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… Continue reading The year of the cardigan
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… Continue reading Using a different yarn for your pattern
Our Commit To Knit 2020 free pattern booklet, with a selection of hat patterns plus other winter warmers, is now available to download. As in previous years, we are asking knitters and crocheters to make one item for charity during October and if that was a hat for our #HatsfortheHomeless appeal, that would be fantastic.… Continue reading Download our Commit To Knit 2020 pattern leaflet
Lots of people have been taking up knitting this year, thanks to lockdown and the current social distancing measures, giving them more time at home. If you’ve been teaching someone to knit you may well be thinking about how to help them progress. One difficulty for new knitters, is finding suitable patterns once they have… Continue reading Helping new knitters choose patterns
Do you knit or crochet toys? From tiny amigurumi characters to teddies in chunky as big as a toddler, making toys can be a great deal of fun and a great way to use up odd balls or leftovers of yarn. They are often greatly appreciated gifts. We know of knitted animals that have been… Continue reading Toy making tips
At this time of year, knitters are often looking for smaller projects or ones using cotton. You can combine both by knitting kids clothes in cotton. And you end up with colourful, hardwearing garments – so everyone is a winner. We’ve picked out a few patterns to inspire you Dungarees and Dress in Rico Baby… Continue reading Knitting for kids in cotton
We are having some lovely sunny weather at least part of the time and even if you are still mainly at home you will be in need of some summer knit and crochet ideas. There are some lovely cotton and other lightweight yarns around at the moment, so we’ve picked out a few examples for… Continue reading Summer yarns for 2020
We have written in the past about school holiday knitting projects for kids and at the moment we've notice people including crafts in their home schooling plans so we though it was a good time to take another look at crafting with youngsters. You can find our top tips for teaching kids to knit here… Continue reading Using yarn to entertain your kids
One of the biggest talking points from the recent Hollywood movie Knives Out was the cable sweater worn by Chris Evans which has proved a big hot despite the hole. It seems that men’s cabled jumpers are suddenly very popular as a result, so we’ve found some patterns for you to enjoy. They are all… Continue reading Join the men’s cable jumper trend
With the weather we’re having at this time of year, it is easy to get caught out and discover your lovely cosy knitted hat is nowhere to be found in a cold snap. This one of the many reasons we love chunky yarns – you can turn out a warm accessory or two in very… Continue reading Quick chunky knits
