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Scrapix , the “portmanteau” of Scrappy Helix, are worked using scraps of yarn using helical knitting to prevent any seam or jog. The pattern includes videos and lots of tips; all the test knitters got on really well with the helical knitting.  Helical knitting is a quite a simple technique but can sometimes feels daunting. There are quite a few questions about what to do in certain circumstances that pop up as you are knitting. The pattern has these questions (and the answers to them) at the relevant points throughout the pattern. I've written it in this format, so you can quickly read the question and see if it's relevant or not  —  that way you don't need to read everything. The socks are worked toe-up, allowing complete versatility on the yarn you use and the pattern includes 3 choices of toes to suit every toe type and knitting skill. Scrapix is a pattern that was written awhile ago and I was always a little unsure about releasing it, since the helical knitting made t...

I did get a few nice knitting bits for Christmas, mainly books this year. I'm really loving all of these. From left to right - Botanical Knits 2 by Alana Dakos, New Lace Knitting by Romi Hill, Sock Architecture by Lara Neal and Knitsonik Stranded Colourwork Sourcebook by Felicity Ford. The first two are pattern books and there are some really beautiful ones included. Knitsonik is a self published book that is just gorgeous and really interesting. I've really enjoyed reading this one. The Sock Architecture book is very good and I think my favourite one, since it's the one I've used the most so far. I've started a toe up Dydas with the leftover WYS yarn from my Holly socks. A lot of the patterns have toe up and toe down versions. There are options for different toe lengths and whether you want gussets or not. There's a lot of info and you could easily use the patterns as bases for putting your own patterns onto. Over New Year, I started a stash busting shawl. He...

Hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas and New Year. I enjoyed mine though glad to be back to some semblance of normality. I’ve got a few projects to share that I gave as Christmas presents. Actually, the first one wasn't a present but I didn’t get around to blogging about it. This one was for me. I started on a weekend away as I thought it would be one of those really easy travelling projects. It was a very simple pattern. I worked it in one colour but I’ve seen some nice multi-coloured versions about. The yarn is Posh Yarn Martha Sock and the pattern is Dotted Rays by Stephen West . There’s something about it that bugs me a bit but you’ll have to spot it for yourself. Here’s my Ravelry Project Page . This little one was a Christmas present for my new godson. I’ve made this one before for another friend and it went down well. I did it in about a week before I had to give them the presents so was a bit rushed. The pattern is a Sirdar one and the yarn is Rico Baby Class...

Ok, so the second instalment. Hands and feet this time. The gloves have been on the go for awhile – on and off. The pattern is Bobbie by Julia Mueller . When I started them, they were a paid for pattern (well worth every penny). I find it very sad that the new EU laws on VAT have forced her to make the decision to stop operating as a business. This means that all her patterns are now free. The yarn is Toddy by Yarn Yard in a very zingy orange colour. They were a Christmas present for a good friend. Ravelry Project page. The next ones were another Christmas present for my Mum. The pattern is Rumours by Lee Meredith , which I have to say is a genius pattern. It works for any weight of yarn and it’s all explained very well. I did have one small issue in that I had only 1 skein of Quince and Co. Chickadee and had to squeeze the mitts into that. The first mitt I made came in a 27g and the skein is only 50g, so it got frogged and I made the hand portion shorter. It worked out perfectly ...

My pattern Ticklepenny , that is in Knitty Deep Fall 2014 issue, uses knit to purl yarnovers. See the panels of leaves down the side of the socks... The normal way of doing this can make a yarnover which is larger than a purl to knit yarnover. When they are near one another then it can make it look a little unbalanced.  There’s a little trick you can do to make them neater – basically, wrap the yarnover clockwise around the needle instead. This does mean you have to remember on the next row/round and either re-seat it or work into the back of it. The bottom leaf has normal knit to purl yarnovers and the top leaf has the neater version (there's not a huge difference in this example but it can be more obvious depending on the yarn and your knitting style). I’ll explain in more detail. A normal knit to purl yarnover is made by bringing the yarn under the right needle, then… ...over the top of the needle and back under again and because it is worked by effectively going around the nee...

Some very exciting news. I have a pattern in the latest issue of Knitty.com . I’ve known for awhile and been desperate to share the news. Here's the Ravelry page . The pattern is called Ticklepenny and it’s for a pair of socks. The yarn weight is not one that is typical for socks. Instead of using a standard fingering/4ply sock yarn; it is worked using a light fingering / heavy laceweight yarn. The yarn used is Tall Yarns ‘n Tales Soliloquy™ Sock Lace, available here . The socks are a unisex design and the idea came about when my Mum requested a pair of socks that would fit easier in a pair of shoes. The socks are worked on a 2mm needle and at this gauge allows for a lot of detail in the design. The socks are worked from the top down. The panels down the side of the sock are mirrored for each sock. There is an eye of partridge heel flap and the feet are plain, so they are easier to fit inside a pair of shoes. The model is my lovely sister-in-law and the puppy is Bella, who very fl...

Sorry that I've been a bit quiet. I’ve not done a huge amount of knitting recently, so I’ve not had so much to talk about. I do have a finished object to show you. It’s a vanilla pair of socks. The yarn is Sirdar ’s new Heart and Sole sock yarn and the pattern is the one that’s on the inside of the ball band. The colour is Hyper Hyper 105 and I really like the yarn. It’s not a fluffy yarn, it has some body to it and from first appearances, it looks like it would wear well. The pattern was quite nice too. It has an extra long rib so it can be turned down, if desired and both the toe and the heel has slipped stitches. The long colour changes make a change from a lot of sock yarns and I think it could hold a pattern and still be seen. A lot of these fair isle effect sock yarns make any pattern very difficult to see. This shawl is a work in progress and think it will be for some time, as I’ve got lots of other knitting to do first. The pattern is Rendevous Shawl by Lily Go and the y...

I've recently finished two pairs of socks. The first was intended as a Christmas present for Mr but it's very hard to try and knit a pair of size 11 socks in secret and on a deadline, so it was after Christmas that they were finished. His favourite colours are black and burnt orange together. So when I saw the yarn on The Knitting Goddess stand at Yarndale, it just had to be bought. The colour name is just great too, "Where There's Muck There's Brass". The pattern is Paper Moon  by AnneLena Mattison .  My ravelry project page . The pattern didn't go up large enough, so I had to alter it. The largest size went up to 70 sts, mine were 77 sts; I added the extra stitches within the garter stitch bands. I worked them two at a time on circulars from the toe up. I'm a toe down kind of girl but I tried them for a change. Though I did manage to use up every yard of yarn this way, which definitely gets a tick in the pro column. They look all wrinkled on the sock...