Get ready to Commit to Knit a Hat for the Homeless

September is when we celebrate all the knitters and crocheters out there who tirelessly make items for charities to help with fundraising or to raise awareness of a particular campaign. It is also when we ask all knitters and crocheters to make  just one item for a charity or organisation to show their support for our Commit…

Count your rows accurately

We’ve come across some online discussions about counting rows recently and realised there is a lot of confusion about what or where to count so we’ve some tips to help. Count the bumps rather than the Vs If you try to count the Vs of your stitches (left in picture), you run the risk of…

Working with Bamboo and Cotton Yarns

There are some gorgeous cotton and bamboo yarns around at the moment, but how much do you know about these fibres and the best ways to work with them? It is worth knowing a little about where these yarns come from and how they are made up, so you can get the most out of…

Taking photos of your knits

There are lots of places you might share a picture of your knitting and crochet projects – Facebook and Instagram feeds, blogs, online knitting groups, or to “readers makes” type call outs on social media like our “Finished object Friday” threads and our month Facebook cover picture competition. However, getting the best pictures of your…

Kids’ cotton sweaters

Cotton sweaters are a great choice for summer children’s knits. Cotton is robust, cool and usually can be machine washed so great for summery play clothes. Plus cotton can be more comfortable to knit with as the weather warms up. There are some great colour ranges available so you can have fun making sweaters in…

Finding the fit for your knits

Have you ever knitted something that looked lovely but didn’t fit the way you wanted? It could have been something for you or for someone else but it just wasn’t right. This is such a pity, the stitches are beautiful but unless you can find some one who love the fit, it is likely to…

The year of the cardigan

2021 looks like being the year of the bright cardigan. Fashion designers and stylists have been pairing them with ball gowns while a year of lock downs has changed what we wear when with “loungewear” comfort being a top choice. And what is better for snuggling on the sofa than a lovely soft cardie you…

Using a different yarn for your pattern

Sometimes we all want to make a pattern in a different yarn from the one recommended in the pattern. It could be that you’ve fallen for a newly launched yarn and want to use it with a pattern you already love or that you’ve saved a pattern but the yarn has been discontinued. It is…

A look at some new yarns

There are lots of new yarns appearing at the moment. Sadly, it still isn’t possible to pop into your local yarn shop for a good squish at the moment but many of your favourite shops will still be getting them in and will be very glad to take your orders and send them out. So,…

Your yarn shop heroes

We recently asked you to tell us about the yarn shops who have gone above and beyond during lock downs and restrictions over the past year. Here is some of what you had to say. Helen Rutherford: “Knit2tog yarn shop in Reddish owned by the delightful Janet Davidson. Fantastic shop Janet provides a local delivery…