November 2023

Newly-published books

The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook is for designers and aspiring designers who want to take their pattern-writing skills to the next level.

Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth have a wealth of experience of both good and bad knitting patterns, having tech-edited over 1,000 patterns between them. While comparing notes, they realized that they were both seeing similar problems again and again. They decided to write a book to share their knowledge.

The book is well structured. It starts with core principles, which they call the four C's: correctness, clarity, conciseness and consistency - and then gives advice that is relevant to all patterns, covering tools, yarn, techniques and so on. The rest of the book goes into specific topics in greater depth. For example, there are chapters on gauge, common pitfalls when designing sweaters, and what you should know about working with a tech editor. Each chapter ends with a checklist, so you can be sure you've not missed anything.

One of the topics that Kristina and Sarah cover in depth is sizing. They include size guidelines all the way from premature babies to men and women with a 64" (160cm) chest. I think having sizing information for such a wide range of body sizes makes the book valuable even if you're just wanting to knit your own designs for friends and family. Once you have your gauge, knowing a person's size and shape allows you to create sweaters that will fit perfectly.

Something that will change my own approach to writing patterns is the authors' claim that "In our experience, about 50 percent of knitters have never used a chart, don't know how to use a chart, and are not interested in using a chart." I would not have guessed that the percentage was so high! The closest I could find to an online survey on this subject was a question on Reddit that asked, "Written directions or charts?" It does look like more than half of those who responded do use charts, but there were a significant number who said they wouldn't. Others said they liked to have both chart and written instructions for the same pattern. I mostly only write patterns for the workshops that I teach, but even so, it's made me realize that it's worth including written instructions as well as charts in my patterns if I can.

I think the book is a worthwhile investment of your time and money if you are considering starting to write your own knitting patterns. I wish that I'd had it the first time that I was faced with turning a page of scribbled notes into a set of clear instructions that another knitter could follow. And with all the advice they have about designing for a range of body sizes, I also think it's great if you've written patterns for accessories and now want to move on to sweaters. The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook can provide you with expert-level guidance for each step of the process.

New and discontinued yarns

New

Alize
3 Season – Fingering – 51% Acrylic, 25% Mohair, 24% Wool – Fuzzy – Solid colors
Happy Kids – Sport – 65% Acrylic, 25% Wool, 10% Bamboo Viscose – Plied – Solid colors

Anchor
Cotton 'n' Wool – Worsted – 60% Organic Cotton, 40% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Brooklyn Tweed
Arbor Lodge – Bulky – 100% Targhee Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Cascade Yarns
Boliviana Chunky – Bulky – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors
Merino DK – DK – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors
ReSolve – DK – 68% Nylon, 32% Alpaca – Plied – Solid colors
Woolpaka – Worsted – 60% Highland Wool, 40% Superfine Alpaca – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors, Heathered colors

Elements
Colours Teddy – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Faux fur – Solid colors
Simply Smooth – DK – 100% Acrylic – Crepe – Solid colors
Teddy Bear – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Faux fur – Solid colors

Ella Rae
Cuddle – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors
Honey – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – S on S plied – Solid colors
Woolie – Super Bulky – 75% Acrylic, 25% Superwash Wool – S on S plied – Solid colors

Emu
Classic Aran With Wool Tweed – Aran – 80% Acrylic, 15% Wool, 5% Viscose – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Fiddlesticks
Marble – DK – 78% Cotton, 22% Acrylic – Fuzzy chain – Semi-solid colors

Fraya Yarn
Soft – Sport – 100% Organic Cotton – S on S plied – Solid colors

Gedifra
Julia – Bulky – 45% Alpaca, 30% Nylon, 25% Mohair – Bouclé – Solid colors

Himalaya Yarn
Super Soft DK Dot – DK – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Self-striping (dots)

Hobbii
Udon – Super Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Wool – Single ply – Semi-solid colors

Ice Yarns
Baby Silky – DK – 52% Cotton, 48% Bamboo Viscose – S on S plied – Solid colors

Jamieson & Smith
5-ply Shetland – Sport – 100% Shetland Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Jody Long
Alba Aran – Heavy Worsted – 50% Merino Wool, 25% Alpaca, 25% Viscose – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Juniper Moon Farm
Moonshine Bulky – Super Bulky – 60% Wool, 30% Baby Alpaca, 10% Silk – Single ply – Semi-solid colors

Katia
Concept Hiro – Sport – 94% Merino Wool, 6% Silk – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)
Funny Azteca – Aran – 53% Superwash Wool, 47% Acrylic – 2 ply – Self-striping (gradient marl)

King Cole
Norse 4-ply – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping (fair-isle effect)

Knit Picks / We Crochet
Fluff of the Andes – Super Bulky – 100% Highland Wool – Single ply – Solid colors, Heathered colors
Hawthorne DK – DK – 80% Highland Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – 2 ply – Semi-solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

La Bien Aimée
Sport Nouveau – Sport – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled
Volute – Sport – 50% Cashmere, 50% Merino Wool – Fuzzy – Solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckles

Laines du Nord
Chunky Degradé – Super Bulky – 100% Wool – Single ply – Gradient marl

Lana Gatto
Avoriaz – Sport – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Single ply – Self-striping

Lana Grossa
Avio – Bulky – 63% Alpaca, 37% Nylon – Fuzzy – Gradient
Meilenweit Alpaca – Fingering – 70% Alpaca, 30% Nylon – Plied – Solid colors, Self-striping

Noro
Haunui Cotton – Aran – 60% Wool, 40% Cotton – Tweedy – Tweed colors
Rikka – Bulky – 57% Wool, 22% Alpaca, 21% Silk – Single ply – Self-striping (tweedy)
Tasogare – Aran – 60% Wool, 20% Mohair, 20% Silk – Tweedy – Self- striping (tweed colors)

North Bay Fiber
Journey – Heavy Worsted – 100% Romney Wool – 2 ply – Solid colors, Undyed

Phildar
Phil Cotton Mimi – Sport – 100% Cotton – Plied – Solid colors

Pickles
Teddy – Super Bulky – 70% Highland Wool, 30% Alpaca – Bouclé – Solid colors

Premier Yarns
Parfait Chunky Glitz – Super Bulky – 94% Polyester, 6% Metallic – Chenille – Solid colors with metallic
Poppy – Super Bulky – 80% Acrylic, 20% Superwash Wool – 2 ply – Multicolored marls
Premier Basix Super Bulky – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors

Queensland Collection
Adelaide – Fingering – 50% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon, 25% Silk – Plied – Solid colors

Regia
Virtuoso Color – DK – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient transition)

Schulana
Lanalpaco Fine Tweed – Heavy Worsted – 63% Cotton, 20% Wool, 14% Alpaca, 3% Polyester – Fuzzy chain – Multicolored

Stylecraft
Colour Code XL – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Multicolored
That Colour Vibe – Bulky – 85% Acrylic, 15% Merino Wool – Plied – Self-striping (gradient marl)

Sugarplum Circus
Sugarplum DK – DK – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – Plied – Tonal colors, Multicolors

Sysleriget
Sock DK – DK – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

The Farmer's Daughter Fibers
Oh Dang! DK – DK – 90% Suri Alpaca, 10% Silk – Fuzzy – Solid colors, Tonal colors, Multicolored, Speckled colors

Viking of Norway
Alpaca Bris Multi – Heavy Worsted – 42% Baby Alpaca, 33% Merino Wool, 25% Nylon – Fiber-filled net – Self-striping (gradient transition)

Walcot Yarns
Les Garçons Fluff – DK – 55% Baby Alpaca, 18% Merino Wool, 17% Mulberry Silk, 10% Yak – Fuzzy – Solid colors

We Are Knitters
The Boucle Cloud – Super Bulky – 70% Merino Wool, 30% Alpaca – Bouclé – Solid colors

West Yorkshire Spinners
ColourLab Aran – Aran – 100% Superwash Wool – Plied – Solid colors
ColourLab Aran Tweed – Aran – 96% Superwash Wool, 4% Viscose – Tweedy – Tweed colors

Woolcraft
Baby Sparkle Solide – DK – 95% Acrylic, 5% Metallic – Plied – Solid colors with metallic

YarnArt
Forza – Fingering – 75% Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping

Discontinued

Big Twist Yarns
Lavish – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors

Du Store Alpakka
Dreamline Pure – Sport – 100% Alpaca – Chained – Solid colors

GGH
Andania – Bulky – 100% Alpaca – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers
Mussante – Worsted – 37% Wool, 30% Viscose, 20% Nylon, 8% Angora, 5% Cashmere – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers,

Hjertegarn
Thule – Bulky – 55% Acrylic, 45% Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Ice Yarns
Harmony Alpaca – Aran – 62% Acrylic, 19% Alpaca, 10% Wool, 9% Viscose – Single ply – Multicolored marls

Katia
Genesis – Lace – 50% Cotton, 50% Polyester – Plied – Multicolored

Laines du Nord
Merino Big – Bulky – 50% Acrylic, 50% Merino Superwash Wool – Single ply – Solid colors

Mary Maxim
Baby Value – Aran – 100% Acrylic – Plied – Solid colors, Multicolored
Woodlands – Aran – 90% Acrylic, 10% Alpaca – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors, Heathered colors

Premier Yarns
Snow Cone – Jumbo – 100% Polyester – Chenille – Solid colors, Speckled colors

Stacy Charles Fine Yarns
Olivia – Worsted – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors

Stylecraft
Savannah – Aran – 100% Cotton – Plied – Self-striping

Teetee
Alpakka – Fingering – 100% Alpaca – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors

Valley Yarns
Deerfield – DK – 80% Alpaca, 20% Silk – Plied – Solid colors

Vintage Purls
Max – Worsted – 75% Merino Superwash Wool, 25% Nylon – Plied

If you'd like to get in touch, please send a mail to hello@yarnsub.com (you can simply reply to this mail) or find me on Instagram.

See you in December!

Wendy

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