Innehållsförteckning för 124 från The Knitter

Light layers Soft cardigans, jumpers & wraps for you We have lots to inspire your spring knitting in our latest issue! Our designers have created projects for you using delicate lace, elegant cables, vibrant Fair Isle, and clever ways with shaping and construction. We also celebrate Shetland knitting with news of Susan Crawford’s Vintage Shetland Project, interviews with Ella Gordon and other modern island designers, and a look at the iconic brand Jamieson & Smith. HAPPY KNITTING! from The Knitter team…

It can be a challenge to find knitting patterns that boys want to wear, and which knitters will also enjoy making! Luckily, Martin Storey has a track record for creating attractive, entertaining knits for boys, and his latest collection for Rowan is a real winner. Little Rowan Dudes has projects for boys aged three to eight years, and makes use of bright colours, simple motifs, and classic shapes. Boys will love the round-necked sweaters with intarsia dinosaur and newt designs; the ‘Bug’ vest and stranded colourwork cowl are pretty cool, too! There’s a V-necked striped cardigan with contrast trims, and a relaxed hoody with cabled details worked in a denim yarn. We love the timeless feel of the smart collared sweater with an all-over cable pattern, the cheerful jumper pairing…

Visitors to the Leeds Wool Festival can enjoy yarn shopping, craft inspiration and textile history, all in the impressive surroundings of Armley Mills, once the world’s biggest woollen mill. The event on June 2 includes an exhibition about working women in the early 20th century, called ‘Queens of Industry’. There’ll be a crafting market packed with stallholders selling yarn and more, plus craft demonstrations, talks and performances, screenings in a 1920s cinema, and even a mobile gin palace! Visitors will also be able to explore all the galleries at Armley Mills. Early-bird tickets are available for £3 from http://bit.ly/lwftickets. Tickets will also be available to buy on the door. www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries/armleymills/leeds-wool-festival Hook it Furls crochet hooks in olivewood or rosewood will make a luxurious addition to your tool kit Full range available…

THIS LITTLE jacket would make an excellent last-minute gift for a new baby, or a quick-knit wardrobe essential. Worked in garter stitch, it uses a lovely yarn from Rowan, called Baby Merino Silk DK. This comes in a range of bright colours and pastels, and can be machine-washed on a cool setting. The pattern is sized to fit babies from birth to 18 months, and versions for girls and boys are given here. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 5 (5:7:7:7) buttons Stitch holders TENSION 22 sts and 46 rows to 10cm over garter stitch on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM This pattern also appears in Baby Knits, a book by Quail Studio for Rowan…

“MY BLOUSE design was inspired by sweaters worn in the 1940s and ’50s: figure-fitting, with interesting details in the collar, cuffs and shaping,” says Mary Henderson. “The lace pattern is based on branches and roots, while the Fair Isle has a floral feel, using dark, sophisticated colours with lighter hues to give some brightness. Back when women wore more formal daytime attire, it could be worn for afternoon tea; these days, it could be dressed up or down depending on your mood.” BLOCKING DIAGRAM CHARTS YARN STOCKISTS Coopknits c/o Tangled Yarn 0161 217 0858 www.tangled-yarn.co.uk NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) circular needles, 80cm long 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) needles for working small circumferences in the round 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles, 80cm long Stitch markers, including removable…

THESE CHEERFUL socks will give you the colourful style of Fair Isle, but with a bit less effort! The main patterning is worked in an off-white yarn, while the background fabric, cuffs, heels and toes are knitted in a self-striping colourway. The DROPS Fabel yarn is a great-value sock yarn that’s available in a wide range of solid and striping colours. SIZE NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 set 2.5mm (UK 13-12/US 1-2) double-pointed needles (DPNs), or circular needles, 60cm long, for Magic Loop method 1 set 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) DPNs, or circular needles, 60cm long, for Magic Loop method Stitch holder Stitch markers TENSION 24 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over st st on 3mm needles. 26 sts and 34 rows to 10cm over st st on 2.5mm needles.…

LAST ISSUE we looked at different tubular cast-on methods, which can be used to produce a neat, stretchy edge. Here I’m going to walk you through the tubular cast-off, which will produce a very similar edge, at the other end of your knitting. Using a tubular cast-off is perfect for neckbands, toe-up socks and top-down hats, as it is so stretchy. Unlike the tubular cast-on, there is really only one way to work its matching cast-off, and that is to use a tapestry needle and thread. 1x1 OR 2x2 RIBBING Our main walk-through instructions are for 1x1 ribbing. To work a tubular cast-off in 2x2 rib, first the stitches will need to be rearranged into 1x1 rib. This is essentially the same as rearranging the stitches for 2x2 rib from…

AS ANYONE who has ever knitted for babies knows, the yarn you choose for a baby garment is so important. It needs to offer next-to-skin softness and be easy to care for - ideally, it should be machine-washable (who has the time to hand-wash with a new baby!). There should be an appealing choice of colours, too. The latest yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, Bo Peep 4ply, ticks all these boxes. It’s a lighter-weight version of the successful Bo Peep DK, and is made from the same delicious blend of Falkland Island wool and nylon to create a soft, lightweight yarn. It’s machine-washable at 40°C, too. We’ve enjoyed swatching and knitting with the yarn; it feels smooth through the fingers, and knits up into a lightweight fabric thanks to the…

Anniken Allis Norwegian designer and knitting teacher Anniken has lived in England since 1990, and hosts popular online lace and beading clubs. This month, Anniken has created an heirloom christening gown for our special supplement, plus a modern striped sweater design on page 24. Mary Henderson Mary has long been inspired by the stitch patterns and colours of traditional Scottish knitting. She has combined her love of Fair Isle and lace in her latest garment for The Knitter, which is a colourful, intricate blouse that would make a lovely addition to your spring wardrobe. See it on page 36. Siân Brown While studying for a degree in fashion, Siân was bitten by the handknit bug, and has since designed for many knitting magazines, yarn brands and high street stores, as…

BRIGHT INTARSIA PROJECTS The multi-talented Dee Hardwicke is known for her brightly decorated ceramics, rugs and tiles, and she has produced popular tableware ranges for the National Trust. She is also an inspirational knitting designer, and loves to create colourful intarsia projects. Her new book is packed with artistic knits inspired by nature, using big, bold motifs to make a real statement. Large daisies decorate the ‘Boyfriend’ sweater and scarf, while more subtle leaves, worked in small bands, add a touch of colour to the ‘Dee Motif Cardigan’. For cooler days, there is the long ‘Spring Blossom’ cardigan, and the lovely ‘Hydrangea Flower Coat’, which has an intarsia yoke and moss stitch shawl collar. There are neat jumpers and tops featuring flowers, leaves and hearts, a pretty knitted skirt, and…

Anika of North Shire Yarns hand-dyes yarns at her home in North Yorkshire, using luxurious blends featuring baby camel, silk, cashmere and baby alpaca. Her small-batch colourways are simply gorgeous, and range from subtly sophisticated to vibrantly bright. To mark the first anniversary of North Shire Yarns, we’re giving away three skeins of Anika’s 4ply baby alpaca-silk-cashmere blend, in the colourway ‘Lights In The North’. To be in with a chance of winning this lovely prize, simply go online and enter your details at http://competition.immediate.co.uk/nsy You can find all the available colourways, in lace, 4ply and DK weights, by visiting www.northshireyarns.co.uk OPEN TO UK ENTRANTS ONLY. CLOSING DATE IS 11PM ON 30 MAY 2018. FOR TERMS AND CONDITIONS VISIT WWW.THEYARNLOOP.COM/COMPETITION_RULES WIN! Cool linen Modern, elegant styles for spring using new Linen…

12-13 May Penkridge, Staffs Wool@J13 www.wool-j13.uk 12 May Plymouth Toe-up Socks on Circular Needles with Anniken Allis 01752 651878 13 May Dorking Fair Isle and Intarsia www.gilliangladrag.co.uk 01306 898 144 13 May Dorking Fair Isle and Intarsia www.gilliangladrag.co.uk 01306 898 144 17 May Liss, Hampshire Knitting in the Round: Cables Project with Fiona Morris www.lisswools.co.uk 01730 893941 19 May Saffron Walden Double Knitting with the Sockmatician http://craft-days.co.uk 01799 218 429 19 May Warrington Fair Isle Sock Knitting Workshop with Ann Kingstone www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 19-20 May South Molton, Devon John Arbon Mill Open Weekend www.jarbon.com 01598 752490 19 May Cambridge Purl Alpaca Workshop www.purlalpacadesigns.com 25-27 May Dublin Woollinn www.woollinn.com 26 May Bridport Professional Finishing www.bridportyarn.co.uk 01308 455669 31 May Liss, Hampshire Aran Lace with Fiona Morris www.lisswools.co.uk 01730 893941 2…

The Knitter FEATURE SUSAN CRAWFORD has published her most exciting, inspiring and insightful book to date - The Vintage Shetland Project, a 472-page hardback book that is brimming with knitting patterns and essays. It’s the culmination of an eight-year journey to recreate unique archive pieces, and to discover the stories of the individual knitters and wearers behind each garment. Her achievement is even more impressive when you consider that during those eight years, Susan launched two yarn ranges, moved to a North Lancashire hill farm and learnt to become a shepherdess, and also faced a two-year battle with breast cancer. That she has managed to produce such a magnificent piece of work is testament to her talent, determination and sheer hard work. Susan will be best known to many readers…

THIS PATTERN by Emma Welford is designed to be an essential capsule wardrobe sweater, with its combination of stocking stitch with garter stitch sections, gently variegated yarn, and a mock turtleneck. It is worked from the top down in one piece, so there’s minimal finishing to do! Emma has knitted her design using a yarn from Chicago-based hand-dyer Mrs Crosby; we have suggested an alternative which is more easily available in the UK. SIZE Note: sample in photos is modelled with 16cm of positive ease Alternative yarn suggestion: Madelinetosh Pashmina (Baby/sport weight; 75% wool, 15% silk, 10% cashmere; 329m/360yds per 100g skein) Available from Loop: 020 7288 1160 www.loopknittingshop.com NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 60cm long Set of 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Cable…

THE SCOTTISH island of Shetland is renowned for the softness, strength and warmth of its native wool. Sheep here live outdoors, graze on wild heather and seaweed, and have a toughness that imbues itself into the finished woolly product, whether it be chunky yarn, lace or the ‘jumper weight’ wool used in many Fair Isle designs created on the island. Jamieson & Smith buys over 80% of the wool produced in Shetland and, as such, is important both to the island’s economy and the local knitting industry. Its seven employees are all Shetlanders who realise the importance of the island’s textile heritage and culture. Says one, the designer Ella Gordon: “When you consider how small Shetland is, it is amazing to think that the skills of both Fair Isle knitting…

THIS RELAXED sweater design is sure to become a wardrobe favourite! It’s a quick-knit project, worked in Bergère de France’s chunky-weight Barisienne 7 yarn. This is machine-washable, and comes in a choice of neutral colours and brighter red, blue and yellow. The round-necked sweater design has an attractive textured fabric featuring crossed stitches. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 5.5mm (UK 6/US 8) knitting needles 1 pair 6.5mm (UK 3/US 10½) knitting needles Stitch holders 3 x 20mm metal buttons TENSION 14.5 sts and 18.5 rows to 10cm over Pattern St using 6.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk BLOCKING DIAGRAM This design also appears in the Bergere de France pattern leaflet Mag. No. 05 - Barisienne 7 & 12. To order a copy for £3.74, visit www.bergeredefrance.co.uk BUTTONHOLE DIAGRAM…

SHETLANDER Ella Gordon is a young designer who has been exciting knitting fans with her stylish, modern colourwork patterns. She also works for Shetland wool company Jamieson & Smith, and is involved with Shetland Wool Week. We chatted with Ella about her knitting life, and where she finds inspiration for her designs. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “I studied Textiles at the Shetland College, which covered all different kinds of areas, although we only studied machine knitting, not hand knitting. I learnt to hand knit while I was at school, but it was when I got a Saturday job at Jamieson & Smith that I began hand knitting in earnest - those walls full of wool are too hard to resist!” Which knitwear designer has most inspired you,…

SARAH HATTON has played with construction for her pretty cardigan. The cable yoke section is worked sideways, then the main body is worked downwards, by picking up stitches along the lower edge of the yoke. The sleeves are also knitted from the top down, and twisted rib edgings give a neat finish. The garment has a wonderfully soft feel thanks to Willow & Lark’s Nest yarn, which blends merino with cashmere and Tencel. It comes in a wide choice of lovely colours. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 set 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) double-pointed needles (DPNs) 3.25mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, at least 80cm long 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) knitting needles 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, at least 80cm long…

RENEW by Knit Picks Designed with spring days in mind, Renew from yarn brand Knit Picks has 12 lightweight patterns for tops and cardigans, with chic silhouettes and stitch textures. The designs include cap-sleeve T-shirts with lace panels, relaxed tank tops, dolman and raglan shapes, and a pretty top-down cardigan with a lacy peplum. The collection is available as a printed pattern book, or as individual pattern downloads at £3.89 per PDF. £14.03, www.knitpicks.com KNITTED TANKS & TUNICS Angela Hahn Plan your summer wardrobe with this book of 21 sleeveless tops. There are both sleek and fitted styles here, and more looser, relaxed shapes; finished bust sizes typically range from 30in to 54in. Lace, cables, Fair Isle and slip-stitch patterns have been used to create feminine designs; we love the…

“THE ASYMMETRIC GARMENT IS A CROSS BETWEEN A PONCHO AND A SWEATER” WHEN DESIGNING this lightweight top, Anniken Allis set out to create a cross between a poncho and a sweater. The result is a asymmetric garment that’s loose and easy to wear; the stripe pattern emphasises the shaping, and the bias fabric is achieved by working off-centre decreases on each side. Please refer to Anniken’s notes about sizing and blocking before starting, which will help you achieve a good fit and finish. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 80cm long 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) circular needles, 40cm long (for neck and armhole edging) TENSION 21 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.75mm needles, before blocking. 24.5 sts and…

FAIR ISLE DESIGNS FROM SHETLAND KNITTERS by Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers (£21.99) THIS LOVELY book condenses decades of knitting knowledge and experience, with patterns and advice from expert Fair Isle knitters living on Shetland. The 15 women sharing their skills and design heritage are all members of the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers and Dyers. Many of the designs are family patterns that have been knitted for generations; others have been inspired by textiles found in Shetland’s museums, or have been designed to showcase the natural beauty of undyed Shetland wool. There are projects here for knitters of all abilities, from beginners to experts. They offer the opportunity to play with our own colour palettes, or explore techniques such as steeking - or the Whalsay…

“Whilst in the final stages of putting the book together, I was very aware that one garment, ‘Yule’, was lacking a back-story, and as a result sat uncomfortably amongst other more fleshed-out tales. And then a very odd thing occurred. A friend offered to do some last-minute research to see if she could find out any more about the wearer of this particular jumper, who had been a doctor in Shetland, and in doing some random searches came across a retired doctor living in my local area with the same surname. This man would be far too young to be the owner of the jumper, but maybe he was in someway connected. But how on earth would I find out? “Yet another of the very strange twists in the Project’s…

SUPER-LONG AND draping, this shawl design by Sandra Nesbitt has a shallow crescent shape. It’s achieved by casting on a small number of stitches, gradually increasing to the central section, then decreasing again slowly. A pretty stitch pattern is used along one length of the shawl, while the opposite edge has a lacy border. The design is complemented by the use of a hand-dyed yarn from The Yarn Collective. Written instructions for all the chart patterns are provided; the shawl pattern itself starts overleaf. SIZE Length: approx. 223cm (87½in) Depth at widest point: 32cm (12½in) YARN The Yarn Collective Portland Lace (Lace weight/2ply; 100% merino wool; 860m/941yds per 100g skein) Keeping Bees (206); 1 x 100g skein NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles Cable needle…

ROPE CABLES snaking up the centre of this jumper offer an attractive focal point to Siân Brown’s design. The rest of the body and sleeves, meanwhile, feature a pattern of reverse stocking stitch stripes for added textural interest. It has been knitted in Rowan’s Kid Classic yarn, giving a dense, soft fabric. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needles 1 pair 5mm (UK 6/US 8) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) Stitch holders TENSION 19 sts and 24 rows to 10cm over st st using 5mm needles 30 st cable meas 12cm wide YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cn and hold at front, K2, K2 from cn. C4B: Slip next 2 sts to cn and hold at back,…

Abbreviations An archive of all our Masterclasses is available online: http://bit.ly/tech-index Contacts BOOK PUBLISHERS Interweave Press c/o F+W Media 01392 797680 www.fwcommunity.com/uk Knit Picks www.knitpicks.com Search Press/Stackpole 01892 510850 www.searchpress.com Shetland Times Bookshop 01595 695531 shop.shetlandtimes.co.uk Shetland Wool Week shop.shetlandwoolweek.com YARN SUPPLIERS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk Coopknits c/o Fyberspates www.fyberspates.com/retailers DROPS c/o Wool Warehouse 01926 882 818 www.woolwarehouse.co.uk Madelinetosh Loop 020 7288 1160 www.loopknittingshop.com Mrs Crosby www.mrscrosbyplays.com Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com Willow & Lark/The Yarn Collective c/o LoveKnitting www.loveknitting.com Pattern updates Our archive of updates can be found at: www.theyarnloop.com/magazine/the-knitter/corrections ISSUE 108 Streamline In the ‘Shape Bust’ section on the back, the first paragraph after the note instructs to inc 1 st each side of the back dart mrks on the following row, before…

THIS TIMELESS christening gown by Anniken Allis has an heirloom quality, thanks to the use of Exquisite Lace, a very special yarn from British brand West Yorkshire Spinners. This laceweight blend of soft Falkland Island wool and mulberry silk knits up into the most luxurious fabric - perfect for creating precious knits. TENSION 26 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over st st on 3mm needles, after blocking. 32 and 30 rows over Chart A pattern, after blocking. 23 sts and 31 rows over Chart B pattern, after blocking. YARN STOCKISTS West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com Sample shown is size 6mths, modelled on Joshua, aged 12mths NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3mm (UK 11/US 2) circular needles, 40cm long 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 60cm long 3.5mm (UK 9-10/US 4)…