knitting through the back loop
looking at knitting from a different angle
Like an '80s mullet, many tops this season are business in the front and party in the back! Buttons, bows, lace panels, cut-outs, contrast fabric and architectural folds all transformed the backs of otherwise simple knitwear into more dramatic pieces. DESIGNER: Clockwise, from top, 3.1 Phillip Lim Open Back Ribbed Wool and Yak Blend Sweater… Continue reading Trending: the new back
Knitted and crocheted lacework designs are a big trend in knitwear this spring/summer 2018 – and are a fantastic source of inspiration for knitters. This lace trend is quite literally big, with many designers featuring large openwork designs of eyelets and other motifs, which often spread across garments in all-over designs. These lace designs are… Continue reading Trending: openwork lace knits
Today the focus is on two more plant fibres that are well suited for summer garments: cotton and bamboo/viscose. Included below: a quick introduction to the two fibres and their knitted fabrics; a few tips for knitting with their yarns; sources of further information; and finally, some inspiring pattern suggestions!
A celebration of linen yarn: in the cool, grey days of spring, I look forward to summer knitting and linen yarn - what is it, where to buy, tips for knitting and ideas for patterns.
The Knitting Year in Review As we start the new year, I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the most popular patterns and designers in the knitting world in 2017. According to the wonderful search facility on the knitting and crochet website, Ravelry.com, there were an incredible 41,095 knitting patterns… Continue reading Knitting Stars & Stats of 2017
Rainbows are that magical, unlikely ray of colour that comes with a patch of sunshine in a rain storm. They are the reminder that there can be something positive even in the midst of a negative situation; of the promise of better, sunnier times ahead; of the colour in life that can sometimes feel all… Continue reading Spotlight: Rainbow Bright
‘I’m not wrong, I’m just knit that way.’* We learn from an early stage of knitting that one side of our fabric is the right and the other is wrong. This sounds strangely moralistic - as though one side is innately better in its qualities- when, in fact, the designations are simply a way to distinguish… Continue reading When wrong is right: a celebration of the wrong side of knitting
What is the Penguono?: A pattern by the fantastically colourful and innovative designer Stephen West, the Penguono is a kimono style, short sleeved jacket that you can also flip upside down and wear as a long coat. Why is it a sweater of the season? Penguono was published by westknits in 2014 but embodies many… Continue reading Sweaters of the Season: Penguono
Intarsia, also known as picture knitting, was a big trend on the catwalks for Autumn/Winter 2017. This technique allows designers to precisely apply and play with colour. Unlike stranded colourwork, intarsia can be used to place blocks of colour anywhere and in any shape within a knitted fabric, using as many colours… Continue reading Trending: picture knitting
There were embellishments galore on the catwalk for autumn/winter 2017- many of them appearing at Gucci, which embraced the sentiment of more is more with some abandon. Tassels, fringing, pompoms, lace and feathers were all left hanging at hems and cuffs- see more at my article Spotlight: Dangly Bits (here). The fabric of garments… Continue reading Trending: more is more
knitting through the back loop 