Hello!
Episode 10 is ready for you and I think it’s a good one! Thea Colman, aka babycocktails was a great interviewee and there are not one but 3 giveaways this time.
If you would like to win a copy of the Iara wrap pattern, you can enter to win a free copy over here on Instagram.
Happy knitting!
Rx
Hello!
This week I am having a little giveaway to celebrate my love for you!
I will be giving away a free Craftsy.com class to some lucky winner. You can choose any class at all, be it knitting or cake decorating!
To win, please sign up for my newsletter and then pop over to my Instagram feed and leave a comment on this post tagging a crafty friend.
To enter:
1. Please sign up for the ELK newsletter
2. Follow @eastlondonknit, and
3. let me know you are all signed up by tagging a crafty friend or two in the comments of this post.
You can still enter if you already received the newsletter and follow me on Instagram: just carry on with step 3. and you could win!
I will choose a winner Friday, 10 February.
With love from me to you!
Happy knitting,
Rx
Hello!
Welcome to 2017! How’s it treating you so far? I am off to a flying start. I have made lists by the shed-load and the post-it notes have proliferated, but I am happy with that. This feeling is probably something to do with having had a good, lazy holiday break with lots of movie-watching and naps. I did have a tiny tantrum yesterday just before I accepted that Christmas was really over and Ben really was going to go back to work and I had to get up at 6am AGAIN!?>! but then I set the alarm and got on with it.
Which brings me to the first order of service for the new year: last year’s EastLondonKnit knit-along. It is officially over, but just in case you have knit an EastLondonKnit design and would like a chance to win one of the fabulous prize packages…
So, let’s talk about resolutions!
If you know me, you know that I love a New Year’s Resolution. Honestly, I am not restricted to New Years to make my resolutions–I make them regularly throughout the year with unnecessary zeal, but I have a real soft spot for the beginning of January. This year, in addition to the usual promises to self: more exercise, less sugar, no booze this January, I also wanted to add some different things: find somewhere to regularly volunteer, don’t be angry about the world, do things to make it better, and something completely unrelated: learn to play the guitar, because, well, why not?
I know that I should have started with the musical things a lifetime ago, but I’m one of those people who thinks it is never too late. If I start now, in 10 years I might be pretty good. If I don’t start now, in 10 years, I’ll just be 10 years older and still not playing any instruments.
And until I figure out where to volunteer (suggestions welcome!!), I am going to knit some hats and things for KnitAid. If you haven’t heard of KnitAid, please do have a look. They are making a big collection on 20th January if you would like to participate too!!
Do you make resolutions? If so, do you keep them?
Happy knitting!
Rx
Hello!
What is more beautiful than a clear and crisp day of Autumnal sunshine? A day like today makes me wonder why I don’t own a single Aran or Guernsey sweater, as they have suddenly sprung up everywhere, like beautiful ecru wild flowers. So I am resisting the urge to cast on, even though I really, really want to. I think I have to finish at least 2 sweaters before I am allowed to cast on anything else. That is, certainly, the reasonable thing to do…
I started this Enso sweater at the beginning of September for the Zen Variations knit along, and I am onto the sleeves now. The end is in sight!
Here is the progress so far:
I’m knitting the sleeves with the 2-at-a-time magic loop method, which is really my method of choice. I was convinced that I wanted to knit them with double-pointed needles, but when I tried it, I felt like a had no patience for constantly shifting the needles around. Maybe one of these days I will try Karen Templer’s method of knitting them flat, but for now, round and round I go!
How is your Slow Fashion October going? I am working on some more posts about it and really enjoying the conversation on Instagram and the Fringe Association blog. What do you think?
Happy knitting,
Rx
Hello!
As I ease back into normal life after the Squam Art Workshops, I decided to host an Instagram giveaway!
Share the love giveaway time…
I had the good fortune to spend a fantastic week with a bunch of amazing crafters and I want to share the joy with you.
I have two beautiful skeins of yarn: Shibui Silk Cloud in Ash and Tosh Merino Light in Begonia Leaf (Cosmic Dandy anyone? @julieknitsinparis ;)) as well as the fantastic West Water Tunic sewing pattern to give away.
To win all of this gorgeousness, please follow me on Instagram @eastlondonknit and tag three knitting friends in the comments. I will randomly choose some lucky person next week.
During my week at Squam, I took some great classes, including a photography class with Helene Dujardin, which resulted in some of these lovely pics:
This is my lovely classmate Michelle, who was an excellent model for the Lakelet shawl. I designed the shawl especially for my trip to Squam based on my first retreat, in which I spent every possible moment on the dock, and witnessed some of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.
I will be publishing the shawl shortly, and can’t wait to share it with you!
I also got some great new photos of the Beetlebum shawl…
Happy knitting,
Renée
Hello!
Are you a joiner? As in; do you love to join in the fun? I admit that I am not. I aspire to be, but inevitably end up watching from the sidelines. Part of the problem is that I never find out about these things until they are well underway, or (more usually) over and done with. But Sunday, I happened to see a #MakerMay post on Instagram and threw caution to the wind.
The idea is simple enough- post a photo per day related to the prompt. I have managed the first one, and hope I will manage the rest! Would you like to play along? All kinds of making welcome:) Hope to see you there!
Coming up:
Just to mention, I am teaching Brioche Basics and Next Steps in Brioche at A Yarn Story in Bath this Saturday and there is still a place left. Please do join us if you fancy spending some time this Saturday learning something new and hanging out with awesome knitters!
If you can’t make it to the class, but still would like a little brioche in your life, the Brioche Twister scarf is still a free gift for signing up to the EastLondonKnit newsletter.
Happy knitting,
R.
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