I normally like Anthropologie but really

Now I am normally a fan of the fashion and home shop Anthropologie – if not exactly keen on it rather hefty prices.

But isn’t this necklace completely mad (yeah I know it looks more like some weird headband)?

For starters it isn’t even nice – don’t think the colours work at all.

But worse than that,  it costs a staggering £198!

Now if I wasn’t actually quite busy at the moment, I think I could knock up a few decent copies if only I could think of some friends that I’d really want to get rid of.

Nice to know I’m a ‘knit genius’

My friend Jess spotted my Knitivity book in this quirky little bit in last Sunday’s Telegraph newspaper in the UK.

Must say that this journalist has pretty eclectic taste. My book’s easiest the most mainstream item there!

This is definitely London’s best book shop

Thanks to my publishers for spotting this display in a corner of the famous five-storey Foyles bookshop in London’s Charing Cross Road.

The bookshop has been in Charing Cross Road since 1906 and used to be run by the very eccentric Christina Foyle. It was recently voted no.1 bookshop in London by the influential Time Out magazine so it’s good to know they’re selecting their books wisely.

I spent many hours browsing through the politics section when I was a student and who’d have thought…

http://www.foyles.co.uk/bookstore-charing-cross

http://www.foyles.co.uk/bookstore-charing-cross

I’m going to be at Liberty’s

I’m going to be in Liberty’s Christmas shop this Saturday signing copies of  Twas the knit before Christmas and my other Christmas knitting books. So please, if you’re in the vicinity of London’s Regent Street, do pop in.

The picture shows my little knitted Santa coming down the chimney in a rather ungainly fashion and the illustrations are by delightfully named and very talented Clemency Bunn.

I can’t promise that you’ll be able to grab a bargain as Liberty’s isn’t particularly cheap. But it is beautiful and different and it’s always nice to have a look around.

Great new Noah video

I am thrilled by the cute little video that has been produced to show off one of my latest books, Noah’s Knits. Even though I say it myself, it is adorable – and very short – so please check it out here.

Many thanks to Alan for doing this.

I love his quirky eye.

Head appears over the top of the knitting again

Well I can’t bear to think how long it is since I last posted – but I’m back with a load of good resolutions.

I have a few knitting books out for Christmas so please check me out on Amazon here or better still your local book shop.

The picture is my favourite knitted doll/illustration combination from one of my latest books Noah’s knits where you can knit Noah and Mrs Noah (too bad they never thought to give her a proper name) and a whole host of animals.

I love the way Noah looks as if he’s slightly struggling to get the brolly up in time.

For those of you who are local or localish, I am doing a book signing at the Chorleywood Bookshop this Saturday (12th November) from 10 -12. And for Londoners, come and check me out at Liberty’s next Saturday afternoon (19th November). I’ll be posting more about that latter date shortly.

Didn’t realize knitting was so dangerous

I have just finished reading this wonderful book for my book group. We all loved it – and we’re a very fussy lot so it comes highly recommended. But…

I didn’t realize knitting could be so full of hazards.

In 1871,  Jane Digby’s sweet natured daughter-in-law met an untimely death when she “slipped while walking downstairs carrying her knitting, and as she fell one of the knitting needles had pierced her spine.”

Ouch! I’ll definitely have to be more careful.

Very interesting undies

Lover of all homemade things though I am, I think knitting your own undies is probably a step too far. The bloke’s pants are particularly weird-looking.  And surely sitting on all that knotty string chaffed your sensitive bits something chronic!

It’s a fab image though. It comes from one of my late grandmother’s old sewing and knitting mags, kindly passed to me by my Aunt Ruth (my Dad’s sister) who’s just had a clearout prior to moving home.

The magazine is called Pins & Needles no. 140. It’s undated which is annoying but I’m pretty sure it’s from around 1960.

All I can add is thank goodness for M&S.

We are amused

I discovered this video clip on the BBC news website yesterday… just when I thought it had all faded away quietly.

Would just like to say that the knitter has done a fab job on Kate’s dress, adding long lacy sleeves to reflect the actual dress in place of my guessed-at short sleeved version. Lovely!

Click here to see how Charles and Camilla admired it.