Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
Click on the arrows on the right to see my other blog posts.
 

 RSS Feed

  1. ✨ 5 little things to inspire calm and creativity

    Posted on

    Hi, 

    There’s something special about this time of year — the long golden evenings, the quiet hush between projects. It’s the perfect time to let your knitting slow right down and become a little ritual again.

    No pressure, no deadlines. Just small, beautiful things that bring joy with every stitch.

    Here are five ways to bring a little stillness and inspiration into your knitting week:

     

    1. Knit a little colour, just for you - The French Inspired cowl
    My Slip-Stitch Colourwork Cowl is simple, relaxing, and completely free. A great project to try out slip-stitch colourwork without anything too fiddly — and it makes the most of leftover Aran weight yarn.

    👉 Download the free pattern here »

     

    2. Play with a new idea: Short rows
    Short rows are one of my favourite design tools — they shape fabric gently and add subtle interest. If you've never used them before, or just want a refresher, I’ve written a little guide on how I use them in my designs.

    👉 Read the blog posts »

    👉 Buy the pattern »

    👉 Download the Guide »

     

    3. Add a tiny treasure to your toolkit
    These Zentangle & other ceramic Buttons are individually hand-drawn and sealed — perfect for cardigans, pouches, handmade notebooks, or just as a lovely gift for another maker. 

    👉 See the Zentangle buttons »

    👉 See the Ceramic buttons »

     

    4. Organise your projects (and your thoughts)
    Now’s the perfect time to take stock of your WIPs and ideas. These handmade A5 Project Notebooks are ideal for jotting down yarn details, stitch counts, sketches, or even just your knitting mood.

    👉 Browse the notebooks »

     

    5. Just enjoy the quiet
    Whether you pick up your needles tonight or simply sit with a cup of tea and your thoughts, this season is for slowing down. Take a moment to breathe, to swatch, or to knit something soft and simple — just for you.

    👉 Browse the knitting tools »


    I hope something here brings you a small, quiet joy — a pattern, a notebook, or a beautiful button. Thank you for being here and being part of this calm and creative space.

  2. Highlights of the Knitting & Crochet Guild Northern Regional Day

    Posted on

    At the end of June, I helped arrange the Knitting & Crochet Guild Northern Regional Day here in Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, working alongside the team to ensure everything ran smoothly. It was a fantastic event, bringing together so many talented makers and enthusiastic members (& non members).

    I’d love to share some of my highlights from the day with you.
     
    HIGHLIGHTS OF THE K & C GUILD NORTHERN REGIONAL DAY
    We were treated to some fantastic talks during the day, with our keynote speaker Kandy Diamond sharing her playful and thought-provoking approach to knitting and design starting off the day. (Find out more about Kandy's Knit & Destroy brand here)
    and Hazledene Flock giving us an insight into their rare breed sheep and beautiful yarns,
     
    One highlight was the embroidered knitting workshop, where participants explored the beauty of adding embroidery to their knitwear. We began by looking at some stunning vintage embroidered knits from the K & C Guild Collection, learning about their history and techniques, before having a go at embroidering our own knitted swatches. It was a wonderful opportunity to combine two crafts and spark new creative ideas.
    My own embroidered swatch. I absolutely loved the effect – it added such beautiful texture and colour. However, I found it really difficult to keep my stitches the same length and evenly spaced, which was frustrating.

    That’s why I’m so excited about my new Stick & Stitch products, which get around this problem completely by giving you a clear guide to follow for neat, consistent embroidery on your knits.
    * Folk Birds * Folk Cats * Folk Dogs * Folk Flowers * 
    Add a touch of Corrinne Lapierre to your favourite clothes, accessories and homewares with these easy to use self adhesive water soluble transfer sheets. 
    Simply cut out the design, peel off the backing, stick onto your choice of fabrics (yes it works on knits!). Once you have completed your embroidery, the pattern can be rinsed away in warm water leaving your beautiful embroidery behind. 

    Each pack contains a minimum of 10 designs as well as some smaller patterns to dot around or place in smaller areas AND a stitch guide. 
    Browse the Stick & Stitch Packs
    I'll share more highlights of the Northern Regional Day in my next newsletter so stay tuned. 

    Happy crafting x 

    Sandra