Uncategorized Archives — Picking Up Stitches

Christmas is coming (and it’s only November!)

November 16, 2021 by Annie Leave a Comment

Christmas preparations always come early when you’re designing and making cards and decorations for the festive season. Sure as sure can be, Christmas creeps up and is here before you know it! And those cards and decorations need to be ready for eager customers in plenty of time.

(If you’d like to count down to Christmas yourself – why not make my Advent Calendar – instructions are here)

As a result, I’ve been hard at work over the past few weeks, crochet hook in hand and Rico Ricorumi DK (which is available online from sites like Wool Warehouse) in all sorts shades in front of me, to rustle up more Christmas-tastic delights.

This year, I’ve come up with a couple of extra designs to add to the existing crocheted Christmas range, as I’ve been asked to sell my crocheted goodies at a lovely shop in my hometown of Broadstairs, on the Thanet coast.

The shop is called The Store, and is a cafe/deli/craft shop all in one, on the town’s main high street, just a few steps from Viking Bay beach! You sit and have a coffee and cake, then browse the local handmade craft on offer, or pick up a speciality cheese, or some jam to take home.

Christmas Workshops ahead!

I’m also going to be running some crocheted snowflake and stars workshops in The Store’s back room next month – here’s a taste of the sort of motif you’ll be able to learn to make. The workshops will be suitable for beginners and more experienced crocheters alike, so if you’re interested and live nearby, just drop me a line and I’ll send you details once the workshop booking is open (info@pickingupstitches.com). And if you’re interested in learning on Zoom, just head here for details

Christmas crochet stars and snowflakes — *Snowflakes and stars*

This year’s range

Anyway, I thought you’d like to see some of the little Christmas items of mine you’ll be able to buy in The Store

First I’ve rustled up some more of last years most popular items:

Santa’s made a reappearance, and, of course, there are baubles, Christmas trees and reindeer too.

So many people asked for more dogs, that I had to come up with a new pack – this time with smart bows on their collars.

And for all those feline fans, I’ve added a selection of kitties too!

They come in all sorts of colour. To keep them company, I’ve added a new mouse – this time he’s wearing red antlers!

All the cards say “Season’s Greetings” and have a detachable Xmas bauble – the new ones this year are holly and ivy – and here they are in The Store’s window!

Crocheted cards in The Store's window display

Hopefully see you in The Store when you visit our lovely seaside town…

Blanket coverage – time to get cosy!

February 17, 2021 by Annie Leave a Comment

A blanket was just what was called for over the past few weeks. It’s been FREEZING here, so I’ve been busy finishing yet another one. Although they take some time, I really like to have a blanket on the go to pick up and crochet while I watch the TV.

I thought you all might like to see the blankets I’ve made so far. There’s also news of my Waffle Stitch blanket. The pattern’s here! (And don’t forget, I’m offering 1-2-1 Zoom lessons if you want to learn how to crochet any of the stitches seen in this post!)

Here’s the oldest blanket I have. I didn’t make it, my grandmother Vera did, back in the 1960s.

She knitted it in strips from wool left over from garments she’d made (hence the rather odd colour choices!). We lived with her as a child and I always remember her with a blanket on the go. This is the one that I had on my bed all through my childhood. It came with me to college and to every place I’ve lived since. It’s now full of holes, but my dog Lily doesn’t seem to mind, as it’s now on her bed!

Lockdown blankets

I started my first lockdown blanket during the summer of 2020. I chose to order the Attic24 Dune kit. You can find the pattern here and the kit here. It seemed relevant, as I live at the seaside, and it has a lovely shell-like pattern in soft, shoreline colours…

Although it was so boiling hot, I crocheted it happily outside in the garden, and it didn’t take too long once I got started!

I used it in my craft room at the end of the garden – mostly as a blanket for Lily to lie on at my feet while I stitched!

My friend Ellen has spent all of lockdown alone in her flat near the Yorkshire moors. I knew she’d love a cosy blanket for Christmas. I used another Attic24 stitch pattern – this time Neat Ripple – but I used blues and greens with shots of mustard and orange. She loves it!

It’s big enough for a single bed (or the end of a sofa!)

Strangely, my sister Helen sent me a picture of the blanket she’d just finished – the colours are very similar, aren’t they!

One for our home

I then thought I’d crochet my partner David a contemporary style blanket. I decided to design one in waffle stitch. I’ve put the pattern here (and if you’d like help with making it, I offer 1-2-1 Zoom lessons too). It’s ended up being a stylish addition to our sofa – so warm, in modern colours from Stylecraft DK.

Blanket design that's coming soon - the Waffle Blanket

A blanket-coat for Lily

Of course, Lily couldn’t be missed out. As she didn’t need yet another blanket, I designed her a blanket-style waffle coat which she wore happily when out in the freezing snowy weather.

I’d love to see your blankets!

Learning to crochet or knit on Zoom!

November 6, 2020 by Annie 4 Comments

Learning a new skill is a brilliant thing to do at any time. But especially during lockdown, it’s wonderful to take up a new craft to keep you busy while you’re stuck at home.

For me, teaching people to knit or crochet has been so difficult since the beginning of lockdown. I always like to be able to see clearly what people are doing when I’m teaching them. That way, I can help them with whatever they’re finding most challenging. Here’s one of the lessons I held in North London last year, before the pandemic hit our shores.

Of course now, with the two-metre rule, teaching like that is almost impossible. I’d been wondering about how I could carry on teaching people who were interested in learning to crochet or to knit during lockdown, and I’ve now decided to offer one-to-one lessons using Zoom!

That way you can still get individual attention and learn how to make exactly what you want! Also, I’ll be able to teach you, wherever you live! Even if you live outside of London or Thanet, where I usually teach

So although I won’t be teaching you like this…

Learning to crochet at a cafe before lockdown

… you’ll still have my undivided attention, just via a screen.

If you haven’t yet used Zoom, all you need is a computer or tablet and an internet connection – it’s so easy! Don’t worry, I’ll explain exactly what you need to do…

Just think what you’ll be able to make!

And what a brilliant pastime knitting and crocheting is while you’re stuck at home! I’ve been busy finishing all sorts of projects – I finally had time to crochet a blanket by Attic24 I’d been meaning to make for ages…

Just think – if you learn now, you’ll still be in time to crochet or knit some Christmas presents! So take a look at the crochet projects on my page here or decide what you’d like to learn to knit and drop me a line if you’re interested in arranging a lesson… More info here