MAKE IT TONIGHT!
W NE OK! LO
ISSUE 131 May 2018
16
QUICK KNITS
£5.99 | May 18 Issue 131
you’ll love THE UK’S BESTSELLING KNIT MAG
COLOUR CONFIDENT!
EASY POM-POM BLANKET
HOW TO KNIT, WEAR & ENJOY this season’s best shades
AMAZING OWL SOCKS - AGES 5 TO ADULT
BEGINNERS’ LACE
Makes for all skill levels ECO-FRIENDLY IDEAS
High Street Heroes CUTE CHARACTERS
LOVE THIS!
ON E BALL KNIT!
DISCOVER THE UK’S BEST YARN SHOPS
GORGEOUS YARN CAKE SHAWL
SIMPLE TOYS
BOOST YOUR STASH
TOP TIPS
KNIT OUR BUNNY AND KITTEN IN A WEEKEND
GREAT VALUE COTTONS + STUNNING SHAWL YARNS
HOW TO READ A LACE CHART & LOTS MORE!
EDITOR’S Letter
Welcome!
23 33
ABOVE LEFT: how to be colour confident, p33 ABOVE: the Super Stripes Collection, p14 LEFT: bright cottons for under £4, p31 BELOW: fun makes to celebrate the royal wedding, p72
72 31
For far too long, it seems, grey has been the default colour for everything from knitwear to homewares – so much so it’s sometimes sarcastically referred to as ‘greige’, in other words the new beige! We’ve decided it’s time to move away from the grey and re-introduce some colour into our knitting, starting with our stunning Super Stripes Collection on page 14. These gorgeous garments and accessories range from ones with colourwork, like our stylish cover star, to ones where the yarn does the work for you, such as this easy-to-wear poncho (left and on page 23). Discover how to become more conident in using and wearing colour on page 33, and see our pick of bright cottons for under £4 – perfect for the coming warmer weather – on page 31. The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is on 19th May, so we thought we’d have some fun with a couple of royal-themed projects, starting on page 72. Not only do we have knitted and crocheted crowns, we also invite you to knit the royal couple themselves! Don’t forget, our knitting pattern for the queen can still be found at letsknit.co.uk. But the real event of the year is, of course, Yarn Shop Day on Saturday 12th May. Turn to page 62 for our round-up of exciting things you can expect on the day. Happy knitting!
Sarah
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sarah.neal@aceville.co.uk
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All items from patterns published by Let’s Knit are for personal use only and cannot be sold. Multiple copies of any part of this publication may not be made, and no part of this publication whether in its original form or a reproduction thereof may be sold. All patterns featured within Let’s Knit are reproduced in good faith that they do not infringe any copyright. DISCLAIMER: We recommend that readers use the main speciied yarn for every project as this will produce the best results. The alternatives given are suggestions only, and as no two yarns
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Visit us at letsknit.co.uk
are exactly the same we advise readers to swatch an alternative yarn carefully before choosing to use it for their project. The publishers are not responsible for any safety issues arising from any items knitted from patterns contained within Let’s Knit magazine. Please note that toys with small parts are not suitable for children under three years of age. If making a toy for a very young child, omit any buttons and embroider the details instead. Babies should be supervised when playing with toys. Prices are all correct at time of print.
03 letsknit.co.uk
May 2018
In this issue Fun House Play Mat
20
36
Prince Harry & Meghan
77
SHOPPING 8
See It, Want It, Love It Top buys for May
31 Cottons For Under £4 A bright bevvy of yarns at a fab price
42 Light As A Feather Our pick of the finest shawl yarns
65 Gentle Green Gorgeous yarns and spring fashion
84 Newslash Knitty events and goodies you won’t want to miss
FOCUS 25 Creative Colour Learn how to change colour while you knit
33 Colour Conident Be bold and wear the shades you love
62 High Street Heroes Our round-up of what’s happening on Yarn Shop Day
69 Q&A Central Your knitty questions answered
Cover Star
PEOPLE 10 Knit It, Write It, Share It!
46
Striped Sweater
Let us help you! WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IS MORE ANNOYING THAN ERRORS IN KNITTING PATTERNS, SO HERE’S OUR PROMISE TO YOU l Exclusive patterns featured in Let’s Knit have been professionally checked and reproduced with the utmost care. Updates can be found at letsknit.co.uk/pattern-updates l Should you encounter any problems we are more than happy to provide support and assistance. Contact us and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.
BY PHONE: 01206 508622 (oice hours only) BY EMAIL: support@letsknit.co.uk BY POST: at the address on page 94 (please mark your envelope ‘Support’) (Please note we cannot ofer assistance with patterns not published in Let’s Knit)
Contact us HAVE ANOTHER QUERY? HERE’S HOW TO GET IN TOUCH l Subscription enquiries/ customer services: 0330 333 0042, crafts@magazinestoyou.com l Advertising enquiries: 01206 505114, samantha.dean@aceville.co.uk l Online registration/website enquiries: webmaster@letsknit.co.uk
04 letsknit.co.uk
Your fantastic makes and letters
12 Out & About Where to go and what to do
40 Charity Corner Wonderful knitters who craft for a cause
98 Last Word Lauren Riker and her girly knits!
IN EVERY ISSUE 3 7 26 50 67 51 76 93
Welcome Free For You This Month Subscriptions Teabreak Read & Relax Coming Next Month Giveaways Knitter’s Know-How
70
WIN! WIN! WIN!
57
PRIZES WORTH OVER £1750 ON PAGES 67, 76 & 81
PATTERNS
Beginners’ pattern
74
82
Knitted Crown
Pretty Yoke Tee
60 Stripy Poncho
16 18 20 22 23 28 36 41 43 46 52 57 60 70 72 74 77 82 93 95
Pretty Yoke Tee Vintage Wrap Striped Sweater Sideways Linen Top Stripy Poncho Simple Dishcloths Fun House Play Mat Charity Pincushion Colour Crush Turtles Owl Socks Pleated Kimono Simple Knitted Fish Toy Cat & Bunny Lacy Wrap Crochet Crown Knitted Crown Royal Knitted Dolls Baby Trousers Blanket Square Mini Cactus Stashbuster
Br 1 ig 1SEht SpPA CT rin GE IO g St N yle
Vintage Wrap
Sideways Linen Top
THE SUPER STRIPES COLLECTION Starts on page 14 05 letsknit.co.uk
FREE FOR YOU THIS MONTH!
Knit our ive woodland toys with your gift! We love pom-poms of all shapes and sizes and our exclusive textured yarn is soft and cuddly and perfect for adorable toys. Steffi Hochfellner has created five fabulous animal patterns for you to knit, just add in a little DK from your yarn stash. Share your photos of your finished makes with us using the details on page 10.
Number for gifts 1
Which will you make irst?
EXCLUSIVE treats you’ll love
Find the patterns for our woodland collection in your BONUS PATTERN leaflet!
LOVE YOUR FREE YARN KIT? Get more! Order a bumper pack that includes 144g of yarn, for only £5.99*!
Simply visit letsknit.co.uk/pom-pom or call 0800 923 3005.
WORTH
choose from 3 Perfect gifts for kids!
Visit letsknit.co.uk to download more easy toy patterns today!
*T&C’s: postage charges apply. Limited stock available.
Coming next issue!
FREE* EASY-KNIT YARN KIT £5.99!
3 Four free yarns 3 Special pom-pom texture 3 Yarn kit worth £7.99! 3 Five adorable toy patterns to
Claim your FREE yarn kit! You’ll get six balls of exclusive DK yarn in gorgeous springtime shades. Find out more on page 32.
SPECIAL EYELASH YARN & TWEED IN YOUR FREE YARN KIT!
*UK customers only, just pay postage
Get two special yarns in your three-piece kit, plus easy toy patterns for Harry the Hedgehog and baby Alice!
June issue of Let’s Knit on sale Thursday 10th May 07 letsknit.co.uk
YOUR 11 PAGE FASHION SPECIAL
The SUPER STRIPES
Collection BRIGHTEN UP YOUR WARDROBE WITH OUR STYLISH AND COLOURFUL DESIGNS
PAGE
make t hs rom under £16
23 Stripy Poncho
SIMPLE SHAPE WITH PRETTY LACE DETAIL
esy-wear fshion! Celebrate stripes with our fabulous five-piece collection of garments and accessories. All of these projects are perfect for the spring season and many will take you right through into summer and beyond. We’ve got simple two-tone designs, vertical stripes that are worked sideways, and patterns that let the yarn do the colour changes for you – perfect if you’re looking to try out some new stitches and techniques!
PAGE
20 Striped Sweater
ON TREND PASTEL SHADES
14 letsknit.co.uk
THE STYLE
Edit uses oe yarn cake!
PAGE
18
PAGE
16
Vintage Wrap
Pretty Yoke Tee
knit CUSTOMISED DESIGN TO SUIT YOUR YARN
PAGE
22
latering tye fr spring
Sideways Linen Top
Lve vert icl tries!
LET THE YARN DO THE WORK!
COOL KNIT THAT’S PERFECT FOR LAYERING
15 letsknit.co.uk
HOME
pattern “If you are learning to knit, this dishcloth pattern is perfect! The pattern is very short, it doesn’t take long to make, and it doesn’t matter if the finished result is a bit untidy!” LK Editorial Assistant Heidi Wilkins
make!
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Confident !
LOOKING TO BRIGHTEN UP YOUR SPRINGTIME KNITS? WE SHOW YOU HOW!
W
e all have our go-to colours, our ‘safe shades’, those hues that we automatically reach for when browsing a clothes rail. And if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably ind those tones dominating your handknits too. Your stash might be a whole kaleidoscope of colour – because let’s face it, who can resist pretty yarn – but how many of those
bold and bright skeins are you really going to wear? Our guide will give you a few ideas on how to incorporate even the most vibrant hues into your next project.
s in Sirdar Colourwhe Scarve el
The best way of testing out a colour is with an accessory. Skinny scarves are a pretty addition to any spring outit, whereas larger wraps have the added advantage of keeping of those cooler evening chills. Most accessory patterns use just a few balls, so are perfect if you’re unsure whether a shade will suit you. Choosing a bold, vibrant shade will inject colour to a neutral outit. This cheery yellow scarf (above) is made in Stylecraft Cotton Classique 4ply and cotton ibres take dye brilliantly. That means there are some fabulously bright colourways to choose from like the vibrant purple shade From White Stuf in this tasselled wrap (left). Purple is one of Pantone’s colours of 2018 so it’s the ideal opportunity to try a new hue. You can ind both patterns on lealet 9517, stylecraft-yarns.co.uk
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Turn the page
A lightweight shawl is a perfect accessory for spring, so take a look at our favourite yarns for creating a garment you’ll love!
Light as a 1 FEATHER
yours elf!
A TOUCH OF SILK Exquisite is a superb blend of the inest Falkland Island wool and soft mulberry silk. The gentle, pure ibres and lightweight feel make this a very special yarn indeed. Available in ten sumptuous shades, this yarn will create garments that are a dream to wear! WEST YORKSHIRE SPINNERS EXQUISITE LACE, shade Portobello, £13.95 per 100g hank, wyspinners.com
3
fibres
SO LUXURIOUS
The soft blend of 80% baby suri alpaca and 20% ine merino wool in this yarn make it a real treat to work with. Soft and comforting to the touch, it’s ideal for knitting both garments and accessories and is available in a sweet range of pastel and bold colours.
5
OMBRE EFFECT
This lightweight yarn has a soft, gentle feel to it and the ombre colour efect is perfect for creating beautiful shawls, scarves or even babywear. It is organically made with merino wool from the Falkland Islands, spun in Devon and hand dyed, this is a gorgeous and truly unique ibre!
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WATERCOLOURS & LACE FALKLANDS MERINO LIGHT LACE, shade Deep Purple Dahlia, £11 per 50g hank, watercoloursandlace.co.uk
SUMMER VIBES
Next issue
shiny!
colours SOMETHING SWEET Made with beautiful high twist mercerised cotton, this laceweight yarn from Scheepjes has a gleam to it that creates gorgeous stitch deinition and a wonderful drape. This yarn feels soft and silky to touch and is available in 87 shades so your choice of makes is endless!
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SCHEEPJES MAXI SUGAR RUSH, shade Delphinium, £2.19 per 50g ball, woolwarehouse.co.uk
SOFT AND STRONG
We are huge fans of a self-striping yarn at LK and the array of rich colours in this variegated ibre co-ordinate beautifully and knit up stunning garments. Due to the lightweight texture, it is incredibly soft and versatile and creates makes with a subtle sheen. CYGNET YARNS BOHO SPIRIT, shade Cosmic, £3.25 per 100g ball, wool4less.co.uk
2
Available in an impressive colour palette, this squishy ine yarn is perfect for creating bold, bright makes from socks to shawls and scarves. The blend of wool and polyamide makes this a durable ibre that can be machine washed and it is a fantastic yarn to knit with. PAINTBOX YARNS SOCKS, shade Zebra Violette, £8.79 per 100g ball, loveknitting.com
ROWAN FINE LACE, shade Twilight Magenta, £8.25 per 50g ball, blacksheepwools.com
Britis wool h
FAB SHADES
This lightweight 4ply yarn is perfect for an array of projects and is available in a gorgeous range of solid colours. The blend of superwash merino and nylon creates durable garments that are easy to care for. It knits up with fab stitch deinition and will give you makes that are soft to the touch!
loves!
CASCADE YARNS® HERITAGE SOCK YARN, shade Grape Juice, £7.99 per 100g hank, woolwarehouse.co.uk
We take a look at lovely linen and hemp yarns! 42 letsknit.co.uk
fibres @letsknitmag
TOY
pattern
olur rush
TURTLES KNITTED IN PASTEL CHIC COLOURS, SACHIYO ISHII’S TURTLES ARE READY FOR A FUN DAY AT THE BEACH!
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These cheerful little sea creatures are cute toys or decorations for the home and are great fun to create! You can make them in two different sizes and they are knitted using the intarsia technique so they are an ideal mini project if you’re still mastering this skill! Their bright colours could be tailored to fit with your décor and if you love a stashbuster, this is the make for you!
TO • E X C L US
SOCK
pattern
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Don’t miss our
NEXT ISSUE JUNE ISSUE OF LET’S KNIT ON SALE THURSDAY 10TH MAY
SPARKLY EYELASH YARN + SPECIAL TWEED EFFECT IN YOUR FAB FREE KIT!
Worth £7.99!
Easy-wear SUMMER STYLE for all knitters!
KNIT HARRY THE HEDGEHOG & BABY ALICE! NURSERY KNITS SPECIAL
SUPER SIMPLE SHAPE
ALSO in this issue...
1 Simple unicorn baby blanket 2 Beginner-friendly T-shirt 3 Exclusive Amanda Berry toy 4 Pretty trainer socks 5 Yarn cakes and linen fibres: your essential shopping guides 51 letsknit.co.uk
Projects subject to change
LIGHT & LACY TOP
erfect
PLEATS TREAT YOURSELF TO A LUXURIOUS DRAPEY CARDI FROM CAMILLA ETTE GOTFREDSEN Fine knits are perfect for the warmer spring season! Made in a pure wool 4ply yarn, this long and elegant garment certainly isn’t a quick make but is definitely worth the time. It’s worked from side to side which turns the wide rib design into a soft pleat effect. It’s embellished with iron-on patches but you could leave it plain or embroider your own designs if you prefer.
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S I V E TO
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Coastal chic is an ideal look for spring/summer décor and these fabulous fish are great fun to make. We love the rustic charm achieved with the variegated tweedy yarn and there are three designs to choose from, giving you the opportunity to expand your knitty repertoire. The tail is worked using short-row shaping, read more about that on page 82, and don’t forget to check out page 25 for our guide to changing colour.
DISCOVER HOW TO:
4 INCREASE 4 KNIT TWO TOGETHER 4 DECREASE WITH SSK 4 WORK SHORT ROWS
PLUS
4 STYLING IDEAS 4 ALL THE GUIDANCE YOU NEED IN OUR TIP PANELS over the page
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EASY HOME DECORATION FOR NEW KNITTERS!
SI
Knitted Fish
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Simpe
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High Street
Heroes
YARN SHOP DAY IS IN ITS FIFTH YEAR AND IS SET TO BE THE BEST ONE YET! DISCOVER WHAT EXCITING EVENTS OUR BELOVED LOCAL YARN SHOPS ARE PLANNING
W
hen Let’s Knit launched Yarn Shop Day with our sister mag LGC Knitting and Crochet in 2013 our aim was to celebrate everything we love about our local yarn shops. Where else can you go to squish balls of yarn, chat to other knitters and get inspiration for your next project? Our bricks-and-mortar stores are an integral part of our creative community and we cannot wait to celebrate with you on May 12th!
Amazing plans for Yarn Shop Day ◆ BLACK SHEEP WOOLS (Cheshire) Get expert advice on all aspects of sock knitting with YSD ambassador and sock knitter extraordinaire Winwick Mum (Christine Perry). Crochet designer and blogger Emma Varnam will also be on hand sharing her skills. Rowan consultant Melanie Boocock will be holding mini knitting sessions and hand dyeing expert Debbie Tomkies will be running demonstrations throughout the day.
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◆ JENNY WREN’S YARNS (Sufolk) Visit the store for special ofers aplenty, goodie bags, an all-day knit and natter drop-in, and of course, cake! There will be a rale, book tombola and other fun and games, plus Jo of Lime Green Jelly will be in store with her lovely products for shoppers to admire and purchase. Local knitwear designer and regular tutor at Jenny Wren’s, Anni Howard, will also be showcasing her fabulous designs!
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Celebration KNIT PRINCE HARRY & MEGHAN! There’s a rather big wedding happening on the 19th May and while it seems our invitation got lost in the post, we’re marking it in true knitty fashion with Susie Johns’ fun and fabulous dolls. We love the detail of the outits from Meghan’s trademark white coat and Harry’s suit and tie, right down to their removable undies! Share your pictures with us using the details on page 10.
A uniqe su venir f t hs year’s big vent 77 letsknit.co.uk
• EXCLUSI