Guess what? Autumn is here...

It's come as a bit of shock to the system for me - I've just got back from two weeks in Ibiza where the weather is beautiful and the sunsets are even more so  

 So to come back to rain and winds and cold was especially unwelcome! But Autumn means hats and warm sweaters, it means soon it will be Winter and that means more hats, gloves and mittens, scarves and cowls and CHRISTMAS. The last two Christmas Eves I have been knitting into the small hours of the morning trying to finish Christmas presents (last year I didn't make it and one person got a one arm warmer and a ball of yarn). This year I'm going to save you from this fate, may I present to you The Knitting Goddess Christmas Club (From the website)

Would you like someone to take care of your Christmas knitting? Help you find some lovely new decoration for your tree? Suggest recipes for tasty things to bake? And send you a little treat each month? Then you’re going to love this.

Joy and Rachel are offering you a Christmas club. There will be yarn and patterns for three perfect presents, either for someone on your list or for you. Because knitting time is precious, we’ve chosen three of our lovely double knit yarns to ensure that there are no 3am dramas caused by knitting socks in laceweight yarn for a man with very big feet.

In October there will be a pattern for a shawl in double knit alpaca and silk and 100 grams /252 meters of yarn. In November there will be a pattern for mittens (and fingerless mittens) in double knit merino and silk and 100 grams / 212 meters of yarn. In December there will be a pattern for a hat in double knit merino, cashmere and nylon and 100 grams / 212 meters of yarn.

These patterns are being designed especially for this club and will be available to purchase on their own one month after they are issued to club members. Each month you’ll also get a pattern for a christmas tree decoration (or small present if your to knit list is very long) and a recipe for something really scrummy to make. We know that lots of people need to avoid gluten or dairy, and promise that it will be possible to adapt these recipes to suit.

Parcels will be posted to reach you for the first of each month in the UK, and we’ll try to get overseas parcels out a couple of days earlier, especially for December as we know the post can get rather backed up. Each parcel will contain yarn, a link to a web page where you’ll find your exclusive pattern, decoration and recipe, and a little goodie. Places are limited, so sign up now to make sure you don’t miss out. We've worked out the prices for each month to include yarn, patterns, goodies and postage, so if you're only ordering the Christmas club please select the download only option at checkout to avoid paying more postage. For the UK the club will cost £60 for three months. For Europe the club will cost £63 for 3 months. For the rest of the world the club will cost £69 for 3 months.

I've got my grubby hands on the yarn and it is gorgeous, there a few places left and once they are gone, thats it. Earlier in the week the Bella Sock pattern became available:

   

  These socks have bobbles and lace, they are inspired by Bella from the Twilight Saga, there are strong columns of stitches and delicate lace sections to represent the contrasts within her personality, vunerable yet fiercely brave. The pattern wraps around the bobble stitches to represent the way Bella’s shield wraps around her family and friends when they are facing the wrath of the Volturi at the end of Breaking Dawn. I love this yarn, the colours are deep brown for her eyes and blues for her (and Edwards) favourite shirt. One of my favourite things about using variegated yarns for socks is the little bit of pooling you get on the bottom of the heels - you can see it here

   

 It's a little funny thing but it makes me happy!