Entries are now open for the 2016 Knitter of the Year competition - you can read all about it here.

This year we've got some amazing guest judges who will be helping us to judge your entries. Last month we announced that Kate Atherley will be judging the New Designer category. This month we're excited to reveal that Lauren O'Farrell, aka Deadly Knitshade, will be judging the Online Innovator category! Lauren is one of our favourite movers and shakers in the online knitting world  she's always one of the first to embrace new technologies and it's worth getting Snapchat on your phone just to follow her! Lauren is an author, artist, graffiti knitting pioneer, traveler, photographer and giant squid wrestler. Beginning her plans for world domination through a weaving of words and wool during a rather nasty three-year battle with cancer (Hodgkin lymphoma to be exact, an evil cancer of the lymph system), Lauren emerged from treatment victorious, slightly radioactive and unsettlingly ambitious. She is the founder of the UK's largest craft community, a pioneer in the world of graffiti knitting, and a published author. She also wrestles squid and makes quite a nice cup of tea.

Find out more about Lauren on her websitewww.whodunnknit.com

Bonus Prize!

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Lauren's book publisher F+W Media has kindly donated five copies of her book Stitch London as a bonus prize for the winners in the Online Innovator category.

Cute, quirky and slightly insane, this unique knitting title will show you how to knit all the most famous London people and places. From Baby Big Ben, Tiny Tower Bridge and Pint-sized Parliament Telephone Box, to Laptop Sock, Mug Huggers, City Critters and Tubeline Scarf, each project will make you put your stitching stamp on everything in sight.

Stitch London by Lauren O'Farrell is available from all good book retailers priced £14.99.