November Newsletter

We're trying a new style newsletter this month. It can be downloaded here

Fibre Flurry

2010 has been a year of taking Atomic Knitting on the road.  Fibre Flurry was to be our 4th show this year and 7th show since we started.

Last weekend we went to Fibre Flurry in Birmingham, organised by the lovely Mikayla and her wonderful team. We set our stand up in the historic setting of a tudor wool merchant’s house. With oak beams and medieval floors this venue was like no other.  A great atmosphere in the building with so many indie dyers present and most definitely one of the highlights of our year.  We met some of you there and thank you to those that stopped by the stand. 

We’ve travelled to London, Stirling, Birmingham, Builth Wells and on the 13th November we’ll be in Exeter at the Corn Exchange for our last show of 2010.  We’re really looking forward to our trip to Exeter and hope that you’ll be able to join us there. Entry is just £3 on the door and there’s more information here: http://www.knitexpo.co.uk 

Our latest products include our very popular pattern tamers,  new row counters including our Freddy Head counter,  and available only at shows are our cute sheep and ram stitch markers. 

http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Halloween Collection Launches!

The Halloween Collection - cat not included ;-)

My lovely black cat posed for the picture to add that extra dimension of Halloween. Actually, I think she had her eyes on those creepy crawlies and was happy to do anything to be near them.

The collection includes a variety of notions, halloween related with extremely limited stock. Includes pumpkin crochet markers, skull stitch markers, skull row counters, evil eye mystery set markers, bobbing apple tape measure, pumpkin jewel markers and needles. All are available to purchase on the website.

Upcoming Events:

The Big KNIT Show '10 Winter

 Venue: The Corn Exchange, Exeter

Date: November 13th (Saturday) 2010

Time: 10am-4pm 

Wonderwool Wales 2010

Over the last month we've had a very busy time, preparing for and attending Wonderwool 2010 in Builth Wells. Wonderwool was a complete success, and we enjoyed meeting all our customers and fellow traders. Many Thanks to the organisers for putting on an amazing show, yet again.


If you missed out on the show, there's a few pictures on the Atomic Knitting website and we've put some of our new products on the website this weekend. Our new products include McAnaraks handmade resin buttons. These beautiful vibrant buttons are very unusual and unique and complement any project. There's still a few let, so buy early to avoid disappointment.




Just Arrived - handmade buttons by McAnaraks. 
Beautiful, vibrant, colourful buttons handmade in the Highlands of Scotland.


There are also new crochet markers added and a new size of stitch marker, 5mm, which has the added benefit of being on snag free rings. These designs are limited in number!


Wholesale - we have some new wholesale deals in our online wholesale shop, including purchasing just dangle free markers and snag free markers.






      
  Stitch Markers         Crochet Markers    Snag Free Lace Markers

The snag free marker 
These are perfect for large projects where you need quite a few markers and are especially good for lace yarns. As you can see, there's absolutely nothing to catch on the yarn. The markers are available in three sizes at the moment and a few different colours that you can mix and match.


 Our yarn and craft website with all original stitch markers and accessories is celebrating it's 6th Birthday this month and we'll have something very special for all our valued customers :-) More details in the next week.

Many Thanks for your continued support!
Best Wishes
Emma :-)
http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Wonderwool Wales, Sneaky Peek!

There's a limited number of single stitch markers ribbon tied onto a gift tag. You can even select your marker size! The gift tags are hand made and the markers are adorable! Choose from sheep, ram, duck, a flying pig, cute cow, a cheeky monster, killer whale, cat and dog.

Strictly limited, so buy early to avoid disappointment.

Atomic Knitting

Don't forget, Wonderwool Wales is being held on the weekend of 24th/25th April in Builth Wells, Powys. It's a feast of fibre, yarn, sheep and knitting goodies with workshops, demonstrations and more!

Come along and meet me at Wonderwool Wales where Atomic Knitting will have a stand with lots of stitch markers, needles, yarn and knitting gifts. If you can't make it this year then, why not indulge on the website.

Best Wishes

Emma :-)

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

If only it was simply imitation.

To my disgust, I discovered yesterday that someone had not just imitated, but copied the majority of my website, selling mainly the same products. I am extremely disappointed that someone felt it necessary to do this and then cut their prices by 50% compared to mine.

Don't get me wrong, I know that there are plenty of talented, creative stitch marker jewellery designers out there and I enjoy looking at their work. There's a place for everyone and a niche in the originality of the designs. Until you copy someone else that is.

Most folk that love yarn and craft would understand that you can't simply copy someone else's ideas, down the text on their website - come on, at least be original with that, I mean, you've obviously created some handmade products, yet you have no imagination to present them in a different way to me. A coincide? I really don't think so. I know how long I spent finding the right words to describe my products and business, yet someone thinks it's OK to copy that and use it to sell their products. Did they think I would never know. Well I do. I know who they are and so do they.

Still I've been doing this for years and am well established in the knitting world, so should I be worried? Part of me is not worried, as I know from experience that her products are undervalued and the business model will not succeed for long at those prices. I will be more concerned when she realises this and increases the prices, which at least would reach my standard.

As with all businesses, evolution is inevitable and the way I feel right now, is that this is time to move on and reinvent the business, in part because someone has copied my work and also because I have found new words to describe my products and business. I realise too that it's nearly 6 years with much the same words and the world has moved on, and so inevitably I will too.

I've worked too damn hard at my business to let something like this put a spanner in the works.

So onwards and upwards....and to the copycat, what goes around comes around. That I do know.

Nicsknots Bags back in stock!

New sock project bag designs from Nicsknots!

Retro sweetie style love hearts bag, individually handmade by Nic.

Sock project bag, £10

We're pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the following shows this year:

Firstly, Wonderwool Wales in April 2010 in Builth Wells on the weekend of 24th & 25th April 2010 at Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales

http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk for more information

Then in July we'll be at Knit Nation Expo 2010 at Imperial College, South Kensington, London.

This will be the biggest Knitting event in the UK this year!

For more information visit http://www.knitnation.co.uk

To keep up to date with our current marker sets, knitting gifts and collections, why not follow us on Twitter or Facebook?

Follow us on Twitter

Keep in touch on Facebook - search for Atomic Knitting

Find out the latest news on our blog

New Blog for Atomic Knitting

Atomic Knitting will have it's own blog after today

http://atomicknitting.wordpress.com

So come on over and follow the blog there!

David Christensen Beaded Stitch Markers

New Stitch Marker Collections released this week at Atomic Knitting.

Funky Punky Collection.

Spiky looking, but soft rubber with rubber rings that won't catch on delicate yarn.

From £5.25

Snag Free Collection

21 Snag free plastic rings in bright colours, perfect for complex projects and lace including clapotis and entrelac.

£1.45 for 21 rings

Colourful acrylic buttons available in packs of 10 for £1

New! David Christensen furnace beads with Swarovski crystals in a variety of designs, all limited edition.

From £8.

All collections available at http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Plus new Nicsknots sock project bags from £10

Knitting Magazine 2010 Enchanted Forest feature

Knitting Magazine - February 2010 Website Review

New Arrivals!

Just Arrived!

12 Aluminium Crochet Hook set £14.00

Single crochets hooks £1.19

Row Counters £1.20

Orange DPN Needle Case Roll, Silk, £6.50

Flexible Bamboo Afghan/Tunisian Crochet hook/needle £3.00

Circular Knitting Needles 100cm, all sizes £3.25

Cable Stitch Knitting Needles £1.50

Needle Point Protectors from £1.20

Shop today at http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Our stitch markers are available to buy in the following stores:

Meadow Yarn

Multi-ply Wool, Scarborough

Great British Yarns

Artisan Yarns, Hereford

Smalls Crafts

Yarn Gathering, Coventry

Happy New Year!

We wish all our customers a Happy New Year!

To celebrate we've released the 7mm Stitch Markers into our January 2010 Collection. There's new designs to choose from and as always our handmade markers are in limited supply.

We've also added three new colours to our popular Russian Doll stitch markers, Gold, Fuschia and Red.

The snag free markers are growing in colours and popularity! Choose from bright neons, candy colours, vibrant purple and warm orange. More colours to follow soon.

There are lots of new ideas planned this year and we will be at WonderWool Wales 2010 in April, so don't miss that. More details here. We also hope to venture further afield and will let you know in due course of our plans.

Visit today at http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Best Wishes

Emma :-)

Let’s Knit January 2010

Atomic Knitting in the Press - Fibrefest

Emma from Atomic Knitting is pictured here with Juliet from Fibrefe

st & Coldharbour Mill

November Website Update

With the balmy weather last week and the wild weather today, who knows what is round the corner! The festive season is looming and weather aside, we've been busy putting together our autumn collections which include some new products as well as some old favourites.

First up are the adorable felt designer tape measures. There are three designs to choose from and these plus a set of markers and a gift bag would make a great stocking filler or swap present. Choose from bunny, owl and the cute Russian doll.

We've more project bags in from NicsKnots and also Nics DPN rolls which are just gorgeous.

After much searching for a snag free stitch marker, we've found what we think is the answer. Tough little elastic bands in a choice of neon colours or candy pastels, these markers fit up to a size 6mm needle and are a bargain at 75p for a pack of 10.

We've also added more kits to our popular 'Make your own stitch marker' range. Each kit comes with everything you need to make 10 markers, including instructions and you just need to supply a couple of tools and some creativity. There are also options for making crochet markers and earrings.

There are also some limited supplies of back copies of UK knitting magazines, including Let's Knit, Knitting and Simply Knitting. International buyers, please contact us first before buying to obtain the correct postage.

As always, our stocks of these products are limited and we expect these ones to sell fast!

http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk

Best Wishes

Emma :-)

New Designs!

More additions to the Atomic Knitting Spiritual Collection, now includes Turquoise stitch markers and crochet markers

also dyed jade square crochet markers

flower shaped jade crochet markers


All these markers are in limited supply with only a few sets of each type available.

http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/

Back from FibreFest!

We had an amazing time at FibreFest 2009 last weekend and met a lot of fellow Ravelry folk, friends and Twitterers! Our new collection was given centre stage on the stand and we'll be launching it at the end of this week on the website. We've now unpacked all the markers and restocked the website with a few new goodies, including

• Brittany Birch Needles, Crochet Hooks, DPNs, Cable Needles from £3.15 - £5.75
  
• Flexible Afghan/Tunisian Hooks £3.00
  
• Polymer Clay Buttons from 40p to £3.00

Atomic Knitting has been featured in four knitting magazines in the past month including The Knitter, Simply Knitting, Knit Today and Let's Knit. Our collections are selling fast and there will be a new collection launched in early September. Here's a preview of a few of the features in the magazines:

As featured in 'The Knitter Magazine' September 09

On your marks
'Atomic Knitting's new stitch marker range includes stylish beaded sets that are just the thing to adorn your latest project. Alongside whimsical options like the folksy Russian doll and cupcake designs that are handmade from polymer clay, this elegant 'copper and agate II' set will be a smart addition to your pins. Prices start at £2.50, and this set is £5.00; http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk./


Evil Eye Stitch Markers as featured in the September 09 issue of Let's Knit magazine - Rock the Casbah!

£5 per set - as featured in our Summer 09 stitch marker collections - more colours available. Shown here on non split rings!

http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/

Wonderwool Wales 2009

What's New At Atomic Knitting?

Designer Doll face & Owl felt tape measures (£4.99)
Artesano Patterns (£2.45)
Artesano Alpaca Yarn (£3.95)
Brittany Birch Needles & Crochet hooks (£4.50)
Let's Knit Magazine back issues (£3.00)!

Stock is limited on all these items!
http://www.atomicknitting.co.uk/

Last weekend saw Atomic Knitting at Wonder Wool Wales in Builth Wells. We had a fabulous time and met some amazing people and made some new friends too! Here's a picture of the stall and all the goodies on it! The stall took over 5 hours to set up and unpack everything, which I really wasn't expecting, but I think it's worth it. Many Thanks to Becky at Purple Sparkle Crafts for supplying the most amazingly scented cupcake candles that drew a lot of attention from the crowds! More of Becky's scrumptious candles and melts can be found here

We spent the weekend camping in the field behind the showground, which was not bad actually, as the weather was mild and the rain held off. We ended up at the Little Chef for tea on the saturday night as we couldn't find a pub that we thought we could get into dressed as we were! I can highly recommend the fish and chip shop in the centre of Builth - was the only take out eatery open at 9pm when we had finished setting up.

Atomic Knitting at WonderWool Wales 2009 - missed it? Want more? Shop online instead!

Looking for beads? http://www.starlightbeads.co.uk/

Taking Stock

It's been a busy few weeks with the end of the accounting year, which means the dreaded annual stock take that can take from a few hours to a few days. As each year goes by the number of beads to count gets higher! Anyway, I think I'm done now, so that's out of the way for another year.

Also been spending a fair bit of time getting organised for the Wonderwool 09 event in Builth Wells at the end of the month. The stall structure is now in place, as is the lighting and now it's just making sure I have enough stock to take. The stall will be a mix of loose beads and pendants, jewellery, wool, needles, stitch markers and accessories - so quite a few things to sort out!