Have you ever taken part in a knit or crochet along? We’re big fans here and think they are a great example of how online technology can be used to good effect for crafters. In a knitalong (KAL) (please mentally insert crochet if that is your preferred yarn craft), a group of people will generally… Continue reading In praise of knit-a-longs
Are you knitting or crocheting a blanket? Blankets are one of the big knitting and crochet trends right now with lots of patterns and knits available. They are particularly appealing at this time of year because you get more cosy as your blanket grows. With so many blanket styles available - striped, log cabin, patchwork,… Continue reading Get cosy by joining the blanket trend
You most often come across the term “life line” in knitting when you are working on a lace shawl or similar but it is a technique that can help you in all sorts of knitted projects. A life line is a simple but very handy tool in your knitting life. It is an additional line… Continue reading Top tips: Adding life lines will save knitters from a lot of stress
The colour gurus at Pantone have made their annual announcement of the Colour of the Year. This year it is the orangey pink “Living Coral”. This is a colour that they think will show up in lots of fashion and design from dresses and handbags to posters and logos over the next 12 months. The… Continue reading Living coral – the colour for 2019
In many businesses being the person who goes into the office between Christmas and New Year can be a quite a good experience. You get peace and quiet to sort out your emails, clear out unneeded paperwork and generally prepare for the next few months. If you are off over the holiday period, you can… Continue reading Have a knitting and crochet planning day
One of the questions the Yarn Doctors are asked more than anything else is: “How do I start knitting in the round?” While some people might say “Well, you just start knitting”, what this is really about is starting neatly in the round without ending up with a ladder or stretched stitch at the beginning.… Continue reading Quick tip: joining in the round
As with most events UK Hand Knitting attend, we were joined by men on our stand at various times during our visit to last week’s Harrogate Knitting and Stitching Show. Just like other knitters they came to teach, to learn, to show off projects and in one case to prove he could produce a neater… Continue reading Books for men who knit or want to
For a number years we have been following, and promoting, the research by Betsan Corkhill and others that shows that knitting and crochet is good for our mental and our physical health. Our very own Bronagh has even knitted on live TV while wearing a heart monitor to prove how calming and relaxing making one… Continue reading Knitting, practical mindfulness and the benefits of “craftfulness”
We recently talked about the trend for big cables and one way to achieve this is using chunky and super chunky yarns. These thicker yarns can also produce interesting lace effects and are great for quickly producing accessories such as hats and scarves or big and bold homewares. One of the advantages of using… Continue reading Knitting with chunky and super chunky yarns
With bonfire parties this week we’ve been thinking about wrapping kids up in cute knitted items. Making things for children, especially accessories, can feel very quick and it is satisfying to have finished items, plus smaller items are a fun way to try new shapes, techniques, etc. With Christmas coming up we’ve picked out some… Continue reading Lovely cosy accessories for kids
