DEC 31 NEW YEAR KNITTING RESOLUTIONS!

Well this is the plan…..

DE CLUTTER & ECONOMISE! – That is I must not start a new project till I have finished the last one!!!

This way I will always have the correct needles to hand; as one won’t always be stuck in an unfinished bit of knitting and I won’t have to go and buy new ones!

BE ORGANISED -Plan my gifts well in advance, not knitting through a very long and well intentioned list of last minute hats, scarves, socks, sweaters and pom poms ON Xmas eve, while wrapping presents, decorating tree, cancelling friends and missing out on drinky-poo get togethers and general merriment!

SO check here for 'planning ahead' new baby gifts, pals birthday pressy ideas, Mothers day specials and Easter offerings. Berate me loudly if I break this one!!!

GET MORE EXERCISE, a usual New Year cry, but mine is to get off my fat bum and walk over to the table and measure my knitting project properly on a flat surface and not to bite the yarn off with my teeth as I cant be bothered to get up to find the scissors.

ps I Could write a book on the short cuts and excuses I find to remain tethered to the couch!

Oh! And on that note! NOT to be seduced by the cosy Slouchs, this years ultimate Xmas gift, basically a sofa throw with sleeves so I can carry on knitting!]

Am returning this gift!!

QUICK KNIT GIFT, ONE NIGHT, ONE BALL OF YARN

Even Bella can do it!!!

Quick to knit! Knit it tonight, One ball of Big wool [Rowan] and Big needles.

Great last minute gift!

www.erikaknight.co.uk

DUVET DAYS

Not sure why I am thinking about blankets today! Pause for hilarity! Only minus 4 outside and we don't do snow in Brighton, Maybe post traumatic trip from yorkshire last night, cold slow and dark! So got to thinking that if we got everyone knitting on the train, and believe me theres time on each trip at the moment, we each knitted a square, not only will we keep warm, and occupied, we can produce about 20 cosy blankets per trip....... to be handed out to hapless returning commuters as we disembark?

Or else stay home and knit!!!!!! Cosy up and knit cushions, socks, hats, scarfs, and throws to comfort, cossett and caress our little frozen selves.

TOASTED HANDS & TEA

Have been waiting for the weather to turn to be able to justify wearing these mittens at long last! However with utility prices soaring fear will be wearing them a lot more!

Gonna have to make another pair, probably in my other fave colour, 'somethin' else' from my 'jazz colours' collection for Regia.

http://www.erikaknight.co.uk/yarns_details.aspx?ProductID=656

HERE'S ONE I MADE EARLIER!

A variation on a theme..... 'Kirstie box' in parcel string, cheap as chips to make, make it in an evening and fill with goodies.... especially thrifty and thoughtful giftbox ....download the pattern for free on the website. http://www.erikaknight.co.uk/patterns.aspx

AS ADMIRED BY MS ALLSOP

This is the crochet necklace that I am wearing and admired by Kirstie on 'Kirsties Handmade Home". It's made in natural hemp, which i love as it is so matt, but works in any yarn or fibre , sooooooooo simple to make in basic crochet motifs adorned with diamantes and tied with satin ribbon. Make in black on black for seasonal Gothic fabulousness.

Pattern available on website www.erikaknight.co.uk

CROCHETING WITH KIRSTIE

Kirstie returns to our TV's on Tuesday 2nd November for the third series of Channel 4's popular "Kirsties Handmade Home".

It was great to be invited to teach Kirstie to crochet in this the first programme.

So way back last December while Kirstie was in the midst of filming her 'Kirsties Homemade Christmas' shows, Sally and I adorned a top room at the Paradise Pub in Kensal Green, [fab gastro pub] to look like my studio. In practise that meant re-creating yarn covering and hanging from every conceivable corner, surface and crevice. This we did with great aplomb the final effect is not dissimilar to Miss Havisham in a creative frenzy. [So obviously felt immediately more at home.]

The programme project is a crochet box or container, made in inexpensive and readily available string.The stitch is basic double crochet and we cover, holding the hook, [Kirstie is left handed] and the yarn, making a slip knot, making a chain, and double crochet stitch. Turning chains and a little technique as we go and finally fastening off!

Much chat, coffee, delightful gossiping and witty banter is enjoyed along the way, as one can imagine, and the segment is soon 'wrapped,' as the 'twittering' Ms Allsop, [and I mean that in its most current vernacular form], rushes off to bedeck Christmas trees in Oxford Street and leaves us to untangle our hooks and hanks!

Kirstie is creative and dextrous and skilfully mastered the basics of crochet.

The finished project she made is a small box or container, made of five squares of double crochet, finished with an edge of contrast colour. A perfect and practical house gift, to fill with stylish little kitchen aids, a teacloth, scourer, wooden spoon, candles etc, a house plant, or make a shallow tray for the bathroom for sponges, soaps, and oils as a relaxing gift for the house-moving weary.

Experiment with all sorts of fibres, yarns and fabrics- that's the beauty of crochet, so versatile, you can crochet with almost any continuous thread!

Watch this space for more ideas...and check out Kirstie's at

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/kirstie-s-homemade-home/