Innholdsfortegnelse for 127 i The Knitter

This month, our designers have been exploring shapes, and combining traditional and modern styles. Mary Henderson’s Fair Isle jumper, for example, has an on-trend silhouette, while Lisbet Clements brings a fresh look to her circular yoked top. We also discover the inspiring story of Gladys Jeskins, who knitted a sampler of 900 stitch patterns, and meet the designers Vithard Villumsen and Renée Callahan. HAPPY KNITTING! from The Knitter team Light & lovely Soft layers using lace, cables and Fair Isle patterns…

TREATS FOR YOU The online store Fine Fettle Fibres has expanded its range with a host of exciting products for knitters. Among its hand-dyed yarn arrivals is Sheepish Sock, a beautiful sock yarn from Ginger Twist Studios in Edinburgh which comes in the happiest colours! Judith is also stocking a choice of sock yarns that do not contain nylon. Among these is Triskelion’s Elen, a pure superwash Bluefaced Leicester wool hand-dyed in Wales. Queen of Purls Citadel Sock is another lustrous, pure BFL sock yarn, which comes in muted, semi-solid shades. Also in store is the fabulous Farmers’ Hand Cream, a nourishing cream with essential oils and a non-greasy feel - making it a good choice for knitters’ hands. www.finefettlefibres.uk Fall in love Loop is now stocking gorgeous Welsh yarn…

4 August Whitehead, Co. Antrim Yarnfolk Festival of Wool www.yarnfolkwoolfest.co.uk 10-11 August York The British Wool Show www.britishwool.net 18 August Port Sunlight Pop-Up Wool Show www.popupwoolshow.co.uk 19 August Bridport Brioche Stitch www.bridportyarn.co.uk 01308 455669 24 August Norwich Beginners Socks www.norfolkyarn.co.uk 01603 927034 25 August Cambridge Purl Alpaca Workshop www.purlalpacadesigns.com 25 August Leeds Knitting with Colour www.baaramewe.co.uk 0113 278 1788 1 September Newbury Southern Wool Show www.southernwoolshow.co.uk 07741 452295 1 September Alnmouth, Northumberland Alnmouth Wool Festival www.sheeptales.org 8 September Faversham Darning Masterclass with Tom of Holland theyarndispensary.co.uk 01795 597 700 8 September Bath Fearless Cables & Chart Reading with Carol Feller www.ayarnstory.co.uk 01225 429239 8-9 September Launceston Blacker Yarns Mill Open Day www.blackeryarns.co.uk 8-9 September Perth Perth Festival of Yarn www.perthfestivalofyarn.uk 9 September Bath Seamless Skills & Techniques with Carol Feller www.ayarnstory.co.uk…

THIS PRETTY shawl by Anniken Allis is light yet warm, thanks to the use of a 4ply Bluefaced Leicester yarn - making it perfect for cooler summer days and evenings. The yarn used is a lovely hand-dyed and hand-painted offering from Watercolours & Lace - each colourway is produced in limited numbers. Anniken has used an all-over diamond lace stitch pattern for her design; this forms a scalloped edging along the bottom of the shawl. SIZE Wingspan: 140cm (55in) Depth: 58cm (22¾in) YARN Watercolours & Lace Bluefaced Leicester 4ply (4ply weight; 100% Bluefaced Leicester wool; 400m/437yds per 100g skein) Mystic Forest; 1 x 100g skein Note: Our sample used exactly 100g, so you may wish to purchase two skeins to avoid running out of yarn. NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 4mm (UK…

DANISH DESIGNER Vithard Villumsen is constantly exploring ways in which knitted fabric can be formed into different shapes. His latest project for us is knitted sideways in two pieces; a series of wedges fanning out across the front and back creates a pleated effect and a ‘sleeve’ on one side of the asymmetric design. Vithard has used BC Garn’s Allino yarn, a DK-weight blend of linen and cotton which comes in a range of bright, pastel, neutral and heathered shades. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.5mm (UK 9-10/US 4) circular needles, 80cm long or longer Two double-pointed needles (DPNs), 3.5mm (UK 9-10/US 4) or smaller 16 stitch markers TENSION 24½ sts and 34 rows to 10cm over st st on 3.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS BC Garn c/o LoveKnitting 0845 544…

THIS TUNIC design by Lisbet Clements is worked in the round from the top down. It has a gentle flare over the hips, while the back neck is raised before working the ribbed neck edging. It features a simple stripe pattern, which is worked in a solid navy colour for the background and a self-striping variant for the stripes. Lisbet has knitted her tunic in Sirri 2-ply, a pure organic wool with a traditional feel which is produced on the Faroe Islands. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 5mm (UK 6/US 8) circular needles, 40cm and 100cm long 1 set 5mm (UK 6/US 8) double-pointed needles (DPNs) Waste yarn and crochet hook for provisional cast-on Stitch holder Stitch markers TENSION 19 sts and 25 rounds to 10cm over st st on…

THIS FLOOR cushion is a massive 80cm square - so whether it’s being used by the children while playing games, or by adults when relaxing in the sitting room or garden, it will provide plenty of squishy comfort! The design has a slip stitch colourwork pattern on the front which resembles woven tweed fabric, while the back is knitted in grey. SIZE 80cm (31½in) square YARN Rowan Summerlite 4ply (4ply weight; 100% cotton; 175m/191yds per 50g ball) A Still Grey (422); 8 x 50g balls B High Tide (428); 3 x 50g balls NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) knitting needles Cushion pad, 80cm square TENSION 27 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over slip stitch pattern using 3mm needles. 28 sts and 36 rows to 10cm…

FORMERLY FROM Seattle, Renée Callahan is now based in East London, where she creates beautiful knitwear designs and runs her popular podcast. We caught up with Renée to chat about her creative life. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “Strangely enough, I didn’t start knitting until I began a degree in fashion design with knitwear. We learned on machines and I came to hand knitting on my own, with loads of help from YouTube and a sympathetic tutor. “At college, I found a DVD of Elizabeth Zimmermann’s hidden in a corner of the library, and because craft was not the cool thing in fashion college, I really believed I had discovered this super obscure video no one had ever seen. Little did I know…” Do you have a favourite…

The Border Tart Cheviot House, Chesters, Hawick, Scottish Borders TD9 8TH 07900 522651 thebordertart@gmail.com www.tartsart.co.uk Fri-Sun 10am-4.30pm Lindsay Roberts is behind The Border Tart brand. She offers indigo-dyed yarn and fibre for knitting, crochet and weaving. Fibres include British wools, merino, linen, silk, alpaca and yak. Her workspace is in the small village of Chesters, five miles from the border with England. A holiday cottage nearby entices visitors to stay. Craic’n’Yarn 15A Main Street, Drymen, Stirlingshire G63 0BQ 01360 661476 www.craicnyarn.com Mon 2-5pm, Tues, Thurs, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm Craic’n’Yarn loves British/Scottish fibres and natural yarns – yarns with a story are a favourite! This is the place to get an extra-special memento of natural yarn, such as local, hand-dyed yarn from Strathearn Fleece and Fibre, Kate Davies Buachaille, The Knitting Goddess,…

Artisan Alley UK www.artisanalleyuk.com Find all your favourite yarn brands, including Scheepjes, Stylecraft, Three Bears and West Yorkshire Spinners. Cambrian Mountains Wool www.cambrianmountainswool.org www.cambrianwool.co.uk Cambrian Mountains Wool has rekindled the historic links between local sheep farmers, wool processors, designers, makers and retailers, and sells a range of original wool products from fleece farmed in Wales. Gorgeous Yarns www.gorgeousyarns.co.uk Specialists in natural fibres, hand-dyed, luxury yarns that are gorgeous to knit or crochet with, and to wear. Hawkshaw Sheep Tweedsmuir, Biggar ML12 6QS 01899 636983 www.hawkshaw-sheep-yarn.co.uk The majority of yarns, fleece and tweed cloth stocked are produced with fleeces from their hill farm’s sheep, as well as alpaca. Go to www.hawkshaw-sheep-yarn.co.uk/news to find out where you can meet them at shows. Hilda Haarhoff Knitwear Design 0782 888 0195 www.hildaknitwear.co.uk Hilda offers…

SOUTH EAST £5 OFF! IDA'S HOUSE 27 High Street, Caterham on the Hill, Surrey CR3 5UE 01883 345220 www.idashouse.co.uk Mon-Tues, Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm Social Club Tues & Thurs 7-9pm OFFER DETAILS: £5 off when you spend a minimum of £50 in store. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Voucher expires on 31 August 2018. LONDON 10% OFF! LOOP 15 Camden Passage, Islington, London N1 8EA 020 7288 1160 www.loopknitting.com Tues-Sat 11am-6pm, Late Opening Thurs 7.30pm Sun 12-5pm OFFER DETAILS: 10% off items purchased in London shop. One use only. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or loyalty scheme. Voucher expires on 31 August 2018. SOUTH EAST 10% OFF! YARNFEST The Old Telephone Exchange, Long Lane, Hermitage, Thatcham, Berkshire RG18 9QS 01635 201660 www.yarnfest.co.uk…

Emma Vining Emma is known for her exquisite stitch patterns and fabric textures, many of which have been influenced by artefacts found in London’s museums. Emma has been central to the Knitting & Crochet Guild’s A Knitter’s Journey project, and she tells us all about it on page 30. Mary Henderson Mary has a passion for Fair Isle knitting, and has won a firm following thanks to intricate designs and her talent for colour combining. Her latest design for us is a fresh and pretty jumper using stranded colourwork, which is knitted in a lightweight merino yarn. Turn to page 8 for the pattern. Pat Menchini Pat is a prolific designer whose work regularly appears in many of the UK’s top knitting magazines. Her designs often feature unusual, decorative stitch…

ONE-PIECE KNITS by Margaret Hubert Fans of seamless knitting - and those who have yet to try it - will enjoy this new book of knitting patterns from Margaret Hubert. It explores how to knit sweaters in one piece, whether top down, side to side, or even back to front, with minimal sewing up. The charted patterns come in a wide range of sizes from toddler to adult; there are four fundamental patterns, with three variations on each sweater type. £17.99, Creative Publishing International TRAVEL KNITS FOR THE FAMILY Kate Bostwick Here’s a chance to get ahead and create some winter essentials! This new book from Kate Bostwick is the first volume in her series of knitwear staples, and she starts with cold weather projects. It’s filled with appealing knits…

DESIGNED FOR a comfortable, loose fit, this summery jumper by Sarah Hatton has panels of airy mesh lace. It is knitted sideways from cuff to cuff, with stitches being picked up to work the neck edging and ribbed hem. The fabric feels cool yet luxuriously soft, thanks to the use of Rowan’s Cotton Cashmere DK yarn. This offers excellent stitch definition, and comes in a palette of 16 beautiful tonal shades. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 100cm long 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 60cm long 4mm (UK 8/US 6) circular needles, 100cm long Stitch holders Locking stitch markers TENSION 20 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st on 4mm needles. Lace panel meas 7cm wide. YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com…

ROWAN’S COTTON Cashmere yarn makes this summer top feel extra-special. It’s a lightweight blend that has a luxurious feel and offers excellent stitch definition, showing off the textured pattern beautifully. It comes in a palette of elegantly muted, slightly heathered shades. Sarah Hatton’s design features a relaxed drop-shoulder shape, short sleeves, and a drop stitch pattern worked across the shoulders. It’s sized to fit busts of 32in to 50in. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles Stitch markers Stitch holders TENSION 20 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st, and 18 sts and 21 rows to 10cm over patt, both using 4mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Rowan 01484 950630 www.knitrowan.com For general abbreviations, see p81…

“SLEEVELESS CRICKET SWEATERS HAVE BEEN POPULAR WITH BRITISH MEN FOR GENERATIONS” THE CRICKET sweater is a quintessentially British design, and sleeveless versions have been popular with men for generations. Pat Menchini’s tank top has a smart cabled pattern, and features red and blue stripes around the armholes, hems and round neckline. The garment is designed for a loose, easy fit. It has been knitted in a DK-weight pure merino yarn from King Cole, which is machine-washable at 40°C. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) 2 stitch holders TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to 10cm over st st on 4mm needles. 29 sts and 32 rows to 10cm over cable pattern on…

THIS SWEET little doll has been designed by Louise Crowther. Children will love dressing Penny in her little tunic and hat, and will admire her cool sneakers and jeans! The original pattern calls for 4ply-weight 100% cotton, and we have suggested Scheepjes Catona because it comes in a huge range of colours and convenient 25g balls. SIZE 28cm (11in) tall YARN Scheepjes Catona (4ply weight; 100% cotton; 62m/68yds per 25g ball) 1 x 25g ball of each: A Caramel (506); B Root Beer (157); C Old Lace (130); D Light Silver (172) E Snow White (106); F Watermelon (252) G Capri Blue (261) Scraps of black and red 4ply yarn for eyes and mouth NOTE: to reproduce the denim effect used in the sample, you could use the following yarn:…

LIGHT AND lacy, this summer vest top has an attractive stitch pattern which forms a scalloped edge around the bottom. It is knitted in Bergère de France’s Berlingo DK, a cotton-mix tweedy yarn, which includes a touch of metallic fibre to give a subtle sparkle to the fabric. This is machine-washable and comes in nine sophisticated shades. SIZE YARN Bergère de France Berlingo (DK weight; 71% cotton, 24% polyester, 5% metallic fibre; 165m/180yds per 50g ball) NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.5mm (UK 10-9/US 4) knitting needles Stitch holders TENSION 24 sts and 33.5 rows to 10cm over Lace Stitch on 3.5mm needles YARN STOCKISTS Bergère de France www.bergeredefrance.co.uk For general abbreviations, see p81 BLOCKING DIAGRAM CHART LACE PATTERN (multiple of 17 sts + 1) (also shown on chart) Row…

Summer holidays and family staycations are the perfect time to seek out a yarn shop or two – there are bound to be many independent yarn shops you haven’t visited yet! Here is our guide to local havens for knitters and hooksters, from the South Downs of England to the Scottish Highlands, and all the favourite tourist spots in between. After the sightseeing, long walks and museum visits, steal a few moments to get yourself a woolly souvenir! If visiting a few shops isn’t enough to sate your yarny desires, take a look at the wonderful breaks from KnittingTours.com and the Irish Tourism Group over on page 26, and go for an entirely yarn-focused holiday next time. Spoil yourself, you know you want to! NOTE This little guide is not…

Knit One… SEE OFFER ON P31! Maes Gwyn, Cader Road, Dolgellau, Gwynedd LL40 1RB 01341 422194 www.knitonedolgellau.com Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Local yarns from Llanfachreth and Abersoch will give visitors to Knit One a proper Welsh yarn keepsake! In addition to local producers, the shop offers Rowan, Erika Knight, Sirdar, Hayfield, Sublime, Katia, James C. Brett, Stylecraft, Wendy, Adriafil, Baa Ram Ewe and West Yorkshire Spinners. The shop is situated in the historic wool town of Dolgellau, nestled in the foothills of Cader Idris. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty surrounding the town is a popular walking and outdoor pursuits destination. Nearby is Coed y Brenin forest and Visitor Centre, for family activities and mountain biking. Rosemary’s Wool Shop Birmingham House, 22 Alban Square, Aberaeron, Ceredigion SA46 0AH 01545 905051 www.rosemaryswoolshop.co.uk Mon-Sat…

THIS PRETTY jumper combines a modern style with elements from traditional Fair Isle knitting. It has a cropped shape, with a back that’s longer than the front, and a lace fabric on the sleeves. The body features a highly decorative stranded colourwork pattern, which is complemented by colourful corrugated ribbing around the lower edge. Mary Henderson has used Scheepjes Our Tribe yarn, a light 4ply superwash merino blend which comes in solid and variegated colours. SIZE YARN NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) circular needles, 60cm long 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) knitting needles 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) circular needles, 40cm long 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles Stitch holders or waste yarn Removable stitch markers TENSION 30…

RENEE’S INSPIRATIONS Explore the world of yarn with Renée Callahan’s East London Knits podcast http://bit.ly/elkpodcast WOOL TALES This short film looks at the sheep of the Faroe Islands and their wool http://bit.ly/faroesheep FUN AT THE FESTIVAL The Plays With Yarn vlog reports back from the Leeds Wool Festival http://bit.ly/pwyleeds BEHIND THE SCENES Discover how the beautiful images for Rowan’s Magazine 63 were created http://bit.ly/rowan63bts…

THE KNITTING & Crochet Guild of Great Britain celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2018! One of the ways we are marking this milestone is by highlighting the work of a very special knitter, Gladys Jeskins (1923-1997). The project is called A Knitter’s Journey, and explores an amazing stitch sampler knitted by Gladys over a period of many years. The sampler measures more than fifty metres in length, and contains almost 900 individual stitch patterns on a single long strip of knitting. A passion for pattern Gladys was a prolific maker throughout her life. At age three, she was taught to crochet by her grandmother. By age five, she was already so good at knitting that she had made two school jumpers for herself. Her excellent school grades and aptitude for…

KNOWN BY his fans around the world as ‘The Prince of Knitting’, Vithard Villumsen is a young Danish knitwear designer who has become known for his radical approach to construction and colour. He teaches workshops where he enjoys demonstrating how traditional knitwear techniques can be used to create modern shapes and styles. Who inspired you to take up knitting? “Both of my grandmothers were very skilled crafters. My maternal grandmother was a prolific sewer, while my paternal grandmother was good at anything that involved yarn or a thread. So, from a very early age, I knew about knitting. I was taught knitting at school in fourth grade - it spoke to me in a special way. My mom taught me to read patterns, and I kept on knitting even though…

THIS RECTANGULAR pillow is part of a set of four cushions, designed by Andrea McHugh using Rowan’s beautifully soft and smooth Summerlite 4ply yarn and named after Rowan’s Yorkshire home. The ‘Jazz’ cushion has a graphic colourwork pattern on the front, worked in grey and orange; the back piece, worked separately, is plain grey. SIZE 50cm x 30cm (20in x 12in) YARN Rowan Summerlite 4ply (4ply weight; 100% cotton; 175m/191yds per 50g ball) A Still Grey (422); 2 x 50g balls B Langoustino (440); 1 x 50g ball NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3mm (UK 11/US 2-3) knitting needles 1 pair 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) knitting needles Cushion pad, 50cm x 30cm TENSION 31 sts and 33 rows to 10cm over pattern using 3mm needles. 30 sts and 37 rows…

Abbreviations alt alternate approx approximately beg beginning ch chain cn cable needle cont continue dc double crochet (US single crochet) dec decrease (work two stitches together) DK double knitting DPN double-pointed needle dtr double treble (US treble crochet) est established foll following inc increase K knit KFB knit into front and back of stitch K2tog knit the next two stitches together kwise knitwise meas measures M1 make one (see M1L) M1pw make 1 st purlwise: with LH needle lift the strand between next and last st from front to back and purl through the back loop M1L left leaning increase: with left needle tip, lift strand between needles from front to back. Knit lifted loop through back of loop M1R right leaning increase: with left needle tip, lift strand between…

South East Chang Crafted 27 Station Road, Birchington, Kent CT7 9DJ 01843 210105 www.changcrafted.co.uk Tues-Sat 9.30am-4pm Chang Crafted is a creative hub where people come to source craft supplies and exchange ideas and inspiration. Knitters and crocheters can choose from a range of classes and workshops, and loom knitting is a featured attraction. Stocked yarns include Bergère de France, West Yorkshire Spinners and Rowan, as well as owner Fiona Chang’s indie-dyed yarns. With a tea and coffee counter and a seaside feel to the area (near Margate), Chang Crafted is an ideal travel destination for yarn aficionados! Damaris Crafts Unit 3, Spire Ridge, Midgham, Berkshire RG7 5XB 0118 971 2151 www.damariscrafts.co.uk Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Damaris Crafts features yarns from Debbie Bliss, Ella Rae and Mondial, among other ranges. Visitors can also…

The Knitting Room 99 Malahide Road, Donnycarney, Dublin D03 DY27 01 831 4464 www.theknittingroom.ie Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Visitors taking in the sites of Dublin should not miss The Knitting Room to add some craft-related memories to the holiday! The Knitting Room prides itself on being ‘not just a wool shop, but a community of crafters’, with knitting and crochet classes for all levels, and a kids’ club as well. Yarns include Debbie Bliss, Rico, Stylecraft, Noro, King Cole, Rosarios4 and Mondial. Located on the road from Dublin city to the beautiful coastal village of Malahide, the shop is also near the historic William Chambers house and Casino Marino. Row by Roe SEE OFFER ON P31! 28 Main Street, Limavady, Co Londonderry BT49 0FJ 028 7727 7396 www.rowbyroe.co.uk Tues-Fri 9.30am-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm…

9-NIGHT KNITTING TOURS Explore Southern Ireland and the Aran Islands, Donegal and Causeway Coast, or Scotland, including the Highlands. Quality accommodation, meals and visits are included, as well as workshops with local and experienced instructors. NEW! South of Ireland with the Aran Islands 12 Aug, 23 Sep Scotland with the Highlands 17 Sep Donegal and Causeway Coast 7 Oct 7-NIGHT KNITTING TOURS Choose Donegal and Galway or Kerry and Kilkenny. See Ireland’s stunning scenery and craft locations and take part in great knitting workshops with experienced local instructors. Quality accommodation, meals and visits included. North West and West Ireland with Donegal and Galway 11 Aug, 8 Sep Kerry and Kilkenny 19 Aug 6-NIGHT LUXURY RETREATS Featuring Donegal in the North West of Ireland or Kerry in the South West; with…