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.

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.

custom order and yarn review no. 2

its not quite warm in london yet....still a little more of winter to go it seems so still happy to be knitting up some more hotwater bottles.  i have a lovely customer who asked for a cable hotwater bottle in pink this time which i think turned out quite well (if i must say so myself....again!).

for all my handknitted hotwater bottles this season i've used my favourite south african yarn from vinnis colours (unfortunately there is no dedicated website to link to for vinni as yet, but happy to pass on details, just let me know).

background : for those that don't know, vinnis yarn is hand-dyed and balled by women in economically depressed rural areas in south africa.  the sale of the yarn empowers the community and brings economic benefits.  reason enough if you ask me.

range : the colours in the range (i use the nikkam 100% cotton yarn) are extensive and range from soft muted towns to bright and bold.  the hand-dying give the yarn an added depth of colour and also a marbled effect which you may notice on the hotwater bottles.

availability : i get my yarns from the very helpful purlescence and have to say, for my purposes, the yarn is reasonably priced (although not sure i would want to knit up a larger item for the price - it may get a little expensive).

how it knits : with all cotton, its important to keep an eye on what you're doing as the yarn "splits" a little (so no watching tv and knitting with this yarn i'm afraid, its audiobooks all the way).  but the end result is a lovely soft product.  the yarn goes quite far which helps of course. 

all in all, a great yarn, great colours and even better long-term community benefits.

if you've knitted with vinnis colours in nikkam, let me know.  would love to know if you agree or disagree with my two cents yarn review......

about custom orders and yarn reviews

i think of all the things i end up knitting, its the custom orders that i enjoy the most - someone else has the idea and i get to knit - which as far as i'm concerned is pretty cool.  i've been knitting cable cushions for a while and always find them hugely satisfying (i finally made a chocolate brown cable cushion for myself) but a lovely customer asked if i could make two cushions from yarn i have not used before.  so this got me thinking, that i never really talk about the yarn i use, so welcome now to my first in a series of yarn reviews (what the heck, why not).

i knitted up the aubergine cable cushion using the Rowan Belle Organic Aran - a blend of 50% organic wool and 50% organic cotton.  the yarn works out to slightly more expensive than usual, but that's probably due to its organic-ness.

have to admit, this yarn was rather yummy (if you can call yarn yummy) - knits up beautifully and actually 50 grams goes a long way.  the end result is a yarn with a lovely silky feel that will hold its shape.  the only downside is that its hand wash only (i always knit cushions in yarn that can be machine-washed) but i think that's a small price for something this lovely. 

if you have ever knitted with the Belle Organic range, please let me know how you found it.

custom order with a bit of colour for good measure

i'm not sure if this photo is doing justice to the size of the cushion, but its a massive 61 x 61 cm affair - one of the larger custom orders i have done. i don't seem to do such large cushions generally as they take a while to complete and by the time you've finished, they're rather heavy on the needles, but when they're finished, they're pretty impressive.
of course, pistachio should be offset with a few etsy finds in the same colour and i found this fabulous ceramic spoon rest at CiraCeramics

and how gorgeous is this felted squirrel tea cosy from fuzzylogicfelt.

and on that note, i'm off for some tea....

customs

i did a custom order for one of my colourcross cushions in white and ecru which i think turned out quite nice in itself.

i have a terrible habit of knitting in double knit which is probably not a good idea as the needles are generally smaller and i'm terrified my hands will start to cramp.

i have not put these up on my shopt as yet - but if anyone would like a cushion, please let me know - as always i'm happy to oblige.

stay tuned, there are some new autumn colours on the way in my cable cushions and should be posted shortly.

hanger around

i had a custom order for one of my hangers - i reckon they turned out pretty well (um, yes, if i must say so myself) and now that i see a few of the grey and red colour combination together, they are actually pretty effective.i keep making these for others but am beginning to realise that my closet needs some too.
a few friends also suggested that i do some childrens' size hangers as well - so, here's the first results - all sweet in berry and ecru.

they're in my etsy shop here