Innehållsförteckning för Issue 96 från The Knitter

LOVELY LINEN Linen is a popular choice for summer knits, as it creates such a cool, draping fabric. Now Erika Knight has added a new yarn to her range, called Studio Linen. “Linen is durable, soft, lustrous and flexible and will naturally soften with wear and washing,” says Erika. It’s an eco-friendly blend of 85% recycled rayon-linen fibre and 15% premium natural linen, which is twisted and dyed by a specialist Italian spinner to produce a unique yarn with a dry hand feel and subtle sheen. The yarn comes in a palette of eight soft colours, costing £5.95 per 50g hank. Accompanying the yarn’s launch is a collection of nine pattern leaflets featuring classic, wearable women’s designs. These include a modern Aran sweater, relaxed vests and short-sleeved cardigans, and a…

Helen Spedding, operations editor I treated myself to the Kate Davies pattern book Yokes last year, and it’s absolutely gorgeous - for me, every design is a must-knit. It was hard to choose which project to make first, but I decided to be sensible and pick one that could be knitted using something from my sizable yarn stash. I had a considerable number of balls of Jamieson & Smith 2Ply Jumperweight, which I knew would work perfectly for her pretty ‘Bluebells’ yoked jumper design. Kate knitted her jumper in a beautiful shade of blue, which I much prefer to the oatmeal colour I’m using. Still, I think the narrow bands of Fair Isle around the hem, neck and cuffs stand out well, and the results should be okay. Kate’s design…

SIZE Width: 122cm (48in) Depth at centre: 38cm (15in) YARN King Cole Baby Alpaca DK (DK weight; 100% baby alpaca; 100m/110yds per 50g ball) Minstrel (1786); 6 x 50g balls NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles OR 1 set 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 100cm long, (see upper border note) TENSION 21 sts and 27 rows to 10cm over st st on 4.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS King Cole 01756 703670 www.kingcole.com For general abbreviations, see p95 King Cole supports the Pink Ribbon Foundation, and for every King Cole pattern you buy, a donation will be made to the Foundation, which supports breast cancer charities. Find out more at www.kingcole.com DESIGNED TO drape neatly around the shoulders,…

THE ART of Bohus Stickning is spoken about by knitters in reverential terms. Anyone who has actually knitted one of the patterns will be the centre of attention at yarn shows – quite simply, you can spot a Bohus garment a mile off. It took me a while to understand why Bohus knitwear is so revered, though; after all, isn’t it just Scandinavian stranded colourwork? The first time I came across an original Bohus design was a couple of years ago at the Knitting & Crochet Guild’s archive; on seeing the garment, I began to understand why this style of knitting has achieved cult status. Yes, it is stranded colourwork, but it is executed in a unique way, combining many subtle shades and peppered with reverse stocking stitch. This added…

SIZE YARN PAT MENCHINI’S spring jumper has an almost vintage feel, with its neat little sleeves and interesting textured details. A diamond-shaped lace motif is paired with a striking cable rib that runs down the centre of the body. The design also incorporates simple textured triangular side panels, framed by five cabled stitches to complement the four-stitch cable rib at the centre. Pat’s design is knitted in Sublime’s new Sophia yarn, which comes in variegated colourways and creates a soft, shimmering fabric. STITCH PATTERNS PANEL (worked over 22 sts) Row 1: P7, K2tog, yo, K4, yo, skpo, P7. Row 2: K7, P1, K1, P4, K1, P1, K7. Row 3: P6, K2tog, yo, P1, K4, P1, yo, skpo, P6. Row 4: K6, P1, K2, P4, K2, P1, K6. Row 5: P5,…

“THIS BABY blanket is fun to do, and it just grows and grows,” say Karen Miller and Susan Ritchie, the designers behind the Mrs Moon brand. “You start with a small number of stitches at the centre, increase at the same points on each round, and stop when you run out of yarn.” Bright pinks and reds have been used here, but you could go for blues, or for rainbow hues as the need requires! BLANKET Using 5mm DPNs and yarn A, cast on 10 sts. Divide the stitches over three needles (3, 3, 4 sts on each needle). Pm and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist sts. Round 1 (RS): (KFB) in every st. 20 sts. Round 2: (KFB, K3, pm) to last 4…

MARY HENDERSON Thanks to her expertise in Fair Isle colourwork, Mary has produced many much-loved designs for The Knitter. This month, she brings us a relaxed tank top with a colourwork pattern inspired by 1970s styles, which you can find on page 82. Mary has also designed a traditional Shetland tam, exclusively for subscribers, on page 28. SASHA KAGAN Much admired around the world for her colourful and elegant intarsia designs, Sasha has been creating knitwear patterns from her home in rural Wales for more than 40 years. This month, she brings us a cropped cardigan with intarsia flower motifs evoking a meadow in springtime. Find her pattern in our free supplement. SARAH HATTON Sarah honed her skills as part of Rowan’s in-house design team, and since becoming an independent…

SPRING KNITS FOR CHILDREN Inspired by a trip to Paris, the new children’s pattern collection from Yarn Stories is filled with chic yet wearable knits for little ones. The 11 designs in the collection were created by Amanda Crawford and Charlotte Johnson, and are available to buy as individual PDF patterns and also in kit form. Patterns are sized to fit children from birth to five years. Chic designs include ‘Abela’, an elegant A-line dress with lace details that’s knitted in the round, and ‘Verna’, a raglan sweater with unusual two-colour cables. ‘Gaston’ is a classic crew-neck sweater with Fair Isle bands, while ‘Eliane’ is a double-breasted cardigan with a twisted rib trim. The ‘Estee’ set has a textured jumper, hat and bootees, and ‘Didier’ (pictured above) is a relaxed…

3/17 April Skipton Sock Workshop www.purlandjane.co.uk 01756 228247 9 April Bath Yarn Dyeing www.ayarnstory.co.uk 01225 429239 10 April London Advanced Lace Knitting www.loopknitting.com 020 7288 1160 12 April Warrington Double Knitting with Juliet Bernard www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 16 April Dunchurch, Warks Continental Knitting www.thetoftalpacashop.co.uk 01788 810626 16 April Cambridge Mosaic Knitting www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk 01223 311268 17 April Nottingham Problem Solving www.knitnottingham.co.uk 0115 947 4239 23 April Liss, Hampshire Beginnings, Endings & Edges www.lisswools.co.uk 01730 893941 23 April Cambridge Knitting Styles: English, Continental, Portuguese www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk 01223 311268 23-24 April Builth Wells Wonderwool Wales www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk 01938 820495 24 April London Short Row Techniques www.loopknitting.com 020 7288 1160 28 April Warrington Professional Finishing Techniques www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 28 April-1 May Edinburgh The Knitting and Stitching Show www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com 020 7688 6830 Tell us about your…

★ Star letter Precious gems I just wanted to tell you how much I loved your Issue 94, especially the amazing Gemstone collection. It was all photographed so beautifully, a real feast for the eyes that set off the knits so well. I really don’t know what to knit first, they are all so beautiful and wearable! I don’t usually go for things with beads but have a feeling that the ‘Malachite’ jumper will go straight to the top of my very long list! That’s what I like so much about The Knitter and why I’ve been a subscriber for so long, I’m always spoiled for choice about what to make. I also really enjoyed the article by Penny Lister Hemingway about finding evidence for the history of gansey knitting…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, at least 200cm long 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) 6 x 18mm buttons TENSION 29 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over patt using 3.75mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 681881 www.knitrowan.com THIS CARDIGAN by Martin Storey features an all-over lace and cable patterning, a V-neckline, and ribbed button bands; these are knitted on to the garment in one piece, so an extra-long circular needle is required. It’s knitted in Rowan’s brand-new cotton yarn, Summerlite DK, which has a beautifully soft matt finish. PATTERN NOTES When shaping, only work cables when there are enough stitches, and only work yon/yfrn if there are enough…

SIZE YARN YARN STOCKISTS For stockist details, contact Rooster Yarns 01829 740903 www.roosteryarns.com STRANDED COLOURWORK produces such a warm and cosy fabric, and when combined with a luxuriously soft wool, the results are a treat to wear. Ruth Maddock’s cardigan features an all-over Fair Isle pattern, and is knitted in Rooster Yarns Almerino Aran. This wonderful yarn blends alpaca and merino and creates bouncy knits; it comes in a choice of 24 colours. The design is suitable for both girls and boys, aged from two to nine years. It’s knitted in one piece to the armholes, and finished with garter stitch edgings and bands. PATTERN NOTES Strand the yarns at back of work very loosely in order to maintain correct tension. BODY (worked in one piece to armholes) Using 4.5mm…

A PROLIFIC knitwear designer, Pat has created hundreds of patterns for magazines including The Knitter, Simply Knitting and Knit Today, as well as working with yarn companies. Her textured knits and colourwork designs are always wearable, desirable and elegantly constructed – a legacy of her years spent studying fashion design and subsequent career with fashion couturiers. We have two new designs from Pat in this issue (see pages 23 and 58), and she took time out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her knitting life. When did you learn to knit? “Like so many people, I was taught by my grandmother, when I was about five years old. My whole family knitted, including my grandfather, who was a police officer, and I know he knitted tiny booties…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) circular needles, at least 100cm long Spare circular needle 1 set 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) double-pointed needles (DPNs) 6 locking stitch markers Stitch holder TENSION 19½ sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st on 4.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Fyberspates For stockist details call 07540 656660 or visit www.fyberspates.com THIS ELEGANT and wearable cardigan was designed by Kyoko Nakayoshi for British yarn brand Fyberspates. It has a ‘waterfall’ front and a beautiful, deep lace border. The body is worked flat, using circular needles to accommodate the large number of stitches, while the sleeves are worked in the round. The lace pattern is provided in both charted and written format. The Scrumptious DK yarn is a softly spun blend…

SIZE NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 80cm long 1 set 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) circular needles, 40cm long 1 set 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) double-pointed needles (DPNs) A spare 4mm (UK 8/US 6) needle for casting off shoulders 2 small stitch holders for armhole cast-offs 1 large stitch holder for neck sts Stitch markers to mark start and side seam, extra if wanting to mark each repeat MARY HENDERSON is known for her intricate Fair Isle designs worked in traditional 4ply Shetland wool, but here she has combined classic motifs with a thicker, DK-weight yarn to create a more modern feel. Her cropped tank top was inspired by 1970s colour palettes, and is knitted in UK Alpaca’s lovely Superfine Double Knit yarn. The garment…

To advertise in The Knitter Boutique please contact Isabel Higuero on 0117 314 7398 NORTH WEST Sew-In of Marple, Buxton & Cheadle www.myknittingyarnandwool.co.uk enquiries@myknittingyarnandwool.co.uk 0161 427 2529 Three high street gems stocking all that’s best in handknitting! Rowan, WYS, Sublime, Debbie Bliss, Sirdar and more. Extensive selection of needlecraft and haberdashery. SOUTH EAST Purl Alpaca Designs www.purlalpacadesigns.com British alpaca yarn Designer knitting patterns Luxury knitting kits Knitting workshops Meet the alpacas Come join us on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry! SOUTH CENTRAL Oxford Yarn Store www.oxfordyarnstore.co.uk info@oxfordyarnstore.co.uk 01865 604112 Exquisite yarns and notions for all tastes. Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Isager, SweetGeorgia, Noro, Manos, Malabrigo, Jamieson’s, Colinette, Louisa Harding, Araucania, Mirasol, John Arbon, Adriafil, Jarol. 3 North Parade Ave, Oxford OX2 6LX + SOUTH WALES Ammonite Yarns www.ammoniteyarns.co.uk Let us help you…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) Stitch holders TENSION 19 sts and 25 rows to 10cm over st st on 4.5mm needles. 19 sts and 26 rows to 10cm over patt on 4.5mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 681881 www.knitrowan.com SARAH HATTON’S latest design for us has a contemporary feel - yet it was inspired by traditional gansey sweaters. The subtle combination of textures includes moss stitch edgings, a diamond patterned yoke, and cabled sections along the raglans. The design also features a wide, shallow funnel neck, and elbow-length sleeves. Rowan’s Hemp Tweed yarn produces a fabric with great visual interest, and provides good stitch definition; it comes in a palette of…

Debbie Bliss’s brand-new yarn, Cotton Denim DK, encapsulates a breezy, seaside feel. The pure cotton yarn is dyed in 10 denim-effect blue and sorbet shades, creating a subtle washed-out fabric that imitates your favourite well-worn jeans. To showcase her new yarn, Debbie has created a pattern book with 13 relaxed designs for women, focusing on texture. The sweaters are the stars of the show, for us, and include a feminine twist on the classic English cricket sweater, a fitted scoop-neck jumper with a modern cable pattern, and a neat little collared jacket with tiny cables and a moss stitch yoke. We also love the tailored shape of the double-breasted ‘Military Jacket’, the rich fabric of the cable and lace sweater that’s worked in four shades of blue, and the delicate…

We asked… How many projects do you have on your needles today? “Five I’ll admit to! Probably more that’s been languishing for months/years!” Anniken Allis @YarnAddictAnni “Seven. I think. Two on standby. And four different socks waiting for their twins (not on needles so they don’t count, right?!)” Rae S-G-M @MmedeBeauvoir “Just 2: 1 blocking before seaming & 2nd in the process of getting finishing added (seam & bands).” {KnitDesignsbyTian} @KNitDesigns “Four, I think? Plus two more in hibernation.” Anastasia Rose Knits @AnastasiaRKnits “just two at the moment, possibly three by next week as my daughter is campaigning for a hat…” manuela dg @knittymanu “too many unfinished things…” Elizabeth Raymond @lizknits99 What our favourite knitters have been saying… “I am working on a new book about haps. If you have…

SIZE YARN THIS HANDSOME cardigan for men will be enjoyable to knit. Worked from the top down in the round, it features a stranded colourwork yoke, and incorporates steek stitches which are cut open. These are reinforced, then a zip fastener is added, giving the garment a relaxed modern feel. It’s knitted using Snældan 2-ply, which is a 4ply-weight heritage yarn that blends Faroese wool with soft Falkland Islands merino. It offers good stitch definition for the colourwork patterning. PATTERN NOTES Nine stitches of the steek are not included in the total stitch counts. Work steek in alternating colours on two-colour rounds (in vertical stripes), beginning and ending with 1 st in yarn D. Work single-colour rounds of steek in one colour. Stitches are picked up for the zip openings…

SIZE YARN Rowan Fine Art (4ply weight; 45% wool, 20% mohair, 10% silk, 25% polyamide; 400m/437yds per 100g skein) Oak (312); 1 x 100g skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 2.5mm (UK 12-13/US 1) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles, 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method Cable needle (cn) TENSION 32 sts and 42 rows to 10cm over patt and st st when slightly stretched, using 2.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 681881 www.knitrowan.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS T2R: Knit into front of second stitch on needle, then knit into front of first st, then slip these 2 sts off needle at same time. C3B: Slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, K1, then K2 from cn. C3F: Slip next st onto cn and hold at…

PLEATS AND TUCKS are a familiar feature of sewn projects and garments, but are less common in knitting. This is partly due to the inherent stretchiness of knitted fabric. The extra fullness that pleats can provide isn’t as essential, since knitted fabric will stretch enough to naturally accommodate movement. In a woven fabric you you can achieve similar fullness through the use of increases (or decreases) worked right across the row. This option is not always easily possible when sewing. A pleat (or tuck) consists of at least three layers of fabric, so unless your yarn is reasonably fine, a knitted pleat may prove bulky and less attractive than its sewn counterpart. Having said all that, when used sensibly, knitted pleats and tucks can be beautiful and add great surface…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3mm (UK 11/US 2) circular needles, 80cm long 1 set 3.5mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 80cm long 1 set 3mm (UK 11/US 2) doublepointed needles (DPNs) 1 set 3.5mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles Stitch holder 4 stitch markers TENSION 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.5mm needles. 28 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over Chart panel on 3.5mm needles. THIS SOFT, pretty jumper is a versatile spring design. It’s worked in one piece to the armholes, and features an attractive lace and cable panel. The fabric feels cool and comfortable, thanks to the use of a blend of cotton and polyester microfibre from DROPS; this yarn comes in 25 lovely shades. BODY Using 3mm circular…

Abbreviations alt alternate approx approximately beg beginning cn cable needle cont continue dc double crochet (US single crochet) dec decrease (work two stitches together) DK double knitting DPN double-pointed needle dtr double treble (US treble crochet) est established foll following inc increase K knit KFB knit into front and back of stitch K2tog knit the next two stitches together kwise knitwise meas measures M1 make one (inc 1 stitch) M1L Left leaning increase. With left needle tip, lift strand between needles from front to back. Knit lifted loop through back of loop M1R Right leaning increase. With left needle tip, lift strand between needles from back to front. Knit lifted loop through front of loop MB make a bobble mrk marker P purl patt pattern(s) PB place bead PFB purl…

To fit bust sizes 28-50 inches SIZE YARN Plus 1 x 50g ball each of: B Mineral (856), C Greengage (864), D Green Slate (844), E Ultramarine (851), F Poppy (741), G Rose (861), H Bubbles (724), I Lavender (860) “INSPIRED BY wildflowers, this cropped cardigan has bold intarsia flowers and a zig-zag trim,” says designer Sasha Kagan. “Rowan’s Cotton Glace delivers a crisp outline to the flowers and good textural definition.” The back and front pieces are worked up from the zig-zag edging; the cardigan is completed with simple garter stitch neck and button bands. BACK ZIG_ZAG EDGING Using 2.25mm needles, yarn A and the thumb method, cast on 2 sts. Row 1 (RS): K2. Row 2: Yo, K2. 3 sts. Row 3: Yo, K3. 4 sts. Row 4:…