For the love of Brietta

I'm still on clouds nine after Brietta cowl got the front page treatment in Let's Crochet mag, which is a preview issue of brand new crochet magazine called Crochet Now. The mag is available together with Knit Now magazine. 

 As Let’s Crochet is a preview issue it contains carefully selected crochet designs that were previously featured in other magazines, Brietta was first featured in issue 65 of Simply Homemade magazine, which is just fab and jam packed with everything from cooking to card making. 

Brietta is a very eye catching cowl (if I may say so myself). The almond stitch gives you the perfect opportunity to play with colour, I have chosen hues of blue and turquoise, starting with the darkest and ending with lightest, the interruptions of cream colour in-between the almonds defines them beautifully. I have used one of my all-time favourite yarns for this cowl – Rowan Kid Classic, the Kid Mohair content of this yarn gives the cowl a lovely halo, not to mention the fantastic colour range the yarn comes in. 

You can really let your colour imagination let loose when crocheting this cowl. Choose your favourite combination or stick with subtly changing colours. I really like these Kid Classic combinations:

Of course you can use any worsted weight yarn for Biretta. At the moment I’m crocheting it with Louisa Harding’s Amitola Grande in Amelia sh. 527 and Rowan Kid Classic in Drought sh. 876. It is looking pretty amazing. Amitola is a gorgeous self-striping yarn, but the colour changes are not long enough to last for a full rows of almonds, at first I thought I might cut full colour lengths and use them as needed, but as I started to crochet I realised I really liked the two different colours in each almond.  

Let’s Crochet is available together with Knit Now Issue 58 – on sale now in newsagents, crafts stores and supermarkets. For more info or to order a copy visit: http://www.knitnowmag.co.uk/item/527-issue-58-on-sale-now

Happy Crocheting 

Anna x

Yarniness

Over the past two weeks I've visited two great yarn festivals: Unravel and Knit & Stitch Show Olympia.

Both are quite different shows with something else to offer. Unravel is definitely yarn only orientated while at Knit & Stitch show all craft lovers will find something for them, from sewing, knitting, card making and much more.

It was my first time to Unravel so I really didn't know what to expect, and boy what a treat it was! The festival lasts three days and is held in Farnham Maltings, spared over three floor, with little rooms going off main halls ending with The Long Kiln Gallery at top of the building. It felt a bit like being Alice in Wonderland, with every room holding different adventures.

  

Every room was packed full with the most delicious hand dyed yarns, a true visual treat. I was absolutely amazed at the quality and luxury of the yarns on offer, the most stunning colours in silks, wools, cashmeres and so much more all from indie yarn dyers, and of course all complemented by  the beautiful designs on show. 

 The Little Grey Sheep Stall 

The sparkly delight from Spin City

My favourite yarns were from Natalia Steward whose lace weight gradient silk yarns were just made for shawls, and Whistlebare-NorthumberlandFinest Yarns who produce hand dyed mohair and Wensleydale yarn from their Angora Goats and Wensleydale Sheep. Their yarns are all dyed using natural sources such as vegetables and come in 3 weights: 4ply, DK and Aran, all of them are just lush and begging to be knitted.

 Whistlebare-NorthumberlandFinest Yarns

 Faux taxidermy knitted fun from Sincerely Louise

Of course not only ready to buy yarn was on offer, there was also stalls with ceramics, felting, machine knitting, textile, even a charming stall with gorgeous wicker baskets. Lots of workshops and talks such as shawls/shapes by the fab Veera Valimaki and Bavarian Twisted Stitch with Fiona Morris. I was particularly sad to miss ‘The Making of The Vintage Shetland Project’ with Susan Crowford and film screening of ‘Yarn’, they were both on Saturday and I was there on Friday. 

And if all that wasn’t enough you were treated to the colour festival that are Amanda Perkins' blankets. Displayed in The Long Kiln Gallery, they were truly a visual delight.

 Amanda Perkins' gorgeous blankets

After all this crafty goodness you were welcome to grab a coffee and join ‘cast on, pass on’ bunting making in the foyer with the Surrey Knitting and Crochet Group.

In comparison The Knit & Stitch Show Olympia is very different, purely because the building has no character or old charming history, but the show itself offers delights for all craft addicts. Sewing addicts would find the festival a dream come true, there was everything from patch working to garment sewing. My most favourite stall was by Sew La Di-Da Vintage who makes stunning vintage patterns. Not only that, but there were great stalls with knitting and crochet accessories such as needles, stitch markers, you know the cute stuff, especially buttons from Kate Holliday which I’m addicted to! To be honest whatever craft you are into you will find something there for you.

As at Unravel there was lots of workshops on offer from jewellery making to felting. Also absolutely adorable hubs with drop-in knit sessions held by LoveKnitting and Toft. And an exhibition of dresses from National Fashion Textile Competition.

Both show offer something different and both are great, but what I liked the most is that both had displays of amazing knitted items.

                                        My girlies and I at Knit & Stitch Show Olympia :)



Anna xx