Helloo!  Have you been wondering where I’ve been?  I missed posting on Sunday for the first time for ever such a long time and it was all down to the fuse at the substation.  We had no power all day, so no tea and coffee to fuel the knitting and stitching.  I was very happy that I was able abscond to the other side of the village to my Mum’s house where the extended family were celebrating her birthday, and also welcoming a new baby to the family.  Mum’s fourth great grandchild, and first great granddaughter.  Such a little sweetie, after all the babies in the family for ages being enormous boys, great long things with huge feet weighing 8 or 9 pounds apiece (the boys, not the feet!),so we were all entranced by this tiny little girl and her perfect little fingers and toes.  And this included the enormous boys!

There is a lot going on at the moment but I really wanted to slip in this review.  As you know, I’m a bit of a butterfly with what I do and like to experiment with new ideas and designs.  This usually means that when I post my latest make on the blog or Facebook I’m already brainstorming the next idea.  It’s hard to keep up with the pattern writing as well because this is very labour intensive.  But I frequently get emails and messages from people who say ‘I can’t crochet but I’d really like to buy the Mice, or the Garland, how much are they?’  And I don’t have a box of them ready made, and they would no doubt fall over if I gave them a price which covered labour, materials, overheads, etc, etc…

But what I want is for people to find out the fun of learning a new skill be it knitting or crochet, and to learn something which will be with them all their lives which they can pass on to the next generation.  It’s lovely when I have comments and messages from people telling me that I played a part in them learning or rediscovering the joys of knitting and stitching.

This is why, when I received an email asking me if I would like to review the  Bergere de France Knit and Stitch Magazine Series  I was very happy to say yes.

The postman delivered this enormous package and I really wanted to photograph the contents in their entirety, but it was a bit tricky. I tried to do it on the floor…

But I had a lot of help…

There was quite a bit of packaging to get through but that was probably my only quibble.  Once that was out of the way I had two pattern books, knitting needles, crochet hook and a DVD.

The first thing that I really liked was that you could walk out of the shop having bought Issue One with everything you need to get started, which is ideal for a novice who hasn’t got a stash of yarn and needles at home.  Every issue gives instructions to make a sample square, which teaches you the stitch and then gives you labelling instructions so that ultimately you have all the components for a patchwork throw.

But it’s not just for the beginner, because there are also patterns even in these first issues for pieces which a confident knitter would like to make.  I particularly liked the shawl, gorgeous colour…

…and the man’s sweater…

…which I wouldn’t mind for myself!

But the thing which really impressed me was the DVD.  It only lasts about half an hour but it gives incredibly clear instructions for all the basic stitches for both knitting and crochet.   I know there are a lot of You Tube videos which purport to teach the basics, but it can be hard to sort the wheat from the chaff.  This DVD is excellent, ( and I was also very impressed by the instructor’s beautiful manicure!)

I understand that it’s possible to get these first issues through the website and subscription.  You’ll need to follow this link to find out more about back numbers but it’s current in the big newsagents.  And once you’ve worked your way through the DVD you’ll be filled with confidence about tackling a Planet Penny Mouse or two!!!

The other big thing about to happen on Planet Penny is that Clovis, the Mad French Cat is about to be returned to his family.

Those of you who have followed Planet Penny for a while will recall that Clovis came to stay with my Mum while his humans relocated from France to the South Coast of England.  It’s taken some time for a new and permanent home to be established, and he’s had a hair raising adventure or two in the meantime but on Monday Tim and I are loading him in the car and driving for 3 to 4 hours from Norfolk to East Sussex to reunite him with our son, daughter-in-law and grandsons. ( No doubt with Clovis complaining all the way!)

Higgins will be off to his Barking Mad host for a little holiday (Clovis doesn’t ‘do’ dogs) and Henry will be reigning supreme at home.  ( I have arranged for ‘staff’ to visit to attend to his needs.)  And I am SO looking forward to a couple of days by the sea and switching off.

Although there is the little matter of the Easter Bunny Pattern…

See you soon!…x

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