Knitting – Page 22 – Emma Varnam’s blog

Clever Project Bag

I do like bags. I particularly like pockets in bags. Places to put specific things. I like posh bags, small purses, rucksacks, flowery bags, baskets, shoppers, buckets – you name it, I love a carry-all.

I have never quite cracked the ideal bag for knitting. If you don’t travel with your knitting then a basket is adequate. But if you snooped around my house in a very short time you would discover a number of disparate bags, baskets and tubs which hold a huge amount of wool. Many yarnsters will tell you that they have a number of WIP (works in progress – oh yes yarn jargon my friends). Ideally all these project should be separated out into different hold-alls.

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing the excellent crafty site Etsy, and found a really fantastic maker. That Clever Clementine makes a number of different bags and purses which are ideal for my project purposes. I spotted a bag in my favourite colour scheme and within a very short time it had winged its way across the pond.

I am delighted with it. It has many different handy pocket for notions (yarn translation – scissors, tape measure, pins). One little ingenious addition is the lanyard which can be used to anchor cheeky ‘get away’ scissors. Fantastic. The quality of the making and finishing is a joy to behold and so lovely to have something handmade. One of the great joys of this virtual world is finding new lovely friends from far away places. I have been having great conversations with the creative Miss Vicki who made this lovely bag.

There is only one problem. I really need about another 3!

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In the presense of royalty – knitting royalty

I had the most fantastic day today! The sun was shining on another glorious balmy autumn day and I set off with a good friend to meet the wonderful Debbie Bliss. If you are not a yarnster then you might not get the significance of this, but Debbie Bliss is British Knitting Royalty.

She probably is one of the reasons why I returned to knitting about fifteen years ago. Her patterns always look fresh, comfortable and achievable. Her aesthetic is modern classic British, a hint of Cath Kidston, with a pinch of Toast, a dash of Muji – well actually 100% Debbie Bliss. If you knit a Debbie Bliss pattern then you can bet your bottom dollar that people will remark on the hat/jumper/cushion. It is Debbie Bliss patterns which people secretly want you to knit for their new born baby.

I went to one of my local yarn stores and spotted her coming down the stairs, for a knitter it was a bit like Madonna brushing past you in Harvey Nicks. Anyway I glanced at the wonderful sales assistant and we did that knowing look of ‘THAT’S HER!’

Later I plucked up the courage to speak to her. My friends, this lady is the most kind, generous, self effacing person you could ever meet. She spent time talking to people, showing them tips and tricks on her needles and had endless patience we me asking her endless questions. Perhaps the most accessible and enthusiastic professional I have met for such a long time.

I bought a number of books and her magazine, which I will share with you in the next week. But I have to say that if you are thinking of picking up those needles again, then I would turn to one of her patterns to start with. I have knitted this cable beanie from her book Baby Cashmerino, about 7 or 8 times. I have sized it up several times for Little B. It is an enduring classic. Obviously there are more simple patterns to get your hands on, but the yarn choices are just glorious.

If you think I sound a bit gushingly star-struck – you’re right I am – and you know what sometimes we might fear to meet our heroes, but sometimes they surpass our expectation and encourage us to keep going – Thank you Debbie x

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Going Local – Crafty Fun

I wanted to focus on the local today. Over the past week I realised there were a number or really fantastic crafty events going on that I didn’t want to not mention them.

Firstly a friend pointed out that the Manchester Science Festival was holding a really great event – Knit a Galaxy – I think this will be great fun and I might take Little B along to see what he thinks about it. Looking at the programme there appears to be lots of crafty events, and I just love the tie between art and science. So if this intrigues you or your little ones, please do have a look at the website.

Next up the utterly awesome Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, put this in your diary… the most wonderful opportunity to get inspired, buy original work and chat the really talented makers. The fair runs in the very trendy Spinningfields area from 20 – 23 October 2011

My lovely friend Katie K is a wonderful vintage fashion connoisseur and she is orgainsing a Vintage fashion and Craft Fair, I am valiently trying to work on a few trinkets to sell. But if you are in the area it is worth popping in to browse stalls, try on outfits and meet with friends over a cup of tea, slice of cake and a chin-wag. The fair takes place at Emmanuel Hall, behind Didsbury Library on Barlow Moor Road, Didsbury Village on Saturday 29 October from 10 am – 4 pm. Entrance is £2 per person and children under 12 go free. Excellent Fun.

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Autumn Colour – Baby Hat

Well when I said in my previous post that the on-set of autumn did have a new term feeling about it, my next little project is definitely for something new. In the new year I will have a new niece or nephew. So the knitting/crochet creations have started in earnest.

I always love a 40’s colour palette, and have often made a hat or beret reminiscent of the movie ‘The Railway Children’. This little bobble hat definately has that vibe and a small hint of autumnal colours. So much so, Little B took a liking to it. He immediately commisisoned his own version – but as usual has a little tweak to make it his own. If I manage to finish the Little B version I will post a photo for you.

This pattern is Doodie from Woolwormhead’s book Wee Woolly Toppers– really nice to knit and cute too. Check out her website – really lovely.

Don’t forget that if you have made something for autumn/fall to add it to the Celebrate Color site

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Autumn Colour – Pumpkin Cosy

Isn’t it funny that although many people don’t work in academic years, the start of a new school/college term has a sense of new beginnings. It makes me want to get new stationary, buy new tights and think about wonderful autumn knitting.

So it was the on-set of the Autumn term that made me think of little fun autumn projects. I was also inspired by the blog of Emma Lamb to get involved in the Celebrate Color blog event. The idea is about celebrating all things autumnal through crafting. If you would like to get involved and share what you have made which has an autumn feel, please have a look at Emma Lamb’s blog or visit the really inspiring Celebrate Color page.

Now a couple for a couple of months I have been happily making some teacosies using the Ruth Cross design from Purls of Wisdom. All the time there has been a nagging feeling in my head, ‘this would make a fabulous…..’ Then it came to me, Pumpkin! So a few hours later, with some zesty orange and a little green I-cord, the Pumpkin Cosy appeared. The most fun is making those little tendrils on the top. They are easy to do with a crochet hook and they certainly make finish off the chubby vegetable. Yummy! Now I am thinking of pumpkin soup and evenings by the fire – Oh and something warm and snuggly cast on the needles.

So many of you ask me for the pattern for this cosy – but I am afraid I don’t feel able to write this one for you. The basic pattern is taken from the Book by Jenny Lord, Purls of Wisdom. As a designer myself I feel strongly that it is important that the originator of the design should get the credit. I just made an icord top in green and a crochet spiral which you can find easily how to make on the web – sorry to disappoint.

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Cute Show and Tell

Now here is a little bit of ‘Cute Show and Tell’. Back in January I told you about an expectant Mummy I know, who wanted to make a crochet blanket for her little one, but had run out of time before the little one arrived. Just before she went on maternity leave I taught her the basics of crochet and to make sure she had a bit of crochet to keep her warm feeding in the middle of the night I made her the Wavy Waiting Blanket and Mummy Square Cushion

Well here is the gorgeous bundle we were waiting for. How cute is this little one? He is covered by another fabulous creation by his proud Mummy – a gorgeous Granny Square Blanket! It makes me beam with excitement.

Below is another cute bundle. This gorgeous little pup is full of character and joy. The little rabbit is also adorable and made by my dear friend J, but apparently puppy is less impressed with the snuggly rival. I don’t think it will be long before little rabbit finds its way into the puppy’s bed.

There is nothing better than seeing good friends discovering and enjoying a hobby which you love. So I wanted to share the love with you!

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Granny Skirt – Granny never looked so good.

The really great thing about the new Inside Crochet Magazine blog is that you can view the patterns featured in the next month’s magazine, before it even hits the newsagents. As a designer this is doubly exciting. I get to see how my hookery will be featured way before I get my sticky mits on the paper copy. I was really excited to see this photo of my Granny Skirt which is featured in Issue 22.

When I designed Granny Skirt, Claire the Editor was kind enough to let me make it in black. You might have noticed that whilst most of us wear quite a lot of black or navy for both flattering and practical reasons, very few knitting and crochet magazines feature patterns in those colours. I think mostly it because the dark colours are fiendishly hard to photograph well, it is hard to get the definition of the stitch without washing the whole image in a flash. But I have to say that the photos in Inside Crochet are really very good. When I design something I have in mind the outfit would put together with the garment. I try REALLY hard to design things that I actually want to wear and are practical. This does mean that sometimes I imagine myself to be taller and of a slimmer shape than I actually am, but generally I hope to be wearing the design myself.

So to cut a long story short, I really wanted to Granny Skirt to be in a practical black colour. The idea is that you would wear a contrasting colour slip underneath or perhaps a silky black slip for evening. I imagine it would be teamed with black boots and a denim jacket, an unfussy top (as in the magazine photo), so that the skirt did all the talking.

A couple of years ago I wouldn’t have dreamed of wearing a crochet skirt… but this season is crochet season and I can’t wait to pop it on. I have seen a number of designs which use an i-cord to gather the skirt at the waist. However I have put an elasticated waist in this design, to ensure I cover my modesty. Otherwise knowing me I would stand up and find that the I-cord had worked loose to leave me standing in my underwear – you see practical and polite!

Anyway I hope you like it, x

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Cable Cafetiere Cosy

A couple of people have asked me recently whether I have a cafetiere cosy pattern. I remembered that I put one together a few of years ago and so here it is. If you would like to make a little cosy to keep you coffee pot snug please download it for free here.

It is a strange thing really but we are big coffee drinkers in our house, and I can’t really think why we haven’t used a cosy before. We had a meeting in out house the other night with lots of friends. After about an hour someone asked if they could have a second cup of coffee, and reached for the pot, it occurred to me then that a little cosy would have been very welcome. (I did offer to make a fresh pot you will be pleased to know).

I have been very concerned about the drips falling on the cosy and the possibility of strands of yarn making their way into my beloved cup, so I have made it shorter than some patterns. However if you are a beginner at cable, this is a fine pattern to build up the practice.

Hope you have a lovely week x

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Show and tell

Firstly thank you to all my lovely friends who sent me a postcard recently in response to my blog post, really lovely. Most of these lovely cards have found their way onto to the pin board for inspiration. Secondly the lovely Mrs J, spotted this fab bag and thought of me and my Tunnock Tea Cake obsession. I love it! I think might become the new knitting bag.

Now I felt a little celebratory ‘show and tell’ was in order. A couple of people have emailed me photos of their finished projects, which is so exciting. I met a really lovely lady only a couple of weeks ago at a party and we started talking about knitting/crochet (can you imagine how rock and roll my life is?) She wanted to make a couple of teacosies as Christmas presents and another friend interjected and said she should use my cable pattern. Well shockingly this photo arrived. Really nice. I especially like the cute small one.

Finally I taught my friend J to knit in March. By May she had made all these things, and most of the items are from her own design

In May she decided she wanted to learn to crochet. So in one evening I showed her how to crochet. My goodness who knew that quite so much speed and skill could be achieved. This is a laptop cover and phone cover of her own design, using Drops Cotton and 3mm needle. Fairly intricate stuff. She was inspired to use colours she had see on her holiday in Croatia. How cool is that! I take no credit for the teaching. J has that wonderful ‘no fear’ style. It’s like watching someone play jazz piano through intuition. Very cool.

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