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'E' IS FOR Easter and Erik!

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With Easter just around the corner, we at MillaMia HQ have been busy bringing a sweet new knitted character to life! Erik the Easter Bunny knitted in our Naturally Soft Merino in putty and snow is due to make his debut this week in a series of adventures and in conjunction with an exciting competition, but more about that next week . . .


I have been lucky enough to sneak out an early copy of the Erik pattern ahead of launch next Friday 21st March and have already started to knit him! He is simple enough, with much of the shaping achieved by basic increasing and decreasing but I thought it might be useful to show you how I put his cute little head together as I know that putting faces on knitted animals is very often the most difficult part to get right.


As you can see below, I have already knitted the head which is a flat, heavily shaped piece and therefore a little difficult to manipulate at this stage. I started by seaming the back of Erik's head with mattress stitch - yes! you already know that this is my favourite method of producing an almost invisible seam. I used a separate length of yarn to stitch the seam so that I can use the long ends to sew up the hole on top of the head and the other end to attach the head to the body.
 


Next the head needs to be stuffed firmly. Too little stuffing and you will find it difficult to achieve a nice round head shape, too much and you will begin to see the stuffing through the stitches. It is important that you leave the largest hole open at the moment so that you can position all the elements of the face easily.


I recommend a 'try and see if you like it' approach to positioning the face! Taking time at this point to make sure that you are completely happy with the features will save you much heartache later - the face, above all is what gives any knitted animal it's character. I have used safety eyes which can be purchased very cheaply at most haberdashers or craft stores. Remember to keep the seam at the back of the head and push the eyes through the knitted fabric approximately 1" apart. This can be tricky with the stuffing in but I find that seeing the head in its correct shape helps me to place the eyes much more effectively. Once you are happy with the position of the eyes, pull out some of the stuffing and turn the head partially inside out to expose the stalks of the eyes. Secure the 'washer' type backs and re-stuff.



The mouth and nose are a simple cross stitch with a double strand of snow yarn. Position this centrally and make sure to fasten off securely.

 
Next stitch up the end rows of the ears and tuck in any stray ends (I blocked these before stitching up to make it  little easier). The purple thread indicates the fold line - these ears have a little tip of grey. I used mattress stitch (of course!) to seam the inner white ear to the outer grey part.


Finally, position the ears on the head. I always pin them in place so that I can see if the whole face and head are visually symmetrical and most importantly, have the cute factor! Whip stitch the ears in place and the head is complete.


All Erik needs now is a body . . . !

Keep an eye on the Blog, FaceBook and Instagram next week to enter the Erik competition and find out where this rabbit about town has been visiting - he's quite the adventurer! Oh, and did I mention that this fun pattern is FREE?? Available next Friday from www.millamia.com or Ravelry, get your needles at the ready and knit up a colony of eggstatic Erik's for Easter!


(posted by Max)

ERIK and Erika

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Once I had completed Erik's head last week, I pushed right on and began knitting the rest of him - well, he looked a little embarrassed without a body! This part was surprisingly quick and easy - just a little bit of simple shaping in order to make his bottom half nice and plump - all in stocking stitch, except for his bobtail which is knitted in garter stitch.

I blocked the main pieces and the tummy panel overnight and then using mattress stitch I seamed all of the pieces together. The legs are constructed in such a way as to make them bend slightly to the front, so it's a good idea when you are seaming these main pieces together to bear in mind that you will need to ease the smaller front section into the larger back half of the legs. This is actually where mattress stitch is invaluable - I picked up one bar from the top/smaller front section and 2 bars on the larger back section and it worked out pretty much perfectly.

It's always a good idea to take some time to stuff these knitted softies well. Too firmly and you can see the stuffing through the stretched out stitches - not enough and your Erik will be rather limp! I found, much to my dismay, that I hadn't really got enough stuffing to plump out mine quite as much as our original Erik, and as a result my bunny looks rather skinnier! Slightly more delicate, not so butch perhaps and now that I look at the face, even this seems to be a little more feminine than our original Erik, and so the lovely Erika - companion to Erik has been born! Not that this is a bad thing - we had great fun with Erik and Erika yesterday who made their debut on Instagram - you can follow the adventures of Erik @millamia_sweden or see my own Erik Easter Bunny project on Ravelry.



If you are keen to knit your own Erik, then this pattern is completely FREE from our website or on Ravelry. More excitingly though, we have launched a Competition over on our Facebook page where you can win the yarn to knit your very own Erik Easter Bunny! As a seasoned traveller, Erik is sending postcards from renowned destinations across the world, and all you have to do is guess correctly which city and country he is in and then post your answer in a comment under the picture, Simple!


There will be 4 chances to win over the course of the next 2 weeks, so hop on over and have a go!

(posted by Max)

HANDARBEIT AND HOBBY - report from Cologne

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Helena and I in Cologne
It is always exciting for us to travel to Cologne for the annual Handarbeit and Hobby trade show. Drawing such an international audience really does make it THE trade show of the year and attracts a huge diversity of exhibitors and visitors. We had the opportunity to meet with buyers from as far afield as Korea, Russia, the Netherlands, Finland and Belgium, as well as catching up with a few of our stockists from Germany.

We were rather disappointed with the location of our stand this year. As you can see from the picture below, there was an enormous pillar right in the middle of the stand which wasn't at all what we had expected! Although next year we are hoping to be much closer to Christphorous Verlag, the German publishers who are currently translating Wonderland into German - an exciting development for us and one that our prospective German stockists were so thrilled to hear.

Before and after - what a transformation!
 
 
 That pillar . . .

Aside from the vast array of stands with everything from fabric, yarn and crafting accessories this Show excels at putting on an excellent fashion show and Saturday night entertainment. Helena went along to the fashion show but was stopped in her tracks outside by a flashmob dance group organised by the Boshi Boys - see the short video below . . .


The Boshi Boys proved to be really on trend at this years' Show - a crochet concept for cool, colourful hats that has filtered through to other brands. I imagine that the trend for these fun beanies straight from the snowboarding slopes will last for a good while yet.

As well as a business trip, this was a great excuse for Helena and I to spend some time together. We thoroughly enjoyed the Saturday night dinner and music entertainment, which I'm sure the organisers won't mind me saying is rather like being transported back to an 80's Eurovision extravaganza! We were lucky enough to be on the Rico table with Ellen and Yvonne and the rest of the Rico team - as you can see from the pictures, we had a very enjoyable evening.



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From left: Yvonne, Ellen, Helena and I

For me, one of the most rewarding things this year was meeting the German stockists that signed up to stock MillaMia last year at H & H. You may remember that I was unable to attend as I'd not long had Johan, and so building on our existing relationships with them was invaluable for me. Thanks to Garnwelt and Wolle Roedel for stopping by the stand - it was lovely to meet you!
(posted by Katarina)

INTERVIEW - Nikki Gabriel

Nikki Gabriel is a knitwear and textile designer with a passion for unusual construction and a deep love and appreciation of beautiful artisan objects. Her abiding love of the handcrafted sees her more as a curator of unique pieces - collecting these exquisitely beautiful items from makers and designers across the globe, and selling them in her shop, Gather. This emporium of making is situated in the New Zealand seaside town of Napier, in a 'shabby, art deco building', a backdrop against which her collection sits perfectly.

Nikki describes herself as having a 'gatherer's instinct' - something she attributes to a childhood spent in South Africa, gathering material from all around her to create and make.

1) Tell us a bit about yourself and the inspiration behind Gather.
Gather sprouted on the side of my studio as I had a couple of extra rooms in a new space that I had moved into. I have filled the shop with beautiful yarns including (MillaMia), natural dyes, books, handmade knitting needles including giant 35mm ones that you knit rugs with; and a range of objects from other designers such as the fluorescent macramé from Spoonful Design, the Helvetica cross stitch kits from Tamara Maynes, the doily bowls by Lightly, Textiles from Sophie Digard (Paris). I wanted to create this shop to be an inspiring and creative space, for knitters and non-knitters alike.


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http://thegathershop.com/collections/all
Inside Gather
 
2) You are well known for your "construction" patterns – how did you come to this style of design and do you have any new construction patterns planned?
The Construction Patterns began as a design project to engage a wider audience into knitting by making patterns that are simple to read with diagrams and basic knitting techniques to make shapes such as squares, rectangles and triangles. The patterns show how to make several garment combinations in stages by joining these shapes together, so the maker not only learns how to knit but also participates in garment construction through a logical and step-by-step design process. Projects are quick and creative, and accessible.

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Construction pattern No.4

3) You have collated an amazing array of incredible designers, yarn and handmade pieces. How do you go about selecting who to stock?
I choose items that reflect a modernism to craft, rather than nostalgia. I don’t really do vintage in the shop. Knitting is not an old-fashioned hobby, it's actually very current. The knitting patterns and yarns I choose is a reflection of this. The made objects such as the ‘Lightly by CL Davies’ product in store; Davies is an industrial designer who has dubbed the term ‘nanna-technology’ where there is a cross-over of craft and industrial technique in her practice. Craft plays a very pivotal role in the design industry, and good design is crucial to the survival of the wool and knitting industry. For those who have missed the relevance of craft in everyday life, my shop is way of showing how it fits and can actually enhance everyday life.


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Construction pattern No.4

4) What are you currently designing and or knitting?
I am working on a book-publishing contract with an international publisher (can’t say who), to extend the construction knitting pattern project and concept for a wider readership. This is a 2 year project, so a lot of knitting, experimenting and pattern design development for this book.
I am also completing a Masters of Design Degree at Auckland University investigating the role of craft in the knitting industry and how to translate the Construction Knitting Patterns into procedure for industrial knitting machines. There is a lot of design development for this research project.



5) Who are the up and coming knitwear designers on your radar?
The Issey Miyake studio, Walter Van Beirendonck, Sandra Backlund, as even though they are established designers, they're always pushing the boundaries of our perception of knitting. I exhibited alongside all these designers in 2010, and what was important about this exhibition is how the hand-craft of knitting plays a very important role in fashion, and the development of knitting technology. It’s valuable for the wider public to understand the craft of technology too, the materiality, how yarn is made, where it comes from, etc, and designers like this highlight this process.


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http://thegathershop.com/collections/all
Beautiful knitted homeware available at Gather

6) Tell us your most interesting/awkward/embarrassing knitting story?
Kirsten, my whole career is awkward; I’ve given up trying to explain what I do at dinner parties. For most people, knitting is still associated with their grandmothers and outside of economy, as their grandmothers were never paid to knit.

7) What is the one thing you think should NEVER be knitted?
Anything can be knitted.

 (posted by Kirsten)

A WEEK in the life of Erik

Our favourite bunny has been very busy this week. He took an eggs-iting trip on the tube, found some eggstraordinarily good food at the farmers market and had an eggsellent time meeting his namesake - Erik!


No-one wants to sit next to Erik on the tube



Erik kept bugging me to lift him up so he could see out of the window



Erik's got his head buried deep in his diary, figuring out when he's going to have the time to eat some chocolate Easter eggs


 
Erik is checking out the MillaMia yarn at John Lewis - which colour is your favourite? Erik said he likes Limited Edition cobalt best



Erik working hard at his desk today



Erik meets Erik! I think baby Erik approves



Knitted Erik is looking more like a snack now in the eyes of baby Erik!



Erik diving in to find the best carrot!



Back from his dive! Erik has managed to choose 3 favourite carrots to munch on!


 
I need more eggs!
(posted by Max)

ERIK the Charmer Bunny

We all know that our Erik is quite the charmer, but this week has seen him out and about with more than one lady friend! He's been seen at the art shop with Tanya, enjoying some delicious ice cream with Maja and had a romantic liaison with a very pretty bunny in the park . . .

 
Erik is sure that taking Tanya to the local art shop to buy her some fancy art supplies will impress her . . . hmmm . . .


 
 

Erik certainly knows the way to Maja's heart - delicious gelati from Oddono's - yum!!




Finally, Erik has fallen head over bunny tail for sweet Erika and on their trip to the park wooed her with carroty chocolate. Well, what else would a rabbit give his sweetheart for Easter?

Erik Easter Bunny is a FREE pattern available to download from the website - there's still time!!
 
(posted by Max)

STOCKIST PROFILE - The Little Knitting Shop

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Edna Russell and her daughter Lisa opened the doors of The Little Knitting Shop in Troon back in July of 2013 and in less than a year they have opened the doors of a second shop in Ayr! To celebrate this fantastic achievement we are featuring The Little Knitting Shop - both shops - here on the blog, so read on to find out more about this amazing team.

1) Introduce yourself, and tell us a bit about how the Troon shop sprang to life.
The Troon shop came about due to me having my baby. Mum lived just outside London at the time and after deciding she wanted no more daily commutes she moved back to Scotland in 2012 to be near her first grandchild. In visits back up to Scotland she wanted to visit local yarn shops but couldn’t quite find what she was looking for and so we decided to open one!


2) Congratulations on opening your second shop just under a year after opening the first - you must be so excited! Tell us all about your lovely new shop.
We are very excited but also must be mad! Our new shop is a bigger version of our original Troon shop. We aimed to tackle the old stereotype of yarn shops and bring ours into the 21st Century. Bright, airy and stocking mostly designer brands.


3) The burning question that is on every knitters lips – what have you currently got on the needles?
Mum is currently knitting the open/closed sign for the new shop door. Our one in Troon is a major talking point because it’s original. (I’m not making this up but) I am on row 19 of my Millamia Teddy Blanket for my son! Long way to go but I’ll get there!

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Teddy Blanket


4) How do you go about selecting the stock for your shops from the overwhelming array of yarn available right now?
We go by pure instinct! We look at various websites and get samples in to knit with them to see what they’re like. Except speciality wool, when selecting new yarns to try in store we are mostly driven by the patterns. If the patterns are good, it’s usually a good sign that the yarn will be successful.


5) Describe your ultimate fantasy craft project.
My mum and I are knitters at heart and so for us it would be the ultimate huge cosy blanket knitted in squares of different yarns and sewn together.

6) What is your favourite MillaMia product?
I love the Teddy Blanket in a gift box. I think it’s an amazing present for someone and the colours chosen are fantastic.


7) Tell us something unusual about yourself.
I am terrified of clowns!

Many thanks to Edna and Lisa for this lovely insight into the two Little Knitting Shops! You can find the original shop at 45a Portland Street, Troon, Ayrshire KA10 6AA, call them (they are very helpful!) on 01292 737424 or contact them via email info@knitme.co.uk. The brand new Ayr shop is located at 61, Newmarket Street, Ayr, Ayrshire KA7 1LL.
(posted by Max)

A RAINBOW Carlota

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It is so inspiring to us in the MillaMia team to see our designs out in the world, and interpreted in ways that we couldn't have ever foreseen! The skill and vision that our customers and stockists have in reproducing a garment from one of the collections, but in a way that looks unique and fresh is something that always excites me.

And so this week I wanted to share with you the most incredible version of the Carlota Dress - one of my personal favourites - knitted by the lovely Lucy Bush from Woolaballoo. Lucy very kindly agreed to answer some questions about her beautiful Carlota and share some pics - thanks Lucy!

1) What inspired your Rainbow Carlota and who is the lucky recipient?
I completely fell in love with the Limited Edition colours and new Berry shade in the Millamia collection and wanted to start a project where I could integrate all of the gorgeous vibrant colourways. I have knit it for my daughter Alice who is often at Woolaballoo with me and so she can show it off in person!



 2) How long did it take you to knit it?
Overall it didn't take me that long to knit as the stripe pattern kept my interest but I actually made it alongside a number of other projects as I can never stick to one thing at a time! I think if I had done it all in one go it would probably have taken me about a week to complete.


3) How many balls of yarn did it take and do you now have LOTS of left overs in all of the colours?
It took 10 balls of yarn for the age 2-3 but I reckon there is enough yarn left over to create another whole dress by changing the colourways around!


4) As well as another Carlota, any pattern suggestions for using up your scraps?
I may also use the scraps up to fashion another Millamia favourite of mine which is the Teddy Blanket which is a really easy knit for a novice and again is a simple striped pattern ideal for using up all those oddments. I have also downloaded your Smilla Hat pattern which is another great little design for using up all those bits and pieces.



 5) I have to ask if the thought of sewing in all those ends gave you sleepless nights? And, dare I ask, how long did that part take?
It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in the end but my advice would be to do this bit as you go along as it is a bit of a chore when you just want to show it off!


If you are as inspired by Lucy's Rainbow Carlota Dress as I am, and have a special little girl to knit one for, then Lucy has made up some special kits with all of the yarn required! Give Lucy a call at the shop on 0191 580 0103 - she's always happy to help out.


(posted by Max)

TNNA Roundup

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It's a long way to go for only a few days, but every year TNNA comes around and we are excited all over again to visit this amazing show in the US. Having moved its location this year to Indianapolis I was intrigued to see what this city was like, although it reality the Show is so busy that we have very little time to take in any of the local sights and sounds!

We actually arrived very late on Friday, and as usual had a great deal to do to be ready for the first day of the Show, the following day. This year we had planned a dramatic change to the look of the booth and this did bring a few teething problems with it. Luckily, Betsy Perry of CEY came to the rescue, helping us with attaching the handpainted backdrops which were to be the big hit of this particular show.

A smaller show with lower footfall than last year, it was still well attended and we were certainly thrilled to be able to catch up with so many friends and stockists met at previous shows. It always strikes me how small our world of yarn really is, which makes these events feel so friendly and welcoming. There was a good contingent from the UK this year including our friends from Pom Pom Magazine - Meghan and Lydia, Verity of Baa Ram Ewe, the Loveknitting team and Jeni of Fyberspates.

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Our 'Most Creative Booth'

Excitingly we managed to have delicious breakfast meetings with the wonderful Loop guys, Craig and Laura and on another occasion with the delightful Olga Buraya-Kefelien and Meri from amirisu. You can see just how much we all enjoyed these particular 'meetings'!


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The girls with Meri of amirusu and Olga Buraya-Kefelien


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I could get used to this . . .


We met so many new faces - designers, yarn store owners and other yarny people that it's difficult to remember all of them! I must say that meeting Tricia Malcolm of Vogue Knitting, Melynda Bernardi (aka FrenchPress Knits), Tottopper,Jenifer Stark (aka bluealvarez) and Jill Zielinski (aka knitterella) were particular highlights for me. Both Helena and I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the new Limited Edition colours for A/W14 which were so well received, but it's also still such a joy to show our well-established patterns and yarn to prospective new customers and seeing just how much they love what we do.



Of course I can't talk about TNNA without mentioning that MillaMia won an award this year! We were overjoyed and surprised to win the prestigious 'Most Creative Booth' award which not only ensured we have a magnificent trophy to display in the office, but free advertising in next years catalogue! I want to sincerely thank Helena for her vision for this amazing idea but also our incredibly talented intern Tanya Leskinen who hand painted ALL of the backdrops - a stupendous job which I know took lots of time and skill - Tanya you are awesome!!


(posted by Katarina)

OUT AND ABOUT - Helena at Broad Ripples, Indianapolis

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I was really fortunate to be invited to visit Broad Ripples yarn store in Indianapolis for my very first trunk show appearance in the US! Having been at TNNA, it was a treat to be able to relax with some passionate knitters, and with Karin, the store owner who was so welcoming and friendly - and runs a truly beautiful shop!

As you will know, MillaMia is distributed in the US by Classic Elite Yarns and I was also very lucky to be accompanied by Joan, the local CEY rep. She was a such a help to me, not only in organising everything but I had a small disaster just before the store visit - I managed to drop my mobile/cell phone into a sink of water 20 minutes before we were due to leave! In the car on the way to the store the screen went from 50% blurred to 100% dead and it was emitting a lot of heat. Joan rushed out and got me an emergency bag of rice - which I have to say, saved the day (and my phone!) - thanks Joan!

It was immediately evident to me that Broad Ripples is set in the middle of a thriving crafting community, with lots of loyal customers and an incredibly friendly knitting group. After making me feel at ease, I started to talk a bit about my design process and the samples I had brought with me. The trunk show consisted of garments from Little Rascals which went down really well, but I also chatted with the knitters and offered some advice on projects and colour choices.

The ladies had lots of great ideas about colour - I love the fact people feel they can be a bit more daring with colour and not just for kids items either. There was an Emma Boatneck in progress in Midnight and Lime which looked fantastic- I really hope the lovely knitter who is making this will share some pictures of her Emma when it's finished. Also there was a fair amount of brokering going on over the yarns which were low in stock - for example, I heard a conversation between two ladies -  "If you let me have your Storm I will let you have my Plum, so we can both start our most important projects till the delivery comes in next week"!

I can't possibly write about this lovely visit without mentioning the delicious food that Karin provided. The most yummy homemade lemonade and chocolate brownies made with a Hershey's bar baked in the middle might just be the best thing I have ever eaten!

Lastly, a special thanks to Joan - the rice worked and after 4 days of drying out my phone is now working again :)
(posted by Helena)

GOOGLE HANGOUT with Loveknitting

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Max and Tanya ready to 'hangout'
The social media world is such an exciting place right now! With almost everyone I know snapping on Instagram, posting on Pinterest, sharing and journaling on Facebook, Twitter and Blogger it feels as though we have never been quite so intimately involved in each others lives. I am all
for it! On a personal level it means that I am only ever a snap or comment away from making contact with friends and family, but in terms of business (and more specifically our yarn business) it is invaluable in reaching out to our customers on a global level.

Little did I know when I agreed to take part in a Google Hangout with loveknitting, that I would be stepping into another social media side avenue. I know I thought (mistakenly) that perhaps I would be sat behind my computer, 'hanging out' digitally and invisibly, maybe answering questions and making comments in a forum style chat room. Oh how wrong I was! A Google Hangout is as far from invisible chatting as one can possibly get, being a live video stream with 'conference' facilities - where others are able to watch, interact and participate too!

So it was with a little trepidation that Tanya and I arrived at the loveknitting offices in Denmark Street yesterday, wondering what the afternoon had in store for us. We were well prepared with samples, swatches and Carly had forwarded us an idea of the sorts of questions she would be asking, but that didn't help with the nagging thoughts at the back of our minds that we would get tongue tied and forget how to speak!

The loveknitting conference room is filled with yarny delights!

The loveknitting team made us so welcome though, and after a tour of LK HQ we made our way into their lovely, airy conference room and settled down in front of a huge monitor ready to 'hangout'. It is always an unsettling experience to see or hear yourself on television I think, and seeing yourself in 'real time' is even odder, but Tanya and I soon eased into it with some gentle guidance from the very able Carly. We chatted, laughed a lot, I coughed a bit, showed some of our samples and I demonstrated one of my all time favourite techniques (yes, mattress stitch!), and before we had a chance to even think about the time, an hour of hanging out was done.



We can't ever resist a selfie - especially when we're on the tv!

It was only on the way back to the tube that I realised I had actually enjoyed the whole experience! I wasn't shaking or dry mouthed and I distinctly remember saying to Carly that we could always come along again when we launch some exciting new products in July, or even for a Christmas special . . .
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The lovely Klara Kimono and my colourful Elk Cushion, oh and us!

If you'd like to see just exactly what our Goggle Hangout looked like, then you can see it all on Youtube here. And finally, we'd like to thank the amazing team at loveknitting for asking us to be a part of their first ever Google Hangout - it was super-good fun!
(posted by Max)

HOT RIGHT NOW - Emma Boatneck

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Emma Boatneck in midnight and fawn
The sun is beginning to peek out from behind the glowering, rain-sodden clouds and there is a definite feeling of warmth in the breeze. Dare we contemplate that summer is finally on its way? Can we begin to plan a summer wardrobe with light dresses, cropped jeans, sandals and . . . cool knitwear?

I say yes! And I am certainly turning my thoughts towards some key summer pieces that will see me through the mild days of early summer and into cool evenings. Along with layering pieces such as the Erika Cardigan or the Anna Bolero which are great to put on as temperatures drop, I think the main key piece for this season has to be the Emma Boatneck. Such an easy to wear sweater, the Emma will look great teamed with jeans and heels or a cute summer skirt and some pretty sandals. I am currently deciding just which 2 colours I will knit mine in!

And it isn't just me that thinks the Emma is sure fire hit for the coming season. After the Emma pattern promotion we ran a week or so ago, a staggering 2265 Ravellers downloaded it and another 133 added it to their queue! It attracted 601 'fav's' and of the 14 projects that are currently listed a couple of these were started in the last week.

Here are a few of the projects by knitters on Ravelry who have already completed their Emma Boatnecks:


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http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KathFozz/emma-boatneck-jumper
Kathfozz's Emma in plum and fawn
 
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http://www.ravelry.com/projects/okdoakknits/emma-boatneck-jumper
okdoakknits Emma in midnight and fawn
 
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http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sally321/emma-boatneck-jumper
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http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sally321/emma-boatneck-jumper-2
sally321's Emma's in plum and fawn and midnight and claret

Seeing a download per minute in our inbox is thrilling in itself to us at MillaMia, but to add the icing AND a cherry to the top of a delectable cake, our Emma Boatneck also raced it's way up the Hot Right Now pattern board on Ravelry. The entire MillaMia team watched with baited breath as it crept higher . . .



and higher . . .



and finally reached the top! Our first ever pattern to reach the highly coveted number 1 spot!



If you haven't got your Emma Boatneck sweater pattern yet, then you can find it on Ravelry for £4, or in the Country Escape collection (the pattern promotion is now finished).

Now, should I try fuchsia and scarlet for a REALLY bright splash of summer colour or go for a more sophisticated berry and putty? Oh, but what about daisy and snow, forget-me-not and storm or midnight and snow . . . the choices are endless!!
(posted by Max)

BEHIND THE SCENES - photoshoot

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It takes a LOT of baby whispering to get a great shot!
A photoshoot for a new collection always feels like a very tangible step towards realising all of the hard work that the MillaMia design team have put into developing unique and exciting new pieces. The knitted samples begin to arrive at the office a few weeks beforehand - always received with squeals of delight - and then Helena, Katarina and Tanya begin to plan for the shoot itself. They source props, locations and work on the theme for the collection - often making backdrops and parts of the set.

As the day approaches, we are all caught up in a flurry of excited activity, and this shoot was no different. With a full collection of beautiful garments for babies and kids in our (shhhh!!) brand new yarn weight, we knew that we needed a LOT of lovely young models.

We've been fortunate with sourcing some of our models for previous collections as Katarina has very generously produced three beautiful children whom we have shamelessly exploited - and their friends have also happily featured in some of the books too!

Baby Benjamin was so calm and little Olive kept a watchful eye on Mum

This time, we sent out a request on all our social media channels and were utterly thrilled with the amazing response! We want to say a HUGE thank you to all of those who took the time to get back to us and to the incredibly obliging mums, dads, aunts and other family members who brought their precious models along - we hope you'll love seeing your children swaddled in cosy knitwear in the next book.

Helena stole a quick cuddle with sweet Clara, but nephew Erik wasn't so easily charmed!

It was such a relaxed day considering the shots we needed to get, and the amount of garment and set changes we had scheduled. There were two Dads who brought their kids along - in sole charge - who did a fabulous job organising and keeping their offspring happy. Katarina and Helena managed to persuade their brother Mikael to bring the super Erik along to feature in his first photoshoot - although I'm sure he'll be 'employed' for lots more in the future! It was also lovely to meet 2 new people who, quite by chance already had connections with MillaMia. Baby Daisy's gran had knitted the Teddy Blanket for her when she was newborn and Louise's mum Linda had knitted with MillaMia - something we only found out after we had approached her in the park!! What a small world!

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Cousins Johan and Erik hangout before their big moment

If you are now wondering just what this exciting new collection and yarn is all about, then keep watching this space! We'll be releasing sneak previews - like this one - right up until we launch in July here on the blog and on all of our other social media channels.
(posted by Max)

OUT AND ABOUT - with Loveknitting WKIP

What better way to spend a summer Saturday than among fellow knitters (whom you may or may not actually know) in a cool café in the middle of London, knitting squares for a worthy charity? The MillaMia team thought that there wasn't really anything they would like to do more and so Katarina, Helena and I hopped along last Saturday to join Loveknitting and Knit For Peace at Flat Planet in Great Marlborough Street as part of Worldwide Knit In Public Day.
 
 
Launched in 2005 by Danielle Landes, WKIP is the biggest knitter run event in the world. It has gathered momentum over the past few years seeing organised events now run through an entire week, and with global reach. It has become an excellent opportunity among the knitting community to not only show off their knitting prowess in public, but to participate in some charitable endeavours for lots of worthwhile causes.
 
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Our colourful group spilled out onto the street and attracted lots of interested glances from passers-by
The team at Loveknitting are no exception and decided that offering free knitting classes as well as knitting up some blanket squares to support the Knit For Peace charity, would be the perfect way to mark the day. They chose a trendy venue, invited some knitting celebrities and provided plenty of delicious café fare to help motivate and fuel the knitters.
 

 
Debbie Bliss provided help and advice in her Knitting999 Surgery and happily contributed a couple of very beautiful squares to the effort. The ladies that I ended up sitting next to were busy knitting their own squares as I arrived and I overheard them talking about how lovely Debbie is - they were very slightly starstruck at meeting such a well-respected and well-known knitting celebrity!
 
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Edward from Loveknitting and Debbie Bliss
 
Katarina and Helena arrived shortly after me and we were all soon knitting and chatting and tucking into some wholly delicious food. Flat Planet were incredibly accommodating of us crafters spreading out across the entire downstairs and up on the street, and fed us with delectable organic English spelt flatbreads topped with all manner of delights.
 

 
It was warm and busy up on the street . . .
 
. . . cool and productive downstairs in the basement!
 

 
The generous endeavours of the knitters produced a very creditable 50 squares on the day which will all end up as part of a blanket. Of course, the charity needs LOTS more squares and Knit For Peace are very happy to accept any squares you'd like to donate. Send your squares (10cm x 10cm - any yarn, colour, pattern!) to:
 
Knit For Peace
Radius Works
Back Lane
London
NW3 1HL
 
The pictures actually tell the best story - lots of knitters enjoying a bit of crafting on a splendid summers day, and some curious passers-by stopping to have a go. As I said at the beginning - what better way to spend a Saturday than meeting new knitting folk, creating something for a great cause and eating!!
(posted by Max)


CROCHET

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We have long been waxing lyrical about the versatility of our Naturally Soft Merino and how its lovely tight twist lends itself to beautifully even knitted stitches - but how does it stand up when used for crochet? The wonderful Rachel from Tangled Yarn set herself the challenge of learning to crochet when she came upon the amazing Anzen by Simone Francis in Pom Pom Quarterly Magazine. Read on to see how Rachel fared with learning a new craft and finding herself in love with a new yarn!

Rachel: I first saw Anzen when it appeared in the Winter 2013 edition of Pom Pom Magazine and was immediately inspired to learn to crochet! I love the simple styling, but had never crocheted before so I thought I should definitely try. It's actually easier than I thought and the pattern is really well written and fairly straight forward which helps a lot. As a beginner myself, I would confidently say that it's ideal as a pattern to start with, but I would also recommend Youtube as great place to see any stitches or techniques that you aren't sure of - it's always helpful to see somebody else demonstrating.

 The Winter 2013 edition of Pom Pom is available in print and as a digital download

I was so pleased to see that the yarn used for Anzen was MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino as I’d been admiring it for a while. There isn't a stockist locally and so I decided to stock it. I've been very happy with it so far - it's beautiful for both knitting and crochet and is absolutely ideal for this project. I think that MillaMia is a good yarn to start crocheting with because it's far easier to use than cotton (a yarn that is more typically recommended for crochet) it doesn't split quite as much and the stitches are incredibly neat and well defined.


I love MillaMia for its colour palette, all the colours work so well together when you combine two or three in a project like this. For my Anzen, I chose putty grey as the main shade with storm and berry as the accents which complement each other really well. So much of the worry about choosing colours that 'go' with each other is taken away with the colour palette - the guys at MillaMia have done all the work for you!

So far, I'm happy with this first ever crochet project. I’m really enjoying the process and have to confess that I look forward to the end of my day when I can just sit with it on my knee and hook away!



You can find Rachel at her online store Tangled Yarn where she has curated an incredible collection of beautiful yarn, patterns and notions, on her blogRavelry, Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.

NOMINATED - British Knitting Awards 2014

We are incredibly excited to announce that we have been nominated in the British Knitting Awards 2014! The readers of Let's Knit and Let's Get Crafting magazines have been responsible for choosing all the nominees for a whole raft of categories and MillaMia have been entered in the 'Best Ready-To-Use Kits' section.

Firstly we want to say a HUGE thank you to all the readers who initially nominated us - we are so pleased that you think our kits are worthy of a nomination. And secondly (here comes the pitch!) - if you think that our kits make great gifts, are beautifully packaged, contain the perfect project for a beginner knitter/new Mum or Grandmother or just that they look jolly nice in your local yarn shop - we'd love your vote!

 


Voting is now open and will close on 14th September so you have plenty of time to place your vote. To make it super easy for you, we have included a button here . . .


If you are a regular reader then you will also be able to cast your vote there - forms are in the August issue of Let’s Knit and issue 63 of Let’s Get Crafting – Knitting & Crochet magazines.

 
Many thanks from the MillaMia Team!

UNWIND - Brighton

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The Brighton Dome - home of the marketplace at Unwind
Once in a while, an epic event grows from a set of simple ideas. The ideas being those of collaboration, inclusion, fellowship of like minds and wholehearted immersion in something you love. It grows in the mind of a special individual who has a vision for something spectacular - something that provides the most incredible platform for all of this to happen. It evolves quickly and organically and before you know it, there is a venue with vendors, workshops, teachers, designers and many, many excited people eager to come and be a part of it.

Dani Sunshine (also known as Lioness Arts) had such a vision last year and took on the mantle of organising the mammoth event that soon became known as 'Unwind' in her home town of Brighton, which took place just last weekend. I cannot even begin to fathom the level of dedication, organisation, and sheer hard work that Dani and her Unwind team put into every single aspect of this incredible event, but I do know that their commitment to making this THE best fibre/knitting show of the year was tangible in absolutely every part.

From the highest calibre of workshops and designer-teachers, to the stunning array of yarn available in the marketplace courtesy of some of the premier indie dyers of the moment; from the beautiful location to the fabulous Seaside Shindig party splendidly organised by the girls from Pom Pom Magazine - this weekend provided full sensual immersion and complete enjoyment for every knitter and crocheter that attended!

We discovered that knitting goes with practically anything!

I, along with Sue Stratford and my knitter friend Caroline, attended for the entire weekend, having booked workshops, our place at the Shindig and with a not inconsiderable list of desirable items to purchase at the marketplace. We threw ourselves wholeheartedly into the experience from the beginning - scouring the Lanes for delicious cake, cocktails and jewellery on the Friday before the yarn market was open and then each of us attending various classes on the following 2 days.

The beginning of my Brioche knitting and Sue concentrating very hard on hers

Sue and I had the privilege of attending the Windrow Cowl Brioche knitting class with Bristol Ivy. Bristol was the most patient of teachers and took great pains to show us the trick of knitting in Brioche style - her Windrow Cowl pattern is very beautiful and I really wanted to learn how to make it. I think I have grasped the technique for knitting Brioche flat, but let's just say that I need quite a bit more practice!

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I may be undoing some of my stranded knitting here . . .
 
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Ann Kingstone was the most patient and knowledgeable of teachers

We also went along to learn Stranded Knitting at the hand of the mistress of colourwork - Ann Kingstone, who was equally engaging and demonstrated some techniques that both Sue and I will be forever grateful for. There really is nothing quite like learning these skills directly from the hands of these super talented designers, and I am already wondering what new technique I can learn next year . . .
 

The Seaside Shindig was great fun - a knitty quiz with yarn tasting, live music and John Arbon spinning the decks - perfect!

The pictures of this awesome event don't really do it justice - but we were often too busy knitting and laughing to remember to take any! I'd just like to add an addendum for any Unwind organisers that may come across this post . . . looking forward to Unwind Brighton 2015!!

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Bekky, Me, Sue and Caroline - a Brighton Dome selfie!
(posted by Max)

BRAND NEW - yarn and collection preview

OUT AND ABOUT - Fibre East

How lucky we have been with glorious warm weather (and not too much rain) here in the UK! Of course, it's especially welcome at this time of year as there seems to be a fibre event every weekend, and these days out are always SO much more fun if the sun is shining.

There are always buttons treasures to seek out and the prettiest yarn to stroke!

A mere two weeks after a fabulous weekend at Unwind Brighton, Fibre East beckoned knitters, spinners, crocheters and crafters along to Redbourne Community College in Bedfordshire. Fibre East, by its own admission seeks to 'celebrate the Best of British' - a term that loosely covers anything from UK based dyers and vendors to specialists in homegrown or British breeds.

We arrived early so there was time for some crocheting in the queue!

I love the variety and choice that this engenders - there are always favourites indie dyers, talented crafts people, small local shops and designers who often won't exhibit at the larger national shows due to the huge costs of the stands. It's a chance to go and see (and more importantly feel) the yarns that are mostly only available to view in an Etsy store, to meet the passionate people behind these small brands and to support them. I can happily say that I NEVER come away from one of these local shows without a few skeins of something I hadn't planned to purchase - and consider it a very welcome accident!

Shearing demonstrations were on all weekend - you have to feel sorry for the very hot sheep that were last to relinquish their fleeces!

There were a couple of MillaMia stockists exhibiting including Sue Stratford and The Knitting Hut, The Knitting Gift Shop and Knit One - all stands looked busy with excited customers throughout the day. The Natural Dye Studio, Easyknits, Yarn Garden and Purl Alpaca almost seem like regulars now, and I was excited also to see Rachel CoopeySweet Clement, Kettle Yarn Co and Five Moons.

Sue Stratford with her menagerie of animal kits and the lovely folk from Five Moons

I was perhaps a little surprised that the show wasn't busier. In previous years there has barely been enough room to wrestle your purse out of a handbag - even at the 2012 show that we all affectionately call 'worm armaggedon' due to the horribly wet conditions the footfall seemed higher. This year there was certainly room enough to stroll and browse without an elbow in your ribs, there was space to see what was on offer and time to chat with the vendors. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a more relaxed marketplace where I have more time and choice to make my purchases, but that has a huge impact on the vendors of course.

Time for a picnic with friends in the grounds of the college

I wondered to myself on the way home if we are now experiencing too much of a good thing. It feels like the knitting/crafting community has been craving some really good quality shows for a good long time, and now we almost have a glut! Perhaps a shuffle of the calendar for 2015 will help to ensure that all the shows receive an equal share of the (yarn) cake.
(posted by Max)

DESIGNER INTERVIEW - Kirsten Johnstone

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Kirsten Johnstone in her Asamoya
We have long been admirers of Kirsten Johnstone's cool, clean sense of style - it is something that fits in well with our Scandinavian aesthetic. Her ability to design garments that are inherently stylish, with gentle drape and fluidity in the knitted fabric make her one of Ravelry's stars. You would instantly recognise her work - so often does it appear on the Hot Right Now board, and in collaboration with the likes of Brooklyn Tweed, Amirisu, Shibu Knits and Quince & Co.

If you aren't familiar with Kirsten's work, then treat yourself to a leisurely browse through her Ravelry pattern store. Her sev[en]circle has an incredible 1385 projects to date, and other stunning designs include (featured in the images below) Amime, Aisance, Gake, Sankai ManWoman and Boy, Go Hat and Tekko.

We count ourselves very fortunate to have been able to catch up with Kirsten on a beautiful sunny winters' afternoon in Manly, Sydney. We met at the very cool Hugo's amidst the to and fro of ferrys, tourists milling, beautiful food and of course, a table covered in swatches!

Kirsten is very well known in the US these days. More even than in her home country it would seem, but every day that recognition is growing as she is in demand to speak to different audiences and even to use her architectural skills to redesign iconic haberdashery stores. She is an incredibly talented designer who is constantly on the look out for inspiration. As we sit eating and chatting over lunch she notices the folds on the back of a waitresses apron and it's apparent that she has stored that particular image safely in her memory as for fodder for a future pattern.

I took the opportunity to ask Kirsten a few questions . . .

What do you look for in a yarn in order to achieve the elements that run through all your designs (ease, fluency and fluidity)?
I suppose it depends on what I’m planning to design but I prefer yarns that are solid or semi-solid in colour. I seek yarns with excellent stitch definition and because I want longevity of the knitted garment, I want the yarn to wear well without pilling, if possible. That said, I am always pleased to discover new yarns and explore their particular tactility and inherent properties.



What can we expect to see from you for the rest of this year and into next?
Unusually, I have a number of new pieces lined up to ready for release. These include 2 cardigans, a new sweater, 2 new colorwork cowls, two fabulous new scarves and super slouchy hat. I am gearing up for my classes at The Craft Sessions, a craft retreat held in the Yarra Valley near where I live in Victoria.


Tekko mittens and the Go Hat

Whattips do you have for a young/new designer trying to launch on Ravelry?
Wow. It’s a steep learning curve and I have definitely learnt a lot since my first pattern release! I primarily focus on integrity and excellence, to stay true to my own aesthetic and professional ethics. I don’t especially look at trends or other designers. I know what I like and I continually seek to refine that style with ingenuity and originality rather than compromise. So, on that note, I recommend making a commitment to integrity and excellence – in your original knitwear designs, in your pattern writing/editing/testing, in your photography. Don’t make do with second best; integrity and excellence always stands the test of time.

The Sankai Boy, Man and Woman

We know how you got into knitting… but does anyone else in your family knit? Have you tried to teach your children and has it been successful? Do you see knitting being passed down to the next generation quite like it was to this one?
I am having a quiet laugh on the inside as I know you know who else knits in my family! Yes, it is true - my husband can knit. I didn’t teach him but he can knit a row or two in a pinch! In answer to the second part of your question, yes, I have taught both my children to knit. My daughter is very keen and my son not so much. I have also taught friends’ girls how to knit and I have discovered that 9 or 10 year olds have developed the dexterity to wrangle the yarn and those needles much more successfully!

I believe the next generation with continue with knitting. I see so many people out there on instagram and the like knitting things for their kids and a natural interest and curiosity is then piqued in their children. It is definitely something I am attempting to nurture in my own children, whether it be knitting or sewing or drawing or some other form of making. I want them to appreciate and understand the joy of creating and, thankfully, both my children love it.


 sev[en]circle - Kirsten's hugely popular free pattern available on Ravelry

Tell us something that most people don't know about you???!!!
I am a distant relative of William Wordsworth - how’s that for random? My paternal grandmother’s mother was a Wordsworth though sadly, none of his poetic sensibilities appear to have been passed on down!

It was funny, as we were chatting I asked her how she knew about MillaMia and she said, one minute she had just heard of the name and the next she was seeing it everywhere. We are lucky to have had her attention and are hopeful you will see collaborations in the not too distant future . . . fingers crossed, we should be so lucky!
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