Tips, tricks and tutorials

Our new Tutorials tab is updated weekly with great new tutorials for you to enjoy. This week, we share our top tips for working from a pattern.

➻ Once you have ‘cracked the code’ and understand
the stitches’ abbreviations, a pattern becomes much easier to read. Don’t read a pattern fully before starting it as it may make it seem more complex, but do take a brief look through to make sure there are not any abbreviations you are unfamiliar with. Consult the abbreviations tables before beginning
➻ Purchase yarn with the same dye lot number on the balls to avoid unwanted colour changes and choose light coloured yarn for your first projects to make sure that you can see your stitches easily – this helps prevent mistakes occurring.
âž» If you are attempting a project with multiple size options, circle or highlight the instructions for size you are making throughout the pattern to avoid confusion.
The smallest size is listed first, then all following ones inside brackets, increasing in size and separated by commas.
âž» Where a pattern has an accompanying chart, use this for reference, as it shows the formation of the stitches as they will be worked and can help with tricky instructions.
âž» Finally, and most importantly, for projects that need to have a good fit, always check your tension by swatching before you begin.