LAST MINUTE SALE!

Click here for Accessories SALE!

Because there are only a few days until the last posting date for overseas people we're having a 25% sale on the last few accessories we have left in stock!

Pick up a quick bargain before Midnight Friday (UK time) for your loved ones this year.......

Merino shell wrap, Putty- one left. £88- USUALLY £118

Long Cabled Mittens, Almond- One pair left. £35- USUALLY £47

2 Button Hat, Flannel- Two left. £41- USUALLY £55

Click here for Accessories SALE!

Perfectly Warm Hands!

Our latest November mailout!

Last date for international 'Made To Order' online orders is midnight (British time) Thursday 22nd November so if you don't live in the UK and want something that we don't have in stock get your skates on and order or it won't be knitted in time for the last post!!!!!

Click here to see what we have in stock!

Procured Design Loves Ruth Cross Bedsocks!

Thankyou Jake of Procured Design for featuring our lovely cosy Hand Knitted Cabled Bedsocks!

According to the lovely Jake who clearly has great taste (and yes- he does shop for his girlfriend with us!) our bedsocks are a Winter Essential for the ladies in your life.........

Below are our slouch socks - another duvet day must and in stock now!

Still not flattering- come on High Street get your own designers.....

And again- a couple of years ago it was strikingly similar mug cosies popping up everywhere and this year it's knit effect Deer / Stag Heads...... 

So the competition is on- 5 points to anyone who can find any other (than the two we've spotted already) retailers who have a version of the below for sale this year.... Also- 5 points to any designer who can prove they had created a white knit covered stag/ deer head (like the old school taxidermy ones) which was published online or in the press earlier than February 2011....... the more similar the better!

Above- mine

Below- the most recent company to sell this strikingly similar item who is maybe not that 'Proud to back British' when it comes to British design!  Another 5 points if you can work out who it is....

New Stockist/ Bertie has a girlfriend

I am pleased to announce we have a new stockist 'Provenance' who will be showing at the Selvedge Christmas Fair today in London!

Apart from clearly having great taste in knitwear we have realised that the lovely Jessica who owns Provenance also owns 'Edith' a dachsund remarkably similar to our very own 'Bertie'! So when we inadvertantly shrunk a pair of black slouch socks (you could now use them to prop up a table they're so solid!) we knew exactly who would love them- Edith!

Here she is along with a very polite (and for someone with such short legs well written) e-mail!

Dear Ruth and Bertie

 I love socks and pants and I was helping unpack the box - and thinking what fun Christmas is going to be .. and when we opened the box, there on top was MY PRESENT... clever clever Bertie & Ruth for knowing.  I LOVE IT.  Thank you.

Edith

My lovely customers who make my day....

This is an e-mail I got today from the lovely Jennifer........

Ruth,

I went down to the post office, stood in line and got my gloves. Just

in time for NY to get tons of snow when 30% of NY still has no power.

These are gorgeous gloves!

Thank you so much,

Jennifer

....I'm thinking of everyone affected by Sandy and wish you all the best and hope life gets back to normal soon xxx

Feeling Glam?

Thankyou Glamour- another fan of the cosy! 

Perfect for those days when you're feeling closer to cosy than glamour-puss (I say that like it's an anomaly for me and not just a regular day!)......

Thankyou Linda Bloomfield for being the best cosy promoter with your lovely ceramics!!!

It's a start!

For my Woolmark commission (for their London showroom piece) I've recently been knitting lots of stripy blobs.....it's a glamourous life.....Anyway I have finally started sewing them on so here's a quick snap of the centre of what now seems like an absolutely enormous canvas. 

On the downside I definitely need a lot more blobs (possibly fuelled by a box set or two), on the upside my eternally picky husband likes it so much that he wants one for the house! Now this is important as generally we have a surprising lack of my work at home (despite me sneaking in bits every now and again)- so to actually ask for one from the pickiest man/ man with the best taste ever is really a big deal! I must be doing something right....

Flattering?

The never ending question for all us little designers is- 'How close is close when it comes to design similarity and is (possible) copying the sincerest form of flattery or basically a bit annoying'.......

For instance...

 

Above and below are images of one of three stag heads that I designed 18 months ago and were in stock a year ago (not to mention up online)...... 

 

Now- I know there are a lot of hand knitted covered things for the home out there- I've been doing it since 2005 after all, but I did feel like I'd seen the below version (cast complete with embossed knitting pattern) somewhere before when I spotted it in a well known high street store on Saturday- 

 

Luckily I've been around the block a few times and know chances are it's probably not a direct copy and not to let it bother me- but really it would be good for the whole of the craft and design world if the hours we put into original ideas were recognised rather than just 'flattered'.......I'll leave it to you to decide which you prefer!

Thankyou Good Homes...!

.......and lovely Seek and Adore and Dote! Yet more cosies in the press so thankyou everyone! The tea cosy and mug cosy are mine, made in conjunction with lovely Linda Bloomfield

You can buy just the cosy on it's own direct from my website here they make lovely gifts for awkward/ tea obsessed people!

What I Need Vs What I've Got...

So, for my latest project for Woolmark (an installation piece for their new London showroom) they have chosen this design.... it's 1m x 1m so actually has a lot more 'blobs' than is shown in the sketch.... I think they'll vary between about 4cm and 8 cm across each..

 This is a 'blob' prototype, knitted on four needles using Rowans DK- I'll make up the sizes and colour layout as I go, but I think I need between 350 and 450 of these to cover the piece....

 So that's what I need- what I actually have is 48 balls of yarn and about 2 weeks...better get knitting! (still- don't the colours look lovely)

And again! This time it's Good Housekeeping!

Yet more fans of the cosy mug.......

Buy your mug cosy here! perfect gifts for people who have everything!

Country Homes and Interiors Love Cosy Mugs..!

.....on a day like today surely hot chocolate and a cosy mug is the only way forwards?

To order your own cosy which will fit almost any mug click here or if you'd like some with Linda Bloomfield's Ceramics (as shown here) then she'll happily send some direct from her site!!!

Woolmark strike again!

I am so excited to have been commissioned to make a 1m square knitted piece for the shiny new Woolmark London showroom! Just think of all those woolly people who'll get to enjoy it! These are the rough sketches I submitted and the colourway will be off white, greys and dirty lime.......watch this space for progress updates and to see which one they chose......!

50 Shades of grey..........

Just a quick update to say we've got lots of new stock arriving and some really gorgeous greys we've got to snuggle up with this winter- Ignore the unbelievable rain and dark nights and embrace some chic woolies..... :)

Hand Knitted Super Soft Merino Wrap In Rich Bruise Colour- mmm lovely! - £118

Click here to buy the Shell Wrap online!

2 Button Hat in Flannel Grey - Hand Knitted in the UK with Supersoft Lambs Wool and Finished With Stag Horn Buttons- £55

Click here to find hat for sale online!

Long Fingerless Mittens in our Beautiful Drab Bronze colour, Super Soft and Super Cosy- entirely Hand Knitted in the UK- £44

Click here to buy the mittens online!

Last. Minute. Changes.....

are literally the last words a hand knit designer ever wants to hear! And they very quickly explain why I've spent virtually the whole of the last 10 days knitting like a crazy woman- next time a rug is proposed as a Last Minute Change I'd like to think I'll say no, but experience tells me I'll probably just say yes again (not that I can't resist a challange of course!).
However the mission is now well and truly accomplished and alongside the lovely Ben, Sarah and Ollie we spent all of Friday in a lovely house- (see below!- Sarah and I are saving up.....) making some lovely photos, which if all goes well should end up in book 2........ unfortunately I cant disclose any of these just yet so watch this space!

In other news it looks like my first book 'The Knitted Home' is going to be published in France, Finland and Australia as well as here and in the states......how exciting!

Knitted, washed, dried- now where's the buttons.....

So thats what 175 mug cosies look like (or some of)! My whole office is now filled with mug cosies drying for Linda Bloomfield .... if only the buttons had turned up- although at about 20 per hour that is a lot of sewing.........maybe they'll come tomorrow....

Who said this wasn't mass production again- well done my lovely knitting ladies you zoomed through these!

Finally- Knitting On 4 Needles......

....I have finally bitten the bullet and learnt how to knit on 4 needles. It always looked a bit too terrifying but actually its not so bad after all....whilst my heart will always be with 2, 4 is definitely more fun than I thought it would be. So I'm doing all sorts of exciting circular experiments with them but here's a quick pic of one in progress!!!

Now where's that crochet hook? Although I think that might be a step too far......

Professional rug tester available

I have finally started work on the new book! Very exciting but a lot to do in a short time........ am about to start a yummy rug and have just done the stitch/ colour swatch- I went to take a quick snap on the floor in the sun and who should immediately curl up on it but Bertie.
I assume this means he approves........................either that or its just a good place to rest your tail?

It must be Winter.....

because I have journalists asking to borrow things for their Christmas shoots!!! So far there are blankets, socks and cosies winging their way to photographic locations everywhere- amazingly it seems mug cosies are going to be widely featured again this year!

I've been making these in collaboration with my lovely potter friend Linda Bloomfield for years and the novelty just doesn't seem to be wearing off!!! Click here for Lindas website!
If you don't know her work then have a good look- she does wonderful ceramic tableware........

You can buy your very own mug cosies from our online shop - the perfect present for those awkward to buy for people- if you want Lindas ceramics too then you can also buy online from her website ! Happy tea and toast to you all..

If only.....

.....knitting were quite this glamorous!

Last Word Written - YIPPEEE!!!

I think (fingers crossed, touch wood) that I have finally finished everything for my upcoming book! 'The Knitted Home' (published by Jacqui Small Feb 2013) is looking totally lovely (thankyou amazing photographer Ben Anders and lovely designer Sarah Rock) and hopefully will prove a best seller...... I'm now onto PR stuff, answering zillions of questions about everything under the sun!

I'm not allowed to show any sneaky peeks at this point so I thought I'd do a quick Bertie update whose obsession with birds (closely following carrots and fishfingers) has taken a new turn since he worked out how to stick a feather to his nose.

He is clearly leading a stressful life in the studio.......

Finally finished the worlds most complicated capes.....

Basically what I've been thinking since last Tuesday is what on earth was I thinking when I designed this!

Yes it's gorgeous and yes it has surprisingly satisfying magnetic fastenings (which you can't see so it's super chic when undone) and yes it has secret cosy hidden pockets and yummy organic bamboo silk lining but my God it is ridiculously complicated to put together!!!

Let's hope the good people of Santa Fe and Aspen appreciate all the hard work- although if they can see it I guess I haven't done my job properly......... Here are a few pics of the finished thing (on our lovely model Becky- who just got married Congratulations!)

Jumper update.....8 days to go!

It is 8 days to go until my self imposed deadline for the never ending jumper project and following a cold (thankyou wonderful husband) I have had a bit of a spurt! I have now finished the back and done half the sleeves.... however I may be rushing headlong into a yarn crisis- namely that I don't think I have enough!

All I have left is shown in this picture next to my sleeves and there's another 30 rows of increasing then I can start to decrease quickly- so please all keep your fingers and needles crossed. It may be that I have to do a slightly different colour neckband (intentionally on purpose of course!).........

New day, new stitch...

Today I have been starting to think about developing some new stitches that I can use for my second book (especially weird since the first isn't even published yet!) but it's high time I got some new ideas on the go. I've long had a fascination for knits that look like weaves or that cleverly alter from one fabric to another and how they behave together. Recently though I've been intrigued by waffles, honeycombs and anything else geometric with a 3D look. Some of the most recent hat and scarf designs use my first waffle (http://www.ruthcross.com/acatalog/index.html) but here's another I came up with today!

Another Reason I Am Not An Accountant

Today I have realised another reason why I am not an accountant. Today I have been checking the patterns for my new book 'The Knitted Home'. This basically involves going through every detail of every one with a calculator and is so deathly dull that I have now run out of diversion tactics (washing up, peanut butter on toast, hoovering, tidying, facebook, more peanut butter on toast......) in an effort not to face up to this- my most hated of tasks (shortly after anything involving accounts or forms). This explains why I am not an accountant / anything else requiring mega precision- I love working out how to knit new things I'm not so good at the pedantics of explaining them to someone else- why don't they just know what I mean?! Anyway I have just finished and thought this summed up my love of pattern checking.............now, what else can I eat....?

Confession time...

As a knitwear designer people always assume that I make everything I wear, the faith people have in my ability to create anything from socks to coats is frankly alarming... This is not even a little bit true anymore. Up until I left Uni/ got ejected into the real world I did make quite a lot of clothes (all tailored I might add- not a bit of knitwear!). But since then I just haven't had the time. This means that I have never actually sat down and knitted something just for myself- sure I steal the samples from work regularly but theft does not count!

Then two things happened- I wrote a book (coming out feb 2013) which meant I had to learn all about yarns available for everyone to buy internationally- very different (and very expensive) in comparison to the yarns I usually buy direct from the mills, Some of these I discovered are particularly yummy. The second thing is that I finally have a bit more time in my week....or at least I thought...

So I decided I wanted a good lazy sweater that felt cosy but doesn't make me look like a bag lady. I measured the dilapidated version I stole from my husband (definitely erring on the bag lady look) and worked out my stitches and rows. In contrast to the work patterns I write I'm now basically making the rest up as I go along. I've done the front and half of the back and I'm using decreasing and increasing to create a random pattern as I go.

I should say that I did start this in March so it's taking forever but I'm determined to finish before my cousins wedding in 3 weeks (I always was ambitious) anyway I'm attaching some snaps so I'll let you all know when it's done (don't hold your breath) - It also currently looks like a dishcloth but as knitters everywhere know- all knitting looks like this at this point!

 

I'm knitting this on 4mm needles using Patons Merino DK- yummy!

Red, White & Blue Jubilee Cushions Now Available Online!

The lovely one-off cushions we designed and made for the Woolmark www.wool.com Blackfriars bridge decorations (for the Queens Diamond Jubilee Pageant) are now available to buy online http://www.ruthcross.com/acatalog/copy_of_Ruth_Cross_Knits_Available_For_Immediate_Shipping.html
so snap yours up before they're all gone!

Introducing Bertie- a vital team member?

I almost forgot to introduce Bertie.
Absolutely vital to inspiration and efficiency (a likely story as my Dad would say) is Bertie- possibly the worlds most charming/ naughty dog in history. With no respect for knitting whatsoever, but immaculate comic timing he keeps us all thoroughly entertained!

This was a sample made for a big installation in Madrid last year- one minute it's a 1m wide knitted spiral wing prototype- then in the space it takes to answer an e-mail I turn round and hey presto it's Bertie's new favourite place...... still with those eyes what can you do? And yes- he is fully grown....