Sandra's Designing Blog

This is an exclusive area of my web site where you can find out more about my knitted designs, what inspires me, how I work and what I like (and don't like) to design. 
 
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Category: Knitwear

  1. Just sometimes

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    Just sometimes 

    I take some time out from designing to just knit for myself. Over the last few weeks I've been working on the Nordic Bloom Vest by Caitlin Hunter. Quite a simply pattern with a really cute flower motif. The design called for steeking but as I'm ok with doing the purl rows of stranded knitting I worked on this flat ( ie on straight needles). 

    Next time..... I'll knit a bigger size, maybe my swatch measuring wasn't perfect !
     

    Why I Knit for Myself

    Knitting is more than just a craft or a job for me—it’s a deeply personal practice. When I knit for myself, I’m not only creating something to wear or enjoy but also exploring new techniques, experimenting with yarns, and pushing my skills to new heights. This hands-on practice fuels my creativity and allows me to design patterns that are both unique and approachable.

    Knitting for myself also gives me space to explore my personal fashion style. I’m still learning which colours and styles suit me best, and how to integrate new knits into my existing wardrobe. Through this process, I discover what works and what doesn’t—lessons I can pass on to you. Whether it’s advice on colour combinations, tips for wearable designs, or how to pair a hand-knit with other pieces, these insights often find their way into my patterns, blogs and tutorials.

    Every project becomes a classroom, helping me refine my techniques, experiment with fashion choices, and troubleshoot potential challenges. This ensures that the patterns I create for you are thoughtful, well-tested, and polished. When you pick up one of my designs, you’re not just following a pattern; you’re benefiting from hours of discovery and learning.

    Knitting for myself is where the joy of creation meets personal growth. Sharing that joy and insight through my designs is the ultimate reward.

  2. Another cool way of creating 2 coloured knitting

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    If you find "Stranded Knitting" a little too complicated and fiddly or you just want to try a new way of working with 2 colour's then why not try mosaic (slip stitch knitting). I came across this way of knitting colourwork only a few years ago and was totally mesmorised!  and I have ended up creating a number of  original patterns since then.  This technique involves only knitting with 1 colour of yarn at a time, so there is no twisting or entanglement of yarns to worry about and you end up with a professional neatness to the wrong side of your work. 

    The flower motif pattern I use in my logo is one of my first designs and is still my favourite. If you want to learn mosaic, then I explain how the flower motif pattern is worked in one of my free tutorials here. 

    There are also some FREE mosaic charts that you can incorporate in to your own designs. How about a plain stocking stitch cardigan with a band of mosaic instead of the ribbing at the bottom. 

     

    Today I'm going to share some of my original mosaic designs with you.
      A mixture of patterns, kits and finished knits.

     

    My latest design is this original kit which is available in 2 choices of yarn. 
    1. 6 colours of Stylecraft natural cotton yarn as in the finished blanket    £16 
    2. 6 colours of West Yorkshire spinners Bopeep luxury baby yarn (wool/nylon)   £27

    Want double the size? then order qty of 2 and I'll refund you £3 for the pattern price.

     

    All over mosaic patterns are great on cushions! and a band of mosaic on the Christmas cushion is really fetching.

     
     
    The 'Slip & Switch' Infiity Scarf knitting Kit. Worked on 4.5mm needles and uses West Yorkshire Spinners ColourLab 100% wool yarn.  Available in other colour combos too.
     
    Free UK shipping in my Etsy store
    Learn Mosaic Slip Stitch Here