Knitting and crochet holiday in France - May 2017

Due to a cancellation we have spaces available for the first holiday of the year from Sunday 30th April to Friday 5th May.
Prices start at £395 per person in a twin room. This includes full board and outings during the week, all you need to do is get yourself to France with your knitting or crochet project and we will do the rest! For further details visit Knitting Holidays in France here.

During the holiday we will visit the large monthly market in Saintes and a Brocante for colourful baskets, fabric, haberdashery and old buttons

Guests bring along their own choice of knitting or crochet projects

there will also be optional workshops on Freeform knitting and crochet

We will visit a yarn shop or two

and there is a pop up shop on site selling hand turned wooden yarn bowls, knitting and crochet kits and patterns

There are other optional visits to Chateau la Roche Courbon and the Roman Amphitheatre at Saintes

And there will be plenty of time to explore the surrounding countryside, wander through sleepy hamlets and vineyards and admire the spectacular skies

And most of all relax! With no shopping, cooking or housework to do all you need to do is put your feet up, enjoy your knitting and crochet and be wined and dined.

Knitting holidays in France

A new year and there is lots happening at La Verderie! We still have just a few spaces available for the 2015 knitting holidays in May, September and October, see further details here 

I am tutoring a residential workshop in July for 'Basic knitting techniques' at a beautiful new venue here in France. Le Logis de la Courade is not far from La Verderie and is the perfect place for a luxurious and relaxing holiday. The workshops are aimed at beginner knitters or those who need a little reminder,  however, more experienced knitters are very welcome to come along with their own projects just to relax and enjoy the surroundings. Visit the Le Logis website here for further details.

The new KnitKits website is up and running, I am still adding stock on a daily basis but Culli's yarn bowls are flying out.

Fabric and yarn shopping

I have just had a great day out with friends Moira and Lesley to the fabric shop Tissus Renard in Niort. The shop is on the industrial estate just outside of Niort and is packed with buttons, trimmings, fabric and budget yarns. The weather was disgusting with torrential rain and a howling gale so we made the most of staying in one building and managed to spend nearly two hours browsing and buying...... It is one of those places that you really need a list for, otherwise you just buy for the sake of it, which I did!
on
a lovely piece of thick spotty oilcloth that was a remnant and will definitely be useful for something

12 balls of pure cotton knitting yarn, which I can add to the other 100 I have stashed away

three rolls of ribbon that I couldn't live without

 

 

and a huge piece of tweedy fabric that was just too good a bargain to miss..............

www.knittingholidaysinfrance.com

Techno Cozies by Sue Culligan

An exciting little package has just arrived in the post! My advance copy of Techno Cozies, I can't believe it is finally in print. Writing and designing Techno Cozies was a real challenge, as well as knitted projects it includes sewing, felting and crochet. There are a total of 30 designs for cozies, bags and cases and all are suitable for any level of experience in each craft. It will be available to the general public the first week of September and can be ordered in advance now on many of the major websites including Amazon and WH Smiths, I will have some copies available to order on KnitKits at the beginning of September.
A huge, huge, huge thank you to everyone who helped me along the way, especially Kim, Frances, Jo and Wendy for helping me meet the deadline by making up some of the designs.

KnitKits Sock Blockers

New stock! Our own KnitKits sock blockers are available now. This pair of perspex sock blockers come in three sizes (EU shoe sizes 36-38, 39-41 and 42+), they have a handy ribbon tie for hanging and storage and are just £9.99 a pair. ORDER HERE

Sock knitting gift pack. The perfect present for sock knitting fans. The kit contains two balls of Mini Mochi sock yarn, a basic sock pattern and a pair of perspex sock blockers. This is all packaged in a fabric drawstring bag embroidered with the word 'Socks', use the bag to carry around your sock knitting projects or to store socks in the drawer. ORDER HERE

A week of birthdays

Kangaroo was 30 years old on the 18th May, Aunty Joyce was 90 on the 19th May and youngest grand-daughter Martha was 1 on the 22nd May.

Me on the left and Karen on the right

To celebrate Kangaroo's 30th anniversary I am re-writing some of the patterns for the original children's knits I designed when the shop first opened. These were mostly machine knits and some of them look positively dated rather than cool vintage, however with a bit of tweaking and some new shades they will make a lovely collection of hand-knit designs and will be available soon as patterns or kits.
The photo above was taken in our first year of trading and is of me, my friend Karen who started the business with me, her baby boy Ben and my first Golden Retriever Bodie.

Some original Kangaroo knits

Aunty Joyce treated us to lunch at the Waterside Inn in Bray to celebrate her 90th, which was superb. It was a lovely sunny day and started with champagne and canapes on the terrace, followed by a yummy lunch, petits fours and coffee. The service was fantastic and the desserts a work of art, a great day and so nice to see Joyce enjoying herself so much.

Aunty Joyce (and my pud at the front)

Martha's tea party was a little noisier, an afternoon in the garden with the new trampoline being tested out by elder sister Eliza, while the grown ups lazed in the sun with a glass of bubbly. The teddy bears cake was the highlight of the day, but the marzipan has done nothing good for my diet.....!

Knitting Patterns

I am still plodding on with the getting the website up-dated. Got a bit side-tracked today with some old knitting patterns that I have been adding to the website, they range from really useful waistcoats and cute fairisles to some fairly wacky picture jumpers, there must be someone out there who wants a sweater with a peacock on it......

Mission Falls yarns discontinued

Sad news, I have just heard from our supplier that these wonderful yarns and pattern books have been discontinued and will no longer be available once current stocks run out. We still have stock of the 1824 pure wool aran and cotton at a reduced price and these can be ordered here. Our remaining stock of pattern books are also reduced and can be ordered here.

Ilga Leja Designs

We have plenty of the beautiful knitting patterns from Ilga Leja in stock. Teamed up with a lovely yarn from Fleece Artist this makes the perfect gift, or knit one of the lovely shawl designs for your favourite person.

Sale of knitting books

We have lots of great pattern books on offer, including Rowan magazines, Rowan Studio pattern books and sock knitting books. Snap up a bargain here!

Kim Hargreaves Touching Elegance

We have just had a delivery of this beautiful new book of knitting designs by Kim Hargreaves. The 21 patterns all use Rowan yarns and include an eclectic mix of chic sophistication and bohemian charm. Order here.

Mission Falls Knitting patterns

We have two great new pattern books from Mission Falls in stock now. Silhouette has 14 designs for garments and accessories using DK and 1824 pure wool aran and pure cotton aran and Weekend has 8 designs using Mission Falls 1824 cotton.

Vintage Rowan Knitting patterns

I have just found a huge box of Rowan knitting patterns (designed by Kim Hargreaves) stashed away in the roof space. They are all single leaflets and unused. The patterns are for Rowan Magpie Aran, Chunky Chenille, Fine Chenille, Denim and Chunky Fox Tweed. All these yarns are now discontinued except for the denim, however the patterns can all be used with current yarns. See the full selection here.

Debbie Bliss magazine issue 5

New for autumn 2010, the fall/winter issue Debbie Bliss magazine no. 5 is due in stock mid september and is packed with gorgeous designs. Pre-order your copy here.

Debbie Bliss A Tweed Story

A new book of knitting patterns by Debbie Bliss for autumn 2010. A Tweed Story has 7 designs that include women's sweaters and jackets and even a fabulous coat for a small to medium sized dog. The yarns used are Debbie Bliss Fez, Luxury Tweed Aran and Chunky. Order the book and yarns here.

Debbie Bliss Snow Queeen

Snow Queen is another new book of knitting patterns by Debbie Bliss for autumn 2010. The six designs include three jackets, a cabled cape, cabled gilet and a rib and cable dress. The yarns used are Debbie Bliss Como, Fez and Alpaca Silk Aran. Order the book and yarns here.

Debbie Bliss Andes

Andes is a new book of knitting patterns by Debbie Bliss for autumn 2010. The twelve designs use the latest yarn also called Andes, a luxurious blend of 65% baby alpaca and 35% mulberry silk. See the designs and yarn quantities here.

Debbie Bliss Folk Chic

Folk Chic is a new book of knitting patterns by Debbie Bliss for autumn 2010. The eight designs include cables and fairisle and use Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, Cashmerino DK and Aran. See the designs and yarn quantities here.

Debbie Bliss Land Girl pattern book

Land Girl contains 8 fabulous knitting patterns for women and children using Debbie Bliss Rialto 4ply, DK and aran. The books are in stock now and all the details of materials needed to knit each pattern are on our website - see here.

Debbie Bliss Glen

Now in stock, Glen is the latest yarn and pattern book from Debbie Bliss for autumn 2010. Glen the book has 12 gorgeous designs (see here), the yarn is a blend of 30% fine alpaca/30% merino wool/40% acrylic. It has a tension of 14 sts and 21 rows to 10cm using 6.50mm needles with 90 metres to a 50g ball. Order here.