Susan Crawford Vintage at KnitNation 2011, in photos.

We have all been really busy since coming back from Knit Nation last weekend. It has been a whirlwind, make no mistake, including manic sewing up and lots of work on the book. For that reason, I do apologise for the short delay in getting some pictures to you of the Susan Crawford Vintage stand.

So, with no further delay, here's a photostory of some of the things that happened at Knit Nation 2011.

On set-up day I got there a little bit before Susan, to set up her Susan Crawford Vintage Knitting stand, so made the most of my time and knitted like the wind in the quadrangle at Imperial College to finish the last piece of my Jan Sweater to wear on Sunday.

It was great to get lots of new garments from Susan's A Stitch in Time volume 2 out on display for the public to see. It took a whole day's worth of sewing up this lovely nile green Excelana fair isle cardigan, and it was worth every stitch, as it looked stunning on display with the other half of its twin-set.

The grey ribbed jumper with bobble detail was a real crowd-puller, with it's simple lines and easy wearability, as was the mustard coloured cardigan behind it. When  cover model, Theo wore the cardigan on Sunday she really turned heads. I'm only sorry that I didn't get a picture of her.

Julieta from Knitshop came along to help out on the Susan Crawford Vintage Knitting stand while Susan was teaching on Saturday. She modelled one of the new designs from A Stitch in Time 2 which is made from her own mercerised cotton.

Susan's was a gorgeous stand, with lots and lots of garments to look at and try on. As well as showcasing those from the new book, there were four from A Stitch in Time volume 1 and lots of beautiful accessories and garments from Vintage Gifts to Knit. The Perfect Christmas Jumper, which you can just see on the right had an amazing amount of interest for a humid July day!

Look! There was even a digital frame with lots and lots of beautiful shots of the knitwear from A Stitch in Time volume 2. It was a really great way to share a little of the work that has been going on behind the scenes with you all.

Of course, there was Excelana by the bagful. The Jan Sweater, seen here in powedered egg, the slip stitch jumper that can just be seen behind it, and the gorgeous fair isle accessories on the top of the cabinet showed a nice range of different ways to work with the wool. I think that ruby red was the runaway success of all the colours at knitnation. I wonder what you will all make with it?


All images copyright Ingrid Murnane

Susan Crawford Vintage Knitting

Susan has a beautiful new site especially about her love for vintage knitting and craft. Please do check it out here at www.susancrawfordvintage.com if you haven't already. Isn't her logo the best?

Although the site is still in its early stages, she has lots going on, with a blog, patterns and lots of information about her books, including the newest: A Stitch in Time Volume Two.

I bet you didn't know all this about Susan, either:

I have worked in the knitting and fashion industries for many years as a knitwear designer, stylist and design consultant. Vintage fashion and collecting vintage fashion and craft magazines from the 1930s to the 1950s has long been an obsession and this fascination is very clear in my designs.

I am currently working on three further book projects, A Stitch in Time, Vintage Knitting patterns, 1930-1959, Vintage Crochet 1930-1959 both of which are due for release in early 2011.

Vintage Shetland, in collaboration with the Shetland Museum Archives looks at knitwear made by Shetlanders during the 1920s to 1950s and donated to the museum’s archives.

In addition to this I am collaborating with John Arbon Textiles of Devon, on a unique 100% British knitting wool, called Excelana, which will feature 3 and 4 ply weight yarn, as well as a double knit and an aran weight. I have created a colour palette that evokes the spirit of yesteryear to be used by today’s knitter.

I also offer knitting workshops and talks about vintage fashion and knitwear.

If you'd like to follow Susan's blog about vintage knitting and sewing and the make do and mend lifestyle, you can find it here at www.justcallmeruby.blogspot.com and you can also follow her on Twitter where she tweets regularly about knitting, designing, chickens, cooking and life in general. Susan is @astitchintime.

Please do leave us a comment with your thoughts about Susan's new site too!

Happy knitting
Ingrid x

Just call me Susan

If you're on Ravelry, you might be interested to know that we have just started a new group for anybody who is interested in our editor Susan Crawford's patterns (published both under her real name and her design name, Just call me Ruby). It's called Just call me Susan and you can find it by following the link here.

Hope to see you there!

Ingrid

Knit Camp

This entry is cross-posted from Susan's own blog, Just call me Ruby. Sadly she has had to pull out of Knit Camp in August.

In her own words:
I am writing this post to express my sincere apologies to anyone who is booked onto any of my classes at Knit Camp, Stirling in August. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts to resolve several issues with the organisers this was not to be and I have therefore been left with no alternative but to withdraw from the event. Again I cannot apologise enough, and the thought of having to take the action I have has made me physically ill, however with no contract and various other issues I felt I had to take the decision that I did.

I have spoken to some participants on ravelry and I hope this message reaches other students. I sincerely hope that everyone attending Knit Camp has a wonderful time and hope to meet some of you in the future. The demand for vintage themed knitting workshops weekends seems to be building so maybe that is the way forward.

I don't know what else to say. I feel absolutely terrible about this but you just have to do what is right.

For now
Ruby xx

Susan Crawford interviewed on Skiff Vintage

Skiff Vintage Knitting Club logo © Skiff Vintage Knitting Patterns 2009

knitonthenet editor Susan Crawford was recently interviewed by Geraldine Warner from the marvellous Skiff Vintage craft blog.

In an insightful interview, Susan talks about how she learned to knit, her love of vintage patterns, and gives some top tips for vintage knitting.

Go and have a read of the interview, and while you are there be sure to take a good look around the site: there are some splendid patterns, interesting essays and lots and lots of inspiration to be had.

If you find yourself encouraged to do some vintage knitting of your own, please do visit the knitonthenet shop to purchase a copy of Susan Crawford and Jane Waller's book, A Stitch in Time which has many, many beautiful vintage patterns to knit, or hop over to Ravelry and take part in the A Stitch in Time group there.

Ingrid
editorial assistant