Sunshine Cottage

18/08/2026

I have just finished this top by and it was a joy to knit. It was the first time I knitted this style of garment top down (picking up stitches at the shoulders) and I’m hooked! The pattern for the v-neck and armhole edges was originally created using double knitting, however after getting about half way around the first armhole I decided to frog it because I felt it sat a bit heavy. The replacement is a simple rib with garter stitch at the edge which works well. The yarn is 80% merino, 10% cashmere 10% nylon from an independent wool producer.

13/08/2026

There’s always a lot of discussion about how to hold your yarn when knitting. I was taught to ,throw, as Americans call it; I did everything with my right hand and lifted my hand off the needle to wind the yarn around it to make a new stitch. Then I was shown to hold my needle like I’d hold my pen to enable me to knit faster! Fast forward 30 years I wanted to learn the continental method and I achieved this but only knitting left handed! I am a leftie and I have noticed from these videos that I use my left hand more than my right when English knitting. I see this method used so much less nowadays, more people are continental knitting I think?

09/08/2026

in progress. Pattern by lilykatemakes | knitwear designer. After unravelling all of my progress because I chose the wrong size! The yarn is a gorgeous hand dyed 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10% polyamide from a small business which has now ceased trading.

13/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who has downloaded my FREE PATTERN ON RAVLERY from Ravelry . I have been overwhelmed by the amount of interest in this . This one is the latest edition to my collection knitted with LANA GROSSA cool wool which is perfect for this project and one of the recommended yarns along with Cardiff Cashmere Classic.. I’m so happy with how it’s turned out, scroll to see the end result. Link in my bio for free pattern.

09/07/2026

Finished my by Sarah - Daleside Knits 🐑 ! This is the second version of this hat and probably won’t be my last! I used ‘Amuri’ by Naturally New Zealand which is 75% merino 25% possum. It’s wonderfully soft but I did find that knitting using this colour challenging. It’s impossible to see even in daylight as the spin of the yarn is light and doesn’t produce well defined stitches. I made many mistakes which was frustrating. That said, I’m pleased with the result!

04/07/2026

What’s not to like about sitting in the garden with a morning drink knitting in your dressing gown? This pattern is mossy lane hat by Sarah - Daleside Knits 🐑 and I’m using merino and possum yarn by Naturally New Zealand which I picked up in a charity shop recently

08/06/2026

03/06/2026

FREE PATTERN ON RAVELRY! I knitted this scarf whilst on a holiday in Guernsey and decided to write the pattern for it. It was a joy to create and knit and has some elements of a Guernsey/Gansey knit with moss stitch border and cable feature at each edge of the scarf. The blue scarf is knitted in classic and the beige baby alpaca, both are sport weight/5ply yarns and use 3.5mm needles. Check out my Ravelry store (link in bio) to download your free copy of the pattern.

11/04/2026

Making an autumn coloured scarf from 8ply/DK yarns. The yellow is a naturally dyed blue face Leicester by with turmeric and eucalyptus. The other yarns are from my stash and purchases of blended merino from . It was a joy to visit their shop in Kidderminster for the first time this week. The pattern will be available on .ravelry very soon (when I have devised a simple way to describe twisting the yarn to form tassels at both ends)