Innehållsförteckning för Issue 104 från The Knitter

Many of us have parties or festive get-togethers planned for the Christmas season, and if you’d like to create something extra-special to wear, we have ideas for you in our GRACEFUL COLLECTION. Feminine patterns include a beautiful lace wrap from ANNIKEN ALLIS, and an exquisite beaded top designed by JENNIE ATKINSON. Looking for Christmas gift ideas? Take a look at JANE BURNS’ dinosaur hoody for babies, and her pretty beaded socks; we also have a smart yet cosy intarsia cardigan for girls, and a sophisticated, unusual cabled cushion by SANDRA NESBITT. Brioche stitch is super-fashionable right now, and we show you how to get started in our expert MASTERCLASS. We also find out about an inspirational trip to the FAROE ISLANDS, and give you a peek behind the scenes at…

FAIR ISLE STYLE Renowned designer Marie Wallin has released gorgeous new patterns celebrating the beauty of Fair Isle colourwork. ‘Wren’ is a fitted jumper with a deep colourwork yoke, knitted in the round. ‘Finch’, meanwhile, is an oversized sweater with intricate, all-over patterning that’s knitted flat. Both have been designed in Baa Ram Ewe’s Titus wool. ‘Magpie’, an exquisite cardigan, and ‘Raven’, an elegant sweater, both use Gotland 4ply from The Little Grey Sheep. All four new patterns are the first designs from Marie not to use Rowan yarns. The patterns can be purchased as digital downloads or as printed pamphlets from Marie’s online shop, costing £5 each. ‘Wren’ and ‘Finch’ are also available as knitting kits from Baa Ram Ewe (www.baaramewe.co.uk, 0113 278 1788). www.mariewallin.com Chic knits Katya Frankel’s…

We’re loving the designs Debbie Bliss has been releasing for autumn-winter, especially the patterns for her new Rialto DK Heathers yarn. This is a marled version of her popular Rialto DK pure wool yarn, and it comes in 10 muted, heathery shades. Individual pattern leaflets are available, and include a gorgeous collared jacket with an amazing cable pattern (ref. DB106). Also featuring bold, head-turning cables is Debbie’s capelet, which has a doublebreasted front and a vintage feel (ref. DB108). The stylish bell-sleeved cardigan (ref. DB107) has a modern shape, a moss stitch yoke and sleeves, and flared cuffs. Debbie has also released a range of pattern leaflets featuring designs for children using Rialto DK, including a Fair Isle yoked cardigan for girls, a classic striped sweater, a sweet little pinafore,…

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Stitch markers Stuffing 4 (4:4:6:6:6) x 25mm buttons TENSION 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over st st on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Cascade Yarns www.cascadeyarns.com UK stockists include: Love Knitting 0845 544 2196 www.cascadeyarns.com Wool Warehouse 0800 505 3300 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Laughing Hens 01829 740903 www.laughinghens.com BLOCKING DIAGRAM JANE BURNS has given her button-up hooded cardigan a dinosaur theme, by adding knitted spikes down the centre back, and an adorable little tail! These are knitted separately and sewn on to the finished garment. The project is sized to fit babies and toddlers aged from birth to two years, and would make…

We asked… Have you bought any good knitting books this year? “The Book of Haps by Kate Davies - a fascinating read with stunning patterns” Jen @jen_bilbo36591 “Knitting Vintage by Claire Montgomerie” Sara Milburn @SaraMilburn “Op-art Socks…so imaginative” Laura Oakley @LauraDOakley “Windswept by Marie Wallin” Julia Badger @JuliaBadger2 “I bought both Coop Knits Socks Vol I and II… and now I hear Rachel Coopey is coming out with a third book of socks!” Amber Weinberg @amberweinberg “On crochet, not knitting: Crochetterie by Molla Mills is worth a mention. Refreshing design.” Katy Sparrow @katyArtYarn What our favourite knitters have been saying… “We had a fantastic Yarndale. Thank you to everyone who made this our best show ever.” Anniken Allis @YarnAddictAnni “So I think I’ll just knit colorwork yoke sweaters for the…

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 1 pair 5mm (UK 6/US 8) knitting needles Stitch holder 6 buttons TENSION 19 sts and 23 rows to 10cm over st st on 5mm needles. Panel meas 4cm wide YARN STOCKISTS Rico Design www.rico-design.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS MB: Make bobble: knit into (front, back, front, back) of next st (thus making 4 sts out of 1), turn, K4, turn, P4, slip 2nd, 3rd and 4th st on right needle over first st. Tip: work the next st after the bobble firmly, and on the foll row work the st at each side of the bobble firmly, to ensure the bobble sits perfectly on the RS. For general abbreviations, see p95 BLOCKING DIAGRAM PAT MENCHINI’S cardigan has a soft, boxy…

About our expert Jen Arnall-Culliford is a technical knitting editor and knitwear designer with an encyclopaedic knowledge of knitting techniques IF YOU’VE been active in the online knitting community over the last couple of years, you can’t have failed to notice that brioche stitch, and particularly two-colour brioche, has been taking knitters by storm! So what is all the fuss about, and how can you get going with this technique? Brioche stitch creates a fabric that is particularly soft, squishy and bouncy. When worked in two colours, the projects you create will be reversible, and when combined with clever shaping, patterns can be geometric and highly eye-catching. Interestingly, brioche stitch doesn’t appear to have its origins in a specific country or region, but appears to have been known in many…

COMBINING TWISTED ribbing, cables and beading, these pretty socks by Jane Burns have a decidedly feminine feel. They’re knitted from the top down with a slip stitch heel; the twisted ribbing extends down from the cuffs along the outside edges of the socks. Jane has chosen a special hand-dyed yarn for her socks, which produces a subtle variation in colour on the fabric. It’s called Tough Love Sock from Vancouver artisan dyer Sweet Georgia Yarns, and is available in a range of beautiful semi-solid, gradient and variegated colourways. YARN Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock (4ply weight; 80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon; 388m/425yds per 115g skein) Passionfruit; 1 x 115g skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 2.5mm (UK 13-12/US 1-2) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles, 80cm long, for…

PAT MENCHINI Pat is a prolific designer whose work regularly appears in many of the UK’s top knitting magazines, including our sister title Simply Knitting. She has also created a range of designs for Artesano Yarns. For our Graceful collection, Pat has designed a pretty yet cosy cardigan with decorative lace and bobbles, which is on page 50. JUDY FURLONG Judy is renowned for her delicate lace patterns, tailored handknits and exquisite colourwork inspired by Scottish knitting traditions. Her latest creation for The Knitter is a softly draping A-line blouse with bell-shaped sleeves and a lovely stitch pattern, knitted in a handpainted yarn. Find it on page 44. JENNIE ATKINSON Jennie has a worldwide fanbase, thanks to her sumptuous, feminine designs, which have appeared in the likes of Vogue Knitting,…

KNITS TO MAKE YOU SMILE! Ann Kingstone wants us to “Put your passion in your fashion!” by creating handknits celebrating the knitters’ most beloved animal, the sheep. Her new pattern book, Tup Knits, has seven garment and accessory designs all featuring sheepy motifs. The collection includes ‘Tups’ and ‘Wethers’, both seamless top-down sweaters for adult women with a chain of sheep around the yoke. ‘Hoggett’ is a child’s version of the design, in cardigan form. ‘Droving’ is a pair of simply wonderful socks with sheep motifs and mock argyle; also using the same charming patterning are ‘Shornies’, a cosy hat, the ‘Dewlap’ cowl, and the ‘Gimmers’ fingerless gloves. Ann provides clear tutorials on techniques such as two-handed stranded knitting and working with steeks. The e-book costs £12, or you can…

wasn’t planning to make any Christmas gifts this year, because I really wanted to spend my limited knitting time finishing a couple of sweaters. However, as soon as I saw Ella Austin’s Colour and Line ebook, I changed my mind. The sweet little colourwork cardigan will be perfect for my niece, and the ‘Euclidean’ cushion (above) would look lovely on my mum’s favourite leather armchair. As for the ‘Herbaceous’ socks (below), I’ve bought the Lang Jawoll yarn and have earmarked them for my sister-in-law - but I rather fancy keeping them for myself! www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/colour-and-line…

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) knitting needles 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 set 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 60cm long 0.6mm crochet hook or wire (for placing beads) Stitch holders Locking stitch markers 1000 (1100:1200:1200:1300:1400) size 8 beads (shown in silver-lined crystal) TENSION 26 sts and 38 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.25mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Artisan Yarns www.artisanyarns.co.uk or email anneshoring@gmail.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS PB: Place bead. Using crochet hook or wire, pull next st on RH needle through bead, place back on RH needle and knit this st, trying not to stretch. For general abbreviations, see p95 BLOCKING DIAGRAM EVOKING THE feminine styles of the 1920s, this long-line top by Jennie Atkinson has been designed with parties and…

SIZE Width: 62cm (24_in) Length: 196cm (77in) YARN Fyberspates Scrumptious Lace (Laceweight, 45% silk/55% wool; 1000m/1094yds per 100g skein) Gold (502); 1 x 100g skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) knitting needles Approx. 1850 size 8 seed beads (sample uses 4 bags of Debbie Abrahams size 8 seed beads, colour 331 Pearl) 0.5mm crochet hook (for adding beads) TENSION 18 sts and 27_ rows to 10cm over Chart on 3.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Fyberspates 01244 346653 www.fyberspates.com/retailers BEAD STOCKISTS Debbie Abrahams Beads 0115 960 7991 www.debbieabrahamsbeads.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS PB: Place bead. Place bead on crochet hook, lift stitch off LH needle using the crochet hook and slip the bead onto the stitch. Replace stitch on LH needle and knit. Russian cast-off: K2, slip both sts back…

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needles 1 pair 5.5mm (UK 5/US 9) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) Stitch holder TENSION 15 sts and 20 rows to 10cm over rev st st on 5.5mm needles. 74-st cable pattern meas 43cm on 5.5mm needles. 82-st cable pattern meas 48cm on 5.5mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C3F: Slip 2 sts onto cn at front of work, K1, K2 from cn. C3B: Slip 1 st onto cn at back of work, K2, K1 from cn. Tw3F: Slip 2 sts onto cn at front of work, P1, K2 from cn. Tw3B: Slip 1 st onto cn at back of work, K2, P1 from cn. C4F: Slip 2 sts onto cn at front of work, K2,…

I MET Celia Pym when she took part in Knit 2 Together, an exhibition I co-curated in 2005. She had been knitting her way around Japan, using blue yarns that she acquired on her travels, her time measured in rows of stitches. Starting her career as a teacher, Celia went on to study textiles at The Royal College of Art, then to train as a nurse – an unlikely trajectory for an artist, although she doesn’t see it like that. “The work is always important, the teaching and nursing is life, it’s people. And I love people’s stories,” she says. For Celia, it all started when she inherited a sweater from her Uncle Roly that had been knitted for him by his sister Elizabeth. He was an artist, and the…

KIRSTIE McLEOD reckons she has the best job on The Knitter! In her role as commissioning editor, she works closely with designers and the yarn industry to bring knitters inspirational, entertaining patterns. When did you learn to knit? “I learnt the basics of knitting and needlework at primary school, from my class teacher. I continued to have an interest in textiles and needlecrafts throughout my youth, although as a teenager, my passion was for drawing. I was encouraged to study fine art, but I decided to choose something with more chance of an actual job at the end. At art college, I did a course in design crafts, which involved lots of playing around with wood and papier maché…” How did you come to work on The Knitter? “After leaving…

SIZE Approx. 213cm (84in) wide and 89cm (35in) tall at centre YARN All For Love of Yarn Brilliance Lace (Laceweight; 55% superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool, 45% silk; 800m/875yds per 100g) Kiss Me Pink; 1 x 100g skein Note: since this sample was knitted, All For Love of Yarn has ceased trading. Good yarn alternatives include: Juniper Moon Farm Findley; 2 x 100g (730m) skeins Knit Picks Gloss Lace; 1 x 100g (880m) skein Eden Cottage Yarns Theseus Lace; 1 x 100g (800m) skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 60cm or 80cm long 1 set 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 60cm or 80cm long Stitch markers plus removable stitch markers Cable needle (cn) TENSION 18 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over Chart E…

YARNDALE MEMORIES Blogger ‘Helpful Mum’ brings us her highlights of this year’s Yarndale show http://bit.ly/yarndale16 SOCK SUCCESS Designers Arne and Carlos share their sock knitting tips and advice http://bit.ly/acsocks KNITTING NATTER Sisters Jodi and Tracie (aka The Grocery Girls) just love to talk about yarn! http://bit.ly/grocgirls26 SARA’S REVIEWS Black Sheep Wool’s Sara looks at Vinni’s Colour Nikkim yarn from South Africa http://bit.ly/bswvinni…

12 November Bristol Pick Up Sew Up www.getknitted.com 0117 300 5211 12 November Stirling Fair Isle with Carol Meldrum www.mcadirect.com 0131 558 1747 15 November Bovey Tracey Two Socks at the Same Time Top Down www.spinayarndevon.co.uk 01626 836203 19 November Cambridge Steeking with Ann Kingstone www.sheepshopcambridge.co.uk 01223 311268 19 November Warrington Basics of Pattern Writing www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 19 November Dundee Two-Handed Colourwork www.fluph.co.uk 01382 690190 19 November Ipswich Continental Knitting www.jennywrensyarns.co.uk 01473 805208 19 November Nottingham Knitting With Texture 0115 941 8282 20 November London 3-D Knitting www.wildandwoollyshop.co.uk 020 8985 5231 20 November Edinburgh Fixing Common Knitting Mistakes www.gingertwiststudios.com 07599 479445 23 November Hitchin Festiwool www.festiwool.com 07890 176704 24-47 November Harrogate The Knitting & Stitching Show www.theknittingandstitchingshow.com 020 7688 6830 28 November Bath Bath Christmas Craft Crawl www.yarninthecity.com/bath-christmas-craft-crawl/ Tell…

More sock thoughts I have talked to you before about socks and would like to offer an update! The original discussion started when a contributor said that you should stop offering sock patterns because they were always on four needles and she hated doing them! I offered the idea that socks can be knitted on two needles, and that I have a very useful book called Knit Your Socks on Straight by Alice Curtis. Whilst at the West Wales Wool Show last year, I talked to a lady who was knitting socks on a stall about my dislike of using four or five needles - and that I hadn’t yet attempted the ‘magic loop’ method. She told me to try very short (20cm) circular needles. I did as she suggested…

YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 set 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles, 80cm long 1 set 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) circular needles, 40cm long Stitch and row markers Stitch holders Waste yarn TENSION 28 sts and 38 rows to 10cm over Foaming Waves patt using 3mm needles. 30 sts and 42 rows to 10cm over st st and Foaming Waves patt using 2.75mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS Artesano Yarns 0118 950 3350 www.artesanoyarns.co.uk Manos del Uruguay For stockists contact Rooster Yarns 01829 740903 www.roosteryarns.com BLOCKING DIAGRAM THIS SOFTLY draping blouse by Judy Furlong has an A-line body which is fairly close-fitting around the bust, but is generous over the hips. “A stretchy cast-on method is necessary for the body to allow the scallops…

“THIS MINIMALIST cushion shows off the intricacies of cabling,” says Sandra Nesbitt. “Use bright contrasting colours to create a statement piece or, as we did, knit in two shades of grey for a sophisticated look.” The centre front panel is worked by knitting a standard ribbed cable with a larger number of stitches than normal and by working the cable away from the two side panels, thus forming triangular holes at each side of the cable twist. These holes are filled in with stocking stitch, worked in a contrasting colour and perpendicular to the cable. FRONT Using 4.5mm needles, yarn A and the cable cast-on method, cast on 88 sts. Row 1 (RS): K28, P1, (K2, P2) 7 times, K2, P1, K28. Row 2: P28, K1, (P2, K2) 7 times,…

AN INTARSIA pattern with a retro 1970s feel decorates this cosy cardigan for girls aged six to 12 years. The round-necked design is fastened with shanked buttons, and is knitted in Bergère de France’s Chinaillon. This is an aran-weight, rounded yarn containing combed wool, undyed alpaca, viscose and acrylic, and which comes in a range of flecked colours including a soft green, orange, denim blue and grey. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 6 x 15mm shank buttons Stitch holder TENSION 19 sts and 26 rows to 10cm over intarsia and st st on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk For general abbreviations, see p95 BLOCKING DIAGRAM CHART NOTES Chart A rows are numbered on…

WALES Love Me Yarns stores.ebay.co.uk/Love-Me-Yarns namilsom@icloud.com 07540 566574 Love Me Yarns is a treasure cove of delightful knits, stockist of Bergere de France, Conway & Bliss, Designer Yarns, knit Pro, Katia, king Cole and many more. Daily classes for either Crochet or Knit/Natter 10-12pm. All abilities welcome £4pp refreshments provided. 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/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. SCOTLAND The Sewing Station Facebook:…

KNITTERS IN New England and Eastern Canada make mittens stuffed with little tufts of wool fleece that can keep hands warm in the coldest, wettest conditions imaginable. These are known as ‘thrummed mittens’, and today a search for this term on Ravelry.com brings up almost 150 patterns. But in the last decades of the 20th century, this technique had almost been forgotten. Where was this style of knitting first developed, and why did it fall out of popularity? These are the questions I want to try to answer. According to Maine mitten historian Robin Hansen, “the mittens of New England and Atlantic Canada share many aspects of the same North Atlantic knitting culture, which has Western European, Scandinavian, and even Baltic roots.” Although some well known knitting ‘traditions’ were created…

DONNA DRUCHUNAS’ version of traditional New England thrummed mittens uses purl stitches to mark the shaping of the thumb gores. For detailed instructions on knitting with thrums, see our Masterclass in issue 92 or online at www.theyarnloop.com/node/91747. SIZE 22cm (18_in) hand circumference Note: This may seem big, but remember there is a lot of fleece inside making them fit snugly YARN Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed (Worsted weight; 80% Peruvian Highland wool, 20% Donegal Tweed; 101m/100yds per 50g ball) Firecracker Heather 2 x 50g balls NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles (DPNs) 1 set 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) DPNs Stitch marker Approx. 25g of wool fleece or roving Scrap yarn TENSION 20 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over st st with thrums…