Halloween Knitting

Work on our Autumn/Winter 2009 photoshoot is well underway and the homepage of http://www.cafeknit.com/ will be experiencing a bit of a revamp next week - it's very exciting watching the website evolve from it's humble beginnings back in July 2008.

And here is a very timely outtake from the photoshoot. Our house model Frankie on the right (obviously!), modelling a gorgeous top knitted with Debbie Bliss Rialto DK in this season's shade of purple, and Mr Pumpkin-Head on the left. Identity to be revealed at a later date....

We have some gorgeous yarns in stock this Autumn. I'm loving Debbie Bliss Como, and Shade 13 (Orange) is particularly apt this weekend! I'm planning lots of chunky, quick to knit scarves as Christmas presents this year.....

Eucalan No Rinse Delicate Wash

A parcel arrived for me at lunchtime, and for the life of me I had no idea what it could be. I opened it up and discovered my order of Eucalan, an amazing environmentally friendly, no-rinse delicate washing liquid had arrived! Spend the next 30 mins trying to decide which of the four fragrances I preferred and I finally opted for Grapefruit. I wasn't expecting the handful of trial samples that were included in the delivery, so I've decided to give those away to the next 20 customers at http://www.cafeknit.com/. To qualify for the sample, simply type "free sample" in the additional information box at the checkout.

Artesano Alpaca Yarns and Manos del Uruguay Yarns

I'm very excited to announce that www.cafeknit.com will now be stocking the full range of Artesano and Manos del Uruguay yarns! I'm just in the process of loading up all the yarns and colours to the website, and believe me there are many (Manos Clasica, Artesano 4ply, Artesano DK, the new Artesano Silk Embrace (gorgeous and snuggly), Hummingbird 4ply, Hummingbird DK, Inca Cloud and Inca Mist) Phew! Times that by 20 shades each and I'll be here all evening!

Thumbsuckers Mittens

Now the weather has taken a turn for the worse, it really is getting chilly first thing in the morning on the way to school. So, on the needles at the moment are a pair of 'thumbsuckers' mittens for baby Dom, in Cream Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK (something left over from another project). I figure he'd go nuts if he couldn't suck his left thumb, so I am making one glove thumbless. They'll be ideal for camping too. I'm just adapting an old fashioned simple knitting pattern and I reckon I may just have a hit on my hands

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

At last! Here is Dominic in his new (very old fashioned) knitted trousers! Knitted using Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino they are so soft and warm, and I think he looks really sweet in them. (maybe I shouldn't have teamed them with green socks though). The gorgeous rich blue shade is called 'Ocean' - and being machine washable , makes them practical too.

I've just been informed that Dom will hate me when he is older for making him wear all these knitted things....the way I see it I have a window of about 5 years before he refuses to wear anything i knit him, so I'm going to pack it all in now. Hats he can remove, but trousers prove a bit more tricky!

National Knitting Week 2009 - photo!

Here we all are, working on our blanket, I can't remember which night this photograph was taken, but all in all we had a fantastic turnout. Over the 3 nights we had over 20 people come and help us!

The blanket was a free knitting pattern from http://www.lionbrand.com/, knitted in Lion Brand Wool-Ease in 3 colours; Paprika, Avocado and Cocoa. each coloured square was a different stitch pattern; garter, seed and moss stitch. it is coming together and beginning to look really good now! It is to be raffled on the 18th November (next months meeting) and hopefully we will raise quite a lot of money. So now we just have to sew the blanket up now. Any volunteers?!

National Knitting Week 2009

I'm off in a minute to the Harrow Knitters Charity Knit-In in celebration of National Knitting Week. Hopefully it'll calm me down after my day from hell getting the car MOT'd (won't bore you with the details, suffice to say I left the house at 8.50am this morning with 2 small children in tow (and stupidly not many supplies as thought I'd be a couple of hours at most) and returned to the house at 4pm...in...mmm..what shall we say?...not a very good mood.)

Anyway, The Harrow Knitters (of which I'm one) are holding a Knit-In for Charity on Tuesday 13th (Today), Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th October 2009 at the Oddfellows Arms Pub, 2 Waxwell Lane, Pinner, HA5 3EN from 8pm until 10pm on each of the three evenings.

All knitters are welcome to come along and help. We’ll be working on a blanket with yarn donated by www.cafeknit.com and the blanket will be raffled once complete, in the Oddfellows Arms to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Hope we get a good turn out - will post pictures tomorrow!

Knitting and Stitching Show 2009 Alexandra Palace - Photos

So, here are a few photos of our PolarKnit stand. We had lots of lovely comments on how colourful it was!

I had several glamorous assistants (thank goodness!) - Julie on Friday, Mike on Saturday, and Meghan on Sunday. And two unexpected visitors on Saturday too!

The show was amazing - so many lovely yarns and accessories under 1 roof - I was very restrained and only bought one lovely skein of baby mohair!

Last Day @ Ali Pali

Today's the last day at the Knitting and Stitching Show Ali Pali London. Its been really busy on my stand. Thanks to everyone who's made it along so far to say Hi and look at our PolarKnit Yarns and funky accessories. If you plan on coming down today - parking will be busy, but so far everyone has found a space & remember that the show closes at 5pm. Oh by the way I'm on stand D16

Come and say Hi

Vic

Knitting and Stitching Show 2009 Alexandra Palace

Absolutely knackered today as we've (dragged helpful husband along) been setting up our stand today at the Knitting and Stitching Show 2009 for the four day extravaganza that starts tomorrow....

I'll post pictures of our stand tomorrow (D16 if you are passing!) - I think its looking pretty good. Maybe a bit minimalist, but cool and funky all the same. I had no idea the show was so huge! I got completely lost trying to find the exhibitors desk. Oh help me tomorrow when I search for the toilets!

Postal strike problems

Not everyones favourite topic, but we seem to be weathering the storm with large and small packages getting through the postal service. In fact I've received some lovely feedback regarding our mail order yarns getting though in record time!!