• Welcome to ehdknits.Here is a glimpse of debonnaire’s distinctive hand-dyed yarns,fine knitting accessories and Erica's original patterns (as well as my random comments!) . All yarns are specially chosen for quality and relative value and are extensively road tested. I also have a large stock of hand-painted needlepoint. with something to interest all. To stitch , I carry a large stock of traditional and specialty threads, including Rainbow Gallery. My mission is simply to inspire you to stitch while providing the best personal service possible. Please feel free to contact me at ehdknitsATgmailDotcom or call (0788-799-4351) to discuss any knitting or needlepoint needs. My patterns are also available through Ravelry and selected knitting yarns at debonnaire.artfire.com (click through buttons on right). Have fun with your project! Erica Downs
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  • love bags

    summer bucket bag
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  • love golf

    scott's golf club cover
  • love needlepoint

    needlepoint santa
  • love cashmere

    cashmere red
  • love cavaliers

    MOOSE- a debonnaire cavalier moose

Christmas Sheep

 

SheepSheep

You may have seen the Lake District Sheep singing jingle bells last year- but check it out again, sure to make you smile.

Funniest knitting TV commercial

Is this the funniest knitting TV commercial yet?
Check out this video on YouTube:

Oh No- Farewell to Celebrity Sheep Shrek

  Was Shrek the world’s wooliest sheep? Sad news from New Zealand this summer as Shrek died. He achieved celebrity status in 2004 when he was finally sheared after eluding clippers for 7 years  by hiding in caves during shearing seasons.His fleece weighed nearly 30 kilos!  He spent the next 7 years touring , earning up to $NZ 16,000 per appearance (no idea how much that is), inspired 3 books and developed a facebook page. Shrek’s owner called him ” an elder statesman. He taught us a lot.” hmmm… In any case, he is just spectacular.

When I was young, we had a sheep called Henry the Lamb ( yes, that was his full name). Henry grew huge over the years, was shorn by Ladybird Johnson during her beautify America kick and inspired a children’s book. When Henry died (in my mother’s arms), he seemed as big as Shrek but it was all muscle (ok,  maybe fat too) not wool covering. Henry did not like  the male humanoid  species. Whenever my father drove home, he would zoom around the circular driveway 3-4 times with Henry in hot pursuit and then quickly emerge and race into the house. Henry also tormented my younger brother- he particularly liked to hide behind bushes ( or at least he thought he was hiding) and then charge at any opportunity. And who said sheep are dumb ?  Still makes me laugh….

 

September Debonnaire events- if it’s wednesday, I’m on a M road

Debonnaire’s September Schedule:

1-3 Sept  Manchester- Creative Crafts-done….

10-12th Edinburgh- taking Savannah to Uni ( not exactly Debonnaire,but gone none the less)

14th My birthday- def a debonnaire event

16-18th Sandown Park, Esher-  Creative Crafts

22-25th Exeter- Creative Stitches Westpoint Arena ( I seriously need helpers)

26th- London- Daisy Trust, Hurlingham Club ( I will be brain dead)

28-1st Cardiff- Creative Stitches

Please come see all the wonderful new yarns and patterns!

 

Wool Week!

As Wool Week kicks off, the Evening Standard pronounced “knitting and wool in general are cooler and,yes, sexier than ever before”….

Spotted yesterday in Knightsbridge Jigsaw shop:

A customer knitting a square of blankets for the HIV charity KasCare benefiting  Aids affected children in South Africa.

The article then goes on to recommend a knitting kit from the States (!) for those wising to hone up their skills. Gee, they could have at least researched the UK providers of knitting kits such as moi. I clearly need a PR person.

Seriously though, celebrate- There’s tons going on all over the country.

Lace Knitting on the Beach

In midst of  this awful weather – who can believe its August?- thought I would post pics of my new favorite holiday knitting- lace. Takes very little valuable  suitcase space  and does not seem to react to react as adversely as some other fibres to high humidity and heat.  Finally finished the merino/silk  random lace cowl/poncho that’s been hanging around the stall forever:

Then started Lustre Silk Lace tunic:

Here’s Savannah modelling the poncho thing:

 

She was not impressed with the babushka look-

Crochet a Granny Square Skirt-save a bundle

I spotted this Christopher Kane crochet skirt in the July issue of Elle. It can be yours for a mere $1300

or you can have the cashmere version for about $2000:

I would happily work up one of these in your choice of yarn and colour at a huge savings, or do it yourself and save a fortune. Please send me any pics of your creations…….

woolfest 2011

 

 

 

           Cute Sheep- I liked the Ryelands this year and the dwarf ouessant sheep

I love the Woolfest weekend- the show is just fantastic and as well, we have the chance to spend some time in the Lake District.

Knit Nation- Imperial College this weekend!

Race for Life 2011 cap

My Race for Life 2011 cap is now uploaded to Ravelry- It’s a free download. Click on Ravelry button to the right to access it,any problems send me an email ( address to left) and I’ll forward it on. This is a simple knit with a little heart motif running aroung the lower edge.

Wonderwool Wales

I asked Scott to get a shot of the signpost for Wonderwool in Welsh and got this:

  don’t know what it says and you probably can’t see it anyway. ( I was driving..)

Sheep and lambs everywhere- the weather was perfect all weekend .It just could not not have been better.

        

My stand was huge :

    

Longdraw James (Ravelry ID) sat across from me spinning most of the 2 day show – talented young man (he’s a musician as well and seriously understands the ins and outs of yarn):

I can’t recommend this experience highly enough for all the fibre obsessed. This part of Wales is just beautiful and the show needs a full 2 days to get through thoroughly. Accommodation can be tricky- needless to say I left booking to the last moment. We were fortunate to find a room at the newly opened ( we were the first guests) Roasted Ox Inn. Had thought it was in Builth Wells as advertised only to find it was a mere 8 miles away which translated into a good half hour drive through the mountains. Seriously worth the drive however as the locale was stunning , the food good and I got to see zillions of sheep and lambs every morning. Say hello to Tony if you’re in the neighborhood.

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