What, you haven't booked your Handmade classes yet? Better get your skates on! I hear the booking process is a little painful (I swear at Ticketek too) but the pain will lead to glorious joy. 

Here's my picks for this year's Handmade:

Everything in the Manmade stream

I applaud the organisers for adding this stream of classes to the line-up. One of the trickiest things about this industry is figuring out how to get more men along, as the craft stereotype is that handmade is for women. Absolutely not the case, as you know. Bring along your special man friend, or just your regular man friend, and hit up these classes. They all look fantastic - and aren't only for men. I'd love to build my own bike wheel, and a pallet garden has been on my radar for quite some time.

Pro tip: quite often businesses in the industrial streets of Petone will put out their unwanted pallets with a 'free' sign attached. 

Knit your own socks, two ways

2014 sees two different sock classes at Handmade. Belinda Too returns with her excellent class on how to knit socks. Perfect for anyone who has ever wanted to try their hand at socks, this class teaches the Magic Loop technique, and works through the construction of a top-down sock. It really isn't so tricky if you have an experienced teacher such as Belinda to guide you through the process. 

The second class is with yarn maven Morag Mackenzie, and covers sock knitting in the other direction: toe up. If you're really obsessed with the idea of knitting socks, i'd book in for both classes. Honestly, socks are the greatest item to knit by hand. You can carry your project everywhere with you because it's so small, and wearing them when they're finished is a massive treat. 

Need some inspiration? Morag designs some really amazing sock patterns. 

Everything in the Stitch stream

About this point of looking through the programme I wonder if I can leave my amazing staff in charge of the Knit Lounge for the weekend. I'd love to make Kitty the Wheat Bag friend (pictured) with Flora Waycott, or a framed coin purse with Angela Young. My poor sewing machine lives under my desk because there's so much paperwork on top of it that there's no room. These classes would certainly rev up the inspiration enough to make me file all the paperwork and return the sewing machine to it's rightful place. 

Most of the weekend, really, you will find me in the Knit Lounge. I've got some plans up my sleeve for a Ravelry Meet Up and a Spin In, plus some other treats. I honestly can't wait. Have you booked your classes already? Want to see who else you might know is in the same one? We've set up a thread in Ravelry for such chatter. Drop on by and say hello!

Sometimes it's the little details in a knitting pattern that make it a real joy to knit. The clever little design features that are simple but hugely effective. Here's a few i've stumbled across lately:

Eole by Nadia Cretin-Lechenne would look gorgeous in Malabrigo Sock

Top down top by Anna and Heidi Pickles. For super snuggle factor maybe opt for Blue Sky Alpacas Sport

Peasy by Heidi Kirrmaier - i'm thinking Stansborough Mythral for this one.

We're definitely heading into winter weather now, so it's the perfect time to pick up the needles if you put them down over summer. Need some more inspiration? We have knit night in the Grand Arcade store this week, so pop by between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday night (the 8th). Sit amongst the yarn, knit, and reeeeeeelax. 

After two very short work weeks, we are now well and truly faced with the chilly days of winter. This year, knitting is really coming to the fore - stories abound of knitwear in fashion, the arm knitting craze, how knitting is good for mental health. 

I managed to get away for a much needed break over the Easter and ANZAC weekends, to recharge the batteries and think about where to next for the shop. I never usually read the paper, but I cast my eye over the Sunday Star Times on Easter Sunday. To read the following in the Sunday magazine fashion section:

Stuff like this makes me incredibly grumpy. It certainly isn't only 'Nanas' who knit, and you can absolutely knit very fine gauge garments by hand. This is what we're about - teaching people about the new generation of knitting and knitters, demonstrating what a therapeutic and productive outlet handcrafts can be in a modern, fast-paced world. 

And it's about time we got ourselves organised with some classes, so here we are: the first class in our Winter season, is for beginner knitters. 

Don't burden your grandmother with knitting for you: she has worked hard all her life. Buy her some nice yarn to knit something for herself with; learn how to knit your own beautiful garments. It's rewarding, it connects you with a new community of interesting people, and honestly most of our regular knitters are well below retirement age. Learn how to knit that super bulky scarf you're lusting after at a fraction the price and 150% the enjoyment. 

Learn to knit with us!

The class will cover casting on, knit, purl, and casting off. Plus anything in between that might intrigue a new knitter. We will provide needles and yarn to get you started, and then we can discuss what you might need to get going on a first project. 

Date: Saturday 10 May

1pm - 3.30pm

Holland Road Yarn Company, Upstairs, Grand Arcade, 16 Willis Street

$20 for the session including yarn & needles to get you started. Oh, and tea and coffee and cake!

Bookings can be made online or in-store. Cancellations up to a week in advance will receive a full refund, less than a week 50% refund, cancellations on the day will receive no refund, sorry!

Yesterday was a good day - a great big box of Malabrigo Rios and Sock arrived on the doorstep, just in time for Easter.

Here's two I simply couldn't resist...

Malabrigo Sock in Candombe

and Malabrigo Sock in Arco Iris

Aren't they a photogenic pair? Speaking of Easter, here's our hours for the weekend:

Friday 18th April - CLOSED

Saturday 19th April - 10am - 4pm (both stores)

Sunday 20 April - CLOSED

Monday 21 April - CLOSED

Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 24 April - back to normal hours

Friday 25 April - CLOSED

Have a wonderful break, drive safely if you're going anywhere, and happy knitting!

Handmade is one of our favourite events in the craft calendar. This year promises to be even better (and yes, I say that every year, and yes, it gets better every year). A new venue, a bigger marketplace, more classes and best of all: you get Monday off to relax, recover and enjoy the best of Wellington. 

The Knit Lounge will be better than ever this year - but annual favourite, the giant knitting needles, will definitely make an appearance!

I'm even teaching a class this year: an introduction to knitting lace. We often have new knitters mention how they'd like to learn how to knit lace, but aren't confident enough to teach themselves. The class will cover basic stitches to form lace patterns, and how to read a chart. 

There's a really great range of classes in the Yarn section of the programme - from absolute beginner to more technical workshops for the skilled knitter looking to refine their craft.

I can highly recommend booking early - often classes sell out super quickly. The Taste programme is always in hot demand, as is the Jewellery stream. What I love about Handmade is the opportunity to improve your skills in a craft you already enjoy, try out a new one you've been thinking about, hang with old friends, make new friends and meet some exceptional craft professionals. 

Tickets are on sale now - hooray!