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…

Colours for 2021

What do yellow and grey say to you? Fantastic stripes or strong opposites? Colours you never wear or is one of them your go-to colour? Every year the colour experts at Pantone chose a colour (or occasionally colours) of the year. These are supposed to predict the shades that designers will be drawn to and…

Nothing wrong with “selfish” knitting (or crochet)

We’re pretty certain that lots of you have made plenty items for others this year – whether that be making items for charity appeals, yarn bombing your local area with rainbows or Christmas decorations or completing a mile-long gift list. But some people will still describe knitting something for yourself as selfish. We don’t agree…

Into the red

In the Red According to the catwalk reports and the fashion magazines one of the colours of this winter is going to be strong red. And it is certainly a Christmassy colour Red is a great colour choice for a time when we definitely need things that are cheery and positive. And depending on whether…

Online knitting classes

Are you missing knitting classes whether at your local yarn shop or a yarn event? While opportunities to buy yarn and even see showcases of new items have appeared online, classes and tutorials via your computer or phone are now becoming more common. As it became clear that social distancing was going to halt the…