Christmas is around the corner, so we’ve compiled a gift guide for any stitchy friends / family / significant others in your life. Beginner Knitter Gift Set To kick things off, this year we’ve made our own Beginner Knitter Gift Set. This comes with Knit How –  a friendly and easy-to-use introduction to knitting. The book includes ten knitting patterns for accessories and garments, along with illustrated techniques and essential top tips for the beginner knitter. The set also comes with two skeins of Malabrigo Chunky – enough to make one of the lovely snood patterns in the book, and a pair ..read more

In this blog post we’ll walk you through 5 knitting stitches for beginner knitters that are surprisingly easy, whilst giving your work beautiful texture. If you’re just starting out on your knitting journey, it can be easy to get stuck in the trap of only making things in stockinette or garter stitch, we hope this list will give you some inspiration for new stitches to try. Seed Stitch Seed stitch is our first stitch for beginners that we recommend. It is similar to a 1×1 rib in the sense you alternate knit and purl stitches. However, instead of making columns of knit and columns of purl stitc ..read more

Last autumn I wrote a blog post about the balaclava I’d made using Pom Pom wool by Daruma. Since then, I’ve probably made about 25 Pom Pom hoods (to sell) using it, so have lots of experience working with it. This is my updated review of the yarn and what it’s like to use. Out of the 9 colours we stock, I’ve used 8. Sadly no-one’s ever commissioned a hood in the Bordeaux x Blue Grey colour way! I might make myself one this year as I think it’s a really lovely colour combination. © meganfaithmakes© meganfaithmakes The first one I made was in the White x Blue colourway (above), and I think this ..read more

If you’re in the knitting world (or just in the real world!), you will I’m sure have come across the neckerchief trend. And with the weather cooling down we can’t help but plan which pattern’s well be knitting. We’ve included three patterns of different knitting levels so there’s something in here for everyone, whether you’re wanting to make something sleek and simple, or something a bit more complex with intricate details. Why do we love this trend? These small scarves are great for a few reasons. Firstly, they’re really quick to make due to the size. We’ve included patterns with techniques l ..read more

It’s the end of September! That means it’s not long until the leaves start turning golden, the temperature drops and most importantly, lots of cosy evenings spent indoors with our knitting. We’ve compiled a list of single skein projects that will work up in no time, and keep you cosy and warm in the coming months. I’m sure a lot of people, like me, have single skeins lying around that they’re not sure what to do with. Whether these are from when you’ve over bought yarn for a project, or just a skein you saw somewhere and couldn’t resist buying, but now have no idea what to make with it. There ..read more

As a beginner knitter, it can feel frustrating when your skill level doesn’t match the skills required for a project you want to make. It can make choosing projects frustrating. In this blog post we’ll walk you through 5 knitting techniques to master, which will help you get better at knitting faster and achieve your knitting goals.  In our Brighton shop we get asked a lot, how long will it take me to be good enough at knitting to be able to knit a jumper? It’s a hard question to answer because everyone is different, everyone has a different amount of time they are able to dedicate to pra ..read more

In this blog post we’ll walk you through 10 knitting and crochet patterns for your home, 5 of each. Making projects for your home is great for a couple of reasons. Firstly, unless you’re planning on making a big blanket, they tend to be quite small and therefore quick to work up. Secondly, they can be great projects to use up left over yarn you might have lying around from previous projects. And lastly, why wouldn’t you want your home full of knit and crochet accessories?! And if that’s not enough to persuade you – lots of these patterns are free! These projects would also make lovely gifts. W ..read more

Why is it important to know your fibre? Well, different fibres provide different qualities. Meaning different projects are suited better to particular fibres. Hemp is a plant based fibre, making it a wonderful option for vegans. It is incredibly strong and durable meaning it’s a great option for crochet projects that need structure such as bags and hats. And it is breathable which makes it perfect for knitted summer tops and cardigans. What Is Hemp Yarn? Hemp fibre comes from the stalks of the Cannabis Sativa plant. In this way it is similar to linen, (read our ‘Know Your Fibre: Linen’ blog he ..read more

Natissea is coming to Brighton for local yarn shop day! Not long to go now, local yarn shop day 2023 is coming up on the 29th April and we are so excited to be hosting Mathilde from Natissea. Mathilde will be in store with two of her beautiful yarns. Pernelle is a 100% hemp 4ply. Linae is 95% organic linen and 5% organic cotton 4ply. Both come in a beautiful range of colours and are available to pre-order along with several kits.  The choice of fibres that Mathilde works with is really interesting and there is a clear passion behind the choices she has made for her brand so we thought i ..read more

Here is my Best Beret knitted in Wool + Mohair by Onion. Being both French and raised in Basque Country I feel very strongly about how berets should look like. James N Watts Best Beret is very simple yet it really has a the perfect shape and I like how the pattern can be customized in various ways. When we received the Wool + Mohair I couldn’t resist the idea of making a fluffy version as a present for a friend. Pattern: Best Beret by James N Watts Yarn: Onion Wool + Mohair Size: Adult large. Modifications: The fit is an hybrid in between the classic and dramatic silhouette ..read more