Book Review

Ok, so I'm spoilt, what can I say.  Spoilt by friends who give me absolutely beautiful birthday gifts, one of which from lovely Maya from Knit With Attitude (you may remember I featured the best lil'wool shop in London here) with this little book (well not so little).

Not a knitting pattern book as such, but rather an exploration of what knitting is all about and how it can form such a part of life.  The first few sentences did make me laugh though, "Do you ever stop to think what it is that keeps drawing you back to your needles and yarns?  Do you screech to a halt whenever you see the sign "Yarn Store?"" - yip, that pretty much sums me up when it comes to knitting.  Right now my life revolves around it.

The book is filled with great anecdotes, advice, a whole "Meet the Knitter" series and little challenges on trying new yarns, new styles, new ideas - and glorious photos.

Also, dissecting the different elements of style.

Although the little bit on knitting in public I did find amusing - especially the suggestion.  I see they missed out the Pub, but did suggest a motorcycle - really?

Fabulous book to dip into every now and again and get excited about knitting all over again (although for most, that just takes looking at needles and yarn - I know, it can be sad.....).  

Maya has copies in her shop here

Finger knitting, now there's something haven't done since school.

New on Strikk

We've been fiddling with our settings and updating the look over at our shop and have to admit we like it.  Always thought that websites should be white and pale, but it seems a kind of gunmetal grey is the online look of the moment, so there we go.  Any comments, ideas, thoughts (good or bad) most welcome.

But back to the post at hand, and I was asked to do a custom order moss stitch cushion with some interesting requirements, the first of which being "we have a big family room which means we need cushions to withstand much family-ness" - challenge indeed.

Those of you who knit know how yarn can "fluff", especially not a good look for a cushion, so after much thought and online trawling, decided on using a lovely silky yarn, but doubling it up.

Not sure how you feel about knitting with two strands, but I've never been a fan.  I know there are some knitters who use three strands and more, but not for me.  But having said all that, the end result was actually very pleasing.  The cushion is definitely a lot heavier though (not used to that), but I think it will withstand a hectic family room.

We've liked it so much, we've put it up in our shop here and here.

Spotted

A very quick post here, but had to share these lovely knits found via The Sartorialist (which of course as I've mentioned before, should always be read in conjunction with Go Fug Yourself).  But the knits, the knits, so beautiful.

The first photo is from Michael Kors Winter 2012 - the mix of a lovely sparkly skirt and (what looks to me to be hand knit) Aran jersey is just beautiful.  The stitch and the neckline all work together.  Would love to know how it feels, hopefully more sumptious than Aran-y (if that makes sense).  And funny enough, the way the neckline is positioned is exactly how I wear my roll necks (just saying....).

The second photo is from Chloe Fall / Winter 2012 - again, big thick jersey over what looks like interesting satin trousers.  Lovely thick neck and interesting cable-work.  Would assume by looking at it that it's hand knit.  Pretty use of colours too.

Inspired now to finally, and I mean it, finally knit a jumper for myself.  Watch this space.

Saturday Post

I think my next door neighbour probably heard my squeals of delight on Saturday after the post man arrived with an overseas delivery - you see, I'd been a little cheeky after hearing about the lovely feature in the December Australian Real Living magazine, I thought I would see if I could get my hands on a copy of the magazine.  So, and here's the cheeky bit, I asked a lovely customer and shop owner, Christen of Twirling Betty (think I may have mentioned her before) if possibly (now bare in mind I'm asking this question in January - way after the December issue has been and gone from the stores) she may either have a copy lying around or know where one could get one.  

Well, and this is the clever bit, Christen managed to find one, and even more lovely, she offered to send me a copy and that's the story behind the Saturday squeals of delight.

Not only did I get a lovely magazine, I also got a little surprise too.  

Now all I need to do is make a cake so I can show off my gorgeous cake bunting.

Thank you Christen - so much, truly sweet, fabulous, kind and wonderful of you.  I'm holding you to the gin and tonic, one day! :-) xx

Have a look at Christen's shop - so pretty.  And she has a pretty cool blog too - full of fun inspirational things to do and make.

New on Strikk

We've been raiding our yarn stock (and trust me, there's a lot of yarn in my house....) and came up with a few striped cushions which we rather fancy.  We've used the usual Elle Pure Gold yarn that we always use, although if anyone has any tips on how to weave in yarn ends, that would be most welcome.  End up spending half my time weaving in all the different colours. Surely there must be an easier way.

So from this....

To this....

And then from this.....

To this.....

And there we go. Available here, here and here.
There'll be more striped cushions, there's so much yarn to get through!

Paris, mais oui!

The most logical way to celebrate a birthday is of course to spend the day in Paris - as you do.  A few snapshots from a rather enjoyable day.

Yip, a wool shop, Parisian style.

The Paris Royal Opera House, a particularly grand building making it a little difficult to take a decent photograph, but the beautiful, bright winter sunshine really made her shine.

Um, yes, those would be the pretty bicycles.....no really.

Spotted

Now that I'm over the shock of returning to London from Cape Town (to enjoy the balmy winter days - no really....) was glad I came across Made In Norway Now site full of amazing, err, Norwegian designs.  It was the knits that have inspired me, and comforted me a little, in combating the winter chill (although my good friend Olav advises that Oslo was about minus 15 today. Bliss).

A collection of some of my favourites.

Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend wherever you may be (wow, check out the Ws in that)!

Colour of the Year

According to those in the know, tangerine is the 2012 colour of the year, not just tangerine, mind, but Tango Tangerine.  And what with being so "bang on trend" here, we just happened to have some tangerine yarn in our massive stash of yarn.  

Initially wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with the yarn (it can be a difficult colour - it's in between an adult and a kid colour - if that makes sense) - anyway, settled on another version of the cable knot cushion I knitted previously in pepper grey - this time, knitting in a slightly smaller size (50 x 30cm which has now become my new favourite size - perfect really, it's not too big and not too small to get lost amongst the masses of other cushions plonked on the sofa!).

So there we have it, Strikk Handknit's homage to 2012 Colour of the Year available at our online shops here, here and here.

Oh, and remember that mess we had trying to photograph cushions previously - um, here ? Well, we've moved it all inside, ironed the vinyl and made a makeshift studio in the bedroom - now, that's rock 'n roll photography for ya!

Custom Orders

Well, that'll teach me - I cannot find my "before" photograph....I know I filed them somewhere on my computer but no such like - a case of virtually, err, losing your keys.  When I stop looking, I'm sure I'll find it, but in the meantime, a quick post on a custom order I did.  The first time I have been contacted where someone has their own yarn but wants me to knit the order.  Left me scrambling around trying to work out costings (difficult) and then knitting with yarn I'm not used to (a bit trial and error) but there we go.  The end result.  

Loving the colour indeed.  And I don't usually knit with pure wool only because it's not the most user-friendly when it comes to knitting cushions.  But great nonetheless - although I did have to pull out halfway through and start again.....as you do.

Real Living Magazine

So, excited, yes, very, when a lovely customer for whom I had knitted some colourblock cushions for, contacted me to let me know her amazing house had been featured in the Australian Real Living Magazine - and was kind enough to send me some of the pages.

And yes, all front doors should be pink from now on!

This was a custom colourblock cushion I knitted up - initially we tried a few colours with the red, but then settled on the traditional white and red which works best in this gorgeously simple bedroom.

Thank you so much K for sending me the pics, so divine and so lovely.

big big sky

I was lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time recently in my home town, Cape Town.  One thing that always amazes me is the size of the sky (I know, probably sounds a bit odd but when you have a lot of grey, big sky is paramount) - so, a few of my favourite sky photos.

happy happy

A little late, I know, but Happy New Year - and here's to a great 2012!

We're currently in Cape Town on a little trip home and enjoying the sunshine whilst trying to knit with kittens around (which is almost impossible), so if we're a little quiet over here, please don't forget us, we'll be back soon.  Really.

quick pic

Have to admit, I've never been that organised enough to post two updates on one day, but what with flying out down south tomorrow for Christams, thought I'd get one more update done.  Spent a lovely day today at the Jolly Hobbies Market in my Crouch End neck of the woods.  First time I have done this market and it's probably one of the nicest markets I've done in a while (and not because it's only a bus ride away...).  

I was sat next to London Clay Birds and The Quiet Revolution who are always entertaining ( ;-) ) - so here the pics instead.....

I know, sorry about the camera angle....can't help myself.

These little textile frames were absolutely beautiful!

Um, there was food....

There were mushrooms.....

And generally really gorgeous things.  There'll be more markets in the New Year.