When we are teaching and encouraging people to knit and crochet at yarn shows round the country, we are often approached by people with a very specific request. These are usually groups of two or three people where one person is keen to teach their companion(s) some aspect of knitting or crochet and ask if… Continue reading Find a space to share your skills
We are running our Annual Christmas Stocking Appeal again this autumn. We are asking knitters and crocheters across the country to join to help us spread some festive cheer by making mini stockings for care homes, lunch clubs, hospices and foodbanks. Last year we distributed more than 1,500 stockings to organisations all over the country.… Continue reading Christmas stocking appeal
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
At UK Hand Knitting we’ve been enjoying seeing some of the new yarns that are appearing for this autumn so we thought it was time to share a few that we like the look of. First off, we have two yarns that are new takes on classic yarns and which could become regulars for your… Continue reading New yarns for autumn 2018
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
A walk down the high street suggest the Back to School offers are coming thick and fast, which got us thinking about back to school knits. We know that lots of children wear school uniforms, but outside school they will still need practical, trendy knitwear going into the autumn, so we have taken a look… Continue reading Back to school knits
Last week when we were talking about knitting in the heat a number of people mentioned using wooden or bamboo needles, which reminded us of the importance of choosing the right needles for particular circumstances. Having the right tools for a project can make a difference. We will all have a particular preference for our… Continue reading Finding the right needles for you
It is hot. I think we are all agreed on that. In the UK, every news bulletin reminds us that this is the warmest or driest or both summer since 1976. There are warnings about going out in the midday sun. So what are we poor knitters and crocheters to do? We’ve been thinking about… Continue reading Yarns for the heat
