Keep Calm and Cast On - Book Review

I have just received Keep Calm and Carry On by Erika Knight, published by Quadrille.

I worked in a bookshop for 8 years and did get a bit tired of all the little gift books that had to be fitted on the counter, to grab the customers' attention. Some of them were dire.

And I am also a bit tired of seeing  'Keep Calm and Carry On' everywhere.

So I was unsure of this book. BUT I was very pleasantly surprised.  It is a lovely little book.

It is full of funny, witty and interesting little quotes from people and from books about knitting. It also has really handy little tips from Erika Knight who knows a thing or two about knitting.

There were a few quotes from members of Stitchlinks whose aims include 'To promote the use of therapeutic knitting and stitching through our research'. And reading through the book, I had to agree that knitting is therapeutic and this is not something I had thought about before.  There are many times when I yearn to knit and happily sit clicking away. And now I know more about why that is.

This is a great book to pop into when you are unable to knit and also a wonderful present. I was visited my mum and showed it to her. She loved it too.

So this Christmas, if you want a little present for a knitting friend, or something for yourself,  then do think about Keep Calm and Cast On.
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Keep Calm and Cast On by Erika Knight
Quadrille Publishing
ISBN 9781849490955

We won!!

Ringo won!!

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in Feltmeup Design's wonderful competition.

A big thank you to Feltmeup for being such a gifted creator, and for running the competition And well done to everyone one else. All the designs were so brilliant it was a close thing, and extra special that Ringo won.

Do check out Feltmeup Designs. She is amazingly talented and has a lovely shop.

Feltmeup Designs at etsy

Feltmeup Designs blog

I thank you. And Ringo thanks you!

Little Red Flower

I knitted a large flower for a brooch, using Rowan Big Wool Tuft. I really enjoyed it. I then felted it using very hot water, soap, and a good battering in my bathroom.

So much did I enjoy it that I wanted to make another flower. However, this time I'll try smaller, thought I. I ended up using red embroidery cotton as a yarn and darning needles to knit with. It turned out rather well. You can see it in etsy at the link above and also on my flickr page. But I have posted a photo here as well.

In the middle is an antique 19th century glass button. On the back is sewn a silver plated brooch back.

I am really quite happy with it.