Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Knitter Magazine

The Knitter
Ideas For Creative Knitting

Have you seen The Knitter?

The Knitter is a brand new knitting magazine from the UK. It caters to the skilled knitter who has been knitting for awhile. I hope I qualify after a year of knitting lessons?

Issue One is filled with 15 collectible patterns on classy glossy paper. Many popular designers are featured, including my favorite Louisa Harding. Louisa's adorable Buchanan cable jumper (sweater) from her Wildspur book is included in this issue.

This knitter loves The Knitter. I am sure you will, too, whether you live in England or the US!

If you want to purchase this premier issue you'd better hurry. Just the other night at Barnes & Noble a fellow knitter grabbed their last copy right before me. A few days later though I snagged the last issue from my local Jo-Ann's Crafts.

When you pick up your copy of The Knitter...drop me a line and let me know what you think.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Cha Cha Cha With Louisa Harding!

Cha Cha Cha Bag by Louisa Harding

A girl can never have, too, many purses!

I adore this "snazzy" new flapper-inspired bag by Louisa Harding. She named it Cha Cha Cha . I can't wait to knit it!

Last month when I met Louisa, I was very lucky to see the mock-ups of her new Spring/Summer 2009 books called Nouveau and Deco. The Cha Cha Cha bag is from her Deco book. I hope my local yarn store gets it in soon!

Cha Cha Cha Bag

The Cha Cha Cha bag is knit in Louisa's Cinnabar and Nautical Cotton yarns. I love her color combination for this bag! (Yes, my favorite colors are Turquoise and Lime Green.) I can't wait to shop for some colorful ribbon and a "glitzy" vintage broach for it, too.

Deco Book


Louisa's new Deco book is filled with fabulous "flirty" patterns influenced by her Grandmother's era.

When Louisa spoke about her inspiration for her new books she told a cute story about her Grandmother. She said "it was quite shocking the day her Grandmother chopped off her long hair into a "bob". Back in the 1920's, my Grandma Margaret wore an adorable "bob", too. The "bob" hair style caused quite a stir in it's day. I love our free-spirited Grandmother's stories and how they helped us become the women we are today!

The Deco book should be hitting the stores anytime now. When you see it...you just may want to chop your hair off into a "bob", too!

As in all her books, the models, styling and photographs are gorgeous! All the photography is done by Louisa's husband, photograhper Stephen Jessup. What a talented duo!

All photographs shown here are by Stephen Jessup from the Deco Book at Knitting Fever.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Hearts Week at Knitique

Valentine Heart Cookies

In honor of Valentine's Day, it was a heart-theme week at Knitique (my local yarn store) this week.

Fellow knitter Diane made these adorable heart sugar cookies and brought them in to share. They were as impressive of cookies that I have admired in Martha Stewart Living magazine!

Diane's cookies not only looked great but they tasted great, too. I asked her if she used a silpat on her cookie sheet and surprisingly she said "no". I thought for sure she did since they were baked so perfectly! Thanks for sharing your delicious cookies with us Diane!

Knit Heart Pillow

Diane not only bakes hearts, she collects them and knits them, too. She also brought in her cute heart pillow to show us. She knit the pillow in a lofty red yarn and seamed it in a pink blanket stitch along with a pink tassel. I am not sure which book the pattern is from???


Heart Sachet

I took the Heart Sachet class at Knitique this week. This was the first time I have ever knit with sock yarn and small needles (#3's). I also learned how to knit a mitered square for the first time, too.

I was challenged at first by the small needles and the small squares. As always, Danielle (owner/teacher) makes a pattern much easier to understand. Before I knew it, I was on my way to finishing this adorable heart just in time for Valentine's Day.

I filled my heart with drived lavender buds from my garden. I added an i-cord and made it into a hanging sachet for our French armoire. I am so glad I took this class!

I hope you had a happy hearts week, too!

Happy Valentine's Day!