Merry Christmas

Well that time of year has arrived where everyone can come together and have a great time.  I thank you for sticking with me and the blog while I have been away; but from January I will be back blogging regularly.  Well that is it really.

Mainly I wanted to wish you a merry Christmas, really have a wonderful time, enjoy yourself and I will see you in the new year.

Taking a break

Well I have decided to take a little break from blogging for a few weeks, but don't worry I will be back very soon for more on my projects, knitting news, and a lot more.  While I am away I will tidy up the blog and I will still be on Twitter and Facebook for knitting news.

We have had a good few weeks haven't we since I started back in October I hope you have enjoyed it.  I should just let you know I have not gone for good but I have stopped for a break.  I will be back at at Christmas to wish you a happy Christmas and then I will start properly in the new year.

Well I think that I will have to go now, I will see you at Christmas so until then good luck with Christmas shopping see you soon.

Knitting News (No.8)

It's knitting news again.  However it is the last in the current season of knitting news so I am going to do something a little different by summarising the knitting news since this blog started.

What's been happening?

Well we started way back in October and I must say the time has flown since then.  We started with just a small feature with news on a lady who knitted hats for soldiers fighting in Afghanistan   After a couple of weeks knitting news started to become a regular Wednesday feature on the blog.  We have had a lot of news of people knitting for people who are less fortunate than ourselves; which is absolutely fantastic to hear that such a wonderful craft is helping to do so much good in the world, this is done by some fantastic volunteers who give up their own time to help others by knitting.

What else have we found from the news well we have found that knitting is 'cool' as the craft is starting to attract a younger audience.  Plus we have learnt that knitting groups that meet up once in a while is helping communities to join together to become more friends.

It's Time To Face It

Hello again it has been a while since I have told you what has been happening; sorry about that.  This is going to be one of those posts where I don't actually have a plan as to what I am going to write.

I think that it is time I had to face it, I have been putting it off for a while; I need to find a new project.  There are a lot of patterns to choose from at Castle Stores but I am not sure what to do.  I have said before that I want to challenge myself, maybe have a go at some cabling where you make different patterns within the knitting.  What do you think I should do?

Well I think that I have rambled on enough for now.  Please join us on wednesday for knitting news and at the weekend.  Goodbye for now.

Knitting News (No.7)

Hello and welcome once again to the weeks news from the knitting and crafting world!
This week; a knitters record will help children who will not get a present this Christmas.  Plus we have a story about a lady who improved her knitting skills by joining a knitting group

Knitter Breaking Record helps Children

First up we go to North Thoresby, here a lady called Beryl from a knitting group has knit over 100 puppets to send to children round the world who are unlikely to get any gifts on Christmas day.

More on this story...

Knitting groups can get new knitters going

Here is the story about a lady who back in 2005 was struggling to knit her scarf but after attending a knitting group she is now able to knit a wide range of things, and she has also made good friends.

More on this story...

Well that is it for knitting news this week, don't forget to send me your knitting news by Facebook and Twitter.  See you soon.

Knitting News (No.6)

Hello welcome to knitting news here I am again to guide you through everything in the knitting and crafting world!
On the news today, knitting is so cool could it be that knitting is starting to appeal to a younger generation?  Also a group in Padstow has successful brought the community together which I reflect on how knitting has improved my confidence as a person.

Knitting is Cool!

A student who is 20 years old likes to knit and is saying knitting is now getting a more appealing to younger people.  It also helps them to relax.

More on this story...

Knitting Brings People together

A knitting group in Padstow has brought people from many different backgrounds together through knitting.  

More on this story...

Now knitting is a fantastic way to bring people together and you find that you talk to people that you may never thought that you would.  Speaking from my personal experience it has done wonders for my self confidence enough to write this blog!

And Finally...

I have found a clock that knits!  It is a bit slow; it takes a year to knit a scarf, still faster than me though!
More on this story...

My Cushion Cover (Part 2)

To know how much I needed for the back of my cushion cover I had to sew the front together.  We all decided to have a go at sewing it together with a linker.
Linkers are used to sew knitted clothing together, at Castle Stores we used to sew Jumpers together that were made on our knitting machines.  Although this is before I came on the team; so we need to work out how it works all over again:  We spent a lot of Sunday afternoon trying to work out how to use it again using an old jumper.  Then after a lot of trial and error my first seam was put together and it has sewn it together perfectly.  Then after a little while the front of the cover was complete.

On Wednesday Evening I finished the back of my cushion cover but after deliberation I decided to make two cushion covers and make the back of the cover with material so we get two for the price of one!

I will show you the finished cushions later so until then bye!

Breaking Knitting News

Yes I know that it is not Wednesday but this could not wait till then!

On Sunday it is remembrance day and knitters in Dorset have made poppies to raise money for the Royal British Legion

More on this story...

Knitting News (No.5)

Hello it's knitting news again.  Today; Knitting for the air ambulance a lady in Leeds has raised over £16,000 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.  Also Knitted Houses people in Hertfordshire show off their skills to try to show off the history of their town.

Knitting for the Air Ambulance

We start in Leeds where a lady had raised over £16,000 for the charity Yorkshire Air Ambulance. She has been knitting through hundreds of balls of yarn, and she now has as group of five knitters knitting many different clothes to sell.  She has even been named in parliament as just one person helping charities.

More on this story... 

Knitted Houses

People in Hertfordshire have knit models of buildings to try to gain a National Lottery grant to showcase the history of their town on their website.  The knitted buildings will be displayed at a church along with other artefacts with them about their town.
More on this story...

And Finally...

Now this is a way of knitting that I could get used to.  A knitting machine that all you have to do is sit down and relax.  Now I can do that!

More on this story...

Well that is it for this week, if you want to give me your knitting news I would love to hear it send me it through Facebook or twitter!

Knitting News (No.4)

Hello it's Wednesday so welcome to knitting news.  This week, knitted by nan's (no not cereal) but three pensioners have knitted the scarf that is in the top fashion but it costs nearly £1,000!  Plus Crochet Poppies are very popular for remembrance day in Glasgow but shops are running out of red yarn!

Knitted By Nans

This top fashion scarf is knit by Beatrace who is a retired school cook, she is knitting the top fashion scarf which costs nearly £1,000 for a British company.  Many fashion experts have described it as this winters 'must have!'  She has said that she enjoys knitting the scarves because she likes to be challenged.

More on this story...

Crochet Poppies

Hand made remembrance poppies have become very popular with people in Glasgow.  They take about half an hour to make and in Glasgow they are raising money for charity.  However knitting shops are running out of red yarn because of the popular demand.

More on this story...

My (Ongoing) Cushion Cover

All the parts to make a cushion cover

Have you ever had two projects on the go at the same time?  If you have then you are not alone.

You start each project with very good intentions but sometimes you just go off on a tangent and do something else.  Even last Saturday I was wondering what I should do next, until I realised that I still need to finish my cushion cover that I started many moons ago!

I am making it with several different colours of yarn, by crocheting (did I say that I could crochet) them into squares, which I will eventually make into a pattern.
I will sew the smaller squares together to make the front of the cover.  The back of the cushion cover (which is not finished, at the back of the picture) is just made out of one big square.  I don't know whether to use both sides to make one cushion, or to use material at the back to make what I have made into two cushions, what do you think?

Knitting News (No.3)

Hello and welcome once again to knitting news from the knitting and crafting world!

Knitting to look through history

First up we are in Glasgow where knitters from around Scotland come together to try and explore the history of knitting in Scotland.  They also want to teach the younger generation about how knitting can be part of the future of Scottish fashion and tourism.

More on this story...

Knitting for others

Finally we go to Epworth in Lincolnshire where knitters are knitting clothes and blankets for babies in hospital undergoing intensive care, and for people in care homes.

More on this story...

Well that is all the news this week, speak to you soon.

What next?

Well last week I showed you my tea cosy that I finished; but now I am wondering what next.  I am currently working on something (which I will write about soon) but I want to start thinking about what to make next after this.  I think that it is time to challenge myself, I fancy having a go at cabling knitting where you can make clever designs within the garment; it sounds complicated but I am willing to have a go (is that what you call famous last words?)

Well to be honest I have no idea, if you have an idea I would love to here your suggestions for ideas of what to make next.

(I always welcome comments please feel free to leave them).

Knitting News (No.2)

It is time for more knitting news!  
Hello and welcome once again to the news of what is going on in the knitting and crafting world.  In Swansea this week is a story about a group of knitters who have shown their kindness and warm hearts as they knit blankets for the homeless people of Swansea.  The article says that the group have 'knit fourteen blankets in total' which is fantastic.
More on this story...

The Big Knitathon
Also on Knitting news The Big Issue are organising an event this year called the Big Knitathon.  This encourages both new and experienced knitters to knit six inch squares and send it to the big issue to be made into one big quilt.  They are also hoping to set a world record of the most people knitting at the same time, lets hope they can.
More on this story...

Well that is all from the knitting news this time, I will speak to you very soon.

Tea Cosy

My Tea Cosy

Sometimes it can be difficult to settle down into a new crafty project because I find that I can have a lot of work that needs to be done.  This is where our knitting group comes in handy because I can dedicate myself to a couple of hours each week to work on the things that I am making, and it is really enjoyable sitting with a fun and friendly group where everyone is happy to help each other.

My most recent project is a tea cosy, to be honest it has taken me quite a while but (and it is the same old excuse) I got busy and sort of, well... forgot about it!  However I have now got my act together and after a few weeks of just knitting in my spare time I came up with this fully functioning tea cosy.

It looks rather like something from the 1960's doesn't it!  Well I like it, and as I said from the first post in my blog I am happy to say that, with a bit of help, I made that!

Knitting News (No.1)

Hello again.  Today I have read about a lady called 'Win Rowe' who has knit hats for a charity:  The hats are sent to the forces who are currently fighting in Afghanistan.  I think that it is fantastic what she does and it must be a real comfort for the people doing a great job out there putting their lives on the line for us.

Read the full story here.

Castle Stores: Behind the Stitches of... Scarf Yarn

Castle Stores: Behind the Stitches of... Scarf Yarn: Behind the stitches is where we allow you to take a look into Castle Stores and our products so lets have a look behind the stitches at out scarf yarn...

Hello World!

(Isn't that what most people use as a title for their first post?) Oh well.

Hello and welcome to behind the stitches!  A blog which looks at the things happening at castle stores and the general knitting and crafting world!

I will always have a go at knitting (and similar crafts) and I think it is fantastic the way that you can make something and no matter how many problems you have when it is finished you can be proud to say that "I made that!"


By the way the first behind the stitches post is on our main blog