This weekend saw me travelling to Bradford for The Knit Show – a trade show for yarn shop owners.  It was an opportunity for the manufacturers to tell their stockists about what’s coming this Autumn.

Chunky yarns seem to be very “in” this Autumn.  Everyone seems to be launching them and whereas the chunky patterns from last year were quite big and a little shapeless in my opinion, this year the patterns for chunky yarns are a bit more fitted, which I much prefer.

The Sublime stand was my first stop and they haven’t disappointed with their Autumn collection. There is just one new yarn this season: Chunky Merino Tweed.  It comes in 10 shades and is 80% merino wool. It has an accompanying pattern book with several designs that I quite liked.  It should be in stock in early August.

There are new shades in the baby cashmere merino silk 4 ply and DK, cashmere merino silk DK and extra fine merino DK and new books for each: all of which I’ve got coming.  Many of the new shades are very Autumny – golds, browns, greens, reds.  I really liked the overall tone for this season.  In particular there was a baby blanket, knitted in an olive green, which was simply beautiful.  I’d love to try it.  I wish I could show you a picture of it.

I spent a lot of time on the Rowan stand too.  I’m sure that many of you will love Magazine 48.  I particularly loved the Russian Doll story (cover image) and if you like, or would like to try, fair-isle, then you’ll definitely be inspired by one of the patterns.

Rowan Magazine 48

There are four new Rowan yarns:

• Drift: a 100% merino chunky, much like Big Wool; in fact the pattern book Winter Drift contains patterns that use both Drift and Big Wool.
• Silky Twist: 53% silk, 30% wool, 12% superkid mohair and 5% polyamid and it is an aran weight in 10 jewel-like colours. The pattern book contains some classic designs by Martin Storey.
• Renew: a recycled wool that is a sort of tweed.
• Rowan British Sheep Breeds Boucle: a single shade in natural cream.  A pattern book combines both this and the Renew yarn.

There are some new shades in many of the other yarns, including last year’s new ones Lima and Alpaca Cotton.  Another Martin Storey book called Homestead Classics contains patterns using these yarns.

You’ve treated yourself to some yummy yarn and spent hours upon hours carefully knitting a fabulous garment.  It fits like a glove and the first time you wear it you are overwhelmed with compliments.  But the time will eventually come when you’ll need to wash it and the last thing you want it for your perfect jumper or cardigan to turn into a felted unwearable wreck!

Handwashing

Now I always hand wash my knit wear.  When I’ve spent time and money on knitting a garment, I don’t like to take the risk that it will come out of the washing machine two sizes too small, even if the ball band said the yarn was machine washable.  I’m a naturally cautious person!  When hand washing the important thing is to not twist, wring or scrub them.  I gently push the garment down into the lukewarm water and lift it out again, allowing the movement of the water to dislodge the dirt with minimal agitation.  I might leave it to soak for a few minutes if a mark is proving stubborn to get out.  I always use a gentle detergent too; one that is suitable for wool and delicates.

Machine Washing

But not everyone has the time to spend hand washing their knitwear and after all, if the ball band said the yarn can go in the machine, then you ought to be able to do so.  But before you sling it in with all your other clothes, take a moment to check the fibre content and washing symbols.

Wool yarn

Wool + hot water + agitation + detergent = felting!

If the wool is a superwash wool, it means that it has been treated in such a way that the fibres won’t stick together and shrink.  However you still can’t stick it in a normal machine cycle.  Look at the washing symbols on the ball band.  Does the temperature symbol have any lines underneath it?  It was only recently that I discovered this referred to the mechanical action of the machine.  One line means reduced mechanical action, two lines means much reduced mechanical action.  The wool cycle on your washing machine should have much reduced mechanical action, i.e. it’s much more gentle when tossing the contents around inside and therefore less agitation.

Cotton yarn

You should be able to put cotton yarns in the machine as would do your other cotton clothes.  However I would still use a gentle cycle and cool temperature.

Acrylics/Synthetics

Treat as normal clothes.  This yarn shouldn’t shrink.

Drying

• Never put your hand knits in the tumble dryer.
• Remove excess water by rolling up in a towel and pressing the roll but don’t wring it.
• Lay the garment flat on a towel, reshape and leave to dry out of the sunlight.

Have a look at the Home Laundering Consultative Council’s website for more useful information on washing and caring for your hand knits.

Another jelly roll arrived last week!  This one uses fabrics from Jenean Morrison’s California Dreamin’ fabric collection.

California Dreamin' by Jenean Morrison Jelly Roll

This jelly roll contains just 16 strips, so you’d need two or three to make a quilt.  However there are other uses for a jelly roll, such as wall hangings, purses, bags, book covers…

Jenean Morrison’s own blog has some lovely pictures of items people have made from her fabric.

I’ve just set up a Facebook page.  If you’re a user, why not have a look…

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Modbury-United-Kingdom/Hulu-Crafts/118179024872334

Fancy making something a little different?  Why not embroider a pretty shopping bag with one of these kits from Rico Design.

In these kits you will get a 100% cotton tote bag which has been pre-printed with a particular design, embroidery threads and instructions on how to embroider over the printed design using different embroidery stitches.  You don’t need to an expert in embroidery and in fact, this would be a lovely project for a beginner.

The kits are just £5.99 and available on our website.

Rico’s Organic Pure Chunky yarn has been so popular that Rico ran out of certain shades as well as the accompanying pattern book “Naturally”.  However this week we finally got more stock of most shades, (including plenty in Beige which has been the most popular because of a pattern published in Women’s Weekly) and some copies of the pattern book.  View the contents of the pattern book on our website.

Many knitters have said that they enjoy knitting with this yarn and at just £3.45 a ball, it is good value too.

Due to the volcanic activity in Iceland, all flights to and from the UK have been suspended.

If you are ordering from outside the UK, please be aware that there will be a delay in receiving your order. Royal Mail have said that mail leaving the UK for Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and other European countries, is being transferred to road services where possible. Mail for other parts of the world is being held in order for it to continue its journey as soon as flights resume.

There may be also some delay to UK mail at this time, as transporting mail to and from some of the more distant parts of the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland will take longer than normal without air transport. There may also be a small delay to mail in other parts of the country as a result.

Knitscene Easy is a single issue knitting magazine from Interweave Press and is geared toward the new knitter.  Having said that it’s sure to please even the most advanced knitters who fancy a quick knit as it contains simple projects such as scarves, hats, bags, mittens etc. Each pattern is graded so you know what level it is.

Knitscene Easy 2010

Whether you’ve just learned to knit or have been knitting since you were a small child, KnitScene Easy is a handy resource Handy stitch reference guides are sprinkled throughout the issue, so newcomers can easily refresh their memories, while advanced knitters will love the simple-yet-stylish accessories—perfect for busting that stash! Plus, easy (and cute!) garments will have you whipping up a new sweater for spring in no time. Learn to knitblog, and follow one beginning gal as she learns to knit for the first time.

To see the table of contents, visit the Knitscene Easy website

This week we received our delivery of Amy Butler yarn to go with Amy’s knitting pattern book, Midwest Modern Knits.  Amy’s yarn, called Belle Organic is available in both DK and Aran weights and is a 50/50 blend of organic wool and organic cotton.

There is a huge range of colours and it’s a dream to knit with.

I haven’t been able to get any official photos, so took my own today:

Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran

Amy Butler Belle Organic DK

I need to scan in the shade card so you can see the beautiful colours available.

Thought you might like to see the quilted wall hanging made by my Mum this week.

House on the Hill - In the Country

It’s the “In the Country” quilt pattern from House on the Hill.  House on the Hill is the New Zealand based company who produce many beautiful patchwork and quilting patterns.  The designs are simple and easy to make from rustic country to quirky retro and vintage chic.  This wall hanging took my Mum 2 full days to make.