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Friday February 26, 2010
The Thrifty Knitter – knitting blog review
 There's a lot going on at The Thrifty
Knitter blog so regular readers will come back to a carousel of interesting happenings – you might have to wait a while to find out what's happening with your favourite project, but it'll surely come round again eventually. Blogger Nikol Lohr is also the author of Naughty Needles: Sexy, Saucy Knits for the Bedroom and Beyond and the webzine Disgruntled Housewife so she's clearly a woman who knows how to multitask. The Thrifty Knitter is home to posts about well, knitting. Look out for stories about her finished – or frogged – objects (she estimates that she knits enough stitches for 1.75 sweaters for every one she finishes), her sheep and chickens, her newly created patterns and a year-long systematic project to Be More Organized – a goal we can certainly sympathize with! She also posts about the Building Scarf, a knitting project to bring a chill to even the stoutest of hearts: a garter stitch scarf several hundred feet long. Luckily, she's roping other knitters in to help but its nonetheless a daunting task and we'll be cheering it on to the finish line – it goes on display in 2012. Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here
next Friday.
Thursday February 25, 2010
Simply Knitting Issue 65 – on sale today!
The April issue of Simply Knitting is hits shop shelves across the UK today! We've got 27 great knits for spring tucked between the covers and we're already thinking about decorating your home for Easter as well as knits to make friends and family smile.  Click for a larger image.We've got some lovely knits for you – and your family. Our cover project is a really versatile woman's gilet – subscribers get more ideas of how to wear this wardrobe staple on page 22 – and we've also got a pretty blue and white jumper to help you stretch your Fair Isle skills. Men will love our cosy man's cardigan in soft browns and dinosaur lovers of all ages will be clamouring for our brilliant dinosaur jumper. It'll fit chest sizes 25-30in (68-78cm) which is roughly kids sizes 4-8 years but if your favourite paleontologist is a bit bigger then the design would look on a great cushion or throw too. If you're looking for a quicker knit, try our fab vintage style clutch or one of the 12 patterns in our Quick & Easy Knits section.  Click for a larger image.This month, we're getting ready for Easter so we've got some fab Easter eggs and cute egg cosies to decorate your table with. We've also got some great gift ideas, whether you're treating a friend to a luxurious lace scarf or a new arrival to a pair sweet baby bootees – or yourself to a pair of bright knee high socks. Alan Dart has also caught the bug and has made a whole catwalk of Easter bonnets with cute chicks to model them.  They're so fun and unusual that kids and adults alike are sure to love them and they're quick to knit so they make a great alternative to chocolate. Other great things to look out for in issue 65 include: - New 'Fair Isle' effect yarns.
- Rachael Matthews is setting fire to a spinning wheel.
- All about the largest knitted rock in the Tate.
And don't miss any of your usual favourites: we're testing the best chunky yarns, you've sent us loads of great letters and our experts solve your knitting problems.
Tuesday February 23, 2010
Knit Expo – knitting in Exeter
 Knitting, live performances and art created on the spot all meet at Knit Expo 2010 in Exeter. The event is taking knitting out of the workbox and into the limelight with a mix of stalls, knit-ins and cabaret. Offering learning and teaching, sharing and swapping, watching and doing and buying and selling it looks like a great day out for knitters with attitude. Workshops and classes cost just £5 and cover a range of topics from 'How to knit' through creative writing to 'How to sell on the internet'. Knit Expo takes place at the Exeter Phoenix art centre on 17 April 2010 from 2-8pm. Tickets cost £6 (concessions £4.50). Under 12s go free and participants are encouraged to bring their knitting, whether beginner or expert. For more information visit the Knit Expo website or call the box office on 01392 667080. If you're a maker and would like to sell your work at Knit Expo, then please visit the website to find out more and book a table – they cost just £20.
Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum!
 | Miriam McDonald
Simply Knitting's
Production Editor
| Have you ever noticed how loads of knitting projects all seem to happen at once? You have one or two things to knit, and then your list shoots up overnight and you have eight things to knit within a short time. Project lists are like Jack's magic beans, you go to sleep and they're tiny, and somehow when you wake up you've got a beanstalk on your hands. I suppose it depends on whether you're a one-project or many-projects sort of knitter; I like to have two things on the needles at any one time, a big garment for home and socks for carrying around. Many-project knitters probably cast on all sorts of things at once, thereby shrinking their lists. I went visiting family last weekend, and have come back with requests for socks and bedsocks. Also, Chrissie at Injabulo is collecting knits for Pebbles Project, a scheme in South Africa's winelands working with disadvantaged children, especially those whose lives are affected by alcohol, and I want to make something for that. (Look at those kids! How could anyone with a spare minute and spare yarn not want to pop a hat or woolly jumper on them?) Now my little list of things to knit has turned into a great big list of things to knit. Anyone else got a list that's looking like Jack's beanstalk? I bet if there is a giant at the top of mine, he probably wants socks too!
Monday February 22, 2010
Knitters help Haiti
 The terrible earthquake which struck Haiti on 12 January has prompted many people to ask 'what can I do?' Here are three ideas from the knitting world – and if you've heard of more great knitting-related appeals and fund raisers, please do leave a comment to help other knitters find ways to help. Top toy designer Alan Dart has designed Haitian Ada. (shown left) She's a Hispaniolan solenodon, an animal unique to Haiti and the Dominican Republic and her dress was inspired by the Haitian flag. The design is free to download and he hopes that knitters will make a donation to a charity supporting victims of the earthquake and use it to raise funds as well. He'd be thrilled if you knit several to raffle, sell or auction or held a sponsored knitalong. His preferred charity is the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The Yarnharlot, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, has been fundraising through her blog and her campaign Knitters Without Borders has raised over one million US dollars for the charity Doctors Without Borders (link to UK site). If you make a donation as part of the campaign, please email Stephanie and let her know so she can add your donation to the total. Over on Ravelry designers have pledged profits from over 1,000 patterns to help Haiti making this a guilt-free time to pick up any patterns you've had your eye on. We're thrilled to see knitters rallying around in a crisis and we know there are lots of appeals we've missed off this list. If you've heard of a great campaign – or a running one – help other knitters find it by leaving a comment below.
Friday February 19, 2010
White Lie Knits – knitting blog review
 Designer Joan McGowan-Michael uses her blog White Lies Knits to showcase her designs – and suggest different ways to wear them. When you see a knit in a magazine or book, it will have been styled a certain way – but that's not the only way to wear it. Joan's design ethos is 'comfortable and flattering' whether you're a sample size or any other size, so as well as designing clothes for a range of figures she also suggests different ways to wear them. It's a fun site to browse and you may find yourself inspired to cast on something new – or style your own knits in a completely different way! Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here next Friday.
FREE patterns for subscribers!
 Subscribers to Simply Knitting now have access to a special website with free patterns and articles. It's called CraftCircle and it's really easy to use – just select which magazine you subscribe to and enter your surname and subscriber number (you'll find this on the coversheet which comes with your magazine every month). CraftCircle is brand new but we've already uploaded some fab patterns from our archive – and they're free to download once you're logged in. We've also uploaded our special subscriber-only articles, so if you missed any you can catch up now. CraftCircle is a collaboration between Simply Knitting, The Knitter, CrossStitcher, Cross Stitch Collection and PaperCraft Inspirations. The other magazines are also adding free projects and articles to download – and Simply Knitting subscribers can access it all. So if you want to try out a new hobby, cast on a new pattern or just take a break with something knitty to read, head on over to CraftCircle.
Thursday February 18, 2010
Competitions – Simply Knitting issue 65
Simply Knitting
issue 65 hits the shops on Thursday 25 February 2010. Enter our great
giveaways and competitions by using the links
below. Bergere de France yarn giveaway, page
6 Eucalan no-rinse wash pack giveaway,
page 10 Weald of Kend Craft Show tickets
giveaway, page
12 Prize crossword, page 94 Prize sudoku, page
94
Monday February 15, 2010
Stitch & Craft Show 2010
Are you coming to the Stitch & Craft Show 2010? The Simply Knitting team will be there in force and we hope to see lots of you. You can drop by our stand to say 'hi!' or check out our subscription offer – don't forget to wear your favourite knits, so you can show us how they look in real life! There'll be lots to see – and buy – at the show, so if you want to keep up-to-date with what's being planned, here are three easy ways:
The Stitch & Craft Show 2010 takes place at Olympia 2 in London on 18-22 March 2010.
The Knitter Errata Issue 15 (last updated 20.5.10)
Errata for Issue 15 of The Knitter including Maggiore, Origin' 01 Alpaga', Constance Tunic, Victoria Falls and A Gray Cardigan.
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Sunday February 14, 2010
The Knitter Errata Issue 14
Errata for Issue 14 of The Knitter including Stanley Blanket and Cuthbert Hat.
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Saturday February 13, 2010
The Knitter: Errata Issue 13 (last updated 12.4.10)
Errata for Issue 13 of The Knitter including Shimmy, Decken, Glacier, Cheadle, Bleaklow, Rugged Man's Sweater, Baltoro and Abruzzi.
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Friday February 12, 2010
Little Purl of the Orient – knitting blog review
 One of the reasons knitting and blogging go so well together is that while you're reading about someone who lives on the other side of the world or whose life is very different from yours, you're also finding out that they knit the same 'weird' way or love the same patterns. Little Purl of the Orient is packed with plenty of finished items so it's a brilliant way to brighten up a Friday afternoon. Based in Hong Kong, the author provides a glimpse of sunshine with her photographs of home and abroad – especially welcome for those of us looking out the window to another grey, rainy British winter day. The kids' knits really stand out on this blog – you'll love the way the author adapts patterns to create two equivalent but different knits for her two daughters and they seem to be happy to show them off, too. Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here next Friday.
The Knitter: Errata Issue 12 (last updated 18.1.10)
Errata for Issue 12 of The Knitter including Sedgemoor, Trivelino and Bamburg.
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Thursday February 11, 2010
The Knitter Errata Issue 11 (updated 20.5.10)
Errata for Issue 11 of The Knitter including Osborne & Evening Gala Aran.
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Wednesday February 10, 2010
100 year-old nun knits for 24 hours to raise money for charity
 We don't often read the Wetherby News website, but one recent article caught our eye: Knitting Sicklinghall nun nets £9,000 for Bosnia orphans trumpets the headline, and the story contains even more impressive details. Sister Mary Duncan is 100 years old and undertook a grueling 24-hour knitathon to raise the funds. It's well worth clicking through to read the full details – and the convent is still collecting money for this cause, so if you want to support her appeal you can.
Monday February 08, 2010
This doesn't count, right?
| | Miriam McDonald
Simply Knitting's
Production Editor
| I've blogged about doing swaps before, and about my yarn diet. Here's the dilemma - if I get sent yarn in a swap, is it breaking the yarn diet? Should I put it in a bag where I can't use it until I declare the yarn diet over? I suppose the aim of the exercise was to stop me buying more yarn in order to reduce my stash, and in that sense being posted yarn doesn't count, although it isn't helping reduce the quantity in the basket and box at all. I must admit, I got sent a humdinger of a knit in my last swap. Setting aside all the other goodies in the box, my swap partner sent me a lace scarf, knitted in a gorgeous muted green that I love. I do themed swaps, and it's always great fun to see how other people interpret a theme, but this time I've been awestruck. We get professionally knitted items in the office all the time, and as The Knitter is devoted to more technically advanced knits we do see some exquisite lace knitting on their desks. Well, this scarf is every bit as good as something they'd feature. It really is amazing. I feel almost guilty for owning something so special! None of that really answers the question of whether getting yarn in a swap counts as breaking the yarn diet. On balance, it probably doesn't count, given that I have not actually bought it. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. (On the sock front, but the way, I'm planning to do the Nutkin socks Sarah recommended last week, but as I didn't have the pattern to hand over the weekend I cast on a pair of 2x2 rib socks. It'll be Nutkins after that!)
Friday February 05, 2010
The UFO (Unfinished Object) Project Administration Service – knitting blog review
 You may already be familiar with the UFO (Unfinished Object) Project Administration Service – Rachael Matthew introduced it in an article for Simply Knitting issue 55, and showed off some of the results in issue 59 – but if it's new to you, the gist is simple. The UFO Project is encouraging crafters to dig out their unfinished knitting projects and send these UFOs to the UFO PAS for redistribution. Knitters are also encouraged to sign up to take on a UFO and embellish, complete or reimagine the item to create something new. It's a really fun project, and the blog is a neat way to get the message out, as well as being fun to browse so it's great to see that it's ticking along into the new year. Each post features a new UFO with its own story and many still need adopting, so if you fancy stretching your creativity then click on through and have a look. Delve into the archives and you'll see some of the fantastic creations which they've been turned into. As an example, own own Production Editor, Miriam turned part of a school jumper into a bag. She blogged about the experience, too. Read a great blog? Write a great blog? Tell us what it is and why you like it, and you might see it here next Friday.
Thursday February 04, 2010
Yarn diet - one month in
| | Miriam McDonald
Simply Knitting's
Production Editor
| Well, I've made it through a month of the yarn diet. Okay, so there are a couple of things that make it easier. First, if I have to do anything for the magazine Kirstie gives me the yarn for it, so I don't have to rely on my stash for these things. (All unused balls get returned to the office.) Second, I bought some yarn for one particular project, a swap, just before Christmas, so I had knits planned and yarn already bought when 2010 began. The stash hasn't grown, but it's not shrinking much yet. I should complete socks ( Pamela Northrups' awesome Jack Sparrow's Favourite Socks) for a friend at today's knitting group meeting, then I have only a jumper (Evelyn, from Louisa Harding's Gathering Roses collection) on the needles and any new knits will have to be done from stash. Still, there's still a couple of boxes of yarn in the spare room, so February shouldn't be too tough, right? I've got lots of sock yarn in the boxes, so if you know of a good sock design I'm ready for recommendations.
Monday February 01, 2010
Prize sudoku, issue 64 – enter now
Due to a technical glitch, the prize sudoku online entry form for issue 64 didn't work last week. It's all sorted out now, and you can enter the prize sudoku or
see all the competitions for this issue. Apologies for the delay in sorting this out – I was out of the office all last week.
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