East London Love // Knit With Attitude // New Shop Location Posted by Unknown |

A few iPhones snaps from Knit With Attitude's lovely new, much more spacious, premises – all white, light and bright – on Stoke Newington Highstreet (opposite the Post Office). As you can see, the stock now includes all sorts of exciting little design items – jewellery, cards, clocks, cushions, key rings and more. I might have to ask if I can pop back in with my camera and take some better shots. :) Of course, I couldn't leave without a purchase, the super soft Eco-Alpaca (below). I've got little hats in mind.

Follow shop owner Maya B on Twitter.

(NB. The shop website seems to be down this morning, but am sure it will be up and running soon!)

Instagramming Oh, That Christmas Feeling...! Posted by Unknown |

Nothing makes me feel more Christmassy and inspired than getting home to Edinburgh to a beautiful tree and decorations – all done by the interior-loving mother Stylonylon :). So first up 1. we have the Christmas tree which comes out every year and is decorated with a mix of new baubles and childhood decorations (rocking horse, little angels, snowmen and reindeer). 2. Lovely cakes at Patisserie Valerie where we stopped for a much-needed rest while last-minute Christmas shopping 3. Hand-knitted socks   for the little cookie (also from the very clever mother Stylonylon!) 4. And Christmas lights on one of my favourite Edinburgh streets, Rose Street.

Follow me on Instagram @stylonylon.

Celebrate Wool Week 2012 – 15th to 20th October Posted by Unknown |

In honour of Wool Week 2012 here are some of my favourite places to buy yarn. (Yes, I too, am looking forward to seeing Harvey Nichols wrapped in 100 metres of illuminated wool this Monday!)

Loop
I remember when Loop first opened on Cross Street in Islington, it was divine. It's also where I learnt to knit socks with Jane Lithgow, a class I highly recommend. Check Loop's fine selection of sock wools. This hand-painted Peace, Love & Misti alpaca is one of my favourites for sock knitting. The store quickly grew and has since moved to Camden Passage to a bigger space. It's always bustling.

Knit With Attitude
A sliver of yarn heaven, Knit With Attitude opened fairly recently in Stoke Newington and stocks wonderful handspun yarns. Owner Maya B introduced me to Ravelry showing me how to search for patterns for specific types of wool. Super helpful. Recent purchases include this plant dyed Dazzle from The Natural Yarn Studio and Knit Pro Double Pointed Needles.

Liberty
I can never pass up popping up to the knitting and haberdashery section in the empress of all department stores. Since relocating floors, the wool section has grown and become even more enticing.

K1 Yarns
I discovered K1 Yarns last Christmas while in Edinburgh. Owner Katherine Walker stocks some of the most gorgeous (and yes, irresistible) Orkney angora and hand-dyed Selkie cashmere blends.

Purl Soho
Almost ten years ago a good friend and fellow knitter introduced me to New York's Purl Soho when she roped her brother into bringing back the most beautiful silk blend yarn for us. We then began ordering online and sharing the postage. To this day it remains one of my biggest incentives to visit the Big Apple (I've never been!).

Scandinavian Knitting Design*
I can't remember how I stumbled on SKD but so glad I did. Online catalogues of free patterns, tutorials and of course, lots of different types of yarn, with regular sales.
*The website seems to be down just now, but will post links to yarns and patterns once it's up again.

L'OisiveThe et Tricot

This French yarn store was the only place I could find the whole set of Koigu yarns needed to make the Babette blanket – a crochet project I started earlier this year, and am about two-thirds of the way through... getting there.

Babette Crochet Blanket Idea Generator Posted by Unknown |

A bit of a fashion week antidote – which can get a bit overwhelming at times, fashion week I mean. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but it's like overdosing on sugar. Anyway, regarding the rug, I'm writing about it when I really could be working on it but am clearly not. Which is a shame as crochet and knitting always put my head in a good space especially for coming up with new ideas. And a new idea is what I need right now. Just throwing it out there, universe.