Blogging removal day!

Having finally got round to upgrading, I now have the shiny new function of a blog right there on my website. So a little bit of web-based tidying up is called for... and this poor neglected blog spot is on the move, to my lovely, bright, clean and streamlined website.
For more inspirational pictures, the design ideas behind the products and the occasional bit of new techniquery, please visit
http://www.calknits.co.uk/blog
where you will find all kinds of lovely stuff.
Thanks for looking,
Cal x

New Cable Cushion Design - just in time for Christmas!

As promised, the photos from yesterday's shoot...

 I've decided to call it the Heirloom Cushion. Partly because it's rather grand, what with all the twirls and twists of the design, partly because at 20" square and using 4 x 100g balls of aran wool this is a dense and meaty knit that you'll want to give to someone who'll really appreciate it! And whilst it is perfectly possible to knit it up in front of the TV (or even in a darkened cinema, once you've got the pattern repeat fixed in your head), there have been a number of times when I've had to undo a row or two... It's a kind of semi-concentrating knit if you're confident on cables; a pretty full on knit if this is your first time. Needless to say Michelle has also finished her version, which looks stunning in the cobalt blue, with little gold flecks running through it.
My version is in the rich autumnal shade of "Damson", which I think works really well. Other colours that I think would work well are Ochre, Autumn and Russet (the colours used in the "Rich Brown" Blaze cushion), and Sandstone and Pebble in the natural undyed wool.
I've a few tweaks to make to the written pattern, and then I'll be ready to go into production as a kit. This monster will be available for £45, including 4 balls of wool, 3 (yes, 3) sets of needles, 20" cushion pad, sewing up needle, 5 wooden buttons and the pattern, and including free postage and packaging. I
will  be taking orders from November 30th, which gives me time to get the kits to you well before Christmas. Now who do you know who would like a project like this for Christmas?....

And Blaze too!

Remember this one?
Now also available on Ravelry
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blaze-cushion
as well, of course, as in a complete kit form at www.calknits.co.uk

And just a teaser, but I've finally finished the new cable cushion design. Photo shoot today in the murk of a dull afternoon, but after a bit of editing the finished shots will appear here tomorrow, with the kit available to order in time for Christmas!

Clementini available on Ravelry!

Remember Clementini?

Well, should you fancy a zip of colour during these dark days, the pattern is now available to purchase on Ravelry.
In case you've never visited, www.ravelry.com is like the world's biggest knitting shop, online, and full of really friendly customers. Kind of Facebook for knitters. I've been meaning to put a few patterns on there for a while, and have finally sat down and gone through the process, which is surprisingly easy. Watch this space for more additions...

It's a great way to buy patterns, as you can select what you fancy and pay via PayPal, then the download is stored on your computer until you want to print it off.
Don't forget, though, that you can still buy Clementini as a complete kit, with the wool, cushion pad, needles and zip, as well as the pattern, through my website www.calknits.co.uk , with free delivery to whatever address you choose, making it an ideal gift or holiday project!

Never too hot to knit?

The Poolside Knitting Table (note obligatory gin!)

Because let's face it, the last week in Portugal has been a bit of a scorcher. But having a beautiful pool on hand to cool down, and a week of serious relaxing without any pressure to do hectic sightseeing, it looks like the next CalKnits project is well underway.

Introducing Michelle - cause of the first ever CalKnits kit (the Textured Stripe Cushion).
Now two years on Michelle wants a cable knit cushion, in blue, so it was game on, time to get the charts out...

On the design brief; lots of texture, traditional pattern formation, interesting stitches, but "doable" for a beginner cabler. In my mind, an envelope style knitted all in one (to minimise sewing up), beginning and ending in 2x2 rib with a buttonhole overlap, so that the front of the cushion has a full aran panel, and the back has a row of buttons about a third of the way down (or the front, because let's face it, it's Michelle's cushion and she can have it whichever way round she wants!)

And the problems so far: getting a 2x2 rib to merge nicely into the vertical lines of the cable design, given that the cable panel needs 10 extra stitches to make the right width; finding a way of getting the pattern repeats to fit in to an overall repeating pattern so that the chart doesn't have to be gazillions of rows long, and keeping on top of the maths on what is meant, after all, to be a holiday, with all of the obligatory holiday distractions (pool, kids in pool, lots of food, more pool, and gin - hic!)

Anyway, almost there, and whilst I'm sure there will be a few hiccups before the pattern is fully written up, here's a sneak preview of the design so far. As you can see I'm working it in a rather beautiful browny purple shade called "Damson", which is 90% wool / 10% silk (all those little flecks), and just goes to show that if the patterns are bold enough they show up well even in a darker coloured yarn. It combines trinity stitch (all those little bobbles to either side), plain cables, diagonally travelling stitch, moss stitch, and a really rather pleasing stocking stitch / moss stitch combo I found in Lesley Stanfield's Knitting Stitch Manual as the centre piece.

The finished cushion will be slightly bigger than the other CalKnits designs; a snuggly 20 inches square to give enough room for all the patterns.

Spot the wooden knitting needles - which successfully passed through hand luggage enabling me to keep knitting on the plane. Unlike my metal cable needle, which I packed into hold luggage just to be on the safe side, leaving a serious space for improvisation in working cables whilst airborne. And I can now state with some authority that the inner of a ballpoint pen is not very good at all, and a hairgrip is just about workable, but only just! So a set of wooden cable needles is high on my priority list for future high altitude excursions! 

Love is in the air...

"Valentines Day is for amateurs" I quoted confidently from the Sunday papers. "So we don't need to bother, what with being married for 20 years and all that". Other Half grunted, leaving me secure in the knowledge that there was no need for a frantic race around the local shop looking for suitable card / gift.
So when Other Half left for work this morning at silly o'clock I didn't take much notice, and it was only a couple of hours later when I finally woke up properly that I found the huge heart shaped box of chocs on the side of the bed...
Whoops. Now, I could have just let it lie, scoffed all the chocs (or even saved them for this evening and shared them out) and stuck to my principles. But guilt is a funny thing, and by this afternoon I had my answer.

So two scrummy bottles of locally brewed beer, a bit of spare aran weight wool and a quick spot of intarsia and Hey Presto! Valentine Beer bottle warmers!
They are quick and easy to knit up (took me about 40 minutes each), a doddle to make up and cute enough to bring a grin to the most macho of fellas. And they work on wine bottles too...

So I thought I'd post the pattern for free, as they are an ideal use for any spare New Lanark yarn knocking about after you've made one of my CalKnits cushions. I used New Natural and Damson, but the colour combinations are endless.

Valentines Bottle Warmer

Using 5mm needles and aran weight wool cast on 35 sts. Work 4 rows of 1x1 rib, then continue in stocking stitch using the chart below. Work 4 more rows of 1x1 rib, and cast off in rib.

Sew in ends, and sew sides together using mattress stitch. Pop over the bottle of your choice, and present to loved one. Bask in their admiration and gratitude.
N.B. For helpful tips and video links on intarsia knitting go to www.calknits.co.uk/help-and-support

...as featured in Knit Now!

Issue 16 of Knit Now magazine (in shops now) has a pattern for a cushion (what else?!) by yours truly. Called "Renwick", it features a simple cable design in two colours, with a twisted cord edging for extra opulence....

Very strange seeing my own design in a magazine! It uses 2 balls of New Lanark aran in damson and ochre.
Knit Now is a cracking magazine with some lovely designs, and run by lovely friendly people, so my first experience of submitting a design has been completely enjoyable from start to finish.