It's not long now until National Knitting Week (13th-21st October) and one of the highlights in the run up this year is  the Knitting and Stitching Show at the NEC Birmingham (13th-16th September). Some of the attractions this year include:



1. A fantastic range of products on sale from over 150 unique suppliers

2. Daily fashion shows. Choose from Patons and Rowan's new autumn collection or Junky Styling Ethical Fashion or The College Catwalk - the very best talent emerging from UK fashion courses in 2007. Can't choose? Then come along to the FREE 4pm highlights of the day fashion show.

3. The fabulous fibre work of Suhandan Ozay. As well as being a textile, fashion and accessory designer she is also Head of Textile-Fashion at Dokuz Eylul University Izmir Turkey.

4. Hiroshi Murasi - Master Shibori Dyer. A very very rare opportunity to not only meet Hiroshi Murasi and to see his work but also to take part in a fabulous one-day masterclass. Hiroshi will teach basic shibori techniques using unique dye created from persimmon tannin, Kaki Shibu. Cloth and washi paper will be patterned in shades of brown and strengthened by this special vegetable substance. Only 3 places remaining.

5. A fantastic array of gallery exhibitions from top international textile artists and collections such as Helene Soubeyran, The 62 Group, Primmy and Jessie Chorley, Julie Arkell, Tilleke Schwarz, Jeanette Appleton and Miao Embroidery curated by June Hill.

6. FREE afternoon tea with your favourite stars. Each afternoon at 3.45pm designers such as Susan Ryder and Brandon Mabley will discuss their secrets with you over a cuppa. (free tickets for this event can be collected on the day from The Learning Curve desk).

7. FREE Get Inspired Film Theatre.  Each day there will be 5 film shows starting at 11am. FREE popcorn with the 4pm show! (collect free tickets for this event on the day from The Learning Curve desk).

8. A version of Changing Rooms! Each day Coats Crafts UK will set up a room with basic neutral furnishings and over the course of the day a designer will show you how easy everyday items can be transformed with a little bit of imagination and creativity.

9. The Learning Curve programme. You can join in on any of the 25 different classes being offered each day – ranging from Gold on Canvas to Nifty Necklaces. See the full programme on www.twistedthread.com

10. Stay over at the Hilton and join in the Candlenight Dinner on Thursday 13 September. Call for details on 020 8692 2299.



Doll and creatures from Julie Arkell

It seems only five minutes since Kate, Editor of Knitting, announced her resignation but the day has come when the rest of us on the Knitting team have to say goodbye. She has been here six and a half years, but has decided the time is right to take a chance at freelancing.



I have only been at Knitting for just over a year, during which time Kate has overseen the complete redesign of the magazine, the increase to 13 issues a year and many 'ups and downs' but she has never failed to be cheerful and dedicated to bringing out the best magazine possible.



So thank you Kate, and good luck, we will miss you!







Designer Claire, Deputy Ed Emma, (Ex!) Editor Kate, Advertising Sales

Emma and Assistant Ed Katie at Kate's leaving presentation

Sandy Black, Erika Knight and me!

BY KATE TAYLOR, EDITOR OF KNITTING

This year’s National Knitting Week in October promises to be a feast for the senses, with thousands of visitors flocking to The Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace in London to see the brightest and best textiles in the land.

The day before we went to press on our October issue I met up with knitting and crochet designer, author and globe-trotting yarn industry guru Erika Knight, London College of Fashion’s Prof of Fashion & Textile Design & Technology Sandy Black and UK Hand Knitting Association spokeswoman Chris Kingdom. We had the wonderful task of selecting a shortlist from entries to the annual Knitted Textile Student Awards. 74 fashion and textile students and new graduates entered the award this year and we all agreed that the standard has risen over the last few years. The award is sponsored by Knitting magazine, along with the UKHKA and the organisers of the Knitting and Stitching Show. The final winner will be chosen by a panel of experts at the show in London during National Knitting Week.

We feel that this award is exciting for the knitting world because students bring a fresh approach to knitted textiles. With no preconceptions about what knitwear and knitted home accessories should be, they are free to experiment. Themes such as urban decay can lead to fascinating knitted designs replicating peeling paint and rust colours and textures. One student interpreted anatomical drawings in knitting, with fascinating results. Another was inspired by Formula 1 car tyres! Others came up with catwalk-ready knitwear designs or product design prototypes. It's a truly arty approach and one that we applaud and enjoy each year, in the knowledge that if you can't experiment creatively as a student, when can you? Time enough for designing sensible jumpers later! Judges are looking for innovation and skill with both hand and machine knitted textiles.

The October and November issues of Knitting will feature a picture preview of just some of the shortlisted entries that will be winging their way to Chris Kingdom just in time for display at the Knitting and Stitching Shows in Birmingham, London and Harrogate!





Tyres, Samantha Williams, Solihull





Shoes, Liria Pristine, London



Fashion by Rosemary Haddon, Winchester School of Art                                                                                                             



Chiffon & knitting by Hayley Watkinson, University of Central Lancashire                                                                                                                                      

Monday saw the photoshoot for Knitting issue 43 (November) and an intrepid team including Kate the Editor, photographer Chris Gloag, stylist Jane Postlethwaite and model Samantha hiked up to the Jill Windmill in Clayton, West Sussex. Windmill volunteer Simon Potter was on hand too to help with scene-setting and vertigo!

For a look behind the scenes, go here: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vZPuiWHMLWM.



There are some lovely autumny knits coming up in this issue, such as the Lilith lacy shawl in green Louet Kidlin from Luciana Swannell of Foreign Strand, the Pink Peony cardigan and Hermione hat in Sublime angora and a lovely cream cable-knit cape in RYC luxury cotton DK. Toy fans will be glad to see that there is a very cute hedgehog pattern too.



Speaking of animals, it may be only August but we are already receiving a menagerie of knitted creatures through the post for our Noah's Ark competition for National Knitting Week. The prizes include these lovely Bobbi and Baby Bobbi Bear kits from Blue Sky Alpacas: don't be deceived by the name, these teds are big! So if you haven't yet had a go, there's still time to get knitting.