Let’s Knit Yarn Shop Tour

We’re continuing with our brilliant feature series highlighting some of the UK’s best bricks and mortar knitting suppliers. All of these retailers are taking part in this year’s Yarn Shop Day on Saturday 2nd May and will be welcoming some very special guests. Head in store to find out more!

MEET THE MAKERS Rainbow Valley, Chatteris This Yarn Shop Day you can discover gorgeous yarns and patterns and chat to expert designers at Rainbow Valley. Meet Cassie from The Missing Yarn (right) who creates bright and bold designs, plus Vicky from Vera and Bess (below) and owner Helen Free, a.k.a Enfys, will be showcasing

their fabulous projects too. Buy a designer pattern with the yarn to make it and you’ll save 20% on your order. If you wish the team a “Happy Yarn Shop Day” when making a purchase on the day, you’ll get 10% off. Visit: 25B, High Street, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, PE16 6BG Contact: 01354 669922, enfys.me.uk

TERRIFIC TRUNK SHOW The Yarn Cake, Glasgow Join Sunshine Stewart of My Mama Knits for a brilliant Trunk Show at The Yarn Cake. These showcases have become a Yarn Shop Day tradition in store and this year is definitely worth a visit. Sunshine Stewart offers unique and quirky hand dyed yarns and her colourways are inspired by nature, popular culture and her children. There will also be goodie bags, discounts and a raffle on the day! Visit: 148 Queen Margaret Drive Glasgow G20 8NY Contact: 0141 946 5305, theyarncake.co.uk

PERFECT POP UP Ida’s House, Caterham on the Hill

To mark Yarn shop Day, Ida’s House will be hosting a one-day pop-up featuring three indie dyers! In-house dyer Ted from Tedsknits will be showcasing his fabulous jewel colours inspired by his garden, while Tara from Irish Artisan Yarns dyes luxury yarn in the shades of the Irish landscape. Don’t miss Lola from Third Vault Yarns who is influenced by all things sci-fi and fantasy. The first ten people to spend £50 will also receive a special goodie bag! Visit: 27 High Street, Caterham on the Hill, Surrey, CR3 5UE Contact: 01883 345220, idashouse.co.uk

SPECIAL GUESTS Pins and Needles, Devizes Meet top designers and fibre artists in store on Yarn Shop Day! You’ll get to see the new designs by The Secret Crocheter and shop-owner Vixter Woolista (above left), plus talented spinner Sue Savage will there with her gorgeous yarns. The day will be a Bagstravaganza with special guest Sarah Hillman, a.k.a. Florrie & Jean, who makes fabulous project bags and needle rolls. There’s also a Scrapheap Challenge with prizes for the favourite bags created entirely from scraps and leftovers. Pop along on Yarn Shop Day to join in the fun! Visit: Units 9-10 The Wharf Centre, Couch Lane, Devizes, SN10 1EB Contact: 01380 727212, facebook.com/ pinsandneedlesdevizes/

OGREAT FOR IMPROVERS CHUNKY YARN

6MM NEEDLES

MEASUREMENTS & SIZES 23cm wide at narrowest point x 23cm deep

TKNIT KIT Yarn: Rico Essentials Mega Wool Chunky, shades (A) 014 Grey, (B) 006 Mustard, (C) 008 Lilac, one 100g ball of each Needles: 6mm Zip: 20cm Tapestry needle

TENSION SQUARE n 14 sts x 36 rows n 10cm x 10cm n Linen stitch n 6mm needles

FOR ABBREVIATIONS SEE PAGE 97

ABOUT THE YARN Rico Essentials Mega Wool Chunky is a wool and acrylic mix that knits up quickly on 6mm needles. Projects can be machine washed at 40°C. It costs £6 per 100g (125m) ball from 07525233996, beadandwoolshop.co.uk

A LOCAL

YARN SHOP IS

A GREAT PLACE

TO BUY ALL

YOUR KNITTY

ESSENTIALS

FIND YOURS ON P87

From its spicy shades to its gorgeous shape, we love everything about this stylish clutch bag. The top band is worked in linen stitch which creates a tight-knit woven effect. LK designer Jo Allport demonstrates this fabulous technique in her step-by-step photo tutorial. The zip adds a professionallooking finish and you could even line this bag with fabric for extra strength.

BAG PANEL (make two) Using 6mm needles and yarn A, cast on 37 sts firmly Work in Three-colour Linen Stitch Pattern as folls: NOTE: letter in square brackets indicates shade for row £ Row 1 (RS): [B] k1, * wyif sl 1, k1, rep from * to end £ Row 2: [C] p2, * wyib sl 1, p1, rep from * to last st, p1 £ Row 3: [A] as Row 1 £ Row 4: [B] as Row 2 £ Row 5: [C] as Row 1 £ Row 6: [A] as Row 2 These six rows set patt £ Cont in patt until work meas 8cm, ending after a WS row Cont in yarn B only

£ Next row (RS): k1, (kfb) to last st, k1. 72 sts £ Beg with a p row, work in st st until piece meas 15cm from end of Linen stitch, ending after a WS row £ Next row (RS): (k2tog) to end. 36 sts £ Next row: p to end £ Cast off

TO MAKE UP Sew Bag panel side seams together. Sew bottom cast-off seams together. Insert zip into top and sew in place. Weave in ends. See ball band for further care instructions LK

LK Deputy Editor Adrienne Chandler

Linen Stitch creates a dense fabric that’s great for edgings as it doesn’t curl. A more pliable fabric can be created easily by going up one needle size. All the slipped stitches are slipped with the yarn on the right side of the work. There are only two pattern rows but you change colour every row.

JOIN YARN B Cast on an odd number of stitches in yarn A. Join in yarn B and knit the first stitch. Now bring the yarn to the front of the work.

SLIP A STITCH Slip the next stitch from the left needle to the right needle purlwise. Take the yarn back to the wrong side of your work. Continue to knit one stitch and slip one stitch across the row.

JOIN YARN C On Row 2 (WS), join in yarn C, leaving yarn B at the side of your work. Purl two stitches, then take the yarn to the back of your work ready to slip the next stitch.

SLIP AND PURL Slip the stitch purlwise then return the yarn to the front ready to purl the next stitch. Continue in this way across the row, ending with two purl stitches.

PICK UP YARN A On Row 3, pick up yarn A again and leave yarn C at the side of your work. Repeat Row 1. As this is a right side row, the yarn should be at the front when slipping your stitches.

JUST REPEAT Continue to work the two-row slip stitch pattern changing colour on every row and carrying the yarns not in use up the side of the work.