The Bath Crafting Cranny

More knitting in the news...

I wonder if we could introduce this here to help combat crime..??

Knitting in the news

Other reasons why I miss the North...

One-A-Day snack bag

If, like me, you've been trying to eat well and fend off the start of those wintery sniffles - you might like this One-A-Day bag...something to drool over whilst you're pretending that your apple snack is a sticky bun...

 

Rosie Flo delights

It's nice to see that Rosie Flo colouring books are getting a good plug! I love her new book 'Rosie Flo's Kitchen' - parts of the book are printed on special see-through baking-style paper, how lovely!!

I go to a Publishing meeting on the first Tuesday of every month in the Raven - and the writer of Rosie Flo, Roz, and her partner come along too. She tells me that her children used to ask her to draw clothes so they could fill out the other details, like the faces...and the idea grew from there... 

The full range is here, and the stockists in the SW are here. Go and buy some...your children will thank you...and, if you're lucky, they might let you colour one in!

Knitting poetry!

What Happens When We Wind!

There's nothing wrong about the wool
When first it is untied;
The strands are lying evenly
And neatly, side by side.

But you should see what happens when
We start to wind that wool!
It gets in knots that won't come out,
No matter how we pull!

It keeps on slipping off our hands;
It tangles left and right;
And long before we're half-way through
It's in a dreadful plight!

The ball jumps down to find the cat,
And then it wanders round
And ties itself to table legs,
And things upon the ground.

And while we're looking for the ball,
Our Mother says, 'Oh dear!'
'You've got it in an awful mess!
'You'd better bring it here.'

[Hat tip to the V&A; check out their list of 1940s patterns while you're there - love the Fatigue Cap..!]

Pins making pins

This is amazing! Rather her than me though....(ow!)

Science paper of a different kind

Ooo, this appeals to the scientist in me so much that I fear I might have to strip the paper off our newly-decorated spare room and re-paper with it. But would it reduce the number of our guests willing to stay??  

Oh blimey!

Hehehe!

Knitting, nappies and poo :)

Alison Blenkinsop recently got in touch wih some interesting and unusual knitted crafts. She helps mums with breastfeeding and have found a knitted breast is ideal for explaining attachment and hand expression. 

 

She has also designed and knitted a set of nappies with splodges in various colours to represent the baby's first five days of feeding, to show mums how the poo changes - and also to make them laugh!

 

She's mentioned these items in a fun book about breastfeeding called 'Fit to Bust', which was written to raise awareness of the importance of breastfeeding, raise funds for Baby Milk Action and raise a laugh. You can get its details here. 

Weird and weirder

A colleague recently had the luck to go to Iceland to attend a conference and spotted this wool shop (left). Nothing untoward here, I suppose. Much like any other yarn shop, said us.

Ah...yes... but here is another angle of the window display (right).

Please note the two-headed lamb. Hmm.

Oh, and the skeleton. Assumingly, that scarf takes a long time to knit...

Keep discovering those hidden gems of crafty wonderfulness

In the crafting world this is certainly holds true, doesn't it?

Speaking of which: check out these lunchboxes for Asda by Emma Smart (left)! (Brought to my attention by the great Design is Mine.)

Cheery Saturday

It's Saturday, it's sunny, I'm making Eirlys' chutney, friends are coming for dinner, I'm planning what I'm going to knit today and I've been browsing and giggling at this site: I love this t-shirt, this one and this one.

It's going to be a good weekend here - hope you have a nice one too!

Christmas crafting inspiration

Sad as it sounds: it is nearly that time of year again...planning and starting your Christmas knits/crafty gift list. The ever increasing list of Xmas Socks To Do. Yikes. Eirlys reminded me that inspiration for crafty gifts can be gleaned from the American Museum's courses (thanks Eirlys!) - don't they look great? I may join up for the 'Knitted Christmas Ornaments with Pauline Bayne' on Saturday 29 November - I'll keep you posted!

Don't forget...

…about the Vintage Fashion and Textiles Fair this Sunday! (Assembly Rooms from 10am-5pm.) Eirlys and I will be there in the afternoon if anyone wants to join us… :0)

A sampler of a different kind...

Oh my! Look at this lovely stitching! Another beautiful combination of art and science...

Ethics and knitting grannies

Last week, a damning Lords report by the Science and Technology Committee strongly criticised the wastefulness of cut-price High Street fashion. The report declared that the growing popularity of stores such as Primark was 'costly and socially unacceptable' since the clothes are now so cheap there was no incentive to repair or recycle them. Wise words. Read more here.

A comment from the Daily Mail's style editor, Liz Jones, is here:

'It would be a start to buy British wherever possible. The once thriving garment industry in the Yorkshire Dales and the Borders is on its knees, with one of the last family-owned mills about to close its doors.

This is because we now all wear wool and cashmere from Mongolia and Australia (oh dear, I could tell you some horror stories about the Australian sheep industry).

Wool from endangered British breeds like the Wensleydale and the Shetland is the best in the world: it lasts for generations (in contrast, ever noticed how that Tu at Sainsbury's sweater goes all bobbly and sprouts holes?) and feels as soft as silk.

The small, ethical Yorkshire fashion company Izzy Lane has just announced it will produce a range of British wool sweaters, each bearing the name of the granny who knitted it in her own home (this was the idea of model Lily Cole; she didn't gain a place at Cambridge for nothing).'

[For once: I agree with the Mail. Wow ;0) ]

My mum, however, has started sweating: "Is this grannism? If so, can I sue? Will I be abducted and forced to work from a care-home? Will they keep us alive with drugs so that we meet the orders of the privileged who can afford home-knitted jumpers? See next week's exciting instalment!"

(Don't worry, Mum, I'll fend them off with my pointy sticks!)

And whilst researching this granny exploitation, I came across this wonderful website (left). Get your christmas knitty orders in as soon as possible! ;0)

 

Travilla: the man who dressed Marilyn Monroe

Oh joy of joys: us peeps in Bath have been being treated to this exhibition at the Fashion Museum and on Saturday I wandered down there with Eirlys. It's on until this Friday (22nd) and, if you haven't been already, we highly recommend it! I'm going to be a nice blogger and not put any details about the outfits up here until the exhibition is over...but watch this space!

Cupcake delights!

It's a grey dreary day outside so I'm making my own sunshine...

Domesticali pointed me in the direction of these cupacakes (left) and it reminded me that I'd seen a cupcake shop on Walcott Street at the weekend from a bus (nose pressed against the glass)...and here it is! I'll be down there first thing on Saturday morning (rather peculiarly it seems that it's currently only open Friday 10am to 3pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm).

And then my Googling fingers took me to Bath's very own Purple Sparkle Crafts - and am now dribbling over her wonderful cupcake candles...mmmmmmm!

Chuckles from over the pond

One of my favourite people moved to Toronto earlier this year and he's just send me this funny photo...

(I think it must relate to this company, which sounds so gratifyingly ethically sound that it makes me smile for a different reason.)

Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair

I recently found these lovely handkerchiefs in Vintage & Vogue (left); I'm not sure why they were commissioned. They seem to have been made by Jacqmar: the renowned British company that produced some of the most sought-after scarves, especially during the Word War II era.

They display carriage, full and afternoon dress images - my favourite is the afternoon dress...isn't it pretty?

I also picked up a leaflet about the 'Vintage Fashion & Textiles Fair' presented by Ashley Hall Fairs. They look great...I'll definitely be going to the next Bath fair (14th Sept)...

No wool though..!

Brilliant!

If knitwear could speak...

I love the sound of this book by Neil Smith...with one of his stories being 'a whimsical piece, "Extremities", told from the perspectives of a pair of gloves'! Brilliant!

Scotland, rocks and jewellery

Three of my favourite things!

(from the book 'Scottish Pebble Jewellery' by Nick Crawford; on sale here.)

...and I thought I was a geek..!

All hail to the knitter who is knitting all of Mario Level 1 into a giant scarf!

Oxfam knitting

Janine Woodward from Oxfam has emailed me looking for some Bath knitting help:

'For every mum, the day her child is born should be the happiest of her life. Yet, in the world’s poorest countries, many mums don’t survive to look after their babies. In the next minute, lack of access to health care will claim the life of another mum. In a year, half a million mums die because of poorly equipped hospitals, or because they can’t afford to pay health care fees.We cannot allow this to continue. Broken promises add up to lives lost.

We’re calling on all knitters everywhere to help spell out in no uncertain terms that enough is enough, that we won’t sit silently while this injustice continues. You can take part, and turn your knitting needles into poverty fighting needles by creating a square for a giant baby blanket – a ‘visual petition’ we’ll hand in to world leaders in September 2008. We’re aiming for 250,000 patches - one for every mum who should have survived pregnancy in the six months to September.

Square size: 9 inches in size
Yarn: any type of yarn is suitable, but preferably double-knitting weight yarn
Colour: all colours (and patterns) are welcome!

It would be great if Bath knitters could help us with this campaign – I’d love to be able to send at least 100 squares towards the petition.'

People should send their knitted squares should be sent to Janine (at: Oxfam Bath, Flat 5, 14 Norfolk Crescent, Bath, BA1 2BE) by the end of August 2008 along with thier name, address and email if they would like to be updated about what Oxfam make with the resulting squares! If we get involved, there may be a photo opportunity for us Bath S'n'B-ers in the press so watch this space...

Snoozy Sunday afternoon

Today I've been catching up at home...first time in weeks...and chilling out with my Titsi socks and Alan Bennett's 'Untold Stories'. Boing Boing bought my attention to this website, Worth1000, which features photoshopping contests.

There was a knitting/crochet contest - some of them are amazing! I particularly like the steak (left) - I think the meat on the needles looks frighteningly real! But I love the knitted iPod (right) as the caption is 'Apple's latest invention is taking the Retirement Homes by storm'. Chortle!

And this has had my chuckling and humming for hours!

A banana cosy - The Rebel Knitter's Guide

Here's a taster of Saturday's upcoming 'The Rebel Knitter's Guide' Guardian supplement - a banana cosy to stop it getting all bruised and battered in your bag..! (I'm not sure what happens if it splits open whilst in this - bleugh!)

Gladly, it's knitted on straight needes...I'm sure this would cause some raised eyebrows if it was knitted in the round?! ;0)

I've been sent some postcards of this pattern - I'll bring them to the next Bath S'n'B meeting!

Summer snowflakes

The cathartic snowflake socks are done! (Hat tip to Helen for that brilliant recommendation!) I am completely in love with them. The yarn was some green-blue gorgeousness picked up with Helen at the IKL day in November last year. I can't believe it's taken me this long to knit with it?!

I've not kept anything that I've knitted - prefering generally to knit things for other people - but I think I'm going to keep these...they hug my feet as if they are saying they want to stay too.

Why I love the Guardian!

I've been notified from someone working for the Guardian that 12 exclusive knitting patterns are being given away in the Guardian on Saturday July 26 in a special supplement, 'The rebel knitter's guide'. The supplement will contain 12 weird, wonderful and useful patterns designed by Mazzamatazz for such wonderful things as iPod covers, socks, fruit cosies, cup holders (for your hot cardboard coffee cups), a scarf, a hat and a bag - among other things! 

They are going to send me some postcards that includes one of the free patterns (a banana cosy) - I'll bring them along to give out at our next meeting...yippeeeeeeee!

**NOTE TO SELF: DO NOT SKIP TO THE NEWSAGENTS FIRST THING ON THE 19TH JULY AND SEARCH EXCITEDLY FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT. YOU WOULD BE A WEEK EARLY - DAMMIT**

Waving my pointy sticks fiercely at life

Hello - I'm back! Popular to contrary belief, I have not been eaten by wool moths, suffocated in my stash o'yarn or got lost on the way back to my new house from the Stitch'n'Bitch meetings...

Now is not the time to go into details of the particulars of my life over the last 3 months - but it does involve: one house-purchase and house-move; one doctoral submission; a poorly parent; one new job; and two kittens amongst other stuff, not all of it good. For much of my life I have travelled around the outermost of it, patting it into shape and tucking in the edges - but the last few months, I've stood very still and life has whirlwinded around me. And I am breathless with the exertion of moving forward. Still, there we have it - sometimes life does us the favour of carrying us forward regardless.

I have been knitting furiously - despite my bloggy-silence and the knitting meetings have cheered me up no end (thanks very much to the cheery core of knitters: Helen; Betsan; Elizabeth (x2) and Peter).

There will be very little new yarn purchasing in the Pollitt household after this new house purchase and my and Helen's glut and 'I Knit London' excitement...I need to put a hole in my stash so I can demonstrate to John that I need more ;0) but there are lots of woolley-wonders balled up and waiting for me...

The two pairs of socks that I started for Andy and Neil's civil partnership were a little late (on return from their honeymoon) but gratefully received - I did apologize for the tardiness and had to explain that I'd been knitting them continuously for 3 months! THREE MONTHS. I forgot how big normal mens' feet are - as my boyf is a human-whippet. The repetitiveness of knitting plain socks has driven me back to my first love - lace - and, with insipiration from Helen, I have found a lovely lace sock pattern to knit with my favourite coloured yarn. And they've kept me a very happy knitter. Here's the pattern from Melanie Knit's blog: Download snowflake_lace_socks.doc

In other non-Bath stitching news, thought you might like this post about a seamstress and a snake. And you'll have all seen this Dr Who outrage, I'm sure...(as a publisher, and someone who should fight to support copyright laws, I should reserve judgement...but the knitter in me can't resist throwing a long, tutting glance in the direction of the BBC).

More brain nattering

Occasionally I watch something on TV that draws me up short...(not often, I might add, which is perhaps why they have such a strong effect on me...).

Last night I watched Storyville: The English Surgeon and was reminded of the fluffy knitted brain. It really was one of the most amazing documentaries that I've ever watched (brought to my attention by the MindHacks website *little nod in their direction*).

It was aired on BBC a while ago (I had it downloaded on my iPlayer) and, sadly, I don't suppose BBC will show it again for a while, prefering to re-run a load of rubbish instead (another documentary that I wish they would re-run was that of Henry Perkins, a touching programme indeed).

Henry Marsh is a neurosurgeon who works at the world-renowned St. George's Hospital, London, and has developed links with a neurosurgeon, Igor Kurilets, in the Ukraine over some decades. This documentary tells of the trips to the struggling Ukraine and work done by Henry (free of charge) with Igor to tackle brain medicine.

Notables from the programme that I thought you might also find food-for-thought were:

• Igor Kurilets struggles against the Ukrainian government - generally, it would seem, because he is successful (he keeps being investigated; they touch on the country's politics and it sounds dubious);
• Brain scans cost only $50-100 but most of the country can't afford this - and, sadly, with neurological problems time is of the essence. Some of the children that he sees have gone blind - their sight could have been saved by a simple scan and a simple operation;
• Henry collects the drill tips from St. George's that are going to thrown away (£80 a pop; 5 used a week) and gives them to Igor (who vows to use them for a decade);
• They browse the Ukrainian markets for tools, rivets and screws for their operations - assessing carefully for quality (although the scene when the drill's batteries start going flat is terrifying - and surely would have been for the patient (who is under only local anaesthetic));
• Igor has neither the skillful team or financial resources to use a general anaesthetic to saw open the skill and then local anaesthetic for the brain op (the patient needs to be awake for the surgeon to minimise damage to surrounding healthy tissue and thereby avoid any paralysis)...so...you guessed it...the patient has to lie awake and listen to them sawing open his own skull; and
• Probably the most moving part of the film was watching the two men discuss the scans of a beautiful 23 year old Ukrainian. She'd been told by some other doctors that she had minor encephalitis from a tick-bite but, in actual fact, she had a inoperable brain tumour and would soon go blind and then only live some 2-3 years after that. The two men spoke amongst themselves in English - she couldn't understand them but listened attentively. They decided that she must bring her mother with her before they could give her the bad news - she must have known when asked to revisit with her mum that this was serious but left the consultancy room with such grace. Igor sits with her later, she asks 3 times if the treatment will be expensive. He gently avoids answering her questions but does reassure her that it won't be expensive and the consultancy was free. They talk casually (he bluffs) about when she should return. "Should I come back soon?", she asks. "Don't leave it too long", he replies.

This programme will stay with me for a long time. Partly, as an amazing story in its own right and, partly, as a stark reminder that - whatever we say about the medical system and all its foibles in the UK - we have it good.

I could do with one of these...

A knitted brain!! Excellent!

Sigh: at the moment, I'm sure my own brain is fuzzier than this one...

Sustainable beauty

Some of the general Jess knitty-silence is due to an imminent house-purchase and move...and all that stuff that comes with it taking up much of my free time...packing boxes, signing lots of bits of paper, etc...

I've had much Google fun looking for fun housey things - inspiration from Design is Mine and her cited links (Another Shade of Grey is one of my faves). There's so much lunchtime fun to be had...and, ahhhh, to be a billi-squillionaire.

Anyhoo, I was particularly taken with this website: Reel Furniture. I can't remember where I first read about it (ooops, Jess = bad blogger; but it will be from Design is Mine and links from her)...I love the Reelfurniture website because it's so understated (the website is undeniably a little clanky and the photos aren't always wonderful quality) and because their vision is so simple, lovely and anything, no matter how big or small, is worth their effort (toothbrush holder; right; sellotape holder, left). Everything they sell is from recycled timber and made by craftsmen who care about the sustainability of timber resources and conserving our forests.

And there's no need to compromise anything on design: this chair (right) is seriously cool and on my wish-list for this summer!

Happy day

Bath is lucky enough to have the Fashion Museum at hand (formerly the Museum of Costume). Much to my chagrin, I've not yet been (only except when they had a teeny tiny bit of their collection open during the refurbishment last year).

So, Mary and I pulled on our big coats (snowing) and shades (sunny; the British weather lived up to all expectations) and popped down to have a gander. Brilliant (£7 but if you're a Bath resident then it's free of charge...bonus!).

In order to whet your appetites: here's a wee peek at a millionth of the vast collection that was available to gaze at.

(1) A white cotton lace dress and moulded leather collar: if there was ever a fashion paradox...here it is (left). Alexander McQueen's concoction: pretty 'field of flowers' charm coupled with a prosthetic-limb type harshness. Whether you ike it or loathe it: it's certainly challenging;

(2) There's a collection of knitwear, including this (right) from knitwear-designer Sarah Dallas. If you're vertically-challenged (me - but, hey, my mum's 4' 11'' so I've done pretty well all things considered), it's not that easy to pour over this bit (I'd like to have had a good ogle) but the written information that is provided is interesting;

(3) There is some wonderful knitted swimwear, like these trunks from 1943 (left). Men wore full body swimming-suits in the 1910s, an increase in the cutting-away of swimming-suits was seen in the the 1920s and 1930s (perhaps due to the increased trend of sunbathing?) and finally, by the 1930s, the wearing of trunks had became fashionable. (we are spared versions of Borat's 'mankini' - phew!); and

(4) There was a wonderful timeline of fashions - splendid dresses that would have let your chest hang out, but as long as ankles were covered then you were considered modest (?!) - and there dresses resplendent in ruffles and frills. We shrieked at this dress (right), which would have meant wearing cane 'panniers' on your hips. Seriously.

Topped off with a potter around the wonderful building and a cuppa tea and sticky bun - t'was a lovely day! Stitches for the soul.

Knitwear made from your pet...

Ooo, I can't work out what I think about this new-story...

Forgotten your needles?

Chris Evan's comeback is fantastic - I love his show - and he even talked about hand-knitting..! :0)

Embroider your own crockery

Ooo, look at this! What a lovely idea! Sadly, the rather 'YIKES' price of £114 (US $223) makes it a little less appealing though...

More knitted teasets

I recently mentioned knitted china - and Bloesen stars some more...this time by Madieke Fleuren. I just love this knitted-style cup and saucer!

Seafarer gifts from landlubbers

The British and International Sailors' Society have launched their Woolly Hat Week 2008. You can download their pattern here and their fundraising pack here. They give them to seafarers to keep warm - many unaccustomed to our ghastly cooler climate.

Stitchlinks: World Knitting and Crafting Day

To celebrate this extra day on 29th February, Stitchlinks members have declared it a World Knitting and Crafting Day. With members in 11 different countries, word is spreading fast - so they want to see how many knitters, stitchers and crafters can link up world wide.

Their aim is to encourage as many people as possible to take time out for themselves. To indulge in some special time without feeling guilty that you have to be somewhere else or doing something else – after all it is an extra day! They’d like to encourage groups to meet up and invite anyone you know who might be lonely or isolated to join in. If you can’t get time off work then why not hold a lunchtime group to get to know new colleagues there?

Stitchlinks has a special 29th February Forum up and running, and open for everyone. So please leave a comment of support, discuss your ideas for the 29th, and on the day itself get together to chat across the globe. Make 29th February a day to kick-start putting a little fun back into everyday life! Let’s see how many people can be inspired!

For more information please contact Betsan Corkhill here.

Belgian knitting!

Our firm have just returned from a wee Jolly in Brussels - and a good time was had by all..! You can see some pics here. I lived in a village just outside Brussels, for some 4 years as a child, so I popped there first to stay with my adopted Granny and help feed the goats and dig up the endives. Lovely to be back...

Mosselen en frites in the wonderful University city of Leuven (right) and an abundance of beers and chocolate...perfect Jess time...

The morning that we were returning to the UK, we stopped at a cafe for a spot of Croque Monsieur and a coffee and I saw a Newsbite on the TV about knitting in a pub (left)! :0)

I did study French for many years but it's all rusted to dust now, I'm afraid. But I think they were saying that people are taking it up to survive the Smoking Ban in Belgian pubs (I'm a little confuddled about the status of the smoking law; some posters implied that it was banned in all public places from 01/01/08 - but we saw little evidence for this being enforced - and some websites imply that it is still allowed in pubs but not in restaurants/work places).

Knitting is a great distraction if you're a fidgeter trying to quit the evil weed (I speak from experience) and there's evidence that it's helped other smokers in the UK.

As an aside, I came across this intriguing article when I was googling this Belgian story and then this hysterical article...bwahaha! Oh the joys of internet browsing....now, I must get back to this freelance editing...sigh!

Chilly chickens

The weather is rubbish. Knitting with metal needles whilst waiting for a bus is now impossible without them freezing to your fingers.

But, imagine if you were a chicken! And a featherless one at that...

Brigitte Hawley from Benenden has been knitting her ex-battery hens little woollies to keep them nice and toastie. You can see the video here!

Last month's knitting merriment

Tuesday's knitting and wine continues to bring winter-cheer.

We met Lisa, who's starting a jumper (and modestly called herself a beginner...I've been knitting for a couple of years and am still working up to The Knitting of a Garment). Good tip from her: use paper-clips as stitch markers! Brilliant!

Helen has, as always, been a busy knitty-bee. She's been working on:

• a preemie bonnet from a 'Simply Knitting' pattern (left above; but from now on knitted without the ties or with the ties sewn on further down - less of a hazard);
• socks from Easy Knit's yum 'plums and custard' yarn (right; but Helen didn't like the Dublin Bay lace so the yarn is frogged, steamed and back on the needles);
• socks with own pattern loosely based on Simple Socks by Lucy Neatby in red Araucania Ranco Solid yarn, using the Magic Loop method (below; there's a good book coming out by Melissa Morgan-Oakes to help us with this Loop of Madness);
• she's made the most wonderful Nancy Bush Mamluke socks out of purple and yellow yarns (reminiscent of above 'plums and custard'). They are just gorgeous - they're blocking now so pics up here shortly...

Jackie's been knitting-busy too! Pudsey (right) is developing fast...two months ago he was just a nose, and now he's nearly fully-grown (except for his insides...)

I've been merrily knitting socks for a secret project (more later) but am a little bogged down with non-knitty matters at the moment (buying a house, yippee; freelancing in the evenings; becoming involved with the local Bath Geological Society; and much winter beer drinking) and still trying to rest my wrist (poor Flibbertygibbet's suffering like I am).

Knit Couture

Henry Conway has been gracing our newpapers and TV quite a bit at the moment! You will remember that his father has been reprimanded and had the party whip withdrawn for paying Henry and younger son Freddy salaries as researchers with little evidence of work done...

BUT, it would appear that he also recently co-wrote a book entitled 'Weardowney Knit Couture'. Amazon tells us that: "Gail Downey and Amy Wear, owners of Weardowney boutique, carved a name for themselves with their innovative range of intricate handknitted garments and couture and by publishing their seasonal Biannual magazine with each London Fashion Week. This imaginative and informative book will surely inspire knitting mavens and fashionistas alike. In addition to providing the reader with an in-depth knowledge to the world of fashion and knitwear, this gorgeous book features more than twenty designs complete with coloured photography and easy-to-follow instructions. Charming illustrations accompany advanced techniques used in the projects. Weardowney invites movement of a beloved craft, maintaining its unique successful qualities whist extending present limits to promote and progress an infinite medium."

Looks great! Although - given how much he was paid to sharpen pencils (allegedly (said in an 'Ian Hislop tone')) I'd rather not hand him any more cash right now..!

Ceramic knitting

The wonderful Design is Mine brought my attention to this (right): 'the collection crochetdream does not consist of soft crochet, as it may seem, but of solid porcelain. In the process of manufacturing the twine disappears and leaves only its cast. Only the spirit of crochet remains as ceramic mantle'! Isn't the collection beautiful: I love the crocheted fruit bowl!

Other knitting-related ceramics are: Alyssa Ettinger Design (left) and the UK's very own Joanna Kay Lewis' knitted seating (below) and ceramic knitting (anyone know of any others?).

 

Stitchlinks volunteers required please!

Betsan of Stitchlinks is asking if anyone would be willing to participate in a knitting research project?

An academic expert in depression, Dr Ulrich von Hecker, and psychology researcher Jeni Brown (of Fyberspates) from Cardiff University have been running a pilot study utilising knitting. They’ve been looking at whether the automatic nature of knitting is pushing out automatic negative thought cycles and rumination. 

Experts in pain management, depression, primary care, dyslexia and education are also interested in Stitchlinks' work and are in regular contact. Future projects are being planned. There is a distinct possibility that, if their theories are correct, knitting and stitching will be recognised as a valuable therapy for a number of conditions.

The pilot study run by Cardiff University only needs some 15 more knitters to complete it. The principal researcher Jeni has agreed to come up to Bath one Saturday to run the final stage of the study in Betsan’s house (with the consent of Cardiff University). Each contributor would be seen individually for ~45 minutes.

I'm definitely going: would anyone else be willing to take part? It’s on the weekend of the 9-10th February and Betsan will provide refreshments on the day! Email me or Betsan if you're interested please!

Happy New Year to one and all!

Another year has passed! A year ago I was still merrily knitting scarves and other rectangular/square shapes... with no hope of anything more tricky and now I can (almost) turn a sock heel whilst watching TV. My knitty-confidence is a lot higher - and that's definitely due to the S'n'B meetings... Thanks guys!

I hope the meetings have been as constructive and cheery for you all too!

I finally finished the Miss Potter mitts from Yarn Forward! It's a really beautiful pattern once you've cracked the editorial glitches. I think these are going to be on my list of favourite knits!

If you'd like to send me some pics of your Xmas knits (given/received) or any woolly gifts I'll post them up!

Knit a sheep!

Another knitting publisher friend (curiously, there seems to be quite a few of knitting logophiles - I wonder why that should be??) brought my attention to these chaps at the Little Experience.

I like the Knit-it Sheep Kit the most. Shear a sheep, to knit a sheep...brilliant! It's got the whole chicken and egg feel about it..!

Spinning cheer

The bad news is that I have another cold - blimey. So, it's back to the hankies and Lemsip. This is quite ridiculous - roll on Christmas - this is my third month of various plague attacks.

The FABULOUS news is that I am getting a spinning wheel for Christmas from my lovely parents! I'm literally bobbing up and down with glee. For a rather clumsy, left-handed person with a propensity to RSI this could prove a disaster - but I remain ever optimistic.

Fiona's been helpful, as always, and helped me with all the initial considerations that I need to make and I've been browsing the complete set of beautiful Ashford wheels. Aren't they beautiful?

My mum, bless her, has been researching it too apparently (and she's about as interested in knitting/spinning as a biro) - and she likes the beautiful, traditional-looking Ashford 'Fairytale' wheel (right). I do too, but I need to think about other requirements too:

• Space: I still need to leave space for my sewing-machine, table on which to cut fabric, vast hoards of wool and all my other wonders (known by some as 'junk')...;
• Looks: it's important to cherish what you work with, isn't it? I love the look of the Fairytale and Ladybug spinning wheels but am not so in love with, for example, the Chair Timbertops wheel. Not really sure why not, but there we have it;
• Cost: a factor here (but many of them are around the same price in the UK).
• I seem to easily discombobulate those pesky limb tendons, if I use them more than once an eon, so it's probably best to have a double treadle so I can alternate legs;
• on a related note, I might choose to spin left-handedly...in which case I need the orifice to be in the centre; and
• I don't drive/own a car so I need to be able to carry it around easily if I want to take it outside the house, e.g. Spinning Guilds.

So, I think it's a choice between the easily-portable Ashford 'Joy' model with it's rucksac (right; also owned by Amy Singer of Knitty: so I can glean some tips from her) and the charming and lightweight Schacht Ladybug spinning wheel (top left; which has also just been purchased by Amy!). Both available from the Guildford stockist Fibrecrafts (but there is, somewhat predictably, a waiting list for the latter already!). 

Chris' FAQ website on spinning wheels and her related Spindizzy site were helpful. I found some information on a shop called 'Spinning Weal' on the latter site. Spinning Weal is a new shop in Clevedon, Bristol - opened in May 2007 - that stocks Ashford wheels and look like they'll be able to help me. And, as a bonus, we'll be able to stop in the reportedly-wonderful Tyntesfield on the way!

I've been using this useful U.S. website too. And, if my eyes weren't big enough with excitement already - I've just realised there's a whole section of Knitty donated to spinning. Bounce, grin, bounce.

Independent traders and independent women

The following blurb is from the front of last week's Guardian's Shopping Directory:

'Identikit high streets packed with mighty brands and virtual shopping malls where all it takes is a mouse and a credit card to avoid the Christmas rushes and surly service - or indeed, any service at all.

The small shops, stocked and run with passion, commitment and specialist knowledge, are still there - but there numbers are dwindling and their squeaky voices are ever harder to hear amid the cacophony of the big-bucks corporate advertising...'

The directory aims to help, with concise listings organized alphabetically by region.

There are a few more I would have added: namely bookshops like 'Topping & Co.'; there are countless more independent gift shops in Bath than 'Hansel und Gretel' and 'Rossiters'; 'Country Threads', at least, in the Arts and Crafts section.

Tanis Taylor writes an very interesting article introducing the Arts and Crafts section: 'is craft a radical re-evaluation of women's skills or is it a slap in the face of feminism'? I've kept my head very much down over the 'Yarnstorm' media scandal earlier this year (sparked by this appalling article in the Telegraph: look at the number of comments to see some fine British outrage. Liz Hunt can now be added to the list of authors that make me froth (but Rosie Millard will always be top: for 2 counts)).

I watched the whole Brocketgate thing develop with increasing feelings of both mild despair and bemusement. I'm with Taylor very much on this: I don't see the increasing number of crafting, domesticated women will lead to the demise of the independent, strong woman. The key argument here is surely that we have the choice - crafting of any sort is not a necessity for British women anymore. We are not forced to sit quietly doing needlework - forgoing education and a career. Yes, Yarnstorm's life does seem idyllic and delightfully simple - but we all know that this cannot be her true life - her blog is simply her portrayal of her private life to the public: to give us all a little gloss, peace and beauty in a sometimes hectic and grey world.

The main accusation leveled at Yarnstorm by Liz is that she incites guilt amongst her readers. Really? I can't imagine any women feel that their crafting lives are pressured upon them; that it is some kind of competition or carry shame about the jumper that took 14 years to complete. Of course, there must be times when we all look at someone else's work and wish we had the time/inspiration/money to make such wonders - wee pangs of envy, perhaps, but surely never obligation? What do other people think?

Here's a sneak preview of Taylor's mentioned upcoming U.S. documentary 'Handmade Nation' (I wonder if it will come to the UK? Or if there will be a simlar UK-based programme?):