Socks are done!!
Tag: Knitting
Today on Instagram….
So this was Sunday – a trip to the botanical gardens in Clifton (I had no idea they were there!) followed by a picnic and some knitting in the park. It feels like summer might be on it’s way!
Fair Isle Mittens pattern in Simply Knitting 115
Here is the second of my patterns published in the new issue of Simply Knitting, available on the 6th December. These mittens are seriously cosy, knitted in Blacker Swan Falkland Islands wool DK, which sooo soft! The pattern came about by mistake when I was charting an old vintage chevron pattern and messed it up, so I flipped it over and ended up with this.
© Philip Sowels Future Publishing
The pattern is a simple two-colour Fair Isle design which is fun to create. The mittens are knitted in the round, increasing for the thumb, which is then added on afterwards. The pattern is charted clearly and is available in 3 sizes – Women’s Small-Large and Men’s large.
© Philip Sowels and Future Publishing
Simply Knitting issue 115 (January 14) is available on the 6th Dec (in all good newsagents!) and also contains my slip-stitch “Cute Cabled Socks” pattern. You can also purchase the magazine online it at Zinio here.
Blocking!
Finally I’ve re-knitted the sleeves on my Aleph cardigan – see here for post detailing the problems. It fits brilliantly now, I’ll put up a better photo when it’s dry!
Sock shot
Oh I do Like to Knit Beside the Seaside!
This week will be mostly spent knitting on the beach, perfect! We’ve handed our house over to our trust friend Nic for the week while we get some rays in Cornwall. And I don’t want to jinx anything but so far the weather is like summer!
This is the first post I’ve made by phone – we have no Internet in our little slate cottage, so while Chris is spending time in the surf I have been knitting, taking photos and exploring some lovely beaches!
This is the third beach I’ve sat on this week, watching life go by, dogs chasing frisbees and the tide come in. I’ve been knitting a lot, however I can’t show you any pictures as it’s for a gift and I know the recipient will be reading (hi mum!)
It’s been really lovely having a proper taste of summer! We managed to time our trip with the clocks going forward, so not only has the weather warmed us up but it’s now light til 8, finally 🙂
We had our first BBQ of the year on Monday – some local mackerel caught in the morning, potatoes we cooked in foil on the coals and some veggies. The bottle of wine we bought from the pub was so awful we made some sangria out of it, which washed the lot down a treat!
So I don’t really have so much to say today, I just thought I’d share these pictures. Knitting photos to follow soon!
Have a great week!
random thursday thoughts…
Hello! It’s nearing the end of the week now and I’m looking forward to a weekend in London, going to watch the preview of the Paper Cinema’s Odyssey at Battersea Arts Centre, exciting! If you haven’t seen these guys before and you like theatre, animation and live music, then I seriously recommend you book tickets asap as it’s selling out fast!
Hopefully I’ll get a bit of knitting done on the way there, my hat pattern is all written out now but in my sleepiness last night I managed to knit about 16 rounds with the wrong size needles, so I need to frog it back to the ribbing later and start again. The pattern is going to be a sort of zigzag rib, but I haven’t done enough rows for it to show up yet so you’ll have to wait for a picture!
So busy, busy it is, and still no time to teach myself how to use my knitting machines!
All this wool arrived on Tuesday though, which should be enough to keep me occupied for a while! It’s the same yarn from in the photo I posted last week, Erika Knights ‘Vintage’ in ‘Drizzle’ – here you can find a list of stockists.
On another note I wanted to share this picture, which I found in Exeter Quay Antiques Centre in the summer. I’m not sure where it is or when it was taken, but it looks like it was taken at a girls finishing school, they all seem quite intent on their knitting!
Venice ~ PDF knitting pattern

This is a very simple beanie hat, sized to fit a toddler through to large adult. Made from 100% merino wool, it promises to keep the coldest of heads cosy!
Instructions are written for knitting flat or to work in the round. Beginning at the hem, you will work a few rows/rounds straight before beginning the crown shaping.
Rowan’s super chunky weight Drift or Big Wool makes this a really speedy knit on 10mm needles.
£1.99Add to cart
**EDITED 2022**
SIZES
To fit head circumference
Age 2-10 (S: M: L)
50 (54.5: 58: 63)cm
19.5 (21.75 : 22.5: 23.5)in
Actual hat circumference
44.5 (49: 53: 58)cm
17.5 (19.25: 21: 22.75)in
Length Crown to Hem
18.5 (21.5: 22.5: 25.5)cm
7.25 (8.5: 9: 10)in
YARN
Rowan Drift (100% Merino Wool; 100g/80m/87yds)
Approx 47g (58g: 62g: 70g: 84g) of Shore (908).
Edit – Rowan Drift has been discontinued since this pattern was published. Suggested yarn substitutions (same quantity) : Rowan Big Wool (100% Merino Wool; 100g/80m/87yds) OR Rowan Big Wool Colour (100% Merino Wool; 100g/80m/ 87yds)
NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
To work flat:
1 pair 10mm (UK 000/US 15) knitting needles.
To work in the round:
1 pair 10mm (UK 000/US 15) circular needles, 40cm long
(or 80cm long, if using Magic Loop method)
A set of 10mm (UK 000/US 15) double pointed needles (DPNs) for decreasing the crown (not necessary if using Magic Loop method)
Stitch marker
TENSION
9 sts and 14 rows/rounds to 10x10cm (4x4in) in st st using 10mm needles
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