Table of contents for 225 in The Knitter

Sandra Nesbitt Yorkshire-based designer Sandra loves to explore the possibilities of lace, cables, colourwork and brioche to create her designs. We have two patterns from Sandra this month: a floral mosaic cardigan on p8, and a pair of two-colour brioche mitts on p70. 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 yarn brands and knitting magazines. Turn to p36 to find her ‘Tresaith’ socks, and p53 for her ‘Portsmouth’ men’s sweater. Chloé Elizabeth Birch Chloé is a freelance knitwear designer who loves to create fun yet timeless pieces, and has designed for West Yorkshire Spinners and Vogue Knitting. Her latest design for us is a cosy sweater with mosaic colourwork, which you can find…

WORKSHOPS 22 FEBRUARY London Knit Calm: a one-day retreat about knitting and the mind knitwithattitude.com 020 3971 7861 22 FEBRUARY Renishaw, Derbyshire Yarn Spa with Jo. Knit. Sew nibblesneedlesandhooks.co.uk 28 FEBRUARY, 7 & 14 MARCH Tideswell, Derbyshire Learn to Knit Socks peakdistrictyarns.co.uk 07730 682275 28 FEBRUARY Chipping Norton Learn to Spin thefibreworks.co.uk 01608 645970 1 MARCH Lower Pilsley, Derbys Knitted Toe-Up Cast-on nibblesneedlesandhooks.co.uk 7 MARCH Exeter Toe-Up Socks woolontheexe.com 01392 669015 7 MARCH Betchworth, Surrey Learn to Spin gilliangladrag.co.uk 01306 898144 7 MARCH Faversham Finishing Techniques theyarndispensary.co.uk 01795 533812 13 MARCH Warrington Beaded Lace Knitting with Anniken Allis blacksheepwools.com 14 MARCH Faversham Introduction to Lace Knitting with Bronagh Miskelly theyarndispensary.co.uk 01795 533812 15 MARCH London Continental Knitting wildandwoollyshop.co.uk 020 8985 5231 15 MARCH Tideswell, Derbyshire Introduction to Yarn Dyeing peakdistrictyarns.co.uk…

BASED ON a houseboat on the River Thames, Lisa and Linda run their yarn brand wool decanted, which specialises in British wools. Their small-batch yarns are named after the year or ‘vintage’ in which the unique blends were created – just like fine wines - and they love to share their passion for British sheep breeds with visitors to yarn festivals. We chatted with this enterprising duo about their exciting yarn adventures. What’s the story behind wool decanted? “We set up our business in the autumn of 2020. We’d both retired from corporate careers and really wanted to try building a small business of our own. One of Linda’s hobbies was knitting dog jumpers. Lisa suggested making this into a business and together we came up with the idea of…

THERE COMES a point in most knitters’ lives when we encounter sheepy yarn: the kind that leaves your hands lanolin-scented and shiny, and which makes you feel a little closer to the yarn’s origin as you pick out the odd bit of vegetal matter. For many, that’s the closest they want to get to the sheep behind the yarn. Not Jane Cooper. For Jane, author of the 2023 book The Lost Flock (and reader of the subsequent audiobook), an encounter with rare Boreray yarn led to her moving to Orkney. There, she inadvertently set about preserving the future of the Orkney Boreray flock, a genetically unique subgroup of the Boreray breed from the St Kilda archipelago in the Outer Hebrides. Besides offering a rich biography of the breed, The Lost…

THIS SCARF design from Jennie Atkinson comes complete with a hood, to keep the winds of winter away from your ears! It’s knitted in two pieces, which are grafted together then seamed to form the hood. Tassels are attached to the pointed ends of the scarf and the top of the hood for a jaunty finish. Jennie’s design is knitted in a simple lace stripe pattern using Rico Creative Chic-Unique DK yarn, which comes in 14 shade-shifting colourways. PATTERN NOTES The scarf is knitted in two pieces from the centre to the pointed end, starting with a provisional cast-on. To finish, both pieces are joined by grafting together the cast-on edges, then sewing a seam along one side to create a hood. Finally, tassels are added at both ends and…

INSPIRED BY classic polo shirts, this jumper has a raglan construction and a neat collar which is edged with crochet. It’s knitted top-down in a chunky-weight blend of kid mohair, wool and polyamide from Danish yarn brand Permin, which gives a warm, soft and fluffy fabric. The crochet trim uses a small amount of 4ply sock yarn. PATTERN NOTES The jumper is knitted using yarn A, with the lace edge of the collar being worked in crochet using yarn B. JUMPER COLLAR Using 3.5mm circular needles, 80cm long and yarn A, cast on 101 (101:105:105:105:105) sts loosely. Row 1 (WS): Sl 1, P to last st, K1. Row 2: Sl 1, K2tog, K to last 3 sts, K2tog-L, K1. Work rows 1-2 another 13 times. 73 (73:77:77:77:77) sts. The WS…

Issue 224 Polo jumper & tank top Floral lace jumper Gradient sweater Fair Isle hat Mosaic cushion Cabled cardigan Tailored jacket Fair Isle armwarmers Aran sweater Tote bag Dutch gansey Raglan jumper SEE THE PATTERNS IN DETAIL HERE http://bit.ly/RAVTKN Issue 222 Fair Isle cardigan Textured cardigan Cabled cowl Fair Isle headband Lace & bobble cardigan Fair Isle hot water bottle cosy Nordic sweaters Waistcoat Chunky socks Poncho Issue 222 Colourwork sweater Fair Isle cardigan Sweater dress Cable shawl Men’s gansey Colourwork cowl Cabled jumper Bag & hat set Mini scarf Nordic sweater Cable yoked jumper Issue 221 Nordic cardigan Christmas wreath Longline cabled sweater Fair Isle tank Textured jumper Fair Isle scarf Men’s sweater Lace shawl Children’s cardigan Balloon-sleeve ribbed jumper TURN FOR MORE BACK ISSUES Digital copies are available…

THIS TANK top design from Mary Henderson has a Fair Isle pattern worked in shades of blue and pink, with tiny dots of green providing contrast. Corrugated ribbed edges complement the colourwork. “My design is knitted in Copenhagen Fibers Merino Light, which is delightful to work with,” says Mary. “It is a soft, lightweight wool that knits to standard 4ply tension, so it’s easy to use for any Fair Isle pattern.” PATTERN NOTES The garment is worked in the round from the bottom up. Steeks are placed for the armholes and V-neck opening. Cast on for steeks using the backwards loop method. A separate chart is provided for the steek. Change colours if required at the beginning of each round. Steek sts are not included in Body stitch counts. BODY…

THE DANISH yarn company Hobbii has become popular with knitters across Europe and beyond thanks to its huge choice of yarns for every type of knitting project - from classic sock yarns and pure cottons in cheerful colours, and gorgeous wool and alpaca blends, to rainbow-bright acrylic yarns, bouclé and chenille, head-turning neons, and even paper and rope yarns. In autumn 2025, Hobbii launched a new brand called Copenhagen Fibers, specialising in natural fibres and a cool, contemporary Danish aesthetic – and these beautiful yarns have quickly become a hit with discerning knitters. It’s an exciting new venture for Hobbii, a company founded in 2015 as a small enterprise to supply yarn, and which quickly grew into an amazing community of yarn lovers. “Our history starts off fairly simply, with…

THIS ELEGANT cardigan is knitted flat, beginning with a garter stitch border on the lower body and sleeve edges, followed by a flower-patterned mosaic band. The rest of the cardigan is knitted in moss stitch. Sandra Nesbitt’s design has set-in sleeves and a gently curved neckline. Once the pieces are seamed, stitches are picked up around the neck and along the front edges and worked in garter stitch for a neat finish. CHART NOTES The RS row, beginning with an odd number at the right-hand edge, works from right to left. The WS row brings the same colour back to the right-hand edge of the knitting. The other colour is left at the right-hand side of the row waiting to be used later. The mosaic colourwork is formed by slipping…

THIS CARDIGAN by Martin Storey was inspired by traditional woven Welsh blanket patterns, and its colourwork is created using a combination of Fair Isle and intarsia techniques. Martin’s design will keep you cosy all winter, as it’s knitted in Rowan’s new Felted Tweed Soft yarn. This has the same fibre mix as Felted Tweed, but is airblown to give an incredibly lofty yet cosy feel. It comes in a palette of 10 tweedy shades. CHART NOTE The full chart has been split in two. When working the Back, follow the complete chart working Row 1 from the first half of the chart at the top of the page and continuing Row 1 from the second half of the chart at the bottom of the page. For each Front and the…

THIS SWEATER design from Sarah Hatton has a pattern of diamond cables, paired with graphic lines and dashes of stocking stitch on a reverse stocking stitch background. It has a round-neck, drop-shoulder shape, and is knitted in a pure Merino yarn from World of Wool. Fluff DK comes in a wide choice of smart neutral shades and brighter tones. CHART PATTERN (written instructions) Row 1 (RS): Purl. Row 2 (WS): K2, P3, K12, P3, K2, (K4, P3, K12, P3, K2) 4 (4:5:5:6:6:7) times. Row 3: (P2, T4F, P4, K2, P4, T4B, P4) 4 (4:5:5:6:6:7) times, P2, T4F, P4, K2, P4, T4B, P2. Row 4: K3, P3, K4, P2, K4, P3, K3, (K5, P3, K4, P2, K4, P3, K3) 4 (4:5:5:6:6:7) times. Row 5: (P3, T4F, P3, K2, P3, T4B, P5)…

PERFECTFOR cold winter days, this hip-length sweater has a cosy roll collar, and is knitted in a chunky-weight British wool from West Yorkshire Spinners. Chloé Elizabeth Birch’s design has bands of pink and white mosaic patterning around the lower sleeves and chest, while the main fabric is knitted in broken seed stitch. Garter stitch welts in contrasting colours are worked above the lower rib, and around the top edge of the ribbed rollcollar. STITCH PATTERNS BROKEN SEED STITCH Row 1 (RS): K1, *P1, K1; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): Purl to end. Row 3: P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end. Row 4: Purl to end. BACK Using 6mm needles and yarn A, cast on 91 (107:121:135:149) sts. Rib row 1 (RS): K1, (P1, K1) to…

THIS SWEATER was designed as a celebration of love, comfort and cosiness! With raglan sleeves and an easy, straight shape that’s great for layering, the design features bands of colourwork around the lower body and sleeves, and a stripe of contrast colour around the neckline. The project is knitted flat from the bottom up using Scheepjes Stone Washed, a comfortable blend of cotton and acrylic that comes in a choice of solid and variegated shades. BACK Using 3mm needles and yarn A, cast on 106 (118:130:142:154) sts. Row 1 (RS): K2, *P2, K2; rep from * to end. Row 2 (WS): P2, *K2, P2; rep from * to end. These 2 rows form rib. Work a further 8 rows in rib, inc 1 st in last row. 107 (119:131:143:155) sts.…

TINY POP STARS If the little ones in your life love to wear bright colours, then Sirdar’s ‘Little Scandi Pop’ pattern collection will put a smile on their faces! There are 10 comfortable garment and accessory projects for children aged from one to four years, along with two colourful blankets. Designs include cheerful sweaters in zingy stripes and colourblock patterns, cosy cardigans, a vest top, a hoody with pockets, and a hat and scarf set. They’re all knitted in Sirdar’s Snuggly Chunky yarn. PDF patterns £3.50, printed patterns £4.50 from www.sirdar.com Happy hues John Arbon’s Yarnadelic palette has been expanded with five fabulous neon colours and four moody darks£23 per 100g; jarbon.com AFRICAN TOURS Knitters can discover the fascinating fibre traditions of South Africa with Threaded Journeys, which is organising a…

DESIGNED TO be a unisex garment, this sweater by Pat Menchini was inspired by fishermen’s ganseys, and features panels of knit-and-purl patterning around the upper body and sleeves. Our sample here is knitted in a pretty pink shade of West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft DK, a pure Shetland wool. This yarn also comes in a range of handsome neutral colours, as well as speckled, tweedy colourways. BACK Using 3.25mm needles, cast on 115 (127:137:149:159:171) sts. Row 1 (RS): K2, (P1, K1) to last st, K1. Row 2: K1, (P1, K1) to end. Rep Rows 1 and 2 another 5 times, then work Row 1 once more. Next row (WS): Patt to last st, M1 (-:1:-:1:-) pwise, K1. 116 (127:138:149:160:171) sts. Change to 4mm needles. Beg with a RS knit row,…

THESE SOCKS feel fabulously soft, fluffy and cosy, thanks to the use of a special alpaca sock yarn from Lang. Alpaca Soxx 6-ply blends superfine alpaca fibre with nylon for strength, and comes in a fantastic choice of solid and mélange shades. Sarah Hatton’s design is knitted top-down in a broken rib pattern which brings an interesting texture to the fabric. SOCKS (both alike) CUFF Using 2.75mm circular needles or DPNs, cast on 66 (72:78) sts. Pm and join to work in the round, taking care not to twist sts. Rnd 1: *P1, K1; rep from * to end. This round sets rib. Work another 11 rounds in rib. LEG Cont in patt as follows: Rnd 1: *K1, P1, K1, P3; rep from * to end. Rnds 2 to 8:…

THIS SWEATER from the Sirdar design team has an unusual rippled texture with a 3D effect, inspired by patterns left on a beach after the tide has gone out, and created using tuck stitches. The garment has drop shoulders, three-quarter-length sleeves, and a V-neck edged with deep ribbed bands. It’s knitted in Sirdar’s Loveful 100% Recycled Acrylic, which is spun from fibres left over from the spinning process, and comes in 14 modern shades. BACK Using 4.5mm needles and the thumb method, cast on 117 (129:141:153:165:177:189) sts. Row 1 (RS): *K1, P1; rep from * to last st, K1. Row 2: P1, *K1, P1; rep from * to end. Rows 1 and 2 set 1x1 rib. Work in 1x1 rib for 9cm, ending with a RS row. Next row (WS):…

“THESE THUMBLESS mitts are worked flat, making them a great introduction to two-colour brioche,” says Sandra Nesbitt. “A bold brioche pattern runs up the back of each glove, framed neatly by stocking stitch for a clean finish. Once the piece is complete, it’s folded and seamed, leaving an opening for the thumb to create a snug, comfortable fit. The simple construction makes them a quick and satisfying knit.” Sandra’s design uses DROPS Soft Tweed, a tactile blend of wool, alpaca and viscose. PATTERN NOTES Each row of the brioche panel is worked twice by sliding the 13 sts just worked back on to the left-hand needle so they can be worked again in the second colour. Note that on the RS side the sts in yarn A will be prominent…