News

NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Our magazines are mailed to subscribers on the first Thursday of the preceding month, so our June issue was mailed on Thursday 4th May.

If you’d like a monthly subscription to the magazine and order by or on 1st June, your subscription will start with the July 2023 magazine.

Orders received on or after 2nd June will start with the August 2023 magazine. No money is taken with your order and August will be mailed out to subscribers on Thursday 6th July.

If you’d like to start with an earlier magazine, please buy it as a back issue and you’ll find it in our shop.

Dear Readers

I’ve put this issue together with just one thought in mind, ‘Flaming June’ temperatures seem a long way away. As I write it’s cold, wet and miserable here, with hardly a hint of Spring, let alone summer! I think we’ll need an extra layer or two for a few more weeks. Once the weather improves, my plans to go North are still in place. In the meantime, telling you about my recent contact with Neville Bramwell has taken me on a very surprising journey. Writing about Neville has sparked recollections for many of us about Bramwell Yarns, not least the huge shows at Esher. Neville told me that the Esher stand to support Rosemary Sheath and Knitcraft was 100 feet long with a warehouse at the back and needed 12 members of staff to run it.

For a long time, I’ve kept in touch with Barbara Faulkner and her husband Derek. Reading my editorial reminded Derek how Barbara devised her very first Shadow Pleated Skirt design, using Bramwell Artistic or Bonnie’s Sable Crêpe, with Bramwell Silky or Bonnie’s French Crêpe. Neville asked Barbara to appear on the stand at Esher, where she sold her single skirt pattern for £1. They soon needed more supplies of yarn and Derek had to rush down from Birmingham with more patterns. It seems the success led Barbara to use her tailoring skills to adapt to machine knitting and the suit designs followed.

We’ve all noticed the pleated skirt is prominent again. It often features in Sally-Ann’s Style File and several TV presenters and personalities have worn skirts very similar to Barbara’s design. I’m thrilled to let you know that I’ll be reproducing Barbara’s original skirt pattern in the magazine next month. The even better news will be that Barbara’s pattern included instructions for Knitmaster, Jones+Brother and Passap/Pfaff machines. The lengths are a fashionable 27, 29, 30 and 32-34 inches, for a range of hip sizes from 36 to 42 inches and all measurements are fully adjustable. So, head for your stash! You’ll need two cones of Artistic or Sable and a third of a cone of Silky or French Crêpe.

If you’re new to machine knitting, with no idea what I’m talking about, call Nick Traylen at Uppingham Yarns on 01572-823747. He’ll give you excellent advice for yarn substitution. There are actually two shadow pleated skirt patterns. The original design has a wide pleat and the second has a fine pleat with a dropped waist alternative.

Month by month I’ll include all of them and I feel truly honoured to bring you some original patterns from one of machine-knitting’s iconic designers. Until next time, head for your stash!

NEXT ISSUE – July 2023

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 1st June

On sale Thursday 8th June

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!

The cover design on our full-colour June 2023 issue is an easy comfy cardigan and we’ve our usual mix of patterns for men, women and children on standard gauge, LK-150 mid-gauge and chunky machines. Many of this month’s designs are written for larger sizes. Claire Newberry guides DesignaKnit users through the cable library and Alison Dupernex uses a lovely mix of intense colours for her slip stitch design. Bill King highlights the potential of Half Fisherman’s rib in this month’s Masterclass and Fay Butcher uses a transfer carriage to knit lace. Dee Crew knits knits tuck frills with Card 1 and Steven Jünemann shares more domestic machine knitting techniques he’s used for his International Collection. The exceptional talent of Susan Guagliumi offers lots of free help and advice and Sally-Ann Carroll reminds us it’s holiday time, so combine loose layers with your favourite knits. Our mail order shop is open and we always have help and advice in Dear Anne plus news, reviews and club details.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Our magazines are mailed to subscribers on the first Thursday of the preceding month, so our June issue was mailed on Thursday 4th May.

Bill King Masterclass

The ribber, garter bar and beyond

Elaine Cater tells us that West London Knitting Club is delighted to be hosting an afternoon with Bill King on 9th June. The venue is Open Ealing Art Centre at Unit 14 School Lane, Dickens Yard, London W5 2TD and doors will open at 12.00 noon. Take your own lunch or enjoy a bite at one of the many cafés and restaurants in the area. Tea and coffee will be provided and there will be a sales table with yarn, books and knitting machine accessories.

Bill’s talk is planned from 1.30 to 3.30 pm. The entrance cost for non-members is £5 and you don’t need advance tickets. Open Ealing is a lovely modern venue with an overhead projector, so everyone will be able to see what Bill is doing, as he demonstrates different techniques.

The centre is close to Ealing Broadway Station on the Elizabeth Line, Central Line and District Line. It’s also well supplied with bus routes from places such as Uxbridge, Kingston and Shepherd’s Bush. If you’ll travel by car, there’s a large car park immediately behind the venue. You pay hourly and blue badge holders have three hours free. Another large public car park is nearby, above the shopping centre. The venue is on the ground floor with no steps and the loos are also on the ground floor, so it’s easily accessible for all abilities. For more information, email Elaine at info@elainecater.com

The cover design on our full-colour May 2023 issue is a comfy raglan sweater and we’ve our usual mix of patterns for men, women and children on standard gauge, LK-150 mid-gauge and chunky machines. We’ve also included a much requested 6-piece baby’s layette including a shawl in 3-ply. Diane Wharton shares her life in machine knitting in Design Spot this month and we showcase her new eBook. Claire Newberry takes DesignaKnit users behind the scenes and you’ll love Cables, the new book from  Bill King. Alison Dupernex uses shades of autumn, seascape and shoreline for her trio of jackets and Bill King surprises us with another overlooked technique in this month’s Masterclass. Fay Butcher knits tuck stitch with a Deco card to produce a reversible fabric and Dee Crew knits a rolled-edge braid using tuck stitch. Steven Jünemann shares domestic machine knitting techniques he’s used for his International Collection and the exceptional talent of Susan Guagliumi offers lots of free help and advice. Lace is now a must-have for any knitted wardrobe, so Sally-Ann Carroll points the way. Our mail order shop is open and we always have help and advice in Dear Anne plus news, reviews and club details.

NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Our magazines are mailed to subscribers on the first Thursday of the preceding month, so our May issue was mailed on Thursday 6th April.

If you’d like a monthly subscription to the magazine and order by or on 1st May, your subscription will start with the June 2023 magazine.

Orders received on or after 2nd May will start with the July 2023 magazine. No money is taken with your order and July will be mailed out to subscribers on Thursday 1st June.

If you’d like to start with an earlier magazine, please buy it as a back issue and you’ll find it in our shop.

In celebration of National Craft Month, Hobbycraft is hosting a FREE ‘Introduction to Embroidery’ webinar this Saturday (11th March) from 6.00 to 7.00 pm UK time and you can sign up HERE.

The Hobbycraft Artisan will show you how to stich your way to a wonderful embroidery piece, that will brighten up your home and help you hone your skills. You’ll be shown how to use an embroidery hoop and how to create a stunning design that captures the natural beauty of a bunch of flowers.

Perfect for embroidery beginners, this webinar will introduce a range of stitching techniques including satin stitch, back stitch, French knots, fly stitch, split stitch and more. The variety of stitches will leave your embroidery work with a beautiful and textured finish, adding details that give your needlework more depth.

The Hobbycraft Artisan will take you through each step of the project, guiding you with handy tips along the way. Enjoy mastering these embroidery techniques and expanding your craft skillset with a relaxing craft that’s sure to spark your creativity. 

The session is perfect for those who are hoping to master a new craft, or refine a long-time favourite. Have a great day!

NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Our magazines are mailed to subscribers on the first Thursday of the preceding month, so our April issue was mailed on Thursday 2nd March.

If you’d like a monthly subscription to the magazine and order by or on 1st April, your subscription will start with the May 2023 magazine.

Orders received on or after 2nd April will start with the June 2023 magazine. No money is taken with your order and June will be mailed out to subscribers on Thursday 4th May.

If you’d like to start with an earlier magazine, please buy it as a back issue and you’ll find it in our shop.