Patterns of the month: June 2021

I’ve got something new to share with you today: Pattern of the month! Until the end of June, two of my patterns have 30% off. This offer is exclusive to newsletter subscribers as a big THANK YOU for subscribing. If you’ve been eyeing either of these patterns, now is the time to pick them up! Not on my newsletter? You can sign up here.

This month’s patterns are Palm-tastic Cushion Cover and Hiding in the Bamboo Socks. 

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Palm-tastic Cushion Cover

Want to add a little of the tropics to your living space? You can with this bright and bold Palm-tastic Cushion Cover!

Customise the colours to match your living room – I used candyfloss pink and bright green to make me think of lush tropical beaches, but you might prefer something a little more muted.

I used Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran** for the sample, which is a great value wool/acrylic blend that comes in a huge range of colours. The yarn is both soft and hard-wearing, and it’s machine washable, making it perfect for homewares. Prefer acrylic? Paintbox Yarns Simply Aran** is a 100% acrylic yarn that comes in the same great colour palette, and more pocket-friendly price.

The Palm-tastic Cushion Cover is a nice small project, making it both portable and achievable – sometimes we all need an easy win! Quick projects make perfect gits too.

The pattern includes written instructions for the intarsia portion as well as a chart, so you can choose your preferred way of working.

The Palm-tastic Cushion Cover is knitted in a single strip, starting with a ribbed section, then a stocking stitch panel for the back; the front is knitted in stocking stitch with the palm-frond motif incorporated using the intarsia technique. Finally, the back is knitted, finished with a ribbed section featuring buttonholes to fasten the cushion cover. The side seams are joined using mattress stitch.

Sizes

One size: 43.5 cm x 43 cm (17.25 in square)

Tension

18 sts and 25 rows = 10 cm (4 in) in stocking stitch worked flat on 5 mm (US 8) needles after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn

Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts:

MC (pale pink): 405 m (445 yds)

CC (green): 145 m (160 yds)

Needles

5 mm (US 8) straight needles

Notions

Tapestry needle

Buttons x 5, 25 mm (1 in)

Bobbins for holding the different yarn colours during colourwork

Chart row marker

Removable stitch markers x 4

45 cm (18 in) square cushion pad

Pattern notes

The sample is knitted in Paintbox Yarns Wool Mix Aran [aran, 180 m (196 yds) per 100 g ball, 50% wool, 50% acrylic] in 849 Candyfloss Pink (MC) and 830 Evergreen (CC).

This pattern was first published as Palm-tastic Pillow in I Like Knitting, June 2019.

This pattern was tech edited by Jo Torr.

Available on:

PayHip

Ravelry

LoveCrafts**

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Hiding in the Bamboo Socks

When I’m out and about, or at home on the sofa watching TV, I like to knit socks that are just one step up from vanilla: socks that have just enough patterning to keep me interested and to mark progress. Hiding in the Bamboo are just that: the socks feature an all-over rib-pattern that is easy to memorize, with just two rows that are different in every ten-round repeat. The socks were inspired by the yarn – the colour made me think of walks round the bamboo plantation in our local botanical garden, where the kids love to hide, before jumping out and shouting ‘boo’ while I hunt for them.

The socks are knitted from the top down using a standard heel flap and gusset construction. The foot length of the socks is adjustable to fit. I’ve written the pattern for 5 sizes, ranging from 13 cm (5.25 in) to 28 cm (11.25 in), so you can make these socks for the whole family.

I knitted my socks in MillaMia Naturally Soft Sock**, which is a great value sock yarn that is hard-wearing and comes in a great range of soft, muted colours. It’s a wool/nylon blend and the added nylon helps to strengthen the sock.

The pattern is written to be needle-neutral and can be knitted using either the magic-loop technique, short circulars or DPNs, depending on your individual preference. The pattern also features helpful hints for beginners.

Sizes

XS (S, M, L, XL)

Finished sock circumferences: 13 (17, 20.5, 24.5, 28) cm [5.25 (6.75, 8.25, 9.75, 11.25) in]; for the best fit, choose a size that is approximately 2.5 cm [1 in] smaller than your foot circumference.

Leg length to heel: 12.5 (15, 18, 20.5, 23) cm [5 (6, 7, 8, 9) in].

Foot length is adjustable.

Tension

32 sts and 44 rnds = 10 cm [4 in] in stocking stitch and worked in the rnd on 2.5 mm (US 1.5) needle(s) after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Yarn

130 (215, 315, 440, 565) m [145, 240, 345, 485, 620) yds] 4ply-weight sock yarn (yardages are approximate as the amount of yarn used will depend on the length of the foot, which is adjustable).

I would recommend using a dedicated sock yarn that is tightly plied wool and has some nylon content for durability.

Needles

2.5 mm (US 1.5) DPNs, 15 cm [6 in], set of 5, or

2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, at least 80 cm [32 in] in length to work magic loop, or

2.5 mm (US 1.5) circular needle, 22.5 cm [9 in] in length

Notions

Stitch markers x 5

Pattern notes

The sample details are as follows: MillaMia Naturally Soft Sock** (4-ply, 200 m per 50 g ball, 75% wool, 25% nylon) in 522 Laurel. Knitted in size M.

Pattern edited by Jo Torr.

Available on:

PayHip

Ravelry*

LoveCrafts**

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Don't forget, newsletter subscribers get 30% off these patterns until the end of June 2021. Not on my newsletter? You can sign up here.

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*Ravelry link. May affect people with photosensitivity; proceed with caution.

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Marathon Sock KAL 2021: We've done it!

A little under two months ago, I started the Marathon Sock KAL, a cummulative effort to turn a Marathon's worth of sock yarn into socks, and I am delighted to announce that WE'VE DONE IT! One marathon’s worth of sock yarn turned into 163 pairs of socks! Thank you to everyone who has taken part!

Previous Marathon's have varied hugely in length, but this one has been the quickest by far. It has been delightful looking at everyone's socks as they've come off the needles. I have been staggered by just how quickly some knitters have converted yarn into socks (there are several entrants who have contributed more than 5 pairs!).

If, like me, you've still got socks on the needles, don't worry. You can add them to the count until the end of May 31st, so keep on knitting. And yes, I do still have to finish my #SockSprint socks, so if you want me, I’ll be working on those… I’ll announce the winners at the start of June.

 Missed out on this year's Marathon? Don't worry, I fully intend running it again next year!

Sock Yarn and Chocs

What have chocolates got to do with yarn? Well, Carrie at Peak District Yarns has started a yarn club with a difference: you get sock yarn and amazing artisan chocolates! 

The first packages for the Sock Yarn and Chocs club went out at the end of April, and Carrie chose me as the featured designer. Look how good my Three Sirens Socks look in the club yarn! Love this colourway, you can buy it now at Peak District Yarns via the ‘I hate surprises’ page. 

I was lucky enough to get to sample the chocolates, hand made in the Peak District by Yohan’s Chocolate Shop, and they were truly scrumptious (they didn’t last long!).

If Sock Yarn and Chocs sounds like your sort of thing, you can sign up via Peak District Yarns; you can sign up for a one off box, or three boxes, or six. Boxes are sent out every other month. This round of sign-ups closes on June 16th 2021, subject to availability.

If you find yourself in the Peak District, Carrie has a studio and shop where you can go and squish the yarn. Carrie also runs a full timetable of yarn-related workshops, where you can try your hand at yarn dyeing, sock knitting or needle felting.

Carrie’s is also one of the stops on the Peak District Yarn Trail, a self-guided tour round some of the finest yarn shops in the Peak District, a perfect weekend plan for knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers and fibre artists. The area is also perfect for walking, and you could even add a visit to Chatsworth, a truly impressive stately home in the heart of the Peak District.

 Images copyright Peak District Yarns.