Debbie Bliss Cotton DK Selection Packs

Perfect for experimenting, and knitting (or crocheting) a baby blanket, throw or stripey cushion, http://www.cafeknit.com/ now has stock of these fantastic value for money Debbie Bliss Cotton DK Selection Packs, which come in either a 'pink' or 'blue' themed colourway .

Debbie Bliss Cotton DK is one of my favourite summer yarns - gorgeous colours and soft on the hands (which some cottons aren't!)

KnitPro Straight Needles

I've wasted no time putting the KnitPro Symfonie Wood Straight Needles to work. And Ihave to confess they are really nice to work with, with good sharp points which are helping me with this lacy 'tank top' I am currently knitting in the rather heavy, but gorgeous Mirasol Hap'i yarn. And they do look gorgeous too!

KnitPro Knitting Needles

I've finally bowed to the pressure from my knitting group, The Harrow Knitters, and my Mum, and just about every other knitter I know, and www.cafeknit.com has taken stock of KnitPro knitting needles and crochet hooks. They arrive tomorrow.

After extensive research (!) , I have decided to stock the beautiful, and popular Knit Pro Symfonie Wood Circular Interchangable Knitting Needles, both as sets (Starter, Luxury and Chunky sets), and as the individual components - cables, needle tips, connectors etc.

I was also advised by the passionate crocheters in our group that the Knitpro Symfonie Wood Crochet Hooks were lovely, so I am stocking those also.

Infamous amongst my fellow knitters for disliking circulars, due to my very odd knitting style (I knit with my right-hand needle propped on my leg; strange but effective and difficult to do with circulars and DPN's!), i have treated myself to some KnitPro Symfonie Wood Straight Knitting Needles, and if they are as good as everyone says I will start stocking those too!

Shamu Makes - gorgeous hand dyed yarn!

These new hand dyed yarns from Shamu Makes are, quite literally to dye for! www.cafeknit.com has just taken its first delivery of them and they are flying off the shelves and onto the needles!

The colours are so beautiful - some subtle, like the Bejewelled Sock Yarn, and some definitely not, such as the Zingy Laceweight yarn, but they are all gorgeous.

Cafe Knit at the Duckpond Market, Harrow

If you are out and about in Middlesex this Sunday and enjoy knitting, come and meet http://www.cafeknit.com/ and the Harrow Knitters at the Duckpond Market this Sunday 13th June from 10am to 3pm.

The market is at Harrow Museum, Headstone Manor, Pinner View, Harrow, HA2 6PX

We will be there selling lovely knitted gifts, fabulous yarns, hand-dyed skeins and knitting bags and accessories.

There is a free car park and it's a shortish walk from Harrow and Wealdstone, North Harrow or west Harrow tube stations. The H9 and H10 buses stop on Pinner View, the H18 & H19 buses stop on Headstone Lane and the H14 stops nearby too.

For more information about the Duckpond Market click here

Calling all Harrow Knitters!

If you live in and around Harrow, Middlesex and enjoying knitting (or crochet!), why not join the Harrow Knitters?!

We are a friendly bunch of mixed age and abilities who meet 3 times a month in various locations in and around Harrow.

The 1st Tuesday of every month sees us meeting at 8pm in the Grims Dyke Hotel, Old Redding (http://www.grimsdyke.com/) in the Morning Room next to the library bar (as long as it's free)

The 2nd Monday of the month is our newest meeting - Come and learn to crochet (but if you don't want to, bring your knitting along!) and that takes place at 8pm in the Oddfellows Arms, 2 Waxwell Lane, Pinner, HA5 3EN (opposite Lidl and the Police Station)

and finally, on the 3rd Wednesday of every month we meet again in the Oddfellows Arms (www.oddfellowspinner.co.uk) at 8pm, for more knitting fun!

bring along your current project to work on or your latest completion to show off, plus your newest knitting books and magazines to pass around and browse through. Everyone is welcome, regardless of expertise and it's a fantastic place to get tips from other more experienced knitters, get honest opinions on your work in progress (frog, frog!) , sometimes we even hold a yarn swap!

You can contact us via this blog, theharrowknitters@btinternet.com or find our group on www. ravelry.com

Artesano Alpaca DK Log Cabin Blanket

Here is my latest completed project: a log cabin blanket-of-many-colours knitted for my friend Michala's imminent arrival.

She is such a colourful person, I just couldn't decide what colour to knit the blanket in, then I came across the concept of the Log Cabin Blanket on http://www.masondixonknitting.com/, so I thought I'd give it a go with 13 different shades of Artesano Alpaca DK.

I love the way it has turned out. The yarn is really soft, lovely to knit with and as a blanket it drapes really well. I had a big debate with myself (and anyone who would listen!) about whether to a) line it and b)crochet an edging, but finally I decided on neither. I think the lining would make it too heavy and the border may detract from the simplicity of the design.

It was difficult to see how it was going to turn out, until the very end when the second repeat of each colour was completed and then it finally came together. I love the freedom of just knitting with no pattern to follow, that's why I finished it so fast (for me that is!)

It was such a success I think I will write up the pattern and make it available as a knitting kit at http://www.cafeknit.com/

I do hope Michala (and Baby Briggs) likes it....

Artesano Superwash Merino Children's Patterns

The first of the long awaited patterns to support the launch of Artesano Superwash Merino DK yarn has arrived at www.cafeknit.com . Tina Barrett's pick'n'mix collection of patterns for 3 to 12 year olds is simply gorgeous. My son and daughter will be well catered for this year I can see!

Bergere de France Creations Autumn/Winter 2010/2011

It seems far to early to start thinking about Autumn/Winter knitting, but the new Bergere de France Creations Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 pattern book has arrived at www.cafeknit.com

This fantastic collection of 39 patterns for men, women and children has something for everyone, as usual the patterns are very stylish, and don't worry the instructions are written in English! And all for £4.95!