Innehållsförteckning för Issue 114 från The Knitter

Fresh designs Easygoing styles for your summer wardrobe Bright colours and soft textures combine in our latest pattern collection. Breezy knits with lace details and relaxed shapes will be perfect for summer days and lazy evenings. We’ve got lots of colourwork for you to try - including a pretty pixelated design by Emma Vining, a handsome sweater for men, and a pretty Fair Isle jumper from Marie Wallin. Fancy a quick-knit project to make on your holiday? Try our textured socks, cushion cover or smart baby jumper. HAPPY KNITTING! from The Knitter team…

PRECIOUS KNITS Wensleydale Gems is a gorgeous DK-weight yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners. Its rich, lustrous shades, inspired by gemstones, have been put to good use by designer Sarah Hatton. She has created a range of new pattern leaflets showcasing the colours and drape of this pure Wensleydale wool. Sarah’s garment designs include ‘Harriet’, a round-necked cardigan with simple colourwork; ‘Arabella’, a striped jumper; and the short-sleeved ‘Evelyn’ jumper with its textured yoke and contrast-colour trims. Garments are sized to fit 32in-50in busts. The ‘Jasmine’ shawl has a deep triangular shape and textured stitch pattern, while ‘Esme’ (pictured below) is a long, asymmetric wrap with textured stripes. Last up is the ‘Harper’ cowl and headband set, a quick-knit project in two vibrant colours. Digital patterns cost £2.99 each from www.wyspinners.com…

Marie Wallin’s latest book is a sophisticated collection inspired by traditional fisherman knits. The eight garments for women celebrate nautical cables and Celtic twists, complemented by Nordic-inspired Fair Isle. It has been photographed on Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Isles, and its wild beauty is reflected in the textures and colours of the knitwear. The designs use Rowan’s Felted Tweed and new Valley Tweed, and are sized to fit 32-50in busts. Stunning sweater projects include ‘Islay’, a pretty jumper with a cabled yoke, and ‘Tiree’, a relaxed and cosy design with colourwork worked in two shades of grey. ‘Soay’ features a complex cable panel, while ‘Skye’ pairs a Fair Isle yoke with a twisted stitch pattern on the body. The collection has three cardigans: an oversized dolman-sleeve design…

HAVING GROWN up in Exeter, Teresa Probert visited Orkney during her university gap year to “see what it was like to live on a small island”. During the stay, Teresa met her partner, and moved permanently to the island of Auskerry once her degree was complete. Without any previous shepherding experience, and having initially kept a Shetland/Cheviot cross-breed, Teresa had a desire to change to a more sustainable breed for the island. “Only two flocks of the local rare-breed North Ronaldsay sheep remained in Orkney, with neither being farmed as such,” says Teresa. “It was difficult to see how we could make a living from them, but we loved their fleeces, so decided to try a small flock.” Perfectly adapted to island life, when fresh grass is in short supply…

MITTENS OF LATVIA (National Costume Centre ‘Sena Klets’) KNITTED MITTENS hold a special place in the cultural history of Latvia. As well as their obvious practical value in this cold Baltic nation, they played a role in courtship, marriage, and funerals; specific patterns were used to bring good luck, to promote fertility, or to ward off magic. The many and varied colourful designs have been passed down through the generations, and beautiful examples are held in the collections of Latvia’s National History Museum and Ethnographic Open-Air Museum. Maruta Grasmane has studied these samples dating back to the mid-18th century to produce this sumptuous tour de force - a 435-page hardback book bringing together 178 different mitten patterns. The book will undoubtedly appeal to knitting historians and serious knitters with an…

Pat Menchini BRYHER “THIS TOP, with its short semi-dolman sleeves, will be ideal for cooler summer evenings,” says designer Pat Menchini. “The pretty V-shaped lace panels with a small centre cable are straightforward to work. The cable on the centre panel frames the deep V neck.” Pat’s project has been knitted here in a cobalt shade of Yarn Stories Fine Merino DK, which has a wonderful softness. SIZE YARN 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) doublepointed needles (DPNs) for neckband Cable needle (cn) Stitch holder TENSION 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over st st on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Yarn Stories 01484 848431 www.yarnstories.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C5F: Slip next…

Lisbet Clements Wittenham SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) circular needles Stitch holders TENSION 27 sts and 34 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Navia c/o The Island Wool Company 01981 541093 www.islandwool.co.uk For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM THIS JUMPER will be comfortable to wear, thanks to its stretchy shawl collar, and the use of Navia’s wool-cotton yarn, which is soft and lightweight. The 4ply yarn is available in 14 shades, including naturals, soft hues and brighter colours, The jumper is sized to fit babies and toddlers aged six to 18 months. Lisbet Clements’ design has two-colour stripes around the collar, hems and cuffs, followed by a simple textured stitch around the lower body…

SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm {UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 pair 3.2Smm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles Stitch markers TENSION 30 sts and 36 rows to 10cm over lace patt using 3.2Smm needles. 28 sts and 36 rows to 10cm over st st using 3.25mm needles. 52 sts and 36 rows to 10cm over 1x1 rib using 2.75mm needles (collar only). YARN STOCKISTS Sublime 01924 369666 www.sublimeyarns.com BLOCKING DIAGRAM SIRDAR IS an iconic British brand, and has an amazing archive of knitting patterns going back more than 90years. Weweregivenaccess to this archive, to choose patterns to reknit in modern yarns and sizings, so that our readers can recreate these beautiful vintage styles for themselves. The first in our new series of vintage projects is this pretty…

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. Her latest design for The Knitter is a summery top with lacy details, on page 48. Emma Vining Emma is known for her exquisite stitch patterns and fabric textures, many of which have been influenced by artefacts found in London’s museums. This month, she has taken design cues from traditional Portuguese tiles for her colourwork cardigan. Turn to page 8 for Emma’s pattern. Rachel Atkinson Rachel is a technical editor who works with designers to help them produce accurate knitting patterns. She is also a designer in her own right, and has her own yarn…

SOFT TEXTURES & SHAPES Kim Hargreaves has launched the first in her new series of ‘capsule collections’ with a book of breezy designs for summer. Called Crush, the book has 15 projects for women, including vest tops, cardigans and jumpers. The designs use a range of crisp cotton and denim yarns with mohair contrasts, in a colour palette of white and blue. Densely textured fabric is used for a swingy jacket and a fitted cardigan with patch pockets, while lighter lace patterns appear on the ‘Silent’ mohair jumper, ‘Keep’ cardigan and the slouchy ‘Haze’ sweater. Modern styles include a racerback vest, a cropped high-neck jumper with lacy heart motifs, and an oversized striped sweater worked in two contrasting colours of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. There is also a classic widenecked ribbed…

2 September Newbury Demystifying Double Knitting with Sockmatician www.purlescence.co.uk 01865 600330 2-3 September Chester Chester Wool Company Open Weekend chesterwool@btinternet.com 07546 948378 9 September Warrington Estonian Knitting with Ann Kingstone www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 9 September Ipswich Finishing Techniques www.jennywrensyarns.co.uk 01473 805208 10 September Cleethorpes Knitting Charts Workshop www.agoodyarn.co.uk 01472 508707 16 September Ipswich Knit Your Own Socks www.jennywrensyarns.co.uk 01473 805208 20 September Cleethorpes Brioche Workshop www.agoodyarn.co.uk 01472 508707 23 Sept-1 October Lerwick Shetland Wool Week www.shetlandwoolweek.com 23-24 September Skipton Yarndale www.yarndale.co.uk 01756 770323 24 September London Sheep Drive & Wool Fair www.shetlandwoolweek.com 28 September Wooler, Northumberland Shetland Lace Knitting www.sheeptales.org.uk 20 September Warrington Beginners Spinning Workshop www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 30 September Farnham Thread: a festival of textiles www.craft.farnhammaltings.com 01252 745405 Tell us about your event! theknitter@immediate.co.uk…

This aran-weight wool comes in four natural shades; Shellsand, blended from cream, tan and a hint of pale grey; Peta Black, a blend of black, moorit and milk chocolate; Slate Grey, spun from the darker blue-grey fleeces; and Seal Grey, spun from the lighter grey fleeces. The micron count for much of the fibre is finer even than merino, and whilst the guard hairs and some of the outer coat are coarser, overall the spun yarn is wonderfully soft, light and bouncy. The various shades create a natural palette that complement one another; the aran weight makes it cosy for accessories, but would be truly wonderful in a Fair Isle vest or colourwork sweater. Suggested patterns to try in this yarn: ‘Halle’ cardigan from The Knitter Issue 106; Martin Storey’s…

Toby Roxane Barna Asymmetrical Cropped Jacket THIS CROPPED cardigan features a garter stitch panel on the back where all waist shaping is worked, creating an hourglass shape. The curved button band is shaped with short-rows for a unique accent. The project is worked in one piece from the top down; the back neck and shoulders are worked first, then stitches are picked up for the sleeves and fronts and worked flat to the underarms. Toby’s design was knitted in a yarn from a US indie dyer; we have recommended some alternative UK yarns in the information panel. SIZE YARN Alternative yarn suggestions: Fyberspates Vivacious DK Sweet Georgia Superwash DK The Uncommon Thread Merino DK The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK TENSION 23 sts and 34 rows to 10cm over st st…

Sarah Hatton LUNDY SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3mm (UK 12/US 2-3) knitting needles 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) knitting needles Stitch holders Stitch markers TENSION 21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.75mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com For general abbreviations, see p81 CHARTS BLOCKING DIAGRAM LOOSE AND comfortable, this tunic top by Sarah Hatton has elbow-length sleeves knitted as part of the front and back. It features lace details, and deep ribbed cuffs and hems. It calls for Rowan’s Summerlite DK, which is a pure cotton with a matt finish. BACK Using 3mm needles cast on 106 (114:118:122:130:134:142:146) sts. Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end. Row 2: *P2, K2; rep from * to last…

PRIDE IN British Wool and manufacturing is at the heart of everything West Yorkshire Spinners does. This family-run business, based in Keighley, has been one of the big success stories of the UK yarn industry in recent years, gaining loyal fans thanks to its appealing handknitting yarns, and winning a raft of awards for its products. As a commission spinner, West Yorkshire Spinners had been producing yarns at its worsted mill for domestic and overseas customers for 20 years. That all changed four and a half years ago, when the team, led by managing director Peter Longbottom, decided to launch a handknitting brand to run alongside the commission spinning. Peter’s son, Richard, joined the team as sales and marketing manager. “Being from a marketing background, it was a great opportunity…

WE ALWAYS love using hand-dyed yarns for our knitted socks, and this subtle-hued 4ply from Fyberspates looks particularly lovely combined with the sinuous stitch pattern on Jane Burns’ socks. Vivacious 4ply is a robust, high-twist pure merino that is machine-washable and comes in both soft shades and saturated brights. Jane’s stitch pattern blends simple lace with twisted ribbing, and the design is mirrored on the left and right socks, which are knitted from the top down. LEFT SOCK Using 2.5mm needles and the long-tail cast- on method, cast on 60 (64:68) sts. Pm and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts. CUFF Round 1: *K1 tbl, P1; rep from * to end. Repeat round 1 until piece meas 2_cm from cast-on edge. LEG Commence working…

A SOFT scarf can come in useful on those chilly summer days we often get in Britain! This light design in Rowan’s Summerlite cotton drapes nicely around the shoulders; it is shaped to have one end wider than the other, and has a chevron stitch pattern. SCARF Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 125 sts. Work in garter st for 2 rows. Row 3 (RS): K2, Sl 1, K1, psso, K8, *M1R, K1, place red mrk, K1, M1L*, K12, **K2tog, place blue mrk, Sl 1, K1, psso**, K6, rep from * to * once more, K10, rep from ** to ** once more, K10, rep from * to * once more, K7, rep from ** to ** once more, K12, rep from * to * once more, K7, rep from **…

Emma Vining Lisbon SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles Stitch holders Tapestry needle TENSION 24 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over Textured Pattern using 4mm needles. 24 sts and 23 rows to 10cm over Stranded Pattern using 4mm needles. 21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over Stocking Stitch Pattern using 4mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS Sublime 01924 369666 www.sublimeyarns.com CHARTS BLOCKING DIAGRAM “MY CARDIGAN was inspired by the amazing ceramic tiles I saw on a trip to Lisbon, Portugal,” says Emma Vining. “Many of the buildings in this beautiful city are covered in stunning tile designs. I have used both textured and stranded stitch patterns to represent the tiles. The stitch patterns are eight-stitch…

STUNNING STITCHES Jen Lucas Jen Lucas specialises in shawls and lace, and her brand-new book features 21 beautiful shawls, cowls and scarves. To create her collection, Jen devised seven eye-catching stitch patterns, using airy lace, cables, slip stitch patterns and knit-and-purl textures. These patterns are each used to create three distinctive projects, ranging from wraps and shawls, to cowls, ponchos and hooded scarves. £21.99, Martingale & Co. THE CABLE KNITTER’S GUIDE Denise Samson Aimed at knitters who want to improve their cabling skills, this comprehensive book is packed with detailed photos, diagrams and step-by-step instructions. It presents 50 lovely cable patterns, from simple to complex - and helpfully, it provides links to YouTube videos demonstrating how to work each cable. There are then 25 projects using cables, including socks, sweaters,…

“THIS MEN’S pullover features a quiet colourwork pattern on the front with a textured stitch filling the arms and back that lies flat, isn’t stretchy, and offers texture and a thickness similar to that of the front,” says designer Kyle Kunnecke. “For even more impact, consider selecting colours with greater contrast for the front panel.” Kyle Kunnecke Brandt SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) circular needles, 40cm long 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 40cm long, or straight needles Stitch markers Stitch holder TENSION 22½ sts and 36 rows to 10cm over garter rib on 3.75mm needles, after blocking. 25 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over colour chart on 3.75mm needles, after blocking. YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 0484 950630 www.knitrowan.com PATTERN NOTES GERMAN TWISTED CASTON Begin with…

NORO Kiso Shade pictured 7 Skein weight/length 100g/200m Needle size 4.5-5mm (UK 7-6/US 7-8) Tension 15 sts and 22 rows to 10cm Fibre content 70% wool, 15% alpaca, 15% silk Care Hand wash RRP £22.95 Contact 01535 664222 www.designeryarns.uk.com Full of character and texture, Kiso is an appealing new yarn from Noro. The six-shade palette is bursting with slubs and twists of colour, while the fibre mix feels luxuriously woolly and soft. The chunky single ply knits up quickly and produces a cosy fabric that shows off a lovely alpaca halo, whilst giving the knitter a delicious colour experience with every stitch. BERGERE DE FRANCE Merinos 4 Shade pictured Ecru (20096) Ball weight/length 50g/135m Needle size 4mm (UK 8/US 6) Tension 22 sts and 28 rows to 10cm Fibre content…

Anniken Allis BRECQHOU SIZE Width (inner crescent): 134cm (52¾in) Depth: 55cm (21½in) YARN Amano Ayni (Baby/sport weight; 80% baby alpaca, 20% silk; 200m/219yds per 50g skein) Paprika (5002); 3 x 50g skeins NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 80cm long Locking stitch marker TENSION 15 sts and 24 rows to 10cm over Chart A on 4mm needles after blocking YARN STOCKISTS Amano c/o Designer Yarns 01535 664222 www.designeryarns.uk.com For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM THIS SHAWL by Anniken Allis has beautiful curves that wrap around your shoulders perfectly. It features a deep lace pattern around the lower edge, and a central spine and upper border of eyelets. Anniken has knitted her shawl in Amano’s Ayni yarn, a smooth and soft blend of baby alpaca and silk,…

Marie Wallin LISMORE SIZE NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) circular needles, at least 80cm long 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles, at least 80cm long 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, at least 80cm long Set of 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Set of 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) double-pointed needles Set of 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles Stitch markers, including two different colours (red and blue are used in pattern) Stitch holders THE LOVELIEST Fair Isle patterning appears on this feminine jumper by Marie Wallin. The body and sleeves are knitted in the round, then joined together to work the yoke. Marie has knitted her jumper using Rowan’s Pure Wool 4ply; this yarn has since been discontinued, although it is still widely available from online…

LATVIAN BRAIDING is an interesting knitting technique that has been used here to great effect. Caroline Birkett’s cushion cover mixes braids with reverse Fair Isle in six different shades of Cascade 220 Superwash. “Working single rows takes a little more time, but creates delicate stripes that mix the colours beautifully together,” says Caroline. “Latvian braids and the strands from the reverse side of Fair Isle give the cushion a lovely textural quality.” PATTERN NOTES LATVIAN BRAIDS Note, Yarn A and B here refers to the first and second yarn worked in the row. Use the colours given in the Chart to determine which to use. Set-up row: (K1 in yarn A, K1 in yarn B) to end. Row 1 (WS): With both yarns at back, *K1 in yarn B, bring…

Better for browsing I am an occasional buyer of The Knitter, picking it up at the newsagents if I like the look of the project on the front cover, or if I’ve seen a copy at my knitting group. I was pleased to find that your latest issue on my newsagent’s shelves was not bagged in cellophane. I like having the opportunity to browse through your pages and have a good look at the knitting patterns inside, to see if there are any I would like to knit. In Issue 112, for example, I will probably make the Jeanette Sloan denim jumper and the textured handbag, and possibly the child’s dress. I expect I will be buying more issues of The Knitter, now that I can see what’s inside! Mrs…

GEORGIE NICOLSON is an Australian designer who has published more than 100 patterns on her Tikki Knits website. She loves to create seamless designs that are enjoyable to knit, elegantly constructed, brightly coloured, and with a carefree, relaxed style. We talked to her about her design process. Who taught you to knit? “My mum used to knit in our lounge room throughout winter, and I can remember sitting at her feet trying to copy her. She had six kids, so her relaxation time was precious, and given I was number four her idea of relaxing was probably not teaching yet another small child to knit. At some stage I must have successfully managed to copy her, because as a kid I used to knit backwards!” Do you have a favourite…