Tribal Tote pattern now available

This design was originally published in issue 95 of Knitting magazine so I have to admit to being more than a little lax in adding it to the website. In fact I didn’t realise it was missing until I got a message from  a lovely member on Ravelry asking where she could get a hold of the pattern. (Thanks kubakat, I owe you). So, having done a bit of wizadry I’ve now formatted the pattern which is finally available to download in pdf form from both the website and my Ravelry Pattern Store.

It’s a boldy coloured design worked in the round on double pointed needles which is created using the modular knitting method. For those who don’t know that means after knitting the initial square, each subsequent square is added by using a combination of casting on and picking up stitches into the base of previously cast on edges. It also means that once all 21 squares have been knitted the amount of final making up is kept to a minimum ~ good news for those of you who hate all that sewing up. That said, the colourful stripe effect is achieved by using Anchor’s Wash & Filz It Multicolour yarn with odd stripes of solid contrast yarns thrown in to create flashes of interest. Whilst this does give a great effect all this chopping and changing of yarns does however mean that there are lots of ends to sew in as you can see below.

Once all the ends have been dealt with and the bag sewn together the pointed top edge of the bag is completed to create a straight edge then it’s off to the washing machine for felting…actually strictly speaking that should be fulling but I’ve called it felting for so long that using any other word seems odd.

Whatever your preferred word the process of shrinking makes the bag more rigid and blurs the striped squares taking it from this….

to this

A simple wooden handle sourced from Kleins (London) attached with leather thonging completes the tribal look. Since designing the bag the handle has actually been discontinued but a similar style can be found at www.sewinspiring.co.uk.

The pattern, which includes full instructions and detailed schematics for constructing the bag, is available as a pdf download from my JeanetteSloanDesign website http://www.jeanettesloandesign.com/ourshop/prod_2642784-Tribal-Tote.html or from my Pattern Store on Ravelry http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tribal-tote

Happy knitting

J x

New shades for Summer 2013

I have to admit that I put the central heating on last night and this morning…in MAY! Here I was foolishly looking forward to the days being longer and more importantly WARMER and yet on TV this morning there were reports of snow further up the country. Never mind. Toss that ever-British trait of complaining about the weather aside! Why? Because there are 4 new additions to my yarn range!!

When I first selected the colours for each of my yarns it was easy to see that they were based on what I like to wear. I’m lucky to have the kind of skin tone that can wear pretty much anything but not everyone has so, having reflected on the ranges and decided there were a couple of ‘holes’ I’m hoping the new shades will fill them beautifully.

In the Baby Alpaca DK range Bitter Choc, Chartreuse, Fuchsia, Menthe and Chestnut are now joined by

 

 

a refreshingly juicy and intense green called Kiwi…..

 

and classic like black but not as hard on the eyes to knit, here’s Charcoal.

In the Baby Alpaca/Silk 4ply range Icing, Lippy, Caramel, Olive and Spice are joined by

 

a gentle blue/grey which may betray my weather obsessed mind, here’s Mist.

 

 

And lastly a shade that reminds me of scorching holidays in the Barbados sun, here’s Calypso

The new shades have been added to the website so if you’re buying a knitting kit the choice is even wider (you’ll find them all here). There are now 7 shades in each of the above qualities and having had them nestled together on my desk for a while to inspire me you can expect some new patterns in the next couple of months. 

Until then happy knitting, I’m off to check the forecast for tomorrow

J x

Knitting Masterclass…and the winners are!

Thank you to all of you who posted comments to win a copy of the brilliant Knitting Masterclass.

Judging by all of your comments it looks like Double Knitting is the technique most of you (and I) would like to tackle most closely followed by the dreaded steeking. It seems that not that many of us are keen to take a pair of scissors to our knitting after hours and hours of work.

Sorry it’s taken me a little longer than it should have to announce the winners but the lucky recipients who each receive a copy of the book are

Not So Granny & Natalie

Congratulations ladies, please get in touch and let me know where you’d like your books sent.

J x

Knitting Masterclass Giveaway

I was very flattered back in 2008 when I was asked to be one of the first designers to design for The Knitter which was first published in January 2009. Fast forward to 2013 and a few of my own designs later The Knitter have recently published Knitting Masterclass. It’s an inspiring collection of 20 technical workshops exploring techniques such as Double Knitting, Steeking, Combination Knitting and Lace. The techniques are brilliantly explained with clear instructions and helpful step-by-step photography which means you don’t need to feel intimidated by learning something new. As well as the workshops the book also includes 15 beautiful patterns which allow you to try out your newly acquired skills including my own Baird, a chunky cabled neckwarmer which is grafted at the centre and follows the Kitchener Stitch masterclass.

I’ve got 2 copies of this must have book to give away to 2 lucky knitters. All you have to do to win a copy is post a comment on this blog telling me which technique you’ve always wanted to master and why. Simple as that! Comments are open to posting until midnight March 31st 2013. Only one entry per person please (to make things fair). There are 2 copies to be won (one per winner) and entries are open worldwide. The winners will be chosen at random and will be informed shortly after the closure date.

Good Luck!

Knitting Masterclass

Edited by Juliet Bernard 

Published by Collins & Brown

RRP £20.00

ISBN: 978-1908449023

PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMENTS TO THIS POST ARE NOW CLOSED

Unravelled for 2013

Having had a pretty anxious build up over a number of weeks Unravel took place over the weekend and was…… simply brilliant. It was great to meet up with old friends like Suzie from The Wool Sanctuary & Fiona from High Fibre as well as putting faces to online names from both Twitter and Ravelry.

 

 I had a great space up in the Tannery which was complete with grand piano (no I wasn’t taking requests) and having set up on Friday afternoon I had plenty of time to work up the nerves for my first live ‘Ask Jeanette’ session on Saturday afternoon. I’m not sure if it’s possible to O/D on Rescue Remedy but as they were 3 for 2 at Boots the previous week I thought I’d have a go… to cope with my nerves. I needn’t have bothered. Thanks to the support of Amy, Lynsey & Fiona at Farnham Maltings plus the lovely ladies who attended, the hour not only went quickly but I REALLY enjoyed it. It was wonderful to answer queries and exchange ideas in a live format with like minded knitters who simply love the craft so ‘thank you’ to all who were in attendance. I soon calmed down and it all went smoothly though I should apologise for my slightly rambling description of a toe up sock – the Rescue Remedy had obviously started to wear off by that stage. 

Back in the Tannery I loved hearing the oohs and aahs from visitors as they felt their way through my yarn range. I think the Chunky Baby Alpaca got the most comments of ‘it’s SOOO soft’ whilst the Uppandoon Scarf was a great hit both in pattern and kit form.

Despite promising myself that I’d get in early before the show opened to have a proper look around (and more importantly shop) my only purchase was from Jeni Barnett whose needle felted creatures were so exquisite I couldn’t resist buying a kit as a gift (can’t say who it was for, she may be reading this).

Elsewhere in the Tannery there was Helen from Woolly Chic selling British wool kits for knitting & crochet, Eliza Conway and her vintage knitting finds and my next door neighbour Ruth from Rock & Purl (plus lovely hubby Brian) who had designs AND tea on tap. 

Over the whole weekend I was very happy to see the legendary Sasha Kagan, the lovely Jennie Atkinson, Sarah from The Undercover Owl, Anna from OneHandKnits and twitterers @pompommag, @artesanojen, @fiona_cw, @julietbernard, @jenacknitwear, @veuftricot, @katestwirl and just when I was starting to flag on Saturday afternoon I got the hug of my life from bigbagmomma1. It was well timed, thanks.

If you didn’t get to Unravel enjoy the pictures, I’m sorry there aren’t more but it went so quickly. I hope to see you there next year

J x

Unravel 2013

unravel 2013

saturday 23rd & sunday 24th february 2013

If you’re anywhere near Farnham next weekend then make sure you get your tickets for Unravel. Last year was my first time at this festival which is brilliantly organised and has a lovely, relaxed vibe. Whether you’re a keen knitter or crocheter  or a total novice there’s bound to be something to tempt you.

There are workshops, expert talks, inspiring demonstrations, a catwalk fashion show, Best In Show and even yours truly doing a live Ask Jeanette session on Saturday afternoon (gulp!). 

Once again I’ll be exhibiting  in the Tannery where I’ll be selling my range of delicious yarns, patterns and knitting kits as well as Knitglobal’s brilliant sock yarn.

Tickets can be booked online here or buy them on the day at the door.

Come along and say hello

J x

The inspirational Mrs T

 

I absolutely love when, in the course of an otherwise unremarkable day, an object can completely lift your mood and not just bring a smile to your lips but fill your heart with an overwhelming wave of happiness and love. Today, on a freezing cold morning when I was really just looking for another layer to pull on, that’s exactly what this dress has done for me.

This Aran weight pure wool dress was hand knitted by my mum, the inspirational Mrs Trotman, way back before I was born. My Mum (along with my Dad) was part of the generation that answered the call for labour at the end of the 1950’s and came to the UK from a tiny island in the West Indies. Having left sunny Barbados and settled in London they raised four children and each held down a full time job, Dad working nights and Mum working days, first as a ticket collector for London Underground then as a State Enrolled Nurse (SEN) for the NHS. As so many women did back then and do today, she juggled a lot and cooked, cleaned, sewed and knitted to keep her family fed, happy and warm.

 

I remember this dress from my childhood, let’s face it you couldn’t exactly forget the colour, but I also remember being fascinated by feeling all those textures beneath my fingers. Now as an adult I understand what goes into creating those perfectly formed columns of cables, Blackberry stitch and woven basket textures. As a designer of mainly accessories I’m used to small scale projects so what I find truly remarkable about this dress is that my Mum found the time to knit at all. I can’t imagine where she found the time to be creative but it was truly a labour of love and given the quality of the yarn she used, it wasn’t a cheap knit. Mum no longer knits and she’ll no doubt have forgotten that I rescued this dress years ago when she was going to throw it out. At a time when many hands are busy making last minute gifts for Christmas it reminds me just how much more is invested in something so lovingly hand crafted than just ‘lots of stitches and rows’. 

Enjoy your gift knitting, I’m off to so some of my own

J x