Always Knitting

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T13:27:00.000-08:00

I would like to wish everyone a healthy , prosperous and happy 2012. May all your dreams come true and may you never lose your interest in knitting and crafts !! What a year it has been in so many ways for me, new books published and many designs featured in magazines. Craftseller magazine have now enlisted me to produce designs for them on a regular basis which is great fun. 2012 will see the publication of three new books, one is out in April and the other two will follow towards the fall. A follow up to my Cutest Ever Baby Knits, this time for Toddlers is due out in early 2013. Lots of new toys planned for next year so be on the look out for them in Let's Knit magazine. I would like to thank everyone for buying my books and also for your lovely letters and pictures of your fantastic work that you share with me. Keep them coming !!
Happy 2012 and Happy Knitting to everyone everywhere. Godbless.

Cutest Ever Baby Knits Errata

2011-11-05T13:23:00.000-07:00

A few silly mistakes/typos are showing up in my latest baby book so I thought I would list them for anyone who needs to use them.

Ballet Wrap cardigan. On the back pattern Row 5 : should read repeat from * to * to last 4sts and NOT 5sts as listed in the pattern.

Christening Bib. You should cast on 42sts and NOT 44sts as listed in the pattern.

Baby Blue Bootees : Tension should read 32sts x 36 rows.

Just Rosie Baby Set. Pattern Row 1 should read : K1, * yfwd, sl1,k2tog, psso, yfwd,K5 * rep from * to * to last 4sts, yfwd, sl1,k2tog,psso,ywfd,k1.

Teddie Hoodie : After casting off / binding off for sleeves you will be left with 41 sts and NOT 31 st as stated in the pattern.

Bears, Bootees and Babies !!

2011-09-17T00:42:00.000-07:00

It has been quite the year for me already, more books written and published and three more books in the pipe line, inbetween doing all this I design many projects for magazines too. Sometimes I wonder where I find the time, but when your job is doing what you love best then I guess it's all a pleasure and never a chore. My 20 to Make crochet bears and mini crochet christmas are doing so well, I loved designing and making the projects for them both, perhaps the Christmas book was my favourite though : ) There is just something special about a praying angel and a snowflake. I am going to put some free patterns on my web site soon, a toy of sorts I think since my toys are always so popular. Havn't decided which one as yet. My two latest books will be on sale in a couple of months time, 20 to Make Bootees and Cutest Ever Baby Knits. I loved designing and making the projects for them, though that was quite a few months ago. Nothing prettier than baby bootees and there are quite the range to chose from, super cute duckling slippers to tiny lace up baby trainers !! I love recieving all your letters, it is so nice to know that you enjoy making my designs. Folks from all around the world contact me and I endeavor to answer everyone as quickly as I can. Once again thankyou to everyone who buys my books, and those of you who knit the toys and projects I design for Knit Today and Let's Knit, youmake my hard work so worthwhile. I a always happy to help anyone, be it with problems or sourcing materials forprojects, just drop me a line ay my email on my website. Wishing you all a wonderful Fall, and Happy Knitting to everyone everywhere.

Teddy Head Making Up Instructions

2011-05-10T08:19:00.000-07:00

A few people have had problems making up the head of the bears in my 20 to Make Teddy book. I have now got a PDF file with extra charts and some details to help. If you would like me to send them to you, then please email me from my website by clicking on the " envelope " on the contacts page and I will be pleased to forward them to you.

Shirley Bear and teddies

2011-02-16T00:57:00.001-08:00

I have many, many letters about the teddy bears I make, they are so popular with just about everyone . I love making them, and have to tell you that there are more surprise bears on the way. One or two people have mentioned that they have a few problems with the clothes not fitting very well. It is a dificult one to explain since when the bear is stuffed it can make a huge difference to its finished size ! I designed and made my bear to be about 8in tall when stuffed, so the clothes are designed to fit that size. If the bear is overstuffed he will be too big and ofcourse understuffing will mean he is too small !! Everyone knits to a slightly different tension and yarns used make a big difference to either clothes or the actual bears. So my advice to all who make the teddy bears is to ensure your bear measures the correct size when you have finished him then the clothes should also fit well too. I do hope that helps, but if anyone has any problems then please do contact me as I am always happy to help if I can. Shirley Bear pattern is now available from me via my website, no need to search for the pattern in back copies of magazines any more or bid high prices on Ebay !!
Happy knitting to everyone.

Happy New Year

2011-01-31T06:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone who visits my web site and thankyou to all of you who have purchased my books and said such lovely things about them . It makes all my hard work worth while when I read your letters and see the gorgeous teddy bears and toys you have made !! Keep sending me the pictures , they are fantastic. It was quite the year for me last year, writing books and designing new toys and projects. This year will see four new books on the shelves and I am so thrilled about it. I have written a book with designs for really cute baby clothes, another branch added to my tree, and I am so pleased with how the projects look. Cutest Ever Baby Knits will be out in the Autumn. I have also written a companion book to Tiny knitted Teddy bears in the 20 to Make Series, but this time they are tiny crochet bears, to please all you crochet lovers out there !! I am currently working on two more books, they should be finished soon. Also there are some surprise toys coming up in Lets Knit and Knit Today so watch out for them in coming issues. Roll on the warm weather, we have had enough of the snow I think, although having to stay inside gives plenty of time for getting busy with the needles. I hope you all have a fantastic year ahead, enjoy your knitting and crochet and do let me know if I can help in any way with patterns or questions, I love to help if I can.
best wishes and Happy Knitting !!

Tiny Teddies and New Toys

2010-09-01T23:27:00.001-07:00

The year is fast going, September already and what a year it has been for me. Two new books on the shelves and three more books on the way to being written, not to mention the toys and projects I have designed for varoius magazines along the way. My "20 to Make Tiny Teddies all dressed up " continues to be ever popular which is fantastic, I am so happy that folks love making the bears for themselves. I have lots of letters asking for help in making up the head so have decided to write a detailed instruction and put it on my web site to help every one . Maybe I can even add a few photos to make it even clearer.
New patterns are about to appear on the patterns page, that is being taken care of by the guy who made my website for me, it is just finding enough time in the day to do everything I want. I am so thrilled that my toys in Let's Knit and Knit Today are so loved, it makes all the hard work and hours involved so worthwhile. Thankyou to everyone who makes them !
I love to see pictures of what you have made, keep right on sending them to me.
Wishing you all a wonderful Auntum, and HAPPY KNITTING too.

Spring is around the corner !

2010-03-31T02:27:00.000-07:00

My ever increasing pile of projects is in need of a spring clean so I am going be selling all my designer sample that have been photographed for numerous magazines. There are some beautiful toys as well as socks, hats, gloves to mention but a few. I will post pictures and prices of what is available on my web site. Just finishing off my third book, hoping too that it will be as popular as my little teddy bears !! More very fun toys to come in Lets Knit very soon, so do watch out for them. It will be so nice to have some warm spring sunshine, makes everything look better. Meantime, lots more knitting to do !!
I have had some gorgeous pictures of work you have done, especially of Shirley bear. Keep sending the pictures, I love to see them.
Happy Knitting to one and all, Val