Have you ever wondered what exactly a technical editor does? Are you interested to know how we came up with the idea for A Year of Techniques? Or perhaps you would like to know how Jim and I came to be working together? These are just some of the questions we answered in our interview for Fruity Knitting which was released yesterday. We were absolutely delighted to be approached by Andrea and Andrew to do an interview on their fantastic podcast – they have such a professional approach and it is really well executed.
Read moreChoosing my colours for Oorik
I'm popping in today, as I've been making great progress on my knitting projects. I've cast off a heap of things in the last few weeks, which means that I'm all set to be casting on for my Oorik tank top, bang on schedule, next week. I'm hoping that a few of you will be joining us in the final official monthly knitalong* for A Year of Techniques. Sobs. I can't believe we're there already!
Read moreJanuary: Shaila Mittens
January is the AYoT month for mastering the colour dominance in your Fair Isle projects. The video tutorial for the month has been released on Mason-Dixon Knitting (and will shortly be added to our Year of Techniques video tutorial page). The tutorial walks you through three different ways of holding your yarn for Fair Isle projects, all of which will ensure that you keep your yarn dominance consistent. This helps your projects to look neater, and makes sure that your yarns don't tangle as you work.
Read moreDecember: Hedera Helix Socks
It's December so, in the Northern Hemisphere at least, it's going to be cold. Your feet will really appreciate being wrapped up in something thick to keep the cold out and these socks are just the trick. You can find out all about the ideas in the blog post I wrote way back in August.
Read moreInterview with Tin Can Knits
Back in August we enjoyed knitting along with the beautiful Tin Can Knits baby blanket, Little Tern (part of A Year of Techniques), and I'm delighted to share a short interview with Emily Wessel - half of the design team behind the fabulous Tin Can Knits brand, in partnership with Alexa Ludemann.
Read moreNovember: Yellow Wagtail scarf
The mornings have turned crisper, and we are rummaging for gloves and scarves before we leave for the school run, so what could be better to be knitting than a cosy cabled scarf?
Read moreOctober: Ruschia knitalong
Welcome, welcome! Another month is on us, and October is all about short-row shaping. We are working on Woolly Wormhead's brilliantly cosy Ruschia Hat, which uses a provisional cast on (the crochet method that we met in August on the Little Tern blanket) and garter stitch grafting (which we mastered last month!), as well as introducing us to either German Short Rows or the wrap and turn method.
Read moreOorik tank top by Mary Jane Mucklestone
The fantabulous Mary Jane Mucklestone has created our final design for A Year of Techniques: the Oorik tank top.
Oorik (meaning small person in Shetland dialect) is a Fair Isle tank top (US vest) knitting completely in the round. The arm and neck openings are created with steeks, thus allowing you to always be working with the right side of the fabric facing you. This makes it easier to avoid mistakes in the colourwork, and there's no purling to do in the Fair Isle section.
Read moreHedera Helix - warm socks for December
I've never been in a charity calendar (and never will), but for the purposes of A Year of Techniques, I'm Mr December. The combination of the deep green colour of the yarn we chose for the project and the tangled cable pattern made me think of the ivy that grew up the side of our shed many years ago. Hedera Helix, the Latin name for ivy, seemed apt.
Read moreNovember's design: Yellow Wagtail scarf by Sarah Hatton
I can't believe we're now three-quarters of the way through the patterns from A Year of Techniques! It's been such brilliant fun, and we are so looking forward to seeing everybody's projects popping up on Ravelry and Instagram! Thank you all!
By November the weather will have turned cooler, and we'll be reaching for warm and cosy knitting projects. Sarah Hatton's Yellow Wagtail scarf couldn't be a better match for this time of year!
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