Keen Knitting Parlour visitors will have noticed that we now have a selection of fabrics and Amy Butler patterns available on the website. The fabrics are great for a variety of uses including dressmaking. I made a shirt from 2 of the co-ordinating Amy Butler fabrics and I just love it. Any normal dressmaking pattern can look so different with a bit of flair in the fabric choice and the use of more than 1 fabric can make a huge difference. We have the new Amy Butler garment patterns due in any day!

This month we have been to Stitches, the industry trade show and (you know what it’s like) the day before, I decided I needed a new knit. What can I knit in a day and a night? I picked a great pattern from the new Kim Hargreaves Heartfelt book which is knitted in Rowan Big Wool and takes only 5 balls for the sizes up to medium and 6 for the larger sizes. I did pretty well, it is knitted in 1 piece and I managed to get up the front and halfway down the back before I ran out of time. Luckily in the end it would have been far too hot to wear it anyway so I wasn’t too disappointed!

So here is the finished garment in the current window with my lovely Amy Butler shirt underneath!

While I was slaving away at my christmas knitting, all I could think about was how much fun I was going to have afterwards starting my baby knitting. My best friend, Beth who lives in Spain is expecting her first baby in a couple of weeks and my sister-in-law is due on May 1st. I have already made a Baby Surprise Jacket for Beth’s and I am halfway through the ‘Bob Blankie’ from Mission Falls ‘Wee Knits 3′. I do love it but it is boring garter stitch knitting but the ends are plaited at the end so that is something to look forward to!

My next project is the entrelac shawl from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino which will be perfect for my sister-in-law as she likes more traditional things. I should have enough time to knit it as it’s only 8 balls, even at 1 a week that’s fine.

The webmaster has been nagging for a ’sock’ for his MP3 player since Christmas so I guess I can fit that in now. One for the PSP has just been added to that although I’m not sure that needs a sock really.

I am also getting into sewing a bit more at the moment. I got a couple of Japanese craft books with really cute baby stuff in them (no, I can’t read Japanese but luckily they have very good diagrams!). The fabric they use is just great so I bought some calico last week and a set of tea towels which are different fabrics but co-ordinating which I am going to chop up for making these lovely patchwork bibs. You know those waffle type tea towels? That’s the fabric I wanted so they are just the job. I’ll post a pic once I’ve done it because they’re nicer than they sound!

By the way, we have a new camera so there will be more pics from now on as soon as I work out how to get the pics off it!

My aim for this year is to finish all my projects and make huge inroads into my stash of both fabric and wool.  Well I am making progress and have finished one jumper in Rowan Felted Tweed and I am really pleased with that.  In response to a request from my daughter I have also finished a bolero using the Opal Sock Wool for my grandaughter who was running out of pink cardigans! 

Now I really must make progress with my Cotton Jeans Jacket ‘Appledore’ from the Coast book.  We had a sample in the shop window and I fell for it.  It will be very useful in the spring.

The shop is just getting some of the spring yarns in and Debbie Bliss has a Cotton DK which I think is worth a try, probably for Jess. 

There is a new Sirdar Book ’ Simple Easy Knits’ that has a lot of basic patterns in DK.  I don’t mind trying lots of different stitches and textures but I do like to have a basic shape to work to so this is the book for me. It covers all sizes so at £6.99 is good value. 

 Now it’s back to the boring doll’s blanket that should have been finished for Christmas!