Modern romance

The Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer 2011 magazine is out now. With all new designs a bargain at £4.95. The patterns are very pretty and include soft and lacy designs in Debbie Bliss's new silk mohair yarn Angel.

There are some gorgeous 1950's inspired floral cardis, with intarsia rose motifs and rosy 'buttons' and a flower belt... Very feminine.

Cactus cup and saucer

To go with your 1950's cardi - a lovely cup and saucer. This one is an Alfred Meakin - painted by Venice http://www.lollyofhastings.blogspot.com

Knit and wine

Hope you can join us for Knit and Wine this month. Tuesday 22nd Feb. 7.30 - 10pm, £15 per person. (Illustration from a book by Betty Hosegood, anyone read it?)

Quick to knit

Still getting distracted by The Knitter's Year (Debbie Bliss). I knocked up a little pot holder in some spare dk cotton which makes the ugly plastic flower pot much more acceptable. 50 projects to go.......and I still havn't finished James's jumper...... he's got such long arms.....

The young ones

We had a mini 'learn to knit' workshop this morning for four young friends; Megan, Gaby, Izzy and Ella. Ranging from 8 to 12yrs they all did really well and are well on their way to knitting a very trendy cowl scarf each in Big Wool. They're so keen and are planning a knitting sleepover so they can have their own 'Knit and Chat'.

Fair isle fairy

Wow, Jeannette, Beryl's sister, is making great progress knitting this fair isle pattern Anastaysia, Rowan mag 48 (see earlier post from December'10). This is truly beautiful knitting - a work of art.

More fair isle

There is some great fair isle knitting going on. Anna came to knit and chat with the wonderful jumper she is knitting from Debbie Bliss mag autumn/winter 2010.

Anna has chosen softer colours and we think it looks great. PS It's her first fair isle project too!

Still trying to finish crocheting a jumper for son James. In the mean time, to keep me going I've been fiddling around with some little projects. I did this pot holder from Debbie Bliss's book The Knitter's Year. Full of inspiration for quick ideas (52 infact - I could get very distracted). I blocked it and felt very professional. Actually it is really worth doing as it makes the knitting really flat and easy to work with.

Hey, presto! A pretty pot holder made with a remnant of fabric from Hitchin market. Better get back to the jumper - he keeps asking me how it's going......

Let's twist again

There was a lot of twisting and some shouting at the' intarsia afternoon' workshop on Tuesday.

Carolyn concentrated very hard and did fantastically well on her first go ever at intarsia.

Jennifer and Naomi picked up some more tips from teach, Linda, particularly the 'double twist' which avoids holes. They all did brilliantly. We're expecting to see some wonderful creations now, girls!