Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 171 i Simply Knitting

Oh baby!We’re so excited about a new royal! By the time you read this a cute prince or princess may have arrived, so we simply couldn’ resist including sweet baby knits in our new issue. Cast on our gorgeous royal teddy by our new toy designer, Monica Fuertes, the perfect knit for those precious bundles. Or perhaps you’d like to keep a newborn snug as a bug with our sweet baby pod and hat set. Add our gang of adorable wild animals (page 61) to your baby layette and your wee one will be all set! It’s been a busy 2018 so far. February saw knitting businesses from all over the UK competing for our British Craft Award gongs. The results were announced at a fizz-filled ceremony at CHSI Stitches…

Available in a range of washed-out earthy tones, sherbet pastels and faded denim hues, Rowan’s latest addition, Cotton Cashmere (£8.50 for 50g), makes luxurious summer knits you’ll love wearing all spring and summer long. A rich blend of 85% cotton and 15% cashmere, Rowan Cotton Cashmere delivers a well-defined fabric giving you clear stitch definition and a beautiful finish. Try it out using Rowan’s range of gorgeous single patterns, available now from www.knitrowan.com . SPRING COLOURS WHAT? Are you planning a big homeware knit but don’t know what to choose? book no further. The knitting team at Stylecraft are launching a new colourway of designer bynne Rowe’s "››*›››Ì››››ÌÌi`›››iÛÀ›››››>››iÌ°› bynne designed the blanket exclusively for Black Sheep Wools using Stylecraft -«ic›>››››Õ››Þ›>› ›Ì›iÞ››>Ûi›ÀiÜ›À›i`› the colours to bring you on-trend…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Monica Fuertes “I have been looking at cute illustrations for inspiration and came across a little girl who looked like a princess so I blended her and a bear idea I had together to create a sweet ted.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Hayfield, Bonus DK (100% acrylic, 100g/280m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Oatmeal (964) Yarn B Cream (812) Yarn C Classic Red (833) ■ Lion Brand, Vanna’s Glamour (96% acrylic, 4% metallic, 50g/185m) 1 ball of Yarn D Topaz (170) ■ A pair of 3mm needles ■ A pair of 3 mm needles ■ 3 black glass eyes, 8mm in diameter (two for the eyes, one for the nose). Always darn on eyes or use safety eyes if knitting for under 3s. ■ 4 white…

TROPICAL TWEETS I’ve attached a picture of my latest knit from Simply Knitting magazine, in issue 169. I couldn’t wait to get started making it. I changed the pink base to the two green shades of the birds. Laura Marshall, via email STASH BUSTER I made this baby blanket from a little book that came with my Simply Knitting magazine a while back. It was a lovely pattern for using up my odd balls of wool. I knitted it for a future great-grandchild – I have five already and I knit for them all. I love your magazine, thank you for the lovely patterns. Elaine Telford, via Facebook If you would like to knit this blanket you’ll find it in our ‘Quick & Easy Knits’ booklet, free with issue 155.…

Jill Jenson had the perfect surprise for her grandchildren last year – paint-your-own-socks, knitted by grandma! @ill has been knitting for her grandchildren since before they were born and continues to knit for them now. “I dye, spin and knit each new baby a blanket,” explains @ill. Taught to knit by her grandmother, when she was just three years old, @ill has been putting her woolly skills to good use ever since – and passing them onto her own children, as well as theirs. “My grandkids are always wanting to help,” says @ill. “They love to run to the sock basket when they get here and will come out with a skein of yarn on each foot to tell me they need these. Their names go on the yarn and…

G>Ì›iÀi ›>À›Õ› ›Ì›i›wÀi›››› >›V›ÃÞ›››ÌÌ›i›«ÕL]››ÕÃÌ››vv› Ì›i›››}››ÃÌÀiiÌ›››› ›ÀÌ›› ›iÀÜ›V›]›Þ›Õ½››› ›ÃV›ÛiÀ› Ì›i›Ã›Õ› ››v›V››V›››}› ›ii`›iÛ>› ›V››››››}›}›>ÃÃið›/›iÞ›Li›››}› Ì›› ›ÀÌ›››iÀÜ›V›››››Ì›>› › >ÌÌiÀ° The Auld Hoose pub has been home to this lively group for more than six years now, with members coming and going when the urge to knit strikes them. “The club started with approximately ten people meeting up,” explains long-time member Claudia Gehrig. “Numbers always vary as we don’t register anyone and meetings are open to anybody who fancies joining in, even if it is just for one week (as some tourists do).” Claudia says that a few years ago their numbers dropped, due to family commitments, changes in work life and sadly, losing some members to cancer. However, the core of the group remains strong, with four regular members huddling around the coals…

“If you already do a lot of knitting, why not see if you can sell it to raise money for Headway?” Headway aims to promote an understanding of all aspects of brain injury and provide information, support and services to survivors and their families and carers. º›>ÌÛv›À››i>`Ü>Þ››>Þ›wÀÃÌ›ÃÌ>ÀÌi`›››Ài› than a decade ago,” says Headway’s *ÀiÃÛ"vwViÀ]›››>À››ÌÌi››››i𛺛̛Ü>Û such a hit, the charity decided to make it an annual fundraiser and it has grown more and more successful every year.” The hat-donning day falls during Headway’s annual Action for Brain Injury Week, running 14-20 May this year. Of course, you can sport your hat in support any day of the week, but the day to make sure it’s on your head is Friday 18 May. “People can put on their wackiest hat, take a…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Rowan, Alpaca Merino DK (83% alpaca, 10% nylon, 7% wool, 25g/105m) ■ A pair of 4mm needles ■ A pair of 4 mm needles ■ Stitch holders For yarn stockists contact Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com TENSION Yarn used knits as light DK to this tension: 30 sts and 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over rib using 4 mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 If we were to knit only one garment again and again, a cardigan is likely to be our choice. Brilliantly versatile for every season, it’s the knit you don’t need to pack away once the summer comes (at least not in the UK, more’s the pity!). This rib-and-stripe option from Jennie Atkinson will stand the test…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Pat Menchini “My husband is Italian and loves exciting colours. He encouraged me to create simple stitchery for this cosy raglan jacket, in the gorgeous colouring of Rico Melange Chunky.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Rico, Creative Melange Chunky (53% wool, 47% acrylic, 50g/90m) ■ A pair of 5mm needles ■ A pair of 6mm needles ■ 7 buttons (ours are from Duttons for Buttons www.duttonsforbuttons.co.uk) For yarn stockists contact Rico Design www.rico-design.de TENSION Yarn used knits as chunky to this tension: 14 sts and 19 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 6mm needles 14 sts and 24 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over ridge pattern using 6mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 Style and cosiness go hand-in-hand with…

1 Working with the yarn at the back of your knitting, insert the point of the right-hand needle into the next stitch as if to knit, but instead slip the first stitch onto the right-hand needle. 2 Now slip the next stitch from the left-hand needle onto the right-hand needle in the same way as for step 1. 3 Push the point of the left-hand needle through the front of both the slipped stitches. 4 Bring the yarn around just as you would for a knit stitch and knit these two stitches together. You will now have a single stitch on the right-hand needle, and your two slipped ones will create a left-leaning decrease.…

We’ve got spring fever this issue – we’re all about the y›ÜiÀð›*ÀiÌÌ›vÞ›Þ›ÕÀ›VÀ>vÌ› À›››››À››››ÌÌ››}›V›À›iÀ›Ü›Ì›› ›ÕÀ›L››››››}›}›› ›LÕÞÃt› 1 Scandi style goes colourful with this reversible tote bag with wooden handles. Decorated in Nordic folk art it makes a truly beautiful gift. £27, Specialbagandcase on www.etsy.com 2 Treat yourself to a hand-painted, made-to-order yarn bowl and celebrate the beauty of poppies, daffs and lavender as you work through your latest knitting project. From £22, Vscraftroom on www.etsy.com 3 Wrap up your knitting gifts in ››ÌÛ›v›y›À>››››Ûi›Ü›Ì››Ì››Ã›}›À}i›ÕÛ y›À>››«>«iÀ››«Ì››››q›6››Ì>}i›-ÌÞ›i› ,›ÃiÛ›vviÀƯ̂i›«iÀvicÌ›w››Ã›°››› £3.95, Emma Randall Illustration at www.notonthehighstreet.com 4 Never lose your tape measure with this sweetie-sized holder, handmade in soft felt and featuring >›bii]››>`Þb›À ››À› À>}››yÞ›bÕÌÌ››› perched on top. £10.50, MadebyMaggieStudio on www.etsy.com 5 At last, somewhere utterly beautiful…

CHAIN STITCH  This is the foundation of all crochet stitches. 1 About 15cm (6in) from the end of the yarn, make a loop with the ball end on top. Insert the hook through this loop and catch the yarn, pulling it through the loop. Slide the slipknot up to the hook. 2 With the hook in your right hand, hold the slipknot between thumb and finger of the left hand. Move the hook under and over the yarn. 3 Pull the hook and yarn back through the slipknot loop to form your first chain (ch) stitch. Now repeat steps 1 & 2 until you’ve formed a chain. 4 This is what your row of chains will look like. Keep going until you have the number of chains that are stated…

Hurrah!There’s going to be a new royal baby! We know many of you love knitting for babies, and with the imminent arrival of a new prince or princess, we’re here to help the nation celebrate! We’ve collaborated with our good friends at Patons to bring you Royal Baby Knits – our special selection of delicate makes for little ones. Filled with timeless techniques, beautiful stitch patterns and classic construction, you can be sure your project will stand the test of time. Cast on one of two snuggly sweaters, a classic cardi or a beautiful blanket – or perhaps create a wonderful gift by knitting a selection of items and packaging them beautifully for a newborn. Have fun knitting this month! Check out Patons’ fabulous new website – it’s the one-stop…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Patons, Fairytale Soft DK (55% polyamide, 45% acrylic, 50g/163m ball) ■ A pair of 3¼mm needles ■ A pair of 4mm needles ■ 1 button For yarn stockists contact Patons 01484 950630 www.knitpatons.com TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 23 sts and 33 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list turn to page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine When it comes to baby makes, delightful patterns and soft DK yarns are a match made in heaven. Patons has cleverly worked those two elements into a baby delight with this gorgeous garment! Cast on this practical knit with 3¼mm needles. BACK Cast on 53 (59: 65: 71) sts using 3¼mm needles. Work in garter…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Bergère de France, Merinos 4 (100% Merino wool) 2 balls of Mandarine (72) ■ A set of 3›mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) ■ A 3mm circular needle, 40cm long ■ A 3›mm circular needle, 40cm long ■ 2 cable needles ■ Stitch marker For yarn stockists contact Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 23 sts and 36 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3›mm needles 1 repeat of butterfly lace pattern measures 8.5cm wide by 8.25cm high ABBREVIATIONS Butterfly Cable slip 3 sts to cable needle (cn) and hold at back, slip 3 sts to another cn and hold at front, K3 from left hand needle, K3 from cn held at front and K3 from…

YOU WILL NEED ■ DROPS, Andes (65% wool, 35% alpaca, 100g/90m) 2 balls of Yarn A Denim (6295) 1 ball of Yarn B Cerise (3755) ■ A pair of 8mm needles For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION Yarn used knits as super chunky to this tension: 10 sts and 20 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over garter stitch using 8mm needles and yarn held double ABBREVIATIONS K22A/P22A Knit or purl the given number of stitches in yarn specified (here, 22 stitches in Yarn A) For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine. When your feet are chilly, you want a slipper pattern that knits up quickly and easily. Enter Monica Russel’s toasty slippers, worked in rib, garter stitch and stripes. Knitted…

Kirstie McLeod Editor My nephew has got a new puppy, it’s a cute whippet and Bedlington terrier cross, so I’m making him a cosy coat to keep his little tummy warm. Jen Bartlett Technical Assistant I can’t remember a time when I didn’t have a pair of socks on my needles. The colours just change with the season, so this week they are really pretty pastel shades. Claire Watkins Art Editor Although it’s spring I’m still all about keeping warm, so I’ve just cast on the lovely slip-stitch cowl from issue 170 – I’m thrilled at how easy the stitch pattern is! Louise Smith Production Assistant I have a laceweight skein of yarn in stunning purples and yellows sitting on my desk. I’m going to knit myself a floaty shawl…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Sarah Hatton “I am a classic cardigan girl and think there is the perfect one for every occasion. Whilst this cardigan would look great absolutely anywhere, I think it's all about cosying up in.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Rowan, Kid Classic (70% wool, 22% mohair, 8% polyamide, 50g/140m) ■ A pair of 4mm knitting needles ■ A pair of 4 mm knitting needles ■ 2 stitch holders For yarn stockists contact Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com TENSION Yarn knits as aran to this tension: 19 sts and 25 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 4 mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 Say hello to your new wardrobe favourite! Knitted in a super-soft mix of wools and polyamide, this cosy…

HATS OFF! WE CAN’T BELIEVE THIS CUTE BEANIE IS @NANA_SQUARED’S FIRST EVER KNITTED HAT! A LONG TIME - CROCHETER, SHE’S GIVING KNITTING A GO AND DIDN’T EVEN USE A PATTERN TO KNIT THIS CLEVER CAP WE LOVE IT! – SWEET SURPRISE @THEKNITTINGJENN CAME HOME AFTER WORK TO A FRIDGE FULL OF YUMMY FOOD (YES PLEASE!) AND A BRAND NEW COPY OF SIMPLY KNITTINGWAITING FOR HER, ALL COURTESY OF HER KIND PARENTS. WORK OF HEART JOIN IN #50KFORKEN AND KNIT A HEART TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FULL SIZED KNITTED - AND CROCHETED SHOW GARDEN AT RHS MALVERN SPRING FESTIVAL, 10 13 MAY FOLLOW - . @WORKOFHEART GARDEN FOR MORE.…

Every month, three subscribers win a prize as a thank you for their loyalty to Simply Knitting. This month, the winners (below) will each receive this fab Summertime knitting bag* with a matching needle case – it’s perfect for knitting on the go! (*Contents of bags not included) Mr Weaver, Manningtree Mrs Niblock, Gilnahirk Mrs Cockbill, Nuneaton FIND US AND FOLLOW US! Post a pic on our Facebook page facebook.com/simplyknitting Tweet us @SimplyKnitMag twitter.com/SimplyKnitMag Add to our Finished Projects board ravelry.com/groups/simply-knitting-magazine Tag us with @simplyknittingmag instagram.com/simplyknittingmag Follow us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/simplyknitmag EMAIL US AT: simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk WRITE TO US AT: Simply Knitting , Immediate Media Co, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN IMMEDIATE MEDIA COMPANY, PUBLISHERS OF SIMPLY KNITTING, SUBS STARS GIVEAWAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS:…

“I am sitting on a train. I have my latest sock to knit, a cup of tea, headphones at the ready with podcasts lined up to listen to, and a long journey ahead of me. I couldn’t be happier! Knitting in public is never something that has bothered me – I’m happy to whip my needles out wherever I am and will look people squarely in the eye and smile broadly if I catch them staring. HERE COME THE COMMENTS “Ooh, you should never do that!” you might say. “That’s when you get the comments!” We’ve all had those, haven’t we? “Can you knit one in my size?” or “My Grandma used to knit,” and so on. That’s how the knitting-in-public bingo game started because people are so predictable in…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Siân Brown “The idea behind this design was to produce a colourful blanket in simple intarsia. The individual panels allow the pieces to be knitted more easily.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Cascade, 220 (100% wool, 100g/200m skein) 3 balls of Yarn A Silver Grey (8401) 1 ball of Yarn B Gold (9463B) 2 balls of Yarn C Anis (8908) 1 ball of Yarn D Lilac Mist (8912) 1 ball of Yarn E Deep Lavender (8762) ■ A pair of 4 mm needles ■ A set of 4 mm circular needles, 80-100cm long For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION Yarn used knits as aran to this tension: 21 sts and 25 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4 mm…

Mini Knitted Farmyard Sachiyo Ishii (Search Press, £9.99) Fans of Sachiyo Ishii’s adorable mini series (and newbies too) will be delighted to discover her latest addition, a cute knitted farm! From classic cottage designs and barns, right down to individual woolly fruit and veg, you can create your own unique farmyard scene. The book begins with clear step-by-step instructions on how to sew all of the pieces together after knitting and suggests using DK yarns from your stash, as each design only uses a small amount of yarn. Cute Comfort Knits Jem Weston ( www.jemweston.co.uk , £11.99) ››Ûi›Þ›ÕÀ››››i›Ì›i›cÕÌi›iÃÛw››i › makeover it deserves! Indulge in beautiful yarns and let yourself be swept away by stunning photography inside this stylish project book. Each of the ten…

1 Insert the point of the right-hand needle through the loops of the next two stitches as if to knit. 2 Wind the yarn round the tip of the right-hand needle and pull the yarn through the two stitches, knitting them both together. 3 Drop the two stitches from the left-hand needle and keep the new stitch on the right-hand needle. 4 Knitting two stitches together decreases your stitch count by one, and the decrease stitch leans to the right. This is how a series of k2tog decreases will look.…

Growing up in Hull, Tracey Stephens knew she wanted to do something to support the v>››››iÛ›v›wÛiÀ›i›››››Ì›i›>Ài>° “When I was just a small girl, my Uncle David was lost during the triple trawler tragedy of @anuary 1968 – he was one of the crew on the St Romanus,” she says. “I now work with the Fishermen’s Mission to support the welfare needs of active and retired wÛiÀ›i›]›Ì›i›À›Ü› ›ÜÛ>› ›Ì›i›À›v>››››ið» Tracey and her team at the Mission were keen to create >››iÝ››b›Ì››››Ì›>̛ܛ՛ ›››}›››}›Ì››Õ››’ÛwÛ››}››iÀ›Ì>}i› as part of its City of Culture events. “The initial idea came from a volunteer of the Fishermen’s Mission, Ruth Creasey, who became the curator of the exhibition,” says Tracey. “We chatted about it and our ideas came together to create a memorial to portray the loss of vessels…

STYLECRAFT KNIT KNACKS A Lake, Isle of Wight, PO36 9JL T 01983 716890 An 0ld fashioned wool shop with a modern twist. Stockists of James C Brett, Stylecraft and Woolcraft Yarns. Patterns, needles, crochet hooks etc. Lay-away service. DMC embroidery threads and kits. Haberdashery. Family owned and run. SIRDAR KNITTING NEEDLE LANE A knittingneedlelane.co.uk T 01223 561 865 Knitting Needle Lane is an online shop a modern twist on a traditional hobby for all your knitting/crochet needs. We sell Sirdar, James C Brett, Manos Del Uruguay, Wendy and Erika Knight. We also sell bespoke hand dyed yarns – we have the beauty of handpicking our skeins before they go online for sale. SIRDAR DOTTIE DI’S A 10 High Street, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5AT T 01303 772870 Now stocking Katia…

MATTRESS STITCH Thread your yarn on to a needle, then weave along an edge to where you want to start. Bring it to the front between the first and second stitches of this edge, then insert the needle between the first two stitches of the other edge. Bring it back up through the opposite piece, between the two stitches and below the horizontal strand you just made. Keep stitching in this way, pulling the yarn tight every few stitches. BACKSTITCH First, pin your two pieces together and secure the yarn by making a couple of stitches over each other at the base of the seam. Now working from right to left, bring the needle up a couple of stitches away at 1 . Take the needle down at 2 and…

YOU WILL NEED For the Jacket and Sweater ■ Patons, Fairytale Fab DK (100% acrylic, 50g/100m) ■ A pair of 3¼mm needles ■ A pair of 4mm needles ■ A cable needle ■ Buttons (1 for Sweater, 3 for Jacket) For yarn stockists contact 01484 950630 www.knitpatons.com TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 25 sts and 34 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list turn to page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine We all know a handknitted baby gift is the ultimate gesture. Not only are you knitting love into every stitch, but you’ve made something from nothing with your own hands! This neat set with its pretty stitch pattern would make the perfect present. SWEATER BACK…

Welcome to Simply Knitting – Accessories! During spring and summer I usually find myself knitting a year’s worth of gifts for friends and family. In between tackling bigger projects you’ll find me experimenting with smaller patterns and yarn from my stash. It’s always good to have a selection of gifts ready to go! To help spread the love, we’ve put together this fun collection of quick accessory knits so you can pick and choose from slippers, shrugs and more for your friends and family. We’re having a team knit-along for the Butterfly Beanie (p8), as everyone wants it for themselves or for a gift – it just goes to show, no matter what season, there’s always time for wonderful hats! For a bit of pure fun, cast on…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Rico, Essentials Big (50% wool, 50% acrylic, 50g/48m) 2 balls of Yarn A Saffron (32) 14 balls of Yarn B Light Grey (22) ■ A 7mm circular needle, 100cm long For yarn stockists contact Rico Design www.rico-design.de TENSION Yarn used knits as super chunky to this tension: 11 sts and 15 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over garter st using 7mm needles; 1 rep of Fern Lace Rib (20 sts) measures 16cm MEASUREMENTS 118cm (46 in) wide x 100cm (39¼in) long ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine Knitting lace blankets can be pretty daunting but these days, with the dawn of chunky-knit patterns, they are far more doable, and fabulously quick, too! Add a bright modern border to…

YOU WILL NEED ■ King Cole Riot DK (30% wool, 70% acrylic, 100g/294m) Cushion Cover 2 balls of Juniper (1690) Coasters 1 ball of Juniper (1690) Caddy 1 ball of Juniper (1690) Three balls will knit all three items ■ A 3¼mm circular needle, 60cm long ■ A 4mm circular needle, 60cm long ■ Stitch holder ■ 4 buttons, 15mm diameter ■ A 40x40cm (15¾x15¾in) cushion pad For yarn stockists contact King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles MEASUREMENTS Cushion Cover 40x43cm Coasters 11x11cm Caddy 27x58cm ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine There’s nothing like taking an hour out of…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Amanda Crawford "I like the variegated yarns that look like flower petals all mixed together. This design came to me when I was looking at pictures of spring flowers poking through my snowy garden." YOU WILL NEED ■ DROPS, Nepal (65% wool, 35% alpaca, 50g/75m) ■ DROPS, Big Delight (100% wool, 100g/190m) ■ A pair of 5mm needles ■ Stitch holder ■ Stitch markers For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION Yarn used knits as aran to this tension: 19 sts and 34 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using 5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS Lift 1 Pull up the loop by inserting right-hand needle under the 2 strands of Yarn B, then knit the next st, at the same time slipping the…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Monica Russel “It's always a joy to knit for babies, and a big bonus when you get to use a cosy self-striping yarn like this one! Soft acrylic yarns are ideal for wrapping up precious bundles like this.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Rico, Baby Dream DK (50% polyamide, 50% acrylic, 50g/122m) Baby Pod 1 ball of Salmon-Grey (001) Baby Hat 1 ball of Salmon-Grey (001) ■ Rico, Baby So Soft DK (100% polyamide, 100g/250m) Baby Pod 1 ball of White (001) Baby Hat 1 ball of White (001) If knitting both Baby Pod and Hat, you will only need 1 ball of White (001) ■ A 3¼mm circular needle, 40 cm long (for the Pod) ■ A set of 4mm double-pointed needles (DPNs), for the Pod ■…

BLOCK-BY-BLOCK JUMPER I thought you might like to see a jumper that I knitted for my great nephew. He is seven years old and really keen on Minecraft. I used a basic raglan pattern and added the Minecraft effect to the front. I found it was a good way to use up many scraps of brown and green from my stash. I am thinking of knitting another one, with many different coloured squares. Heather Bovey, via email OUR STAR LETTER WRITER WINS A MYSTERY BUNDLE OF FABULOUS YARNS TO BOOST * THEIR STASH, WORTH £50! THE BUNDLE INCLUDES A STUNNING MIX OF COLOURS AND FIBRES, PLUS A RANGE OF DIFFERENT WEIGHTS.…

1 Get ready for the warmer weather with King Cole’s snazzy Sprite DK. Four lucky knitters will win both patterns (above), plus seven balls of Sprite DK worth over £30. That’s enough to make both tops – you can choose if it’s a tank top day or a cute tee day! www.kingcole.com01756 703670 SKMKINGSPRITE171  2 Get your needles into some seriously cute knits! From fab Fair Isle pincushions to sweet b>bÞ››››ÌÃ]›Þ›Õ’Ài›ÃÕÀi›Ì››w› › an adorable project to cast on in this book. There are ten copies of Cute & Easy Little Knits by Nicki Trench (£12.99) to win, from CICO Books. www.rylandpeters.com020 7025 2200 SKMCUTEKNITS171  3 Did you know your yarn needs a whole house of its own? Well, it does! buckily, we’ve got four Yarn Ball Houses from Scheepjes to…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Caroline Birkett “You will be super cosy but still looking good in this chunky poncho, a design that shows that lacy stitches are not just for ligh›eights – it's perfect for spring and for autumn!” YOU WILL NEED ■ Rico, Essentials Big (50% wool, 50% acrylic, 50g/48m) Yarn A Light Grey (22) Yarn B Turquoise (34) ■ A 7mm circular needle, 100cm long ■ A set of 7mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) For yarn stockists contact Rico Design www.rico-design.de TENSION Yarn used knits as super chunky to this tension: 11 sts and 16 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 7mm needles 1 repeat of Chart B measures 7cm x 11cm (2¾in x 4¼in) MEASUREMENTS Small ( Medium: Large) Width at bottom 80 (88:…

Armed with handfuls of sparkly awards, not to mention a few glasses ›v› i››c››ÕÛwââ›>› › w››i`›Ü›Ì››iÝc›Ìi›i›Ì]› ›››i`›>Ìi››i`›>’ÛcÀ>vÌ››>}>â››i› teams joined together to announce this year’s British Craft Award winners at trade show CHSI Stitches this February. Heading up the glittering proceedings, presenter @ohn Scott, from new shopping channel Sewing Quarter, honoured 80 lucky winners and runners-up from the four corners of the craft industry, from knitting to crochet, papercraft to sewing. With each category voted for by the general public, there was eager anticipation as businesses and designers waited to hear who had snagged this year’s big wins and won the admiration of their customers, visitors and fans. With a plethora of different categories, there was Û›iÌ›››}›v›À›iÛiÀÞ››i›Ì››}iÌ›iÝc›Ìi`› about. Here we reveal who won big in the knitting categories… “We are so…

NEW STITCH A DAY WWW.NEWSTITCHADAY.COM Head over to New Stitch a Day’s Stitchionary to find new knitting and crochet stitches for every day of the week. Have fun clicking ‘random stitch’ and letting the site choose for you, or treat yourself to some new techniques and know-hows with the Knitting 101 section. CRAFTSY WWW.CRAFTSY.COM From knit-a-longs to your first toe-up socks, take your pick from over 100 expert tutorials from Craftsy. Follow clear videos, hosted by top knitters, and start your journey to becoming a knitting pro. Online classes start as low as £9.22 and go up to £64.58. LOVEKNITTING WWW.LOVEKNITTING.COM Discover new techniques and brush up on the basics with boveKnitting’s How To Knit section. From beginner to advanced, videos are split into skill levels and ordered by the…

MEET OUR DESIGNER Amanda Berry “I had to make a lion because I adore big cats (I love his hair!). I made him a few animal ›iends too, so he doesn’t get lonely.” YOU WILL NEED ■ Patons, Baby Smiles Fairytale Fab 4ply (100% acrylic, 50g/184m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Grey (01090) Yarn B Jade (01070) Yarn C Sundance (01022) Yarn D Camel (01010) Yarn E Chestnut (01011) ■ 1m of black and 1m of white 4ply yarn to embroider the Lion’s nose and Alligator’s teeth ■ A pair of 3¼mm knitting needles ■ A pair of 3¼mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) ■ Toy filling, 150g ■ Two 6mm safety toy eyes per animal For yarn stockists contact Patons 01484 950630 www.knitpatons.com TENSION Yarn used knits as…

BABY GROW PATTERN CAST ON 8 sts using the long-tail method. ROW 1 (WS) Purl. ROW 2 (K1, kfb) to end. [12 sts] ROW 3 Purl. ROW 4 (K1, kfb) to end. [18 sts] ROW 5 Purl. ROW 6 Cast off 5 sts, K to end. [13 sts] ROW 7 Cast off 5 sts, P to end. [8 sts] ROW 8 Knit. ROW 9 Purl. ROWS 10-15 Repeat Rows 8 and 9, 3 more times. ROW 16 Ssk, K to last 2 sts, k2tog. [6 sts] ROW 17 Purl. ROW 18 Ssk, K to last 2 sts, k2tog. [4 sts] ROW 19 Purl. Cast off. Weave in ends on WS of work. Block shape heavily, until it lies flat. To do this, soak it in warm water and pin on…

CAST ON: CABLE METHOD  Use it for a firm edge, and when adding stitches in your work. 1 Make a slip knot. Insert right-hand needle into the stitch as if to knit. Wrap the yarn around the point and pull through, slipping the stitch on to the left-hand needle. 2 Push the point of the right-hand needle between the first and second stitches. Wrap the yarn anti-clockwise round the point of the right-hand needle. 3 Pull the loop out with the right-hand needle, then slip it over the tip of the left-hand needle. 4 Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you have the number of stitches you require. CAST ON: THUMB METHOD  A great all-rounder, use it to cast on stitches quickly and easily. 1 Make a slipknot and place…

Your home life I live in a 1920s semi with my partner, toddler, cat and two chickens. We bought the house when it was a wreck and have slowly done the work ourselves. In my spare time I can usually be found painting a wall, restoring furniture, knitting or sewing. Seeing the house we live in slowly come back to life is incredibly satisfying. On your needles ››’Ûi››ÕÃÌ›w››Ã›i`›>›c>b›i››Õ›«iÀ›v›À››Þ› little boy. Once I was able to try it on him, he hated it and cried until I took it off. He’s a very picky customer and I hope he’ll be happier with the next one. Where do you keep your stash? My yarns are kept all over the house. I’m a massive hoarder of yarn and I can’t resist bÕÞ››}›À>› ›››Ã›i››Ã›Ü›iÀiÛiÀ›››w›…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Patons, Fairytale Soft DK (55% polyamide, 45% acrylic, 50g/163m ball) 3 balls of White (1001) ■ A pair of 3¼mm needles ■ A pair of 4mm needles For yarn stockists contact Patons 01484 950630 www.knitpatons.com TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 23 sts and 33 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using 4mm needles MEASUREMENTS 50x61cm (19 x24in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list turn to page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine BLANKET Cast on 110 sts using 3¼mm needles. Work in g st for 9 rows, ending with WS facing for next row. Next row (WS) K14, kfb, (K19, kfb) 4 times, K15. [115 sts] BEGIN PATTERN Change to 4mm needles. Row 1 (RS), K9, *P1, K7; rep from *…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Yarn from your kit to knit one of the animal pairs, or oddments of DK yarn: Yarn A White Yarn B Brown ■ A pair of 3mm needles ■ 3mm and 4mm safety eyes ■ Black embroidery thread ■ Split keyring with two chains ■ Tapestry needle TENSION Yarn used knits as DK to this tension: 26 sts and 36 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3mm needles MEASUREMENTS Mum keyrings approx 8x7cm (3¼x2¾in) Baby keyrings approx 6x5cm (2 x2in) ABBREVIATIONS P5tog Purl 5 sts together For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine These little loves are easy to knit, all smiles and ready to cheer up your day. You’ll have a hard time choosing which of the three…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Cascade, 220 Aran (100% wool, 100g/200m) 2 skeins of Bright Nectarine (9615) ■ A pair of 4 mm needles ■ A cable needle ■ 6 buttons ■ A 40x40cm (15¾x15¾in) cushion pad For yarn stockists contact Wool Warehouse 01926 882818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk TENSION Yarn used knits as aran to this tension: 19 sts and 27 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4 mm needles MEASUREMENTS 40x40cm (15¾x15¾in) ABBREVIATIONS MB (make bobble) (K1, P1) twice into next st, (turn, P4, turn, K4) twice, turn, P4, turn, s2kpo For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine Fabulous textured cushions like this one are all the rage – knit them in classic muted tones for sophisticated sofas, or tropical brights for lavish…

YOU WILL NEED ■ Louisa Harding, Amitola Grande (80% wool, 20% silk, 100g/250m) See table for yarn amounts ■ A 5 mm circular needle, 80cm long ■ A 6mm circular needle, 80cm long ■ 4 split-ring stitch markers For yarn stockists contact www.loveknitting.com TENSION Yarn used knits as chunky to this tension: 17 sts and 23 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over pattern using 5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 79 in Simply Knitting magazine Tropical colours and an easy lace pattern, like grass waving in the wind, make this a quick and colourful summer knit. Cast on using Louisa Harding’s popular Amitola Grande yarn and 6mm needles and discover exactly how easy it is to create a throwover that looks fashionable and fabulous, all…