Knitting tutorials, knitting techniques, knitting tips and our well-loved Know Your Sheep series.
Interchangeables, circulars, DPNs, straights, bamboo, steel: there are so many options when it comes to needles and as a beginner it can be overwhelming. Although finding the right needles is mostly a matter of personal preference there are definitely key characteristics to think about when getting a new pair. 1. Straight Needles. The traditional needles Read the full article…
It’s unavoidable. After weeks or months of wearing your woollens bobbles will eventually appear. Semi-regular washing can slow down the process but it won’t stop it altogether. There are many factors that will lead to one yarn pilling faster than another but generally speaking the softer the fibre the more prone it will be. Hardier Read the full article…
Remarkable for its softness alpaca is one of those fibres that feels incredibly luxurious to knit and to wear. Over the last 10 years it has gained popularity amongst knitters and yarn producers as an equally soft but more sustainable alternative to cashmere. © Mother Nature Network History: Alpaca is part of the family of Read the full article…
Blocking is one of those words that knitters bandy around and, like lots of knitting and crochet terminology, it doesn’t really mean much until you’ve had it explained. Along with washing, blocking is the final step of your project and it is the step which transforms your project to an accomplished conclusion. There are 2 Read the full article…
Fleece – or wool – varies from one breed of sheep to another, carrying specific structural elements that impact the softness, strength and drape of the yarn. Knowing about the fleece produced by different breeds of sheep is a good way to understand what to look for when buying wool for a new project. Depending Read the full article…
As time goes on natural dyes have grown more and more in popularity. They offer a environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic pigments. They give dyers the possibility to create beautiful colours using readily available ingredients and age-old recipes. Like any trend, it comes with its lot of controversies and misconceptions. Today we’re going to debunk Read the full article…
Knitting is a great past-time activity when you are travelling. Unfortunately, you do hear terrible stories from knitters who have had their needles taken away or they had to show the security they actually could knit when going through the airport. When I visit my parents in the South of France, a two hour plane Read the full article…
Last week we taught you the importance of swatching. We explained that in most cases if your gauge is off you should go up or down a needle size to get the right stitch count. Sometime however you might find that even if the gauge is right, the fabric feels a little bit too stiff Read the full article…
When you are new to knitting finding the right yarn for a project may seem complicated. Especially if you are still unfamiliar with the jargon. With so many yarns and patterns now available, understanding how to substitute one yarn for another is very useful. It helps you planning ahead for future projects and gives you Read the full article…
Who knew cleaning could be so fun. At the beginning of the year the YAK team all set out knitting resolutions for ourselves. Amy’s was to knit herself her first jumper. Elodie’s was to knit her first cable project and mine was to put all of my yarn stash on to Ravelry to make the Read the full article…
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