LK 130 April 2018 by Adrienne Chandler

NEW SEASON SPECIAL!

W NE OK! LO

Over

ISSUE 130 Apr 2018

great ideas for what to knit now

£5.99 | Apr 18 Issue 130

THE UK’S BESTSELLING KNIT MAG

Fresh looks

FOR THIS

TRY OUR EASY CROCHET BLANKET

SPRING Essential patterns for you, home, baby and more! CASUAL CABLE T-SHIRT

STUNNING BAG BY NICKI TRENCH

Love our Coastal collection Knitalongs PILLOW TRIO

LOVE THIS!

EASY POTHOLDERS

WHY THEY’RE EVERYWHERE AND WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN ONE!

FAB FLORAL TEACOSY

KNIT & GIVE

HOT FUZZ

SKILLS SPECIAL

DISCOVER THE CHARITIES THAT NEED YOUR MAKES

OUR PICK OF THE BEST MOHAIR YARNS

COLOURWORK AND CABLES IN STEP-BY-STEP

EDITOR’S Letter

Welcome!

53 82

ABOVE LEFT: trends for the new season, p53 ABOVE: the Coastal Collection, p14 LEFT: 9 reasons to love Yarn Shop Day, p82 BELOW: don’t miss our quirky doughnuts, p39

After months of winter gloom, what could be more refreshing than a trip to the coast? Come on the journey with us by way of our Coastal Collection which starts on page 14. There are three stunning garments in shades of crisp white and denim blue, including Jo Allport’s funky slant sweater (left and on page 18), plus patterns for contemporary cushions and textured pot holders that are full of beach-house chic. A new season brings not just a change in the weather but new yarns and patterns too! Our roundup of the best in spring and summer knitting from your favourite brands including Rowan, King Cole, Stylecraft and Sirdar starts on page 53, and highlights include linen yarns, cool cottons and everyday sparkle. There’s also our pick of the best denim-themed yarns on page 27 and a medley of marvellous mohair on page 42. Saturday 12th May is Yarn Shop Day, meaning that once again shops across the land will be hosting exciting events and giving away exclusive freebies. Discover some great reasons to join in on page 82. There are some terriic patterns in this month’s LK, from our stylish beginners’ T-shirt to Jane Burns’ quirky doughnut pals on page 39. What will you be knitting from this issue? Let us know! Happy knitting!

Sarah

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Subscribe to Let’s Knit and receive your FREE* safari animals kit from Deramores PLUS 900g yarn and 6 patterns! See page 28. Find us at facebook.com/ letsknitmag

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All items from patterns published by Let’s Knit are for personal use only and cannot be sold. Multiple copies of any part of this publication may not be made, and no part of this publication whether in its original form or a reproduction thereof may be sold. All patterns featured within Let’s Knit are reproduced in good faith that they do not infringe any copyright. DISCLAIMER: We recommend that readers use the main speciied yarn for every project as this will produce the best results. The alternatives given are suggestions only, and as no two yarns

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are exactly the same we advise readers to swatch an alternative yarn carefully before choosing to use it for their project. The publishers are not responsible for any safety issues arising from any items knitted from patterns contained within Let’s Knit magazine. Please note that toys with small parts are not suitable for children under three years of age. If making a toy for a very young child, omit any buttons and embroider the details instead. Babies should be supervised when playing with toys. Prices are all correct at time of print.

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April 2018

In this issue 43

58 SHOPPING 8

See It, Want It, Love It Top treats for April

27 Denim Heaven Cool blue yarns for this spring trend

42 Fabulously Flufy Luxurious mohair blend yarns

61 Feelin’ Peachy Gorgeous yarns for springtime knits

78 NewsFlash Shows and goodies you’ll love

FOCUS 25 Master Cabling Learn this classic knitting technique Beginner’s T-shirt

53 Your #1 Spring Knitting Guide New season trends, yarns and patterns

66 The British Knitting and Crochet Awards Nominate your favourites!

68 Knit One, Purl One, Knitalong! Why you should join in the fun

Cover Star

PEOPLE 10 Knit It, Write It, Share It! Your brilliant makes and letters

Sideways Cable Sweater

13 Out & About Where to go and what to do

Let us help you! WE UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IS MORE ANNOYING THAN ERRORS IN KNITTING PATTERNS, SO HERE’S OUR PROMISE TO YOU l Exclusive patterns featured in Let’s Knit have been professionally checked and reproduced with the utmost care. Updates can be found at letsknit.co.uk/pattern-updates l Should you encounter any problems we are more than happy to provide support and assistance. Contact us and we will endeavour to respond as soon as possible.

BY PHONE: 01206 508622 (oice hours only) BY EMAIL: support@letsknit.co.uk BY POST: at the address on page 94 (please mark your envelope ‘Support’) (Please note we cannot ofer assistance with patterns not published in Let’s Knit)

Contact us HAVE ANOTHER QUERY? HERE’S HOW TO GET IN TOUCH l Subscription enquiries/ customer services: 0330 333 0042, crafts@magazinestoyou.com l Advertising enquiries: 01206 505114, samantha.dean@aceville.co.uk l Online registration/website enquiries: webmaster@letsknit.co.uk

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70 Charity Corner Knitting for a great cause

98 Last Word Alina Schneider tells all!

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 7 28 38 50 51 75 93

Welcome Free For You This Month Subscriptions Read & Relax Tea Break Coming Next Month Giveaways Knitter’s Know-How

WIN! WIN! WIN!

PRIZES WORTH OVER £1750 ON PAGES 38 & 75

PATTERNS

56 Bobble Scarf

39 Slant Pattern Sweater

16 18 21 22 24 31 34 36 39 43 47 56 58 64 71 72 76 79 83

Casual Cable T-shirt Slant Pattern Sweater Sideways Cable Sweater Cool Blue Cushions Easy Potholders Lace Baby Cardi Rainbow Blanket Heirloom Baby Shawl Fun Toy Doughnuts Beginners’ T-shirt Bobble Scarf Fair Isle Shoulder Bag Springtime Teacosy Granny Square Blanket Charity Baby Shoes Chunky Knitted Cushions Slip Stitch Cushion Finley Fox Knitted Mandala

Co 11SE ast PA CT al S GE IO tyle N

Casual Cable T-shirt

Cool Blue Cushions Easy Potholders

THE COASTAL COLLECTION Starts on page 14 05 letsknit.co.uk

FREE FOR YOU THIS MONTH!

Knit a Safari Pal with your FREE kit!

Number for gifts 1 Which will you make?

USE YOUR GIFT TO MAKE ELLA THE ELEPHANT OR GEORGE THE GIRAFFE - INCLUDES YARN WITH RAINBOW SPARKLES! Go wild for our FREE Safari Friends yarn kit! We’ve got two simple patterns for you to choose from, designed by LK favourite Sachiyo Ishii. Turn to page 10 to see how to share your photos!

Find the patterns for Ella and George in your BONUS PATTERN leaflet!

LOVE YOUR FREE YARN KIT? Get more! Order a bumper pack that includes 150g of yarn, for only £6.99*!

Simply visit letsknit.co.uk/safarifriends or call 0800 923 3005.

EXCLUSIVE treats you’ll love

3 Six free balls of yarn 3 Includes one-of-a-kind rainbow sparkle efect 3 Yarn pack worth £6.99! 3 Two fab toy patterns to choose from 3 Easy stripe design

*T&C’s: postage charges apply. Limited stock available.

FREE* EYELASH YARN KIT Claim your FREE six-ball Posy yarn kit, complete WORTH with bright and beautiful shades and exclusive eyelash yarn. Find out more on page 92.

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*UK customers only, just pay postage

Coming next issue! FREE POM-POM YARN KIT! Get four balls of exclusive textured yarn PLUS quick-knit patterns for five adorable woodland critters!

May issue of Let’s Knit on sale Thursday 12th April

PLUS 10 Baby Knits Fit For Royalty! Download them for free at letsknit.co.uk 07 letsknit.co.uk

YOUR 11 PAGE FASHION SPECIAL

The COASTAL

Collection GET READY FOR SPRING WITH BRIGHT AND BREEZY KNITS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME

PAGE

beginners

Slant pattern sweater

omfy csul tye

Denim blues and crisp whites bring a burst of freshness to your home and wardrobe this spring. Our Coastal Collection highlights these two colours in a series of seven striking makes that ofer style for all skill levels. These three cool and casual garments feature simple block colourwork and bold cables, or you can use subtle textures and eye-catching stripes to spruce up your living space with this classic look.

PAGE ANYONE CAN KNIT THESE SIMPLE SQUARES

24 Easy Potholders

14 letsknit.co.uk

THE STYLE

Lve t e denim trend

Edit PAGE

PATTERN COMES IN SIZES 8-22

PAGE

Sideways Cable Sweater

16 Casual Cable T-shirt

Knted in oe p iee yarn

hre fb desins

STYLISH GEOMETRIC KNITS FOR A CRAFTY HOME

PAGE

22 Cool Blue Cushions

15 letsknit.co.uk

LIGHT & LOVELY DROP-STITCH FABRIC

• EXCLUS

BABY IV

SIVE

• E XC

osy Lace Cardi

pattern

SIVE TO • E

THIS SWEET AND SIMPLE CARDIGAN IS AN ALMOST SEAMLESS KNIT!

Knitted in soft and luxurious merino, this cute cardigan by Kelly Menzies is perfect for wearing with a pretty dress or everyday jeans. It’s knitted from the neck down meaning there are fewer seams to sew up at the end! The lace details on the bottom section and sleeves are a gorgeous detail and add a classic touch to this traditional looking children’s garment.

0-2 yea rs

31 letsknit.co.uk

BABY

pattern classic

Using a lifeline With any lace pattern, we strongly recommend using a lifeline. After a correct section of work, insert a contrasting length of smooth cotton yarn through all the stitches on your needle, but don’t go through any markers. Then carry on knitting. If you go wrong, just whip out your needle, unravel back to your lifeline and have another go. Just remember to keep moving the lifeline up after each correct section.

Love this?

Find more beautiful projects in 35 Knitted Baby Blankets by Laura Strutt (£12.99, CICO Books). Whether you’re a new knitter or experienced hand, there are plenty of patterns to keep your bundle of joy wrapped up for years to come. Get your copy from your local bookshop or visit cicobooks.co.uk

37 letsknit.co.uk

TOY

Freddie & Mabel IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT THEN JANE BURNS', QUIRKY KNITS ARE FOR YOU!

pattern

These cheerful doughnut pals are low in calories and high in colour so would make a sweet decoration for your kitchen, or a fantastic toy for a little one! If you “doughnut” believe your knitting skills are up to creating these fun little guys, think again! They require only a small amount of yarn and can be whipped up in an afternoon. You’ll have a “hole” lotta fun and a box full of delights before you know it!

Mbel

redie

great

ADVICE

“If giving these to very young children take care to sew on the limbs and hair firmly and embroider the eyes”

• E XC

IVE

• EXCLUSI V TO

LK DESIGNER,

Jane Burns 39 letsknit.co.uk

SIVE TO • E X

IV TO • E X C L US

KNIT YOUR FIRST GARMENT Simple and stylish are two of our favourite things here at LK, and if you’re looking to make your first garment then this is the project for you. It’s mainly worked in stocking stitch with easy-to-master raglan sleeves and moss stitch borders. Throughout the pattern we’ll be offering tips and advice to guide you on your way. Look out for some instructions which only apply to certain sizes, they’ll be colour-coded to help you keep track.

DISCOVER HOW TO:

4 WORK IN MOSS STITCH 4 DECREASE 4 INCREASE 4 SHAPE NECK AND ARMHOLES

PLUS

4 SIZES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS TO HELP YOU 4 ALL THE GUIDANCE YOU NEED IN OUR TIP PANELS over the page

garme nt

43 letsknit.co.uk

Tie-neck T-shirt

Esy

•

BEGINNERS’ PROJECT

S I V E TO

E TO

CLU

EXCLU

X •E

ACCESSORY

Freddie & Mabel

pattern

PURPLE

atch HELEN ARDLEY'S TEXTURED SCARF IS PERFECT FOR SPRING! We might be full of the joys of the season, but while the chilly winds blow our scarf collection is going nowhere soon! How about this for a new addition? It's knitted in Rowan Hemp Tweed which has a wonderful tweedy finish and there's extra texture with the fabulous bobble pattern. You might want to practise making the bobble stitch before you cast on.

• EXCLUSI

SIVE TO • E

47 letsknit.co.uk

• E XC

IVE

Don’t miss our

NEXT ISSUE MAY ISSUE OF LET’S KNIT ON SALE THURSDAY 12TH APRIL

FREE POM-POM YARN! 4 COLOURS + CUTE TOY PATTERNS

LOVE THE WOOLLY TEXTURE!

Worth £7.99!

Easy colourwork knits

FOR THE SPRING SEASON!

5 ADORABLE WOODLAND PATTERNS TO CHOOSE FROM!

ONE BALL STRIPY SHAWL

ALSO in this issue...

LACY LINEN TOP

1 Cute baby trousers 2 Your guide to Yarn Shop Day 2018 3 Eco-friendly dishcloths 4 Crochet crowns for kids 5 Learn to knit lace with our pretty wrap 51 letsknit.co.uk

Projects subject to change

QUICK-KNIT TINY TURTLES

Your #1 Spring KNITTING GUIDE WELCOME IN THE BRIGHTEST SEASON WITH A FRESH WARDROBE AND EXCITING NEW YARN STASH!

he new spring collections are due in store any day now – both on the high street and in your local yarn shop – and we can’t wait!

Blue & WHITE

As you might have seen from our brilliant Coastal Collection starting on page 14, these two colours are in perfect harmony this season. Whether it’s a bold royal blue or a more subtle hue, pairing with a crisp white brings an instant burst of springtime freshness. Rowan Magazine 63 has a number of patterns that are perfect for this trend, including the simply stylish Paragon (above) and the rather more intricate Delft (far left).

Here at LK we are treated to a preview of the new ranges and we’ve put together a showcase of some of our favourite trends, yarns and patterns for you to enjoy. Which will be irst on your to-knit list?

YOU R 11 PAG E FAS HIO N SPE CIA L

The COASTAL

Collection

King Cole 5040

GET READY FOR SPRING WITH BRIGH T AND BREEZY KNITS FOR YOU AND YOUR HOME

Lve te denim trend PAGE

THE STYLE

Edit

Sweater

Casual Cable T-shirt

Knted in oe piee

Stripes are an easy way of combining two colours. Experiment with the width of the bands of colour for an interesting look.

beginners

Slant pattern sweater

omfy csul tye Denim blues and crisp whites bring a burst of freshne ss to your home and wardro be this spring. Our Coasta l Collection highlights these two colours in a series of seven striking makes that ofer style for all skill levels. These three cool and casual garments feature simple block colourwork and bold cables, or you can use subtle textures and eye-catching stripes to spruce up your living space with this classic look.

PAGE

ANYONE CAN KNIT THESE SIMPLE SQUARES

24 Easy Potholders

14 letsknit.co.uk

yarn

hre fb desins

STYLISH GEOMET RIC KNITS FOR A CRAFTY HOME

PAGE

22 Cool Blue Cushions

15 letsknit.co.uk

53 letsknit.co.uk

Sideways Cable

PAGE

LK says

PAGE

PATTERN COMES IN SIZES 8-22

LIGHT & LOVELY DROP-STITCH FABRIC

ACCESSORY

pattern

Chart notes On the colourwork chart, one box equals one knitted stitch. Right side rows are read from right to left and wrong side rows from left to right. Strand the colours not in use loosely on WS of work. Knit the one-colour rows tightly in stocking stitch to balance out the tension diference with the stranded colourwork sections, which should be knitted loosely.

Love this?

Photography ÂŠ CICO Books.

Rainbow Knits by Nicki Trench (ÂŁ12.99, CICO Books) is bursting with colourful makes to use and wear. Order your copy from your local bookshop or visit makeetc.com

57 letsknit.co.uk

Crochet a colourful NURSERY BLANKET MEASUREMENTS & SIZES 94cm x 94cm

CROCHET KIT

EMMA VARNAM UPDATES A GRANNY SQUARE IN THIS STRIKING MAKE

Yarn: King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK, shades (A) 544 Red, (B) 609 Glacier, (C) 634 Crimson, (D) 635 Lawn, (E) 530 White, (F) 524 Damson, (G) 3049 Jafa, one 100g ball of each Hook: 4mm Tapestry needle

FOR ABBREVIATIONS see page 97 ABOUT THE YARN King Cole Bamboo Cotton DK mixes 50% cotton with 50% bamboo-sourced viscose. It's a sleek and smooth yarn that's easy to work with and can be machine washed. It costs £4.99 per 100g (230m) ball from deramores.com

10% OFF AT DERAMORES USE THE CODE LOPI10

Love this? This gorgeous blanket is from Granny Square Home by Emma Varnam (£14.99, GMC). It's a colourful collection of 20 stylish projects, all with a wonderful vintage feel. Get your copy from thegmcgroup.com

et Croch h t wi

WATCH & LEARN If you're new to crochet, take a look at our brilliant video tutorials to learn how to hold your yarn and hook, work chain and slip stitches, and make granny squares, crochet flowers and amigurumi toys. Find them at youtube.com/thecraftschannel

Every home needs a handmade blanket and this project from crochet whizz Emma Varnam uses basic granny square techniques with a bit of a twist. Instead of simple rounds of treble crochet throughout, you are actually alternating them with rounds of double crochet stitches. This gives an interesting look to the stripe pattern but is just as easy to work.

64 letsknit.co.uk

Nominate here or go online: letsknit.co.uk/awards

WIN! WIN! WIN! Fantastic goodies

worth over £400! A BUNDLE OF GORGEOUS GOODIES ARE UP FOR GRABS - JUST TELL US WHO YOUR FAVOURITES ARE! It’s that time again when we look back at the previous year and think about who made our knitting experience truly enjoyable. Which store, online or locally, provided great service? Who deserves to be awarded the ultimate accolade of Best Overall Yarn Brand? You can nominate anyone, from the biggest company to the smallest, using the categories on our form. As a thank you for entering, you’ll automatically go into our prize draw. First prize is a fabulous yarn hamper worth over £300, and two runners up will each receive £50 worth of books featuring all the nominated knitting and crochet titles for that year! The British Knitting & Crochet Awards are run every year by Let’s Knit and Let’s Get Crafting magazines, and are widely recognised as the biggest and most important awards in the industry. Once all the nominations are in, they will be shortlisted ready for the inal voting stage. Nominate now to make sure your favourites won’t be left out!

THREE GREAT PRIZES

Need some inspiration? You may be an avid knitter, but it’s not always easy to remember what got your needles clicking with pleasure over the previous year, so here are some ideas to help you along:

BEST OVERALL YARN BRAND Which brand of yarn do you turn to the most for quality, value and all-round excellence? It could be the yarn you use the most, or one that has recently impressed you.

BEST ONLINE STORE/LOCAL INDEPENDENT STORE

FAVOURITE PATTERN HOUSE More and more yarn producers are ofering great pattern support for their yarns, with lovely photography too. Who do you feel gets it just right?

BEST YARN FOR CROCHET Our sister craft continues to grow in popularity, with a colourful charm and a personality of its own. Tell us which yarn has the colour range and value that’s perfect for crochet.

Who gives great service and always has

How to Enter Nominating your favourites couldn’t be easier. Either ill in the form opposite and send it to British Knitting & Crochet Awards 2018, 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8JY, or enter online at letsknit.co.uk/awards CLOSING DATE: 12th April 2018

what you need? Make sure your favourite gets the accolade it deserves.

The Prizes Just by telling us who your favourites are you could win a fantastic hamper containing over £300 worth of yarn, needles, accessories and a gorgeous knitting bag, or two £50 runners-up prizes of this year’s nominated knitting and crochet titles.

66 letsknit.co.uk

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