Vintage Gifts to Knit is finally about to be published!

I can't believe we have finally got here, but on Wednesday of this week - that's the 9th of June, Vintage Gifts to Knit will be published. I am so excited yet incredibly tense. I have felt as though this day would never come and was terribly conscious as well of letting people down if we didn't get the job done. But we are nearly there now, just 24 hours to wait. I am travelling later tomorrow, or possibly Wednesday morning, down to Reading for the Summer Tea Party (see previous blog post) which will be an unofficial launch party for the book. If you are coming and you have pre ordered a copy of the book, you will be able to pick up your copy on the night. All other orders will be being despatched on Thursday. Everyone has been incredibly patient while waiting for me to get this book together and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support. Thank you all so much.

I have to update the blog and the shop and ravelry etc properly at the end of the week but in the meantime here's a little sneak preview of some of the other designs in Vintage Gifts to Knit.



This stunning jacket is inspired by vintage bed jackets and can be worn in its traditional role or as a cardigan or 'day' jacket. It is knitted in Rowan pure wool 4 ply and is deceptively simply to knit, with only a 4 row lace pattern to follow. I love this one - It also has neat, little gathered sleeve heads and a fabulously draping hood , very Phantom of the Opera!



I've called this mens sock pattern 'Father's new socks' just because I think its the sort of present that my dad would really love to get. Unfortunately for him, these ones are for Gavin - seen here as 'foot model'. Knitted in Jamieson and Smith 2 ply jumper yarn using a really simple slip stitch to create the mock fair isle effect. I've gone for these muted autumnal colours but they would be really good in black and grey or navy and cream for office wear too.



And finally for tonight, the much mentioned skating skirt. Designed initially for my good friend Alabama Whirly to knit during the Olympics, this turned into something far more than originally expected. Seen for the first time, being worn by Alabama at Unravel in Farnham, so many people asked about the pattern I realised it had to be included in the collection. It is knitted from the top down in the round in Jamieson and Smith 2 ply jumper yarn (yet again) and has 8 panels with shaping worked into each one creating this lovely drape, reminiscent of bias cut fabric. The rest of the photos for this one are fantastic, I can't wait for everyone to see them.

Its only at the end of this project, that I realise quite how much of myself I put into it. Its a very personal collection of designs that I absolutely love individually and collectively and all say something about the era they have been influenced by and the things that I love. I hope you all love it too.

Time to go to bed.

for now
Ruby xxx


Vintage Gifts to Knit is available to purchase from shop.knitonthenet.com for £14.00 plus £3 p&P worldwide.