Tuesday 27 October 2015

Caleo Cowl and Wrist Warmers for Yarn Stories

My Caleo Cowl and Wristwarmers design is part of "Alchemist", the latest collection from Yarn Stories. The Caleo stitch pattern uses a combination of intarsia and fair isle knitting techniques to create a rich fabric. This 'layered' colour work is set within a cable and twisted stitch pattern. I love these beautiful photos taken by Yarn Stories!

Caleo by Emma Vining for Yarn Stories
Photo by Yarn Stories
Caleo by Emma Vining for Yarn Stories
Photo by Yarn Stories
The gorgeous contrast yarn used in Caleo is Yarn Stories Fine Merino DK in Mulberry. This rich colour is described by Yarn Stories as a "cranberry red, with a touch of purple'. The "warm shade of grey" used for the main colour is Anthracite available in Fine Merino DK and in Fine Merino and Baby Alpaca DK

There is more information on the Yarn Stories Website about these lovely yarns, my Caleo pattern and all of the beautiful designs in the Alchemist Collection.

Caleo by Emma Vining for Yarn Stories
Photo by Yarn Stories

Monday 19 October 2015

Cornflower Lace Sweater in Simply Knitting Magazine 139

My Cornflower lace sweater is in this month's Simply Knitting Magazine! Cornflower is knitted in beautiful Sublime Cotton Silk DK yarn. The mix of fibres gives a lovely drape to this sweater.

Cornflower by Emma Vining
for Simply Knitting Magazine
Perfect for layering, this textured design is simple to knit. After a couple of repeats, it is easy to see where you are in my half hexagon lace pattern. Garter stitch edging makes a great contrast to the lace pattern. The sleeves are knitted in stocking stitch and have a 'round' of half hexagons around the cuff.

Cornflower by Emma Vining
for Simply Knitting Magazine
Cornflower by Emma Vining
for Simply Knitting Magazine


Tuesday 13 October 2015

The Knitting & Stitching Show 2015

There was so much to see and do at this year's Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. Interesting vendors and fascinating exhibits filled the three halls. I volunteered to help on the Knitting & Crochet Guild Stand. This is one of my favourite things to do as I can spend the whole time talking about knitting and crochet! Fantastic! 


Crochet Gloves from the Knitting & Crochet Guild Collection
I really enjoyed talking to all our lovely visitors and catching up with Guild members who were also volunteering on the stand or just popping by to say hello. There was a lot of interest in the Guild and everyone enjoyed looking at the beautiful items on display on the stand.

Last year, the Show organisers introduced "Stitch by Stitch". These sessions feature demonstrations of many different techniques. The K&C Guild had some great demos this year including Tricia Basham on Amigurumi crochet; Marian Dye on Knitting with Beads; Bronagh Miskelly on Confidence with Cables; Annette Brown on Unravelling Crochet Charts and Symbols; Marjorie Needham on Designing Waistcoats to fit. These sessions were very popular with visitors and showcased the many talents of our Guild members. 

KC Guild Stand with yarn winder at the ready!

Afternoon Tea items from the KC Guild Collection

It was great to see some of my favourite yarn companies and designers at the show. A highlight for me was saying "Hi" to the amazing Jane Crowfoot. Her fabulous crochet designs are really stunning and it was so good to have a chat to her.


Yarn Stories had an great display of their most recent designs including my Galena cardigan. As well as being available for download through the Yarn Stories Website, all the patterns were available to buy at the show. I am very proud to have designs featured in the recent Minerality and Alchemist Collections. The printed book of the Minerality collection sold out at the show and more copies are now being printed!

My Galena Cardigan on display at the Yarn Stories Stand

Beautiful yarns by Yarn Stories

Yarn Stories were also displaying the beautiful result of this summer's competition with the Knitting and Crochet Guild. This gorgeous blanket is made up of 13 different repeated designs, each one inspired by an item from the KC Guild collection. The popular winning square, announced at the show, was the blue cabled design by Bronagh Miskelly. The blanket pattern will soon be available as a download from the Yarn Stories website. I am delighted that my square was also included in the blanket. My design is made as a cabled mitred square and was inspired by a gorgeous cabled sweater in the KC Guild Collection. You can read more about the blanket and see the squares close up here.



Louise Walker's stand had a brilliant display of her "Critters" and it was great meeting her Mum! You can read more about Louise and her talk and workshop at the K&C Guild convention here and take a look at her website here.

Louise Walker's Critters
Louise Walker's Critters
Toft Alpaca had a huge number of the really cute Ed's Animals on their stand. This year the menagerie has been joined by these amazing birds! You can read more about Kerry Lord and Toft Alpaca here and about her talk at this year's K&C Guild Convention here

The Toft Alpaca Stand
The Toft Alpaca Stand
I had a lovely chat to Jennie Atkinson on the Make it Coats Stand. Jennie was at the Show promoting her beautiful new Rowan designs that use Swarovski crystals. Jennie had given an excellent presentation on her research into beading in knitting at the recent In the Loop Conference in Glasgow so I know how passionate about this subject she is! 

No visit to Ally Pally would be complete without a visit to the Black Sheep "Yarn Dive"........ Ever since I began visiting the Show this has been one of my favourite things to do. I am convinced that Sara and the team are hiding a secret treasure at the bottom of their enormous pile of yarns. Like every other visitor, I am determined that it will be me that finds it!!!



As ever, this year's Show was great fun and I am already looking forward to next year's Show. Dates announced...... 5th to 9th October 2016.