I've just updated the 'Recommended Links' sticky post at the top of the page with some new sites for free patterns and some more knitting blogs.

If there are any other sites you find and want adding to the list, just let me know :) .

Just updated with some new blogs by UK knitters. I've also added a link to KnitCast - the Podcast for knitters :) .

Updated today with some new internet knitting shops.

Updated again, with a list of blogs by blokes who knit.

Hi Hecate, glad to note you haven't recommended a certain online yarn shop. I'll spare their blushes by not naming them but their service is currently appalling. I eventually got my needles almost three months after placing my order, having been told they had no record of it (even though they'd sent half the products). I've seen many many appalling reports of them on the internet, and they are totally uncontactable when you're trying to chase up your order. I wouldn't recommend them to anybody, maybe they'll realise they've got to pull their (knitted!) socks up if they don't want to lose all their business.

Hi Twiglet, I know exactly who you're referring to. Three months! That's outrageous! It's such a shame too, because the shop front looks so tempting. I remember reading somewhere (I think it was on the UK Handknitters Yahoo group) that the company concerned had a problem with the machinations of an aggrieved ex-employee, who had taken to spreading dirt where she could. Allegedly.

However, I'd also heard tales of poor service too, of which yours seems to be typical. Actually, now I come to think of it, I believe others had waited weeks not months for their order.

I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but an order for knitting needles seems simple enough to fulfil. Being out of stock is fair enough; it's the lack of communication which is the problem.

I ordered a pattern from McA Direct back in February. When I next checked my email, I noticed they'd sent me a message saying that the pattern had just that day gone out of stock and although they were expecting more soon, would I be interested in a couple of similar alternatives? The pattern was for a basic pair of gloves and mittens, and the alternatives were virtually identical, except from different manufacturers. I said I'd wait for the original pattern though, and within 10 days, it had arrived. In short, ideal service in a time when there might have been a problem with lack of communication.

I believe they may have had problems with an ex-employee, but that is no excuse or a practical reason for their ongoing problems. Just after I placed my order (January) I read some cases on forums of people still waiting for orders they'd placed in October and November, but there were reassurances from the owner that this was in the time the employee was sacked and everything would soon be sorted. When I still hadn't received the second part of my order by March I was getting seriously peeved. E-mailing them received no response (allegedly because of a spam filter), the phones were never answered, and they even shut down their forum (because of 'spammers') so you couldn't contact the owner via there. There were a few complaints on their own forum and I think it may have had something to do with the number that were appearing, doesn't really look good to have complaints about your company on its own forum!.

Eventually I got in touch with the owner via a direct e-mail address she left on a forum. It took two weeks for a response, but someone phoned me and left a message on my voicemail to say they'd lost my order and would phone back. They never phoned back but my order arrived within a few days. If they'd really lost my order how did they know what to send out when I'd never said what the missing item was in my e-mails?

I just feel sorry for all the customers who haven't happened upon this direct e-mail address and must be still without their orders.

I agree, it's dreadful service and there really is no excuse for it. I remember that the shop concerned had allegedly over-reached themselves with their decision to stock a fairly wide range of imported American yarns, but again, this is no excuse for poor communication. I've bought imported yarn from a couple of internet shops, and have never had a problem. If they're out of stock, their web sites are updated accordingly. It appears that some shops continue to take orders even when they are aware of a delay.

Again though, unless your knitting needle order was for some obscure, hand-carved needles from deepest, darkest Peru, it seems odd for such a delay. With automated ordering systems too, it just isn't on.

There can sometimes be delays associated with ordering some imported yarns like Lorna's Laces. This is because many of their yarns are hand-painted in relatively small lots. The British shops thus have a limited supply, and it tends to sell out quickly. I've never had a problem myself, but if I had, I would expect the company concerned to immediately advise me as to the situation, and give me the opportunity to cancel the order.

Just updated again with a new section containing helpful links for sock knitters.

Updated this morning with links to some more magazines for knitters, including the glorious 'Interweave Crochet' and 'Knit.1', the new knitting magazine from Vogue.

Just updated with more links to the companies whose yarns are available in the UK. Added links to some more magazines, and to a couple more organisations in the 'General Interest' section.

Just updated with a new section on knitting podcasts. No, you don't need an iPod to be able to listen to them... :) .

Again though, unless your knitting needle order was for some obscure, hand-carved needles from deepest, darkest Peru, it seems odd for such a delay. With automated ordering systems too, it just isn't on.

Oh yes, I have very exclusive taste in knitting needles :D

Actually no, they were just bog standard 2.5mm aluminium needles, not even imported as far as I'm aware!

Just updated with another new Podcast, and a link to an excellent web site called 'Let Me ExplaiKnit'. This is a blog by Sara, an American knitter, which is devoted to explaining the tricky bits of knitting. There's a section on there about what goes into designing knitting patterns for socks. Highly recommended.

Last update of the day: a few more blogs added. Lots of sock knitters added in this batch of blogs too :D .

Updated with some more recommended books.

Just updated with some more free knitting patterns.

Just updated with a link to a new online knitting shop, Simplywool.com (http://www.simplywool.com/). I've just received an order from them this morning - excellent service. Recommended.

Just updated with even more free knitting patterns :) .

Updated this afternoon with links to more free knitting patterns, and a link in the 'General Information' section to a page of useful knitting-related links.

Just updated with a few more recommended knitting-related books.

Just updated with some links in the 'Fun Stuff' section, and a tutorial about the various techniques used to wrap stitches when doing short rows.

Updated with more links to knitters' blogs.

Just added a link to a the web site 'Men Who Knit'. It's a downloadable pdf file of free patterns designed for men, though I'd like to make some of them for myself :) .

Just updated with a link to Beads Direct, an online bead shop which has excellent service; order placed yesterday afternoon and arrived this morning. Excellent if you're thinking about doing any knitting with beads.

Updated again with a link to Boogie Knits - a massive list of free sook patterns.

Just updated with a link to an American shop, The Knitting Zone. It has an amazing selection of yarns at fantastic prices. The delivery cost and time are excellent too. If you want to buy Lorna's Laces, Artyarns Supermerino etc, it's far cheaper (and in some cases quicker) to buy it from here. Highly recommended.

Just updated with a new knitter's blog - Purple Duckie - which has lots of information on dyeing your own yarn.

There are also links to the yarns newly-available in this country: Brown Sheep, Cascade and Fleece Artist (more sock yarn!)

I've also just started a new section on spinning and dyeing your own fibre; something that I really want to get into. Anyone know where I can buy some sheep? :hihi:

Just updated with a link to Posh Yarns, a shop which sells luxury yarns (cashmere, cashmere/merino etc), and more information about the Sheffield LYS The Wool Baa.

I've also just started a new section on spinning and dyeing your own fibre; something that I really want to get into. Anyone know where I can buy some sheep? :hihi:

I'm sure I could get you a few. Nudge nudge :wink: :wink: :o

Just updated with a couple of new links in the sock knitting section. Thanks Lisa :) .

Just updated with a link to a series of free instructional videos for beginner knitters. Thanks, beansforyou, for the recommendation :) .

Updated again with another new link in the spinning section, and a link to Knitplayground, an online knitters' magazine.

Just updated with a link to a new online knitters' magazine: For the Love of Yarn.

Hi Hecate, glad to note you haven't recommended a certain online yarn shop. I'll spare their blushes by not naming them but their service is currently appalling. I eventually got my needles almost three months after placing my order, having been told they had no record of it (even though they'd sent half the products). I've seen many many appalling reports of them on the internet, and they are totally uncontactable when you're trying to chase up your order. I wouldn't recommend them to anybody, maybe they'll realise they've got to pull their (knitted!) socks up if they don't want to lose all their business.


Just to say that they have massively improved over the last few months - I know there's no excuses for some of their problems but they are now back to their previously good service.

Just to say that they have massively improved over the last few months - I know there's no excuses for some of their problems but they are now back to their previously good service.
That's good to hear. If anyone has had any positive experiences ordering from them, I'd be happy to put them in the recommended links section.

Just updated with a link to the new knitting magazine Yarn Forward (due in October) and a link to the website of the K9 Rescue Knitting Club.

Just updated with a link to CraftSanity, a craft podcast about knitting and other crafts.

Updated this morning with a link to the knitting collection at the V&A museum. The site also has an excellent section on textiles, fashion and jewellery.

Just updated with a link to KoolAidUK, a UK internet supplier of Kool Aid for yarn dyeing.

Updated the blogs section with a link to 'From the Sheep's Back', a British based blog with an emphasis on spinning and fibre. I've also changed the section about knitting folks' blogs to include websites which are not necessarily blogs. I've added a link to 'Shunklies', beansforyou's site.

Just updated with a link to a Sheffield knitting group - Knitpickers - who meet once (or sometimes twice) a month at the Devonshire Cat pub.

Thanks to tanya for the information :) .

Just updated with links to a few more knitting magazines; those which are either new, or didn't have a web site at the time of the last spring clean of the recommended links section.

Just updated with a link to another knitting podcast, and a new section on knitting tutorials.

Just updated with lots more links to yarn- and yarn-related companies whose products are available in the UK, including Lantern Moon, Brittany and Rooster.

Just updated with links to two more knitting magazines.

Just updated with some more free knitting patterns, and a crochet pattern. Started a new section for free sock patterns (lots more to be added here soon :) ).

Just updated with a couple of links to new free patterns.

Thanks to Brainylady (http://brainylady.blogspot.com/), I've discovered some very nice sock patterns. I've just added lots of them to the recommended links thread, plus some more patterns added yesterday.

Note that the thread, and that section in particular, is undergoing reorganization.

Just updated with a new knitting pod cast. Thanks to Jules13 for the link :) .

Just updated with another free sock pattern - the Horcrux socks from Susan at 'I'm Knitting as Fast as I Can'.

EDIT: Forgot to add that Susan is also the designer of 'Branching Out'.

Lots of new links added today, including more free patterns and knitting tips.

Just added a couple of new links to knitting podcasts too. Thanks to Turra21 for the tip about Lime & Violet.

Just added a couple of new links to yarn shops.

Added a link on 'How to Handle a Hank', a tutorial on winding a ball from a hank of yarn.

Just updated with a link to TECHknitting - an excellent resource for knitting tips and techniques. Thanks to Wool4brains for recommending the site and sending me the link.

Just updated with a video podcast for knitters, and a free pattern for a very cute dragon scarf for small children.

Updated with another tutorial about cables without a cable needle.

Just updated with a couple of links to collections of shawl, scarf and wrap patterns. Many thanks to Wool4brains for the links :) .

Just added a new free hat pattern.

More free patterns added just now.