May was all about the pinhole cast on, and for many that has meant toys. Alex the Mouse by Ella Austin has, as we'd expected, been a big hit, even amongst those who have previously avoided knitted toys.
Read moreKnitted-on edging and the Talmadge cloche
It's the first of June, it's pattern release day, so summer must be here.
The technique for June, the first of the summer projects within A Year of Techniques, is knitted-on edging, a common feature in shawls, blankets and so on. This month's pattern is the Talmadge Cloche, designed by Rosemary (Romi) Hill.
Read moreWhat other uses can I find for pinhole cast on?
So, you've read the tutorial, watched the video, started (or even finished) Alex the Mouse, but what else is there to do with pinhole cast on?
Read moreHow to neatly finish Alex the Mouse
This isn't one of the monthly AYoT video tutorials, rather a bonus one for May to show you how to work an applied i-cord edging to join 2 pieces. If you're nearing the end of Alex the Mouse, this could be invaluable.
And that's not all. Ella Austin has shared her expertise on finishing toys
Read moreElla Austin talks toys and colourwork
Jen caught up with Ella Austin (BomBella Designs), colourwork toy designer extraordinaire, recently to find out all about her inspiration and process of design.
Read moreSummer Kits for A Year of Techniques are on sale
Today's post is just a short one to let you know that the Summer Kits for A Year of Techniques are now on sale. Each kit contains sufficient yarn to knit the June, July and August projects from A Year of Techniques, as well as a large sturdy canvas project bag.
Read morePinhole Knitalong
I can't believe how quickly people have ditched their WIPs and cast on for Alex! The knitalong thread in our Ravelry group is already buzzing with excitement. If you're new to posting in our group, please do feel free to just drop in and share your progress. We're a very chatty bunch, but there's no obligation to wade through all the posts in any of the threads, just dive in and say hi!
We are always very happy to answer questions about any aspect of your knitting, and the wealth of experience and knowledge in our group is extraordinary - group membership now stands at 1,260 so wherever you are in the world, someone will be awake and on hand to encourage you along!
Read moreMeet Alex the Mouse
This is Alex the Mouse, the marvellous creation of Ella Austin for this month's A Year of Techniques project. Thank you Ella! I can't stop cuddling him! I've had to physically fight off family members who have tried to kidnap Alex as their own. In fact over the last few months that he's been staying here, Alex has had a constant stream of admirers!
Read moreA month of intarsia
If you're a regular reader, you'll know that April's A Year of Techniques technique was intarsia. Most knitters taking part in our KAL followed Bristol Ivy's Brambling shawl pattern, but others took the technique and had a go at something else for an extra challenge, as you will see.
Read moreBristol Ivy talks intarsia
We've been beavering away behind the scenes to get A Year of Techniques ready for the final copy editing and layout process, which is why it's been a bit quiet around here. In between all that I've been knitting like mad on my Brambling Shawl. I'm feeling a little bit sad that it's nearly done, as I've enjoyed it so much. But I'm also bursting with excitement to share May's pattern with you next week. It's a corker!
So how have you found intarsia? Was it as tricky as you thought? Or were you already a seasoned intarsia expert who had knitted a heap of picture sweaters in the 80s? I've been chatting to Bristol Ivy (the genius designer of Brambling) about her experience of intarsia, and I've pumped her for pattern inspiration for my next intarsia project. Here's what she had to say:
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