For those that want to give knitting or crocheting a go for the very first time … you can’t go past our Absolute Beginners Knitting & Absolute Beginners Crochet classes. Set over 2 hours, for three weeks, you’ll go from ‘all fingers & thumbs’ to smooth knitting or crocheting in no time. And what’s great is that at the end of the three weeks, you’ll have a lovely first project to show off and smile about. It is quite something to observe nervous newcomers to knitting & crocheting get the hang of what was once thought to be foreign to something that becomes natural, and by the end there is some very proud students with beautiful handiwork and a small fire of inspriation ignited within.

If you have got your head around the basics, but need a ‘push’ to become a little more adventurous, our series of Advanced Beginners classes look at all types of techniques to develop your skills and inspire you to rocket past scarves and squares … sign up for a ‘bits & bobs knitting’ session and learn about why tension is important, a few essential ’how to’s’ and the mystery of blocking. If you interest is in pretty stitch patterns or cables, Lynda’s famed scarf that turns into a blanket series is a great place to start. And for those that crochet, a retro scarf complete wtih a bobble fringe, or a tiny owl might tickle your fancy. 

In January we have scheduled just a few of our new inspired classes to whet your appetite … in February we will be including more advanced workshops, freeform and felting. So stayed tuned to grab your chance to tick off that ‘things to do’ item for 2012.  

Look out tomorrow for all the details of our January Knit-a-Long and Crochet-a-Long, perfect for those that want to schedule in some dedicated knitting and crochet time ;0)

Just a little aside … if you are wondering on the yarn we used to make our cute sign … ‘We’ is Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky #1212 Grasshopper, ‘are’ is Spud & Chloe Sweater #7505 Firefly, and ‘open’ is Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton #630 Caribbean. Oh, and the mushrooms? a gift from the beautiful Lauren @ Frankie and the Fox …

With a project bag full of yarn & needles, and a booklet full of projects, this holiday camp is especially designed for your kids and teens – ages 10 to 15 years old – who want to learn to knit!

There’s only a few weeks of school holidays to go, but for some it may seem an eternity … If you are at a loose end, have exhausted all the G & PG movies, and couldn’t possibly want to bake in the sun another day beside the south bank beach, then maybe an air-conditioned morning at threads learning to knit might be the perfect solution (for them, while for you, a morning of holiday relaxing awaits).

Our kids knitting camp runs over two mornings and will have your junior crafters knitting and purling with joy as they create their own pint sized projects to show off at school to all their friends. So if you have nothing planned yet for the mornings of the 17th and 18th, or 19th and 20th of January, book online, or give us a call at the shop (we’re back tomorrow).

If you would like more information, you can check out all the details on our website (Kids Holiday Knitting Camp).

image courtsey of: Dawn Finney (aka ButterflyLove1)

2011 was a year where life just pinned me down & slapped me with a wet kipper! I mean come on, I can cope with a few of rubbish moments a year, but 2011 had it in for me & there seemed a limitless supply of kippers. It all got too hard, & even retreating to my bag(s) of halfway there projects didn’t provide me with the quiet solace, inspiration or strength as they had in the past. I packed up my bags & settled for waving the white flag, patiently waiting for it all to be over. Oh, and I brooded … You see, I’m an obsessive planner, & as I let the fish pile up, I started to form my attack plan on 2012 … And here, right now on this day, the plan starts rolling into action. I have said goodbye & good riddance to the trials of 2011, & I am ready to embrace my favourite past time again – not just because it gives me strength, inspires me, & provides me private solace – but because when the going gets tough, the tough get knitting!

This year I promise that I will knit, crochet, & craft more … I promise that my blank ravelry ‘projects’ page will no longer stay vacant.

In 2012, my pledge is simply this “12 in 12″ – I pledge to create 12 lovingly & sometimes laughingly selected projects to take my knitting to new heights.

Today I have cast on the crazy cyclops pot plant … Something fun to kick off the year, something to make me smile, something to let 2012 know that I have allies, crazy allies, and this year should think twice about messing with me! Throw down your wet kippers 2012, I’m just not interested in playing dead any longer! … You see knitting is not just about blankets and sweaters, scarves and wraps …it’s about taking a journey and hanging on for the ride. It’s about experience, learning, and laughing along the way. Being crafty (both with thread & needle, and like a fox) makes everything more fun.

If you have been in a rut (creative or otherwise), I hope my list will inspire you to develop your own “12 in 12″ gallery. My tip – start small & include something you would never think of doing … The process alone should inspire you to great knitty things in 2012.

And don’t forget to share, if my story has inspired you, leave a message and let me know what’s in your “12 in 12″ gallery … You can follow my progress on Ravelry, through the blog, on Facebook or instore – I’ll have my finished projects on display throughout the year to give me (and you) inspiration to keep on going.

If you would like to see what else I have planned in 2012 … jump across to my Facebook Album “12 in 12 Album” and have a gander. Leave comments of encouragement – for those that know me, I may well have bitten off more than I can chew ;0)