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 moreAC Knitwear Picks: Favourite Cast Ons
If you’ve visited these parts at all this month, it’ll come as absolutely no surprise to hear that the tubular cast on is hands down my favourite. But, of course, other cast ons are available, and the tubular cast on is most suited for ribbing. Behind the scenes at AC Knitwear, we’ve been talking about what each of our favourite cast ons are … here are Jim and Katherine’s picks.
Read moreFeeling Flat? 1x1 Tubular Cast On for Flat Knitting
This month’s Boost Your Knitting pattern, the Totally Tubular Mittens, makes great use of the tubular cast on in the round – but how do you get started if your project is flat? Today, I’ll take you step by step through setting up tubular cast on for flat knitting.
Read moreArchive Dive: Knitting Ruined My Wife, Tubular Cast On Edition
Many years ago, I wrote an occasional column for Simply Knitting entitled Knitting Ruined My Wife. As Jen mentioned in her introduction to this month’s Boost Your Knitting technique, the tubular cast on in the round, it was her obsession with this particular method of starting a project that led to the creation of the column. Today, I thought it’d be fun to take a dive in my archives and share the piece with you.
Read moreFour reasons to love the tubular cast on (+ a video tutorial that shows you how to do it)
This month’s Boost Your Knitting project is all about mastering the tubular cast on in the round. I’ve waxed lyrical about my love of the tubular cast on in the past, but if I still haven’t convinced you to give it a go, here are four reasons you should take the plunge (it’s easy – I’ll show you how).
Read moreTexture Talk with Sarah Hatton
May’s Boost Your Knitting pattern is the Totally Tubular Mittens, designed by texture goddess Sarah Hatton. The mitten’s 1x1 rib cuff begins with a tubular cast on in the round – the technique we’re mastering this month – from which charming mock cables grow. Sarah is a prolific designer who loves to use interesting textures to make timeless wardrobe staples. You’ll recognise her designs from The Knitter Magazine (where she and Jen first met), Simply Knitting, Rowan, West Yorkshire Spinners … the list goes on! And of course, she also created a beautiful pattern for A Year of Techniques: the Yellow Wagtail Scarf. And Sarah was kind enough to take time out for a little chat with here on the blog!
Read moreTubular cast on in the round and the Totally Tubular Mittens
Buckle up folks! This month’s technique is one that I absolutely ADORE. I’m sure that I’ve bored you all to tears with this story already, but when I first learned about the tubular cast-on method I was so blown away by it that my excitement kept me awake that night. And not only was I feeling excited about it, but I also woke Jim up to tell him how excited I was by this new-to-me cast-on method. I think it’s safe to say that he didn’t share my enthusiasm at the time.
Read moreBoost Your Knitting: The Techniques
Have I mentioned recently how much I absolutely love enabling knitters to learn new techniques? That feeling of breaking it down into achievable chunks, leading people through the process, and watching them achieve more than they thought possible is almost as intoxicating as the thrill of learning something new. I can’t wait to help you to Boost Your Knitting!
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