Katherine Howard

International Shipping

The Covid 19 crisis has seriously affected postal services across the world. Up until this point commercial passenger flights were utilized for package transportation, especially in larger countries such as the U.S.A, Canada and Australia. With the huge decrease in passenger flights this method is no longer possible, and delivery companies are having to find alternative transportation, which is driving costs up and slowing delivery times.

All of our International packages are sent by Royal Mail Tracked, which is an expensive service that allows packages to be logged more carefully within the delivery system. The cost of all Royal Mail services have increased because of the Covid 19 pandemic. To give an example, last July sending a patterncard kit such as Henry VIII internationally would have cost £8-10. From now onwards it will cost £18-20 not including packaging.

We are not expecting our international customers to cover the entire cost of their order delivery. We will continue to pay part of your postage and packaging costs, but we are asking our international customers to contribute to their shipping costs as follows –

Tracked International Shipping Costs

Orders up to £150 to a single address – Total Shipping £10

Orders up to £175 to a single address – Total Shipping £15

Orders up to £250 to a single address – Total Shipping £20

Orders up to £350 to a single address – Total Shipping £30

Orders up to £450 to a single address – Total Shipping £40

Orders over £451 to a single address – Total Shipping £50

This scale reflects the fact that larger orders will go in separate boxes. For example, an order of £350 will be sent out in three separate packages costing us roughly £15-£20 each, not including packaging.

Please ensure that you check our DELIVERY INFORMATION page for full details.

UK Shipping

All of our UK parcels are sent by Royal Mail 1^st Class. Shipping times within the UK are relatively normal at the present time, with packages taking 2-3 days on average. Postage and packaging costs have risen but we are not expecting our UK customers to cover the entire cost of their order delivery. We will continue to pay part of your postage and packaging costs, but we are asking our UK customers to contribute to their shipping costs as follows –

UK Shipping Costs

Orders up to £100 to a single address – Total Shipping £3

Orders up to £200 to a single address – Total Shipping £5

Orders up to £300 to a single address – Total Shipping £7

Orders up to £400 to a single address – Total Shipping £10

Orders over £401 to a single address – Total Shipping £15

This scale reflects the fact that larger orders will go in separate boxes. For example, an order of £350 will be sent out in 3 separate packages, each costing us roughly £5.50-7.50 each, not including packaging.

Please ensure that you check our DELIVERY INFORMATION page for full details.

This yarn pack contains a minimum of all the Alice Starmore yarn amounts listed in the book for your chosen size.

For further information, please check our PURCHASE INFORMATION page.

Reading about Katherine Howard reminded me of how some human characteristics do not change through the ages. It is clear that she was a typical teenage girl, given to impulsive and foolish behaviour. Her life was short and her end tragic, so I wanted to commemorate her with a spectacular design. My intention was to create a lavish and intricate work using sixteenth century shapes and patterns, in a design that would suit a young woman of any era.An air of mystery has always surrounded Katherine as no portrait exists that can be positively identified as her. There is a Hans Holbein minature that was thought possibly to be her, based on the jewellery being worn, but I do not think this is likely as the sitter is obviously an older woman. This enigma prompted my choice of Hebridean 2 Ply in Kelpie as the background, with the patterns in quietly complex shades of blue. I echoed this in the photographs, where Katherine is emerging from a shadowy blue background – or possibly disappearing into it.

There is much to interest the adventurous knitter: techniques include short-row shaping, cabling, intarsia and stranding. It is very involved, but if you can produce good, even knitting then the only other requirements are concentration and patience.

J.S.

The knitted measurements given are of the finished design when it has been knitted with the tension stated in the pattern instructions.

The range of sizes available depends on the individual design. For garments such as pullovers, cardigans, vests and jackets, use the underam measurement to determine the size you require. The underarm measurement is the finished width around the entire garment, measured under the arms. For a garment with a front fastening, such as a cardigan, the finished underarm is given when the front bands are overlapped and the garment is fastened.

To determine which size is required, use the actual chest/bust measurement, which should be measured straight across the back, under the arms and over the fullest part of the chest/bust.

Then add one of the following measurements according to the type of fit you require:

For a close, body-hugging fit add 1 to 3cm to the actual chest/bust measurement.
For a standard fit add 5 to 8cm.
For a loose fit add 9 to 12cm.
For an oversize fit add upwards of 12cm.

The knitted length given for garments is measured from the top of the shoulder to the bottom of the hem.

Please note that all of our yarns are supplied washed and therefore do not require to be washed or fulled after knitting, unless you have an accident. Generally speaking, your garments should not require cleaning/washing any more than a coat would.

All of our designs are made with 100% pure new wool yarns and should be washed either by hand with pure soap in hand hot-water, or in a front loading washing machine which has a specific wool programme using a small amount of non-biological detergent. We do not recommend the use of any fabric softeners or any additives that will remain in the fabric after rinsing.

If hand washing, dissolve a small amount of pure soap flakes – or if using a pure soap bar, grate the required amount – into hand-hot water. Ensure that the soap has thoroughly dissolved before immersing the piece. Use a gentle squeezing motion to wash; do not cause any friction by rubbing or scrubbing as this will cause the fibres to felt. Gently squeeze out the excess soapy water and rinse well in warm water. It is important to remove as much excess water as quickly as possible as the longer moisture is left in wool yarn, the more likely it is to shrink or felt.

The best method for removing water is to spin in a washing machine, but if you prefer to remove the water by hand then gently squeeze the piece to remove the main water load and then lay the piece flat on towels and roll up, squeezing out as much water as possible into the towels. You will have to use several towels and repeat the process to remove as much moisture as you can.

Alternatively, spin to remove the excess water. If using a top loading machine it is important to place the piece in a suitable pillowcase (white cotton is best) so that it does not wrap around the spindle and become distorted. For both top-loading machines and front-loading machines, it is vitally important to remove from the spinner as soon as it has stopped: otherwise the piece can become permanently creased.

In all cases, dry flat on towels away from direct heat/sunlight, and smooth gently into shape. You can place small towels – or even better, cut and finish old towelling into the garment shapes, such as sleeves etc – and place inside the garment so that the two layers are separate. This will greatly help speed up drying process.

For straight, dropped-shoulder pullover styles, a woolly board is an excellent method of drying as the garment is placed on the board and dried to size allowing air to circulate inside. The board can also be used for cardigans in this style so long as you tack the front bands closed using a strong cotton thread, which you then carefully remove once the garment has dried. Glove boards can also be used for gloves which will allow them to dry in perfect shape.