debbie abrahams - handknits

Debbie Abrahams offers quality handknit projects using yarns from the Rowan range. Her designs combine beading with colour and texture, creating a unique range of contemporary accessories and home furnishings

ADDENDUMS: Whilst every effort is made to write my patterns without any errors, sometimes they still happen. So now there is now a list of addendums on the Publications page for all of my books. It would be wise to check this out before starting to knit up any of the designs out of my books.

SOURCES FOR BEADS FOR DEBBIE’S DESIGN: There is now a handy reference for all of the beads used in my books. Check this out on the Publications page

Knit A Mystery Blanket – The Mystery Blanket Club is now full and no more subscriptions will be taken. If you are a member of the Club, please visit the “Mystery Blanket” page for any updates.

Mystery Blanket Club 2 – there will be a second Mystery Blanket Club which will commence at the beginning of 2009. Subscriptions will be taken at the end of the year in December. If you are interested and would like your name to be added to the waiting list, please send me an email now and I will then send you details about how to join at the end of the year.

Hand-made Ceramic Button Collection. All of my ceramic buttons are made by hand. Each button is made from either buff or red clay, which is rolled into slabs and then cut out, moulded in hand-made plaster moulds or shaped individually. Some of the designs are embossed, pressed or modelled, using a variety of objects and textured surfaces to produce the different designs. Each button is then hand-painted with up to six layers of glaze, before being fired in a kiln. There are thirty-one designs to choose from.

Also see the 25 Buttons collection created for the five lifestyle settings in my second book, “25 Cushions to Knit”, which features styles that range from florals to stripes, traditional stitch patterns to intricate colourways.

CURRENT COLLECTIONS :: now available to order

	Summer Stripe Bags – a collection of six brightly coloured striped designs using Rowan Handknit Cotton. Choose to knit the bags on either straight or circular needles. Hand-made ceramic buttons and toggles are included in every kit.
	Denim Heart Bags – seven new designs have been added to this popular range of bags which all use Rowan Denim and glass beads. Kaffe Fassett patchwork fabric for lining the bags is included in every kit.
	Fish Bags – two new colourways have been created to replace the pink and original colourways in this fun range of bags. Choose from Gold, Blue, Green or Purple. Intarsia, stripes, textured stitches and beads are combined together using Rowan Glace Cotton.
	Fish Cushions – two new colourways have been created to replace the pink and original colourways in this fun range of cushions. Choose from Gold, Blue, Green or Purple. Intarsia, stripes, textured stitches and beads are combined together using Rowan Glace Cotton.
	Denim mobile-phone cosies – 2 designs using Rowan denim and red beads. Easy and quick to knit. One kit includes yarn and instructions for both cosies.
	More Blankets & Throws DVD – created as a companion to ‘More Blankets and Throws’ (‘More Afghan Squares To Knit’ US version). This useful DVD begins with a short film which shows all twelve designs in the book in various home and garden settings. This is followed by 90 minutes of knitting techniques that are used in the book, demonstrated by Debbie. Now available, priced at £13.50 GBP (UK postage free)/ US$27.00 (excludes shipping costs).

FORTHCOMING :: Collections and products

Learn How to… – a collection of kits that will help you to learn new knitting techniques – choose from: cables, lace and bobbles, fairisle, intarsia or beads. Each kit includes a DVD which shows a detailed demonstration of the technique by Debbie. These will be available in Spring 2008.

Denim Heart Cushions – three new designs join old cushion kit favourites, Denim Hearts and Hearts of Glass. They all use Rowan Denim and glass beads. All kits include hand-made ceramic buttons. These will be available in Spring 2008.

Professional Finishing Techniques DVD – based on my Professional Finishing workshop, this film demonstrates all of the techniques needed to complete a mini teddy-bear’s sweater. Joining shoulders, picking up stitches around a neckline, setting in a drop-shoulder sleeve and sewing up using mattress stitch are all included. This dvd has now been filmed and will be available soon. It will be accompanied with a booklet that will enable you to knit-a-long to the project while you watch the film. Watch this space for the latest update on it! – so watch this space for the latest update on it.

For the Rowan range of colours, please check online for their latest shade cards
Please keep checking my website for updates on all of these new collections and products.

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My book ‘More Blankets and Throws’
Signed copies of my five books, ‘Blankets and Throws to Knit’, ‘25 Cushions to Knit’, ‘More Blankets and Throws’, ‘25 Beaded Knits’ and ‘Design Your Own Knits’ can be purchased. You can ask for a personal message or just have Debbie's signature. Buy them now directly for that special touch.

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About Debbie Abrahams
There's something about British designer Debbie Abrahams' knitwear designs that is irresistible. The tiny glass beads that are knitted into the work create a fascinating surface that feels unlike any other knitted fabric. ‘It's much easier to knit with beads than people think’, explains Debbie. ‘Once people get the hang of it they're hooked’.

Bubbly, extroverted and totally committed to her work, Debbie, who has been knitting since she was a child, found her niche in the knitting world through her association with Rowan Yarns.

After studying knitwear design at Trent Polytechnic in Nottingham, England, where she still lives, she became a Rowan Design Consultant for Jessops department store when she was only 25. At the same time she developed the first of her line of beaded cushion kits. Now, a decade later, Debbie divides her time between designing and writing, her knitting kit business, and teaching in knitting shops around the UK and USA.

Debbie's kits reflect her passion for homewares and accessories that combine texture and bold colour with beads, buttons and embroidery. She has also designed her own range of hand-made ceramic buttons, inspired by buttons she discovered in Lisbon, Portugal. So far, she has published 3 books, ‘Blankets and Throws to Knit’,‘25 Cushions to Knit’ and ‘More Blankets and Throws’. Further titles are proposed for 2008.

My two cats have kept me company through the long hours of designing, knitting samples and creating my colourful beaded kits. Jacob (black) is extremely loving and always wants to sit with me when I am knitting. He never messes about with the yarns. He just likes to sit and watch. I think that the knitting makes him as relaxed as I am! Marcia is quite naughty ‹ the younger of the two ‹ and loves to play. So I have to be a little more careful when I am knitting if she is in the room. She likes the taste of Rowan yarn! This painting was a Christmas present from my talented sister Julia, who is an illustrator. You can see my Mosaics cushions and Rowan yarns in the background of the picture For further details, see Julie's website showing many commissioned portraits and other specialised examples of high quality watercolour paintings. http://www.jpetportraits.co.uk.

Also my other sister is being creative with scarf designs on her site. Get ahead of the Autumn rush and keep busy and warm with an exciting new Christmas knitting project for yourself or a friend. You will find pre-knitted hats and scarves and kits for you to create. The kits contain top-quality Rowan yarns and everything required to knit the product, minus the needles.

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Email your comments to – Debbie Abrahams
DA-Handknits, 30 Bannerman Road, Nottingham NG6 9HZ
Tel: +44 (0)115 916 1524

All Rights Reserved Copyright © 1997-2007 DA-Handknits, Debbie Abrahams.
Designed by Still-Media Design – last modified: April 29, 2008




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