My Favourite Links
Here are just a few of my favourite links – blogs, shops, cafes, people. Hope you like them too…
Shops
SlipStitch, Muswell Hill – 10 minutes’ walk from Alexandra Palace, this lovely shop has yarn and accessories, books and kits, plus lots of beautiful craft pieces by local folk to buy.
Loop, Angel – a delight on two floors, this shop has lots of special sumptuous yarn, plus loads of books, and you may find someone spinning upstairs, or knitting on the sofa.
Wild & Woolly – a sweet, compact shop in Hackney that’s full of gorgeous yarn, some even hand dyed locally. Lots of accessories and books and patterns too.
YAK – a lovely wool shop in the heart of trendy Brighton, where I’ve taught a number of crochet classes.
Cafes, bars and more
Just some of the places I’ve taught crochet and knitting – they’re great place to just drop in for a coffee and a bite to eat.
Bessie’s Tea Parlour, Broadstairs – a sweet little cafe with a nostalgic feel, and scrummy home-made cakes and more – great for a spot of afternoon tea served on vintage china!
Chapel Bar, Broadstairs – a bar in an ancient listed chapel a stone’s throw from the seafront – not only that, but it’s a second-hand bookshop too, and upstairs is a cute little room that’s perfect for sitting and crocheting
The Arthouse, Crouch End – a fantastic independent cinema, which has knowledgeable, friendly staff. It shows a mixture of blockbusters and art films and documentaries on its two screens, and always has local art on display in the cafe/bar. And best of all, it’s a great place for knitting and crochet classes.
Front Room Cafe, Finsbury Park – such a wonderful, welcoming cafe just off Stroud Green Road. Big tables, yummy food and cakes and coffee – it really does feel homely!
The Home Front Tea Rooms – a lovely, homely, 40s styled cafe in King Street, Ramsgate, which even has wartime classics like pilchards on toast and spam sandwiches on the menu!
International Food Centre Cafe – fantastic shop in Cliftonville, Margate with an incredible range of international food – including a whole aisle of different olives – with a welcoming cafe, where you’re welcome to knit or crochet while enjoying a coffee, tea and yummy pastries or salads.
Forts Cafe – a gem in the heart of Broadstairs with plenty of tables downstairs. Dogs are welcome too, and the coffee is fab!
Blogs and podcasts
Attic24 – always lots of colourful inspiration, with flowers and blankets to the fore.
Gabberdashery – I met the lovely singer Gabby Young ages ago when I was a music journalist, and I love her blog, which often includes videos, with news of her latest sewing exploits.
Freddie Patmore – I used to work for the same magazine company as Freddie and we often spent Friday lunchtimes knitting together with like-minded crafters. Freddie’s blog has allsorts, from interesting techniques to her photography, to her jewellery designs – always worth a look.
Knitmore Girls Podcast, Keep Calm & Carry Yarn and Curious Handmade, are just three of the knitting and crochet podcasts I regularly dip into. There are so many to choose from!
Ravelry – not a podcast or a blog, but this social media site for knitters and crocheters is a wonderful place to connect with fellow crafters and share and purchase patterns, post updates about your completed projects and work in progress, log your stash of yarn and much much more.
Magazines
Knitting Magazine – a monthly treat, especially for the more experienced knitter.
The Knitter – another great monthly with more challenging designs for experienced knitters
Womans Weekly Knitting and Crochet magazine – a really accessible, beautifully presented monthly, it has fantastic knits and crochet projects for everyone from beginner to more experienced crafter.
Simply Crochet – this magazine always has something quirky to make, as well as info about interesting stitches and techniques.
People
Martin Storey – I met Martin way back when I was at college, before he’d even started designing knitwear, and it’s always a pleasure to bump into him at exhibitions. Interview with him here
Louisa Harding – Such beautiful, delicate creations, what’s not to like, and such a lovely person too. Interview with her coming here soon…
Dee Hardwicke – Gorgeous colourful creations, always artistic and things of beauty. My interview with her is here
Marie Wallin – I’m always drawn to Marie’s fairlisle creations. Always so intricate and with such beautiful colour combinations. One I’ve made here