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

I am teaching an Easter School at Missenden Abbey — book via Rowan 29 March - 1 April 2010

The Easter School at Missenden Abbey this year will focus on the work of Debbie Abrahams and will give you the opportunity to learn some new skills while also brushing up on others. Debbie is the author of five books: Blankets & Throws To Knit, 25 Cushions To Knit, More Blankets and Throws, 25 Beaded Knits and Design Your Own Knits. She holds regular knitting workshops at Rowan stockists within the UK and also tours the USA. She regularly designs accessories for Let’s Knit magazine and is the designer behind the Mystery Cushion series in The Knitter magazine and the global Mystery Blanket Club.

Debbie enjoys combining colour knitting with beadwork and during the Easter school a bag project will be set for the students, made up from squares selected from Debbie’s Blankets & Throws To Knit books. Intarsia, textured stitches, lace patterns and cables will be included in the project to create a unique design using Rowan yarns that will be colourful and fun to knit up. Tips and demonstrations will also be given for how to construct the bag, which will include sewing up using Mattress stitch and picking up stitches.

Workshops will be organized in small groups throughout the day, focusing on the different techniques. And in the evenings there will be the opportunity to take part in optional mini workshops and knit-ins, including a talk from top consultant to the yarn and fashion industry, Erika Knight.

Expert advice will be given on all of the techniques involved in the project by Debbie and she will be assisted by renowned Rowan designers and consultants Emma King, Jane Crowfoot and Sarah Hazell. All of the tutors teach in a friendly and informal style, creating an ambience that is relaxing as well as informative and helpful.

Mystery Blanket Club — I am now processing applications for my Mystery Blanket Club 2010

The final places are going fast, so if you need a MBC2010 application form, please download these Word formatted forms, as required, and email to to join the club — UK, Europe and USA and the rest of the World.

If you would like a subscription form please email debbie: debbie@debbieabrahams.com and I will email you a MBC form to fill in. You can either pay for your membership electronically by Paypal, or I am happy to reserve a place for you while I wait for your payment by cheque to arrive in the post. Places in the Club are limited and two thirds of the places have already been filled, so I would advise anybody that is interested in joining the Club to contact me as soon as possible.

Many thanks and I look forward to the next Club in 2010!

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

Professional Finishing Techniques DVD – based on my Professional Finishing workshop, this film demonstrates all of the techniques needed to knit up and 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. It is a double DVD and it is accompanied with a booklet that will enable you to knit-a-long to the project while you watch the film. The price of this DVD is £15.00 GBP (UK postage free) / US$29.00 (excludes shipping costs). Copies are available now to order only from this website.

2009 Knit A Mystery Blanket – Debbie’s 2009 Mystery Blanket Club is now full with 380 members. Thank you to everyone that has joined and I hope that you enjoy the next nine months of the Club!

If you are not a member but are interested in joining next year’s Club, please email me, at debbie@da-handknits.demon.co.uk with your full postal details and you will then be offered a definite place in 2010. And please remember to let me know if your email or postal address changes at anytime, otherwise I will not be able to contact you. I will email subscription forms to everyone at the beginning of October and the new Club will then commence at the beginning of January 2010. Thank you!

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.

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.

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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 © 1997-2009 DA-Handknits, Debbie Abrahams.
Designed by Still-Media Design – last modified: February 3, 2010




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