Katia Roma

Autumn/Winter 2012 is ALL about accessories!  From snuggly cowls and scarves and berets to the humble bobble hat, all have made an appearance on the catwalk this season.

At Cafe Knit we have something for everyone; knitters, 
crocheters, beginners and experts. Make something for yourself or surprise a loved one with a handmade present this Christmas.

First up is Katia Roma.  This most unusual ribbon yarn crochets up to a fantastic scarf/wrap in a matter of hours.  Available in three rich colourways, its beautiful scalloped gives the scarf a really sophisticated finish.  £13.95 per skein, one skein=one scarf!

This beautiful moss stitch cowl is simple and quick to knit, and is seamless as it is knit on circular needles for a neat finish. Four skeins of the super-soft Debbie Bliss Paloma yarn, a unique blend of baby alpaca and merino, give this scarf bulk, yet without being heavy. It makes a wonderful gift and is perfect for Autumn/Winter.  A kit is available to make this cowl (£29.00) and contains all you need, plus a lovely Cafe Knit knitting bag to keep it all in.

The Trellis Scarf kit is one of our most popular kits.  The beautiful scarf is deceptively easy to knit, but simply stunning. Just one skein of the gorgeous Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend yarn is used to make the scarf which is approximately 140cm long by 22cm in width

This scarf should carry a warning; once you have made one you may be addicted and want to make one for all your friends! They make wonderful gifts and are perfect all-weather scarves; warm but light and airy.  £18.99 per kit.

If you prefer a lighter scarf, the Cobweb scarf is the one for you.  Cobweb Scarf Knitting Kit © is a delicate scarf knitted in garter stitch using two different size needles which gives it a beautiful cobweb effect. Despite this it is really easy to knit and is embellished with beads or sequins which are threaded onto the yarn before you cast on. Kit just £10.99!!





If nothing here takes your fancy, take a look at the other fabulous knitting kits and scarf yarns we have on offer.

Lavenham 'Mook Book'!

During the Summer, Cafe Knit had a lovely long visit from some young Japanese men and women, who wanted to feature Cafe Knit in their exclusive 'Mook Book'; a brochure produced for www.lavenhamjackets.com for exclusive distribution in Japan (where this local clothing company has a massive following!)

The resulting glossy brochure features a selection of Lavenham businesses, and local celebrities, and there, just next to a review  of The Great House, is a lovely little review of Cafe Knit!

I was delighted to recieve a copy of the brochure, and a cute quilted tote bag, which as you can see is just perfect for my knitting!!



Here is our entry in the brochure.....

and here is my lovely little tote bag - perfect for my knitting!



Araucania Puelo

Araucania Puelo is a new luxurious DK weight yarn for Autumn Winter 2012 made from 100% baby llama. It is available in a range of gorgeous, variagated colors. It's a DK weight yarn and knits up with a lovely stitch definition and drape.

Llama yarn is very soft and is ideal for knitting drapey, flowing garments such as shawls, scarves and simple sweaters and cardigans.

I'm itching to start a new project (something for me, me, me!) even though I have other things to finish, and I think this may well be the yarn I use.  Well, someone has to try it!  But what to knit?  The supporting pattern book is due out any day now, so perhaps I should curb my impatience for a few more days and work on those UFO's!

Gorgeous rich shades!  When knitted, it doesn't stripe or pool, but blends in a subtle way.

Louisa Harding Himalayan Hiking Hats Macmillan Cancer Support

In November Louisa Harding is going to be lacing up her hiking boots and stuffing a backpack full of yarn as she heads to Nepal to join a team of hikers for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, pushing themselves to the limits with up to nine hours a day of rough trekking.  Her mission is to raise awareness and funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, a team of health professionals who provide care for cancer patients and their families.  Last year, Louisa’s husband and fave photographer, Stephen, was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  While he was undergoing extensive chemo treatments, the Macmillan staff and nurses became a ‘lifeline’ helping her and her family through a very difficult time.

To give back to this wonderful organization, she has designed a collection of six hats entitled ‘Himalayan Hiking Hats’. On each day of her week long trek she will be photographed wearing one of the hats, saving the seventh design for the final day, that is of course if she has knit it up in time.  Her goal is to knit the last one along the way!

To take part in this sponsored event each participant is asked to raise a minimum of £3,400 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Louisa’s goal is to raise £5,000, so she is encouraging knitters to join in her challenge, sponsor her by downloading and knitting one of the hats. Patterns are available to download @ http://www.louisaharding.co.uk/macmillan

Her family have generously donated the cost of her trip so every penny of the money you donate @http://www.justgiving.com/Louisa-Harding-Jessup goes directly to Macmillan Cancer Support.

Debbie Bliss Angel Prints

Following on from the success of Debbie Bliss Angel and Debbie Bliss Party Angel comes Debbie Bliss Angel Prints

Debbie Bliss Angel Prints yarn is a wondrously soft lace weight yarn from Debbie Bliss.

Crafted of 76% Mohair and 24% Silk, Angel Prints is soft and light and comes in a range of 12 beautiful colours. 

The supporting pattern book Angel Prints features 3 romantic designs. The book A Fine Romance also features 8 beautiful designs for Angel yarn, as does the Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2011 magazine.

I love the short tie front bolero, and the wrap cardigan.  The colours are so soft and pretty, and perfect for this Autumn.

Debbie Bliss Magazine Autumn Winter 2012

Well, I have had a few days to digest the contents of the Debbie Bliss Magazine Autumn Winter 2012, so I thought I'd share a few of the highlights with you.

The first thing both Kate and myself love is a flattering fitted cabled sweater knitted in Debbie Bliss Paloma, a beautiful blend of baby alpaca and merino (and currently my favourite yarn of the season.)

Next up is a lovely long cabled scarf knitted in Debbie Bliss Rialto Chunky.  I don't think I would make it quite as long as it is shown in the magazine, but it is lovely all the same.

If I need to knit a baby hat this season, I will probably knit the one in this magazine. Simple stocking stitch, but complete with earflaps and a tiny stalk on the top just for fun, it is perfect for winter arrivals and takes just one ball of Debbie Bliss Rialto Aran.

And then I love the waterfall cardigan featured in the magazine in cream Debbie Bliss Andes, a gorgeous so-soft blend of baby alpaca and silk.  I'm not sure cream is the most practical colour for me, but it's on my wishlist!

My son may be the recipient of one of the funky kids hats featured in the magazine.  Choose from owls, foxes, penguins or bears, knitted in the Cashmerino range of yarns.

I think I'll have to give the 'Folklore inspired knits a miss, as they take a certain amount of time and concentration that I lack at the moment with two small children running around.  But the man in my life might receive something for Christmas!  At last men are catered for with no less than 6 cardigan and sweater patterns to choose from!

Finally there are some gorgeous bold geometric knits for the home; cushions, bags, blankets and slippers.  The mitred garter-stitch log-cabin-style blanket knitted in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran really takes my fancy!

Right, on with my current projects, so I can start something new!

Adriafil Knitcol

By far and away the biggest seller in the shop over this summer has been Adriafil Knitcol. 

If you haven't tried it yet, now's the time to! We have just had a big delivery of many different and new shades.  At just £3.95 per ball, this self striping  soft DK weight yarn achieves a real jacquard effect with no effort from the knitter! Made of 100% Superwash Merino it is just perfect for baby/child knits or indeed any dk project.Just 2 -3 balls are enough to complete a simple baby garment.

Debbie Bliss Winter Garden

OK, my local Co-operative now has mince pies and Christmas cakes for sale, so I don't feel so bad about talking about our new Autumn/Winter yarns!

Second up is Debbie Bliss Winter Garden.  Debbie Bliss Winter Garden is a chunky weight yarn made from a luxurious blend of merino wool, baby llama, linen and silk. 

It comes in 8 beautiful Autumnal colours and has a supporting pattern book, Debbie Bliss Winter Garden, 

I LOVE this yarn!  I am going to knit this simple, fitted sweater (featured in the Winter Garden book)

I also love this cravat - and it takes just one hank!!  I knitted something like this last year from a very old pattern a customer bought in for me. 

Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran

Well, summer is almost done (although here in Suffolk we are being treated to a week long finale by the sun!)

Much as I like summer, I love autumn more, as I love knitting warm chunky knits and wrapping myself in the results!  We have plenty of new things in store to tempt you.

First is Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran.  Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester is a 100% British yarn in every sense. An aran weight, spun in Yorkshire, using wool from the noble British Blue Faced Leicester breed of sheep, with designs from one of the best known British designers, Blue Faced Leicester is truly unique. Nowadays when many of the goods we all come across in our everyday life have travelled thousands of miles to get to us, it is great to be involved with a yarn that can be described as truly “ local “ in every sense.

Debbie Bliss Blue Faced Leicester Aran comes in 16 beautiful shades and has a wonderful supporting pattern book of the same name.

I love this green cabled jumper.

and these gloves which only take one ball!  At only £5.95 per ball these would make a wonderful Christmas present (I have already completed three presents!)

But I must finish my other projects first!

Noro Magazine 2012 - Issue 1

Noro Knitting Magazine 2012 - the first issue - it's too exciting for words! Almost!

33 patterns, £4.95 - you simply cannot go wrong.  But in case you need any prompting, here are a few words that have been written about the magazine:

"Many, many years ago, Eisaku Noro took a leap of faith. Trusting his experience and knowledge, his instincts and determination, he envisioned creating a yarn like no other. So many exuberant entrepreneurial moments like this end without success, but not this one. We can only imagine how hard Mr. Noro worked to market a yarn so overtly individual and carve a growing niche in a hand-knitting market dominated by single-color balls and skeins. Speaking for the knitters of the world, we say: Bravo, Mr. Noro! Your vision inspires us: We are mesmerized as stitch after stitch forms and falls from our needles. We expect the unexpected, crave the next color, and are often hopelessly addicted. Our editors are voracious Noro knitters, so putting together this magazine has been an exciting experience for us. We congratulate the talented designers who embraced the unique qualities of Noro yarns, experimented with shape and form, color and construction, and created such inspiring results"

Mr Noro: We salute you.

Sorbet Stripes Finished

I finished my Sorbet Striped top on Monday evening whilst watching the Jubilee Concert, so here it is.....

I love it and it actually fits! Of course it's not the weather to wear it now, although I have been (with a long sleeved T-shirt underneath).  It's not my usual colours, but its very cheerful and summery to wear.

It took almost all of my three balls of Louisa Harding Willow Tweed - I had inches left.  Before I started the sleeves I weighed what I had left and divided it in two, just to make sure I had enough for both sleeves!!

Lavenham Celebrates the Jubilee (Part 1)

Lavenham is pulling all the stops out when it comes to celebrating the Queen's Jubilee and its lovely.  It sounds corny, but there really is a community spirit here.  The entire village has gone bunting-tastic!  Here are a few pictures, starting with Cafe Knit and our handknitted bunting of course....!

Then opposite us there is Lavenham Contemporary Gallery, and the fantastic (but slightly anarchistic when you look close up!) Union Flag painted by artist Paul Evans....

I love this view looking from the High Street into the Market Square, not a telegraph pole in sight....

The Guildhall always looks amazing but it looks even more impressive with these banners.

Lavenham have been running its own Crown Jewels Competition, with all proceeds going to Lavenham Pre-school, and today was judgement day.  I helped set up the entries today in the Guildhall (and they will be on display until Tuesday 5th June, so please come and admire them yourself!).  Here is Lavenham Preschool's entry, complete with pictures of all the children.  Dominic is at the bottom of the sword!

Next up is the adult entry; these crowns are amazing and the second from the left is knitted, complete with cushion!

The business category had one outstanding (and tasty!) entry.  The Great House Restaurant crown is amazing, made of nut brittle and profiteroles (I tasted a bit of spare nut brittle and it was lovely!)

And the remaining Business entries were fab too.

Come down to Lavenham Guildhall and take a look if you can!

I will try and remember to take pictures of the rest of the weekends celebrations, but now it's time for some knitting!





Crystal Palace Mini Mochi

Mmm, lots of lovely Crystal Palace Mini Mochi has just arrived.  This lightweight yarn is perfect for making shawls, socks and baby items and you can find many free patterns for it here: http://www.straw.com/cpy/free_pattern_yarnssort.html#Mmochi

I think I am going to use it to make the Baktus scarf, which is another free pattern to be found on http://www.ravelry.com/

Jubilee Window

Lavenham are running a competition for the best dressed shop window; we are running a bit late (the windows were meant to be ready by Monday) but better late than never.

Our jubilee window is still work in progress, but it's getting there! Take a look....

Above you can see the crown (knitted with Ashford Tekapo DK and beautifully felted by a lovely regular, Ann Baxter, and decorated by me).  And the Union Jack recreated with Artesano Alpaca DK and Aran by Kate.

 

Here you can just about see the two rows of knitted bunting (Debbie Bliss Eco Aran) which was knitted by some lovely Cafe Knit regulars...

And here is a slightly better picture of the bunting.  Cool Brittania or what?!  I think our window may be too subtle to stand a chance in the competition, but I like it!

 

 

Jubilee Bunting

Here is tonight's task at Knit and Natter: sew together the Jubilee bunting that lots of my lovely customers have knitted for my shop window display.  I do hate sewing up, but it must be done!  Shop windows in Lavenham were meant to be dressed, ready for the Jubilee celebrations, by Monday 14th May. Whoops!  Amongst all the other celebrations going on in the village, there is a competition for the best dressed residential and shop window.  I think our knitted bunting must put us in with a chance of winning!

Sorbet Stripes

Here's a preview of my latest project.  I am making a slash neck sleeveless sweater (without a pattern, so I hope it fits when I've finished!)

I wandered around the shop last Sunday gathering yarns of different textures and colours and ended up with Debbie Bliss Eco Baby in bubblegum pink, white and buttercup yellow, Debbie Bliss Angel in Fushia and Teal and Louisa Harding Willow Tweed in Catkin.

I have just completed my first stripe sequence - it reminds me of summer days and icecream for some reason.  Hopefully we will have a few Summer days once I have finished it, so I can wear it!

Birthday Celebrations at Cafe Knit

Lovely day at Cafe Knit today.  Lovely regulars Ann and Sandy came in this afternoon to celebrate Sandy's birthday, armed with a beautiful cake with a knitted theme - check out the photos below!

Joined by another regular, Valerie (who refused to be photographed!) and their husbands, Doug and Bob, an indulgent  session of coffee, tea and birthday cake was had by all.

 Check out the detail on the bags!!

Happy Birthday Sandy!!!

Road Closures and Road Works around Lavenham - BUT BUSINESS AS USUAL!!

I just thought I would keep you up-to-date with the road situation around Lavenham, in case any of you had tried to venture to Lavenham but turned back due to ‘road closure’ signs!



Road resurfacing work is being undertaken between Bury and Lavenham, hence the closures and short diversions. However, you can get to Lavenham, park for free and all the businesses are open as usual (including Cafe Knit).  You don't have to follow the diversions on the A134 to Sudbury which then take you back to Lavenham on the A1141, you can get to Lavenham via Bridge Street Road.

The A1141 (Bury to Lavenham) will be fully open all over Easter and is also open every evening; so no excuses to miss the Knit and Natter every Tuesday evening from 8pm!

Katia Bossa Nova

I've been busy knitting up samples for the shop.  Our delivery of Katia Bossa Nova scarf yarn arrived late Wednesday, so I knitted this beautiful scarf for display purposes!

It knits up using 4mm needles, only 6 stitches and two balls, so it only took me a couple of hours; but I think the results are stunning.

It's a blend of 72% cotton and 28% polyamide which gives the yarn a slight shimmer which you can't see in the photograph, but it makes it perfect for Spring and Summer.  Just £8.50 and a couple of hours knitting for a lovely scarf; it doesn't get better than that!

Opal 'Say It Flowers' Sock and Sweater Yarn

A couple of lovely new additions to our family of yarns: Opal Say it With Flowers hand dyed Sock and Sweater yarn £9.99 per 100g skein and...

Opal Fairies and Elves Sock yarn just £7.99 per 100g ball.

Both enough for a gorgeous pair of socks or gloves, both a machine washable blend of 75% wool and 25% polyamide for that 'snap back' factor.

I'm not a big sock knitter, but these lovely shades could tempt me back into the fold...!

Noro Kochoran Capelet

I've finished!  A week later than anticipated, but hey ho!  I love the results, the gorgeous spring colours and the way it has striped.  It is such an easy satisfying knit, now I need to find some chunky cotton to knit a summer version.

Now there is no excuse not to start on the Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace cardigan...!  (In fact I cast on the 127 stitches last night, and then realised it wasn't ideal late night knitting as I really couldn't see any of the teensy tiny stitches!! 

www.cafeknit.com offering free postage on all UK orders of £20 or more

www.cafeknit.com is now offering free postage on all UK orders of £20 or more, so what better time to grab some yarn for your stash!

Manos Wool Clasica Capelet

Finished just in time for Lili's birthday, I love knitting this pattern.  It is so easy; knit in one piece from the top down with some chunky yarn (I've used Manos Wool Clasica) with 8mm needles. 

You can make the sleeves and body as long as you want; it is available as a free pattern on http://www.ravelry.com/ and is called the "Anthropolgie Inspired Capelet" by Julia Allen.  I used one and a half skeins here.

I have now cast one on for myself with Noro Kochoran.  I was hoping to have it finished by tomorrow, but as I am only on the neck, I think not!

Debbie Bliss Spring Summer Magazine 2012

It's just arrived and I am so excited! 

I've just dispatched the pre-ordered copies and I'm off to pick the kids up from school, then I will browse it quietly with a coffee, or maybe I will wait until they are in bed!

Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace Frenzy!

Knitters in Lavenham were going crazy on Tuesday for the Debbie Bliss Rialto Lace which arrived in the morning.  At only £5.50 per ball, with a yardage of 390m you can tell why!  Most of the garments in the accompanying book, Rialto Lace, take only 2 or 3 balls and it comes in a range of 20 pretty colours (all bar two are in stock)

It isn't even out of the boxes yet, that is today's job, but I thought I had better save a copy of the book for me so I could make a pretty 'Tie Front Cardigan' in Meadow, a lovely citrusy green (shade 14).  Kate is going to make the 'Leaf Shawl in shade 15, a sage green, for a wedding she is attending in May.  Will we complete the garments in time?  Watch this space....!