Simply Knitting

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Over the past few months we’ve been overwhelmed with stories about how people have coped or are still coping through this pandemic using their knitting to ‘hold their hand’. Whether it’s calming nerves, cheering themselves up, knitting for charities or making gifts and happy moments for others. It seems as we enter the shorter months of the year, the knitting community is going to be required more than ever and we wanted to remind you that we’re here with you, all the way. We all know there’s little more reassuring than a familiar project you can heave onto your lap and click away with in your favourite knitting spot. I’ve created a knitting nook (with fairy lights believe it or not) in preparation for the colder months to keep me…

buy-me-now books

SWITCH & KNIT STITCH DICTIONARY By Tabetha Hedrick (Stackpole Books, £19.99) On one level this book is a beautiful, textured stitch dictionary, packed with lace, cable and knit/purl patterns you’ll be impatient to try out. On another, it’s a top introduction to making your own, personal garments, from swatching to measuring to schematics and charts, and then offering a collection of classic pieces that you can combine with the stitch patterns to create designs that are uniquely you. MAKE, STITCH & KNIT FOR BABY By Emilie Guelpa (Ilex, £17.99) There’s nothing quite as delightful as dressing a tiny baby in things you’ve made yourself, surrounding a little one with objects made with love. This new collection presents 35 craft projects, ranging from mobiles to cushions to bloomers. Knitting designs include adorable bootees and a chunky…

editor’s choice

We Are Knitters Grace Dress Kit, £79 Creamy and comfy, this lace dress kit, designed in soft Pima Cotton, will turn a few heads whatever the season! From www.weareknitters.co.uk. Little Frankenstein Pattern Download, £2.92 Get cult status with your kids when you gift this sweet Frankenste in toy by Claire Fairall. From www.lovecrafts.com. Deramores Aztec Tile Backpack Knitting Kit, £13 Wendy Kippax’s bright backpack is knitting paradise found! It’s designed in Deramores Studio Aran, which has antipiling technology. Visit www. deramores.com for more details. Puppy Pattern Download, £3 Knitted in Sirdar Alpine, Harry the puppy feels as good as he looks! Check out his Puppy Pack pattern (£3) for his accessories too at www.blacksheepwools.com. King Cole Opium Palette Yarn, £4.98 Similar to the Opium range, Opium Palette is a beautiful cotton blend yarn that runs from fine to slubby and comes…

top 3 hot new yarns for autumn

Rico Fluffily, £9 for 150g Fluffily could be your big new reason to cast on - eight shades combine in this pretty DK yarn range, which comes with added sparkle. For more details visit www.rico-design.de Check out our review ON P72 West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft DK Shetland Colours & Tweed, £9.50 for 100g This unashamedly rich yarn range works the lavish look brilliantly. It comes with 12 solid and 6 complementary tweed shades in 100% superb-quality Shetland Island wool. From www.wyspinners.com. Scheepjes Softy, £2.20 for 50g A new fluffy yarn is always worth sharing, so it’s no surprise that this snuggly new yarn gets our watertight approval. Tightly spun for neatness, it comes in 26 squishy shades. From www.woolwarehouse.co.uk.…

simply knitting’s guide to november

Top SHOPS NOW OPEN! BLACK SHEEP WOOLS CRAFT BARN Warehouse Studios, Glaziers Lane, Culcheth, Warrington WA3 4AQ 10am-4pm Monday to Sunday The Craft Barn is a true destination yarn shop. They’re currently operating with reduced opening hours to give them time to restock while maintaining social distancing. Customers must wear face masks and use the provided hand sanitiser when entering, then follow a one-way system around the store. The tea shop and toilets are closed, but baby changing is available. www.blacksheepwools.com LOOP 15 Camden Passage, Islington, London N1 8EA 12-5pm Tuesday to Saturday Loop is a staple of the British knitting scene and we’ve missed it! Reduced opening hours mean they have time to arrive safely and clean, and they’re currently allowing up to three people in the shop at any one time. Ring ahead or email…

flower power

Simply knitting loves TAKE ON A CHALLENGE YOU WILL NEED □ West Yorkshire Spinners Colourlab DK (100% wool, 100g/225m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table □ A pair of 3mm needles □ A pair of 3.5mm needles □ A 3mm circular needle, 40cm long □ Stitch marker □ Stitch holder TENSION 24 sts and 29 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 3.5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 WHERE TO BUY □ For yarn stockists contact West Yorkshire Spinners on 01535 664500 or at www.wyspinners.com OR YOU COULD TRY… □ The Knitting Network 01795 570303 or www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk □ Ripping Yarns 01642 711000 or www.rippingyarns.co SIZING COLOUR KEY So you can re-use this pattern, we’ve colour-coded the sizing instructions. Simply follow our colour-coded measurements and you’re off. SHOP SMART SHOP LOCAL! Turn to page 80 10% off The Knitting Network are offering 10% off WYS…