The Knitting Book

The Knitting Book
Author and consultant of these titles. Reviews: "When I saw The Knitting Book... I knew I had found the book I needed." "The Knitting Book” is one of those reference books you get when you’re serious about knitting"

Friday, 11 December 2015

How Zen is Your Knitting?

Do you enjoy knitting in a group? 

Mary Mussett and Dr Vikki Haffenden are very excited to be bringing these developmental Knitting Workshops to various venues in Brighton during 2016. In these workshops we will be combining our professional experience to provide you with the opportunity to enhance your skills in both mindfulness and the craft practice of knitting. 

More information to follow soon


Thursday, 5 November 2015

Correction to 'Felted Tote Bag' in The Knitting Book p 350-351.

Correction to 'Felted Tote Bag' in The Knitting Book p 350-351. Corrections in bold and italics. 

Pattern.
Cast on 50sts.
Starting with a k row, and working in st st, inc at both eds on 5th row. Work 10 rows without shaping. (52sts).
Row 16 (WS): Inc in first st. p15, cast off 20sts. p15 inc in last st. (54sts)
Carry on as pattern is printed.

Apologies - just have to remember that those wonderful pattern checkers are not infallible. It's all in the numbers...

Thursday, 15 October 2015

British Knitting Awards 2015

A big thanks to all of those who voted for The Knitting Book in the British Knitting Awards 2015.

'The Knitting Book is the book of all books for the knitter, whether you are a beginner or have been knitting for years...This book is so full of great information that it's an essential companion for every knitter.'
(Knitpicks.com )


The Knitting Book is available in Australia and the US, and has been translated into Dutch German and Croation.










Knit Step by Step
is also available in German and Portugese.













Patterns on Ravelry

My hand knit patterns from Rooster Book One are downloadable from Ravelry:

Man and Babies's Hat
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/man-and-babiess-hat
 Soft Baby Blanket

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/soft-baby-blanket-2

both patterns are worked in the lovely Rooster yarns.




Thursday, 1 October 2015

My Passap E6000 is out of the cupboard!

I have finally unearthed my Passap E6000 from its hibernation and even got the motor running!
Of course I still don't have much time to use it - but last night I stole a few hours to try to remember how to use it. Luckily I spent the summer servicing a 'green' Passap and bringing it back to life, its just the electronic patterning that I have lost touch with.
So here is my first piece off the machine that even warrants mentioning. Its a racked tuck pattern with a needle selection on the front bed, knitted with manual settings only as I didn't have the energy to tackle the controller at the time. Its knitted in 2/16nm lambswool and washed.


An award!

How exciting to have been awarded a place in the British Knitting Awards. Thank you to all who voted for my book. I will be going to the Knitting and Stitching Show at Olympia next week to receive my award.



Monday, 20 July 2015

France, food and cycling

We are coming to the end of a 2 week holiday in Brittany in our caravan. I have just eaten a delicious lemon tart.


Whilst eating it I have been busy though, knitting a thick lining for the tea cosy for when we take the caravan out in colder weather. We did that at Easter and there was ice in the fire-bucket, plus the gas heater broke so we used the oven to keep warm. But I am moving off the theme of food and France.
Food, always an enjoyable topic, has been fun this holiday. We have a Remoska cooker which we use when on mains electric which can be used to make tremendous meals. It does great jacket potatoes as well. Salads have featured large though as its been so warm.


Aubergine and Feta bake is tomorrow, but I have made bread, pizza, lasagne, birthday cakes,  bolognese sauce, loads of dishes in the Remoska. The slow cooker is also useful, great for bolognese, stews, curries that will cook whilst we are out during the day. I've not used that this holiday as its so warm, but it was great last summer when we were walking in the New Forest and Forest of Dean. 
We have been cycling along parts of the Nantes to Brest canal towpath - the Velodyssey, and it's been lovely. It's flat, which is ideal for the folding bikes we have with us, and cycling gives you time to see things and the opportunity to just get off and potter in villages and towns. 


The other thing I have managed this holiday is to thoroughly teach myself how to Tunisian crochet. Thanks to Michelle at poppyandbliss.com for her helpful advice and simple pattern to get me started. 


The yarn isn't very good for the stitch as its not got enough twist, so splits easily as you can see, plus of course I have brought a slightly small hook just to make my task more difficult. However, I have the basic technique now so will work on it further.