It’s December, and winter has well and truly arrived in the UK — we’ve even had a dusting of snow! So it feels very appropriate to be kicking off the winter quarter of Confident Knitting this week, starting with Gudrun Johnston’s Stellar Hat.
Read moreShetland Trader Book Three: The Dresses
Have you ever fancied a knitted dress? If so, you’re in luck! Gudrun Johnston’s newest book, The Shetland Trader Book Three: Heritage, features not one, not two, but three stunning knitted frocks. Like all the patterns in this knockout book, the dresses marry 1970s aesthetic with modern sensibilities for beautiful and highly wearable pieces. And each dress features some different Shetland knitting techniques to try! I’m willing to bet that, even if you don’t think your wardrobe needs a dress, once you see these, you’ll change your mind. The designs are just. so. good. Shall we have a peek?
Read moreTutorial Round-up: Stranded Colourwork
It’s been so exciting to see some really stunning versions of Janette Budge’s triumph of a toque, the Variance Hat, coming off the needles. Quite a few folks have tackled this as a first colourwork project, which is brilliant to see! Even though Janette’s design features eight shades of J&S 2ply Jumper Weight, you never use more than two colours on any given row, making it a very approachable introduction to colourwork (and one that is sure to wow your knitting and non-knitting friends alike).
Read moreCatching Floats in Stranded Colourwork Knitting (Two Video Tutorials)
For this month’s Confident Knitting project, we’re focussed on floats! If you’ve ever knitted colourwork that’s turned out a bit lumpy and bumpy, or that looks a bit loose and sloppy, it was probably down to the floats being too tight, in the first instance, or too loose, in the second. Even floats equal even, beautiful stranded colourwork! Today, we’ve got two tutorials to help you catch your floats for even colourwork!
Read moreVariance Hat + Catching Floats in Stranded Colourwork
Happy release day! April showers were in short supply in our neck of the woods. If you too are still waiting for May flowers, never fear, today’s Confident Knitting pattern is bloomin’ marvellous. Take a gander at this spring-y beauty, the Variance Hat by Shetland designer extraordinaire, Janette Budge!
Read moreSwatching for Stranded Colourwork Projects
When Jen mentioned she was thinking of doing some kits for Gudrun Johnston’s Yokey Dokey sweater (Ravelry link), I jumped at the chance to do some swatching! I, ahem, don’t always swatch for colourwork projects — but I always should! It’s important to not only check that those colours that you think are going to look ah-mazing together actually work in the pattern, but also, of course, to check your tension against that of the pattern. Read on for my tips on swatching for stranded colourwork…
Read moreYokey Dokey Sweater Kits
One of the perks of my job is that I get an early preview of some fabulous new designs, and I’ve been excitedly waiting for the release of Gudrun Johnston’s Yokey Dokey Sweater since it first landed in my inbox at the end of April. Working with Gudrun is an absolute joy, and I have really enjoyed seeing the test knitters working on a range of beautiful colourways over on Instagram. You can browse what they have been up to with the #yokeydokeysweater hashtag.
I’m happy to share that yarn kits for the Yokey Dokey sweater, are now available in the online shop!
Read moreKeyford Hat and a 2x2 Tubular Cast On
It was frosty this morning as I walked to work. We are still without a car, and I am so enjoying noticing the differences in the hedgerows and front gardens as the weeks go by. I pulled my hat down over my ears and was particularly grateful for the cosy aran-weight colourwork of our newest pattern release – the Keyford Hat. Designed by Mary Henderson and featuring a bold, geometric motif as well as a neat 2x2 tubular cast on.
Read moreKnitting inside out
Do you struggle to keep your tension even when you knit stranded colourwork in the round over small circumferences? Lots of people do!
I’ve mentioned the trick of working inside out a few times in our books and here on the blog, but I’ve never shown in detail what I mean by this, so in today’s “not totally gratuitous excuse for more photos of my nearly-finished cowl”, I’m going to take you through it.
Read moreAvoiding a jog in stranded colourwork
Have you ever wondered how to get rid of a jog in a colourwork motif? Here’s a tip to sort that out for you…
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