Midnight Knits

When a designer creates a new pattern they will grade it up and down, making it available in many sizes. It's not as simple as just doubling stitch numbers all over. People's measurements are proportionally different at different sizes. Usually they don't have the time, energy or yarn to knit it in all the sizes. That's where test knitters come in. We provide a service, usually for free, to these designers, making the item in our own size so they can check it fits right. And for those who can’t afford a tech editor we also check syntax and make sure things read right.  There are so many reasons to become a test knitter. Here are some of my reasons: - The first and most obvious: we get a pattern for free that would otherwise cost money. It’s also arriving in your inbox a few months before it’s even available to purchase so you feel extra special. My brain computes that 40 hours of work in a tight deadline is better value than £7 for the pattern when it finally comes out....

In the knit and crochet community it is a well known superstition that if you knit your boyfriend a jumper they will break up with you, either while you are knitting, or shortly after you are done. I've seen it happen to many people. Knitting takes a long time, so the relationship may not be the way it was when you started. He might not appreciate how much work you put into the piece. He might put it in a hot wash and ruin it. At first I thought I had cheated the system and got away with it. I thought I had beaten the curse. I had a loophole. I knit one for a boy friend not a boyfriend. Well, he's 25. I knit a jumper for a man friend. It took me two years but he's still hanging around me. I didn't think this particular curse was going to be a big problem for me. It's usually phrased as 'boyfriend' not 'partner', so as someone that rarely dates men, I wasn't even worried. I was far too confident and that was my downfall. He didn't know anyt...

(I'm new so don't know all of the correct terms yet. Forgive my ignorance.) One day I want to meet a sheep, purchase her fleece, and see her again the next year in a garment made of her wool. Like that Spider-Man meme we would be dressed the same. So far I know how to crochet and knit, and have a little experience with a drop spindle. That was until I spotted an old Ashford Traditional for sale online and took a long drive to collect her. She had a few issues, but for the price I was ready to do the repairs.  From what I could tell at first the scotch tension needed entirely redoing, the wood needed a good moisturising and a bit of glue, and the footman needed entirely replacing. It seemed the original one had broken and the damage had been cut off, then a piece of leather had been taken from an old belt and used as an extra long conrod joint. Technically it was in working condition, but I wanted her to feel more presentable before I started spinning.  The most time consuming ...

If I had all the time in the world I would be the Molly Weasley of knitting. I would knit all my friends and family a Fair Isle jumper every Christmas with a matching hat and gloves. But that time simply doesn't exist in a day. A well-made jumper will take the average knitter 40+ hours. That's more than a week of 9-5.  I got into knitting as a way to transition further into a slow-fashion. Picking out the materials so I can be sure they are more sustainable, learning how they are made so they can be mended, and extending the life of my wardrobe as much as possible. That's not selfish and I think the idea of 'Selfish Knitting' is very counterproductive. There are so many incredible designs out there and I want to try them all. Yet unlike fast fashion where I could pop into H&M and buy 5 jumpers tomorrow, my crafting will be over a period of years because that's how long it takes to make things by hand! For reference, the last jumper I made took me two months,...