Innehållsförteckning för Issue 103 från The Knitter

MOODY BLUES Inspired by the moors of the West Country, Kettle Yarn Co.’s new pattern collection showcases its latest yarn with four stunning knit and crochet designs. Baskerville is a luxurious, 4ply blend of Exmoor Blueface and British Gotland wool with silk. Baskerville - Dawn to Dusk features an elegant, top-down cardigan with i-cord edgings by Courtney Spainhower, and ‘Walkham’ by Hanna Maciejewska, a feminine, fitted cardigan with delicate lace and cable details. ‘Teign’ is a sophisticated, cosy colourwork wrap by company founder Linda Lencovic, while the collection also includes a striking crochet shawl by Kat Goldin. The print book plus PDF version costs £14; the PDF book only is £12.50. Patterns are also available to buy individually via Ravelry.com. www.kettleyarnco.co.uk Just delicious! New shades joining the Fyberspates Scrumptious range include…

SIZE 160cm x 39cm (63in x 15¼in) YARN Debonnaire Yarns Monarch (Heavy laceweight; 80% extrafine merino; 20% silk; 600m/656yds per 100g skein) Peacock Blue; 2 x 100g skeins NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, or straight needles if preferred 4mm (UK 8/US 6) crochet hook for cast-on Cable needle (cn) - optional TENSION 28 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over Chart A using 4mm needles, after blocking. 30 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over Chart B using 4mm needles, after blocking. Note: the shawl will be slightly narrower over the Chart B section. YARN STOCKISTS Debonnaire Yarns 07887 994351 www.debonnaireyarns.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C2B: Slip 1 st to cn and hold at back, K1; K1 from cn. Or: miss first st, K second st…

Lace lessons Please pass on my thanks to Donna Druchunas for her enjoyable supplement with Issue 101, ‘The World of Lace’. I have knitted many lace shawls over the years, and tried many traditional lace stitch patterns such as Old Shale, Print O’ The Wave, Cat’s Paw and so on. It is always welcome to come across new stitches, and Donna’s article introduced me to some styles I was not familiar with, such as Arctic lace and Japanese lace. I like the idea of making the sampler shawl pattern in the supplement, and replacing some of the lace patterns with those detailed in Donna’s article. I rarely adapt knitting patterns, so this will be an enjoyable way to try some new stitches and create a unique sampler shawl for myself.…

SIZE 95cm (37½) square, after blocking YARN Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud (Laceweight; 100% baby alpaca; 400m/440yds per 50g skein) Cora (26783); 2 x 50g skeins NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, at least 100cm long 5mm (UK 6/US 8) needle for casting off 4 stitch markers TENSION 15 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over Charts on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Knit Picks www.knitpicks.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS T2F: Knit the second st through the back of the loop, then knit the first st normally; slip both sts off the needle. nupp: (K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1) into same st; on return round, knit the 7 loops together through the back of the loops. For general abbreviations, see p95 TAKING ELEMENTS from traditional Estonian lace…

SIZE YARN Knit Picks Hawthorne Fingering (4ply weight; 80% superwash wool, 20% polyamide; 326m/357yds per 100g skein) Laurelhurst (26445); 1 x 100g skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles, 80cm long, for Magic Loop method Stitch markers Darning needle TENSION 29 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over st st and Leg Stitch Pattern in the round on 3mm needles, after blocking YARN STOCKISTS Knit Picks www.knitpicks.com For general abbreviations, see p95 WORKING A broken rib pattern produces a smart stepped texture on these socks for men, designed by Katya Frankel. They’re worked from the top down with a slip stitch heel, and instructions for two sizes are given. Katya has used a hand-painted, variegated sock yarn from Knit Picks, called…

ELINE OFTEDAL Norwegian designer Eline loves to create Scandinavian-inspired knitwear with a modern flavour. She began selling her patterns on Etsy some years ago, and this led to her being published in Vogue Knitting and The Knitter. Her latest design for us is a soft, lacy and feminine capelet. Turn to page 23 for the pattern. SARAH HATTON Sarah honed her skills as part of Rowan’s in-house design team, and since becoming an independent designer her work has appeared in top knitting magazines and in her own range of pattern books. For this issue, Sarah has created a sophisticated, cabled jumper for women in a luxurious yak-blend yarn. Find it on page 28. ANGHARAD THOMAS Designer, researcher and teacher Angharad is a volunteer archivist at the Knitting & Crochet Guild,…

SIZE YARN Bergère de France Pure Douceur (Heavy DK/worsted weight; 58% superkid mohair, 37% polyamide, 5% wool; 250m/273yds per 50g ball) Bourgogne (M1138); 3 x 50g balls NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 4.5mm (UK 9/US 7) circular needles, 100cm long Stitch marker Tapestry needle 140cm length ribbon TENSION 21 sts and 24 rows to 10cm over Chart B on 4.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk For general abbreviations, see p95 “I HAVE always wanted to create something with the lace stitch pattern known as Frost Flower,” says Eline Oftedal. “It is an intricate pattern, with repetitions that are pleasing to the eye. I have used it here to create a shoulder warmer that will add style to anything it is slipped over. If you are a novice lace…

About our expert Woolly Wormhead is a ‘hat architect’ with an instinctive flair for unusual construction and a passion for innovation, whose patterns are trusted and celebrated by knitters all over the world. You can find all her hat designs at www.woollywormhead.com IN MY previous article about crown shaping in Issue 97, I mentioned how various multiples (and their subsequent decrease ratios) affect the overall structure and style or shape of a hat. The reason I start at the crown when I begin a new hat design is to ensure that the overall structure will work, and that the design will have continuity throughout. To be able to understand structure, shape and fit, we need to think about the different parts of a hat and the numbers that determine them.…

“THIS MOROCCAN-INSPIRED bolster showcases traditional slip stitch in a very unexpected way,” says Sandra Nesbitt. “The series of mosaic patterns enables you to work Fair Isle-effect patterns without worrying about the yarn strands at the back of the work. You get a neat finish, too.” PATTERN NOTES Slip stitch mosaic colourwork utilises a method of slipping stitches to bring the colour used in the previous row to the top. You always work two rows in each colour. The charts show the first of these two rows because the second row, although it is worked in purl, is the same as the first row worked in reverse. Slip stitches purlwise on every row, taking the yarn across the WS of the fabric. The coloured blocks denote where the colourful stitches will…

SIZE To fit average woman’s hand Actual palm circumference: 19cm (7½ in) Length from wrist to top of middle finger: 25cm (10in) YARN Debbie Bliss Fine Donegal (4ply weight; 95% merino wool, 5% cashmere; 380m/415yds per 100g ball) A Deep Rose (54007); 1 x 100g ball B Snowdrift (54001); 1 x 100g ball NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles, 80cm long, for Magic Loop method Note: Sets of needles smaller and larger could be useful for adjusting the size for smaller or bigger hands Stitch marker Waste yarn TENSION 36 sts and 36 rows to 10cm over colourwork pattern on 3.25mm needles, after blocking YARN STOCKISTS Debbie Bliss c/o Designer Yarns 01535 664222 www.designeryarns.uk.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS Inc 1B: Increase by knitting…

KNITTING IS often abandoned for negative reasons. Misunderstood patterns, wrong stitch numbers, feline attacks or having to rush off somewhere are all gloomy interruptions. In worst cases, we never return. When finishing, let’s ensure the needles remain open to our arrival. Harnessing problems positively makes restarting easier. Consider the many things happening while we are knitting. While cruising along the rows or rounds, our meditation might be beautifully focused, our breathing flowing through good posture and our interaction with the universe loved and understood. Yarn glides with ease through our fingers. At some moment today this practice will end. Right now the experience is beautiful and we will keep going. A sudden thought mindfully notes that our last sequence of pattern is over and it is time to revisit our…

I CAME across Max Alexander’s animated films in 2012 while writing the catalogue introduction for WOW: Wonders of Wool. This was an exhibition conceived by Trevor Pitt and Rachael Matthews in Penrith, featuring textile artists such as Deirdre Nelson, Celia Pym and Felicity Ford. Later on, Max popped up, literally, behind the counter of the Prick Your Finger yarn shop while I was visiting. Max had landed the job of making props for the TV show Call the Midwife, including knitting a foetus for one episode. It was running to her local store, Prick Your Finger, to discuss the right kind of yarn for foetal knitting (like you do) that introduced her to shop owner Rachael Matthews. Then, when I started writing as The Crafter, we met at the Knitting…

To advertise in The Knitter Boutique please contact Isabel Higuero on 0117 300 8539, or Jordana Widt on 0117 3008538 SOUTH WALES Ammonite Yarns www.ammoniteyarns.co.uk 01443 520200 Celebrate Autumn with the new season yarns. We have added Adriafil to our wide range, come and take a look. 5% discount valid on all our yarns, use code 19November5. Find us on Facebook at Ammonite Yarns or give us a ring. SOUTH WEST The Wool Merchant www.thewoolmerchant.co.uk 01884 243569 Specialising in high quality, natural fibre knitting & crochet Yarns. Open Tues-Fri 10am-4.00pm and Sat 10am-3pm. 3 Fore Street, Tiverton. And Dart Studio Yarns at The Cider Press Centre Dartington. Tel: 01803 866499 NORTH WEST The Good Wool Shop www.thegoodwoolshop.co.uk 01704 830465 Find friendly advice and inspiration among our natural yarns, British wools and quality accessories.…

ANGHARAD THOMAS has a passion for knitting and designing two-colour gloves, particularly traditional styles from the Yorkshire Dales and Sanquhar. We talked to her about her knitting life and her work with the Knitting & Crochet Guild archives. When did you first become interested in knitted gloves? “I was given a pair of patterned gloves in the 1980s, and these came from a friend’s aunt who lived in the Yorkshire Dales. I knew about Dales gloves, so I thought that these were Yorkshire ones. But I did some research and found out that they were actually a Sanquhar pattern from Scotland. “Almost 30 years later, my daughter and I were looking at a book with about 30 pairs of gloves on the front cover. She said, ‘Wouldn’t it be amazing…

SIZE WE LOVE the colour palette Mary Henderson has put together for her intricate cardigan. Bands of Fair Isle feature OXO and heart motifs, as well as delicate ‘peerie’ patterns. Colourful corrugated ribbing is used at the hem, cuffs and neckline, while the button bands are worked in single-colour moss stitch. The cardigan is knitted in the round, incorporating steek stitches which are then cut and reinforced with crochet. It’s worked in Blacker Yarns’ new Tamar Lustre Blend wool, which has a gorgeous drape and shimmer. STITCH PATTERNS MOSS STITCH (multiple of 2 sts) Row 1 (WS): (P1, K1) to end. Row 2 (RS): (K1, P1) to end. Rep these 2 rows for patt. PATTERN NOTE All body stitch counts after joining in the round include 11 steek sts, unless…

SIZE YARN IF YOU’RE looking for a cabled sweater for autumn that will look as good with a smart skirt as with jeans, take a look at Sarah Hatton’s sophisticated design. The neat arrangement of cables and twisted stitches produces a lovely fabric; a scooped neckline adds to the feminine look. The sweater is knitted in Rowan’s Softyak DK, which has a lovely softness and handle thanks to the blend of cotton, yak fibre and nylon. It’s machine-washable and available in 14 glowing shades. BACK Using 3.25mm needles cast on 110 (114:118:126:134:142:146:154) sts. Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end. Row 2: *P2, K2; rep from * to last 2 sts, P2. These 2 rows set rib. Cont in rib as set until work measures 5…

ARROW-LIKE MOTIFS decorate this chic tote bag designed by Helen Ardley. The colourwork is produced by working a slip stitch pattern in two natural shades. Helen has finished her bag with garter stitch striped edgings, faux leather handles, and a fabric lining. The yarn used is Wendy’s Ramsdale DK, a 100% wool using a blend of Masham fleece from the Yorkshire Dales, which is also dyed, spun and balled in Yorkshire. FRONT AND BACK (make 2) Note: On all RS rows, slip all slipped sts with yarn at back, on all WS rows slip all slipped sts with yarn at front. Using 4mm needles and yarn A cast on 81 sts. Purl 1 row. Change to yarn B. Row 1 (RS): K9, *Sl 2, K7, Sl 2, K15; rep from…

IT WAS while at a knitting retreat in Northamptonshire that keen knitter Geraldine Maggio heard about the charity Knit for Peace and its work both in the UK and abroad. Dame Hilary Blume, who founded the charity, mentioned the Knit for Peace knitting holiday to Mysore, which would be attended by popular designer and teacher Jane Crowfoot. Knit For Peace organises the holidays to support its work, and the price includes a donation towards the charity. The Green Hotel in Mysore, where participants stay, is one of the charity’s many projects, and gives all its profits to local causes. A holiday to Mysore, says Knit for Peace, benefits both the charity itself and gives guests the opportunity to visit other local projects. This was just the sort of trip that…

SIZE Beret Brim circumference 48cm (19in) Mittens Hand circumference 19½cm (7 3/4in) Length 24cm (9½in) YARN UK Alpaca Superfine Alpaca DK (DK weight; 70% superfine alpaca, 30% wool; 112m/122yds per 50g ball) 2 x 50g balls of each to make the set: A Mustard (0515) and B Rose Pink (0714) OR 1 x 50g ball of each colour to make either the beret or the mittens NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) double-pointed needles (DPNs), plus extra DPN for casting off 1 set 4mm (UK 8/US 6) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Stitch markers Stitch holder or scrap yarn for thumb sts TENSION 24 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over seed rib on 4mm needles. 26 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over Fair Isle pattern on 4mm…

SIZE YARN Cascade Yarns Longwood (Aran weight; 100% superwash extrafine merino wool; 175m/191yds per 100g ball) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 2 sets 5mm (UK 6/US 8) circular needles, 40cm and 80cm long 1 set 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) circular needles, 60cm or 80cm long Stitch markers Cable needle (cn) Stitch holders 2 x 5cm metal clasps THIS TOP-DOWN cardigan designed by Elena Nodel has an unusual construction. The double moss stitch bodice has raglan shaping on the back, but not on the front. The lower body is worked in stocking stitch with striking cable panels. Stitches for the sleeves are picked up and worked in rounds to the garter cuffs. Two pewter clasps substitute for buttons and buttonholes. The Longwood merino wool from Cascade Yarns is practical and warm, and comes…

SIZE 115cm x 100cm (45½in x 39½in) YARN Yarn Stories Fine Merino and Baby Alpaca Aran (Aran weight; 70% merino, 30% baby alpaca; 95m/104yds per 50g ball) A Leaf; 6 x 50g balls B Mulberry; 2 x 50g balls C French Navy; 2 x 50g balls D Thistle; 1 x 50g ball E Fuchsia; 1 x 50g ball NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 5mm (UK 6/US 8) circular needles, 80-100cm long TENSION 17 sts and 21 rows to 10cm over lace patt on 5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Yarn Stories 01484 848431 www.yarnstories.com For general abbreviations, see p95 HELEN ARDLEY’S cosy, aran-weight throw is perfect as a lap blanket. She has combined three lace stitch patterns and five colours to produce an informal, patchwork effect. The throw is finished with two…

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) M1pw make 1 st purlwise: with RH needle lift the strand between next and last st from front to back and purl through the back loop 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…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 2.5mm (UK 12-13/US 1-2) circular needles, 100cm long 1 set 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) circular needles, 100cm long 1 set 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needles, 80cm long for Magic Loop method (for sleeves) 1 set 2.5mm (UK 12-13/US 1-2) DPNs or circular needles, 80cm long, for Magic Loop method (for sleeves) Cable needle (cn) Stitch markers Stitch holders THIS AUTHENTIC Cornish gansey has been ‘reverse-engineered’ from a Victorian photograph by designer and historian Penelope Hemingway. Its traditional design includes textured stitch patterns worked in knit-and-purl, a welt bearing the wearer’s initials, and sleeves knitted in the round from the top down. It’s sized for a loose, comfortable fit, and has been knitted in a classic 5ply gansey wool…