Simply Knitting - UK (2019-09)

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Write toouraccomplishedQ&Aexpertsand haveyourtricky

knitting queries and questions answered in no time!

ASK THE EXPERTS

KirstieMcLeod

Editor

Queenofsocksandgadgethoarder,

Kirstiehasmanyyearsofknitting

knowledge to share.

JenBartlett

TechnicalEditor

Stitchexpertandtechnicalwhizz,

Jenlikestotacklethetrickiest

of knitting problems.

SophieJordan

OperationsEditor

ProductexpertandFairIslefanatic,

Sophielovestalkingaboutthelatest

trends and cool colour combos.

DebbieBliss

KnitwearDesigner

Famedforhereortlesslystylish

knitcreationsandextensive

knowledge of knitting.

THEBIGWINDUP!

Q

I’vebeengivena fewskeinsof

yarnasa birthdaypresentandI’m

petrifiedtounwindit andgetit ina mess.

It’ssobeautifulandexpensiveI really

don’twanttoruinit.Doyouhaveany

adviceonhowI canwindit intoa ball

easilyandgetit readyforknitting?

DebbieJones,IsleofMann

Someparticularlydelicateorluxurious

yarnstendtobesoldinhanksorskeins,

ratherthana ball.Thisisbecausethe

delicatefibres(sometimessilk,high

qualitypurewoolandcashmere)couldget

damagedif theywerewoundintoa balland

leftfora longtimewithoutbeingknitted.

However,asyouhaverightlyworkedout

Debbie,it’snotpossibletoknitstraight

froma hankorskein,soyouwillneedto

wind it into a ball first before you begin. It’s

CONTACT

Gota US!

questionforour

experts?Then

[email protected]

co.ukorwrite

Knitting tousatSimply

,EagleHouse,

ColstonAve,

Bristol

BS1 4ST.

KNIT

guru

Unwindingskeinsisa delicate

and lengthy process

importanttorememberthatyoushould

onlydothiswhenyouarereadytoknit

withtheyarn,tominimiseanydamageto

theyarn.Togetstarted,simplyuntwistthe

hankorskeinsoit’sa largeloop(stilltied

togetheracrossit’slength),anddrapeit

overthebackofa woodenchair,oraska

friendtoholdit foryou,pulledtautbetween

theirwrists.I turntwoofmykitchenstools

backtoback(theyhavebacks)andputthe

skeinoverthembothasa startingposition.

Undoallthetiesandfindanend,thenwind

theyarnaroundyourhandoranemptyloo

rolltube.Windingyourskeinbyhandcan

bea long,slowprocess,buttherearetwo

gadgetsthatwillspeedit up:a swift(tohold

theskein)anda ballwinder,whichmakes

neatballsofyarnwhenyouturnthehandle.

Ofthetwo,wethinka ball winder is the

most helpful.Kirstie

Q

Help!HowdoI block?

KatieS,viaemail

Fordampblocking,pinout,

coverwitha dampclothand

leavetodry.Towetblock,

soakfor 30 minutesorso

inlukewarmwaterwitha

milddetergent.Squeezeout

(don’twring)andlayflatona

soft,smoothsurface.Pinout

usingpinsorblockingwires,

tomatchmeasurements.

Keeptheedgesstraight,but

don’t pin the rib.Kirstie

MIND BLOCK ONTHEWIRE

Knittingwithwirecan

produce beautiful effects

QUESTION OF

THE MONTH

Q

Haveyouheardabout

knittingwithwire?

JanieP, viaemail

It ispossibletobuy

colouredwiresina variety

ofthicknessesthathave

beenmanufacturedwith

craftinginmind.Theycan

beknittedinmuchthesame

wayasregularyarn,butas

wiredoesn’thaveanygive

you’llneedtoadaptyour

techniqueslightlytocreate

the same eect.Jen

Therearetwomainwaysto

block your knitted garment