July 2025 (Issue 330) with Alison Dupernex & Bill King

The summer cardigan on our full-colour July 2025 cover has a great size range (from 82-127cm, 32-50in) and is in our mix of patterns for standard, mid-gauge and chunky machines including a pretty kid’s bolero from Anne Baker’s Karabee Collection. Alison Dupernex is an invaluable support and her stunning Fair Isle design uses lots of oddments of different yarns and colours. Bill King creates some intricate diagonal effects with eye-catching samples and after her retirement, Susan Guagliumi’s expertise lives on in the Machine Knit Community, the new custodians of Susan’s invaluable online content. Joan Lafferty gives everyone the courage to use their charting device and we’ve an interesting look at punch lace together with all the usual advice, news and reviews.

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy the digital version of the magazine. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so check it out NOW!

Pest control

Hi Anne

I thought I’d just pass on a quick word to someone who would sympathise and, more importantly, let others know. I have the moth! I’ve had to check all my cones and throw out anything slightly suspect. Strangely they didn’t seem to go for oiled wool and neither have they a taste for any of my Nina Miklin yarns. (I’m sure she’ll be pleased to hear!) It’s a lesson to be learnt by all and there is still a place for annual spring cleaning! Everyone needs to be checking. As I’ve not been knitting, it never even crossed my mind to do anything as tedious as inspecting my stash for any unwanted friends. Do please let your readers know, Anne and best wishes, Sue

Old friends

Hi Anne

My MKM downloaded on the first attempt this morning, so there was no ironing done this morning! It was just like meeting up with an old friend. We emigrated from London to New Zealand in 2010 and MKM is very hard to find here, so I was very happy to hear that you’ve gone digital. You won’t remember me, because you were surrounded by happy knitters at a Knit & Stitch event in London. I won a free MKM magazine from your stall about 25 years ago and have still got it. That started my journey into a lifetime of clubs, workshops and wonderful new friends. Thank you again Anne and all good wishes, Ann

Beware, it’s a scam!

Dear Anne

Last week we were parked on the access road to a local car park when an officially-dressed man approached us. He told us that as of three days ago the rules had changed and we had to register my Blue Badge to park there. As we hadn’t done so, we must pay £2 at the car park ticket machine so he could cancel a pending fine. Advised by the ‘official’ my husband went to the machine and it swallowed his card. The man asked me to try a different card, which also disappeared into the machine. We then went to move our car. Very soon after a large amount of cash was stolen from each of our bank accounts. Please warn your readers, in case there’s a similar scam in their area. The man was very plausible and it never crossed our minds to grasp what he was doing. Thank you Anne for letting others know and sending you best wishes. (Full name and address supplied.)

I’ve known our reader for a very long time and, together with her husband, they’ve always been exceptionally vigilant and taken every possible care. They were terribly upset to discover they’d been scammed. There was also the added worry of losing their cards along with a lot of money. Additionally, they’d to wait several days for both banks to investigate. In due course it was concluded they were telling the truth, had indeed been robbed and were reimbursed by their banks. They’d not had their Blue Badge for long, so were unsure of all the requirements. Our reader asked me to tell you about her dreadful experience, hoping it may save just one of you from suffering the pain of what’s happened to them.

Grey skies?

Hello Anne

In the February 2025 issue and the pattern for ‘Blue Skies’ on Page 22, only Chart A is shown. I can find no chart for Punch Tuck Rib B. Please help and many thanks, Marjory

Thanks for asking Marjorie, but you only need one card. As you’ll read, it’s the carriage settings that change the pattern.

Free and easy

Hi Anne

I purchased the only e-issue available that had the last segment of the Bill King series on using Knit Leader devices. I am a newer machine knitter and want to learn all I can about the Knit Leader. Is there any way to buy a pdf of the rest of the Bill King series of articles on this topic? Ordering the hard copy issues to be mailed to the USA is prohibitive in cost for me. Also at some point will you be offering electronic subscriptions of your fine magazine? Thank you, Mary

Thanks for asking Mary and the first good news is that a downloadable issue has been available each month since January 2025. It’s high quality and a big file so you need a good Wi-Fi connection.

I’m sorry but you’re mistaken in thinking that the Knit Leader feature was by Bill King. It was written by Ruth Horrocks and if you’ve not come across her before, she’s a Ballroom and Latin dance teacher. She’s also a professional dressmaker and makes competition dresses. It’s why her online shop is on her dance website. Visit athertondancecentre.com, click on Cachet and then follow the link to ruthhorrocksdesigns.co.uk and click on Charting. Ruth has a free download available. It shows you how to create your own basic pattern from your own individual measurements, then how to create tension swatches and use the measurements obtained. You’ll also find a wide selection of her machine knitting designs and techniques. They’re all popular and really lovely.

Chain link

Dear Anne

I love every design you publish by Alison Dupernex. She likes sideways knitting and so do I. So, I think it’s worth reminding readers about a method of casting on that you shared back in the mists of time. I think it’s very good, especially for casting on when sideways knitting, but obviously has lots more uses. Crochet a chain in main yarn with as many chains as you need stitches, then place them on the same number of needles. Next pull the needles out to holding position to help the needles slide back and knit a row. It helps to pull the needles out to hold and knit a row twice more. It’s then easy to knit normally without any problems and the chain edge gets lost in the making up. Best wishes, Annabelle

Slip the stitch

Dear Anne

Here’s a reminder for knitters like me who hate sewing and backstitching through a neckband on the right side. This method needs no stitching and suits me well, as I could never get it neat enough.

1) Work over width of sts around neck, such as 140 sts arranged as 70-0-70.

2) K about 7 to 9 rows with WY ending with carriage at left. K 1 row with nylon cord. Carriage at right.

3) K 4 rows in MY and one row on alt Ns in HP. Set carriage to slip both ways, but don’t set carriage to hold. Use MT, such as TD setting 6.

4) Transfer sts to ribber, or use garter carriage with Pattern 532 for 1×1 rib. Put in comb and hang weights carefully if transferring.

5) Using MT-4, K 30 rows in 1×1 rib or use Pattern 532 on garter carriage. Transfer sts to main bed.

6) Pick up loops of 5th row of MY onto alt Ns. K 5 rows at MT.

7) Pick up first row after the nylon cord and K 1 row at MT. With wrong side facing you, pick up neckline sts and K 1 row. Cast off using MT and this method is ideal for knitters who aren’t so good at sewing! Yours sincerely, Marie

News bite

Dear Anne

This is old news to those who have been knitting on the E6000 for a long time, but may help the newbies or returners. I was warned never to leave the locks on the left of the bed for any length of time, as this could damage the cable. Once, when I was called to the phone, I forgot this warning. When I returned half an hour later, my program had gone and the screen reverted to German. I switched everything off, then on again and I got my screen back to English but the knitting program had gone. I was more than relieved that there was no permanent damage. Kind regards Lyn

Place to place

Hi Anne

Thank you very much for the extra copy of MKM that arrived today. In future, I have decided to download the digital copy of the magazine. Partly as it will be cheaper but also because, for me, it will be more convenient. In June, I go to France for three months and look forward to being able to read your magazine as soon as it’s available, instead of having to wait until I return in September. Also, for the rest of the year, I divide my time between two places and get cross when I want to try a pattern but find I’ve left my magazine in the other place. A digital copy will be so useful, as it will always be with me and not take up any room. Once again, thanks for the magazine. I appreciate your thoughtfulness and, although I haven’t renewed my subscription, I’m not leaving you. Best wishes, Christine