Innehållsförteckning för July 2020 från Simply Knitting

KAREN MILLER & SUSAN RITCHIE Owners of Mrs Moon Meet Karen and Susan, the driving force behind popular knit brand, Mrs Moon Up early or slow to rise? We’re both early risers at about 6.30am. Having four teenagers each means there is quite of lot of organising (ie shouting) that needs doing before they head off. First job of the day? Once the family have left, we meet up to walk our dogs, Betsy and Waffle, in Marble Hill Park. It works out as a great mini business meeting before we get down to whatever the day has to offer. Mid-morning pick-me-up? Our post-walk morning coffee is one of the most important parts of our day – coffee is an integral part of every day at Mrs Moon! Fave time…

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.…

STASHBUSTING HERO! Back in January I made a resolution not to buy any more wool until I had used up all my stash, some of which I had been storing for decades! I knitted jumpers, hats, gloves and a huge king-sized blanket. The smaller blanket was a KAL project by Lynne Rowe which featured in SK from issues 178-184. This item used most of my yellow yarns, which was really handy as they had been building up in my stash! I loved knitting this. I now have only two balls of wool left to finish up a stripy scarf with. Very soon, I will finally be able to buy some more wool. In all honesty, I didn’t think that I would manage to keep to my resolution. I was nearly…

Check your issue each month to see if you’re selected as a lucky winner! 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 a three-ball yarn bundle of Stylecraft’s gorgeous Jeanie yarn, worth over £14! Perfect for topping up your stash! L Reid, Kilwinning S Smith, Ormskirk H Nisbet, Paisley IMMEDIATE MEDIA COMPANY, PUBLISHERS OF SIMPLY KNITTING, SUBS STARS GIVEAWAY TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Prizes were dispatched before the on sale date of this issue. There are no cash alternatives. Three winning entries will be chosen at random from all current subscribers. The draw is final and no correspondence will be entered into.…

What does knitting mean to you? Is it a much-loved hobby, a vital way to relax, a way of clothing your family, or perhaps a nostalgic link with childhood? And how does it make you feel? EARLY BEGINNINGS Like many of you I expect, I first learned to knit as a young girl, taught by my Nain (Welsh for grandmother) who was a talented crafter and seamstress. It was one of many textile crafts she encouraged me to try, and at that point it was actually cross stitch embroidery that stuck, and became my hobby throughout my teenage and early adult years. In my twenties, facing a career change, I took a job as technical editor on Quick&Easy Cross Stitch magazine – taking over from Kirstie McLeod, who had just…

Classic treats  Wrap him up in loving stitches with these smart sweater ideas We love the fresh green shades of this cosy jumper, knit in Stylecraft Alpaca Tweed DK. It’s easy care, so he can throw it in the washing machine! Pattern £2.79 from www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk This slouchy cardigan with a comfy shawl collar is an easy beginner knit if you’re looking to keep things simple. It’s part of a collection of 14 family designs by Sarah Hatton, made in beautiful Shetland Tweed wool from West Yorkshire Spinners. ‘The Croft Shetland Colours’ by Sarah Hatton, £12.95 from www.wyspinners.com Classic cables with a twist – this pullover combines brioche and snaking cables for a timeless design any dad will love, worked in pure wool single ply yarn, Novita Natura. Pattern free, yarn…

How about taking your knitting yarns to the next level? Yarn mixing is an exciting way to turn your stash into an Aladdin’s cave of texture and colour. Mixing yarns you already have can turn a drab DK into an exciting multi-colour chunky! The yarns don’t have to be pure wool or expensive, they just have to have a colour and texture you’re happy to experiment with (although you might want to hand wash your makes afterwards, just to be on the safe side). WHEN SHOULD I MIX YARNS? Whenever and wherever you can! The world really is your oyster, especially if you’re designing your own knitwear or homewares. You can combine different yarns to deliver a thicker yarn, perhaps for a chunky cushion, or maybe you want to make…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Rico Baby Classic DK (50% polyamide, 50% acrylic, 50g/165m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 3.25mm needles ❏ A pair of 3.75mm needles ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ A 3.25mm circular needle, 100cm long ❏ A 3.75mm circular needle, 100cm long ❏ A 4mm circular needle, 100cm long ❏ Stitch holders ❏ 1 button TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 MOSAIC CARDIGAN Note When slipping on RS rows, slip sts purlwise with yarn held in back of work (wyib). When slipping on WS rows, slip sts purlwise with yarn in front of work (wyif). The Body (back and fronts) is…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ West Yorkshire Spinners Bo Peep Luxury Baby DK (52% wool, 48% nylon, 50g/112m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ A pair of 3.75mm needles ❏ 6 buttons TENSION 22 sts and 38 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS P1B (purl 1 below) insert right-hand needle into the stitch 1 row below the next stitch and purl For a full list see page 87 BABY JACKET BACK Cast on 61 (67) sts using 4mm needles. Work in garter stitch for 7 rows. Change to pattern as follows: Row 1 Sl1, knit to end. Row 2 Sl1, purl to end. Row 3 *K1, P1B; repeat from * to last st, K1. Row 4 Sl1,…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Hayfield Bonus DK (100% acrylic, 100g/280m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Signal Red (0977) Yarn B Black (0965) Yarn C Silver Grey (0838) Yarn D White (0961) Yarn E Sunflower (0978) ❏ A pair of 3.5mm needles ❏ Toy filling, 250g ❏ 4 stitch markers TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3.5mm needles MEASUREMENTS 26cm tall x 10cm deep x 31cm wide ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 LONDON BUS CUSHION Note This Bus cushion is worked using intarsia colourwork, and the destination and bus number are embroidered afterwards using Swiss darning (page 86). If you like you could add a name and age to make the cushion as a birthday present, or a town…

Nina Edy Digital Communications Officer Charity The Mission to Seafarers Established 1856 What do you do? Day and night, The Mission to Seafarers is on call for seafarers in over 200 ports in 50 countries around the world. With over 90% of world trade carried by sea, providing work to 1.5 million seafarers, we offer much needed practical, emotional and spiritual support to the men and women working at sea through ship-visits, our seafarers’ centres and a range of welfare and emergency support services. All of which is made possible through our global network of chaplains, staff and not forgetting our amazing volunteers. What can we do to help? We’re always in need of volunteers at the many ports we operate in, as well as people to join our army…

This month we chat to Katie Mairis from Yarn for the Soul (YFTS)... Tell us about Yarn for the Soul... YFTS was born in 2017 while I was in hospital. The project I had with me made the other patients smile and want to get out of their beds to see my progress. Once I was out of hospital and back home, I started to think how you might not be able to send flowers to someone in hospital, but you can send little parcels of happiness – everyone is entitled to a little luxury. I decided I could put together parcels that included projects to send to people who were unwell or needed cheering up. I had patterns designed and bought stock from small businesses, then I taught myself…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Rico Essentials Mega Merino Chunky (55% wool, 45% merino, 100g/125m) 2 balls of Yarn A Pink (007) 1 ball of Yarn B Orange (005) 1 ball of Yarn C Mustard (006) 1 ball of Yarn D Salmon (004) 1 ball of Yarn E Lilac (008) ❏ A pair of 6mm needles ❏ 1 cushion pad, 40x40cm ❏ 5 buttons, 20mm diameter TENSION 16 sts and 21 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 6mm needles MEASUREMENTS To fit a 40x40cm (16x16in) cushion pad ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 CUSHION COVER Note When working from the Chart, use intarsia technique. RS rows read from right to left, WS rows from left to right. BACK Cast on 66 sts using 6mm needles and…

CABLE CAST-ON METHOD  Use it for a firm edge, and when adding stitches to your work 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. Push the point of the right-hand needle between the first and second stitches. Wrap the yarn anti-clockwise around the point of the right-hand needle. Pull the loop out with the right-hand needle, then slip it over the tip of the left-hand needle. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you have the number of stitches you require. THUMB CAST-ON METHOD  A great all rounder, use it to cast on stitches quickly and easily Make a slip knot and place it on a needle, leaving…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Caron Simply Soft (aran, 100% acrylic, 141g/228m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 4.5mm needles ❏ A 4.5mm circular needle, 40cm long ❏ A 4.5mm circular needle, 80cm long ❏ 4 stitch holders ❏ Stitch markers TENSION 19 sts and 25 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4.5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 in Simply Knitting magazine GREAT CURVES PONCHO DIAMOND PANEL PATTERN Worked over 4 sts. Row 1 (RS) (K1, P1) twice. Row 2 and alt rows Knit all knit sts and purl all purl sts as they appear. Row 3 P1, K3. Row 5 As Row 1. Row 7 K2, P1, K1. Row 8 As Row 2. These 8 rows form…

Schoppel Wolle’s 4ply Zauberball Discover sock yarn with a little magic! Schoppel Wolle’s 4ply Zauberball is a fantastic mix of wool and nylon, and comes in 19 daring colour mixes. Perfect for a pair of socks for dad this Father’s Day. £9.89 each, from www.woolwarehouse. co.uk. Stylecraft Jacket Pattern 9758 Download this dino jacket PDF for the sweetest baby gift around! Knitted in soft Stylecraft Bambino DK, it’s a delicious mix of fun and practicality. £2.79, www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk StitchKeepers Prevent stitches from slipping off your double-pointed needles with StitchKeepers by Rollie. These nifty little caps fit over the end of your needles and are available in a range of sizes to fit needles from 2mm to 5.5mm, and lengths of 10-25cm. www.stitchkeepers.com. Nova Vita DMC’s brand new sustainable cotton yarn, Nova…

Perfect pair The brioche stitch in this hat and cardi combo creates a squashy fabric that’s great to wear. Little sunshine With its rolled-up collar and sleeves, and floppy hat, this stylish duo is perfect for playtime. The big apple Take a big bite of this delicious creation! Its roomy box shape makes it run-around ready. Coral cutie Garter stitch makes a soft flexible fabric for this loose outfit, designed for active babies.…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK (DK weight, 100% wool, 100g/225m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 3mm needles ❏ A pair of 3.5mm needles ❏ A 3mm circular needle, 40cm long TENSION 21 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3.5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 COLOURBLOCK T-SHIRT Note Where colours meet in a row, twist them together to avoid holes forming at the join and working with separate balls, bobbins or lengths of yarn. FRONT Cast on 104 (116: 124: 136: 144: 156: 164) sts using 3mm needles and Yarn A. Rib row 1 (RS) K1, *K2, P2; rep from * to last 3 sts, K3. Rib row 2 (WS)…

YOU WILL NEED For the entire blanket: ❏ King Cole Merino Blend DK (100% wool, 50g/104m) 16 balls of Yarn A Aran (046) 1 ball of Yarn B Lavender (927) 1 ball of Yarn C Pale Blue (1531) 1 ball of Yarn D Pale Pink (1532) 1 ball of Yarn E Carnation (3090) 1 ball of Yarn F Mustard (855) 2 balls of Yarn G Sage (853) ❏ A pair of 4mm needles TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles MEASUREMENTS Blanket 115.5x93cm (45½x36½in); individual square 14.5x15cm (5¾x6in) ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 KNIT-ALONG BLANKET (PART 2) Note A long-tail cast on is recommended throughout. There’s a good tutorial here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5YfbpeRAJ8. Squares are worked separately and joined after…

COLOUR COMBO Bev decided to use a combo of sock wool in blue and red, with a contrasting dark grey for the rib, heels and toes. Bev Murton, via email KNITTING GIVEAWAY Shona knitted these fab socks with some of the sock wool she won in a Simply Knitting giveaway. She’s very pleased with the end result! Shona Yates, via email FIRST PAIR OF SOCKS This is Linda’s first attempt at a pair of socks. She wanted to send a special present to her daughter who lives in New Zealand. Linda W, via email…

“WHAT IS YOUR DREAM KAL?” Big cosy blanket. Plus, extra points if I can use up scraps of yarn from my stash. justdoingitthewrightway, via Instagram It would have to be a big cosy blanket. katwatson72, via Instagram Would love to do a cosy blanket KAL. jayne.neale.334, via Instagram Cosy blanket – 100%! sgcb07, via Instagram I love a cosy cowl KAL project. heathermarshall5119, via Instagram I love making blankets and throws, but I can’t keep up with KALs or CALs for big projects, so I would say either cushion covers or socks. autumn_leaf @upthere4thinkin, via Twitter My favourite KAL from Simply Knitting so far was Lynne Rowe’s Your Heart’s Desire throw featured last year. I really enjoyed making this one! Robyn Bowie, via Facebook I hope to start the Heart’s…

I’M LOVING… Watching The Repair Shop on BBC iPlayer. For me, it’s the ultimate soothing TV to have on in the background whilst relaxing. There’s something very fitting about knitting or seaming in front of it. I’M MAKING… Socks for my son He’s too old now for intarsia jumpers but I’m thrilled he still likes me making him things. Namely bright, fun, bold pairs of socks –it’s a great way of using up bright coloured yarn! I’M SHARING… A baby knit For a friend – I cast on my go-to baby knit, Wee Envelope by Ysolda Teague. You can buy the pattern at www.ravelry.com/ patterns/library/wee-envelope.…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ King Cole Pricewise DK (100% acrylic, 100g/282m) 1 ball each of Yarn A Acid (038), Yarn B Shamrock (039) and Yarn C Grass (272) A small amount of Yarn D Black (048) ❏ A pair of 5.5mm needles ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ Polyester fibre stuffing ❏ Stitch holder TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles When yarn is held double 15 sts and 24 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 5.5mm needles MEASUREMENTS This Fish Tea Cosy fits a two-pint teapot, or a teapot that holds 6 to 8 cups ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 FISH TEA COSY Note Divide Yarn A and Yarn B into two balls…

CHUNKY Pair a chunky yarn with a fine kid silk for a gentle halo, or a 4ply in a bright bold contrast colour for exciting flecks. Stitch & Story The Chunky Yarn, 100g for £9.99 MOHAIR Use mohair to add a halo or texture where previously there was none, or add in a cotton DK for helpful structure. Wendy Air Mohair, 25g for £5.50 VARIEGATED Mix a variegated yarn with another for a bold clash, with a plain colour for added thickness or with a neutral mohair for fluff. Louisa Harding Amitola Grande, 100g for £18.99 TWEED Try pairing tweeds with bold contrasting kid silk yarns for happy halos, or with a neutral solid for a stronger base. Rowan Hemp Tweed, 50g for £4.49 COTTON Cotton yarns don’t stretch like…

1 Holding the piece of knitting you are going to pick the sts up from in your left hand, and starting at the top-right corner, insert the right-hand needle between the first two stitches of the row. 2 Wind your yarn around the needle and ‘knit’ the first stitch… 3 …and pull the new stitch through between the two stitches. 4 Continue to work like this along the row or until you have picked up the necessary amount of stitches. Try to space your stitches evenly.…

KNIT GURU Debbie Bliss Knitwear Designer Famed for her effortlessly stylish knit creations and extensive knowledge of knitting. Kirstie McLeod Editor Queen of socks and gadget hoarder, Kirstie has many years of knitting knowledge to share. Jen Bartlett Technical Editor Stitch expert and technical whizz, Jen likes to tackle the trickiest of knitting problems. Sophie Jordan Deputy Editor Product expert and Fair Isle fanatic, Sophie loves talking about the latest trends and cool colour combos. QUESTION OF THE MONTH BEAUTIFUL BLOCKING QI understand that blocking my finished knitting is really important for lace, but is it absolutely necessary for garments and plain stocking stitch knits? I always want to wear my knitting the moment I’m finished! Margaret Payne, Leamington Spa We know that feeling Margaret! But it’s still best to…

Do you fancy joining a virtual knitting club, using your needles to raise money for charity with or taking a peek behind the scenes at some great yarn stores? Then dip into these pages and connect with shops in Kent, discover the magic of Twiddle Cuffs and find out how you can aid maritime workers by knitting some woolly essentials to help keep them warm. Meet Jessica from Ginger Twist Studio and find out what’s inside her bijou store, and discover the secret life of Jenn Monahan, who knits for the big screen – her creations have starred in the recent film version of Little Women. Please do tell us about any shop, club or charity recommendations you may have, and send in your community stories and charity knit pics…

Across breed of the Border Leicester and Scottish Blackface, the Scottish Greyface is a bonny sheep with a striking face and distinctive speckles. Not only does this breed look handsome, it also has a crimped white fleece, plus it’s hardy and grows to good sizes.The Scottish Greyface can typically be found roaming among the grassy hills of the Scottish borders and the picturesque countryside of northern England.Discover more about the wonderful world of British sheep at www.britishwool.org.uk.…

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 righ t. This is how a series of k2tog decreases will look.…

KITCHENER STITCH  The best way to graft your sock toes together Arrange your stitches so that the ones for the top of the foot are on one needle, and those for the bottom of the foot are on the other, with both needle tips pointing to the right. Cut a 40cm (15¾in) tail of yarn and thread onto a tapestry needle. Using your needle, thread the tail purlwise through the first stitch on the front needle, and then knitwise through the first stitch on the back needle. *Thread tail knitwise through the first stitch on the front needle and drop off the needle. Thread the tail purlwise through the new first stitch on the needle closest to you. Thread the tail purlwise through the first stitch on the needle furthest…

FELTED ANIMAL KNITS by Catherine Arnfield (Search Press, £14.99) Knitting and felting are merged together to create this unique crafty book, which walks you through how to knit and felt amazingly realistic animals. You’ll be pleased to know only basic knitting skills are needed to make these fuzzy creatures. Another bonus is that this book is aimed at felting beginners too, so if you have never tried this fun craft, fully illustrated step-by-steps will help you hone your skills. HOW TO KNIT by Mollie Makes (Collins & Brown, £9.99) This latest release from the clever bunch at Mollie Makes is packed with over 50 photos and illustrations with a step-by-step guide. There is something for every creative in here – from small gifts, to home décor and knitted accessories, this…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ King Cole Merino Blend DK, (100% wool, 50g/112m) ❏ King Cole Truffle (fashion, 100% polyamide, 100g/180m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 3.25mm needles ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ Stitch holder ❏ Sewing needle and thread ❏ 2 sew-on eyes (King Cole BT 333) TENSION 22 sts and 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 PUPPY JUMPER Note This Jumper has a close fitting neck, so do not cast off too tightly. BACK Cast on 72 (76: 84: 88: 92) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A. Change to Yarn B. Set-up row (WS) Purl. Rows 1 to 7 (9: 11: 13: 13) *K2, P2;…

DEDICATED STUDENT I have recently treated myself to a year’s subscription of Simply Knitting after I finished my PhD. I have already started knitting some socks in a zigzag wool from my local yarn shop. Here is me busy knitting them while at my graduation ceremony! Liz Charalambous, via email Many congratulations on your graduation, Liz! BEAUTIFUL BAKING Here is my completed Christmas project, a knitted baker doll from a pattern by designer Jean Greenhowe. I also included the adorable cake stall, and adapted the cakes in the original pattern to be more suited to Christmas. I’m currently thinking about more projects to work on, I just need to decide where to start first! There is nothing more relaxing than taking a break and sitting down to enjoy the latest…

BERGAMO, ITALY In this sad moment when the whole world is forced to stop and stay indoors, I’ve found having knitting as a hobby is a great comfort! The first time I saw Scheepjes Furry Tales yarns (especially the Little Mermaid colourway) I fell in love with it. I have been busy making this small bear – it’s almost as soft as my 18-year-old dog Pucci! Camilla Maffiuletti I love your colourful bear. Hello to Pucci too! Our letter writer wins a fab gift voucher from retailer Wool Warehouse worth £20!…

We love hearing from our readers so don’t delay, pop up a post on Facebook, tweet us on Twitter, tag us on Instagram, follow us on Pinterest, add to our Ravelry Finished Projects Board, drop us an email or post us a letter! Here are all the details you need: WRITE TO US Stay in Touch, Simply Knitting magazine, Immediate Media Co, Eagle House, Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4ST. EMAIL US simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk FIND US AND FOLLOW US Facebook.com/simplyknitting @SimplyKnitMag ravelry.com/groups/simply-knitting-magazine @simplyknittingmag www.pinterest.com/simplyknitmag…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ King Cole Majestic DK (50% superwash wool, 30% acrylic, 20% polyamide, 50g/121m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table ❏ A pair of 3.25mm needles ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ A stitch holder TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS Moss stitch (over an odd number of stitches) Row 1 (RS) (K1, P1) to last st, K1. Row 2 (WS) (K1, P1) to last st, K1. For a full list see page 87 MEN’S JUMPER BACK Cast on 109 (121: 133: 145: 157: 169) sts using 3.25mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 (RS) K2, (P1, K1) to last st, K1. Row 2 K1, (P1, K1) to end. Rep the last 2 rib…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Rico Design Luxury Hand-Dyed Happiness (DK, 100% wool, 100g/390m); 1 skein of Yellow-Green (005) ❏ Rico Design Essentials Super Kid Mohair Loves Silk (lace weight, 70% mohair, 30% silk, 25g/200m); 2 balls of Cream (042) ❏ A pair of 4mm needles ❏ Stitch marker TENSION 20 sts and 30 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over patt using 4mm needles SIZE 25x130cm (10x 51›in) COMBO COWL Note This Cowl is made using two different yarns held together throughout. Cast on 260 stitches using both yarns together. Join the ends to knit in the round making sure that the stitches are not twisted. Place a stitch marker at the beg of the round. Row 1 (K1tbl, P1), repeat to end. Row 2 (K1, P1), repeat to end. Continue,…

1 SPECTACULAR SQUARES We love the simplicity of the mitred square – easy to master, relaxing to knit (no pesky stitches to pick up!), and when done right looks absolutely stunning, just like these gorgeous blanket kits from Purl Soho! Their use of a gradual blend from one colour to the next gives a stunning result, which is sure to be well-loved for years to come. Making it the perfect heirloom gift. The kits are available in a range of colours and sizes and we have one of the small size mountain colourway to give away, worth £195. To view the other kits go to www.purlsoho.com. 2 WOW WITH ROWAN Nothing says classic elegance quite like Rowan, and this season they’ve treated us to two new pattern books! Mode Collection…

Faith Humphrey Hill is an artist who combines knitting and digital drawing to produce amazing portraits. Created with traditional drawing techniques made on digital apps, as well as knitted textures made by hand, Faith tells us what inspires her work. Faith studied for a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Masters in Arts Management from Columbia College. For 20 years after, she helped others discover and make art through leadership positions in galleries, museums and community arts organizations. “While I continued a studio practice during this time, I felt a pull to further discover and make art myself,” she explains. “In 2016, I gave art-making my full attention and started my website, www.dartily.com, and began to create the work I’m best…

LACE LIFELINE Q What is a lifeline in lace and how can I use one? Alison, via Facebook A dropped stitch in lace can be scary as the stitch works it way down increases and decreases. Lifelines mean that the stitch doesn’t unravel too far. It’s easy to make one, just take some waste yarn and with a tapestry needle draw it though every stitch of the row you are putting the lifeline in. Debbie PERFECT SUBSTITUTE Q How can I substitute a yarn – can you recommend any good books, blogs or websites? Kim, via email A quick online search will give you some info and variety of good books (such as my book,The Knitter’s Knowledge!) It isn’t a decision you should make lightly as different yarns have different…

Northern Yarn Celebrating locally sourced British wool and yarns, Kate from Northern Yarn even has her own flock of Lancastrian sheep. Subscribe to their yarn-packed e-newsletter and get a free pattern. For more visit www.northernyarn.co.uk Beautiful Knitters We love this store for its knit-along Literary Knitting Club, which just went virtual – it’s for knitters who love to knit and love to read. Check out their blog and Instagram page for inspiration, and find free patterns on their website. For more visit www.beautifulknitters.co.uk Laughing Hens With knit-alongs, competitions, helpful hints and tips, plus events news, Laughing Hens prides itself on creating a community for its customers. It has loads of free patterns from top brands and your favourite authors to choose from. For more visit www.laughinghens.com…

By day, Jenn Monahan is known for her work with the Norfolk Horn and as a dyer at independent company Fibre Workshop but, by night, she is a secret knitter for the TV and film industry. So far, Jenn’s knits have taken starring roles in films such as The Darkest Hour, 1917 and Small Axe. More recently her work featured prominently in Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film Little Women. Jenn puts down her needles and takes time out to tell us how she got involved, and what it’s like knitting for the movies… FILM STAR STITCHES It may sound glamorous, but creating for the film industry is not easy. The pieces are often one-offs and knitted on the fly. Sometimes Jenn has a pattern to follow, but more often she has…

YOU WILL NEED ❏ Scheepjes Metropolis (4ply, 75% wool, 25% nylon, 50g/200m) 1 ball of each: Yarn A Dallas (003) Yarn B Tripoli (074) ❏ A set of 2.5mm double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a 2.5mm circular needle, 80cm long for Magic Loop method ❏ Stitch markers TENSION 26 sts and 56 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 2.5mm needles MEASUREMENTS S/M ( M/L) To fit foot circumference 25 (27)cm, 9¾ (10¾)in Actual foot circumference 26 (28)cm, 10¼ (11)in Length from cuff to the bottom of the heel 24.5 (24.5)cm, 9¾ (9¾)in (adjustable) Length from heel to toe Adjustable. Note Socks should have some negative ease. Length of leg and foot can be adjusted to fit, although more yarn may be needed for longer socks ABBREVIATIONS rm remove…

MATTRESS STITCH Place your knitted pieces RS up side by side. Thread your yarn on to a needle, anchor the end and weave along an edge to your start point. Working from back to front, push your needle up between the first and second stitches of the left piece’s edge, then insert the needle down between the first two stitches of the right piece’s edge (on the equivalent row). Moving upwards, bring the needle back up on the right piece, scooping up the bar that lies at the back of the stitch. Return to the opposite piece and repeat. BACKSTITCH Pin your two pieces together and secure your sewing yarn tail a stitch length to the right of where you are starting. Now working from right to left, bring the…

ISSUE 198 JUNE Zigzag box T-shirt Pretty pink lace jumper Fire engine jumper Floral KAL part one Recycled yarn bag Stylish men’s cardigan Bright kid’s jacket Colourful maypole tea cosy Striped socks PLUS! Burda knitting magazine and cute baby pattern booklet* ISSUE 197 MAY Block and stripe cardigan Kid’s sheep jumper Pompom throw Bright Easter decorations Men’s cable jumper T-shirt and cowl set Snuggly baby cardigan Stylish Grecian tunic Pretty flower socks PLUS! Project bag and British Birds pattern booklet* ISSUE 196 APRIL Colourful striped jumper Kid’s robot jumper Pansy brooch Baby Fair Isle cardi and hat Narhwal toy Kaffe Fassett scarf KAL Cable mug-hug Flower cushion Official Harry Potter scarf Dotty socks PLUS! Alphabet booklet ISSUE 195 MARCH Cream cable jumper Baby jacket Simple cardigan Hot water bottle cover…