knitting Archives — Picking Up Stitches

Bright yarn to get you noticed!

November 12, 2025 by Annie Leave a Comment

Go Bright with your yarn choices!

Bright yarn can add zing to a jumper! A simple striped top becomes a garment that means you’ll really make an entrance in if you choose to mix up some eyecatching shades…

Bright yarn used in knitted and crocheted jumpers

I’ve loved knitting and crocheting with bright, neon-coloured yarns recently. And there are so many about to choose from. I particularly like the new Sirdar Soft Down DK which has lots of bright colours in its spectrum. As it name suggests, it’s as soft as soft can be. Made with 20% wool and 80% acrylic, this brushed wool blend definitely goes a long way. In fact, the stripey jumper I made only took four 100g balls.

I chose Scarlet Blur and Fuzzy Fuchsia for my stripey jumper – the original pattern was shown in pale pink and orange, but I just loved the vibrant shades together. Here are a few of the shades available.

After finishing my knitted jumper, I still had plenty of bright pink yarn left. I decided to knit an Argyle syle jumper too with two new shades, and using the pink for the ribs and diagonal-line highlights. This one goes full-on 80s, using Matcha Haze and Lilac Whisper for the large triangles.

Bright yarn used to create Argyle pattern

I’m using the intarsia technique for this one (not my favourite, because of all the darning in!). I’ve discovered a way to keep all the separate balls tangle free though. As it’s a geometric pattern, I just use the first colour and slip it onto a spare needle. The next colour is used, then slipped on next to the first. At the end of the row, all the little balls are in order on the spare needle. On the way back, I just take each one off in turn to knit with, then put it on another spare needle. You just need to take care not to split the yarn on the balls as you slide them onto the spare needle…

Not sure how long this one will take to knit, but it’s growing quite quickly!

Now for bright crochet

I already had a number of balls of Stylecraft Studio DK in Fiesta and Bright Green – really bright, neon shades which clash perfectly!!! I crocheted up a zingy jumper in this bright yarn. Green and pink stripes with a pink rib – really packs a punch.

Don’t forget, if you’re a knitting or crochet newbie, I’ve courses and lessons to help you if you live in Thanet – check them out here – you’ll soon be ready to start your own bright project.

Which colours have you used recently? Love to hear about your projects.

Blanket coverage – time to get cosy!

February 17, 2021 by Annie Leave a Comment

A blanket was just what was called for over the past few weeks. It’s been FREEZING here, so I’ve been busy finishing yet another one. Although they take some time, I really like to have a blanket on the go to pick up and crochet while I watch the TV.

I thought you all might like to see the blankets I’ve made so far. There’s also news of my Waffle Stitch blanket. The pattern’s here! (And don’t forget, I’m offering 1-2-1 Zoom lessons if you want to learn how to crochet any of the stitches seen in this post!)

Here’s the oldest blanket I have. I didn’t make it, my grandmother Vera did, back in the 1960s.

She knitted it in strips from wool left over from garments she’d made (hence the rather odd colour choices!). We lived with her as a child and I always remember her with a blanket on the go. This is the one that I had on my bed all through my childhood. It came with me to college and to every place I’ve lived since. It’s now full of holes, but my dog Lily doesn’t seem to mind, as it’s now on her bed!

Lockdown blankets

I started my first lockdown blanket during the summer of 2020. I chose to order the Attic24 Dune kit. You can find the pattern here and the kit here. It seemed relevant, as I live at the seaside, and it has a lovely shell-like pattern in soft, shoreline colours…

Although it was so boiling hot, I crocheted it happily outside in the garden, and it didn’t take too long once I got started!

I used it in my craft room at the end of the garden – mostly as a blanket for Lily to lie on at my feet while I stitched!

My friend Ellen has spent all of lockdown alone in her flat near the Yorkshire moors. I knew she’d love a cosy blanket for Christmas. I used another Attic24 stitch pattern – this time Neat Ripple – but I used blues and greens with shots of mustard and orange. She loves it!

It’s big enough for a single bed (or the end of a sofa!)

Strangely, my sister Helen sent me a picture of the blanket she’d just finished – the colours are very similar, aren’t they!

One for our home

I then thought I’d crochet my partner David a contemporary style blanket. I decided to design one in waffle stitch. I’ve put the pattern here (and if you’d like help with making it, I offer 1-2-1 Zoom lessons too). It’s ended up being a stylish addition to our sofa – so warm, in modern colours from Stylecraft DK.

Blanket design that's coming soon - the Waffle Blanket

A blanket-coat for Lily

Of course, Lily couldn’t be missed out. As she didn’t need yet another blanket, I designed her a blanket-style waffle coat which she wore happily when out in the freezing snowy weather.

I’d love to see your blankets!

Learning to crochet or knit on Zoom!

November 6, 2020 by Annie 10 Comments

Learning a new skill is a brilliant thing to do at any time. But especially during lockdown, it’s wonderful to take up a new craft to keep you busy while you’re stuck at home.

For me, teaching people to knit or crochet has been so difficult since the beginning of lockdown. I always like to be able to see clearly what people are doing when I’m teaching them. That way, I can help them with whatever they’re finding most challenging. Here’s one of the lessons I held in North London last year, before the pandemic hit our shores.

Of course now, with the two-metre rule, teaching like that is almost impossible. I’d been wondering about how I could carry on teaching people who were interested in learning to crochet or to knit during lockdown, and I’ve now decided to offer one-to-one lessons using Zoom!

That way you can still get individual attention and learn how to make exactly what you want! Also, I’ll be able to teach you, wherever you live! Even if you live outside of London or Thanet, where I usually teach

So although I won’t be teaching you like this…

Learning to crochet at a cafe before lockdown

… you’ll still have my undivided attention, just via a screen.

If you haven’t yet used Zoom, all you need is a computer or tablet and an internet connection – it’s so easy! Don’t worry, I’ll explain exactly what you need to do…

Just think what you’ll be able to make!

And what a brilliant pastime knitting and crocheting is while you’re stuck at home! I’ve been busy finishing all sorts of projects – I finally had time to crochet a blanket by Attic24 I’d been meaning to make for ages…

Just think – if you learn now, you’ll still be in time to crochet or knit some Christmas presents! So take a look at the crochet projects on my page here or decide what you’d like to learn to knit and drop me a line if you’re interested in arranging a lesson… More info here
UPDATE: Because the lockdowns are thankfully a thing of the past, I’m no longer offering Zoom lessons, but instead just offering face-to-face sessions in London and the Thanet region of Kent.