Let's Knit, issue 90, March 2015

PATTERNS13 Shamrock Dream

Siân Brown's stylish striped knitis an ideal spring project

16 Flora the TurtleSnuggle up with Val Pierce'sadorable shelled friend

21 HelleboreStep out in Rowan's beautifullypatterned wrap

27 Blue JeansYou can't get it wrong with PatMenchini's casual sweater

34 Mint JulepTry your hand at knitting lacewith this soft spring make

37 Harriet the Hedgehog Jane Burns' practical woodlandcreature is a brilliant stash buster

40 Three of a KindKnit yourself three handyanimals pals with Jane Burns'quirky pattern

44 Cobalt DazeThe perfect addition to yourcosy home

46 Cosy LivingA trio of matching violethomewares

53 Elvetham VestTake a country stroll in thiselegant vest made inArtesano's beautiful new yarn

58 Fast FashionQuick knits to update yourwardrobe

60 Secret GardenWatch your blanket grow withthe next two squares for ourknitalong

65 Electric IvyFashion these fantastic cabledmittens - ideal for teens!

69 Stitch In TimeMake this amazing practicalaccessory for yourself

73 Easter GreetingsFantastic three-in-one Eastermakes to try this holiday

79 Block BusterLynne Rowe's versatile jumperchannels the colour block trend

W H A T ’ S I N S I D E

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MARCH 2015

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05Back issues from Jan 2011 onwards are available on the Let’s Knit app! www.letsknit.co.uk

W H A T ’ S I N S I D E

84 Frosty MorningsTry cabling in crochet withthis frosty themed gilet

SHOPPING24 Home Comforts

We focus on knits for thehome this month

56 Yarn ShoppingDelve into the inspiring worldof artisan yarns

68 Colour TherapyBrighten up your day withbuttercup hues

72 What’s In StoreGet the hot gossip from ourfavourite shops around the UK

FOCUS8 Let’s Knit Loves

Catch up with the latest news and gossip

31 On The Road NorthwestTake a peek into the knittingworld of north-west England

39 Stylecraft CompetitionHelp the spinner develop theirnext shade of Special DK!

62 In A SpinRead our interview with indiespinner and dyer Susan Heath

88 TutorialAdrienne Chandler teaches ushow to crochet this month

PEOPLE50 Stop and Share

News from the LK community

67 What I Love About My LocalYarn ShopWe listen to what our loyalreaders and shop ownershave to say

98 Last WordWe catch up with our olddeputy editor Laura Strutt

IN EVERY ISSUE...3 Welcome7 This Month’s Free Gift10 March is the Month49 Coming Next Month52 Tea Break68 Bookshelf76 Subscriptions91 Giveaways92 Practical Guides94 Step By Step

At Let’s Knit we understandthat nothing is moreannoying than errors inknitting patterns. As part ofour total commitment toensuring that yourexperience of our magazineis as enjoyable as possible,we’re proud to offer THE LET’S KNIT

PATTERN PROMISE:

• Exclusive patternsfeatured in Let’s Knit havebeen professionallychecked and reproducedwith the utmost care.Updates can be found atwww.letsknit.co.uk • Should you encounter any problems we are morethan happy to providesupport and assistance.Contact us and we willendeavour to respond as soon as possible.By email:

[email protected] telephone: 01206508622 (office hours only)By post: at the address onpage 95 (please mark your envelope ‘Support’) (Please note we cannotoffer assistance withpatterns not published in Let’s Knit)

Whocares?...We do!

This month’sBONUSGIFT!

Our biggest yarn kit yet -show off your skills with

all five balls!

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44 40 69

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meet ourDESIGNER

“The fresh coloured stripes in thistop update the well-knownmaritime style. The soft yarn,flattering neckline and brightlycoloured tie make this a goodchoice for early spring.”SIÂN BROWN

EXCLUSIVE TOShamrockDream

Get ready for the new seasonwith Siân Brown’s classic

striped top

S I M P L E S P R I N G G A R M E N T

St. Patrick's Day is on March 17th, so whynot get into the spirit of things with this

pretty springtime garment? With its elbow-length sleeves and subtle hint of magenta aroundthe hem, it's a simple top that will be great to wearwith a summer skirt or a pair of jeans. The prettypink bow on the neckline is a feminine, finishing

touch, and the green and white stripes give amodern twist to the traditional nautical look.

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meet ourDESIGNER

“A quick and easy knit that'ssuper for layering. The ridges ofthe garter stitch bands reallystand out on this design.”

PAT MENCHINI

EXCLUSIVE TOBlue JeansLayer up for the new season

with Pat Menchini’sstylish cotton top

C O M F Y A N D C A S U A L T - S H I R T

Knitted in a cool ribbon yarnwith fabulous a speckled dye

effect, this on-trend T-shirt issure to be a hit with

fashionistas. It's really easy tomake as the back and front piecesare identical. The dolman sleeves

are worked at the same time as thebody and there is very little shaping

to do. See our Knitwise paneloverleaf for how to customise thistop to suit your style and shape.

Sizes6-28!

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F E A T U R E | O N T H E R O A D

On the road:NORTH WESTWe head to the next stop on our nationwide guide

century, more than half the town’s populationhad textile-related jobs and it remained atrade centre until the Industrial Revolution.The heritage of area is celebrated at theKendal Wool Gathering, which takes placeeach October. This two-day event featuresmarket stalls, demonstrations and activities,promoting wool in all its forms. For furtherdetails, visit www.kendalwoolgathering.co.uk

Waterways and meansLiverpool opened its first docks in 1715 andfast became a bustling port. Wool wasimported from Ireland, and homegrownfibres, textiles and other supplies wereexported around the world, bringing wealthand status to the area.

Spanning the industrials hubs of Manchester and Liverpool, the sandy beaches of Blackpool andMorecambe, and the rugged beauty of the Lake District National Park, the north west of Englandis a region of diversity. It covers the traditional counties of Cumbria, Merseyside, Cheshire andLancashire, as well as parts of Greater Manchester, and has lots to offer the touring knitter.There’s a rich textile heritage and yarn shops galore; here are just a few points of interest to addto your travel itinerary.

From farm to fameThe north of England covers such a widegeographical area, it is no surprise therewere many significant trading centres in theregion. Kendal in the Lake District is wellknown for its mint cake, but was once an

important hub forthe Westmorlandwool industry. Farms and monasticestates in thesurrounding areameant sheep wereplentiful and thefibres were oftenspun into cloth. Bythe end of the 17th

Manchester had been an important woolcentre since the 14th century and had growninto one of the biggest cities in the north.Determined to ensure its independence –and to avoid the need to pay dock dues tothe Port of Liverpool – the Manchester ShipCanal opened in 1894, connecting the inlandcity to the Irish Sea. Although the textileindustry eventually dwindled, the canalcontinues to operate today, with increasedfreight transport planned for the near future.

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Q U I R K Y P I N C U S H I O N

Whether you're a knitter, stitcher or a general crafter, you'll certainly know how those all-important pins and needles

always seem to disappear just when you need them the most. Neverfear – Harriet is here to lend a helping hand! A sweet little friend

who's happy to look after those essential accessories, she would alsomake an endearing desk buddy or a gift for someone special.

meet ourDESIGNER

“This little lady is a super fast make.You could make her in an evening!She’s inspired by the woodlandanimals that are so popular rightnow - I thought a hedgehog wouldmake a great pin cushion.”JANE BURNS

EXCLUSIVE TO


Harriet theHedgehogKeep track of your sewing gear

with Jane Burn’s adorablewoodland critter

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T E E N ’ S C A B L E D M I T T S

It's no secret that we at Let's Knit love British wool, so of course weare huge fans of these cabled mittens in gorgeous West Yorkshire

Spinners yarn! They're just big enough to fit a small adult orteenager, and the bright colour makes a fantastic fashion statement.

There are five more candy-cane colours in the range, or you canchoose from a selection of subtle spice-rack shades.

meet ourDESIGNER

“These mittens were inspired bymy Sugar Candy socks in theJanuary issue. My daughter lookedat them and promptly requested amatching pair of mittens in abubblegum blue colour!”JANE BURNS

EXCLUSIVE TO


Electric IvyPractise your cabling with thesepretty mittens by Jane Burns

knitwiseJoining in the roundOnce you have cast on thecorrect number of stitches,there are a few differentways to join your work inthe round. For an invisiblejoin, use the right-handneedle to pick up the firststitch on the left-handneedle. Then use the left-hand needle to pick upwhat was originally the firststitch on the right-handneedle, and pull this overthe top of the stitch youhave just moved over, sothat your first two stitchescross over. Then beginknitting Round 1. Be sure toplace a marker at thebeginning of the round sothat you do not lose yourplace in the pattern.

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G R E A T G I F T F O R S T I T C H E R S


EXCLUSIVE TO

meet ourDESIGNER

“This box comprises five externalpieces in the main colour and fiveinternal pieces in the contrastcolour. It also has an integratedpincushion, a scissors case andthree bags for small items.”CHARMAINE FLETCHER

Stitch in TimeKeep your notions safe and sound inCharmaine Fletcher’s sewing box

This handy little project was inspired by Victorian-style etui sewing boxes. It has alovely fold-out construction and fabulous details from the beaded ties to integrated pin

cushion and flower-adorned notions bags inside. There are lots of elements to thismake, but they are all relatively straightforward to knit – just pay close attention when

assembling your box to ensure it all folds out as it should.

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meet ourDESIGNER

“These fun Easter cardsdouble up as finger puppetsand are a good non-chocolategift for a child.”NICOLA VALIJI

EXCLUSIVE TO EasterGreetings

Nicola Valiji’s seasonal cards arealso cute finger puppets!

C A R D S A N D G I F T S I N O N E !

It's always nice to give something that's prettyand practical, and these cheerful greetings are

marvellously multifunctional. The chick andbunny are sweet little finger puppets that are attachedto the card with sticky foam pads, and can be removed

and played with. If you don't have kids, the puppetswould also work well as egg cosies!

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meet ourDESIGNER

“This yarn knits into a soft,lightweight fabric which isperfect for a summery jumperas it’s ideal for cooler days orchilly evenings. The cowl isdetachable and you could useyour leftovers to make a secondcowl in a stripy pattern.”LYNNE ROWE

EXCLUSIVE TO

Blockbusters

Lynne Rowe’s sweater makesa statement with bold bands of colour and is accessorised

with a twisted cowlYou don’t need to use overly elaborate stitch

patterns to get yourself noticed: sometimes thesimplest of designs can look the most eye-

catching. This bright sweater uses colour blocking togreat effect and combines moss and stocking stitch

for a subtly textured finish. The cowl has a twist in thecentre for added interest. Get the yarn and needles

for this pattern at your local yarn shop!

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Let's Knit, issue 90, March 2015

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