaldy KnitClub
Meets every Monday 7-9 pm at the Victoria Hospital Staff Room
Email us at knitclub@aol.com or visit http://knitclub.freeforums.org for more details.
More info: Meets every Monday, 7-9pm at the Victoria Hospital Staff Room.
Added 22/04/09

North West

Bolton Knitting Noras - Bolton, Lancashire
Contact Bev Adam by email at bevboots_2000@yahoo.com or phone on 07795 160897.
More info: We meet in in Costa Coffee on the precinct from 1pm on the last Sunday of the month.
Added 22/04/09

South East

Knuttyknitchix - Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Contact Charlotte on 07957 488 398 or at charlotte@knuttyknitchix.org.uk or Julia at Julia@knuttyknitchix.org.uk
More info: We meet at each other's homes on a Saturday afternoon approx every 3 weeks.
Added 9/12/08

Oxford Kntiters - Oxford, Oxfordshire
Contact Sally Jones by email  at oxford.knitters@gmail.com
More info: We meet every Saturday from 11-1 in the cafe in Borders bookshop, Magdalen Street, Oxford.
Added 22/04/08

In the meantime, if you'd like the full list we used to print in the magazine, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Club Directory, Simply Knitting, Future, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath BA1 2BW.

If you'd like to update a group listing, please email us.

We reviewed six sock yarns in issue 53 of Simply Knitting and after our expert had finished with them, we took them down the pub and asked the folks at our local knit and natter what they thought.

Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus

Yarn Facts Ball weight: 113g Ball length: 342m Yarn content: 100% superwash merino Knits as 4ply RRP £15.00 Rec needle size 3¼mm

Review by Simply Knitting Technical Editor, Kirstie McLeod

Hand dyed – but not hand spun – Soft Spun Plus is a lovely soft (of course) and smooth yarn from Brooklyn Handspun.

Each colourway is made up of tones and shades of one or more colours, giving your knitting a depth and richness, and ensuring that no two socks are ever alike.

If you prefer a more subtle look to the rapidly changing hues of Aquatic (shown), you’ll love the collection of semi-solid colourways – they’re perfect for lace work or cables.

The yarn is lovely to knit with and each skein contains enough for a pair of socks or a scarf. There are some nice blokey colours to choose from and the colour changes make each stitch interesting – great for jazzing up a plain pair of socks. Hand wash and dry flat.

Click for a larger image. Swatch knit in the round on 2.5 mm needles.

The knitters said: "Nice and soft." -- Elle "Soft and bouncy. Earth tones." -- Elizabeth "Lovely colourway. Soft with a great stretch. Great stitch definition – nice lustre." -- Helen "Double-yum. Perfect colours for me though so I am biased! Very soft. 10/10" -- Jess "Lovely fun spin of colour." -- Jaquiline The team said: "This is a great example of how sock yarns can be amazing and tricky to work with at the same time. The colours work well together and add a lot of life to  stocking stitch but might overwhelm a lace or cable pattern." -- Elizabeth B, Production Assistant "Soft but feels like it's going to wear well. I like the way the colour is pooling." -- Miriam, Production Editor

So our overall conclusion? We love the colour and softness: yum!

Have you used Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus sock yarn?

We'd love to hear what you think of Brooklyn Handspun Soft Spun Plus so if you've used it, please leave a comment!

As with all writing, it's better to stick to what you know firsthand: it's easy to judge the colour through a computer screen but rather harder to tell if it's splitty or how well it washes! Please do also bear in mind that the spinners and dyers may read your comment.