Saturnus Cushions + Grab Stitches

Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe the time has come to introduce you to the penultimate Confident Knitting pattern, but it’s true! And oh, do I think you’re going to enjoy this one. What better way to see in the new year than with some fun and funky new cushions to jazz up your living room? I’m very pleased to introduce you to the Saturnus Cushions, designed by the amazing Jimenez Joseph! And these beautiful cushions let us explore the exciting world of grab stitches!

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#ShetlandTrader3KAL: Progress So Far

It’s hard to believe that we’re already slightly past the halfway point of our ShetlandTrader3KAL! I’ve got to say, it’s been so so inspiring seeing Gudrun Johnston’s fantastic designs translated onto your needles. Every time I peek into the KAL topic, I’m so tempted to immediately cast on a project from the book. So today, I thought we’d celebrate some of what you lovely folks have been knitting!

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Cold neck? Gudrun can help!

Between December’s Confident Knitting pattern, the Stellar Hat, and the ShetlandTrader3KAL, there are a lot of Gudrun Johnston’s stunning designs in our lives right now, and we couldn’t be happier about that! Born in Shetland but currently living in the US, Gudrun regularly brings out breathtaking garment and accessory designs, many of them inspired by the knitting traditions of Shetland. She’s one of those designers who manages, without fail, to bring out designs that make me want to drop everything else and cast on right away.

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What Are Your 2022 Knitting Goals?

I’m not a huge gift knitter, but this year, I have a few handmade presents planned, and they’re keeping my needles completely busy. While I’m really enjoying making for people I care about, I’ve also started to daydream about what I might cast on when the last gift is cast off! I usually have a thousand and one thoughts swirling in my head about what I’d like to knit next, and the challenge is sifting through all the inspiration to figure out what I need or what to knit most. So the other day, I broke open my new Strickplaner to start getting organised for 2022.

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Set Yourself Up for Ribbing Success (Video Tutorial)

Hello and welcome to your December Confident Knitting tutorial! Today we’re sharing a really clever cast on that sets you up beautifully for the brim of Gudrun Johnston’s Stellar Hat, December’s Confident Knitting pattern. I have to say, I really love techniques like this. Low effort to learn, great for so many situations… but also, I’m willing to guess, a novel method for many of our readers. It’s a really fantastic cast on to have in your metaphorical back pocket: it’s the long-tail and German twisted cast on for rib!

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Stellar Hat + Long-Tail and German Twisted Cast On for Ribbing

It’s December, and winter has well and truly arrived in the UK — we’ve even had a dusting of snow! So it feels very appropriate to be kicking off the winter quarter of Confident Knitting this week, starting with Gudrun Johnston’s Stellar Hat.

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Books for Beginners

It seems hardly a week goes by at the moment without a news item on the uptick in interest in crafts like knitting. Over the last 18 months, so many people have found or returned to knitting … what a wonderful thing! We often get asked to suggest books suited to beginners, and today we’ve collected those recommendations together. So if you are learning to knit and looking for help, or have a loved one who is, this post is for you!

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Finished Smora and Managing Colourwork Ends

Have you joined in our #ShetlandTrader3KAL yet? It has been so fun seeing the stunning patterns from Gudrun’s latest book hop onto needles the past few weeks! And I (whispers) have actually already finished a project! Say hello to my Smora Beret!

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Technique-Forward Designs from Emily K. Williams

It’s been really fun seeing folks Findhorn Wraps grow block by block, strip by strip! The design is the brainchild of the talented Emily K. Williams and is her first design for an Arnall-Culliford publication. Emily K. Williams is a designer based in the Scottish highlands with a penchant for designs that are innovative and technique-forward, making her a perfect fit for Confident Knitting. I couldn’t have been happier when she agreed to come on board for the project!

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