Innehållsförteckning för 134 från The Knitter

Bring a ray of sunshine to your knitting with our colourful yet classic designs! We have cosy sweaters with Fair Isle and slip stitch yokes, a chic poncho from Carol Meldrum, smart cable styles, luxurious lace, and so much more for you in this issue. We explore the work of Scottish design stars Donna Smith and Lucy Hague, and also find out what it’s really like to live the dream of running your own yarn shop! HAPPY KNITTING! from The Knitter team Lovely layers Get cosy in our sweaters, cardigans, wraps & socks…

LEEDS SHOW Spring Into Wool is a popular event held every year in Leeds, and this year’s show takes place on 13-14 April. The organisers have packed out the marketplace with more than 90 exhibitors, including yarn sellers such as Rosie’s Moments, Truly Hooked, The Knitting Swede, UK Alpaca, and Black Sheep Wools. Choose from workshops such as a class on knitted lace shawls from indie dyer Julie of Watercolours & Lace, drop spindling for beginners, needle felting, Tunisian crochet, and ceramic button making. The show will again be held at the Grammar School, and visitors are advised that Saturday is now open to advance ticket holders only, due to such high demand last year. You can pay on the door for entry on Sunday. Buy tickets at www.springintowool.co.uk or…

The fourth capsule collection from Kim Hargreaves, Form presents 12 effortlessly stylish projects that are designed to become key pieces in your wardrobe. Sophisticated garments include an airy, lightweight jumper with a V-shaped panel formed from cables and eyelets, and a cropped cable jumper with a wide neckline. Relax in loose-fitting alpaca cardigans and oversized, funnel-neck sweaters, or in a cosy collared jacket knitted in Rowan’s Brushed Fleece. Kim has used a range of Rowan’s most luxurious and tactile yarns, including Alpaca Classic, Alpaca Soft, and Softyak. For the ultimate in cosiness, take a look at the loose-fitting, richly cabled sweater called ‘Form’, which is knitted in Alpaca Soft DK. Lighter knits include a funnel-neck sleeveless top, a dramatic off-the-shoulder jumper, a neat belted cardigan, and a chic cabled T-shirt,…

WORKSHOPS 10 FEBRUARY Richmond, Surrey Demystifying Double Knitting with Sockmatician www.tribeyarns.com 020 8940 0999 13 FEBRUARY Bovey Tracey Knit a Top-Down Fair Isle Yoke Sweater with Anniken Allis www.spinayarndevon.co.uk 01626 836203 16 FEBRUARY Warrington Professional Finishing www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 16-17 FEBRUARY Salisbury Rowan 40th Exhibition & Fashion Show www.borntoknit.co.uk 07557 985935 17 FEBRUARY Tideswell Introduction to Yarn Dyeing www.peakdistrictyarns.co.uk 07594 969105 22 FEBRUARY Warrington Finishing Techniques with Debbie Abrahams www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 23 FEBRUARY Ipswich Introduction to Colourwork www.jennywrensyarns.co.uk 01473 805208 23 FEBRUARY Warrington Mystery Blanket Workshop with Debbie Abrahams www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 23 FEBRUARY Bridport Professional Finishing www.bridportyarn.co.uk 01308 455669 24 FEBRUARY Richmond Shaping: The Future of Double Knitting with Sockmatician www.tribeyarns.com 020 8940 0999 26 FEBRUARY Sherborne Mobius Scarf www.theslippedstitch.co.uk 01935 508249 9 MARCH Warrington Short Row Heels…

THE ISLANDS of West and East Burra, with their white sandy beaches and beautiful shorelines, lie just ten miles from Shetland’s capital, Lerwick. Nestled in this beautiful location is Donna Smith’s home, on the croft that her grandparents farmed and where she grew up. Donna hasn’t come to designing knitwear through a traditional route – but then, the people who live in the Shetland Islands are resourceful, adaptable and, above all, creative. Listening to Donna talk about her life is a joy, as she intersperses her native dialect in every sentence, and she speaks in rich, deep tones. She learned to knit in school at around five or six years old, and by the age of eleven she was knitting lace scarves which her granny would sell for her. Donna…

A RIBBED cable pattern adds textural interest to this comfortable sweater for men, designed by Pat Menchini. It is sized to fit chests of 32in-54in, and incorporates a shaped, crossover collar which is knitted first then sewn on to the finished garment. The speckled, almost mossy look to the fabric is provided by an aran-weight yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, called The Croft Shetland Tweed. A pure Shetland wool, it comes in eight colourways. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 1 pair 5mm (UK 6/US 8) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) TENSION 24 sts and 24 rows to 10cm over patt on 5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS West Yorkshire Spinners 01535 664500 www.wyspinners.com SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS M1p: Pick up and purl into back of horizontal…

THIS JUMPER has a pretty fabric, combining eyelets and twisting cables. It features a deep back opening, fastened with a length of ribbon, which gives the garment a striking look. Mérinos 2.5 is a 4ply-weight yarn spun by Bergère de France from pure Falkland Islands merino. It offers impressive softness, and is machine-washable on a cool setting. It comes in 10 shades, including neutrals, brights and pastels. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.5mm (UK 13-12/US 1-2) needles 2mm (UK 14/US B/1) crochet hook Stitch markers Stitch holders or waste yarn 50cm length of ribbon, 25mm wide TENSION 29 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over lace pattern on 2.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS T8B: Slip 2 sts onto cn at back of work,…

HAILING FROM the Orkney Islands, Lucy Hague is an influential designer who is most famous for her intricate, Celtic-inspired cable patterns. We talked with Lucy about her knitting life. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “I was always very interested in arts and crafts when I was a child, and my mother taught me to knit when I was very young. I used to knit lots of clothes for my dolls. I lost interest for a while, but when I moved to Edinburgh to attend university, I got interested in designing and making my own clothes, and along with sewing I became interested in knitting again.” Do you have a favourite artist, writer, poet or musician who inspires you? “MC Escher is one of my favourite artists; he was…

Mary Henderson Mary has won a firm following thanks to her intricate Fair Isle designs and her talent for colour combining. This month, she brings us two beautiful colourwork designs: a spotty yoked jumper with pockets on page 36, and smart slip stitch cushion in New Lanark yarn, which is on page 52. Jeanette Sloan Always creative and inspiring, Jeanette has been designing handknit patterns for many years, with her work appearing in all the major UK knitting magazines. She loves to work with colour and texture, and is fascinated by modern art. You can find her elegant lace wrap pattern on page 41. Dario Tubiana Italian designer Dario loves to play with colour, construction and brioche stitch to create sweaters and accessories that will bring a smile to your…

Rowan’s latest yarn is Moordale, a bouncy blend of alpaca and premium British wool including Bluefaced Leicester. Moordale comes in 12 warm and glowing shades, including turmeric, gooseberry, beetroot, pewter and Oxford blue. Accompanying the yarn launch is an attractive book of patterns for men and women. Moordale has 10 garments and four accessories, all designed by Martin Storey. Martin is much loved for his cable patterns, and this collection includes a neat, intricately cabled cardigan for women, and two open cardigans with cable details. There is a unisex cowl with chunky cables, called ‘Curlew’, a cosy scarf in a slip stitch texture, and a large triangular shawl using textured garter stitch. The book has two men’s sweaters; a textured rollneck design and a classic raglan £12 for collection or…

Q I’ve come across a reference to the modified SSK. What is it used for, and how is it worked? A This is a slight variation on the standard SSK left-leaning decrease, and some knitters find that using this method helps the decrease to lie flatter. 1 Slip 1 stitch knitwise. 2 Slip 1 stitch purlwise. 3 Insert left needle tip into the front of the 2 slipped stitches on the right needle. 4 Knit these 2 stitches together (you are effectively knitting them together through the back loops, without the bother of returning them to your left needle tip first). Knit the decrease stitch through the back loop on the next row.…

TRADITIONAL WELSH blankets, woven from double-cloth, are much prized for their bold patterning. Taking inspiration from these textiles, Carol Meldrum has created a cosy, modern poncho with a bright pattern in stranded colourwork. The poncho is worked as one long rectangle; stitches are picked up along each side to work the garter stitch edgings. The upper edge includes button holes, so that it can be formed into a poncho shape using buttons sewn on to the opposite section. SIZE Width: 49cm (19¼in) Length: 120cm (47¼in) YARN Rowan Felted Tweed DK (DK weight; 50% wool, 25% viscose, 25% alpaca; 175m/191yds per 50g ball) A Clay (177); 3 x 50g balls B Rage (150); 2 x 50g balls C Zinnia (198); 1 x 50g ball D Treacle (145); 1 x 50g ball…

KNITTED FROM the top down, this tunic features a polka dot yoke worked in slip stitch. The body is worked in the round to the lower border, where the front and back are split and worked in rows in broken rib, matching the colour sequence of the yoke, with pockets at the front. Mary Henderson’s design is worked in Jamieson & Smith’s classic Jumper Weight Shetland wool, which comes in a huge choice of colours. SIZE TENSION 22 sts and 36 rows to 10 cm over Chart A on 3.5mm needles. 23.5 sts and 30 rnds to 10 cm in st st on 3.5mm needles. 22 sts and 30 rows to 10 cm in Charts B and C on 3.75mm needles. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.5mm (UK 9-10/US 4) circular needles,…

THIS BOXY sweater is worked in one piece beginning at the front hem edge, with integrated sleeves; ribbed cuffs are knitted on to the finished piece. The beautiful, all-over patterning in stranded colourwork is knitted using two contrasting Rowan yarns - Felted Tweed, and Kidsilk Haze held double. SIZE YARN Note: Kidsilk Haze is used held DOUBLE throughout NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, max. 40cm long Stitch holders Stitch markers Note: As the number of sts increases, you may prefer to work on circular needles. TENSION 24 sts and 25 rows to 10cm over patterned st st on 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 668200 www.knitrowan.com CHART BLOCKING DIAGRAM KEY…

WARM AND cosy, these top-down socks are knitted in a traditional Nordic pattern, with striped sections along the back legs, heels and toes. This design reverses the orange and white yarn on each sock for a playful effect, but you could knit two matching socks if you prefer. They use DROPS Karisma yarn, which is a DK-weight pure wool. SIZE YARN DROPS Karisma (DK weight; 100% wool; 100m/109yds per 50g ball) A Orange (11); 2 x 50g balls B Light Pearl Grey (72); 2 x 50g balls NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES Set of 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Set of 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) DPNs Stitch markers Stitch holder or waste yarn TENSION 22 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over patt on 3.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS DROPS c/o…

To advertise in The Knitter Boutique please contact Chris Gibson on 0117 300 8109 ONLINE Willow Knits www.willowknits.etsy.com mail@willowknits.com 02083 632 884 We specialise in hand-dyed silks for luxury knitting and crochet. Worsted, 4-Ply and Lace weights are available in a wide range of colours. Custom orders are welcome too. GET 10% DISCOUNT ON YOUR ONLINE ORDER USE CODE KNIT10 AT THE CHECKOUT. ONLINE Cambrian Mountains Wool www.cambrianwool.co.uk info@cambrianwool.co.uk A community interest company developing fine yarns from wool grown by the sheep of Mid Wales. Available online and from selected retailers. ONLINE Blue Moon Yarns www.tartsart.co.uk thebordertart@gmail.com 07900 522 651 I hand dye my yarns with indigo and complementary colours. From British wools to alpaca and yak, from aran to laceweight, there is something for every project. Always lots of…

“A BORDER of soft pastel colours featuring a simple iris motif combines with a traditional lace pattern to make this snug-fitting, spring cardigan a striking addition to any wardrobe,” says designer Sasha Kagan. “The traditional Fair Isle diamond pattern makes a frame for the flower heads using Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Felted Tweed. Trims are all in classic moss stitch.” SIZE YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 668200 www.knitrowan.com For general abbreviations, see p89 of the main magazine TENSION 29 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over chart pattern using 3.25mm needles. 28 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over lace pattern and st st using 3.25mm needles and yarn A. YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles Stitch…

“MY LINKED leaf stitch pattern has similar properties to a rib-based design, as the curving cable lines run parallel to each other. This creates plenty of elasticity, with the curves bringing a great deal of movement in the pattern,” explains Emma Vining. “A leaf motif is tucked into each bend of the cable lines. These motifs form a horizontal band of pattern, while the cable lines provide the vertical links. The pattern panel is placed centrally; however, there is an asymmetric look to the sweater as the cables move left and then right.” SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) Stitch markers Stitch holders TENSION 26 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over…

LITTLE MAN KNITS Alex Capshaw-Taylor It can be hard to find attractive sweaters for boys that are interesting to knit, but this book has 22 fantastic designs that your little man will love! Alex Capshaw-Taylor’s ‘grandpa-inspired’ projects include pullovers, cardigans, vests, hoodies, and socks, using Fair Isle, cables, intarsia and textured stitches. The practical, comfortable projects, all with a timeless style, are sized to fit children aged six months to 10 years. $25.95 for the digital book from www.worldknits.com/little-man-knits KNITTING WITH BEADS Fiona Morris Expert knitter Fiona Morris shares her extensive knowledge of knitting with beads in her new book. She provides in-depth, step-by-step tutorials on a range of beading techniques, along with complete projects to enable you to put your new skills into practice. These include shawls, cardigans, bags,…

“I need to write knitting patterns, and steer the next book from Shetland Guild of Spinners, Knitters, Weavers & Dyers to publication.” Hazel Tindall@HazelTindall “Master fairisle and knit a buttload of socks!” RuralStory@NatStoppard “I’d like to make Vinterskov, Utivist, and a Croft cardigan from West Yorkshire Spinners.” ToryaWintersDesigns@ToryaWDesigns “I have cast on 250 stitches for a blanket and I’m knitting one row in one random colour of left over yarn from other projects a day for a year.” kim heybourne@kimheybourne1 “I cast on a modified version of Aire (from The Knitter issue 117) on Tuesday and I have a lot of other sweaters planned for this year too. Mods to Aire - cardiganized, sport wt, and doing an @amyherzogdesign CustomFit mashup just for me!” E S@cathairknit “Learn to knit faster…

THIS LONG, super-soft wrap is an ideal transitional piece for the last days of winter and the first days of spring. Jeanette Sloan’s design features a sophisticated slanted lace pattern; the wrap is worked in two mirrored pieces, then grafted together in the middle and edged with i-cord. Erika Knight’s Wild Wool is a blend of wool and nettle-sourced viscose, creating a wonderfully soft and silky yarn. It comes in a palette of eight muted, nature-inspired shades, and knits up into a lustrous fabric with a lovely halo. SIZE 63cm (25in) wide x 220cm (86½in) long, excluding cord edges YARN Erika Knight Wild Wool (Aran weight; 85% wool, 15% viscose from nettle fibre; 170m/186yds per 100g skein) Amble (700); 9 x 100g skeins YARN STOCKISTS Erika Knight c/o TB Ramsden…

SIZE 41cm (16in) square YARN New Lanark Mills Double Knitting Wool (DK weight; 100% wool; 120m/132yds per 50g ball) A Verdi; 2 x 50g balls C Como; 2 x 50g balls New Lanark Mills Donegal Silk Tweed DK (DK weight; 90% wool, 10% silk; 120m/132yds per 50g ball) B Blue Lovage; 1 x 50g ball YARN STOCKISTS New Lanark Mills 01555 661345 www.newlanarkshop.co.uk Sample yarn from Frome Yarn Collective www.fromeyarncollective.co.uk 01373 473557 NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.75mm (UK 9/US 5) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 80cm long (for piped edge, worked in the round) 2m of smooth DK yarn for provisional cast-on Large stitch holder 4mm (UK 8/US G/6) crochet hook for provisional cast-on 41cm square cushion pad…

DARIO TUBIANA loves to design circular yoked sweaters, and his latest project is beautifully bright thanks to the use of five highly contrasting colours. The body is knitted in the round, then joined with the sleeves to work the yoke. It uses an aran-weight pure wool from Jamieson’s of Shetland, which comes in 48 heathered shades. SIZE NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 80cm long 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) circular needles, 80cm long 4mm (UK 8/US 6) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for sleeves, or circular needles for Magic Loop method 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for sleeves, or circular needles for Magic Loop method Stitch markers Stitch holders YARN TENSION 14 sts and 19 rnds to 10cm over st st using 4.5mm needles. 15 sts and…

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…

CAPTURING THE glories of nature in knitted fabric has been a passion of Sasha Kagan for more than 45 years. During her long and illustrious career as a handknit designer, Sasha has brought joy to knitters around the world with her colourful, exuberant intarsia and Fair Isle designs. She has been a key supporter of The Knitter since its inception, collaborating with us to produce distinctive, iconic patterns. Sasha was a key player in the revolution in handknit design in the late 1970s, alongside the likes of Patricia Roberts, Kaffe Fassett and Susan Duckworth. Sasha and her fellow designers brought a fresh approach to handmade knitwear, with a focus on colour and graphic design. Having been passionate about knitting, crochet and dressmaking from a young age, Sasha went on to…