Meet our Annual (issue five) Kits!
We love working on our yearly issue of the Annual, our in-house magazine – it’s a ton of work for everyone involved, from designers to tech editors, from sample knitters to layout, so it’s an awesome feeling when the printed pages finally arrived at the Mill and we can see what all those hands and hearts have created together! This year’s issue, the Annual (issue five), takes us to the beach – holidays by the seaside with sandy toes, stripy swimsuits, pastel-coloured houses, penny machines on the pier and chippy tea with lashings of ketchup. Those long lazy weeks where the only thing one had to worry about was (in predictably British fashion) whether or not the sun would finally peek out from behind those clouds, pop its hat on and come out to play.
Like every year, we have put together kits for every pattern (seven! six knitting and one crochet) included in the Annual (issue five) and are so pleased with them! Each kit includes enough yarn to knit the size you choose, a limited edition button badge and a fab project bag to keep your WIP safe. The kits are available now, and we can’t wait to see which one(s) you choose!
Benjamine the Watervole by Cinthia Vallet
Benjamine the Watervole and her family – Little Mo and Grand-Ma – have taken our hearts by storm, and we’re sure you’ll love them too! Cinthia Vallet has worked her toy-knitting magic again with these cute little creatures: Complete with stripey swimsuits and raincoats, Benjamine, Little Mo and Grand-Ma are setting out to explore the beach, come rain or sunshine.
We’ve put together a kit for the whole family (a crowd favourite!) and if you’d rather only knit Benjamine or one of her family members, you can also pick a standalone kit for each one of them. See all the kit options for Benjamine here!
Saunton Sands Shawl by Laura Penrose
We love Laura Penrose’s modern, wearable designs and were thrilled to see her Saunton Sands Shawl idea for the Annual (issue five)! Worked in a fun, sideways construction, this shawl fully embraces the fun and whimsical aesthetic of a vintage seaside holiday. It looks great in one neutral and one punchy colour, and invites you to pick your favourite palette – and the optional fringe makes it full kitsch, if you desire.
We’ve put together three different colour combinations in each of the yarns we used for the pattern:
Devonia DK
Left to right: Classic Pink (sample colours) | Classic Gold | Calm Greens
Yarnadelic Sport
Left to right: Muted Purple (sample colours) | Classic Blue | Multi-Colour Neutrals
Check out all the Saunton Sands Shawl kits here!
Zarauz Tee by Esti Juango
The Zarauz Tee by Esti Juango is our new go-to summer top (plus it looks great over a long-sleeved T-Shirt too!) Worked sideways in joyful garter stripes, you can choose between three different lengths to make it fit to your preference. We whipped up three samples too, in three different yarns, each with a slightly different vibe: Classic & Cool in our new Seafarer yarn, Bright & Cheerful in Yarnadelic Sport, and Calm & Cosy in Knit by Numbers DK. All three are available as kits now!
La Baule Shawl by Natalie Chautemps
Natalie Chautemps’ La Baule Shawl is inspired by the French seaside resort of the same name. She combined playful garter stitch stripes with a soothing moss stitch texture reminiscent of sand – both guaranteed to make for delightful knitting and wearing! This shawl is perfect for DK and Sport weight yarns, and so we knit up two samples, showcasing different ways to use colour in them; one punchy and bright in Knit by Numbers DK, and one pastel-coloured and muted in Appledore DK.
We couldn’t resist adding a few more colour options for you in each yarn:
Knit by Numbers DK
Left to right: Bright Tones (sample colours) | Earthy Tones | Pastel Tones
Appledore DK
Left to right: Muted Tones (sample colours) | Golden Greens | Pops of Pink and Blue
Check out all kit options for the La Baule Shawl here.
Prestwick Pebble Wrap by Lola Johnson
Lola’s Prestwick Pebble Wrap is perfect to cosy up in on a blustery beach walk or to throw over after a slightly-too-long swim! Reminiscent of pebbled beaches dotted with gentle waves, it’s knit up in either a 4ply or Sport weight yarn. We’ve knit a version in Exmoor Sock and one in Seafarer, our new silk blend (perfect with its drape), and you can get kits for both versions now.
Woolacombe Waffle Hat by Helena Timms
Our very own Helena Timms joins the Annual (issue five) with a must-not-miss beach accessory: The pompom hat! Necessary for those days when it’s just a little too breezy, and for after cold-water swims, it’s designed for DK or Aran weight yarns, and we had so much fun coming up with yarn and colour combinations! We have three kits available for you – in Devonia DK, Knit by Numbers DK and Appledore Aran.
Brixham Mitts by Fay Dashper-Hughes
Last, but very certainly not least, Fay Dashper-Hughes joins our Annual designer team once more with a fabulous crochet pattern! Her Brixham Mitts echo the waves reaching the shore, and are available in both a fingerless and full version. They’re perfect for mini skeins and invite endless colour play! We’ve whipped up four samples (and four kits) in four different 4ply yarns, Devonia 4ply, Devon Naturals 4ply, Harvest Hues 4ply and Exmoor Sock. Check them all out here!
You can get all the kits and the Annual (issue five) here. We can’t wait to see which one’s your favourite!