Confession time...

As a knitwear designer people always assume that I make everything I wear, the faith people have in my ability to create anything from socks to coats is frankly alarming... This is not even a little bit true anymore. Up until I left Uni/ got ejected into the real world I did make quite a lot of clothes (all tailored I might add- not a bit of knitwear!). But since then I just haven't had the time. This means that I have never actually sat down and knitted something just for myself- sure I steal the samples from work regularly but theft does not count!

Then two things happened- I wrote a book (coming out feb 2013) which meant I had to learn all about yarns available for everyone to buy internationally- very different (and very expensive) in comparison to the yarns I usually buy direct from the mills, Some of these I discovered are particularly yummy. The second thing is that I finally have a bit more time in my week....or at least I thought...

So I decided I wanted a good lazy sweater that felt cosy but doesn't make me look like a bag lady. I measured the dilapidated version I stole from my husband (definitely erring on the bag lady look) and worked out my stitches and rows. In contrast to the work patterns I write I'm now basically making the rest up as I go along. I've done the front and half of the back and I'm using decreasing and increasing to create a random pattern as I go.

I should say that I did start this in March so it's taking forever but I'm determined to finish before my cousins wedding in 3 weeks (I always was ambitious) anyway I'm attaching some snaps so I'll let you all know when it's done (don't hold your breath) - It also currently looks like a dishcloth but as knitters everywhere know- all knitting looks like this at this point!

 

I'm knitting this on 4mm needles using Patons Merino DK- yummy!

Red, White & Blue Jubilee Cushions Now Available Online!

The lovely one-off cushions we designed and made for the Woolmark www.wool.com Blackfriars bridge decorations (for the Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant) are now available to buy online http://www.ruthcross.com/acatalog/copy_of_Ruth_Cross_Knits_Available_For_Immediate_Shipping.html
so snap yours up before they're all gone!

Introducing Bertie- a vital team member?

I almost forgot to introduce Bertie.
Absolutely vital to inspiration and efficiency (a likely story as my Dad would say) is Bertie- possibly the worlds most charming/ naughty dog in history. With no respect for knitting whatsoever, but immaculate comic timing he keeps us all thoroughly entertained!

This was a sample made for a big installation in Madrid last year- one minute it's a 1m wide knitted spiral wing prototype- then in the space it takes to answer an e-mail I turn round and hey presto it's Bertie's new favourite place...... still with those eyes what can you do? And yes- he is fully grown....

Introducing My Studio

I work in a studio in a gorgeous building in the centre of Salisbury- there are 4 different creative businesses here all busy working away (in between coffee and chatting) producing everything from interior design to film to textile art to amazing jewellery! I'll write about everyone in turn but for today I thought I'd upload a few pictures of where the chaos/ magic happens for me- on a good day....

This is our lovely building - although you can't see how tall it is from this- I'm at the top on the 3rd floor! I don't have an open studio but if you're in the area you should definitely pop in to the jewellery gallery on the ground floor run by fellow resident Helen Noakes http://www.75newstreetsalisbury.com/ 

These are a few snaps of my room which is packed full of yarns, winders, books and everything else you could possibly need for knitting!

Winter Knits in Summer

One of the more bizarre jobs I do as part of Ruth Cross is design super cosy warming knits in the middle of summer- one year was so hot there was literally a point where I was knitting a sample blanket in a bikini top and shorts- the bigger it got the more I was covered and boiling!
Obviously this year is less odd (fingers still crossed for some sort of tan at some point?) but I have been working away at yummy new things for winter. I'm particularly proud of my new waffle stitch which (for the first time ever) uses two colours as part of the pattern! I hope you like it!

Here are a couple of things you can order in this stitch.......http://www.ruthcross.com/acatalog/Ruth_Cross_hand_knits.html

JUBILEE KNITS FOR WOOLMARK!!!!

At some point in the summer we usually get a call from Woolmark (www.wool.com) to make something fabulous out of our favourite material wool as part of their 'Campaign For Wool' which is promoting the use of wool all around the world! To see other things we've done check out our projects page http://www.ruthcross.com/projects.html
This year however the call came early as they had been let loose on Blackfriars Bridge during the Jubilee pageant to do some woolly decorations......
Part 1 was to create 4 sets of cushions that spell wool and Part 2 was to create knitted coversfor a massive polystyrene WOOL- we will never forget the W turning up - 100cm x 180cm!!!!!! Still they had to be seen from HRH's boat......
........oh- and we had 7 days to do the whole lot in! Sophie piled in to help like the knitting/ glue gun demon she is and I ended up knitting 13 unexpectantly complicated intarsia cushions in that time myself (after writing all the patterns and also hand sewing all the letter covers on). Possibly a personal best?

This is how big the letters were in the Ruth Cross work room....

.....now play spot the letters on Blackfriars Bridge!!!!! (clue- above the right centre arch!)

We had 3 sets in Red, White and Blue and because Woolmark represents the commonwealth- 1 set was in South Africas colours!!!! 

 The massive WOOL letters are going off with Woolmark to other woolly events, but the cushions will soon be available in our online shop as 1 off designs! www.ruthcross.com