The Knitter 169

Gift ideas 15 patterns for gloves, socks, shawls, legwarmers & much more If you’re looking ahead to the festive season and are busy planning the gifts you’d like to knit for friends and family, we have put together a collection of small projects for you, which should be fun to make and share. Our designers have created a range of Fair Isle accessories including gloves, a cowl and mitts, plus modern shawls, a cable cushion and socks in festive colours, and an adorable, traditional gansey sweater for children. from Kirstie and The Knitter team…

Outi Kater Outi is a Finnish designer who has lived for many years in Shetland and in Ireland, and she draws inspiration from traditional Nordic and Baltic crafts. This month, she has designed two patterns for us: a pair of colourwork gloves on page 26, and cosy Fair Isle legwarmers on page 42. Sarah Hatton Sarah honed her skills as part of Rowan’s in-house design team, and she is now an independent designer who creates patterns for top knitting magazines and yarn companies. She has created a gorgeous cabled sweater for us, and you can find the pattern on page 8. Emma Vining Emma is known for her exquisite stitch patterns, many of which have been influenced by historical artefacts and architecture. Her latest design for us is a cardigan with a flowing lace and…

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES 1 pair 3.25mm (UK 10/US 3) knitting needles 1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles Cable needle (cn) Stitch holders or waste yarn TENSION 26.5 sts and 30 rows to 10cm over cable patt on 4mm needles. Central cable panel on Front/Back (worked over 20 sts) measures 7cm. YARN STOCKISTS By Laxtons 01943 877123 www.bylaxtons.co.uk SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS C4B: Slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, K2; then K2 from cn. C4F: Slip next 2 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, K2; then K2 from cn. C6B: Slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at back of work, K3; then K3 from cn. C6F: Slip next 3 sts onto cn and hold at front of work, K3; then K3 from cn. For general abbreviations, see p89 BLOCKING DIAGRAM EVERY WINTER wardrobe needs a comfy cabled sweater,…

Bring handcrafted style into your home with the new book of knitting patterns from designer Erika Knight. Indoors is a collection of ten stylish yet practical homeware projects using Rowan yarns, designed to celebrate the process of creating with our hands. Among Erika’s designs are a range of knitted cushions using cell stitch, simple colourwork, tassel details and entrelac textures, along with an elegant entrelac blanket and a large, colourful patchwork throw. We love the smart shoulder bag with its combination of textured stitches and herringbone colourwork, along with a chic knitted lampshade, and plant pot covers with a chunky bobble pattern. Larger projects include a rug, and a spectacular wall hanging featuring lace, cables and dropped stitches worked on oversized needles. There are two cosy garment patterns, too, which have been designed…

Norwegian knitwear designer Linka Neumann is also a dog sled driver who spends much of her time outside in harsh conditions. Her new book, Wilderness Knits, has 23 patterns for super-cosy jumpers and cardigans, which have been designed for outdoor adventures. Linka’s stranded colourwork patterns take inspiration from the Norwegian wilderness, and her beloved husky dogs - her favourite design features a paw print motif knitted in Icelandic Álafosslopi wool. Other stylised motifs include snowflakes, trees, reindeer and wolves, which feature on rugged designs including ‘Nordkalotten’ and ‘Fjordfolk’. Each of the unisex designs has a range of options to choose from, including sweater and cardigan versions, and different body and sleeve lengths for men and women. Three of the projects also have a choice of DK-weight or chunky ‘Polar’ versions. £16.99; published by…

CONFIDENT KNITTING by Arnall-Culliford Knitwear Take your knitting skills to the next level with this new book from the experts at Arnall-Culliford Knitwear. It focuses on 1 2 useful techniques, including the German twisted cast-on, catching floats, Vikkel braids, folded hems, and the i-cord cast-off. Each technique is accompanied by photo tutorials and knitting patterns for accessories from a stellar line-up of designers. £20 for print + e-book from www.shop.acknitwear.co.uk 9 LIVES by Rosemary (Romi) Hill Subtitled ‘Knitted Shawls for Changing Times’, this e-book is filled with mindful patterns designed to entertain and delight. Projects include a mosaic colourwork shawl, modern lace designs, and the fabulous ‘Leaves in a Stream’, which combines gradient yarns and short rows to create rippling bands of colour. $24; www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/9-lives-knitted-shawls-forchanging- times SHETLAND WOOL WEEK ANNUAL 2021 Now available to pre-order, the latest instalment of…