May 2009

Get Knitted

Make do and mend - our parents did it, so why shouldn’t we? With the world in financial crisis, it’s our turn to tighten our belts... and what better way than with one we’ve knitted ourselves? You’ll need: a pair of needles, yarn and a couple of hours (or days, if you’re new to this lark!).
Knitting is back in fashion along with the popularity of vintage gear. Head to your local boutiques to see ‘40s-inspired woollen shrugs, or a ‘neckie’ designed to keep your throats cosy in a chic, distinctly ‘70s way. Pram-pushing mums gave the bobble hat a run for its money this winter by sporting the must-have ‘tam o’shanter’ (As seen on The Railway Children’s ‘Bobby’). Even Ugg Boots now sport a snazzy woollen legwarmer style. And children’s toys are benefiting from the knitting vogue, with tactile, brightly coloured cotton rattles, bears and bunnies.
But why not surprise yourself and have a go at knitting a one-off piece yourself for someone special? I took up knitting when pregnant with my first child. Inspired by memories of my mother’s clicking needles, I was determined to get to grips with the simplest of stitches - knit one, purl one - for my own children.
I can still only cobble together a basic beeny hat and boat neck sweater (now worn by a big teddy!) but I often return to British knitting guru Debbie Bliss’s Baby Knits For Beginners (Ebury Press) to make presents.
If you’re uncertain about how to get started and your mum can’t help, head to your local library, cafe notice board or go online to find your nearest knitting circle. There are more and more of them springing up.
And book groups beware! Knitting and nattering can be a lot more fun. You’ve only got to speak to seasoned ‘Stitchette’ Lauren O’Farrell, who co-runs Stitch and Bitch London. They regularly meet all over the capital. Stitch and Bitch London has been running for four years. It began with a group of friends and now has over 3,000 subscribers of all abilities. Thanks to them knitting (and crochet) novices mix with knit know-alls to chat, drink, eat and get advice.
Lauren says they get a few men, teens and pensioners but mostly women in their 20s and 30s from all walks of life. She also suggests meeting other knitters on Facebook groups or www.ravelry.com.

As for inspiration, Lauren says: “No two knitters are the same. A lot of our members make things because no shops stock what they want.” She suggests picking up vintage patterns on websites like the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), or books like Jane Waller's A Stitch in Time. 
Wool isn’t cheap but it is worth buying the good stuff. Don’t forget, if you don’t like the finished article you can unpick it. Sale time is great for knitters, as is the internet.  It can feel a bit ‘black market’ but it’s also worth asking local charity shops if they’ve ‘got any wool in the back’ as it’s rarely on view.
Head up to Lower Marsh in Waterloo and you will be overcome with inspiration at the I Knit London shop, which has great opening hours for anyone wanting to browse after work. The shop’s a haven of haberdashery and their website (www.iknit.org.uk) will have you in stitches, at least the odd yarn on the blog page will, as well as info on your local knitting groups.
Susan Sharp’s Sharp Works in Herne Hill is knitting Mecca. Her customers come from all over south east London. She also runs three-weekly beginners’ courses. The colours in her shop would make Farrow and Ball bow with respect. Susan gives friendly advice and will order yarn on request.
So, is there such a thing as a best-selling yarn? “Most people want natural fibres, pure wool, silk, organic cottons, undyed wool and alpaca - because it is so soft,“ says Susan. “Interesting yarns that do the work for you such as the Noro, which self-stripes in beautiful blends of colours (Japanese) and recycled yarns, silk and viscose are also very popular.  Rowan big wool also sells very well, very quickly!”
You can even mix film and fashion. The Ritzy cinema in Brixton holds a Knitflicks Club on the third Saturday of each month. The lights are kept up so you don’t drop too many stitches! So what’s stopping you jump on the knitting bandwagon?

Five Tips for Getting Started:
• Buy good needles – the experts seem to prefer wood to metal. Check your pattern for the size of needle compared to the weight and type of wool.
• Buy the best yarn you can afford. Without being too snobby,  avoid acrylic unless you really are strapped for cash!
• Start simple – that way you’ll get good results and want to try something more challenging next time.
• Go along to a knitting club for atmosphere and advice.
• If at first you don’t succeed try, try and try again! Start knitting that Christmas jumper for your husband now, you might just get it finished in time!

Local Knitting Circles:
Stitch and Bitch London. W: www.stitchandbitchlondon.co.uk to find local groups.
The Commercial Pub, 210-212 Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24. Telephone 0871 917 0007 to find out which night the knitting circle meets up
East Dulwich Knitters: Every Monday night at The Plough pub, 381 Lordship Lane, SE22 8JJ
Deptford Improper Knitters: 2nd and 4th Sunday every month at the Properly Cafe, 4 Tanners Hill, Deptford, SE8 4PJ.
Greenwich Meantime Knitters: First Sunday of each month, 4pm, at the top floor bar of the Greenwich Picturehouse cinema and third Sunday of each month, 4pm, at Deptford’s Properly Cafe, 4 Tanners Hill.
Knitflicks Club at The Ritzy Picturehouse, Brixton, SW2 1JG  www.picturehouses.co.uk, Tel: 0871 704 2065.
Shops:
Sharp Works, 236B Railton Road, Herne Hill, SE24, E: sharp.works@yahoo.co.uk, T: 020 7738 7668
I Knit London, 106 Lower Marsh, Waterloo, SE1 7AB, T: 020 7261 1338, E: info@iknit.org.uk
Stitches and Daughters, 3 Greenwich South Street, Greenwich, SE10 T: 020 8305 1396
Fenton Walsh, 117 Bellenden Road, Peckham, SE15 4QY, T: 020 7635 0033
Stella B, 51 North Cross Road, East Dulwich, SE22
Merry Go Round, 21 Half Moon Lane, Herne Hill, SE24, Tel: 020 7737 6452)

Useful websites:
www.ravelry.com
www.vintageknits.com
www.iknit.org.uk
www.vintageknitting.net

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