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
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
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
Now the weather is cooling off, we are all thinking about cosy winter knits and if you want to be on trend this season you can have a lot of fun with your hand knits because along with bright colours and mismatched fair isle, big and bold cables are certainly the order of the day.… Continue reading Trendwatch: Going big and bold with cables
One question we get asked a lot, is about how to substitute one yarn for another in a pattern. This may be because the pattern is for a discontinued yarn but it could also because you find your perfect shade in a completely different yarn or you might have some balls you want to use… Continue reading Substituting yarns – a friendly guide
It is Commit to Knit month and you may well be trying to decide what you are going to knit for charity and how best to choose an item or a cause. So here are a few tips to help you. It can be difficult to know whether it is better to make something to… Continue reading Choosing a charity to make for
Among this year’s Commit to Knit pattern collection, we have a stunning crochet blanket that features “spiral granny squares”. We have been very excited about learning to make this new style of square but they are a little different to make, so we thought we should pass on the tips we’ve picked up. When you… Continue reading Tips for crocheting spiral granny squares
September is all about charity knitting for us. It is this year’s Commit to Knit month when we ask knitters and crocheters to commit to making one item for crochet during the month. We know lots of you already donate your skills to crafting items for charities nationwide. There are at least 6 million people… Continue reading Check out our lovely new patterns celebrating Commit to Knit month
