New Debbie Bliss Magazine Autumn Winter 2009

The waiting is over. It's finally here. The new Debbie Bliss Magazine Autumn Winter 2009. It arrived at lunchtime and I spent a frantic two hours packaging it up for customers who had preordered their copy, and rushing to the post office to catch the last post.

Infact I've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to look at it yet. Tonight, over a nice glass of white I think...!

Mirasol Chirapa Yarn and Manos Del Uruguay Silk Blend

I couldn't resist posting a picture of the so-gorgeous-it-should-be-criminal Dominic in his new tank top.

It was actually intended for his little friend who has just turned one, but even though it was knitted for ages 1 to 2, it was a little on the snug side for him, so Dom is having this one and I'm knitting a slightly larger one for his mate!

Not that I mind though - when I finished this one I had decided to make one for Dom anyway. Knitted using just 3 skeins of the now discontinued gorgeous Mirasol Chirapa yarn (grab the last few skeins now!), and modifying a pattern from the Mirasol Children's Collection Book it was a dream to knit, and very quick too.

Right, back to finishing off a lovely scarf (Manos Silk Blend, yum, yum....)

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Schools out! 7 weeks of mayhem, and probably not much knitting ahead!

Without realising it, I've become addicted to Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. Partly I guess because I love knitting for children, and Baby Cashmerino is without doubt one of the best baby yarns around, and partly due to the range of scrummy colours available.

I have nearly finished a gorgeous pair of (Autumn/Winter) trousers for Dominic - just got the sewing up part to do...and I have made an early start on a baby blanket for a friend who is expecting in December (don't want a repeat of my last-minute knitting of blanket earlier in the year! I know, i did say i wouldn't knit a blanket again, but it was so well recieved last time) This time the blanket is going to be in 'Celery' and will be edged in 'chocolate'. I'm awaiting delivery of the Celery, so I thought I'd crack on with the edging....

Then it's just a question of deciding what knitting to take on holiday.....

Crystal Palace Mini Mochi Sock Yarn

...is selling out fast! First delivery on Monday, and some shades sold out!! Expecting another delivery today, but then suppliers are low on stock until July.

I'll have to decide what shade I like best and put some aside for me, otherwise I'll be disappointed too! It is soooo scrummy, supersoft, machine washable, 180m per 50g ball, £5.75 per ball, free patterns, 8 lovely shades...life doesn't get much better than that!

Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton

I promised to sew a top for one of my best friends in the world, about 20 years ago. But shame on me I never did it (and I still have the pattern and material stashed away).
So, here is a knitted peace offering. Hopefully it will accomodate Jenni's baby bump, and prove useful in the next few warm months (i'm very optimistic!)

It's knitted with Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton from her Pure Cotton/Stella book, and it was fairly simple to knit. I love the waffley effect. I opted for sleeveless as a) it would be quicker to knit and therefore an outside chance Jen would get it whilst still pregnant, and b) thought it would be versatile and you could wear a long sleeve t-shirt underneath. OK, be honest Vic, it was really more a)....

Colour is more important than price....

....when deciding what yarn to buy. Well, so say visitors to Cafe Knit who have taken part in Cafe Knit first Knitting Attitudes™ Survey. The survey is running until 17th June and we have had a phenomenal response to it within the first few days. I can already see some really interesting knitting trends emerging - and I'm glad everyone else's yarn stash is out of control too!!

Sewing up night tonight! Two lots of sewing up - a gorgeous sleeveless cardigan (knitted in Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton) that I have knitted for one of my best friends in the world (I promised to sew her a top 20 years ago and never got round to it, so this is by way of compensation) , and a lightweight jumper for myself knitted in the divine Louisa Harding Hulda yarn. Yipee, I can't wait, which is why I'm finding things to do on the computer, rather than face the music and sew up.

Why do I hate sewing up so much? I can't quite figure it out. I should be excited, as I would then be able to wear the garment I have spent months knitting, but instead I just want to move on and start knitting something else. The only explanation I can come up with is that I'm not very good at sewing up and so I don't want to do it, in case I ruin all my lovely knitting....

Right I'm going to bite the bullet now, and hopefully have some pics of at least one finished item to post tomorrow...(just remembered I have a 3rd thing to sew up, but might end up frogging it after all...the cardigan I knitted for discrete feeding of Dominic - he will shortly be embarking into the world of real food, so it probably isn't required anymore!)

Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton Yarn

I was photographing some Debbie Bliss Eco Yarn for http://www.cafeknit.com/, and Dom decided to get in on the act. My back was turned for a few seconds and he had managed to grab a bright pink ball. It was my favourite picture of the day, and I was tempted to use it to illustrate the yarn - it would certainly grab peoples attention!