The sock pattern is up!

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May 30th 2006

So how was your Holiday weekend? Did the sun shine? Did the ants stay out of your picnic? That's assuming it was warm enough where you are to have a picnic.... Here it was rainy and cold, and by evening we were glad to kindle the fire. But we didn't mind, rainy Bank Holiday Mondays are a longstanding tradition, like strawberries at Wimbledon, and the Changing of the Guard.

Besides, we had our own little splash of tropical heat, dyeing up this month's batch of Sock Club yarn. Lots of you have been asking for sneak peeks. No! But here's a photo that gives you a hint.....

June's Sock Club yarn will be sent out later in the week, so get going on those socks so your needles are free! I'm happily whizzing up the front of my new sweater; the design is coming out beautifully, just how I'd pictured it. And the yarn I'm working with - Octavia - is gorgeous to knit with, smooth, silky, and with crisp stitch definition. Pictures soon! And the free sock pattern will be here later in the week, so stay tuned.

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May 25th 2006

Well, the public confession seems to have worked. I only have the toe to complete and the socks will be off my needles. All being well, the pattern will go up next week. Newsletter subscribers will get the first nod, so if you haven't already subscribed, go now!

In the meantime, here's our pick of some of the latest summer patterns that would knit up beautifully in our yarns. Remember, yarn suggestions are just that: suggestions. It's essential that you get gauge right before starting a pattern, especially if you make a yarn substitution.

Like many knitters, I was disappointed by the latest Rowan. What is the obsession with weird headgear? And more to the point, why the tiny pictures, that don't show the garments in proper detail? This is not Vogue, people, this is a knitting pattern book. Make it funky, by all means, but at least let us see what we're going to knit.

There were a few exceptions in Rowan 39, notably Carolina, a lacey cardigan knitted in Kidsilk Haze. We think it would look beautiful knitted up in Seraphina, our cashmere/angora blend lace weight yarn.

But for the most part, the good designs are now found in the RYC books. Here are the ones we love:

As always, Interweave Knits has some excellent designs, notably the Wedgewood Blouse which would be luxurious knitted in our pure cashmere yarn Jemima, and the stunning Icarus shawl, which would be lovely in any of our lace weight yarns, but especially Camilla, our pure cashmere laceweight yarn.

In the current range of free patterns, we fancy Tendrils, Jamesey (oh yes!), and Hedera from Knitty, and from Magknits we like the Milanese Lace Socks. And the very beautiful Print O' the Wave stole, designed by Eunny Jang, would look stunning knitted up in Cecilia, our cobweb cashmere/silk yarn, a la Kendra. So, what do you like this season?

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May 24th 2006

I'm embarrassed. Today one of my lovely customers emailed me a photo of the socks she's knitted from our yarn. She only got the yarn last week. This, she tells me, is not unusual. Meanwhile I am still crawling along on Sock Two, knitted to a pattern I've designed for the website. I started these socks - I'm ashamed to admit this - back in March. I am officially the World's Slowest Knitter.

I could offer the excuse that I'm very busy. I could blame all of you, cutting into my knitting time with all of your orders. But I wouldn't offer you such a lame excuse. I watch the knitting progress of bloggers worldwide with fascinated shame. Most of them have lives far busier than mine ever will be, and there they are, turning out socks, sweaters, intricate lace shawls, king sized blankets, in a matter of days. That Knitting Olympics depressed me. While knitters everywhere were pushing the boundaries to achieve new heights, I was pushing myself to finish one row.

Well ok, I exaggerate a little. But I've always been a slow knitter. It didn't worry me much before, I just comforted myself with the thought that knitting is supposed to be a slow, meditative process. But now, well now I've started designing. And I have a million designs whizzing round my head, and not enough lifetimes to knit them in. I'm going to have to enlist the help of friends and family to help me knit. Or grow a couple of extra arms.

In the mean time, I'll continue to marvel at everyone else's speed. Especially all you Sock Club knitters. For everyone thinking of joining here's a glimpse of what the members received this month.

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May 22nd 2006

There are few of us whose lives haven't been touched by cancer at some point. Some have dealt with it personally, other have watched loved ones fighting it. My father died of lung cancer a few years ago, and since then I've done all I can to support cancer charities. Now I'm delighted to be able to use Posh Yarn to help support them even more.

Let me tell you about two very worthy causes we are supporting at the moment. The first supports Cancer Research UK. Anna, one of our lovely UK knit bloggers, is running in this year's Race for Life, and trying to raise as much money as she can for Cancer Research UK. You can find out more about her fundraising, and sponsor her here. We've donated 100g of our hand dyed sock yarn to be auctioned off to raise money for Anna's fund, so please go and bid generously and help raise money for Cancer Research.

The other charity we are supporting is on the other side of the pond. The beautifully titled Warming Grace project collects hand knitted or crocheted squares in soft yarns to make blankets for children dealing with cancer. Funds are also gratefully received, and go towards local childrens cancer charities. We have donated 100g of soft hand dyed sock yarn to be given away as a prize in a fund raising draw, to be held on June 30th 2006. Go and visit the Warming Grace blog for details of how you can get involved, and maybe win yourself some sock yarn!

It's a lovely thing to be able to support a good cause by doing something you love. We're delighted to be involved in these fundraising causes, and we'd love you to get involved too.

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May 20th 2006

Did you know that the second annual Worldwide Knit In Public Day is being held on June 10th 2006? That's just three weeks away, so it's time to start making some plans. Show your sticks 2006!

To give you added incentive to get out there and get those needles clicking, we're holding a Worldwide Knit In Public competition. Entering is simple. All you have to do is send us a photo of yourself knitting in public on WKIP day. The photo we love the most will win 100g of pure cashmere yarn in any weight (lace weight, sock weight, chunky, or super chunky), dyed in the shade of their choice. Sound good? Here's what you need to know:

So, get planning and whatever you do, have fun!

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May 19th 2006

I love colour. I need it. In fact, I think we all do. Colour speaks to the kid inside you, the one who chose a day-glo orange backpack for school, and who wore out the coloured pencils long before the black one. Colour cheers, refreshes, energizes, soothes. And when you live in a country where the sky is grey more often than not, splashes of Technicolour in your own little world can be a lifesaver.

When I see spreads in magazines of houses that are decorated entirely in white, I'm half fascinated, half horrified. Setting aside the impossibility of keeping everything clean, how can anyone live in such a monochrome world? And people who only ever wear black - how do they have such self control, to be able to resist all the lovely coloured clothing out there? And more to the point, why?

When it comes to colour, one designer you can't beat is Pucci. The swirling designs, the incredible colour combinations, still look as fabulous today as they did back in the 50's. Look at this bag - wouldn't it make the ultimate knitting bag? What better home for brightly coloured luxury yarn, than a brightly coloured luxury bag? And it's a snip at just...... £420.

Yes, maybe that's a little out of my reach. But look! A little Pucci pouch for just £50. That's doable. I could get knitting in there, couldn't I? I'm sure it would fit one little sock, on teeny needles. Or maybe my Pucci craving needs a bigger fix. Maybe I should create a psychedelic Pucci colourway, and knit it up into, oh anything. An a-line tunic to wear with jeans, a slinky silk camisole top, a long skinny scarf to fling round my neck, a tiny bikini for posing in. Yes, that's the answer. Pucci socks, anyone?

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May 17th 2006

I've never been much of a jewellery person. In fact, I can count on one hand the pieces of jewellery that I have: a pair of large silver hoop earrings (which I wear with practically everything), a pair of Art Deco jade earrings, perfect for special occasions, a wide turquoise bangle, and a sapphire engagement ring. It's not that I don't like jewellery, I do. It's not that I don't like to wear it, I do. But I can never, ever, find jewellery that I like. No, that I love. Because I have to love it to wear it.

So I was very excited to discover Heather, the designer behind Twisted Lily Designs. Her jewellery designs are little works of art, and she has a unique style that is especially amazing when you consider that she has only recently taken up jewellery design, and (to my knowledge) has had no formal training. I snapped up these two bracelets, and believe me, I will be returning for more.

In fact, we did a bit of a swap - cashmere lace weight for funky bracelets. I love doing trades - you get all the fun of shopping without the guilt of spending. (Strangely, men can't see the logic of this - why is that, when they are supposed to be the logical sex?)

According to Heather's blog, she's looking forward to the day that Jennifer Aniston wears one of her designs. I still have the Rachel cut (I know, I know, just call me 1995), so does that count?

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