Innehållsförteckning för 123 från The Knitter

We’re celebrating the beauty of lace in our latest issue, by showcasing a variety of elegant stitch patterns for you to try. From classic shapes such as Jennie Atkinson’s vintage-style top, to Sarah Hatton’s modern lace-panelled jumper, there are pretty, wearable projects to suit you. Bring colour into your seasonal wardrobe with Mary Henderson’s Fair Isle vest, or choose a cheerful colourway for our stranded yoke jumper or intarsia cardigan. HAPPY KNITTING! from The Knitter team Our featured designers Mary Henderson Mary has a passion for Fair Isle knitting, and has won a firm following thanks to intricate designs and her talent for colour combining. This month, she brings us a gorgeous Fair Isle tank top, knitted in a lovely yarn from The Border Mill. Find her pattern in our…

The shapes, textures and colours of Scotland’s West Highland Way have been captured in Kate Davies’ latest project. It’s a spectacular collection filled with fascinating stitch patterns and colour combinations. As you’d expect, there’s plenty of stranded colourwork, such as the ‘Còinneach’ yoked cardigan, inspired by a hill at Loch Lomond. ‘The Shieling’ blanket features a thistle motif, while four seasonal colourways are suggested for the ‘Craigallan’ hat and mittens. Always inventive, Kate has been playing with new garment shapes, such as the ‘Rowchoish’ wrap/cardigan, and the ‘Strathendrick’ tunic, which combines vintage colourwork with a contemporary silhouette. Other beautiful designs include a structured, cabled T-shirt called ‘Stronachlachar’, and the dramatic ‘Electric Village’ wrap. The book also contains essays and photography that bring the West Highland Way to life. £30. www.katedaviesdesigns.com…

Designer Anna Maltz has published an appealing new pattern book called Marlisle. It’s a collection of 11 knits which use a simple yet effective approach to stranded knitting, where two colours magically become three by using yarn held double. The marled effect looks wonderful on Anna’s accessory designs, including the ‘Ess’ fringed shawl, a range of hats and mitts, and the perky ‘Ruperto’ scarf. Smart garments include the unisex ‘Trembling Sweater’, which has a graphic yoke motif, and the ‘Shantay Cardigan’ with its zigzag pattern. The ‘Midstream Sweater’ is a modern take on fishermen’s smocks. Print book (includes PDF copy) costs £21.50 from www.annamaltz.com Take it easy Easyknits has a brand-new website showcasing its amazing colourways & yarn clubs www.easyknits.co.uk LOCH NESS TOUR Looking for a knitting adventure this year? Then…

20 April Warrington Learn to Knit Socks www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 21 April Sherborne Learn to Spin www.theslippedstitch.co.uk 01935 508249 22 April Dorking Learn to Spin www.gilliangladrag.co.uk 01306 898 144 22 April Cowbridge, Glamorgan Shetland Lace Knitting with Anniken Allis www.lamerceriecowbridge.co.uk 01446 772055 26 April Bridport Professional Finishing www.bridportyarn.co.uk 01308 455669 26 April Henley on Thames Brioche Knitting ladysewandsew.co.uk 01491 572528 28-29 April Builth Wells Wonderwool Wales www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk 28 April Worcester Brioche Knitting 07771 243976 29 April Truro Selbu Mittens with Anniken Allis 01872 270661 29 April Leeds Knitting With Colour www.baaramewe.co.uk 0113 278 1788 3 May Liss, Hampshire Rectangular Shawl with Shetland Lace www.lisswools.co.uk 01730 893941 3 May Bridport Brioche Stitch www.bridportyarn.co.uk 01308 455669 5 May Warrington Self-Patterning Yarn Dyeing Workshop www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 12-13 May Penkridge, Staffs Wool@J13 www.wool-j13.uk…

SIZE YARN Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted (Heavy DK/worsted weight; 100% superwash wool; 200m/219yds per 100g ball) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4mm(UK 6/US 8) knitting needles1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needlesCable needle (cn)Stitch holders5 buttons TENSION 23½ sts and 27 rows to 10cm over Upper Cable pattern on 4.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com “THE SOFT YET HARD-WEARING WOOL FROM ROWAN CAN BE MACHINE WASHED” SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C2B: Slip next st to cn and hold at back of work, K1; K1 from cn. C2F: Slip next st to cn and hold at front of work, K1; K1 from cn. 1/3RC: Slip next 3 sts to cn and hold at back of work, K1; K3 from cn. 1/3LC: Slip next st to cn and hold at…

SOMETHING NEW TO LEARN ABOUT CABLES by Arnall-Culliford Knitwear (£14) FOLLOWING ON from their successful first book, A Year Of Techniques, Jen and Jim Arnall-Culliford have published this incredibly useful manual, focusing on cable knitting. It’s designed to improve the skills and confidence of knitters, whatever their experience of cabling. As Jen and Jim say, “there’s always something new to learn!”, whether that’s a new way of working, producing tidier results, or discovering easy ways to fix mistakes. The book is filled with clear, step-by-step instructions and photographs; video tutorials to accompany the book are available at www.acknitwear.co.uk. It begins with the basics of cabling, introducing simple techniques that many of us have yet to try, such as cabling without a cable needle, and two-stitch cable shortcuts that are worked…

SIZE YARN Blacker Yarns Samite Silk Blend (3ply/light fingering weight; 20% silk, 80% pure new wool; 460m/478yds per 100g skein) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) knitting needles 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needle, for three-needle cast-off 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) circular needles, 40cm long 2 removable stitch markers Stitch holders or waste yarn TENSION 28 sts and 34 rows to 10cm over st st on 2.75mm needles. 33 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over Scroll Pattern on 3mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS Blacker Yarns 01566 777635 www.blackeryarns.co.uk For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM CHART KEY THIS ELEGANT garment by Jennie Atkinson is knitted in two pieces with integral sleeves; the front and back are joined at the…

TUCKED AWAY in the quiet countryside of Cambridgeshire lives Louise McDonald, her husband, and their Siamese cat – oh, and a treasure trove of spinning wheels and drop spindles. Think ‘Sleeping Beauty’, but with much more yarn! Louise is the clever lady behind Spin City, an online boutique specialising in handmade drop spindles, spinning wheels, batts and roving. “I started spinning while I was still at university, where I specialised in knitted textiles,” explains Louise. “Two things inspired me to get into spinning. First, I wanted beautiful, softly spun, chunky, single-ply yarn in natural materials for one of my designs, and I just couldn’t find anything. “Second, a few years earlier my best friend had been given a spinning wheel by an elderly relative and it made me incredibly envious!…

SOUTH WEST Spin A Yarn www.spinayarndevon.co.uk customerservices@spinayarndevon.co.uk 01626 836203 Exciting and unusual yarns from around the world. Rare and Touch yarns from NZ, Rowan, Debbie Bliss, Noro, Arctic Qiviut, Malabrigo and Juniper Moon. 26 Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9AD ONLINE Knitting Needle Lane knittingneedlelane.co.uk 01223 561865 A modern twist on a traditional hobby for all your knitting/crochet needs. You can also find us at Cambridge Market every Sunday. We sell Sirdar, James C Brett, Wendy, Manos Del Uruguay and Erika Knight. We have the beauty of handpicking our skeins before they go online to sell or reach our market stall. NORTH EAST/ONLINE Fine Fettle Fibres www.finefettlefibres.uk judith@finefettlefibres.uk 01670 600001 Specialising in British and fair trade yarns in natural fibres, Fine Fettle Fibres also offers workshops, knitting groups and…

TRADITIONAL FAIR Isle motifs decorate this pretty tank top by Mary Henderson; a lower border worked in the Razor Lace stitch pattern adds an extra touch of femininity. The project uses The Border Mill’s wonderfully soft, smooth 4ply Alpaca Tweed Silk yarn, which comes in 30 sumptuous colours that complement each other beautifully. SIZE YARN The Border Mill Alpaca Tweed Silk (4ply weight; 40% alpaca, 20% merino, 20% bamboo, 20% silk; 145m/159yds per 50g skein) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles,40cm and 80cm long3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles,80cm long3 stitch holdersStitch markers TENSION 28 sts and 32 rows/rounds to 10cm over Fair Isle pattern on 3.25mm needles YARN STOCKISTS The Border Mill 01361 883692 www.thebordermill.co.uk BLOCKING DIAGRAM CHART KEY For general abbreviations, see p81 of the…

www.jarbon.com “USING TWO delicate shades of pink together creates a candy-coloured series of textured stripes that are combined with small pattern details,” says Emma Vining. “The stripes are punctuated by little bunches of rib pattern, which are knitted together with an eyelet detail. This delicate stitch pattern breaks up the textured garter stitch stripes. The two shades of pink used in the stripes are reversed for the top third of the garment. The darker shade of pink is used for the lower section and the lighter shade for the top.” SIZE YARN John Arbon Textiles Knit By Numbers 4ply (4ply weight, 100% pure Falkland merino wool; 400m/440yds per 100g skein) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 3) knitting needles Stitch…

MAKO COTTON by Quail Studio for Rowan Selects The Quail Studio design team brings its cool, contemporary style to Rowan’s seasonal Mako Cotton yarn. Its book of eight women’s projects for relaxed daywear includes an off-the-shoulder sweater, a longline mesh cardigan, a sporty camisole vest and ballerina cardigan, and a jumper with a dramatic, deep V-back. £5, Rowan 200 STITCH PATTERNS FOR BABY BLANKETS Jan Eaton If you’re planning to make a special blanket for a new arrival, you can find ideas for beautiful stitch patterns in this new edition of Jan Eaton’s popular book. It offers a huge choice of mix-and-match block designs and pretty edgings, each accompanied by a swatch photo and instructions. It will give you a chance to be creative, by experimenting with colour and texture…

I’d been wanting to break out of my usual knitting habit of socks and cardigans for a while, and decided that making one of Stephen West’s amazing designs was a great way to do this. I love the sculptural quality of his ‘Batad’ cowl, with its short rows and welts. What surprised me was just how easy this was to make! It really was TV knitting, with its garter stitch sections and simple short-row shaping that is actually meant to make holes. I’ve knitted my Batad in a couple of mystery merino yarns I found in my stash, and I went outside my comfort zone using colours I don’t usually wear! But I absolutely love the colours, style and versatility of this design, and am now officially a big Stephen…

SUBSCRIBER ONLY HELEN ARDLEY has designed this light scarf especially for spring-summer, using a soft, delicately draping linen yarn. The scarf is knitted in two pieces, which are then sewn together. Helen’s design features a lacy, bell-like patterning at either end. She has chosen a subtle floral shade for her scarf; the Studio Linen yarn also comes in sophisticated greys, pinks and greens, as well as four blues inspired by the Shibori indigo dyeing technique. SCARF (make 2 pieces) Using 4mm needles, cast on 113 sts. Row 1: K3, *P7, K3; rep from * to end. Row 2: P3, *K7, P3; rep from * to end. Rep last 2 rows once more, then Row 1 again. Row 6: P3, *K2, sk2po, K2, P3; rep from * to end. 91 sts.…

WHEN SUE Parker’s son joined the same school class as Alice Underwood’s, little did both mothers know that not only would the boys become friends, but that it would be the start of a beautiful friendship and business relationship for the two women. Alice and Sue had a shared passion for crafts and British wool: Sue was a spinner, and Alice a wet felter. They introduced each other to their respective crafts, and enjoyed making accessories for themselves. It was when they both went to the first Woolfest British wool festival in Cockermouth that their verve for craft turned into a business opportunity. Others at the festival wanted to know where they had sourced the handmade knitted and felted bags they were carrying. Alice and Sue spotted a gap in…

SIZE YARN The Fibre Co. Meadow (Laceweight; 40% merino wool, 25% baby llama, 20% silk, 15% linen; 498m/545yds per 100g skein) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm needles (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles Stitch holders TENSION 30 sts and 37 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.25mm needles. 27 sts and 38 rows to 10cm over lace pattern on 3.25mm needles. YARN STOCKISTS The Fibre Co. www.thefibreco.com CHART KEY BLOCKING DIAGRAM For general abbreviations, see p81 DELICATE T-SHAPED panels of lace on the body and across the shoulders emphasise the shape of this lightweight, drop-shoulder jumper. Sarah Hatton’s design is finished with a wide, soft cowl neck, and three-quarter-length sleeves. It’s knitted in Meadow, a heavy laceweight yarn from The Fibre…

THIS CRESCENT-SHAPED shawl is worked from the top down to create a lightweight, elegant accessory. Designed by Anniken Allis, it features a beautiful lace stitch which forms a repeating diamond pattern across the fabric. It uses Rowan’s brand-new Denim Lace yarn, which is available as a limited edition. This laceweight yarn is produced from recycled denim, which is sold on cones and comes in five vivid hues plus a neutral sand colour. SIZE Inner crescent: 195cm (76¾in) Depth: 52cm (20½in) YARN Rowan Denim Lace (2ply/lace weight; 95% cotton, 5% other fibres; 400m/437yds per 50g cone) Erin Green (04); 2 x 50g cones NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) circular needles, 80cm long TENSION 20 sts and 33½ rows to 10cm over Chart B on 3.5mm needles, after blocking For…

About our expert Faye Perriam-Reed is a designer and the technical of The Knitter and Simply Knitting. She enjoys exploring how different knitting techniques can be used to achieve neater results. The tubular cast-on is a popular cast-on for hats, cuffs and hems, because it’s nice and stretchy. It also produces a clean, neat edge for 1x1 or 2x2 ribbing where a continuous fabric is created that curves right around the hem edge. This is a comfortable cast-on for accessories and garments as it’s also slightly thicker due to the few rows of double knitting worked at the beginning. Here we show three ways in which you can work this cast-on. STOCKING STITCH TUBULAR CAST-ON USING WASTE YARN This method is easier than the long-tail method explained overleaf, but the…

Abbreviations alt alternate approx approximately beg beginning ch chain 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 (see M1L) M1pw make 1 st purlwise: with LH 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…

CALMING MOODS Create lightweight, easy-to-wear garments for spring with the latest pattern book from Kim Hargreaves. Called Calm, it offers a capsule collection of 12 feminine projects. There’s a mix of crisp cables and softer draping knits, and Kim has designed them to be go-to garments for everyday wear. They use Rowan’s Kidsilk Haze, Summerlite, Handknit Cotton and Softyak yarns, in a colour palette of soft greens and white. The projects include pretty cabled cardigans - both fitted, and loose and flowing - and a high-neck cable and rib sweater. There are floaty vests, a racer-back tank and a cap-sleeved cable cardigan, plus gauzy, oversized jumpers and cardigans with a modern look, knitted in Kidsilk Haze. £10.95 from www.kimhargreaves.co.uk Cool knits Rowan’s new Denim Lace is a recycled denim yarn that’s…

The Foundations series from The Fibre Co. is a range of simple yet stylish wardrobe essentials, aimed at both novice knitters wanting to expand their skills, and experienced knitters looking for templates they can adapt for themselves. The series has recently been expanded with 18 lovely new designs Six of the new patterns use The Fibre Co.’s popular Cumbria Fingering yarn. These range from a boxy textured sweater and a neat cabled jumper, to a bright colourblock tunic and a choice of classic cardigans. Showcasing the Road to China laceweight silk blend is a range of elegant shawls, an unusual draping waistcoat, a cross-over top, and a lacy, kimono-inspired shrug. Designs for the luxurious Meadow heavy laceweight yarn include a striped raglan jumper, lace shawls, and a versatile sleeveless top…

This year’s Edinburgh Yarn Festival was a fantastic event, with many of our favourite yarn brands launching new products. Among the exciting releases were Di Gilpin’s Saorsa, a blend of Scottish wool and Mongolian cashmere. We’re also looking forward to trying Blacker Yarns’ new Jacob wool, which comes in a beautiful range of shades, and the new Alpaca Rose yarn from The Border Mill. Other highlights included the gorgeous colours displayed by The Uncommon Thread, DyeNinja, Whistlebare and many more - the new neon shades of Rachel Coopey’s Socks Yeah yarn were particularly eye-catching! The show was also packed with top designers including Stephen West, Tom van Deijnen and Nathan Taylor (pictured above with Michelle from The Loveliest Yarn Company). Baby love! Join in with World Craft Week activities on 16-22…

SIZE YARN SweetGeorgia Yarns CashLuxe Fine (4ply weight; 70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 365m/400yds per 115g skein) Lettuce Wrap; 1 x 115g skein TENSION 32 sts and 44 rows to 10cm over st st on 2.5mm needles NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES Set of 2.5mm double-pointed needles (DPNs), or 60-80cm circular needles for Magic Loop method Stitch markers YARN STOCKISTS SweetGeorgia Yarns www.sweetgeorgiayarns.com Available in the UK from Aragon Yarns 01580 714 400 www.aragonyarns.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS Knot stitch right: Insert tip of right-hand needle into 3rd stitch on left-hand needle, lift it over stitches one and two and let it drop. Knit 1 st, then yo, k1. For general abbreviations, see p81 CHART KEY WITH THEIR stylised lace leaves and textured knot stitches, worked in a bright green yarn, these…

THIS MODERN take on traditional Scandinavian yoked sweaters features a vibrant, graphic colourwork pattern. It uses four bright shades for the yoke, which stand out well against the pale cream body. The sweater has been knitted in Bergère de France’s Mérinos 4 DK-weight yarn, which is spun from pure Falkland Islands merino. It offers impressive softness, and is machine washable on a cool setting. It comes in 19 colours, including neutrals, brights and pastel shades. SIZE YARN Bergère de France Mérinos 4 (DK weight; 100% merino wool; 135m/147½yds per 50g ball) Plus 1 x 50g ball of each: B Mandarine (20072) C Médoc (20085) D Nude (20050) E Poussin (20071) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) knitting needles1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles3.5mm (UK 10-9/US…

INSPIRED BY the famous blue and white pottery made in the Dutch city of Delft since the 16th century, this cardigan has an intricate intarsia pattern. It was designed by Lisa Richardson using Rowan’s smooth Handknit Cotton yarn. A pattern for a matching skirt is available in Rowan’s Knitting & Crochet Magazine 63. SIZE NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles7 buttonsStitch holders TENSION 19 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over patterned st st using 4mm needles YARN Rowan Handknit Cotton (Heavy DK/worsted weight; 100% cotton; 85m/93yds per 50g ball) YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM This pattern is taken from Rowan’s Knitting & Crochet Magazine 63, which has 38 spring-summer…

EMMA VINING is one of The Knitter’s most popular designers, thanks to her incredibly intricate, thoughtful stitch patterns and shapes. We chatted with Emma about where she finds ideas for her beautiful knitting designs. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “I first learned to knit at home with my Mum, and at primary school in Glasgow. Our teacher, Mrs McLean, started us all on simple garter stitch teddy bears. Once we had mastered them, my friends and I moved on to fingerless gloves. It became very competitive - the pressure was always on to arrive at school wearing a new pair!” Do you have a favourite artist, writer, poet or musician who inspires you? “There is a wealth of fantastic inspiration to be explored in museums and galleries. Throughout…