Simply Knitting

we’re sending warm, woolly cheer this issue!

As most of us around the UK start gearing up for what may be an unusual Christmas celebration this year, I’m sadly reminded of those who may not be. In particular, I heard on the news recently that homelessness during the pandemic is on the increase. I know that many of us knitters are always keen to wield needles in support of a worthy cause so we’ve included a small story about UKHK and their Hats for the Homeless campaign on our news pages. Knitting hats is the ultimate stashbuster, so if you have lots of single balls of yarn, and you don’t know what to do with them, why not knit some hats and send them to the address on page 8? We also have a copyright- free charity…

buy-me-now books

MIX & KNIT SWEATER DESIGNS By Rita Maassen (Stackpole Books, £17.95) If you’ve always wanted to design your own jumpers, this is the book for you. Rita Maassen starts with six basic sweater designs, which can be customised by neckline, colour, texture and armhole style. There are also 23 unique designs created by Rita, all of which can be customised to make them truly yours. With over 70,000 different designs possible, this book will certainly keep your needles busy! SALTWATER GIFTS FROM THE ISLAND OF NEWFOUNDLAND By Christine LeGrow and Shirley A Scott (Boulder Books, £24.99) The third book by this talented duo, that looks to the knitting traditions of Newfoundland, is a treasure trove of delightful designs your loved ones will adore. With patterns for caps, socks, gloves, tea cosies and much more, interspersed…

editor’s choice

Pusheen & Sloth by Stitch & Story Exclusive to Stitch & Story are these adorable Pusheen and Sloth knitting and crochet kits, containing all you need to make a squishy delight for you or someone special. Kits from £32 at www.stitchandstory.com Baby Rattles from Deramores You’ll spend lots of joyful knitting hours creating these animal rattle teethers designed by our very own Amanda Berry. Each one is knitted in Deramores Studio DK which comes with anti-piling technology. Buy the kit (£14.80) or just the pattern (75p) from www.deramores.com. KnitPro Knit and Sip Holiday Needle Set KnitPro’s latest needle set has a knitting and coffee theme and comes with sleek, coffee-shaded, interchangeable tips in various favourite sizes all packed in a velvet box. £90, for stockists visit www.knitpro.eu. Simply Christmas 2020 magazine With hand-picked projects to inspire you to have a…

simply knitting’s guide to january

all the BEST CRAFT events! SOCKS: TOP-DOWN AND TOE-UP Saturday 16 January Ammonite Yarns, 7 Llantrisant Road, Pontyclun, RCT CF72 9DP Oh the weather outside will be frightful, but knitting socks is so delightful! Sock lovers will definitely want to be part of this workshop at Welsh knitting shop Ammonite Yarns, where you’ll get to explore different sock techniques and really stretch your sock knitting skills. The day-long workshop costs £60 including refreshments and lunch. To book your place go to www.ammoniteyarns.co.uk Saturday 16 – Sunday 17 January INTRODUCTION TO TAPESTRY WEAVING WASPS, Studio 114, Patriothall, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5AY Designed for beginners as well as those with some weaving experience, this two-day course with Fiona Hutchinson is a perfect introduction to the wonderful world of tapestry weaving. During this exciting weekend you’ll learn how to set up a…

seasonal star

simply knitting loves TAKE ON A CHALLENGE YOU WILL NEED □ Rico Design Essentials Soft Merino Aran (100% wool, 50g/100m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table □ A pair of 4.5mm needles □ A pair of 5mm needles □ A 5mm circular needle, 100cm long (to accommodate yoke stitches, worked flat) □ 25 pearl-effect beads, approx 5mm diameter □ Zip, 56 to 60cm long TENSION 18 sts and 24 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 5mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 WHERE TO BUY □ For yarn stockists visit Rico at www.ricodesign.de OR YOU COULD TRY... □ Black Sheep Wools 01925 764231 or www.blacksheepwools.com □ The Village Haberdshery 0207 624 5494 or www.thevillagehaberdashery.co.uk QUICK ZIP TIPS... 1 For cardis/jackets buy a zip that separates at both ends. 2 For a more rigid finish you could add a picked-up icord edge to your…

merry & bright

FUN colour work TAKE ON A CHALLENGE YOU WILL NEED □ Cygnet DK (100% acrylic, 100g/298m) □ Cygnet Little Ones A-Z (100% acrylic, 25g/66m) For yarn quantities and measurements see size table □ A pair of 3.25mm needles □ A pair of 4mm needles □ Stitch holders TENSION 22 sts and 28 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over st st using 4mm needles ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87 WHERE TO BUY □ For yarn stockists contact Cygnet on 01274 743374 www.cygnetyarns.com OR YOU COULD TRY... □ The Knitting Network 01795 570303 or www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk 10% off! www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk is offering 10% off sitewide with code SKNEW10. New customers only. Exclusions apply. Offer ends 10 Dec 2020. Full terms and conditions at www.theknittingnetwork.co.uk. 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. HOW TO USE OUR CHARTS Start…