Let's Knit, issue 108, August 2016

No1 FOR VALUE!

MORE EXCLUSIVE PATTERNS • BEST GIFTS ISSUE 108 Aug 2016

QUICK & FUN EMOJI CUSHIONS

THE UK’S BESTSELLING KNIT MAG

Summer Knitting

8 toys to

Sorted!

knit

Y 11 WARDROBE UPDATES Y 17 QUICK KNITS Y 6 HOME MAKES & lots more!

LARRY THE LION

SUPER-SIMPLE BAG + THE BEST SPEEDY KNITS

NAUTICAL SPECIAL! 7 ON-TREND MAKES FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS

READ THIS!

KEEP CALM

WHY KNITTING IS THE NEW ART THERAPY

BEST FOR BABY

OUR PICK OF LOVELY YARNS FOR LITTLE ONES

SOCKS BY KATYA FRANKEL ISSUE 108 AUG 2016 £5.99

CAST YOUR VOTE! THE BRITISH KNITTING AWARDS ARE OPEN!

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AUGUST 2016

CONTENTS 13

68 17 23

46

89

ER COV JECT PRO

Who cares?

...WE DO!

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At Let’s Knit we understand that nothing is more annoying than errors in knitting patterns. As part of our total commitment to ensuring that your experience of our magazine is as enjoyable as possible, we’re proud to offer

THE LET’S KNIT PATTERN PROMISE:

l Exclusive patterns featured in Let’s Knit have been professionally checked and reproduced with the utmost care.

Updates can be found at www.letsknit.co.uk 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 email: support@letsknit.co.uk By post: at the address on page 95­(please mark your envelope ‘Support’) (Please note we cannot offer assistance with patterns not published in Let’s Knit)

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PATTERNS

13 NAUTICAL CROPPED SWEATER Get beach ready with this fabulous seaside-inspired top

59 ELEGANT TOP Create Pat Menchini’s flattering top, perfect for summer

17 SAIL AWAY No nautical outfit is complete without one of our matching bags

68 COSY NEUTRALS This hat and cowl set is the ultimate festival accessory

23 LARRY THE LION Knit a gorgeous feline playmate

70 FACE TIME Use your knitting skills to express yourself in emoji

26 TOP TOES Continuing our Summer of Socks series, here are two more patterns for your collection

75 GREEN FINGERS Add some colour to your floral displays with these fab knitted container covers

30 PETER MOUSE You won’t be able to resist our cute mouse in rompers, or his little friend

78 LACE SHAWL Adrienne Chandler shows you how to knit a lace shawl

36 WATERFALL CARDIGAN Made with luxuriously soft yarn, this cardigan is a gorgeous and flattering make

82 CLASSIC CABLED SWEATER Head to your local store for materials to knit a timeless sweater

46 SHIP AHOY! These nautical knits are the perfect summer accessories for your home 53 HICKORY DICKORY DOCK This colourful nursery rhyme-inspired make is sure to be a hit with the kids

89 COOL COTTON TUNIC Chill out this summer in this gorgeous crocheted tunic 91 RAINBOW BRIGHT Beginner knitters will love Susie Johns’ garter stitch cushion

04 www.letsknit.co.uk

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This month’s

FREE

GIFTS! 30

£1200 OF FAB PRIZES TO BE WON ON P88

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SHOPPING

summer of

SOCKS

56 AUTHOR PROFILE We chat to journalist and avid knitter Janet Gover

16 STYLE SPOTLIGHT The best of this season’s nautical designs 39 JUST PEACHY Subtle and muted tones for your summer wardrobe 65 BABY YARNS Our pick of cosy yarns in ice cream colours

GREAT OFFERS:

l 25% OFF YARN STORIES

PEOPLE

50 STOP AND SHARE Catch up with the LK community 98 LAST WORD Margeau Soboti chats to us about her life as a knitting designer

FOCUS

IN EVERY ISSUE..

33 BRITISH KNITTING AWARDS Vote for your knitting faves and you could win an amazing spa break 43 SUMMER LOVING Celebrate yarns and patterns for the summer season

KNIT ONE OF OUR FUN SNUGGLE BUDDIES WITH YOUR FREE YARN KIT AND PATTERN LEAFLET.

Just for you!

72 KNIT HAPPY Find out why knitting is officially good for your health!

87 WHAT’S IN STORE Get the hot gossip from our favourite shops around the UK

10 LOOK WHAT’S NEW FOR YOU Catch up with the latest news and gossip from the knitting universe

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plus a free pattern. download. See page 64

l FREE GIFT

when you subscribe today.

Find out more on page 40.

3 Welcome 7 This Month’s Free Gift 8 August is the Month 40 Subscriptions 49 Coming Next Month 52 Tea Break 58 Bookshelf 77 Can We Help?

88 Giveaways 92 Practical Guides 94 Step By Step

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Back issues from Jan 2011 onwards are available on the Let’s Knit app! www.letsknit.co.uk

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TOP SUMMER TREND

Get fab seaside style with our NAUTICAL CROPPED SWEATER

EXCLUSIVE TO

A

s you might have noticed, we’re loving ocean-inspired knits this season, from sailor sweaters to seasidey accessories and homewares.

This short jumper is knitted in classic blue and cream and features a simple slip stitch design. See our Knitwise panel for further explanation on the technique. It’s a great choice for summer and the loose fit means it can easily be popped on when the sea breezes get a bit too enthusiastic.

Jeans £14.99, H&M

Simple and stylish!

13 www.letsknit.co.uk

NAUTICAL SPECIAL

Sail Away

EXCLUSIVE TO

Get on board with nautical knits with our two fab bags!

A

hoy there land lubbers! We’re big fans of all things oceanic and are thrilled to bring you two stylish bags. Nicola Valiji’s stripy sail boat design is perfect for the beach. The motif is made up of simple shapes and sewn to the bag pocket. Alternatively, choose a more subtle cabled effect with Charmaine Fletcher’s elegant hangbag. It’s lined with a chain strap for a really professional finish.

17 www.letsknit.co.uk

PROMOTIONAL FEATURE KNIT WITH

Larry the Lion Knit this roar-some playmate from Deramores!

C

ute, colourful and curlymaned, Larry is a fun and cuddly companion for your little one. Part of Deramores’ safari collection, he is easy to knit and even easier to love!

The mane is worked using loop stitch, but don’t worry if you’ve never done it before – we’ve got step-by-step photos in our Knitwise panel (overleaf).

Remember, if you are giving Larry to a young child, embroider the eyes instead of using buttons and make sure all the parts are really securely sewn together.

23 www.letsknit.co.uk

CELEBRATE SUMMER

T

Rowan Magazine 59

he summer is the most vibrant and colourful season in the knitting calender and it’s one of our favourite times of year here at LK. There are wonderful fibres that knit into fabrics with exquisite drape and stitch definition, and a whole range of pattern styles whether you’re looking for impact or comfort. There are some fabulous techniques to try too, so read on and be inspired!

summer

LOVING

Celebrate the season with cool yarns, the hottest trends and some of our favourite seaside stores!

ls!

New Season Arriva HERE ARE TWO GREAT NEW COTTON-BASED YARNS TO ADD TO YOUR STASH, BOTH LAUNCHED ESPECIALLY FOR THE LATE-SUMMER SEASON! Cygnet Whopper is a brand new yarn

that blends cotton and acrylic. It is soft and cool, yet light to knit with and wear. There are eight bold and bright shades to choose from and it’s fabulously chunky, so is perfect for statement sweaters and striking homewares. www.cygnetyarns.com

Erika Knight Gossypium Cotton

celebrates cotton in all its natural glory.

It is made in the Hisar district of Haryana, India, by an eco-friendly manufacturer who supports the local community. It has a soft, matte finish, comes in eight subtle shades and has a supporting collection of designs for babies. www.erikaknight.co.uk

FIBRE FACT FILE: Cotton SCIENTIFIC NAME: gossypium

The cotton plant grows in many continents and is one of the most versatile fibres. It absorbs moisture easily which in turn keeps you cool. In yarn production, cotton can either be left with a soft finish or go through a process called mercerisation, which makes the yarn strong and shiny. It takes dyes well so the colours really pop and has great stitch definition which lends itself to lacy designs and textured patterns, as well as crochet.

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DISCOVER WARM-WEATHER FIBRES

EDUCATIONAL PLAY SET

Hickory Dickory Dock

EXCLUSIVE TO

Create nursery rhyme fun with Susie Johns’ colourful set

T

his classic nursery rhyme is a fabulous way to introduce children to the concept of telling the time. The pendulum swings, the hands can be moved and the mouse can be positioned wherever you like. The main part of the clock is knitted in DK yarn, while the mouse, clock face and other component parts are knitted in 4ply.

meet our DESIGNER “Hang the clock on the wall using the hanging loop. Teach your child to recite the rhyme and change the hands on the clock to learn to tell the time.”

SUSIE JOHNS

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EXCLUSIVE TO

Make this from under ÂŁ14 !

Stay stylish in Pat Menchini’s

F

ELEGANT TOP

eel fab and feminine in this vintage-inspired top!

Designer Pat has combined two contrasting yarns to great effect with the close fitting rib and floaty top section. The muted shade gives an understated glamour that means this garment can easily be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. The top part is worked just in stocking stitch so you get a lace effect without any tricky stitches!

59 www.letsknit.co.uk

IDEA FOR NEWBIES

Green Fingers Add some colour to a floral display

T

he great thing about knitting is that you can use it to make coverings for almost anything! At LK we love a project that can be used to decorate our homes and Lynne Rowe’s covers for vases and flower pots are perfect for sprucing up a conservatory or patio area. The swirly lace design on the vase covering is perfect for intermediate knitters and looks stunning when finished. Why not experiment with colours and make a pair to match your home dÊcor?

75 www.letsknit.co.uk

SIMPLY SUMMER CROCHET

EXCLUSIVE TO

Get holidayready with Virginia Coppins’

COOL CROCHET TUNIC C

rochet is the perfect technique for creating openwork mesh patterns. This one uses chains and double crochet stitches to create a strong and stretchy fabric that fits a range of sizes. The tunic is a great beach cover up or can be worn over leggings and a vest, or a plain strappy dress.

meet our DESIGNER “Craft Cotton, the Cinderella of all yarns, gets to go to the ball!

This is a two-way holiday make: wear it over shorts or leggings during the day, then add a sparkly brooch and bling it up for a night out!”

VIRGINIA COPPINS

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