--33 66 66!! GARMENTS IN SIZES IInn 55 ssiizzeess!! JOYFUL BABY KNITS Inspiring Don’t miss! IDEAS HOW-TO SPECIAL Uplifting patterns for all the family Get the PERFECT finish Quick-fix TRICKS Seaming made SIMPLE Knit up a FAIRYTALE! CREATIVE MAKES FOR YOU PLUS! TWO EXCLUSIVE DISNEY MUST READ patterns How knitting can help your mental health ISSUE 142 UK£7.99 STEP-BY-STEPS Z PERFECT PATTERNS Z EXPERT ADVICE 2 www.craftworld.com 52 WELCOME Welcome... …to the Romantic Ramble issue of Knit Now! This issue is full of beautiful stitchwork, gorgeous colour and perfect summer knitwear. The Ismini top (on our cover) in buttercup yellow is the perfect boho garment – see page 11; you could try Helen Metcalfe’s stunningly intricate cardigan in cornflower blue (page 28); and the coral kimono-style cardigan on page 38 will brighten up any summer outfit and works brilliantly as a mindful knit. We also have lots of fun knits for you to get on your needles. How about the sunrise cushion in stylish yellow and grey (page 46)? Or a Kaffe 7 Fassett wrap to flex your colourwork muscles (page 42)? There’s even a Princess and her Frog on page 48 for fans of cute toys! And of course, we have lots of tips, tricks and expert guides, from finishing hacks to knitting lace. I’m sad to say this is my last issue of Knit Now. It’s been an incredible year, but now it’s time for me to hand over to Kayleigh Hooton, formerly our Chief Sub-Editor, and most importantly, a HUGE knitting fan. Turn to page 82 to meet 82 her (and her gorgeous cat, Zeus)! Thank you all for your support, feedback and lovely knits! [email protected] Follow us online for daily knitting inspiration Knit Now magazine knitnow Knit Now Magazine @KnitNowMagazine OUR PROMISES n PPeerrffeecctt ppaatttteerrnnss n SSttyyllee aanndd qquuaalliittyy All of our patterns go through five stages of expert I pack every issue with beautiful and useful checks before publication to make sure that they patterns. If I wouldn’t want to knit it myself, are as clear and accurate as possible. I won’t publish it. n HHeerree ttoo hheellpp n SSuuppppoorrttiinngg TThhee CCaammppaaiiggnn ffoorr WWooooll If you need advice with a pattern, more photos or I love wool and natural fibres and I’ll do my knitting tips, you can email me and I’ll help you out. utmost to promote their use every issue. www.craftworld.com 3 Inside THIS ISSUE 22 54 11 74 28 34 On the cover Ismini Top by Evelyn Siatra page 11 Modelled by Whitney from J’Adore Models 17 Great Reads 52 5 Reasons We Love Knitting How crafting can help your Inspiration mental health 72 Inside the Studio 8 Ask the Experts We talk to Skein and the Stitch Your knitting queries, answered 82 Meet Your New Editor! 32 Finishing school We chat to Kayleigh Hooton Make the most of your free gift! 4 www.craftworld.com 42 CONTENTS 24 Worth £33! 36 Subscribe to Knit Now and get Caron Cakes worth £33! 58 66 48 Regulars 46 6 What’s New? All the latest knitting news 45 Shop, Save & Win The best offers, just for you 63 The Yarn Circle What’s going on in your yarn community 78 The Basics 38 Essential knitting knowledge 80 Coming Next Issue A sneak peek of issue 143 www.craftworld.com 5 What’s NEW Magazine 71 Magazine 71 from Rowan is the only pattern book you will need to completely Here’s our guide to what’s reinvent your wardrobe. Featured in this magazine is the incredible Diamond exciting in knitting right now Stripe pattern from legendary designer Kaffe Fassett. In true Kaffe style, this vest is an eclectic mix of colours brining to life the uniform diamond pattern. Designed in Rowan Cotton Glacé, this vest would look stylish over a lose fitted shirt or perhaps over the top of a block-colour dress. www.knitrowan.com CUTE CRITTERS Create your own creature collection with Pretty Little Things issue 25 Minibeasts. This fabulous collection features a knitting, crochet and sewing pattern that allow you to craft your own adorable critters to add character to your home and garden – no nets, magnifiers or bug jars required! We love this knitted ladybird purse, ideal for keeping hold of loose change and looking super cute! Pick up your copy and get crafting these fun projects. www.scheepjes.com Find this Kaffe Fassett pattern on page 42! 6 www.craftworld.com KNITTING NEWS We SSeeee oouurr nneexxtt iissssuuee ffoorr bboonnuuss love SSttyylleeccrraafftt bbaabbyy ppaatttteerrnnss!! boo k s BABY SOFT KNITS The talented team at Stylecraft is bringing in the spring with 12 new baby patterns all designed in the gorgeously soft New Wondersoft yarn. New Wonderful has a cashmere feel and comes in shades ideal for adorable baby knits. You will be spoilt for choice with this pattern collection, from a lacy cardigan, cabled jackets, ballerina-style boleros and even hats. These Quick and designs are perfect for your little one’s spring wardrobe. Easy Knits www.stylecraft-yarns.co.uk By Search Press Studios £9.99 BAMBOO BEAUTY Search Press Bringing together 100 best Smooth, lightweight and comfortable to work with, knitting projects from the Pony Bamboo interchangeable knitting needle best-selling Twenty to Make sets are all you need to create your dream knitting series, Search Press has projects. There are three sets to choose from created Quick and Easy Knits. and each one is beautifully presented and comes This fabulous book contains in a chic green pouch so you always have the every pattern you will ever right needle to hand. Each needle is made from need to make stylish hats, unbleached bamboo, sourced sustainably from headbands, wristwarmers and Indian bamboo, which is extremely flexible, whilst scarves, cute baby bootees, also being incredibly strong. flowers, fruit, mug hugs, phone For stockist information email socks, teddies and festive [email protected] decorations in a flash. This Find out more about Pony products at book is also ideal for creating www.ponyneedles-europe.de unique gifts in a hurry! This book is a treasure trove of ideas that you simply won’t be It’s story time able to resist. Every pattern is designed by a top knitting Your favourite West Yorkshire designer and bestselling Spinners yarn is now available authors including Monica in even more beautiful shades! Russel, Susie Johns and The Bo Peep DK colour pallet Fiona McDonald. now features exciting self-striping yarns in a range of colours from Dolphin to Starburst. Bo Peep DK is the perfect blend of Falkland Islands wool and the finest nylon, making it ideal for knitting soft but strong garments and accessories. This new release comes alongside the fabulous new pattern collection Story Book 4. This collection features breathtaking Fair Isle designs along with quick knits for all ages. www.wyspinners.com www.craftworld.com 7 Ask the EXPERTS Whatever your dilemma, our team of experts is here to help! This issue, we advise on Fair Isle and summer yarns Trinny asks: Susie asks: This summer jumper “I knitted a sweater for my “I’m planning for a summer holiday is in 100% cotton yarn sister but it turns out that and need some yarn suitable for hot – coming up in weather. I know cotton is a good choice Knit Now issue 144! we’ve got rather different length arms and it’s way too but are there other options?” short for her. It’s a simple Tricia says… stocking stitch sweater with bottom up sleeves and a Cotton is certainly ribbed cuff. Can I do anything a light, breathable, to lengthen the sleeves easy-care yarn and without taking the whole great for summer thing apart?” knits. Other yarns Jo says… to look for include bamboo, linen and If you have viscose (also referred to as rayon/ some yarn Tencel or under other brand names). left and, as Soy is a lightweight yarn for summer, the pattern as is silk. Don’t discount wool though is a simple – it’s warm in winter but, being a stocking breathable fibre, finer wools are stitch, you also surprisingly good for lightweight should be summer knits (and will take you into able to snip cooler evenings on the beach!). the knitting with a pair of sharp scissors at the top of Bea asks: the cuff (where it goes from Of Night and Light vest “I was so pleased to finish my first ever Fair Isle the rib to the main fabric). by Kath Andrews, project but I’ve noticed a mistake right in the Carefully unpick the first row Knit Now issue 134 middle of the back. It’s just a few stitches and of stitches in the main fabric my friend says no one will notice but I will! Is and place them on a needle there anything I can do?” (if you’ve seamed the fabric or knitted in the round, use Jayne says... a circular for this). Set aside the cuff section as you won’t Firstly, congratulations need it. on your first colourwork knit! Secondly, yes, you Rejoin the yarn at the edge can correct it! Where where you started unpicking, you need to correct being careful to check the a small number of number of stitches. Continue stitches you can use knitting on the stitches on a technique called your needle until your work duplicate stitch (also is long enough (allowing for called Swiss darning). Essentially, you cover the the length of the cuff). Swap incorrect stitch with yarn in the correct colour to smaller needles if required by sewing over the top of it, following the lines and complete the cuff. Cast of the original stitch. There’s no need to unpick off, not too tightly. Repeat for the work and, done properly, it should be barely the second sleeve. visible. Have a look at the tutorial at www.craftworld.com to see how it’s done. In association with 8 www.craftworld.com ASK THE EXPERTS Pattern on page 74! Lori asks… What cast-on method would you recommend for a lace shawl? K nitting teacher Debbie says... With lace projects, what is often needed is a very fine, almost invisible cast- on; my preferred cast-on is the backwards loop. The Step 1: Make a slipknot and Step 2: Holding the needle in Step 3: Where the yarn loops backwards loop cast-on place it on the needle. the RH and the working yarn over the thumb, insert the RH uses a single needle and is (attached to the ball) in the LH, needle from front to back under suitable for soft edgings and bring the left thumb (or index the front of the loop and over lacy articles where a light, finger if preferred), behind, the top of the back of the loop. understated edge is needed. under the yarn and forward, It also forms the basis of looping it over the thumb. some other methods, for example, a tubular cast-on. Top tips The first row of this cast on does not form complete stitches and it can be a little tricky to work the first row so check the number of stitches after the first row to ensure none have been dropped. Step 4: Carefully draw the Step 5: Repeat steps 1-4 until Step 6: As you can see, the If your cast-on edge is always loop tight. desired number of stitches finished edge (worked in yellow too tight, try going up a have been made. here to make it easy to see), is needle size for the cast on nice and smooth. It stretches row only. Likewise, if it HAPPY TO HELP! gently without leaving any is too loose, try a size Find more handy holes and is even and very smaller needle. step-by-step guides at unobtrusive (when worked in www.craftworld.com the same colour as the body of the knitting!). Got a knitting dilemma for the team? Email [email protected] with your questions! www.craftworld.com 9 10 www.craftworld.com