Simply Knitting

Father's Day gift ideas

Kate — Wed, 22 May 2013 13:15:01 +0000

Father's Day is less than a month away - Sunday 16th June. So here are five of our best patterns you can knit up for him, ready for the big day...

Jane Burns' set of six Father's Day gifts consists of a flower pot cover, golf club cover, picture frame, notebook cover, mug hug, and this fun knitted bow tie. They're quick to knit, and sure to bring a smile to your Dad's face. You can download all six patterns for £2.99 by clicking here.

Tuesday teatime treats - for Breast Cancer Care

Kate — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:38:14 +0000

This week's free Tuesday tea cosy comes courtesy of Libby Summers of LibbyTDesigns, who designed this in aid of Breast Cancer Care's Strawberry Tea Party campaign.

This annual fund-raising campaign takes place every summer, and this year it starts on 1st June and runs until 31st August. Breast Cancer Care are asking you to get together with friends and family this summer, and host a Strawberry Tea party, to help raise money to support the 55,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK.

Simply Knitting Book Club - five of the best books for knitting socks

Kate — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:12:46 +0000

Socks are such a great item to knit - worn by everyone and available in endless combinations of colours, yarns and styles, a hand-made pair are relatively quick to complete, and will be loved for years...

There's something special about socks. Knitters either love them and can’t knit enough, or dread going near them. They’re deemed to be a challenge yet Alice Yu, self-confessed sock addict, wants to reassure novice knitters that the challenge is not too tough to tackle.

Win a copy of our new magazine, Handmade Summer!

Kate — Sat, 18 May 2013 18:26:42 +0000

With chapters on dining al fresco, summer celebrations, fete makes, and home decor, inside Handmade Summer you'll find 197 sunny ideas to make and buy, including a beach bag crocheted from jute twine, picnic recipes, a knitted beach cover-up, and crepe paper party decorations. For more details, or to order a copy with worldwide postage included, click here.

Strictly Come Darning!

Kate — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:08:08 +0000

Earlier this month we joined queen of mending Scrapiana (otherwise known as Eirlys Penn) for her debut darning event, 'Strictly Come Darning', at Jumble Jelly in Bradford-on-Avon.

Join the online petition to protect the status of craft

Kate — Thu, 16 May 2013 11:39:23 +0000

Juliet Bernard, The Knitter magazine's Editorial Consultant, has joined an online petition to the government, to stop the removal of Crafts from the list of Creative Industries.

You can read about Juliet's thoughts in detail here.

The consultation period ends at midnight on the 14th June, and you can sign the e-petition here (UK residents only).

Sian Astley set up the petition, and as she explains, "There are over 88,000 people working in the craft industry, and it makes a £3bn annual contribution to the UK economy. These people are inherently and by their very nature creative."

Win a Clover Flower Loom

Kate — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:25:07 +0000

With these easy-to-use looms you can create beautiful flowers with your favourite materials - wool, yarn, ribbon or raffia - and in different shapes and sizes. Three pairs of looms are included, so you can make square, round or hexagonal flowers, simply by winding the yarn around the pegs in a criss-cross. Instructions are included, as well as a tapestry needle to finish off.

They're great for whipping up a quick accessory, and to introduce the younger members of your family to getting creative with yarn. The flowers can then be joined together to make corsages or scarves, or used as accessories on pillows, cushions and bags.

New - Tuesday teatime treats!

Kate — Tue, 14 May 2013 17:03:44 +0000

Patterns for tea cosies, mug hugs and coffee pot cosies are some of our most popular projects, so we've decided to treat you to a new free pattern each week! To start off, here's Louise Butt's striped cable set, with a tea cosy, coffee warmer, egg cosy and table mat... perfect for breakfast, or a warm pot of tea at any time of day.

On the needles with Sarah Hatton

Kate — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:06:46 +0000

In Simply Knitting Issue 107 we talked to designer Sarah Hatton. We couldn't fit all of the interview in the mag, so here are some extra bits and pieces!

Corrections in issue 107

Kate — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:00:00 +0000

We're sorry, we have a couple of corrections for the subscribers-only slippers pattern in issue 107:

They should be knitted with the yarn double, to achieve the correct tension. So follow the pattern as follows:

Cast on 29 sts using 5mm needles and the yarn doubled.

Row 1 Ktbl to end of row, to form a neat edge.

Row 2 (WS) (K1, P1), rep to last st, K1.

Row 3 (K1, P1), rep to last st, K1.

Row 4 P1, K9, P1, K7, P1, K9, P1.

Row 5 Knit.

Repeat rows 4 and 5 until work measures 10cm from the cast on row ending with RS facing for next row.