Simply Knitting

On the needles with Kirstie McLeod

Kate — Sat, 25 May 2013 20:33:45 +0000

When we said goodbye to Debora Bradley in issue 100, she passed on the day-to-day editing of Simply Knitting to Kirstie McLeod. So now Kirstie's been at the reins for six months, we though it was high time we found out a bit more about her knitting background too...

Hunt for sweet treats with Cucumberpatch

Kate — Fri, 24 May 2013 11:55:30 +0000

It's the start of a long weekend for us lucky UK residents, and what better way to celebrate than with a special competition from Cucumberpatch! We're sending you on a treasure hunt around the Cucumberpatch website, looking for sweet treats...

As Daniel from Cucumberpatch explains, "When new customers come to the shop on their first visit, it's amazing how many times we hear the old adage 'I feel like a child in a sweet shop'. Well now we can back this up and sell the sweets to go with it.

"We were so excited to see the new packaging on a recent delivery of the Colinette Perugino Throw kits. These yarn sweets are oozing with wonderful colours. I think there will be the usual rush to unpack this sweetie wrapper and get stuck into the knitting - they look so good!"

New patterns for Manos yarns

Judy Darley — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:30:00 +0000

We love the idea of Mother/Daughter knits. Combine that with some of our favourite socially aware yarn – Manos Del Uruguay (they offer women in rural Uruguay the chance to earn a fair income), and the talents of designers Libby Summers, Anniken Allis and various others, and we’re nigh on in knitting heaven!

Artesano Yarns have just released three new pattern books. The first, Mother & Daughter, uses Mano Serena – a blend of baby alpaca and pima cotton that sounds divine. Apparently the yarn is hand dyed in copper kettles “to create a marbled, subtly striated effect that forms a rich palette of glorious colours.”

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.