Knit-a-Soc Magazine
Edited and Designed by Philippa Stazicker
Written by Knit-A-Soc
Contents Odds-n-Ends Square Lap Blanket Twiddlemuffs Lace 101 #Hygge 5 hot chocolate recipes for sipping while knitting Easy Winter Scarf Chrochet Ornaments What sort of Knitter are you?
Odds-n-Ends Square Lap Blanket
Its design means that it’s a brilliant on-the-go project – if needs be, you can simply take one ball of yarn on your train journey or to the dentist’s waiting room, and just make individual squares, rather than trying to stuff an entire blanket into your handbag. It’s also a great project for anybody looking to get more confident with increasing and/or decreasing, anybody who wants to practice sewing knitted projects, anybody who has loads of ends-of-balls-of-yarn to use up, or anybody who, like me, has a burning and thoroughly irrational hatred of doing purl stitches.
By Morgan Powell
I devised this pattern after my friend showed me a knitted blanket that she’d found (absurdly cheaply) in a charity shop in Leeds. I was mystified by the fact that it was seemingly in garter stitch, but the stitches ran diagonally, and jumped to the conclusion that this blanket was a product of witchcraft. But, after a number of attempts, I managed to replicate it – and now you can too!
You will need:
Whatever yarn you like, but all of the same weight (I used DK, and a total of 460g of yarn) Needles to suit your yarn weight (for DK, this would be 4mm – check your yarn bands!) Tapestry/darning/yarn/whatever-you-call-it needle (for sewing together the squares) (Optional) A warm beverage and a good audiobook to enjoy while you knit!
To make a square:
Cast on 1 stitch, leaving a tail of approx. 12 inches (for sewing squares together) Knit into the front and back, to create 2 sts KFB first stitch, then knit to end of row Repeat, increasing by one stitch each row, until you have 40 sts K2tog, knit to end of row Repeat until you have 1 stitch remaining Cut yarn to leave a 12 inch tail; pass yarn through your final stitch to secure it There’s your first square! I made my blanket 6x6, knitting 36 squares in total, but feel free to make yours bigger or smaller, and rectangular rather than square if you like. I’d recommend sewing your squares together as you go along – it allows you to see how big your blanket is getting, and prevents that phenomenon of creating all the squares, then dreading the task of sewing so much that they never actually get collated into a blanket at all.
(Optional)make a trim for the edges:
Cast on 10 sts Knit garter stitch until you have a strip as long as the length of your blanket, plus the width of the strip that you’re working (for example, if your 10 sts comes out as 1.5 inches, knit until it’s the length of the blanket + 1.5 inches) Cast off
Finishing:
Sew onto blanket, leaving the additional width of the strip (in our example, the extra 1.5 inches) free – this is where you’ll attach the next strip Repeat until you have a trim on all four edges
Enjoy your new blanket!
Twiddlemuffs A twiddlemuff is a knitted pocket or glove with decoration attached that can be used to calm patients who suffer from Dementia and Alzheimer’s. The muff has various textures and items sewn on so that patients can keep their hands busy. They are easy to make, and the more variety the better, so using up your stash is encouraged.
By Philippa Stazicker
Want to get involved in a charity project? Try twiddlemuffs!
How to make a knitted twiddlemuff You will need:
Either Chunky yarn, or DK yarn held double 6.5 mm needles
Instructions:
Cuff: Cast on 40 stitches Work in stocking stitch for 11 inches/28cm Body: Continue in stocking stitch. Add stripes, or different textures like fun fur, mohair or ribbon. Alternatively, this is a good time to try out new textured stitches. Continue until work measures 23 inches/58cm. Cast off.
Finishing and decoration:
Decorate with whatever you like: ribbon, buttons, beads, zips, tassels, loops, crochet flowers. The more variety the better. Make sure these are securely sewn so they cannot be pulled off. Sew the sides together, purl/wrong side facing you. Turn inside out and push the cuff up inside the muff (this creates an inner sleeve) Sew the two ends together.
How to make a Crochet twiddle muff You will need:
Aran yarn 8mm hook (aran)
Instructions:
Inner/ outer cuff (make 2): Chain 40. Be careful not to twist the chain slip stitch furthest from the hook to make a ring. Rnd 1 (RS): Ch 1, 1 htr in same CH, 1htr in each Ch the then end of the round. Place a marker. (40 sts) Rnd 2: 1htr into each st to end. Move marker to show new end of round. (40 sts) Rnds 3-21: Repeat round 2. Rnd 22: 1htr in each st until 1 st remains, 1 dc into next st, sl st in next st. Fasten off and break yarn, leaving a long tail for finishing.
Finishing:
Decorate inner and out sleeve. Turn the inner sleeve inside-out and slip it inside the outer sleeve. Make sure that you have one long yarn tail at either open end. Using 8mm hook and long yarn tail join the inner and outer sleeve together by working a round of dc, working into the starting chain of one layer and the final round of the other. Do this at each end to form a double-layered tube. Weave in all ends.
Lace 101 knitted. The key thing to note here is that, in most cases, the pattern (yarn over increases and knitted decreases) are worked on the right-side (rs) of the project.
Top Tip!
Use wood or bamboo needles when knitting with finer yarns as the stitches are less prone to slipping than on metal or plastic needles. Skills overview aside, what can you do with your new-found lace knowledge? The answer is just about anything! Lace can be applied to jumpers, cardigans, gloves, and more… Whether you want to knit an item which is entirely lace, or just has a lace edge, it is up to you. If you want to try your hand at lace, but without being too adventurous right away, then lace edging is a good place to start! A lace edge can be the perfect way to add detail to projects, without the lace overwhelming you, nor the garment. Lace edgings are worked in the same yarn, and on the same needles, as the rest of the project – in some cases this can result in chunky, eye-catching lace with bold holes from the yarn over patterning. For those fancying a larger lace project, shawls are a main staple for lace knitting. In contrast to edgings, lace shawls are often worked on needles
By Harriet Blithe Clark
Lace knitting can yield beautiful results, but can appear to be a daunting challenge upon first inspection. Despite the complicated-looking array of (intentional) holes and a network of branching stitches, lace relies on the same fundamentals as all knitting – you knit stitches, and you purl stitches. Of course, these are not the only steps, but they are all anyone needs to know before attempting anything lace-related. The holes are made by bringing the yarn over the working (right) needle between stitches (yarn over, ‘yo’), and the correct number of stitches are maintained by knitting stitches together (k2tog), or by slip stitch knit (ssk). By and large, there is only one feature which may differ to most knitting techniques, and that is a centred double-decrease (cdd, also referred to as s2kp2). This technique works much like slip stitch knit; simply slip two stitches from the left needle onto the right needle, knitting the next stitch, and pass the two slipped stitches over the stitch you have just
which would otherwise be considered too large for the yarn weight. The heaviest weight yarn for a lace shawl is usually a 4ply, and can go down to a 1ply yarn. For most lace shawls, 1ply or 2ply weight yarn is required. Whatever weight yarn you choose, the shawl is typically knitted on 4mm needles; this creates delicacy in the drape of the shawl. A top tip is to use wood or bamboo needles when knitting with finer yarns as the stitches are less prone to slipping than on metal or plastic needles. Lace shawls can come in all shapes and sizes – from rectangular to round, from big to small. Some shawls may have a garter stitch, or stocking stitch body and a lace edge, others may be entirely lace. For those shawls with a lace edging and solid body, the lace may be knitted straight from the body, or be knitted on sideways once a certain number of stitches has been reached (this is surprisingly straight-forward!). The key to creating a lace shawl is most often being comfortable using a charted pattern. Lace edgings for other garments are typically comprised
of a three or four row repeat pattern; shawl lace, even as an edging, is often worked over many more rows before the pattern is repeated, if at all. Do not be deterred by this! A key is always provided with a chart for you to check what each symbol represents, and you can transfer these instructions into your own written copy if you prefer, which can help you gain familiarity with the chart at the beginning of your project. Remember, the more rows you do, and the more practice you have, the easier reading charts will become! There is really only one thing to watch out for, however, and that is charts for symmetrical lace shawls. Because the finished row will be symmetrical down the centre stitch, only half of the row is charted. In these cases, simply read the chart from right to left along the row until you reach your central stitch, and then read the same row from left to right until you finish the row. Lace shawls are a favourite of mine, and can offer a real opportunity to indulge in your choice of yarn. As yarn is sold by weight, lace yarn has many more metres per 100g than all other yarn weights. This means that you only ever really need one skein, which makes shawls cheaper than other large projects. With that in mind, one 100g (usually 800m) skein in a handdyed luxury blend yarn for ÂŁ16 - ÂŁ22 is often still cheaper than cardigans and jumpers made with standardised acrylic-blend yarns. The real truth is that knitting lace is much the same as knitting any other item: if you follow the pattern, you are unlikely to go wrong!
#Hygge
The lifestyle trend and how it affects knitting
If you have taken a break from knitting to browse the internet recently, you may have come across the term ‘Hygge.’ A Danish word, it made its way across the North Sea to the UK in 2016, and has been taking Instagram by storm. ‘Hygge’, roughly translated, means a feeling of cosiness and contentment. It is often associated with warm fires, hot drinks, and, of course, knitting. The main aim of feeling ‘hygge’ is to create a feeling of happiness, even when the wind is blowing outside, and the snow has begun to fall. While the term is in common usage in Denmark, it has only recently begun to be used in the UK and the USA, brought in on a tide of ‘scandi-living.’ Move over mindfulness and clean eating; ‘hygge’ encourages you to indulge in a hot chocolate and prioritize finishing your hand-knit socks. Instead of
Is it perfect? No. In its trip over to the UK, hygge has picked up some more commercialised fans. A retinue of books have been created, all singing hygge’s praises. While it may bring more people to knitting, it might be doing it in a pretty gift wrapped box that requires the purchase of various items so you are hygge enough. Similarly, endless posts on Instagram and Pinterest, perfectly framed and photographed, still elevate hygge to a competition about who can create the perfect snapshot of their life. So where does that leave knitters? Probably in a similar place to where we started. We already enjoyed getting cozy on the sofa, putting on an episode of ‘Outlander’ and knitting away for a few hours. Hygge has brought knitting into the public eye, but then when haven’t we gotten requests from strangers to knit us a jumper? Whilst more people might be interested in our knitting skills, at least now we have a new excuse to say no: “it wouldn’t make me feel hygge.” Don’t get stressed about knitting twenty Christmas stockings for your extended family. Instead, embrace hygge and focus your time on creating what you want, whether that is a present for a good friend, or something nice for yourself. Make yourself cozy and content, and indulge in the knitting you enjoy.
By Philippa Stazicker
the perfectionism of minimalism, we can now enjoy the warm and fuzzy feelings of cosiness.
5 hot chocolate recipes for sipping while knitting Create a basic hot chocolate with either an instant mix, or by warming milk on the stove, before stirring in cocoa powder. You can add in cream and chocolate chips for an extra creamy taste. Try some of the variations below for something a little bit different. Peppermint: Add peppermint and vanilla flavouring. Gingerbread: Forget starbucks. Add vanilla extract, ginger, cinnamon, and all spice, and a pinch of brown sugar. Hot Toddy: Add a splash of your favourite spirit, we recommend bourbon, cointreau or whisky. Top it off with whipped cream. Salted Peanut Butter: Water down smooth peanut butter, and slowly swirl it into your hot chocolate. The Extravaganza: Add a marshmallow or two. Add whipped cream and a sprinkle of hundreds and thousands. Finish by stiring in a flake.
Easy Winter Scarf
You will need: Chunky yarn 6mm needles Pattern: Cast on 24 stitches. K2 P2 Repeat until it is the length you want. Cast off.
By Emily Davies Vittersø
A perfect ribbed scarf for a blustery day. It knits up quickly in chunky yarn, so it would be perfect for a Christmas present.
Original design by Heather at twindragonflydesigns.com
Chrochet Ornaments
You will need: Aran yarn in 4 different colours 5.5mm hook Yarn Needle Round Ornament: ch 5, sl st to join in first ch Tr 10 into the ring, sl st to join, ch 1 (10) 2 Dc into each st around, sl st to join, ch 1 (20) (2Dc, 1Dc) into each st around, sl st to join, ch 1 (30) Dc 3, ch 1, turn, Dc 3, fasten off Oval Ornament: Ch 11, start pattern in second Ch from hook Dc, Dc, Htc, Htc, Tc, Tc, Htc, Htc, Dc, Dc, ch 1, turn repeat pattern down the other side of the ch Dc, Dc, Htr, Htc, Tc, Tc, HTc, Htc, Dc, Dc, ch 1 Dc in each st around, fasten off Tear Drop Ornament: Ch 7, start pattern in second ch from hook Dc6 into ch, continue around the end of the chain and Dc 6 into the other side of the ch, sl st to join, ch 1 2 Dc into each st around, sl st to join, ch 1, turn Dc (1-12) into each st, Tc (13,14), Dc into each st remaining, sl st to join, ch 1 3 Dc, ch 1, turn, 3 Dc, fasten off Using a needle and a contrasting thread, sew a cross onto each ornament. String the ornements along a piece of yarn.
What Sort of Knitter are You?
Aunty Mabel wants a Christmas sweater for her dog: what is your reaction? A Mr Floofles would look so cute as a Reindeer! I had better look up some patterns! B I already knitted Aunt Mabel’s present for this Christmas, but maybe it can go on the list for next year. C That is the perfect project, I will cast on right now. Of course I don’t need to work on my 11 other WIPs. D While Mr Floofles is adorable, I know how fast I can knit, and it would only stress me out to try and cram in a new project for such a short deadline. I’ll pass for now. It’s Thursday night: what are you knitting? A Well I’m actually helping my friend untangle yarn, but I’m sure I will get back to making hats for the homeless when I am done. B As the clock hit 8 I cast off the cardigan I have been making to wear to the Christmas party. Now I am creating the matching clutch bag. C Well I was knitting a fluffy unicorn, but then I got distracted by biscuits. D It’s not about the project, it’s about the process. What do you like to listen to when knitting? A Well I am working on my Christmas presents right now, so a bit of Mariah Carey can’t hurt. B I have a specially curated playlist to keep me focused. C I love knitting podcasts: they give me so many ideas for new projects. Sometimes I even stop knitting to look them up straight away. D I only listen to Enya and whale music so I can be completely in the zone. A pattern isn’t turning out as planned: what do you do? A Frog it, it has to be perfect when I give it to my mum. B I will unravel back to my pre-placed lifeline. Then I will check the notes I made to see where I went wrong. C Maybe I should leave the pattern for now, and try something else. I will fix it later when I’m not annoyed. D Bob Ross said there are no mistakes, only happy accidents. Now my knitting is truly unique!
By Philippa Stazicker
You receive an email about a 50% off yarn sale: what do you do? A Oh my gosh, I can stock up on acrylic baby yarn for preemie hats! B Excellent, I will buy that yarn I favourited 3 months ago for my next sweater project. C I’ll take a look after a few more rows. Hope I don’t forget before it’s over… D What wonderful news! I may browse the yarn, but I will turn off my screen 30 minutes before bedtime.
Mostly A’s
The Gift Giver: Your mum, your dad, your little brother, your friends, even your dog, have all received handmade gifts. You have actually contemplated making a roving arm knit blanket for someone. Sometimes you worry someone might not want your gift, but then you laugh and continue knitting. After all, who wouldn’t want a knitted loo roll cover?
Mostly B’s
The Planner: You started your Christmas knitting last January. Your project queue is meticulously curated. All your yarn is assigned to a project. You like to keep your knitting organised, just like the rest of your life. Now, back to the WIP, it won’t finish itself!
Mostly C’s
The Procrasti-knitter: You love looking through patterns, adding to your stash, and you have WIPs coming out of your ears. While you always start out with the best of intentions, a new project keeps catching your eye. You will finish one day, but first, you just have to check out that new yarn sale.
Mostly D’s
The Serene Stitcher: A cup of herbal tea. Your bullet journal. Deep breathing. Your knitting is so chill you may need to defrost it. Dropped stitches don’t phase you and nothing can break you out of the knitting zone. Just be careful not to fall asleep mid-row!
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