WIN LUXURY YARN BUNDLES ISSUE 133 July 2018
Prizes worth over £10K INSIDE!
EASY DRESS FOR AGES 3-10
THE UK’S BESTSELLING KNIT MAG
The hottest KNITS for
SUMMER! Sizzling shades and
£5.99 | July 18 Issue 133
stunning makes you’ll love FRESH LOOKS FOR FAVOURITE STITCHES
9 9 BRIGHT
Exclusive
FREDDIE THE SCHNAUZER BY AMANDA BERRY
IDEAS for this season FAB MAKES FOR THE HOME
GR E A T FOR FÊTES !
TOY TIME IMPROVE YOUR CHARACTER KNITS WITH OUR EXPERT TIPS
LOVE THIS!
LEARN A NEW STITCH!
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CROCHET CRAZY
LEARN PROVISIONAL CAST-ON AND LACE TECHNIQUES
AWARDS SHORTLIST 2018 REVEALED INSIDE!
8 REASONS TO GET HOOKED ON OUR SISTER CRAFT
EDITOR’S Letter
Welcome! 14
83
TOP LEFT: 8 reasons to try crochet, p83
33
TOP RIGHT: the Colourful Cotton Collection, p14 ABOVE LEFT: win a huge bundle of goodies, p67 LEFT: our pick of the jolliest print yarns, p33 BELOW: knit your first garment, p41
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High summer is the perfect time to surround yourself with bright colour! Cotton yarns are ideal for warm-weather knitting as they’re cool and smooth, but they also happen to take dye really well so are available in a vast palette of bright shades – what a happy coincidence! Our fashion collection this month makes the most of those vibrant cottons with a choice of ive fabulous garments including Sarah Murray’s coral pink shrug. See the full set on page 14. Crochet is a great craft for summer, so if you haven’t yet caught the bug turn to page 83 for eight reasons to take it up. Plus we have some gorgeous decorative feathers to try your hand at on page 80. We’ve got prizes galore in this issue of Let’s Knit. As well as our massive bumper giveaway featuring over £10,000 of goodies, we’re also ofering everyone who votes in the British Knitting & Crochet Awards 2018 the chance to win huge bundles of yarn, needles, books and more from many of last year’s winning brands. Turn to page 67 to ind out more. Yarns that do the colourwork for you are so much fun to knit with. We’ve picked seven of our favourites and you can see them on page 33. Never made a garment before? Turn straight to page 41 where you’ll ind this month’s beginners’ pattern – a gorgeous summer cape that you’ll inish in no time. Happy knitting!
Sarah
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sarah.neal@aceville.co.uk
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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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53 July 2018
In this issue 63
16
Freddie the ‘Dera-dog’
SHOPPING 8
See It, Want It, Love It Our July favourites
33 Summers Prints Bold and bright holiday shades
48 Sport Weight Yarns Our top pick of summery sport weights
52 Ocean Hues Fabulous turquoise tones for your knits
88 Newslash Knitty events and goodies you won’t want to miss
FOCUS Stripy baby shorts
40 Fall In Love With Lace We help you develop your skills
44 Ready, Steady, Knit! Our round-up of summer sport to knit to
59 Toy Story Why we love cute character makes
67 The British Knitting and Crochet Awards Have your say and win big!
Cover Star
83 Hooked On Crochet We champion our sister craft
85 Q&A Central Your knitty questions answered
PEOPLE
78
Lace Panel Cardi
10 Knit It, Write It, Share It! Your fantastic makes and letters
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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74 Charity Corner Wonderful knitters who craft for a cause
98 Last Word We find out more about Laura Zukaite
IN EVERY ISSUE 3 7 28 50 51 62 76 93
Welcome Free For You This Month Subscriptions Teabreak Coming Next Month Read & Relax Bumper Giveaways Knitter’s Know-How
35
WIN! WIN! WIN!
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OVER £10,000 WORTH OF PRIZES ON PAGES 76 & 77
PATTERNS
Simple summer wrap
31 56
Cute and cuddly bunnies
46
Stripy Poncho
Cute Coral Shrug
16 19 21 23 26 31 35 38 41 46 53 56 63 75 78 80 86 93 95
Scallop Sweater
Lace Panel Cardi Cute Coral Shrug Leaf Lace Top Scallop Sweater Stripy Poncho Cool Containers Girl’s Summer Dress Simple Wrap Beginners’ Cape Sunlower Bunting Freddie the Schnauzer Cute Toy Bunnies Sweet Baby Shorts Charity Bonding Squares Pastel Baby Blanket Crochet Feathers Short-Row Scarf Linen Stitch Square Mini Lion Stashbuster
Leaf Lace Top
Br
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um PA CT mer GE IO fash N io
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THE COLOURFUL COTTON COLLECTION Starts on page 14 05 letsknit.co.uk
FREE FOR YOU THIS MONTH!
Knit Billy the Bunny with your fab free yarn! A cute critter and bright sorbet shades, what’s not to love about this month’s gift? The pattern is relatively simple to make with classic stripes and basic shaping. Your soft DK yarn is ideal for huggable knits and we adore the vibrant colour combination that will really make Billy stand out on the toy shelf. We can’t wait to see your inished makes – share your photos using the details on page 10.
Number for gifts 1
We love stripes!
Find this sweet and simple toy pattern in your BONUS PATTERN leaflet!
LOVE YOUR FREE YARN KIT? Get more! Order a bumper pack that includes 150g of yarn, for only £8.99*!
Simply visit letsknit.co.uk/billy or call 0800 923 3005. *T&Cs: postage charges apply. Limited stock available.
EXCLUSIVE treats you’ll love
3 Three soft DK yarns 3 Cute and easy toy pattern 3 Yarn kit worth £7.99! 3 Adorable details – we love Billy’s rosy cheeks!
3 Learn to knit stripes
Coming next issue!
CLAIM YOUR FREE* YARN PACK! Get your knitty mitts on this gorgeous Party Yarn Kit worth £6.99! It includes 120g of yarn in eight bright and beautiful shades, plus 3mm needles and crochet hook. Turn to page 58 to find out more! *UK customers only, just pay postage
Find over 100 free toy patterns to download at letsknit.co.uk 07 letsknit.co.uk
KNIT CHESTER THE MONKEY WITH YOUR FREE KIT! Use your four supersoft yarns to make our party-ready playmate. Get all the yarn you need, his sweet velvet ribbon and our exclusive pattern.
August issue of Let’s Knit on sale Thursday 5th July
YOUR 14 PAGE FASHION SPECIAL
The COLOURFUL COTTON
Collection WE’RE CELEBRATING SUMMER WITH FIVE BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL MAKES!
PAGE
23
PAGE
21
Scallop Sweater
Leaf Lace Top CHIC CHEVRONS MAKE THIS A SUMMER STUNNER
Fb clur combo!
style
LACE KNITTERS WILL LOVE THIS IMPRESSIVE DESIGN
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Whether you’re staying at home or travelling to foreign shores, cool, breathable garments are must-knits for the warmer weather. We’ve got five superstar projects that are knitted in soft cotton yarn, from Sarah Murray’s easy tie-front shrug to Siân Brown’s deceptively simple lace cardi. We’ve chosen bold, bright hues that complement the gorgeous weather, but you can easily customise the colours to suit your style.
THE STYLE
Edit No shap ing lae!
PAGE
16
PAGE
19
Lace Panel Cardi
Cute Coral Shrug
STAND OUT IN THIS STRONG CITRUS SHADE
On-trend t ie ront PAGE
25 Stripy Poncho
accessory
S impe vert icl tries
GORGEOUS DRAPEY FABRIC FOR STAYING COOL ON SUNNY DAYS
USED BOLD SHADES AND SUBTLE TEXTURES IN THIS EASY-WEAR GARMENT
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COOL
HOME
pattern
Containers CLUSIVE T O
When you’re a crafter, any opportunity for extra storage is welcome, and if it’s covered in a bright, contemporary knit that's even better! These colourful covers are perfect for upcycling glass jars and will brighten up a desk or windowsill to fill with needles, stationery or even beautiful blooms from your garden.
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JAZZ UP A JAM JAR WITH HELEN ARDLEY'S VIBRANT MAKE
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S
KIDS’
pattern
Freddie & Mabel CITRUS Sparkle
LITTLE GIRLS WILL LOVE THIS SIMPLE SUMMER DRESS FROM BERGERE DE FRANCE
This easy-to-knit, easy-to-wear number is a great warm weather staple and it’s suitable for knitters of all skill levels. The A-line shape with simple cord straps makes it a comfortable choice for energetic kids, while the subtle sequins in the yarn will glint and glimmer on sunny days. This design would also be so easy to customise – why not work in ombre stripes for an on-trend look?
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Esy Cover-up Cape KNIT YOUR FIRST GARMENT Created in a stunning new gradient yarn, this versatile cape by Jane Burns has vibrant shades of colour throughout with a delicious ombre effect. The striking colours are reminiscent of summer fruit puddings, and on evenings when dessert comes around but the sun is disappearing this little cape will certainly keep the chills off! It’s mainly worked in stocking stitch with simple decreases to create the shape. Throughout the pattern we’ll be offering tips and advice to guide you on your way.
DISCOVER HOW TO:
4 DECREASE 4 SLIP STITCHES 4 WORK A BORDER 4 WORK A CABLE CAST-ON
PLUS
4 SIZES IN DIFFERENT COLOURS TO HELP YOU 4 ALL THE GUIDANCE YOU NEED IN OUR TIP PANELS over the page
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Make
Don’t miss our
NEXT ISSUE AUGUST ISSUE OF LET’S KNIT ON SALE THURSDAY 5TH JULY
KNIT CHESTER WITH YOUR FREE YARN! 4 COLOURS + PATTERN! INCLUDES VELVET RIBBON!
Worth £7.99 ! NAUTICAL KNITS SPECIAL! Simple & chic patterns you’ll love
ON TREND ACCESSORIES
EASY MAKES FOR BABY
Projects subject to change
FUN HOMEWARES
ALSO in this issue...
1 Knitted budgie and canary 2 Beachcomber mobile 3 Simple striped sweater 4 Coastal cabled cushion 5 Knit and crochet tunic 6 Expert advice on your knitting dilemmas 51 letsknit.co.uk
TOY
pattern
FREDDIE
te Shnauzer
S I V E TO
VE
We adore this mischievous-looking fellow with his expressive eyebrows and whiskers! Freddie has been designed by Amanda Berry for Deramores and was named by customers on the brand’s Facebook page. He’s worked in stocking stitch with basic shaping and there’s a couple of spots of intarsia to help improve your skills. See Freddie’s equally adorable ‘Dera-dog’ pals at deramores.com
SI
IV
E TO
CLU
• EXCLU
KNIT AMANDA BERRY’S SUPER CUTE ‘DERA-DOG’
X •E
TO • E X C L US
See it h ere
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Toy
STORY Clockwise from top: Luke the Sloth by Sachiyo Ishii; Betty Bunny by Nicola Valiji; Fizz the Llama by Fiona Goble. Download them for FREE at letsknit.co.uk
WHY WE LOVE KNITTING CUTE CRITTERS, DARLING DOLLS AND TWEE TEDDIES!
T
here’s something about a knitted toy that means you just have to pick him or her up and give them a good squidge! Cuddly toys are loved by all and even if society says we should have outgrown them, not only do we adore knitting them, but we love gifting them too.
There are a huge range of toy patterns on the market now, from the traditional and beloved teddy to favourite ilm or cartoon characters and fantastical creatures from unicorns to dinosaurs.
“The thing I adore most about knitting toys is seeing their characters emerge when I sew them together. You simply don’t get that feeling when you’re knitting a jumper or a pair of gloves!”
The wonderful thing about knitted toys is that the diferent parts are usually small and quick to knit, and although sewing them together can often require an extra touch of patience, there’s something so special about this inal stage of the process. Toy designer Fiona Goble explains: “The thing I adore most about knitting toys is seeing their characters emerge when I sew them together. You simply don’t get that feeling when you’re knitting a jumper or a pair of gloves!” Once upon a time knitting was a functional endeavour and as Fiona remarks, “I’m very glad that knitting has moved on from the ‘utility’ projects of my youth – knitting dishcloths when I was about seven years old was really quite dull!”
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Fiona Goble, toy designer
YOUR ESSENTIAL KIT FOR TOY KNITTING • • • • • •
Acrylic yarn Small needles Tapestry needle Safety toy stuing Safety eyes Pins
BABY
Short &
pattern
SWEET KNIT JANE BURNS' SUPER CUTE MAKE FOR A NEW ARRIVAL OR TWO!
No you’re not seeing double, there really are two extremely adorable and identical little boys. Meet Oliver and Alexander, who were the inspiration behind these fantastic shorts. Featuring a simple stripe formation, embroidered pockets, a stretchy waistband and leg cuffs, there is certainly lots to enjoy throughout the making process. So if you’ve got a newborn on the way or know someone who has, get those knitting needles at the ready.
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Vote here or online at letsknit.co.uk/awards
WIN PRIZES WORTH £700! Vote in the British Knitting & Crochet Awards and you could win one of two amazing bundles of gorgeous yarns, patterns and more!
T
hank you to everyone who nominated their favourites in the opening stage of the 2018 British Knitting & Crochet Awards. Now it’s time make your choices from the final shortlist, either on the form below or online at letsknit.co.uk/awards. Every voter will be automatically entered into the draw to win a bundle of amazing goodies featuring many of last year’s award winning brands. Here’s what you could win:
1st PRIZE
FIRST PRIZE - WORTH £400! 12 balls of Stylecraft Batik Elements + garment pattern * 3 skeins of West Yorkshire Spinners Exquisite Lace * 5 skeins of West Yorkshire Spinners Wensleydale Gems * 10 balls of Rowan Softyak DK * Rowan Knitting Magazine 63 * 10 balls of Sirdar No 1 + patterns * Pony luxury maple straight needle set * Edward’s Crochet Imaginarium by Kerry Lord * The Sock Drawer by Verity Castledine * assorted KnitPro accessories (not shown)
2nd PRIZE
WHAT TO DO SECOND PRIZE – WORTH £300! 27 balls of Stylecraft Special DK + crochet pattern * 4 balls of West Yorkshire Spinners Signature 4ply * 1 skein of West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious Naturals * 10 balls of Rowan Summerlite DK + pattern book * Rowan Journeyman pattern book * assorted Clover accessories * 2 balls of Baa Ram Ewe Dovestone Natural Chunky * Learn to Knit At Home by Alison Moreton * TOFT bunny kit * Granny Squares and Shapes by Sue Pinner * Sophie’s Universe by Dedri Uys (not shown)
Simply tick of your choices in the boxes provided. You can do this on the form provided here or online at letsknit.co.uk/awards. If using the printed form, post it to us in an envelope marked British Knitting & Crochet Awards to Marketing Dept., 21-23 Phoenix Court, Hawkins Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8JY by 30th August 2018. Results will be announced in the Christmas Special issue of Let’s Knit, on sale Thursday 27th September 2018.
VOTE HERE OR ONLINE AT LETSKNIT.CO.UK/AWARDS
Nominate Now! BEST SOCK YARN BRAND
YARNS AND BRANDS
BEST VALUE YARN BRAND
BEST BABY YARN BRAND
☐ Drops ☐ Stylecraft ☐ Deramores ☐ King Cole ☐ Sirdar
☐ Drops ☐ Opal ☐ Regia ☐ Stylecraft ☐ West Yorkshire Spinners
☐ Stylecraft ☐ Sirdar ☐ Rowan ☐ Deramores ☐ King Cole
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BEST INDEPENDENT YARN BRAND
BEST LUXURY YARN BRAND
BEST YARN FOR TOYS
☐ Debbie Bliss ☐ Rowan ☐ Scheepjes ☐ Sirdar ☐ TOFT
☐ Sirdar ☐ Deramores ☐ King Cole ☐ TOFT ☐ Stylecraft
BEST BRAND FOR BRITISH YARN
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☐ James C. Brett ☐ King Cole ☐ Sirdar ☐ Stylecraft ☐ Debbie Bliss
☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
West Yorkshire Spinners For the Love of Yarn TOFT Truly Hooked Deramores
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BEST OVERALL YARN BRAND
☐ TOFT ☐ West Yorkshire Spinners ☐ Blacker Yarns ☐ Three Bears Yarn ☐ Baa Ram Ewe
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SHORT ROW SCARF LEARN A NEW TECHNIQUE WITH JO ALLPORT’S SWEET ACCESSORY Short row shaping is great for adding subtle curves and, when worked properly, can almost be invisible on your finished project. To do it, you turn your knitting part way through the row and carry on back along the stitches you’ve just worked. This means some sections will have more rows than others, hence ‘short rows’. Top LK designer Jo Allport has put together a brilliant photo tutorial to help you get to grips with the technique that is used in her fabulous summer scarf.
MEASUREMENTS & SIZES
X •E E T O IV
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Yarn: Baa Ram Ewe Titus, shade Lotherton, one 100g skein Needles: 3.25mm, 3.5mm, both 100cm circular Tapestry needle
XCL
KNIT KIT
C L U S I V E TO •E
24cm wide x 128cm long
TENSION SQUARE n 23 sts x 33 rows n 10cm x 10cm n Lace edging pattern n 3.5mm needles
Top, £16.99, T.K. Maxx
SPECIAL ABBREVIATIONS w&t: wrap and turn (see step-by-step guide)
FOR ABBREVIATIONS SEE PAGE 97
ABOUT THE YARN Baa Ram Ewe Titus mixes 50% Wensleydale wool, 20% Bluefaced Leicester wool and 30% UK alpaca fibres for purely British yarn. It knits to a 4ply tension and should be washed by hand. It costs £15.99 per 100g (320m) skein from 0800 622 6225, smdknitting.com
20% OFF AT SMD KNITTING! USE THE CODE SMDLK133
Start knitting here... SCARF Using 3.5mm circular needle, cast on 287 sts £ K one row Commence Lace Edging Pattern as folls: £ Row 1 (RS): * k1, yfwd, k9, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k9,
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yfwd, rep from * to last st, k1 £ Row 2 and all WS rows: p to end £ Row 3: * k2, yfwd, k8, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k8, yfwd, k1, rep from * to last st, k1 £ Row 5: * k3, yfwd, k7, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k7, yfwd, k2, rep from * to last st, k1 £ Row 7: * k4, yfwd, k6, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k6, yfwd, k3, rep from * to last st, k1 £ Row 9: * k5, yfwd, k5, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k5, yfwd, k4, rep from * to last st, k1 £ Row 11: * k6, yfwd, k4, sl 2, k1, p2sso, k4, yfwd, k5, rep from * to last st, k1
Cat Lo vers
Pretty
KITTY
ELLA AUSTIN'S EASY-KNIT BAG IS THE PURR-FECT ACCESSORY FOR FELINE FANS! Meow! This paw-some accessory is great for storing your precious items and you could even sew in a zip or add poppers to make it extra secure. It is ideal for knitting newbies and can be created in any colourway too – we particularly love the contrasting twisted strap. Get your yarn, buttons and other knitting supplies at your local yarn shop.
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