HAPPY EASTER

At last, the Easter holidays!

Despite the wintry weather we have a very spring like and Eastery window, our friend Hilary has done a lot of knitting for us and we are very happy with the primula and chicks.

The spring green tea cosy has been sold and shipped to a new owner!

The blackbirds and chickens are waving at passers by from their precarious plank, the pink rabbit is a bit out of his comfort zone and holding on tight.

But best of all is the fabulous spring wreath, please could we have the weather to match.

HAPPY EASTER.

Take A Peep

At the risk of looking more like an animal lovers blog than a knitting one, I thought you would like to see Scarlett, one of Maxine's trio of chickens, Nancy and Heidi are equally handsome, they have all settled in well and are laying eggs already.




William wasn't going to be left out and started posing for a photo, just loke the marmalade cat in our shop.

Maxine's Mum kindly knitted her this beautiful yellow Kid Silk Haze tank top. Luckily it is still too cold to wear it so it is in the window teamed up with the beautiful Opal wrap from Winter Blooms by Kim Hargreaves. This one is knitted in Noro Silk Garden Sock,


but, prolific as ever, Maxine has also made one in Kidsilk Aura which the pattern was designed in.

We have recently started to stock Crystal Palace yarns and now have the divine Panda Silk which is a summer weight sock yarn with bamboo, merino and silk. One of our talented customers, Sue Harrington , has made these beautiful striped socks for her lucky son.


Check out Posh Ted, he is now proudly wearing a Knitcol jumper, although I get the feeling he thinks he should be sporting a monocle and cravat.
I thought I had better redress the balance and put in some knitted chickens. We have gathered a small army of these chocolate egg chickens.




Now, I am sure 'army ' has never been used to describe a collection of chickens before: a flock, a brood or a clutch would be better but my favourite : a peep of chickens.

New Spring Stock!

Our deliveries normally arrive in a cardboard box, today was different.
I promise you, I am not as confused as I look.
The first lamb was breach but no2 arrived as he should.

Just what we had feared, 3! They were a bit reluctant to get going. 'Look, some future Debbie Bliss' said Duncan, he thinks he knows a bit about wool now but then spoilt it by saying... 'or silk kid super hair'

At last, they all had their heads up but Mum was bleating, 'I only have 2 teats you know'

'Oh no, I'm next' Our only pure breed is a Wiltshire Horn called Chloe. She didn't look too amused.

Just a footnote to say all the photos are courtesy of my 6 year old. Thanks.

Spring Stock

I thought the winter stock arriving would be the highlight of the year but surprisingly, I have been very excited by our recent new stock:
Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, a basket to rival Kidsilk Haze........


Crystal Palace Taos which is a soft aran wool:



We also have Panda silk, a bamboo based sock wool and this fantastic beaded 'Chakra' by Mango Moon. It is multi coloured with beautiful beads and sea glass, really special.



We are loving the Rowan Revive, not only is it made from recylcled clothes,the patterns are fantastic and it can be combined with regular double knit.


Last time I promised something for the crochet fans, we now have proper crochet cotton and

some amazing crochet patterns from Leisure Arts..................

A lot of new colours in cotton have been arriving. The weather is not very spring like so
to cheer myself up I have been looking at the cottons and dreaming of sunshine while hugging the radiator. Perhaps I should knit myself a warm jumper.

My Heart's In The Highlands

Well, did you guess? Action Man does not look too pleased with his kilt, I think it is the oversized ruffles and tammy that really upset him, that sporran looks a bit dodgy too


We just managed to get him in place on Monday in time for Burns Night.


As it is nearly February we teamed him up with hearts on tartan ribbon and we both heaved a sigh of relief to get the messy boxes out the window and a new display which makes the passers by stop and smile.

The sale is still on and I haven't taken a picture of our poor couch which is groaning under the boxes of bargains. We have a beautiful new crocheted blanket to put on the couch when that corner of the shop returns to normality.

Meanwhile Maxine tidied up the stock room and I was in raptures over the organisation (sad but true) :

The tidying was necessary as we have done a stock take and are eagerly waiting some exciting new stock. Crochet fans watch this space...but don't worry we have a few things coming for you knitters too.

Anyone for a Rummage?

This month our double award winning window has taken a downward turn and taken on the 'tatty jumble sale' look.



Where there are usually oodles of quirky knits there are just boxes of wool.


Even the comfy sofa has been downgraded to jumble style wool display.


Needless to say there are several bargains to be had and well worth a good old fashioned rummage.


But, we have not given up on our dear old window and are both knitting like mad for the next display which is coming very soon, here is a preview of the half finished project I am working on....

Any ideas?

Happy Snowy New Year

Happy New Year. What a start, just as you think normality is returning...............

Now the kids are off school again and the shop was shut for most of the day. Maxine opened for a couple of hours and was amazed at the invincible spirit of the local knitters who flocked through the door, I suppose if things worsen we could all make do without bread or milk but if we ran out of yarn.... heaven forbid.
Thought you would like to see my 'live' wool, one of them sporting a snow beard.

Hope you are all cosying up by the fire with your needles or hooks, I have a few plans of my own: