LEARN TUCK STITCH IN STEP-BY-STEP ISSUE 140 Jan 2019
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THE UK’S BESTSELLING KNIT MAG
KANGAROO BY VAL PIERCE
Quick & Cosy! 15 STYLISH MAKES THAT KNIT UP IN NO TIME
THIS SEASON’S ESSENTIALS MADE EASY
£6.99 | Jan 19 Issue 140
FOUR-ROW PATTERN
FAB DESIGN IN SIZES 8-30
THE CHUNKY COLLECTION EASY WEEKEND KNIT
HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOBBY MORE ECO-FRIENDLY
YARN CAKE MAKE
LOVE THIS!
DITCH THE DISPOSABLE NO.1 FOR QUIRKY KNITS
ADVENTURE TIME
WHAT A WASTE
FLOOR SHOW
GET OUT AND ABOUT WITH YOUR KNITTING
OUR TOP PICKS IN RECYCLED YARNS
KNIT A STUNNING RUG IN SUPER CHUNKY YARN
EDITOR’S Letter
Welcome!
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This issue we’re celebrating all things chunky! Our fashion collection, which starts on page 14, has ive stylish big-needle knits in this season’s colours to help you update your winter wardrobe in no time. You could give your home a speedy makeover too with our series of chunky homewares including cushions, a blanket and even a stunning rug on page 43. Also check out our pick of super chunky yarns on page 35. Environmental issues have been very much in the spotlight recently. If you’re as eager as we are to do your bit to help the planet then you’ll be pleased to discover how easy it is to make your hobby more eco-friendly. Find oodles of great ideas in our feature on page 69, then turn to page 75 for our round-up of recycled yarns. We’ve also got a pattern for a market bag (p67) and a kids’ jacket in a new sustainable yarn from Bergere de France (p72). The RSPB has its Big Garden Birdwatch this month, and LK designer Nicky Fijalkowska has been busy knitting birds for its TV campaign, so look out for them! Her blue tit is one of the stars and you can ind the pattern on page 81.
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75 Ditch THE W disposable FIND OUT HOW LITTLE CHANGES CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE
e’ve all seen the video footage of marine plastics and overlowing landill sites over recent months and it’s hard not to be afected. We knitters are resourceful by nature so it’s no surprise that clever crafters have been coming up with new ways to be more environmentally-friendly. We know everyone has their own commitments in life and this is not a case of trying to out-eco your neighbour! It’s about doing what you can, where you can. Here are a few ideas...
ABOVE RIGHT: The Chunky Knits Collection, starts on p14 ABOVE LEFT: knit yourself a rug, p43 CENTRE: recycled yarns, p75 LEFT: how to be an eco-friendly knitter, p69 BELOW: support the work of the RSPB, p81
LOVE HANDMADE RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE Natural animal ibres, like wool or alpaca, are a brilliant renewable resource. A sheep grows a new leece every year, ready to be turned into one of our favourite craft materials. Plant ibres are renewable too. Sustainability looks at the impact production has on the environment. Tencel is a branded lyocell ibre made from wood pulp, similar to viscose. The trees have fallen naturally or been cultivated for the wider beneit of the forest. Try it for yourself with Wool and The Gang’s Tina Tape yarn. woolandthe gang.com
By knitting your own clothes, you’re already doing your bit for the environment. Fast high street fashion might be cheap to buy but when you consider the waste and emissions from production, the real cost may be higher than you think. We know some of you still wear jumpers you knitted years ago. The quality ibres used – combined with your crafty talents – mean they’ve had a much longer shelf life than many shop-bought garments. Check out our Chunky Knits
Happy Knitting
Collection on page 14 for five fashion-forward patterns to try.
Turn the page
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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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JUST FOR YOU THIS MONTH
Four playful puppies to knit with your yarn pack!
No for gi.f1ts
Designed by mini makes specialist Sachiyo Ishii , these little pups fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and are undeniably cute. The soft DK yarn comes in five shades and is exclusive to Let’s Knit, and we’ve given you enough to make all four toys. Find the patterns for our delightful doggies in your pattern leaflet.
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IN
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EXCLUSIVE
BONUS ‘18 QUICK & EASY KNITS’ PATTERN BOOK! Includes projects for toys, accessories and more, courtesy of Search Press
Treats you’ll love
LOVE YOUR YARN KIT? GET MORE!
ONLY IN LET’S KNIT
Order an extra pack that includes 158g of yarn for £7.99*! Simply visit letsknit.co.uk/puppies or call 0800 923 3005. *T&C’s: postage charges apply. Limited stock available.
SPECIAL FLEECY YARN IN YOUR FREE* KIT!
3Exclusive Sachiyo Ishii designs 3Five super soft DK yarns 3Four tiny toys to make 3Yarn kit worth £7.99! 3Amazing value pack Plus two bonus puppy patterns included on your pattern leaflet!
Coming next issue! BETTY THE BUNNY
Get your hands on six bright and beautiful yarns! Your free* pack is worth £6.99 and comes with exclusive lufy yarn, plus bamboo needles and a metal crochet hook so you can start crafting straight away! INCLUDES
+ SEVEN OUTFITS TO KNIT! Make our super cute February toy with your exclusive issue of Let’s Knit pack – includes four on sale Thursday balls of yarn! 17th January Plus use your stash to knit her extra clothes
l Bamboo needles + metal crochet hook l 6 fresh wintery shades
DON’T MISS
*UK customers only, just pay postage
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YOUR SPECIAL ROWAN PATTERN COLLECTION WITH EIGHT BONUS DESIGNS!
YOUR 15 PAGE FASHION SPECIAL
The CHUNKY KNITS
Collection
PAGE
23 Argyle Bobble Sweater
BIG IS BEAUTIFUL WITH THIS MONTH'S TOP PATTERN PICKS!
MAKE A STATEMENT WITH THIS BOLD DIAMOND DESIGN
QUICK AND CHUNKY ACCESSORY WITH NO SEAMS TO SEW!
Comfy and cosy PAGE
Snuggle up with our supersize winter warmers. We’ve got garments for every skill level, all made in big, chunky yarns, so they’re quick to knit, too! Don't miss Helen Ardley’s unisex hat and scarf set which will keep you snug even on the coldest of days. If your New Year’s resolution is to try new techinques, our collection ofers lace, knitting in the round, plus loads of gorgeous textured efects. Which will you make irst?
25 Teal Textures
h t t y s E patern 14 letsknit.co.uk
THE STYLE
Edit
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19 COMBINE EYELETS AND MOSS STITCH IN THIS WARM WINTER KNIT
THE SIMPLE STITCH PATTERN MAKES THIS A GREAT FIRST GARMENT!
Lacy Jumper
Selfstriping yarn! Fb unsex knt
FALL IN LOVE WITH FAIR ISLE WITH OUR GREAT VALUE SET
Love the tweed effect
Sizes
PAGE
16
PAGE
27
Broken Rib Gilet
Colour Pop Combo
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ACCESSORY
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COSY CHALLENGE YOURSELF TO MAKE SIÂN BROWN’S AMAZING ACCESSORIES Your winter ensemble won’t be complete until you have crafted yourself a pair of these fabulous arm warmers. Using a textured pattern known as Raspberry Stitch for added insulation and comfort, this project is perfect for knitters who feel the cold. The inclusion of thumb holes and ribbed edges also makes this the ideal pattern for anyone wanting to put their talents to the test.
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SPRUCE UP YOUR LIVING SPACE WITH LUCINDA GANDERTON’S CONTEMPORARY HOMEWARES Slip stitch colourwork is one of those knitting techniques that looks really complicated but is actually really easy to do. Don’t you just love it when that happens? You are effectively working in stripes and are reintroducing the old colour into your row by slipping certain stitches. We adore the honeycomb effect! Why not try it out in different shades?
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great ADVICE
“The main pattern is a multiple of 20 stitches, so the rug can easily be made bigger or smaller. You may prefer to use a circular needle if knitting with more than 80 stitches.”
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LK DESIGNER, Sarah
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Murray
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EMBRACE TEXTURE WITH SARAH MURRAY’S BOLD HOMEWARE
Don’t miss our
NEXT ISSUE FEBRUARY ISSUE OF LET’S KNIT ON SALE THURSDAY 17TH JANUARY
DRESS-UP BUNNY COLLECTION Soft yarn + 7 outfits to knit!
Gifts worth £7.99!
PLUS
CELEBRATE COLOUR with our brightest collection yet!
Bonus Rowan pattern book!
8
projects inside
STYLISH ACCESSORIES
ALSO in this issue...
EASY COLOUR BLOCKING!
1 Your irst top-down sweater 2 Doggy draught excluder 3 Super easy baby jumper 4 Slip stitch patchwork cushion 5 Stripy crochet blanket 6 Discover craftivism! 51 letsknit.co.uk
Projects subject to change
ADORABLE BABY KNITS
ACCESSORY
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Warm GLOW COSY UP IN NICOLA VALIJI’S ON-TREND YELLOW COWL When you’re cocooned in your snuggliest winter coat, sometimes there’s just no room for a scarf. That’s where cowls come in and we adore this textured number. It uses just knit and purl stitches and the four-row pattern repeat is so easy to remember. There’s no shaping at all and as it’s knitted on big needles, it’ll be soon be ready to wear!
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ADVICE
“This yarn comes in a variety of colours so you could pick a colour to match your coat. The cowl could also be knitted into a longer length if required”
LK DESIGNER,
Nicola Valiji
TOY
Adie & MEL
pattern
VAL PIERCE’S OUTBACK DUO ARE PERFECT FOR PLAYTIME!
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Our Adelaide – or Addie for short – has chosen her favourite bandanna for a grand day out with her little boy, Mel. This happy pair are fun to knit and all the parts are knitted separately which means no tricky colourwork. There are a lot of pieces so label them as you go to stay on track. There are a few shaping techniques too, so have a look at our decreasing guide over on page 61 for extra guidance.
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In order to successfully stuf your knitted toy, it is essential that you tease out your stuing beforehand. This will prevent unsightly lumps and bumps. Another tip is to take your time. You need to strike the perfect balance between over and under stuing your project, so don’t be afraid to start again if your toy doesn’t sit right. Finally, you should make use of a smaller knitting needle, as this will help you to push the stuing into awkward areas such as feet or ears.
“You can play around with Harriet’s expression by cutting out a variety of felt shapes” LK Deputy Editor, Adrienne Chandler
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Super -cute
KIDS’
pattern 34 (35, 37, 38) sts £ Work from ** as for Back until work meas 5cm, ending after a WS row £ Beg with a k row, work ten rows in st st £ Next row (RS, inc): k2, m1, k to last two sts, m1, k2. 36 (37, 39, 40) sts £ Cont to inc as set on every foll tenth row 2 (1, 1, 1) times more, then on every foll 0 (8th, 8th, 8th) row 0 (2, 3, 4) times. 40 (43, 47, 50) sts £ Cont in st st without shaping until work meas 25 (28, 32, 36) cm, ending after a WS row
Recycl ed
Shape sleeve top
£ Cast of 2 (2, 3, 3) sts at beg of next two rows, then 0 (0, 2, 2) sts at beg of foll 0 (0, 2, 2) rows. 36 (39, 37, 50) sts £ Next row (RS, dec): k2, k2tog, k to last four sts, skpo, k2. 34 (37, 35, 48) sts £ Dec as set on every foll RS row 1 (2, 1, 2) times more. 32 (33, 33, 34) sts £ Next row: p to end £ Work in Ridge patt as for Back AT THE SAME TIME dec one st at each end of every RS row as set 5 (5, 5, 4) times. 22 (23, 23, 26) sts £ Patt one row £ Cast of two sts at beg of next 2 (2, 2, 4) rows, then three sts at beg of foll two rows. 12 (13, 13, 12) sts £ Cast of
FRONT BORDERS (make two) Using 5mm needles, cast on 15 sts £ Row 1 (RS): k4, p2, k3, p2, k4 £ Row 2: p4, k2, p3, k2, p4 £ Row 3: wyib sl 1 pwise, k2, wyib sl 1 pwise, p2, wyib sl 3 pwise, p2, wyib sl 1 pwise, k2, wyib sl 1 pwise £ Row 4: p1, wyif sl 2 pwise, p1, k2, p3, k2, p1, wyif sl 2 pwise, p1 £ Rep Rows 3-4 until work meas 37 (41, 45, 49) cm £ Cast of
COLLAR Using 5mm needles, cast on 62 (65, 68, 71) sts £ Row 1 (RS): p to end £ Row 2: p to end £ Rows 3-4: k to end £ Row 5 (buttonhole): k to last ive sts, yfwd, k2tog, k3 NOTE: on non-buttonhole rows, work Row 5 as k to end £ Rows 6-8: p to end Rows 3-8 set patt £ Cont in patt until work meas 11 (11, 13, 13) cm AT THE SAME TIME working buttonhole row on Rows 15 (15, 17, 17) £ Cast of
TO MAKE UP Sew a Border along each front edge. Join shoulder seams. On the WS of work, use backstitch to attach Collar around neck from one Border to the other. Sew tops of Sleeves into armholes. Sew Sleeve and side seams. Turn
down Collar, then sew on two buttons four stitches in from edge, opposite buttonholes
TOGGLE LOOPS (make four) Using 3.5mm crochet hook, make 16ch £ Fasten of
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TOGGLE TIES (make four) £ Slip two strands of yarn through holes on toggle, then using 3.5mm hook and all four strands held together (two strands from each hole), make 4ch £ Fasten of Sew on toggles using photos as a guide. Secure and weave in all ends LK
Esy-knt Cardigan COSY UP IN THIS SIMPLE WINTER GARMENT FROM CARON YARNS We love a fluffy yarn to snuggle up in on a chilly day and this easy make is ideal for whether you’re staying in or going out. We’ll guide you through all the techniques involved, from using a circular needle to knit in rows to shaping your garment to fit. Textured yarns like this can be tricky to unravel so work slowly and carefully, and don’t forget to count your stitches after every shaping row.
Yarn!
DISCOVER HOW TO:
4 KNIT FLAT WITH CIRCULAR NEEDLES 4 USE STITCH MARKERS 4 INCREASE EVENLY 4 PICK UP STITCHES
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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LEARN WITH US
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DISCOVER BOLD TUCK STITCHES WITH JO ALLPORT We love statement stitch effects, like the fabulous ridges in this comfy cushion. They’re made using the tuck stitch method which is super simple to learn. Look to the right and you’ll see a fantastic step-by-step photo guide from LK favourite Jo Allport. If you can knit two stitches together, you’re sure to master this technique in next to no time!
GREAT FOR IMPROVERS
ARAN YARN
4.5MM, 5MM NEEDLES
ed Fab textuIQr UE TECHN
MEASUREMENTS & SIZES 40cm x 40cm
KNIT KIT Yarn: James C. Brett Noodles Chunky, shade N6, three 100g balls Needles: 6mm Buttons: five, 23mm Cushion pad: square, 40cm Tapestry needle
TENSION SQUARE n 14 sts x 20 rows n 10cm x 10cm n Stocking stitch n 6mm needles
FOR ABBREVIATIONS SEE PAGE 97
ABOUT THE YARN James C. Brett Noodles Chunky is a polyester yarn with a tubular construction. It’s really easy to knit with and has excellent stitch definition. It can be machine washed and has an RRP of £2.49 per 100g (170m) ball. For stockists, visit jamescbrett.co.uk
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