Hi there,

Well at just after 4 on a quiet Friday afternoon, I have officially reached that friday feeling and looking forward to an evening in with the fiance and a glass of wine.

Having been left alone in the office today, apart from one other designer who works on another of our magazines I felt the need to bring myself up to date with the rest of the ladies and let loose my first blog. Having felt left out as the others take on the technical world of blogging I decided a username and password were all I needed to get me going. Oooo the fun you can have when the others are away. I have had to do it all today, answer calls check emails oh and the small matter of work as we are speedily working towards the deadline for our November issue.

With Editor Emma in the Lake District, Deputy Ed Emma off camping down to what looks like a wet weekend camping in Wales and Assistant Katy off, I was left to my own devices. I think I have done all I was supposed to, and I even cleaned the office, not that anyone will probably notice for the amount of yarn around, still its tidy for me.

Still from the Designer of Knitting have a lovely bank holiday weekend, I hear the sun is supposed to shine, so here's to that large glass of wine with the better half and a lovely weekend.

Ooooo I'm now an official blogger!!!

Claire

The October issue has just arrived in the office and it’s so pretty and autumnal we’re ready to say goodbye to another too-short summer and embrace the new season and all that comes with it – snuggling into big chunky cardis for brisk walks on crisp days, making jams and chutneys in preparation for winter (this is my new obsession) and accessorising with chic hats, scarves and gloves (before they become a necessity). So with that in mind, here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store for you in the latest edition to hit the shelves 3 September…



We like to bring you exclusive patterns, by top designers, that make you feel a little but smug because they won’t be found anywhere else. Erika Knight’s stunning Hacking jacket is just one of these.



This lovely textured cable shrug is designed by Marie Wallin for the Rowan Lima collection to support one of Rowan’s newest yarns, Lima, a baby alpaca/merino wool mix for A/W 09.



This pretty paisley tunic, in the lightest mohair, is elegance, luxury and comfort all rolled into one.





Other great things to look out for in this issue

- Profile on American knitwear designer Teva Durham

- Take it to the streets: knit graffiti feature

- Graduate Fashion Week 2009 roundup

- Short row shaping part 2 and cute camisole pattern

- FREE long length pearly pins



Don't miss it!

Hello Knitting fans,

Just thought I'd pop on here for five minutes and take a break from our very busy schedule. The reason things are so hectic is because we're working on some very exciting new pages which will make their first appearance in our autumn and winter issues, on sale in a couple of months' time. Yes, that's right, we're glamming things up a bit and giving the contents a revamp for the new season.

I'm not going to spoil the surprises in store, but I can promise you that some real treats are coming up for autumn and winter projects, which you're going to love knitting for everyone's Christmas presents (if you can handle giving them away once you're done). We've got some extremely gorgeous garments planned into the next few months of galleries and our near-future issues will be crammed full of the hottest happenings in the knitting world.

That's all folks, but keep your eyes peeled for the October issue, fresh on the shelves from 3 September. I'm off camping in Wales now with the husband, sister and her other half in what will undoubtedly turn out to be the sequel to Carry On Camping. All together now... "Ooh Matron!"

Have a good Bank Holiday.

Emma W

If someone had told me, not so many moons ago, I would be doing a blog I would have looked behind to see who they were talking to. But, as is the way of the world, I have been dragged, technologically-challenged, kicking and screaming, into the online world of communicating.

So here goes.

Yesterday was the first round of judging for the Student Knitted Textile Awards 2009. Although this competition has been up and running since 2001, it was the first year I took my place at the judges table. Feeling slightly nervous in the company of Professor Sandy Black (Professor of Fashion and Textiles, London College of Fashion), designer Erika Knight, Fiona Ross (Senior Lecturer for Fashion Textiles at Bucks New University), and of course Chris Kingdom (UK Hand Knitting Association), I went off to meet everyone for lunch in Brighton, before starting the actual judging process. Having rather rashly offered my house for this to take place in, I suddenly realized it was the summer holidays and it was quite possible I would have three teenage boys skulking around the place. Not quite the slick professional front I wanted to present! However, teenage boys are easy to bribe and we had the place to ourselves.

Having all had a lovely lunch (in possibly the world’s slowest restaurant) we began in earnest at 3.00pm. With a record number of entries – 83 in total! – we got stuck in. The standard was incredibly high, with a very strong emphasis on fashion this year, and whittling down the entries to just 15 was tough. There were a few heated moments along the way, (where a unanimous decision on a couple of entries took a little longer to achieve) and we finally finished, inspired but tired at 8.45pm.

The final 15 entries will be on display at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexander palace (8-11 October) so if you are going you MUST visit the student showcase and see for yourself. You won’t be disappointed – it’s going to be fantastic.

It’s official…I’m a blogger!

In the name of research (honestly) I came across the awesomeness of these knitted film characters on the Total Film website. My favourite by far has to be knitted Hellboy, though the Shaun of the Dead and Freddy Kreuger ones made me laugh. In fact they're kind of macabre. View at your own peril!



http://www.totalfilm.com/features/10-wonderful-knitted-movie-characters#content

Good things come in threes...



We now have the schedule (subject to leg stretching and tea breaks) for signings/demos by Debbie Bliss, Nicky Epstein and Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton on our stand G14 at the Knitting and Stitching Show, Alexandra Palace Thurs 8th – Sun 11th October 2009.



Thurs:

10am – 11am Nicky Epstein

12pm – 1pm Debbie Bliss

2pm – 3pm Nicky Epstein



Fri:

10am – 11am Nicky Epstein

12pm – 1pm Debbie Bliss

2pm – 3pm Nicky Epstein

3pm – 4pm Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton



Sat:

10am – 11am Nicky Epstein

12pm – 1pm Debbie Bliss

2pm – 3pm Nicky Epstein

3pm – 4pm Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton



Sun:

10am – 11am Nicky Epstein

12pm – 1pm Debbie Bliss

2pm – 3pm Nicky Epstein



They will be signing their latest books, including Debbie's Design it, Knit it, Cornelia's Noro and Nicky's Knitting a Kiss in Every Stitch, which is a world exclusive and won't be available anywhere else until November!



Don't forget, you get a 10% discount on all books at the Knitting/GMC stand at Ally Pally, so bring those sturdy bags (you can also get an additional 10% off all books from our stand with the November issue of Knitting!).

It’s official, not one, not two, but three fabulous designers will be gracing the Knitting stand (G14) at Alexandra Palace for this year’s Knitting and Stitching Show!

We’re very excited to have the lovely Debbie Bliss, Nicky Epstein and Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton gracing us with their presence, signing their latest books (check out November issue 69 of Knitting for more info) and chatting to readers throughout the weekend, so don’t miss your chance to meet them!

A timetable of their schedule will be up soon to help you plan your fun and frolics so keep checking back.