Spotlight the teacher - Interview - Odd Sock House

knitting meet the teacher Nov 09, 2023

In 2023 we are running a very special campaign spotlighting our amazing teachers.  This means that we will be sharing information about their business, finding out what makes them unique, and interviewing them to find out more about them and what services and products they offer. We are so proud of our teachers and really want to show them off whilst giving them the opportunity to promote their businesses. This October and November we are spotlighting the amazing Rachel Armytage from Odd Sock House who you can read more about in the interview below!

Can you give us a bit of background, where you live, family, when you started teaching knitting and how teaching knitting came about for you?
I live in Badsworth, which is a village in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. I live with… my husband, my teenage son Theo,  Archie the Lurcher, Dexter the Jack Russell, Daisy the Westie, and three chickens; Barbara, Dua Lipa (don’t ask!) and Camilla. I have a daughter who...

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Spotlight the teacher - Interview - Purlwise

knitting meet the teacher Apr 26, 2023

In 2023 we are running a very special campaign spotlighting one of our amazing teachers each month.  This means that we will be sharing information about their business, finding out what makes them unique, and interviewing them to find out more about them and what services and products they offer. We are so proud of our teachers and really want to show them off whilst giving them the opportunity to promote their businesses. In April we are spotlighting the lovely Jacqui from Purlwise who tells us all in the interview below, read on to find out more. Also stay tuned for a blog post from Jacqui coming soon!

Hi Jacqui! Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family and where you live?
I live in Brampton (the one near Cambridge not Cumbria ) with my husband and Madam Margaux, our dog.  She’s not really called Madam but definitely has ideas above her station. I have a grown son who lives just a few minutes away.

What inspired you to start a knitting...

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Knitting and Crochet with Deafblind Scotland by Alison McKie

I have had the immense privilege of facilitating a knitting and crochet group with members of Deafblind Scotland for the past few years.

“How do dual sensory impaired people knit - or crochet?” is a question I am frequently asked. After all, even those of us who do not have sight or hearing problems often struggle! Quite simply as all knitters and crocheters know, both crafts are very tactile, and with such a finely honed sense of touch, the members are often aware of “errors” in their work, which they can feel, but which I can hardly see! More than once I have reassured someone that what they feel as an imperfection, will not be seen, or noticed, by anyone else!

Initially the group was a face-to-face group, held in Deafblind Scotland’s national headquarters in a Glasgow suburb. The majority of members were assisted by a guide communicator, who translated what I was saying into British Sign Language (BSL). For those who have very limited...

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Five reasons to teach your child to knit this summer

kids knit knitting Jun 24, 2021

1: Enjoy time Together. Teaching your child to knit is a wonderful activity that you can both enjoy together. Set aside time to collect up some supplies and then find a nice, shady place to sit and begin knitting.

2: Keep their little brains learning. The school books might get put away in the holidays, but the learning doesn’t need to stop. Your children won’t even realise they are learning maths, spacial recognition, dexterity and creative skills while they are making something out of yarn and pair of sticks!

3: Time for Consolidation. Learning to knit takes effort and time. With weeks and weeks of school holidays ahead of you, there will be plenty of time to learn and consolidate new found skills.

4: Meaningful and wholesome alternative to screens. Do you worry about the amount of time your children spend looking at tablets, computers or the tv? Be pro-active about this problem and help them discover how fun and creative knitting really is.

5: Sow seeds of confidence...

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To block or not to block - by Samira Hill

knitting May 20, 2021

Time to throw some clarity on that famous closing phrase at the end of most patterns: “weave ends and block to size”…

I am always amazed at the equally amazed looks I get from a lot of very experienced, or long time knitters and crocheters I come across at my classes and workshops, when I ask them if they have blocked their piece, or whether these measurements are taken before or after blocking. 

I suspect some of you might be wearing that same look right now, as you are reading this! 

The answer I usually get is: “I don’t know what you mean!” I then respond quoting the end of the pattern, followed by “oh, I just ignore that bit cause I don’t know what that means”, or “I didn’t do it because I don’t know how to do it”.

This might make you think that if they have been knitting and crocheting for so long without blocking, then it can’t be very important.  And you may be right,...

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Kids Knit - New Book

kids knit knitting Oct 07, 2020

 

Kids Knit is the perfect starter book for children wanting to learn how to knit. Packed with 20 fun patterns and top tips for knitting success, this comprehensive children’s knitting course starts with basic knitting skills and gradually increases in complexity as the book progresses.

Children begin with chunky, wooden needles to create simple shapes using Rowan Big Wool. The key at this stage is to get projects completed quickly so children grow in confidence and see themselves as creatively capable. As they move through the patterns, skills are consolidated and new skills introduced.

Post your Kids Knit makes on social media with the hashtag #kidsknitbook

BUY ON AMAZON

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Five reasons you should knit on holiday

knitting Jul 01, 2020

1:  Get into holiday mode. The holiday feeling starts the moment you begin choosing your patterns and shopping for your holiday yarn.  Enjoy perusing and squishing until you find the perfect colour, texture and weight.

2:  Hanging about in the airport, delays or long journeys? If you have your knitting with you, this won’t feel like time wasted.

3:  It’s the ultimate relaxation activity. The repetitive movements of repeatedly knitting stitches has been likened to meditation.  Furthermore, concentrating on complex knitting patterns and skills allows your mind to focus entirely on your knitting and forces you to leave behind the stresses of work and home life.

4:  Meet new people.  Your knitting will spark lots of conversations and before you know it you will make lots of new holiday friends.

5:  Take home a special keepsake from your holiday.  Long after your sun tan has faded (or your sun burn has healed) and the sand has gone...

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One Ball Beanie

Using just one ball of Rowan Big Wool, this easy garter stitch beanie style hat is a real stunner!

Materials: 100g Rowan Big Wool

Needles:  8mm single point needles

Notions:  Tapestry needle for sewing up

Abbreviations:  k2tog: Decrease by knitting 2 together

Tension:  8mm needles and in Garter Stitch: 10cm = 10 stitches and 24 rows

 

PATTERN

Cast on 48 stitches. Knit 30 rows.

Decrease for the crown of the hat

Row 31: *K4, k2tog, repeat from * to end (40 stitches) Row 32: Knit
Row 33: * K3, k2tog, repeat from * to end (32 stitches) Row 34: Knit
Row 35: * K2, k2tog, repeat from * to end (24 stitches) Row 36: Knit
Row 37: * K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end (16 stitches) Row 38: Knit
Row 39: * k2tog, repeat from * to end (8 stitches)

Cut the yarn leaving a long end to sew up. Then thread the end through all the remaining stitches. Pull up tight and secure with some sewing. Sew the sides of your hat together.

Decorate with a...

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Six well known benefits of knitting

Every knitter knows the joy that knitting brings.  Just squidging some lovely hand dyed alpaca yarn and giving it a sniff relaxes us and makes us feel good!  But just in case you need a reminder โ€“ here are just six of the many great benefits knitting brings us.

  • It helps relieve feelings of stress, worry and depression
  • It helps prevent arthritis and tendinitis
  • Itโ€™s a great way to escape the chaos of everyday life
  • It improves maths skills and spacial recognition
  • It might delay the onset of dementia
  • It provides opportunities to meet with like-minded people

And thatโ€™s just the beginning!  

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10 Great Things About Kids Knit

kids knit knitting Jan 03, 2020

Our Kids Knit Programme features 4 levels of knitting: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert. Within each level, there are many projects to choose from which are specifically designed to be appropriate for that level and ability. Each project aims to consolidate skills learned in the previous project whilst introducing a new ones.

Our award winning classes are available in schools, cafes, church halls and the homes of our teachers. They are fantastically successful with children clamouring to join in the fun and learn new skills.

But Kids Knit isn’t just about learning crafting skills. Here’s what’s so great about our Kids Knit classes!

 

1.  Building Confidence. 

Confidence is the key to success in learning any new skill. Most of the projects are fairly quick to knit, especially in the Beginner stage. This allows the children to take satisfaction from having achieved something and encourages them to get started on something new, which...

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