News

As some of you may know we did a survey last October to try and get some feedback from our members and fashionknitsters. You replied and told us exactly what you wanted.

Part of the response was to provide more free content and make it available to those outside of the membership. Well as we go through the next few months of transition, members will notice that some of their membership pages will start disappearing..... actually they're just on the move!

I'll be concentrating on getting some of the site ready for the hand over in July and there are a few things I can do now which won't effect the content that our members have paid for. All of the same patterns and guides are still there, as well as recycled guides, current trend sheets and a few tools. Members still have exclusive access to all patterns and future trend information, so don't worry.

The new section will be the first of many changes we'll be doing to the site so stay tuned for more information.

If you want to be notified when the site will become free to join in July, just join our newsletter (sales and spam free) by clicking this link:

http://twistedangle.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0ccf64bf338f4668df8d0c8a0&;id=20fd835769

Just add your name, email and what type of knitter that you are in the boxes and we'll send you the newsletter only when we have great stuff to tell you.

Have you seen the new page we've added? Get downloading now!

http://www.twistedangle.co.uk/resources

So when someone starts fiddling with a designer's pattern, when does it go to far? Do designers find it flattering? Maybe they're a little bit too precious? Well a hot topic at the moment. After a few pictures on facebook of my designs that have been twisted by other fashionknitsters, find out what I think about it....

So honoured to be featured today on The Knitographer blog. This is a great blog by knitwear designer and writer Joanna, who some people may know as The Knitographer.

We met through the new E-book that we're doing for 2013. This year is florals and yet another chance to meet some fab people. I'm very lucky to have so fantastically talented knitters joining me this year including Joanna who wanted to take the opportunity to discus trends, Twisted and of course knitting on her her blog in this interview.

Visit the site and have a read of the interview by clicking the link below. http://theknitographer.blogspot.co.nz

Easter is a time to have a spring clean around the house. Spring is coming and if the cold spell in some parts of the world would die down, maybe we would all feel like Spring is finally here. But for those of you with children, it's the school holidays that are probably on your mind. Well wherever you are, you might need something to keep them entertained or just give yourself a little treat.

Here at Twisted, we thought it might help to have a little spring clean of our own and help you save some money for the holidays. So whatever you buy in our shop for the next two weeks, from Friday March 22nd to April 7th, we are giving you 20% off in our shop.

All you need to do is go to our shop page above. Shop for as little or as much as you like, then when you are in the shopping cart and about to pay, look down under your items and there will be a box for coupon codes. Simply type EASTERTWIST (in capitals) into the box and you'll see your total get smaller by 20%

We hope you have a wonderful Easter.

The design for the new Trend Series book are officially allocated to our new (and some former) knitters.

The series of books, 1 per year, look to not only give colour work charts to knitters and crafters that work with grid based colour design, but also prides itself on the community that builds it. Each of the knitters that provide their time to knit swatches for the book's photos, are all individual designers and small business that are looking to gain promotion for their imense craft skills and vast knowledge.

I'm so glad that the books can offer a platform for lots of knitters to promote themselves as well as building a really strong network of knowledge and support with each other.

We've learnt a lot from last year and are looking to develop and grow the new book "Florals" to be better than before.

The most amazing vest top ever....the cookie monster makes an appearance, plus news on how to get involved with this years trend colour book...... time is running out, so don't miss this.....

So last year we started a book community, with the option to knit swatches and contribute to the book........

Being a small company, I know how hard it is for individuals and small business to gain exposure. So when I was putting the book together, I thought why not open up the credit to other knitters and small businesses.

A great side effect was that everyone in the group bonded together, became great friends and shared our other work and dare I say it, lives, which for some of us was eventful at times. The girls were all supporting each other, spreading the word for each other and helping to develop each others businesses. It was of course about the book, but it became so much more than that.

Of course you are probably wondering what was in it for them? Well of course a free copy of the finished book and everyone who knits for us is listed in a directory at the back of the book with website addresses, email, facebook ravelry and basically all of their contact details with a list of the pages they worked on....

So of course, this year we are doing the same. If you want to get involved, emails need to be sent to Vicky (me) by 11th March. You can do this by seniding me an email through our Contact page

The really good news continues fo summer 2013. It looks like it will be a really exciting summer!!! But with a reminder of a warning I need to give for those looking for trend information....

Is this the new accessory for AW13? Well Tibi seemed to think so. A very snuggly polo with a lovely warm knitted chest plate..... just itching for some lace trims and colour blocking isn't it!

There were many variations on the theme spread throughout the collection for AW13 and other designers in New York were following suit with many showing off hoods and snoods.

A quick little post to let you all know that the latest pattern is now online. Our hand knit, smock detail jumper with a small puff sleeve. I love this detail which offers a different point of view to a traditional cable. We've added a little leather for a super sexy look......

 Pre Fall catwalks for AW13 show a really promising knitted edge. Some of my favourites, colour, cables and bobbles, are rife and most designers have at least one of the three in each of their collections. Here are some of my favourites from the collections.

The 3.1 Phillip Lim cable jumper is really great. Nothing out of the ordinary, with cables and bobble in winter, but the scale and work of the jumper is just great. I really love smaller scale repeat. It makes it a little more special than that of the larger scale cables that have been around for a couple of seasons. Really liking the split sides seasms and boxy shape too.

Just Cavalli continues his reign of colour and although this dress is not knitted, I really think it should be. This would be a really great dress with colour combinations or even changes of stitch to create the really simple pattern

Michael Kors was either shaking things up or toning this down with this shade of mustard depending on which side of the colour argument you take. Masculine well yes and it's also extremely difficult to wear depending on your skin tone. But there is also that other problem which many designers get wrong, which is the depth of the tone itself. Sometimes you see them and they really look a little sickly, but I think Kors has picked a very nice shade. Not to mention that it looks like a mohair or angora which is always a favourite for winter.

3.1 Phillip Lim,  Just Cavalli, Michael Kors

Well indeed, Merry Knitmas!

I hope you are all taking some time over the next couiple of weeks to relax, enjoy yourselves, eat too much and enjoy some time with those you love (and knit of course)

I'm no exception and this year I'm going to see my partners parents in foreign lands and just as well because my last holiday was 2 and a half years ago (and before that it was 6) so I think a really good break is well needed to refresh the batteries. See how dedicated I am to keeping you lovely fashionknitsters in the latest patterns!

Apart from next week, (our one yearly pattern week off)  the new patterns and posts are all set up and ready to go, so you won't miss out! The only difference will be to the shop. If you want to buy a pdf format pattern, book or trend report, then go right ahead this won't effect you. However if you are looking for practical goods that will need postage, I'm afraid these will be switched off until Jan 4th.

Festive Knitty Regards to you all and I'll see you in the new year!

xxxxxxxxxxx

Merry Christmas Everyone.....I know it's early, but I was walking through IFC mall in Central today, and came across the best Christmas tree EVER!

I just made me feel all christmassy..... especially the bunnies with jumpers!

Our first book in a series called 'Trends' is out now. It brings the prints and motifs of the catwalk and puts them into graphical colour work options for all crafters to follow. In this 70 page book you'll find large artwork motifs, 2 colour motifs, repeat animal prints and a few kitsch silhouettes.

There is something for everyone, the sophisticated lady, the young trendy girl, the 'lounging at the weekend' girl and the kiddies and it's not restricted to knitters! The graphs can be followed by any type of craft that lends itself to following a grid work for colour design, like cross stitch, embroidery, mosaics and of course knitting

This book also built a community from across the globe of small business and talented artists who contributed to the making of each of the swatches shown, and combined our facebook page, allowing you to vote for the front cover!

You can find out more on this plus lots of in depth pictures on our shop page.

READ MORE....

To celebrate the launch, the book is on sale for it's first week at £5.99, saving £4 on the price. Get it before the 25th November before the pprice goes up!

You all know I do love a bit of colour! This weeks pattern is for the Machine Knitters amoungst you. A great little bardot that stays feminine whilst coverting the very manly 70's inspired graphics for AW12.

So a new pattern for the twisted shop, hand knitted. A great little crop cardi with a customizable trim. Great for all of the holiday season's coming up I think!

But yes I know '' it's machine knitting week '' I hear you cry, but we did have a request for this pattern sooner rather than later. I think we'll have to do two machine knit weeks just to even things up again!.... I do love this one though!

Ah Missoni......this was the SS13 show. I do love Missoni, but sometimes I wonder what the stylist is thinking. Got to love the 70's inspired graphics mixed with a bit of sport and some fantasy

So we all hate drawn out, long posts, so I'll try to keep this brief, but I urge you to read on.........

Twisted Started a few years ago and I have always been very honest with all of my members and followers from the beginning. Our aim was to give everyone catwalk based knits and provide trend info for people who wanted to design their own patterns as cheaply as possible. We did that with the hope that we could provide multiple patterns with a small membership fee and rely on member volume to hopefully carry the cost. Currently we offer each pattern for only 60 pence -that's for someone who only does hand or machine knit. If you do both, then the patterns are only 30p. Great value, I thought and that's not including the value of the trend information also......

We need around 40 people a month to sign up to continue the low cost! Well that's great, we've done that, but in recent months, I've been going over the books and the situation is changing. So what do we do....competitions, offering free time for referrals, pictures on pintrest, facebook, tweets, youtube videos and lots more..... yep done all of that

Having gone through many figures and stats from our social networks and website, I'm not seeing the support that we need to promote the service to new people and haven't for some time, even though we have a large number of loyal fashionknitsters and I love you all dearly. I think the time has come to face the reality. Offering value at such a low cost, doesn't pay the bills, however hard you try. It really saddens me because I really believe in what we do and I know you do too, but that is reality. So we have 3 options, 1- We close, (I'm not about to do this just yet) 2- We suddenly have a rush of 1000 new members to carry the load (unlikely) 3- We change the way we run.

So option 3 I think is the way forward. It has been suggested that a paid site with individual patterns may be a better option? But maybe someone has another idea? This decision however is not down to me. We have to change and move on, but I want your opinions on how to do this. It is your site after all...... So I've put together a short, 9 question, questionnaire that I am hoping you will take 5 mins to complete. Don't hold back, I need honest opinions and comments.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PVCSCC8

Or send me an email directly! All emails come straight to me at Twisted so feel free to speak your mind. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

To ALL CURRENT MEMBERS: None of the changes will effect your subscription in any way!!! You will continue to receive the service you signed up for.

Usually around this time of the year, I'm ranting and raving about the Spring Summer collections for the year ahead and the fact that the knitwear is so boring and usually, scarce. This year the knits have not been densely populating the catwalk, but they have really been interesting with lots of inspiration for the season ahead.

Lets have some highlights

Some great knits from Numéro 136 for AW12. I love the furry tabard and the floral jumper. Great design to sit alongside the Twisted Angle AW12 collection #8. We have our own versions........ but get some great inspiration for the cold months ahead.

Some of you may know that we just did our bumper AW12 photoshoot, one of which was a mock cable jumper. It was actually more of a smocked effect, but a truly special jumper.

And then came the media. There has been some great jumpers for AW12 which really promotes some great ideas and design for cables and texture this winter, but I really think our one is better! What do you think?

Twisted Angle #8 AW12 collection. Hand Knit Jumper with Puff sleeves and Smock Detail