Drum roll please ….

I’ve got some super-exciting posts coming up over this next week or so – Yarndale (which was just fabulous fun), the Yarndale Sock Line (which truly blew me away this year) – and this one!

Earlier this year, I was so happy to tell you that I’d been nominated in the British Knitting and Crochet Awards for Favourite Knitting Blog with Winwick Mum.  These are the industry-leading awards for the crafting industry run by Let’s Knit and Let’s Get Crafting magazines and it’s a huge honour just to get on the nominations list.

Now, 15,000 votes later, the results have recently been announced and Winwick Mum has won 3rd place in the Favourite Knitting Blog category.  Oh my life!  It took a few days for that to sink in, I can tell you!  Thank you so much to everybody that took the time to vote for me, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that you enjoy the blog so much that you did that.

Sarah Neal, the editor of Let’s Knit says, “These awards are an opportunity for the nation’s knitters and crocheters to honour their favourite brands, and they’ve done so in their thousands.  That’s such a fantastic accolade for all the winners and runners-up and true recognition for all their hard work.”

I never think of what I do with the blog or the socks or the tutorials as hard work (well, maybe the videos as that’s not my favourite part 😉 ) because I love it all so much, but I am so pleased that what I do also brings some pleasure to you.

It’s a funny thing to do, blogging; it’s part talking to yourself but also part talking to someone out there.  We may never meet but by visiting my blog you have touched my life so that I know (thanks to visitor figures) that you’re there, and I hope that what I write has been useful, or made you smile, or has encouraged you to knit socks or just stop and look at the sky every now and again.  It’s an odd kind of relationship, the one that we have, but I wouldn’t swap it for anything.

My congratulations go to everyone who was nominated and also to those who have won awards this year (you can see the full list here).  I’ll be meeting up with them in October when I go to the awards ceremony and as you’d expect, you’ll get to hear all about it when I get home!

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart xx

 

Staying with Let’s Knit magazine (oh dear, now I’ve started these DJ links I just can’t stop!), I’ve got something exciting to show you.

What do you think of these socks?

Source: Let’s Knit magazine

They’re knitted in Stylecraft Head over Heels and the pattern is called Magic Diamond socks and it’s written by me 🙂

It’s a beginners’ pattern and it’s going to be published in the next three issues of Let’s Knit.  Three issues?  Yes!  Let’s Knit asked me if I could write the pattern and tutorials to go with it in the style of the original Sockalong, split into three sections over three months so that anybody could have a go even if they’ve never knitted socks before.  It’s all knit and purl stitches to create the pattern and it’s called Magic Diamond because you can customise the pattern even if it’s your very first sock.  Magic, eh? 😉

The first issue is out today (28 September) and should be available in the usual places where you buy your knitting magazines.  If you’re in the US, you can find the magazine in selected stores of Barnes & Noble, JoAnns, Michaels and Books-a-million, although it will be about a month later in your stores than here.

If you’d like a glimpse into the issue so you can see what else is in there, this link will take you to the Let’s Knit preview.

See, I told you it was all exciting 😉

 

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37 Responses

  1. The Puddle Stone says:

    Congratulations Christine, you deserve to win, well done you! XxLissie Wales

  2. Sally says:

    Woohoo well done Christine. 👍
    A huge thank you for sharing your blog and all the wonderful sock tutorials and patterns. You are the reason why do many of us are now addicted to sock knitting….and I can't thank you enough as it's brought me great enjoyment and calm x

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I'm so pleased to hear that, Sally, there is something so very calming about those small rounds and I'm glad they help to keep you calm. And thank you! xx

  3. Ruan Peat says:

    well done and congratulations! 🙂 I enjoy your blog posts and often try new things from it.

  4. Anonymous says:

    You deserved 1st place. You're the best. Congratulations! Very excited about the new sock pattern and the magazine publication. Your kindness is being returned to you.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      Ah, but if you come first straight away then you've nothing to aspire to! 😉 Thank you for your lovely words xx

  5. AnnieOBTextiles says:

    Congratulations Christine, much deserved for all the inspiration and information you share with infectious enthusiasm. It is always a pleasure visiting your blog.

  6. Lenore says:

    Congratulations on receiving the award Christine, well deserved. Xx

  7. Sharon xx says:

    Totally deserved, congratulations Christine. Really pleased for you. X

  8. marymartin8 says:

    Congratulations Christine you deserve it.

  9. Unknown says:

    Many congratulations. Truly deserved. I love love love knitting socks thanks to you. Your blog is always a place of positivity which is much needed when there is so much negativity in the world.
    Have a lovely weekend. I'll be off to buy Let's Knit today x

    • Winwick Mum says:

      That's great to hear, I'm always delighted to know that there are more sock knitters in the world! Thank you! xx

  10. Lilly's Mom says:

    Congrats! I'm so happy for you. Pat xx

  11. Shelagh says:

    Congratulations! The award is well-deserved. Not only have you started hundreds (thousands?) of knitters on their sock knitting journey, but you've continued to inform and advise. I love your knitting posts, but I love your non-knitting posts too – there's always something in there that makes me stop and think.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I'm so glad that you feel that way, Shelagh, I do try not to go on about socks ALL the time! 🙂 Thank you! xx

  12. Catie Burnside says:

    Many congratulations Christine. The award is thoroughly well deserved. As someone who joined the original sockalong that May however many years ago I can testify that knitting socks completely changed my life. I found a world of colour and socks that didn't no up round your toes where they slipped too. Although we have never met, I kind of think of us as friends and wish you were very success for the future.

    • Winwick Mum says:

      You can't beat hand knit socks, can you? I wonder now how I ever managed without wearing them! Thank you for your lovely words xx

  13. Chris (barney charles) says:

    Congratulations Christine. You are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable you deserve this award ��

  14. Linda says:

    Kudos and Congrats to you :)) I began knitting socks because of you ! And your blog brings me a little closer to 'home', as I am a transplanted Brit living in Canada for 30 years !
    Thanks for all you do. Have a wonderful celebration !

    • Winwick Mum says:

      I do have a special affection for Canada as I have relatives living there – and they wear hand knit socks too! Thank you! xx

  15. selina says:

    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! well done!

    ooo i like those new socks! they look awesome!
    thanx for sharing

  16. happy hooker says:

    Well done, Christine. A well deserved award (although you should have been 1st!) Thanks to you, I'm now addicted to sock knitting. The magic diamond socks are gorgeous. Your generosity is amazing, and I, like many others, count you as a friend even though we've never met. Looking forward to the Yarndale posts.

  17. Francesca says:

    Congratulations!!! Very well deserved! Thanks to you I can knit socks now and your blog always inspire me.

  18. Gez Butterworth says:

    CONGRATULATIONS Christine very well deserved award enjoy the ceremony evening. The new pattern looks amazing, I can't wait to get the magazine and have a go. I keep saying it l know but thank you doesn't feel enough. You have brought so many calm moments to my days while my family has been in crisis I've been able to take time out and lose myself in sock knitting time and time again. Thank YOU. Gez xxxx

  19. Julie says:

    **round of applause**…many congratulations Christine on the award, very richly deserved.
    Love the new socks, i'm sure some of the ladies at my knitting group will be coming along with the magazine next week to show me – I always tell them that I learnt how to sock knit with your fabulous tutorials and help here after my scarey times and sad first attempts.
    xx

  20. Claire H says:

    Congratulations Christine – such a well deserved award. I am now a sock knitting 'addict' and feel really comfortable knitting them because your clear explanations and good photographs have completely demystified sock knitting for me. I'm now helping some of my friends to knit socks! Well done. xx

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