The Knitted Home- what yarns are used....

I recently got an email from a prospective reader asking the following;

'I'd like to buy your book but would like to know what yarns are used, where I can find them and how I can see more images of the projects before placing an order?'

And my answer was....

The yarns are a selection from Rowan, Debbie Bliss and Coats- they should be readily available near you or online. I have tried to use a variety of differently priced yarns as I'm aware how expensive some hand knit yarns are and didn't want to just make super expensive items. 

That said I think many of the yarns would be easy to swap with other makes/ fibre content if you wanted to do that and throughout the book I have tried to inspire and guide people to create their own patterns or adapt existing ones, so this may also help you change the yarn if you need to!

Regarding seeing more images I'm not sure what you've seen so far but if you look up 'The Knitted Home' on www.amazon.co.uk it has quite a good 'look inside' feature with a list of patterns as well as some images- there are also a few more on my blog so I hope that helps a bit too!    http://ruthcross.blogspot.co.uk/

Happy Knitting!

Xx

Finally! A long awaited blog update and images from The Knitted Home!

I've finally been able to emerge from the baby haze (lovely Beatrix was 3 months on Friday!) long enough to update my blog which is in dire need of attention. I have a list of things to add as long as my arm but to start with here are some images from The Knitted Home- my first book of which I'm very proud x

This is the cover used on the English and Finnish editions (above).

This is the cover used on the Australian edition and the same image is used for the North American edition but the title is Knits At Home- so each country's is slightly different!

You can buy the book at www.amazon.com or ask at your local bookstore.....

Coral-blob-moss piece FINISHED!!!!

About a million years late and I've finally finished the piece for Woolmarks London showroom..... with a lot of help from my trusty knitters Karen, Sally and Brenda and several hundred 'blobs' later- I hope you'll agree it was worth it in the end.......I'm assured they like it!!!!!!

1 metre square piece for Woolmark x

It's a start!

For my Woolmark commission (for their London showroom piece) I've recently been knitting lots of stripy blobs.....it's a glamourous life.....Anyway I have finally started sewing them on so here's a quick snap of the centre of what now seems like an absolutely enormous canvas. 

On the downside I definitely need a lot more blobs (possibly fuelled by a box set or two), on the upside my eternally picky husband likes it so much that he wants one for the house! Now this is important as generally we have a surprising lack of my work at home (despite me sneaking in bits every now and again)- so to actually ask for one from the pickiest man/ man with the best taste ever is really a big deal! I must be doing something right....

Flattering?

The never ending question for all us little designers is- 'How close is close when it comes to design similarity and is (possible) copying the sincerest form of flattery or basically a bit annoying'.......

For instance...

 

Above and below are images of one of three stag heads that I designed 18 months ago and were in stock a year ago (not to mention up online)...... 

 

Now- I know there are a lot of hand knitted covered things for the home out there- I've been doing it since 2005 after all, but I did feel like I'd seen the below version (cast complete with embossed knitting pattern) somewhere before when I spotted it in a well known high street store on Saturday- 

 

Luckily I've been around the block a few times and know chances are it's probably not a direct copy and not to let it bother me- but really it would be good for the whole of the craft and design world if the hours we put into original ideas were recognised rather than just 'flattered'.......I'll leave it to you to decide which you prefer!

What I Need Vs What I've Got...

So, for my latest project for Woolmark (an installation piece for their new London showroom) they have chosen this design.... it's 1m x 1m so actually has a lot more 'blobs' than is shown in the sketch.... I think they'll vary between about 4cm and 8 cm across each..

 This is a 'blob' prototype, knitted on four needles using Rowans DK- I'll make up the sizes and colour layout as I go, but I think I need between 350 and 450 of these to cover the piece....

 So that's what I need- what I actually have is 48 balls of yarn and about 2 weeks...better get knitting! (still- don't the colours look lovely)

Country Homes and Interiors Love Cosy Mugs..!

.....on a day like today surely hot chocolate and a cosy mug is the only way forwards?

To order your own cosy which will fit almost any mug click here or if you'd like some with Linda Bloomfield's Ceramics (as shown here) then she'll happily send some direct from her site!!!

Woolmark strike again!

I am so excited to have been commissioned to make a 1m square knitted piece for the shiny new Woolmark London showroom! Just think of all those woolly people who'll get to enjoy it! These are the rough sketches I submitted and the colourway will be off white, greys and dirty lime.......watch this space for progress updates and to see which one they chose......!