January Speeds By

It feels like the month has only just started not coming to an end. I have been busy transferring and updating patterns because as of the 1st of January the EU VAT laws on digital services, that includes digital downloads (this also includes music, apps, ebooks) yes knitting and crochet patterns. Here's the link for the UK government page for more information. Basically I can register in all the EU countries that might sell one of my patterns in and file quarterly paperwork (even if I don't sell anything) or as many have no longer have my pattern for sale (big companies who are VAT registered do not have to do this). But a third option was found in December when Loveknitting.com came forward (together with ravelry.com) and they will handle the payments and paperwork for designers who go through them. This means all my EU (except the UK as I live here) pattern sales will now go through loveknitting.com links will still be on ravelry as normal. Loveknitting also sell books, needles, hooks and yarn.

My other transfers have been to a new fabric shop on Woven Monkey similar to Spoonflower who I still love. Woven Monkey are UK based
this is a little info from their site "Woven Monkey was set up to give individuals the opportunity to have their own designs printed onto fabric. All our printing takes place right here in the UK, at our premises in Derbyshire. The textile industry has a rich heritage in the area, dating back almost 300 years. We’re passionate about reviving the industry through new ideas and technology"
They use the latest in digital fabric printing methods and very important for me was they use eco-friendly pigment inks on natural fibres. Been UK based it also means UK and EU customers who want to buy fabric will not have to worry about additional customs charges and lower shipping costs (they post free if in the UK)

Viking Knitting

Been doing a little bit of viking knitting this week, its not really knitting more a weaving technique that looks like knitting. I usually use very thin wire (0.2mm/ 28 gauge) and twist the strands together to make a rope or plait, but this pretty purple thicker wire (0.6mm/ 22 gauge) had been sitting in my workbox for far to long and needed something nice to be created with it and was just flexible enough to work with although my finger are not so happy just now. I made the results into a bracelet with the help of some end cones and a T-bar clasp.

Intwined Pattern Studio

Last month I purchased Intwined Pattern Studio at just $44.00 . I have bought programs in the past for much more, but have had little problems with them. So have a tick list of items I want with this type of software.

Screen shot cables scarf

1.  Ease of use - This is very easy software to use, pick a stitch and click on chart, it has easy menu's that are clear, it also writes out the written directions or you can type them in to create a chart.

2. Saving formats - I like to have a choice of file formats I don't like having to save than convert to a format I prefer- This program offers a variety of different file formats to save in including BMP, JPG, PNG, TIFF, and SVG so lots of choice even creating a pdf although this is something I prefer to do myself (its the control freak in me) its a nice feature. Plus you can save the different parts of your pattern the chart , the key all separately.

Custom crochet stitches added

3. Been able to adapt/ change stitches & colours - I said earlier I had purchased programs in the past and the main problems (other than them not working correctly) have mainly for me been there is always a stitch missing (usually a cable) or you have to use a set limited palette of colours. This programs offers the choice of adding custom stitches (this was the selling point for me buying this program), I am still experimenting with this and have added .gif files so far as I am having problems creating .svg files (some work some don't) which will make a nicer looking stitch (I will keep experimenting). You can also create custom colours to use on your charts, again a nice feature.

I think this is a good program which is very affordable I am having fun creating my charts with it.

Look out for my knitted & crocheted poinsettia flowers and crocheted shell scarf patterns (with charts) coming soon. : )

Casting on with Bobble Yarn

So many people have emailed me about how to cast on with bobble yarn (and Joanna posted could I explain with pictures) so here's the way I cast on with it.
This is for right handed cast on I will put this and a left handed example on NezumiWorld which is in the process of been updated very soon.

1. For the bobble yarn I used a knit cast on, normally to begin I use a slip knot but with the bobble yarn this looked untidy (and was a bit fiddly) so I made a simple knot.
Insert the right hand needle through the stitch (knot) on the left hand needle as you would to make a normal knit stitch.


2.Yarn over the right hand needle making sure you use the yarn between the bobbles.


3. Pull loop through the stitch, the bobble should not be pull through the stitch.


4. The stitch (knit stitch) you just made on the right hand needle is now transferred back onto the left hand needle.


5. Repeat making a knit stitch than transferring them back to the left hand needle until the required number of stitches are achieved

Old magazine

I collect old crochet and knitting magazines 1900's-1930's I love them, they combine knit, crochet, tatting, lace & embroidery, mixing and matching techniques with beautiful results. If they could make a cover for something or decorate an item they did, my favourite is the candle shades beautiful laces but, I wonder how many went up in flames eeekk!. The magazines have become harder to get hold of in the last few years, plus the price for many is getting to high (for my income anyway).
I have been trying to find out something about these wonderful designers for many years with little luck, Emma Farnes (love her designs), Marie Antoinette Hees, Sophie T. Lacroix, Anna Valeire their work appears in some of the Novelty Art Studios magazines also. If anyone knows of any details about these designers, websites etc. please let me know.

Easy Hand Exercise for crocheters and knitters (OK everyone who owns a wool of yarn)

I get asked a lot about painful hands when crocheting and knitting, I am not an expert and would always recommend going to a doctor when in pain to see whats causing it, but I know there are lots of things you can do to help yourself
I do try to follow these suggestions as I have osteoarthritis but if something feels wrong to you stop, remember one of the main reasons for crocheters and knitters getting hand pain is over doing it, so
1. Pace yourself.
2. Sit correctly, putting a cushion in the lower back to give support if needed (OK you say pain in hands not back, but if you sit correctly it helps support your whole body i.e. hands connected to arms to shoulders to back)
3. Use a bamboo or wood hook/needle (I find wood better than bamboo, but very expensive so only buy the size needed for the project I am making), this may seem like an expensive but how many years will that hook/ needle last you and how many hours will you use it.
4.Take breaks and do a hand exercise every hour, get the blood flowing back to your fingers (there a quick exercise I do and have added below). Don't think just one more row.... there's always one more have a tea, coffee, water and stand up, even for 5 minutes.
5. Hand supports for arthritis, hand pain (like handeze support gloves) are good to use when crochet/ knitting but remember to take them off as they will weaken your hands if worn when when not needed.

Super Easy Hand exercise

Take a ball of yarn (can use the one you are working on) and squeeze tight for 10 seconds

Let go
Repeat 2 more times
Visit NezumiWorld Hand Exercise page for a count-along image

WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day

Today as WWKIPD or World Wide Knitting in Public Day I enjoyed the The London Knit Crawl organised by Stitch and Bitch London last year so joined them again this year with the London Crochet meet-up group.

We started at Westminster Abbey which had Morris dancers a traditional English folk dance troop. They dance with sticks and handkerchiefs, it is the first time I also saw Morris women dancing too. I watched for a while and joined in with knitting and crochet (yes I brought both) on the grass. It was also the queen's official birthday (she has a real one in April and an official one on another day this year June, I am not sure why) so the Abbey bells were ringing as we knit.

From Westminster Abbey we walked to beautiful St James Park, it has wonderful flowers and ponds. There was a fly over again for the queen's birthday as we arrived. The weather was great (no rain) and the knitters/ crocheters numbers increased greatly. So many interesting things been made, lots of people had knit there own cushions to sit on, yes this year I brought a cushion with me I learned from last year.

Next stop was Trafalgar Square and the whole of it was taken over by the Thai Festival wonderful food, dancer, painting yes and more knitting :) and the knitters numbers had increased


I left after this to catch up with my lovey aunt Myra who had come to see us and for the day :)

Eurovision song contest

EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!! you have got to love Eurovision, just when I thought I had seen everything Bosnia and Herzegovina appeared with there entry sang by Elvir Lakovic Laka and co-vocalist Mirela. They sang a crazy little number called Pokuöaj which means Try, but that's not the surprising bit. They had 4 women backing dancers dressed as brides and they were all knitting! hooray for knitting in public I say :)