The first christmas that we had the shop I knitted a Colinette Point 5 jumper for James (the Webmaster). There are a massive shortage of patterns for men, especially cool ones so I adapted a Rowan Big Wool pattern and thought it was OK. Well, he said he was very pleased and wore it on Christmas Day but a couple of months later when I commented that he hadn’t worn it much he said “I haven’t got the strength to lift it”.  In fairness it had taken about 15 hanks (1.5kg!) of yarn and it was a pretty hefty jumper but the word ungrateful sprung to mind!

Anyway, he had the sense to wait a year or 2 before asking me if I would re-knit it! It only took a week and I made up a pattern with input from James. It was finished last night and he posed for me this morning.

It’s not really as red as it looks in the left hand pic. The other is a better picture of the colour but it’s not a great one of James. He is looking a bit uptight because the kids are up to something in the lounge. It took about 3 or 4 hanks less and fits much better than the last one did. I totally made up the pattern just based on tension measurements from the old jumper before it got unpicked and it will be in the free patterns section soon.

Anyway, the main point of this post is that even if you have some major knitting disaster it’s worth shoving it in the cupboard for a year or so and trying again because you can turn something rubbish into something great on the second time around.

This is our first garment from the new Rowan Autumn/Winter range. It’s a new yarn called Cocoon, merino wool and kid mohair mix. It’s beautiful to knit, very soft and is unplied which gives the finished knitting a soft, supple feel. We are HUGE fans of it in the shop and it has been popular with customers. The pattern is from the latest Rowan Magazine. We did do it longer than the pattern as it’s quite cropped in the picture. I did the smallest size and it just used an extra ball of the main shade for an extra couple of inches length. The sleeves are quite wide and could easily be made narrower although the 80’s batwing style seems to be back in for this season!

We have lots of new colours in Rowan Tapestry which has inspired me to knit a pair of gloves from knitty.com. I think maybe gloves and socks are the new scarves for this christmas!

There are two new yarns from Sirdar, Hug and Juniper which have been selling very well because the patterns are so great. These will be on the website as soon as Bob has done the pics. in the meantime, please call or e-mail if you are interested in either or if you have any questions about our stock.

The Cocoon jacket takes 5 balls of the main shade and 1 each of 2 contrast shades for the small and medium sizes. The next 2 sizes take 6 of the main and 2 each of the contrasts.

We have finally set some dates for knitting and crochet classes in the autumn. We are hoping to do a proper site update this week but in the meantime the dates are:

Knitting Virgins & intermediate Thursday 20th September 7pm-9pm

Crochet Virgins Thursday 4th October 7pm-9pm

Knitting Virgins & intermediate Thursday 18th October 7pm-9pm

All the classes take place at the shop and cost £15 per class. Please book in advance as numbers are very restricted due to space!

Also, for those of you who are local, our knitting club which used to be at Leaf in Great Malvern is now going to be at the Mount Pleasant Hotel bar on Belle Vue Terrace Great Malvern. The pro of moving is that it’s a bar so we can have drinks! The downside of this is that maybe less knitting will get done.

We’re going to be at the new Quilt Show in Malvern at the beginning of November so we’re making plans for that. We will be unveiling some new kits in time for christmas and will have some nice nick-nacks for pressies. Come and see us if you’re in the area. The Quilts UK show in May is brilliant and I’m sure that this one will be the same.

I have had a really exciting weekend!  My husband and I became the proud owners of a motorhome on Friday and have spent the weekend on a campsite getting used to it.  Had a few teething problems, blowing a fuse on Sat night and having very reduced lighting.  Then trying to get a replacement fuse in an area we didn’t know on Sunday!  All in all though it was a success and am looking forward to the next trip.  Hopefully we will be able to visit lots of places we have been meaning to but never got there.  Knitting wise it great as there is not a lot to do and none of the jobs that sit and look at you when you are home.

I am knitting a Colinette throw at the moment so made good progress with that.

When my daughter was over I showed her a Sirdar pattern for a cardi in Peru I thought she would like and I  actually got it right!  So now the wool is and I have my next project lined up. 

Back to school this week for lots of families so good luck for the new term to everyone and hopefully more knitting time for Mums!