Quick Knits for Baby preview

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knits you’ll love to make and give!

QUick knits for BaBY You can make these cute baby toys this weekend!

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excLUsive patterns toys, blankets, hats, cardis and more!

Easy designs for boys and girls ISSUE 1

UK £7.99

Inspire Imagine Create

free inside

6 balls of Betty & Belle yarn PLUs 4mm knitting needles Beginner’s step-by-step guide to knitting

Friendly advice from knitting mums

We revieW the Best neW BaBY Yarns and Books

_QKFB01 pp03 Welcome_QKFB 26/10/2012 09:16 Page 3

Y

ou might recognise me and the Quick Knits Design Team from Knit Now magazine. One of the things that people are always asking me for is more baby patterns, particularly those that can be knitted quickly and easily, in those few spare moments that mums snatch while baby is asleep – and so this magazine was born.

I wanted the designs to be contemporary and to be just as suitable for little boys as for girls, so I contacted my Design Team (many of whom are young mums themselves) and asked them to come up with their best ideas, which is what you’ll find here. I’ve even designed a couple of patterns myself.

If you haven’t knitted before, or not for a long time, turn to the back of the magazine, where you’ll find easy step-by-step instructions to get you started.

Then take a look at page 11, where you’ll find everything you need to know before you begin knitting these patterns. Each of the designs can be made with your exclusive Betty and Belle yarn and 4mm needles. As well as patterns, we’ve brought you some bits and pieces to read, from Anna’s sage advice on page 6 to Louisa’s picks for the best pampering treats for mums on page 54.

I really hope you love these patterns and enjoy knitting them.

If you want to give us some feedback, log on and complete our survey (see pg.66). Everyone who completes the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win a special bundle of baby yarns and books. Oh, and I’d really love to see what you make, so do get in touch and send in your photos!

Happy knitting,

Kate

Welcome

Hello and welcome to your lovely new Quick Knits magazine!

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_QKFB01 pp04-05 Contents_QKFB 26/10/2012 15:10 Page 4

Contents

editorial editor Kate Heppell technical editor Ruth Garcia-Alcantud art editor Craig Chubb additional Design Kate Vanhinsbergh Sub-editors Sarah Adie, Becky Higgins, Lee Jepson, Justine Moran Photography Dan Walmsley

Contributors Joeli Caparco, Louisa Castle, Anna Elliott, Kate Heppell, Anni Howard, Lynne Moores, Michaela Moores, Sam Parfitt, Cilla Webb, Torya Winters

Publishing & advertising Group Sales Manager Kevin Edwards kevin.edwards@practicalpublishing.co.uk Tel: 0844 826 0610 advertising Co-ordinator Rachael Edmunds Financial Director Karen Battrick Marketing executive Olivia Foster Operations Director Dave Cusick Managing Director Danny Bowler Chairman Robin Wilkinson

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Subscription enquiries Tel: 0844 561 1203

Distribution Newstrade – COMAG Magazine Distribution Craft Store Distribution executive Matthew Paton matthew.paton@practicalpublishing.co.uk Tel: 0844 826 0616

Contact Practical Publishing International Ltd, Suite G2 St Christopher House, 217 Wellington Road South, Stockport SK2 6NG info@practicalpublishing.co.uk www.practicalpublishing.co.uk Tel: 0844 561 1202 Fax: 0161 474 6961 Quick Knits For... is published by Practical Publishing International Ltd. All material © Practical Publishing International Ltd. The style and mark of Quick Knits For... is used under licence from Craft Media Ltd. No material in whole or in part may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the prior written consent of Practical Publishing International Ltd. The publisher welcomes contributions from readers.

All such contributions and submissions to the magazine are sent to and accepted by the publisher on the basis of a non-exclusive transferable worldwide licence unless otherwise agreed in writing prior to first publication. Such submissions are also subject to being used, reproduced, modified, published, edited, translated, distributed and displayed in any media or medium, or any form, format or forum now known or hereafter developed, for any purpose, in perpetuity.

Quick Knits For... (ISSN 2051-1027) Published by Practical Publishing International Ltd

PatternS 51 Darling Set Anni Howard 56 Little Sailor Set Kate Heppell 58 Dr. Monkey Of Monkington Michaela Moores

12 Fruity Beanies Kate Heppell 17 Baby’s First Book Anna Elliott 24 Corner to Corner Blanket Joeli Caparco 28 Drawstring Bag & Pouch Anni Howard 30 Super Stripes Set Sam Parfitt 35 Play & Learn Cushions Michaela & Lynne Moores 38 Patchy Playmat Sam Parfitt 41 Olive tree Set Torya Winters 47 Down the rabbit Hole Cilla Webb

FeatureS 6 8 11 26 54 61 66

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What Knitting Mums To Know Best Baby Books Before We Begin Best Baby Yarns Pampering Day Clever Storage Ideas Survey

_QKFB01 pp06-07 What knitting_QKFB 26/10/2012 09:42 Page 7

What KnIttIng MuMs KnoW delicate pastel shades of cashmeremix yarn is that babies have any number of revolting ways to quickly and effectively soil the cute little ensemble their knitting mum lovingly wrestled them into not five minutes earlier. Failing that, they’ll drag it over their head and fling it away so that, if not lost altogether, it has to be fished from a puddle or under the pram wheels and put in the wash. Nine times out of ten, knitting mums will go home and, propping their sleep-deprived eyes open with matchsticks, hand-wash and re-block the item ready for a new onslaught. However, on that fatal tenth occasion, a hand knit will end up bundled up with a pile of muslin cloths and babygros and accidentally ruined on a 60° white wash. When this occurs, the knitting mum who is also a yarn snob will curse her own aversion to easy-care acrylic yarns. Even though natural yarns photograph so much better for Ravelry. However...

Knitting mums know that you can’t breed willing models.

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I bought my first baby knitting book purely on the strength of one of the pictures in it. I was years away from considering motherhood, didn’t really get the whole cute babies thing and was just looking for something to make for my cousin, who was expecting. Then I turned the page and saw a beautiful little nose turned up in profile under a tiny beanie with a stalk on top and I was sold. We all want pictures with that sort of impact on our Ravelry project pages, so when you become a knitting mum you expect to have a permanent, willing and photogenic model for your creations, as a right. Babies unfortunately have different ideas.

If they can move out of shot, pull a weird expression, cry, fall asleep or burp up milk just as you’re about to take the photo, they will If they can move out of shot, pull a weird expression, cry, fall asleep or burp up milk just as you’re about to take the photo, they will. Once they’ve worked out how to crawl, walk, undress themselves or express an opinion, forget it. You might get lucky – so far, I’ve had a 50% success rate in that my daughter will wear knits and occasionally stand still for a photo.

As for my son, I have some lovely shots of him in a specially-designedand-knit-for-him-in-specificallynon-itchy-wool sweater. To get those shots, I had to bribe him with the forbidden fruit of chocolate. He hasn’t worn it since, instead being passionately attached to a shopbought fleece hoody. Which brings me to the conclusion that:

Knitting mums know it’s only ever them that really appreciate their children’s hand-knits.

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Maybe one day, when they’re all grown up, a knitting mum’s kids might look at the lovely handmade clothes they were wearing in a baby

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photo and be grateful. Elderly relatives may be fooled into thinking that if a knitting mum is hand-making all these wonderful clothes, she must also be taking a proper, old-fashioned approach to thorough housework. In my case, this is an utter fallacy as, with too little time to accommodate childcare, knitting and housework, I know which one goes out of the (smeary, unpolished) window.

Competitive mums at the toddler group may quietly grind their teeth in jealousy at items you can’t even get hold of with Mini-Boden on speed dial. But ultimately, it’s only a knitting mum who knows just how much care has been taken in selecting that yarn and that pattern, how much love has gone into every stitch she (or her mother-in-law, sister, grandmother or friend) knitted, how much patience was given to unpicking mistakes, weaving in ends and seaming it flawlessly so that it’s as perfect as the recipient it’s made for... and how much her heart sings when she sees her child warmly snuggled in it.

_QKFB01 pp08-09 Best Baby Books_QKFB 26/10/2012 10:23 Page 8

Best Baby Books There are so many baby pattern books on the market, it’s hard to know which to buy. These are our favourite new releases Rowan: Just Baby

Great for:

By Lisa Richardson

Precious little knits

With 19 designs for babies and toddlers, from tiny mittens to a beautiful blanket (but mostly lots and lots of gorgeous sweaters), all beautifully photographed, this pattern book is sure to provide lots of knitting inspiration. All the designs are knit in Rowan’s Baby Merino Silk DK, which is a luxury yarn developed specifically with babies in mind – it’s super-soft and comes in a gorgeous range of colours. Importantly, it’s also machine washable! £8.50 from Rowan stockists – see www.knitrowan.com

Scrumptious Baby Collection

Great for:

Gifts for new mums

From Fyberspates We can’t get enough of Fyberspates – its yarn is just second to none.

This year has already seen the release of three Scrumptious books and this one is full of delicious little knits for babies. The book features designs from Judy Furlong and Kyoko Nakayoshi among others, as well as adorable photography by Amanda France. The designs are clever and pretty, with lots of textural detail – perfect for the fantastic stitch definition that Scrumptious gives. £7.50 from www.fyberspates.co.uk

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_QKFB01 pp11 Before we begin_QKFB 26/10/2012 15:12 Page 11

Your yarn Your Betty & Belle yarn is spun and dyed exclusively for us. Your pack contains six 25g balls – three in Vanilla Slice and one each in Blueberry Muffin, Peppermint Green and Strawberry Fool. It’s DK weight, and each ball contains about 75m. If you’d like to use a different yarn for any of these patterns, just look for a yarn that is labelled DK (double knitting) and has about 300m per 100g.

Checking your tension All the patterns are designed to be knitted at standard tension for this yarn using your free 4mm needles, which is 24 sts and 28 rows per 10cm. Before you begin, knit a swatch by casting on 40 sts and working in St st (alternate knit and purl rows) for 15cm. Cast off and then pin your square out flat. Using pins and a tape measure, mark out 10cm horizontally and check how many sts you have. Do the same vertically. If you have too many sts/rows, you will either need to use bigger needles or knit a larger size. If you have too few sts/rows, you will either need to use smaller needles or knit a smaller size.

Measure twice, knit once

Before We Begin Here’s all you need to know about your exclusive Betty & Belle knit kit

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We’ve sized our patterns based on average baby sizes, but they do vary quite a bit! So, with this in mind, we strongly recommend that you get out your tape measure and check the size of your recipient. The most important are chest size (measure all the way around, just under the armpits), head size (measure all the way around at the largest point) and arm length (measure under the arm, from armpit to wrist). And of course, when in doubt, knit the larger size. As mum always says – they’ll grow into it!

Fruity Beanies

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ESSENTIAL TOOLS...

Tension n 24 sts x 28 rows = 10cm measured over St st

Needles used n 4mm straight

Other supplies n darning needle

Sizing n Newborn (6 months, 12 months) n Shown in 6 months size

STArT kNITTINg...

Strawberry Cast on 74 (82, 90) sts.

Rows 1-8: Sl1, k to end.

Row 9: Sl1, p to end.

Row 10: Sl1, k to end.

Rows 9-10 establish St st.

Work - (4, 8) rows in St st and then begin working from chart, starting with Row 13 (7, 1) and working the

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n Blueberry beanie: 1 ball Blueberry Muffin (MC), small scrap Peppermint Green (CC) n Strawberry beanie: 1 ball Strawberry Fool (MC), small scraps Vanilla Slice (CC1) and Peppermint Green (CC2)

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Yarn used

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hese hats are designed to sit low on the head, pulled right down over the ears for warmth. Practise with the Blueberry beanie, then move on to the Strawberry, which comes with a little stranded colourwork.

14 (16.5, 18.5) cm / 5.5 (6.5, 7.25)�

These adorable little blueberry and strawberry hats are fun and easy to knit

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31 (34, 38) cm / 12.25 (13.5, 15)�

8-st repeat section a total of 9 (10, 11) times across the row.

After chart has been completed, 11 (12, 13) sts rem. Continue working in CC2.

Next row: Sl1, k2tog 4 (5, 6) times, k2 (1, -). 7 sts Next row: P2tog 3 times, p1. 4 sts Next row (i-cord): Knit. Slip all sts back to LH needle.

Work i-cord row 4 more times.

Cut yarn, thread through rem sts and pull tight to fasten.

Crown decreases

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Cast on 74 (82, 90) sts.

Rows 1-8: Sl1, k to end.

Row 9: Sl1, p to end.

Row 10: Sl1, k to end.

Rows 9-10 establish St st.

Work in St st for 13 (19, 25) more rows and then begin crown decreases.

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Blueberry

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Row 1: Sl1, *k6, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 65 (72, 79) sts Row 2 and all even rnds: Sl1, p to end.

Row 3: Sl1, *k5, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 56 (62, 68) sts

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cont. on page 14*

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USE YOUR FREE YARN Blueberry beanie Strawberry beanie

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Fruity Beanies

*cont. from page 12 Row 5: Sl1, *k4, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 47 (52, 57) sts Row 7: Sl1, *k3, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 38 (42, 46) sts Row 9: Sl1, *k2, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 29 (32, 35) sts Switch to CC. Row 11: Sl1, *k1, k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 20 (22, 24) sts Row 13: Sl1, *k2tog; rep from * to last st, k1. 11 (12, 13) sts Row 15: Sl1, k2tog 4 (5, 6) times, k2 (1, -). 7 sts Row 16: P2tog 3 times, p1. 4 sts Next row (i-cord): Knit. Slip all sts back to LH needle.

Work i-cord row 4 more times.

Cut yarn, thread through rem sts and pull tight to fasten.

Finishing (both): Sew the seam using mattress st.

Weave in ends. To even up the stitches, block gently by pinning out and using steam. Do not oversteam and do not allow the iron to touch the fabric.

Designed by

Kate Heppell

Key:

What could be sweeter than babies? How about fruity babies? These little fruit hats have been popular for a while, so I couldn’t resist designing a couple using the Betty and Belle yarn

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straWBerry

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