The Knitter 174

Seasonal essentials Cardigans, sweaters & accessories to cast on for spring This month, our special ‘Fine Lines’ design collection brings you modern ways with stripes, intarsia, stranded colourwork and mosaic stitch. Our patterns also include a Fair Isle accessories set, pretty socks for spring, and a relaxed, reversible cardigan design from Erika Knight. Also in this issue, we discover the beautiful hand-dyed colours of Gathered Sheep Yarns, and explore how best to block different types of fibres and stitches in our expert masterclass. HAPPY KNITTING!…

Dawn Whitaker Taking a textile design degree propelled Dawn from hobby knitter to handknit designer, working for a UK yarn manufacturer and more recently as a freelance designer. Sweaters are Dawn’s passion, and her ‘Uchiyama’ jumper on p61 features a smart cross rib stitch pattern. Fiona Alice Helsinki-based designer Fiona is known for her elegant, contemporary patterns, which have appeared in a range of international knitting magazines. Her latest design for us is a drop-shoulder sweater with a modern striped pattern for our ‘Fine Lines’ collection, which is on p46. Carol Meldrum Influenced by Scottish themes and textile traditions, Carol is known for her fashionable and playful knitting patterns. We have two brand-new designs from Carol this month: a chic black and grey shawl with touches of colour on p57, and a pair of socks…

“THIS DESIGN features a delicate cable pattern depicting peacock feathers,” says Emma Vining. “The feather panels are arranged on either side of the front bands, and on the centre back. Each feather is knitted with twisted stitches, with little veins fanning out on either side of the diagonal central shaft. The eye of each feather motif has a central moss stitch pattern.” STITCH PATTERNS PATTERN A (worked over 14 sts and 28 rows) Row 1 (RS): P7, C2B, P5. Row 2 (WS): K5, P2, K7. Row 3: P6, C2B, C2F, P4. Row 4: K4, P4, K6. Row 5: P4, T3B, T2B, T3F, P2. Row 6: K2, P1, K3, P1, K2, P1, K4. Row 7: P2, T3B, P1, C2B, P3, T3F. Row 8: K6, P2, K6. Row 9: P5, C2B, C2F, P5. Row 10: K5, P4, K5. Row 11: P3, T3B, T2B, T3F, P3. Row 12:…

PRIDE OF WALES The Wonderwool Wales show is back on for 2022 after cancellations due to the pandemic, and the organisers have put together a brilliant line-up of exhibitors and events for visitors to enjoy. The festival is being held at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells on 23-24 April, and this year all tickets must be purchased through the online booking system. The show is a celebration of Welsh wool, and visitors will be able to meet and shop with Welsh artisan brands and rare-breed flocks such as Garthenor, Nellie and Eve, Cartref Yarn, Beilidu Manx Mountain Sheep, Pure Welsh, Tyddyn Bryn, and the Pen-y-Lan Flock. There’ll also be independent yarn producers such as UK Alpaca, John Arbon Textiles and Blacker Yarns, along with a wide range of artisan dyers including…

KNIT HATS by Woolly Wormhead Hat knitting star Woolly Wormhead brings together 22 of her innovative and iconic designs in this paperback book, with styles for women, men and children. Showcasing her skills with construction, the hats feature a range of techniques including cables, textures and colourwork, and explain the techniques you’ll need to create perfect-fitting hats. £18.95, Stackpole Books SELBU PATTERNS by Anne Bårdsgård Explore the fascinating history of Selbu knitting with this comprehensive guide by Anne Bårdsgård. Illustrated with detailed charts and historical photographs, Anne presents more than 450 intricate black and white motifs from this much-loved Norwegian knitting style. This book is sure to inspire knitters and designers alike to incorporate these beautiful motifs into their own sweater, sock and mitten projects. £29.95, Trafalgar Square Books CANARY CRAFTIVISTS MANUAL by Craftivists Collective This thought-provoking book…

18-20 March Stratford-upon-Avon Stitchtopia Festival www.arenatravel.com/craft-holidays/stitchtopia-festival 19 March Saffron Walden Finishing Techniques www.craft-days.co.uk 01799218429 20 March Oxford Introduction to Steeking www.oxfordyarnstore.co.uk 01865604112 26 March Faversham German Short Row Heel & Modified Heel Flap Adjustment www.theyarndispensary.co.uk 01795 533812 26 March Frome www.allabouttheyarn.co.uk 31 March Warrington Learn to Hand Dye www.blacksheepwools.com 01925 764231 2 April Stirling Stash Buster Workshop www.coorie-creative.co.uk 01786450416 9 April Oxford Introduction to Darning www.oxfordyarnstore.co.uk 01865604112 9-10 April Leeds Spring Into Wool Festival www.springintowool.co.uk 12 April Aberdeen Seams Masterclass www.woolforewe.com 01224643738 23 April Brighton Beginner Brioche www.yarnandknitting.com 01273679726 23-24 April Builth Wells Wonderwool Wales www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk 01938 820 495 12-16 May Llanelli Welsh Knitting Retreat with Sasha Kagan www.arenatravel.com 0333 363 8100 11-12 June Wells-next-the-Sea Seaside Crafting Retreat www.knittingneedlelane.co.uk Tell us about your event! theknitter@immediate.co.uk…