Knit together

Welcome to our community section where we take a closer look at what’s going on knitwise near you!

In association with the Keep Yarn on our Streets campaign

As I write this it’s actually cold and rainy outside – a typical British summer! Hopefully by the time you read it the weather will have perked up and you’ll be enjoying some knitting in the sunshine. If you do have a chance to head out in search of blue skies, then try to take in your local yarn shop – they’ll definitely appreciate it! This issue we’ve rounded up a selection of stores in Cumbria, as well as chatting to Ewe & Yarn in Yorkshire, and Ginger Twist Studio in Edinburgh. We’ve also chatted to the Nightingale Country Crafts group in Aylesbury, and learned more about the work of the RNLI. If you’re in the mood for some charity knitting of your own, check out our pattern for some colourful bangles.

Please do tell us about any shop, club or charity recommendations you may have, and remember to send in your community stories and charity knit pics. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Editor

SAY HELLO!

SEND PHOTOS OF YOUR CHARITY KNITS

TO US AT Knit Together, Simply Knitting

magazine, Immediate Media, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST. EMAIL US AT simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk

WHAT IS THE ‘KEEP YARN ON OUR STREETS’ CAMPAIGN?

“It’s a campaign to bring together yarn shops across the UK. Yarn shops are such a great resource, with workshops, socials and more and we want to shout about it!” says founder Louisa Sheward. Find out more by visiting www.keepyarn onourstreets.co.uk or follow the Instagram account @keepyarnonourstreets.

A knitter’s guide to... Cumbria

Known for the beautiful Lake District, this pretty county also has some lovely local yarn stores…

LOOPY Contact store for ordering information

51 Market St, Ulverston, Cumbria LA12 7LT Overflowing with colourful yarns from brands such as West Yorkshire Spinners, Baa Ram Ewe, Rowan, Sirdar and Wendy, this independent shop in the heart of Ulverston is a treat for any knitter. For more visit www.loopywool.co.uk

THE WOOL CLIP Online store

Priests Mill, Caldbeck, Cumbria CA7 8DR This co-operative was formed in 2001 and is run by local wool workers. The local yarns and fibres include a gorgeous selection of natural wools plus hand-dyed skeins from Wild Wood Wool. For more visit www.woolclip.com

WOOLSTY CRAFTS Contact store for telephone ordering

19 High Street, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 9NJ Run by owner Sandra and her mum Margaret, Woolsty Crafts aims to provide a relaxed and creative atmosphere for customers. They stock yarns from King Cole, Stylecraft, Sirdar and more, as well as needles, accessories and kits. For more visit www.woolsty-crafts.co.uk, email info@woolsty-crafts.co.uk or call 01697 342470

CUMBRIA SEWING & CRAFT CENTRE

45 Crellin Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria LA14 1DS Packed with goodies for everyone from cross stitchers to dressmakers to – of course – knitters, the Centre has a great selection of Sirdar yarns. For more visit www.cumbriasewing.co.uk

HERDY Online store

13-15 Stramongate, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4BH Visit one of Herdy’s four stores (the others are in Keswick, Grasmere and Bowness-onWindermere) to check out their adorable range of sheepy treats, from mugs and umbrellas to sweet stitch markers and chunky pure wool yarn. For more visit www.herdy.co.uk

For more great days out visit www.cumbriatourism.org

J oin a knitting group

meet the knitting nightingales

We discover Nightingale Country Crafts, a charity knitting group based in Aylesbury…

WANT TO SEE YOUR CLUB HERE? Let us know about your knitting meet-ups at simplyknitting @immediate.co.uk!

Nightingale Country Crafts (NCC) is the brainchild of former Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity CEO Pat Dodge. More than a decade ago, Pat realised that the charity’s market stall was receiving lots of high quality handmade goods to sell – so much so that there was an opportunity to establish a group of people who would be happy to make items for FNHC to sell at events, or at their shops.

Since its launch in 2008, the NCC group has grown considerably, meaning that items can be sold in the charity’s Wendover and Thame shops as well as at local events throughout the year. Since 2011 the group has also recruited new members who sew and crochet, which has bought a whole new range of items to sell.

KNIT AND NATTER

The group meets monthly at the charity’s head office in Aylesbury, with meetings acting as both social occasions and a chance for members to swap admire each other’s handiwork. There are almost 40 members with a range of skill levels, some coming back to knitting after a break while others have knitted and sewn for many years.

Members of the group knit and crochet all sort of items to sell for the Florence Nightingale

The NCC stall is always packed with goodies!

Hospice Charity, from baby and toddler clothes and accessories to blankets of all sizes, tea cosies and dolls as well as seasonal items such as Easter chicks and Christmas pudding-shaped chocolate sweet covers! The dressmakers in the group also make sundresses and hats for the

summer months.

Cheerful animal buddies knitted by the group

FEEL-GOOD FUNDRAISING

“Sometimes we only make £140 or so at an event,” says Jan Adams, who has run the group since 2011. But with local charities that do such important work, every little helps. “The hospice told us that they had a lady who was in terrible pain from lying on her side, but she couldn’t lie any other way. They bought her a gel pad that cost only £20, but it took away her pain, and gave her comfort for the rest of her time. With the ladies doing the knitting and contributing, you’re buying somebody comfort. It all adds up to something useful and that is great.

“Making something for NCC to sell is very satisfying, we have put our hobbies to good use. It keeps us busy, we enjoy what we do and we know it’s going to a cause which we support and love.”

The ladies who knit, sew and crochet for NCC normally pay for all of the materials they need, but on occasion supporters of the charity donate good wool and other materials. These donations are gratefully received. Want to know more?To find out more about NCC and the fundraising work they do, visit www.fnhospice.org.uk/help-us/knit-and-sew.

We 0 our garden centre LYS! z

What’s better than browsing your local garden centre and their selection of yarn?

Cardwell Garden Centre

Located in Inverclyde, Scotland, Cardwell Garden Centre has everything you could wish for. Enjoy browsing accessories for the home and uncover their craft centre, packed with our favourite yarns. For more visit www.cardwellgardencentre.co.uk/ craft-centre

Monkton Elm Garden & Pet Centre

Stock up on craft essentials at this Somerset garden centre. Check out their yarns in a range of plys and shades, plus uncover a selection of books ranging from beginner to advanced. For more visit www.monktonelmgardencentre.co.uk/wool

Sutton Green Garden Centre

Within this Guildford garden centre you’ll find Crafty Corner UK, a concession store packed with knitting yarns plus buttons, paints, kits and more. For more visit www.crafty-corner.co.uk/knitcrochet.html

DID YOU KNOW? The largest display of knitted hearts was in Dubai in 2019, and contained 5,270 hearts!

Source: www.guinnessworldrecords.com

Shop of the month

Ewe & Yarn Every month we explore one of our favourite UK yarn shops! Who’s in charge? Sharon King. Where can we find you? Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Turn to page 80 SHOP SMART SHOP LOCAL! When did your doors first open? 9 September 2017. What is your shop like? Bright, colourful, friendly and welcoming to all, offering commercial yarns covering all price ranges and lovely hand-dyed yarns from various dyers. There are Knit and Natter sessions, a Sock Club, and when the conditions allow, I’ll be back to teaching regular knitting and crochet workshops within the shop. Popular products? Stylecraft and West Yorkshire Spinners yarns, sock yarns from a variety of suppliers, Knit Pro needles and notions and Emma Ball bags and accessories. Who shops at your shop? Everyone! I’ve a great local base of avid knitters and crocheters, then there are tourists from the UK and abroad. Top shopping tip? Come with time to spare, as there’s lots to look at and choose from. Ewe & Yarn is a colourful and friendly store

Ewe & Yarn, 18 Millgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire YO7 1AA. Visit www.eweandyarn.co.uk.

month

Each issue we find out more about one of the good causes you could help out with your knitting…

Leah Hunter RNLI lifeboat volunteer crew member

Charity Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Established 1824 What do you do? I’ve been on the crew at Whitby Lifeboat Station for more than six years after joining on my 18th birthday. We have an all-weather lifeboat and an inshore boat. I’m on the crew for both and I’m currently a trainee helm for the inshore boat. I’m also an Education Volunteer and give tours of the station and safety advice to school children on visits, although they are not happening at the moment due to coronavirus. Latest fundraising news My gran Cecilia started knitting for the RNLI after I joined. She learned to knit when she was four years old and she’s 72 now. She has made hundreds of little yellow wellie boots that we have sold at stalls and station open day events in the past and she now has a new addition, the ‘RNLI Covid Crew Bear’, which is a personalised crew bear wearing a face mask. Although she doesn’t know how much she has raised for the RNLI it must be hundreds of pounds – she’s certainly spent plenty of money on the wool! What can we do to help? The RNLI relies entirely on the generosity of its supporters and fundraisers. Last year, donations helped our volunteer crews and lifeguards save the lives of 374 people, while six in every 10 lifeboat launches are only possible due to the extraordinary kindness of supporters leaving a gift to us in their Will. To knit a pair of lifesavers go to https://rnli.org/magazine/ magazine-featured-list/2020/april/knit-apair-of-lifesavers for the free pattern.

Contact details:

Phone 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) Website rnli.org/support-us/give-money/ donate

Charity knit bangles

These stylish knitted bangles are a copyright-free pattern, which means you can knit them for any chosen charity event!

YOU WILL NEED

Q Aran yarn from your yarn stash Q A pair of 5mm needles Q A cable needle Q Various old chunky bangles

Copyright

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charity!

ABBREVIATIONS For a full list see page 87

Noisy jangling bangles are a thing of the past with this stylish knitted set. These patterns are a great way to learn some new stitch patterns, and are quick and simple to make, so they’re ideal for fundraising fairs and stalls.

STRIPED BANGLE

Cast on 10 sts using 5mm needles and Yarn A. Row 1 Knit. Row 2 Purl. Change to Yarn B. Row 3 Knit. Row 4 Purl. Rep the 4-row pattern until the knitting measures 27cm. Cast off.

MAKING UP

Wrap an old 1.5cm bangle with the knitting and sew in place neatly. Weave in any loose ends.

SLIP-STITCH BANGLE

Cast on 45 sts using 5mm needles. Row 1 Knit. Row 2 Purl. Row 3 Knit. Row 4 Purl. Row 5 (K1, sl1); rep to end of row. Row 6 (K1, wyif, sl1); rep to end of row. Row 7 K1, (K1, sl1); rep to end of row. Row 8 (K1, wyif, sl1) to last st, K1; rep to end of row. Row 9 (K1, sl1); rep to end of row. Row 10 (K1, wyif, sl1); rep to end of row. Row 11 Knit. Row 12 Purl. Row 13 Knit. Cast off.

MAKING UP

Wrap a 4cm bangle with the knitting and sew in place. Weave in any loose ends.

CABLE BANGLE

Cast on 16 sts using 5mm needles. Row 1 (RS) P5, K6, P5. Row 2 K5, P6, K5. Row 3 P5, K6, P5. Row 4 K5, P6, K5 Row 5 P5, C6B, P5. Row 6 K5, P6, K5. Rep the 6-row pattern until it measures 27cm, ending on a Row 6. Cast off.

MAKING UP

Wrap a 4cm bangle with the knitting and sew in place. Weave in any loose ends.

If you’re thinking of knitting projects for charity, or to sell, please refer to our information on page 89.

These adorable dolls help raise funds for the RNLI

SAY HELLO!

SEND PHOTOS OF YOUR CHARITY KNITS TO

US AT Knit Together, Simply Knitting magazine, Immediate Media, Eagle House, Bristol BS1 4ST.

EMAIL US AT simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk

FIND US AND FOLLOW US

Facebook.com/simplyknitting @SimplyKnitMag ravelry.com/groups/simply-knitting-magazine @simplyknittingmag www.pinterest.com/simplyknitmag

lockdown knitting A school class in stitches

When coronavirus school closures forced her to put down her chalk, one teacher picked up her knitting needles instead…

Children and their teachers have faced a huge disruption to their normal routine over recent months, with schools closed and home learning becoming the norm. It’s been unsettling for all involved, with children missing their friends and activities – but of course their teachers have also been missing them too. And one teacher, Ingeborg Meinster-Van der Duin, in the Netherlands, missed her students so much she knitted little personalised dolls of them all, complete with a knitted teacher!

SCHOOL’S OUT

Ingeborg explains: “By closing the schools during the Covid19 lockdown, there was some time to knit. While knitting I thought about all the funny and original children in my class.” While making the dolls, which take about four hours each to knit, Ingeborg also made them different for each child. “ I have chosen colours for the clothes that the children often wear, and I gave them the right hair colour,” she says. “If they often have a braid or ponytail then I made that with the doll. I have also given children who often wear a sweater or

Ingeborg – and knitted Ingeborg!

cardigan the same type of clothing.” Of course, the children were delighted with their dolls, which they picked up when collecting belongings they’d left at school. “They thought it was very funny and had to laugh about it,” says Ingeborg. “They could recognise themselves well.”

CHILD’S PLAY

Of course, Ingeborg was already a keen knitter before this began – and other crafts as well. “I like creative activities such as painting, sewing clothes and of course knitting. I often knit, but then they are often rabbits, gnomes, bears, sweaters or cardigans.” Because of these skills, she was able to adapt an existing pattern to match the children she taught, as well as adjusting the proportions for her knitted teacher!

As the weeks have gone by, many of us have found it difficult to be away from the people we care about. We love Ingeborg’s affectionate solution. “During

I can think of them.”

The children loved the personalised dolls What did you knit in lockdown? Let us know at simplyknitting@immediate.co.uk

PLQXWHVZLë

GINGER TWIST STUDIO Jessica James

This month we chat to Jessica James-Thompson from Ginger Twist Studio

Tell us about Ginger Twist

Studio... I opened up my bricks and

stocking a variety of commercial yarns and smaller producers. This was great, but I had the desire to stock something super unique, and thus Ginger’s Hand Dyed came to life! I’ve dabbled with hand dyeing in the past, but it wasn’t until I had my shop that I really began to develop my range. I started out with a bit of 4ply, and now I dye everything from delicate laceweight up to super sumptuous chunky. What can knitters find at your shop? Our stock is comprised of two halves: Ginger’s Hand Dyed, and other lovely yarns (not produced by myself). My range of hand-dyed includes laceweight to chunky yarns that are kettle dyed to semi-solid perfection. I love them all! Ginger Twist Studio believes in supporting other small producers, stocking yarns that are breed specific and have a story. Folks can purchase in person at my shop in Edinburgh, or through my online shop.

What will be the highlights for 2020?

I completed a renovation on the shop earlier this year and I am still so chuffed. Yarn is stacked up to the high ceiling in beautifully custom made shelves, complete with a ladder (my favourite bit). Ginger Twist Studio is a wee bijou shop and it just looks so pretty now! This June, Ginger Twist Studio celebrated its seventh birthday! In celebration of this feat I released a new yarn with a special colourway I’ve named ’The Seven-Year Itch.’ There are also loads of exciting upcoming workshops, including a Gathering & Crochet Hook Carving workshop in October!

Where can we find out more?

Ginger Twist Studio is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, at www.gingertwiststudio.com or visit us at 11 London Road, Edinburgh EH7 5AP.

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Easy to spot with its eye-catching curling horns, this English breed is a hardy hill sheep…

Descendants of an ancient breed indigenous to Exmoor in the south-west of England, Exmoor Horns are hardy sheep perfectly adapted to their environment. Both males and females have horns, and with their white faces and fleece they’re easy to spot on the Somerset and Devon moors. The fleece has a medium staple length and a softer handle than usually found in hill sheep, and the wool is often used for cloths and carpet blends. Discover more about the wonderful world of British sheep at www.britishwool.org.uk.