Jen Arnall-Culliford Knitwear

Sweet Shawlettes Winner!

There were 30 eligible comments on the Sweet Shawlettes blog post, and the random number generator has picked 13, which was Rose. Rose said:

Because Spring is just around the corner, my first project would be Garland with lovely spring-colored flowers. It just is so fun looking and could dress up a plain top to be so much fun.

Thank you for the fun giveaway.

I'm emailing you now Rose, so if it doesn't show up, then check your spam filter. Congratulations!

In other news, I have started to do a bit of knitting again, and I've made some progress with my Penumbra cowl. It's coming along nicely, isn't it?

Sweet Shawlettes Blog Tour

I am thrilled to be able to kick off the World Blog Tour for Jean Moss's latest book, Sweet Shawlettes (Amazon link). Jean Moss will be familiar to many of you as she often designs for Rowan and has been published in The Knitter and Vogue Knitting (aka Designer Knitting in Europe) as well as writing her own books. She has also worked for some seriously impressive international fashion houses, including Ralph Lauren, Laura Ashley and Benetton, and her eye for knitwear is really evident in her work.

I first worked with Jean when I was technical editor on The Knitter, and her methodical pattern writing style has always stood out for me. The combination of artistic design flair and an ability to write clear, conscise and accurate knitting pattern instructions isn't actually that common. On being approached to join the blog book tour, I jumped at the chance to see what she's been up to lately!

Sweet Shawlettes is a collection of 25 patterns for a variety of accessories that can be worn around the neck-shoulder area. They are collected into four themed chapters - Country, Couture, Folk and Vintage. You can see the full gallery of projects on Jean's website, or if you are a member of Ravelry, there are many images on the pattern pages there.

I couldn't resist casting on something from the book, and after much deliberation, I went for Penumbra. This is a cowl with a garter stitch shadow motif. When you look at it in certain directions you can see zigzags. I've seen this techique before, but never tried it myself, so I nipped down to Marmalade Yarns to find the perfect materials. I'm notoriously bad at putting colours together on my own, so Maxine lent a hand, and in the end we went for Rooster Almerino DK in a lovely purple (Grape 204) and green (Gooseberry 207) combination (this was a close winner over two shades of teal blue... I already have a few teal neck items, so decided a change was needed!). I had to fiddle with my camera somewhat to capture the right shade of purple - it's quite a pinky shade, rather than blue-purple. I love it!

I've cast on and had hoped to have a finished cowl to show you today, but I've still got some numbness in my index finger, so I'm trying not to knit too much. :( It won't take me long to complete once I'm back up to speed, so do pop back to see the finished pictures sometime next week. In the meantime, here's a picture of my progress: 

I love how the garter ridges pop out in this yarn (as they do in the black and white shades of Rowan Wool Cotton used in the book). Here's how it will look once it's finished:

Penumbra Cowl © Taunton Press

The pattern instructions are very clear and there is a great section of techniques at the back of the book if there is anything with which you aren't familiar. The book uses US knitting and crochet terminology, but translations and explanations are given at the back and page numbers in the text point you to the relevant section. All measurements are given in both metric and imperial throughout the pattern instructions, which is really helpful if you're a die-hard user of one or the other.

The charts are all presented at a good size for ease of reading, and the colourwork charts are given in full colour. I find it much easier to work from coloured colourwork charts, rather than from symbols representing colours. The only potential disadvantage is that if you like to copy charts to work from them, you will need to use a colour photocopier, since there's unlikely to be enough contrast to read from a black and white version.

Each shawlette includes a  very clear schematic showing its flat shape and the dimensions, along with any salient features, like direction of knitting or position for slits and embellishments. This is a really helpful addition to the book, and one that is often omitted for accessories.

So that's my technical editor take on Sweet Shawlettes. I'm really enjoying making Penumbra - you can see more about my project on my Ravelry page here: JenACKnitwear's Clever Shadow Cowl 

The blog tour continues tomorrow over at the utterly delightful Needled blog with Kate Davies, so do stop by to read her interview then (I've seen the questions and will be reading with interest for the answers!). The remaining dates on the tour are all at the bottom of this post, so do drop in and sample the wonderful range of stops on the way (seriously, look at the lineup! It's fabulous!).

As well as sending me a review copy, Taunton Press have kindly donated a copy of Sweet Shawlettes to give away to one of my lucky readers. All you have to do if you would like to win a copy, is to visit the project gallery on Jean's website, and decide which accessory you would like to cast on first. Come back here and leave a comment on this blog post telling me about your choice. The winner will be chosen at random from all valid comments (if you don't pick a project then I won't include you in the draw). Please only leave one comment. If you post more than one comment I will delete the extras and they will not be included in the draw. Taunton Press will be sending out the book, so please make sure that you leave your email address in the email address field so that I can contact you if you win (it won't be published, and only I can see it). The only prize is a copy of Sweet Shawlettes by Jean Moss (no alternatives are available). The comments will remain open for 7 days and the winner will be announced on Thursday 15th March, so come back and see if you were the lucky reader!

Sweet Shawlettes World Blog Tour Itinerary

 Thurs 8 March: Needled  (Kate Davies)

Fri 9 March: Rock and Purl (Ruth Garcia-Alcantud)

Sat 10 March: Woolly Wormhead

Mon 12 March: Yarnscape  (Alison Barker)

Wed 14 March: Joli House  (Amanda France)

Thurs 15 March: This Is Knit

Fri 16 March: The Knitting Institute (Knitting Magazine)

Sat 17 March: Life’n Knitting  (Carla Meijsen)

Sun 18 March: ConnieLene (ConnieLene Johnston)

Mon 19 March: Just Call Me Ruby  (Susan Crawford)

Tues 20 March: Tiny Owl Knits  (Stephanie Dosen)

Wed 21 March: Ulla-Bella  (Anita Tørmoen)

 

Winner! Knit Real Shetland

There were 71 comments on the giveaway post, and the random number generator has decreed that the winner is number 70.

That's you, Rachel Atkinson! Congratulations!! I'll be in touch to sort out sending the book to you. I hope you'll enjoy knitting from it.

This was Rachel's comment: "The colourwork in the Wool Brokers socks is just stunning and the Madeira Shawl looks traditional yet modern. It's a beautiful collection of patterns and must have been a great project to work on. Congratulations Jen :)"

If you are disappointed not to have won, then don't forget that you can purchase the print book from Jamieson & Smith, and there is also an e-book option available as well. Many thanks J&S for offering the book for a giveaway.

I'll be back with a new post once I've finished sewing 19m of binding onto placemats and coasters for a craft fair tomorrow. Eek!

Giveaway! Knit Real Shetland

Have you seen a copy of Knit Real Shetland yet? It is the first ever book from the yarn company, Jamieson & Smith and they have kindly given me a print copy to give away to one of you lovely blog readers. I worked as the book's Technical Editor earlier in the year, and was particularly excited to have the opportunity to edit patterns for some of my favourite designers.

The book contains 15 patterns (Ravelry link), broken down into 6 garments and 9 accessories. There are beautiful traditional shawl designs from Mary Kay and Joyce Ward (detail of Madeira Lace Shawl shown below).

As you would expect, there are some fabulous Fair Isle designs, including a gloves and hat set from Mary Jane Mucklestone, and a pretty tea cosy featuring little tea pots, from Masami Yokoyama (shown below).

One of the stand-out pieces in the collection is a fabulously colourful wave motif cardigan designed by Toshiyuki Shimada and Grace Williamson. And as if that weren't enough, there are the twisted stitch mittens by Jared Flood, and a fantastic twisted stitch hat by Woolly Wormhead (see below). I plan to knit this hat to match my Feathercrest Mittens - I think that the two designs will complement each other nicely.

So, if you would like to get your hands on a copy of the book, simply leave a comment on this blog post, telling me which is your favourite design, and why (you can see all of the designs on Ravelry here). One winner will be drawn at random from all of the comments on this post, and comments will close one week today. Only one entry per person please.

If you can't wait to see whether you have won, then you can order your own copy of the book (in print or in digital forms), directly from Jamieson and Smith, where it costs £20.00 plus P&P in print or £14.99 in pdf format.

Vintage Inspired Projects winner is...

There were 42 comments on the Vintage Inspired Projects post, and the random number generator has chosen number 36.

That's you, Knittaroo! Congratulations! I will contact you by email to get your address. I hope that you will enjoy both the book and the yarn.

If you weren't lucky enough to win the book, then you might like to order it from Sarah's website: Vintage Inspired Projects by Sarah Hatton, where it costs £7.95.

Happy knitting!

Sarah Hatton Knits Vintage Inspired Projects Giveaway!

One of the best things about doing shows is being able to catch up with colleagues. Working from home is great, but it is strange to work so closely with people and to rarely see them. At the Knitting and Stitching Show at the start of the month, it was brilliant to be able to spend some time with Sarah Hatton. I may have mentioned previously that we are knitting partners in crime who giggle far too much, so it was great to be able to giggle together in person!

Sarah brough me a copy of her latest book, Vintage Inspired Projects. I helped her out with the technical editing of the collection, and consequently fell in love with the designs... The first one I would like to cast on is the Edith Shawl (which uses just 2 balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze).

© S Hatton/D Brant

The Lily Shrug would be perfect for keeping your shoulders warm over a dress once we are into the party season...

© S Hatton/D Brant

And if you would rather a cardigan that's perfect to wear over lots of different outfits, then how about the Flutterby Cardigan? I think this would be one of those go-to garments in your wardrobe. The type that you rarely take off!

© S Hatton/D Brant

So are you tempted by some of those designs? I certainly am!! Sarah was kind enough to give me a copy of the book to giveaway to one lucky blog reader. We've paired it up with two balls of Rowan's Fine Lace yarn, which is enough to knit the Aphrodite shrug or the Edith Shawl. If you would like to win this lovely prize, simply leave a comment on this post (one per person please), and I will choose the winner at random. The comments will stay open for 7 days from time of posting this, and I will announce the winner after that.

If you can't wait to win a copy, then you can purchase the book from Sarah's website here: Vintage Inspired Projects where it costs £7.95 plus P&P.

And as if all this work wasn't enough... A Stitch in Time 2 arrives next week!