HRYC

A little bit of Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra for your listening pleasure. Before I left for London this song was the perfect theme song - I was so sad to be leaving Wellington. Happy to be back now, of course.

x tash

Yesterday saw so many new books arrive it was better than Christmas!

Pip Lincolne books - SEW excited to have these in stock!

The Shetland Trader Book by Gudrun Johnston (these are being snapped up, only 1 left!)

At long last, some copies of Little Red in City to put on the shelves. All our other shipments sold out before they even arrived!

Coastal Knits by Hannah Fettig and Alana Dakos (also selling quick smart)

Plenty of reasons to drop by, sit on the couch and browse! xx

A bit of a knitting theme for the next couple of weeks - Weezer is one of those bands that, whenever they come on, you think 'oh! Weezer! I love you! Why don't I listen to you all the time?!'.

And because they are so awesome, they have a knitting song. Oh, yes.

Following on from the Man Knits post, I thought I'd share something really ace from one of my favourite leading men - Ryan Gosling:

'Ryan Gosling, a best actor nominee for “Half Nelson,” on what he does when he is not making small movies that garner major acclaim: “I knit. Yeah. I really do. I knit scarves. I bake.'

-- from the NY Times a few years ago

Mmmm Ryan, you can shop with us any day.

Speaking of man knitting, we'd really LOVE to teach some men to knit. It's all about destroying stereotypes. Flick us an email at tash (at) knitschyarns (dot) co (dot) nz if you are, or you know of, a male type that would like to knit!

Five minutes ago a happy lady left the store armed with yarn, needles and a man hat pattern - 'Basic Simple Lazy' by John Brinegar.

Finding good man hat patterns, and good man patterns for that matter, can be a tricky challenge. Men like simple. But going by discussions with customers in the shop, more and more male types are after hand knit items.

Dare I say the C word - Christmas - is looming, which scarily enough means it's time to start thinking about gift knitting. So for our Ravelry Ramble today i'm going on a hunt for quick but ace projects for the he-beast most deserving of your hard work!

John Brinegar's Basic Simple Lazy (he looks like my kind of man. Just sayin')

Basic Simple Lazy hat - knit in DK, uses just a smidge over 50g. For a little bit of luxury (does he deserve it??) go for some Stansborough Mythral or Lana D'Oro wool/alpaca.

If he is happy for a little more texture - I LOVE the Marram Hat by Mimi Hill (also free! Hooray!)

A bit of military history associated with a man project can't possibly go astray. 'Here darling, this scarf is knit to the same pattern as for arse-kicking soldiers'...

Another freebie - Scarf S-107 and gloves pattern from 1941 - would be most excellent knit in one of our Harvest blue DKs

In a previous life I have knit a man a pair of socks. They were Boring (with a capital B). But, the question you have to ask yourself: 'How much do I like this man? Is he worthy of Boring knitting?' If the answer is yes - stroke his ego and go for the Big Boss Man Socks. Because he'll chuck them in the washing machine, go for some Knitsch Sock, and they'll come out nicer, and he'll never want to take them off. Promise.

So, have you started Christmas knitting yet? Have any patterns that are quick and easy and well received? Let us know!

PS - click on the images to go to the Ravelry project page.

xx tash