Knitting in Stockholm September 16th - 19th 2011

With it's charming architecture, green spaces, 14 islands and 57 bridges, the aptly named 'Venice of the North' is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Combine this with a chance to enjoy a workshop in a cosy knitting cafe, plus view some exquisite mitten making, and you have have a fascinating long weekend for knitters of all persuasions.


Led by myself, this tour offers a superb mix of knitting and sightseeing. A visit to a friendly Rowan Wincent shop in the city's Vasasten district ensures a chance to discover some wonderful yarns and sample knitting Swedish Style. A journey out of the city and into the countryside will also give you a real flavour of Swedish Life and traditional knitting techniques.

I am really looking forward to this tour and can't wait to see what Stockholm has in store for us. I'm a real Steig Larrson fan too - so the prospect of bumping into the girl with the Dragon tattoo is adding extra excitement!

If you would like to come along and spend this weekend with me then why not take a look at the Arena Travel Web site.

Read More

Finishing Techniques For Handknitters

My first book - Finishing Techniques For Handknitters - was first published in 2003 and has been reprinted ever since, however this title is now out of print and according to the publishers there are no plans to republish it.

The book is currently for sale at ridiculously high prices (£248 being the highest price I have seen so far!), but you can still get used copies on line for relatively cheap prices if you are prepared to hunt around.

The book was first published in the US under the title 'All Stitched up' and there are new copies of this book available at the recommended retail price should you be prepared to hunt around for it - although the price appears to fluctuate quite alot - of course second hand copies are cheaper! The US version is EXACTLY the same as in the UK it simply has a different title!

Read More

Knitting Tours

Exciting News!

Debbie Abrahams and myself have been asked to tutor a range of exciting tours aimed at knitters and the destinations include Stockholm, the Shetland Islands, Tuscany and Marrakesh. Debbie and I are really chuffed to have been invited to accompany and tutor on these exciting tours which are arranged by travel company Arena Travel and have the added bonus of a holiday guide throughout.

The tours are aimed at knitters who wish to visit these amazing locations accompanied by like minded people with the added bonus of some knitting workshops within the itinerary. For more information take a look at the Arena Web site.

Read More

Crochet Flowers @ Charleston House

On Saturday I tutored a crochet workshop at the amazing Charleston house in Lewes.
I felt extremely privileged to be invited along to take this workshop and was luckier still to be given access to the house kitchen for the day - a room usually out of bounds to visitors.

Within the incredible setting of the house kitchen, surrounded by Quentin Bell's pieces of pottery and Vanessa Bell's beautifully painted furniture, the workshop participants - many of whom had never crocheted before - set about producing their own crochet flowers. By the end of the day many of them had made their own floral design which they could take home and make into a corsage or use to embellish something else.

Charleston run many lovely workshops and events including the Charleston Festival which is an annual literary event which takes place over a 10 day period at the end of May. Now in its 22nd year, the festival takes place in a traditional marquee in the beautiful grounds of the farmhouse garden and regularly attracts a stimulating array of writers, performers, politicians and thinkers, both high profile and up and coming, national and international.

For more information about the house, to check out visiting times and see the list of inspirational workshops, take a look at the web site.

Read More

The Crochet Club

Members of my exclusive Crochet Club are now half way through their project and have tackled the techniques of beading and colour work and through the exclusive on line blog have been given some handy hints and techniques.
If you are not a club member this year and would like to be offered the chance to do the project in 2012 you can register your details on my web site, by following the link then clicking on 'registration form' at the bottom of the page.
There is also a Ravelry group that you may want to take a look at.

Read More