A treat for your feet! Jolly Holly Socks - available now!

Are you looking forward to a cosy Christmas? Maybe one wrapped up warm by the fireside? Do you fancy a new pair of socks to keep your toes extra warm while the snow falls outside? The Jolly Holly Socks are just what you need

I LOVE Christmas socks and wear them as soon as I see the first Christmas decorations in the shops. These festive Jolly Holly Socks are made using aran weight sock yarn, making them perfect for pottering around the house as you’re wrapping your Christmas presents. Are you a gift-knitter? The Jolly Holly Socks would also make a great gift – if you don’t have any aran weight yarn to hand you can use sock-weight yarn held double – as they’re nice and quick, and come in load of sizes!

The Jolly Holly Socks are knitted from the cuff down with a heel flap and gusset construction. The contrast cuff is knitted, then a short colourwork section is worked to transition into the striped leg. The rest of the sock is knitted in a simple stripe-pattern, until just before the toe, when a second colourwork section is added; the sock is finished with a contrast heel and toe. The toe is Kitchener-free, finished by gathering the final few stitches. The foot length of the socks is adjustable to fit.

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.

Want to get your hands on the pattern? It’s available now on Ravelry* and PayHip, and if you use the code HOLLY you can have 20% off (ends 11.59pm GMT, Monday 14th December 2020).

The pattern will also be available on LoveCrafts very soon.

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Here’s everything you need to know…

Sizes

A (B, C, D, E, F, G)

Finished sock circumferences: 11 (13.5, 16.5, 19, 22, 24.5, 27.5) cm [4.25 (5.5, 6.5, 7.75, 8.75, 9.75, 11) 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: 7.5 (10, 12.5, 15, 18, 20.5, 23) cm [3 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) in].

Foot length is adjustable.

 

Tension

22 sts and 32 rnds = 10 cm [4 in] in stocking stitch and worked in the rnd on 4 mm (US 6) needle(s) after wet blocking, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

 

Yarn

Aran-weight yarn in the following colours and amounts:

·        55 (85, 120, 165, 215, 265, 335) m [65 (95, 135, 185, 240, 290, 370) yds] C1 (red)

·        5 (10, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30) m [10 (15, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35) yds] C2 (green)

·        15 (25, 35, 45, 60, 70, 90) m [20 (30, 40, 50, 70, 80, 100) yds] C3 (cream)

Amounts 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.

You can also knit these socks in 4-ply sock yarn held double. If you do this, you will need double the yardages listed.

 

Needles

·        3.5 mm (US 4) and 4 mm (US 6) DPNs, 15 cm [6 in], set of 5, or

·        3.5 mm (US 4) and 4 mm (US 6) circular needle, at least 80 cm [32 in] in length to work magic loop, or

·        3.5 mm (US 4) and 4 mm (US 6) circular needle, 22.5 cm [9 in] in length

 

Notions

·        Stitch markers x 5

 

Pattern notes

The instructions are for the smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses: A (B, C, D, E, F, G).

The sample details are as follows: Novita 7 Veljestä (7 Brothers) (aran, 200 m per 100 g ball, 75% wool, 25% nylon) in 549 Christmas (C1), 366 Nettle (C2) and 010 Off-White (C3). Knitted in size E, to fit a UK women’s size 10 [foot length 27.5 cm (10.75 in)].

Pattern edited by Jo Torr.

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Want to get your hands on the pattern? It’s available now on Ravelry* and PayHip, and if you use the code HOLLY you can have 20% off (ends 11.59pm GMT, Monday 14th December 2020).

*Ravelry link. May causes issues for people with photosensitivity, proceed with caution.

 

Elmo Christmas Jumer: available now!

Is there anything more festive than Elmo in a Santa hat? If that’s your sort of thing, then keep reading!

I have a new design out in the latest issue of Knit Now Magazine, and, as you may have guessed from my opening lines, it’s a festive jumper featuring Elmo in a Santa hat!

Elmo Christmas Jumper - image copyright Practical Publishing

 

The jumper is knitted in pieces from the bottom up, then seamed. The pattern has an all-over stranded design, with Elmo knitted in using the intarsia technique. This is a design to take slowly, enjoying every stitch, and you’ll be so proud when it’s complete, and everyone else will be so impressed when you tell them you knitted it yourself!

The jumper is knitted in Stylecraft Special DK,* and the pattern is written for nine sizes (XS to 5X, finished chest sizes 76.5-160 cm). They yarn is really affordable, and even the largest size will only set you back less than £30. If you prefer something a little woollier, West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab DK* is an excellent 100% wool alternative.

Elmo Christmas Jumper - image copyright Practical Publishing

Want to knit the jumper for yourself? The pattern is included as a pattern card with issue 121 of Knit Now Magazine, which is available now. Please note that the pattern card is only included with UK editions of the magazine, not those purchased overseas, or the digital edition. The good news, however, is that Craft Stash will ship the UK print edition internationally (subject to availability), so you can get your hands on a copy, wherever you are in the world.

Do you want to add Elmo to your Ravelry queue or Favourites? The pattern page can be found here.** It really helps me if you share your love for the pattern.

Have you made the Elmo Sweater? Don’t forget to share your pictures with me! I love seeing your finished knits.

*Affiliate link.

**Ravelry link. May cause issues for people with photosensitivity; proceed with caution.

Fuchsia snowflakes cowl: new on I Like Knitting!

As is often the way, after quiet period for new designs, I have a veritable feast to share with you over the next few weeks...

The first new design to share with you is my Fuchsia snowflakes cowl,* which is available in the December 2019 issue of I Like Knitting magazine, which is available now. The issue features lots of classic festive designs from previous issues, as well as several new designs that are inspired by designs previously published in I Like Knitting.

The Fuchsia snowflakes cowl features a tessellating snowflake design based on traditional Scandinavian knitting, and is inspired by the bold Snowflake infinity scarf I designed for the February 2017 issue of I Like Knitting.*** This cowl sits perfectly around the neck and provides just the right amount of extra warmth and coziness. Knitted as a single layer tube and in the round, this fair isle beauty is guaranteed to be a favourite this season.

The original design: Snowflake infinity scarf

The sample is knitted in Malabrigo Rios** in shades Fucsia and Natural. The yarn is an absolute delight to work with, and comes in a wide array of variegated and tonal colour ways.

What is extra-exciting is that the design is on the cover!

The Fuchsia snowflakes cowl is published in the December 2019 issue of I Like Knitting magazine,* an e-zine that is available via a subscription model. If you'd like to add the pattern to your Ravelry queue or favourites, the pattern page can be found here.

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The Fuchsia snowflakes cowl is not my only pattern in the December 2019 issue of I Like Knitting. For a sneak peak at the other pattern, take a look at this link. I'll tell you more about it later this week...

*I Like Knitting is an e-zine, which is available via a subscription model. Affiliate link.

**Affiliate link.

***This pattern will be available as an individual download from my Ravelry store in December 2019.

All images copyright I Like Knitting. Reproduced with permission.

Triangulation hat and mitts set - INCLUDING INTRODUCTORY OFFER!

It is definitely autumn here in the UK right now - mornings are dark, evenings are dark, and sometimes there's not all that much daylight in between the two! Time for a bright and colourful kit to add a little cheer to those darker days... Handily for the time of year, my Triangulation hat and fingerless mitts also make perfect quick Christmas gifts!

I've always been a fan of simple geometric patterns, and spent hours colouring books full of them when I was little. Now I like to knit them, and find their repetitive nature meditative to knit. Add a bright contrast pop and you have a real stand-out item of knitwear!

The hat is knitted in the round from the bottom up, starting with a section of ribbing that is folded back on itself (perfect for keeping your ears cosy when the cold weather arrives). The main body of the hat is knitted using stranded colourwork, and the colourwork pattern is continued right into the crown decreases. The hat pattern is written for 3 adult sizes, and is designed to fit as a beanie with 2.5 cm negative ease.

The mitts are knitted in the round from the cuff up, starting with a deep ribbed section, then the main mitt is knitted in the same colourwork pattern as the hat. The thumbs are added using the afterthought method with waste yarn added during the knitting of the mitt. The mitt is finished with a ribbed cuff that can be folded back on itself or worn unfolded for extra warmth. The mitts is written for 4 adult sizes, each with 1 cm negative ease.

Both items are knitted in a lightweight aran yarn, so you could use DK, worsted or aran yarn - this project is also a great stashbuster as only small amount of each yarn is required. Get stash-diving and start playing with colours!

Both patterns are available in my Ravelry store now, and if you use the code TRIANGLES you can get 75% off until 11.59pm GMT, Monday 4th November 2019. If you've missed that window, don't worry, after Monday the code will give you 25% off until 11.59pm GMT, Saturday 9th November 2019. Happy knitting!

Triangulation hat

Triangulation fingerless mitts

All images copyright Practical Publishing; this pattern was first published in Knit Now magazine, issue 92.

New design: Little Fox Sweater

I have a new pattern for you today, the Little Fox Sweater.*

Foxes are one of my favourite creatures, and a perennial favourite children's character. The Little Fox jumper is perfect for Autumn with its cheeky fox on the front.


The Little Fox Sweater is knitted flat from the bottom up in sections that are seamed before adding the neckline in the round. The jumper is knitted in stocking stitch with 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuffs, hem and neckline; the fox motif is added using the intarsia technique. The pattern is written in 5 sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10) years and is designed to fit with 2 inches of positive ease.

The sample is knitted in Stylecraft Life DK,* one of my favourite yarns for hard-wearing children's garments. Using DK weight yarn makes for a nice lightweight jumper that is perfect for layering.

Fancy knitting your own Little Fox Sweater? You can find the pattern in the October 2018 issue of I Like Knitting magazine. I Like Knitting magazine* is an e-magazine that is available via a subscription model, giving you access to a whole host of beautiful patterns. You can also favourite and queue the pattern via the Ravelry pattern page.

Want to add the pattern to your Ravelry queue or favourites? The Ravelry pattern entry can be found here.

*Affiliate link.

Images copyright I Like Knitting.

New design: Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas sweater

"So jump up on my sleigh and we're all on our way, for another bloomin' Christmas..." Yes, it's August, and yes, I am talking about Christmas already, with a new design that I am particularly excited about.

You may recall that a few months ago I had an oddly large addition to my Yarnometer post - enough yarn to knit an adult-sized jumper? Well here it is, my first ever adult jumper design! And as you might have guessed, it's an intarsia design, featuring none other than Raymond Briggs' Father Christmas.

Father Christmas was a staple of my childhood, with my siblings and I watching the beautifully hand-drawn cartoon television version every Christmas Eve. I loved the unconventional depiction of Father Christmas as a grumpy old man who referred to Christmas as "bloomin'" rather than "Merry" and wanted nothing more than to get it out of the way. I was of course, honoured when Kate Heppell from Knit Now contacted me earlier in the year to ask whether I would design a jumper featuring this festive icon.

The jumper is knitted in pieces and has set-in sleeves, with the Father Christmas design knitted into the front using the intarsia technique. I've kept embroidery to a minimum on this design, as the blocks of colour worked perfectly without the need for extra outlining. The pattern is written for sizes XS to 5X, with unisex sizing, so you could knit one for everyone you know!

The design is knitted in Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran,* which is a beautiful aran weight yarn that is a delight to knit with.

If you'd like to knit your own Father Christmas jumper, you'll need to get your hands on a copy of Knit Now Issue 92, which is available in the UK now, or you can order a copy online via the More Mags website. Please note that this pattern is not included in international editions of the magazine, or in digital versions.

*Affiliate link.

New design: Triangulation hat and mitts set

Is summer over already? As I stare out of the window at the falling rain I'm starting to think it might be! Even if it's not, August is a good time to start thinking about winter knits, and my latest pattern: Triangulation hat and mitts might be just what you're looking for.

I've always been a fan of simple geometric patterns, and spent hours colouring books full of them when I was little. Now I like to knit them, and find their repetitive nature meditative to knit. Add a bright contrast pop and you have a real stand-out item of knitwear!

The hat is knitted in the round from the bottom up, starting with a section of ribbing that is folded back on itself (perfect for keeping your ears cosy when the cold weather arrives). The main body of the hat is knitted using stranded colourwork, and the colourwork pattern is continued right into the crown decreases. The hat pattern is written for 3 adult sizes, and is designed to fit as a beanie with 2.5 cm negative ease.

The pattern contains instructions for both the hat and mitts. The mitts are knitted in the round from the cuff up, starting with a deep ribbed section, then the main mitt is knitted in the same colourwork pattern as the hat. The thumbs are added using the afterthought method with waste yarn added during the knitting of the mitt. The mitt is finished with a ribbed cuff that can be folded back on itself or worn unfolded for extra warmth. The mitts is written for 4 adult sizes, each with 1 cm negative ease.

One of the things I enjoyed most about this project was the yarn. The hat and mitts are both knitted using Find Me Knitting Mary, a beautiful light aran alpaca/wool blend in deep saturated colours. I had originally planned to knit the set using the green for the ribbing and the pink as the second colour for the colourwork, but after a couple of swatches had changed my mind as the yarn seemed to request to be the other way round. All the items in the set can be knitted quite quickly, making them great for gift knitting (I'm planning on knitting a hat for a friend for Christmas). 

Want to get your hands on the pattern? They can be found in Issue 92 of Knit Now magazine, which is available in the UK today, or can be ordered online via the More Mags website. 

All images copyright Practical Publishing.

Available now: Unicorn of the sea jumper

Narwhals are my favourite of the 'mythical' beasts, mostly because they are real - I love that they are so implausible! My celebration of the narwhal, the Unicorn of the Sea Sweater, which features a cheeky-looking narwhal, was released via I Like Knitting magazine, and is now available as an individual pattern from my Ravelry store.

The Unicorn of the Sea Sweater is knitted flat from the bottom up in sections that are seamed before adding the neckline in the round. The jumper is knitted in stocking stitch with 2 x 2 ribbing for the cuffs, hem and neckline and the narwhal motif is added using the intarsia technique. The pattern is written in 6 sizes: 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12) years and is designed to fit with 5 cm [2 inches] of positive ease.**

The jumper is knitted in Stylecraft Life DK,* which is one of my favourite basic yarns. The yarn is 75% acrylic and 25% wool, and is machine washable, so you don't need to be precious about the jumper getting washed and worn over and over again.

The Unicorn of the sea jumper pattern is available now from my Ravelry store, and from now until 11.59pm BST, Saturday 25th August 2018 you can have 25% off the pattern, no code needed.

*Affiliate link. 

**Yes, I have added an extra size compared to the magazine pattern, perfect for slightly larger narwhal lovers!

New design: Siren song socks

I've got a new pattern for you today, and this is one that some of you might have been waiting for for some time as I think I finished the original sample over two years ago... so let me introduce my Siren song socks.

I have a large (huge) collection of variegated yarns and always struggle to find patterns that won't be overwhelmed by the yarn. One solution is to knit what is essentially a vanilla sock with a slipped stitch detail, an idea that led me to my Siren song socks. The stitch pattern is used in a single panel along one edge of each foot (the socks are a mirrored pair), and is easily memorised; the socks are named after the Siren, a mythical creature, whose call was said to lure sailors to rocks – the stitch pattern used is one that will have knitters saying 'just one more round' as they watch the pattern emerge – my test knitters all finished theirs in record time, and several have said they're keen to knit more pairs.

The pattern is knitted from the top-down (a change for me, but I know a lot of you have been asking for top-down patterns) and 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 some helpful hints for beginners.

To keep everyone sweet, the cabled stitch pattern is given as both a chart and written instructions.

The Siren Song pattern is written in five sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL), with finished sock circumferences of 15 (17.5, 20, 22.5, 25) cm [6 (7, 8, 9, 10) in], which should give you plenty of options. I'd advise choosing a size 2.5 cm [1 in] smaller than your foot circumference for optimal fit. Unless you're knitting the largest size, or have decided to knit socks with very long legs, you should be able to get a pair out of a single 100 g skein of sock yarn.

The samples shown are knitted in some lovely yarns: the blue version is knitted in Phileas Yarns Explorer Sock: 80% Merino, 20% Nylon; 365 m [400 yds] per 100 g in the colourway Fjord. Sylvie makes amazing semi-solid sock yarns, so you should definitely check out her Etsy store. The multi-coloured version (the one I knitted two years ago, but the yarn is still on Sam's dye list) is knitted in Unbelievawool MCN sock: 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon; 400 m [437 yds] per 100 g in the colourway Mermaid hair. All of Sam's yarns can be found on her website. Of course you can use any sock yarn, my testers used stripey and variegated yarns to good effect; I recommend using a yarn that has some nylon content to make your socks more hard-wearing.

Want to get your copy now? Head over to my Ravelry store. The pattern has a 25% introductory discount until 11.59pm BST Monday 6th August 2018, no code needed.

New design: Rainbow Unicorn cushion

One of the things I've been really keen to do this year is to republish some of my most popular magazine patterns, and the one I'm releasing today was absolutely at the top of my list: the Rainbow Unicorn cushion.*

Unicorns have been everywhere for the past couple of years, and this is my cheerful take on the trend. The cushion, featuring the silhouette of a unicorn's head, is knitted in a bright rainbow palette of self-striping yarn. The unicorn motif is added using a combination of intarsia and stranded colourwork in order to maintain the stripe pattern across the whole unicorn head. If you can't get hold of any rainbow striped yarn, of course you could work the unicorn head in a single colour, or devise your own stripe sequence and use several balls of yarn.

The pattern also works in a single colour

The cushion is 43 cm (17.25 in) square, designed to fit an 46 cm (18 in) square cushion pad with 3 cm negative ease. The cushion is knitted in one piece and fastened with six 18mm (0.75 in) buttons across the back on a ribbed button band. Half the back is knitted, then the front, then the second half of the back and the side seams are then stitched. 

Instructions for the intarsia section are provided both as a chart and as written instructions.

The sample was knitted in West Yorkshire Spinners Aire Valley Aran, which has unfortunately been discontinued (there is still some available from Love Knitting* if you're quick, but not in the rainbow colourway). There are quite a few self-striping yarns on the market at the minute that would also work: Caron Cakes** (which is lovely to work with), Lion Brand Lanscapes** (which comes in amazing saturated colourways), Bernat Pop** (again, lots of nice bright colourways), and Knit Picks Chroma (the Pegasus colourway would be beautiful).

Fancy picking up a copy of the pattern right away? You can find it here. From now until 11.59pm BST Thursday 26th July 2018, the pattern has 25% off, no code needed.

*This pattern was first published in Issue 4 of Essential Knits.
**Affiliate links.