Hi everyone,

There are so may different techniques for casting on and often it is down to the knitter to choose which method to use for their project. We all tend to have a favourite technique that we use most often but in the Casting On Part One guide  we explore a few of the methods you might like to try.

The guide includes instructions for:

• Cable Cast On
• Thumb Cast On
• Long Tail Cast On
• Knitted Cast On
• Picot Cast On
• Picot Folded Edge Cast On
• I-Cord Cast On

We hope you find the guide useful. There are so may techniques and ways to achieve the desired result, but we think the most important thing is to enjoy the process!

Bye for now!

Calico & Lace – A Trio of Simple Elegance -  Cushion Covers

Calico in its truest form is an all-cotton fabric woven in plain, or tabby, weave and printed with simple designs in one or more colours. Calico originated in Calicut, India, by the 11th century, if not earlier. By the 17th and 18th centuries calicoes were an important commodity traded between India and Europe.

Often woven from cotton which has not been fully processed it may contain small particles of foreign matter, unseparated husk parts, for example. In modern times the term ‘calico’ is frequently used to refer to this  fabric in its unfinished and undyed form, making it a relatively cheap but hard wearing material with a natural colour which fits in beautifully with most colour schemes.

CONCEPT BOARD

A pre-shrunk good quality calico is the material of choice. The overall look we wanted from this range was country cottage tinged with romance. Combining calico and lace is classic and has worked well in home furnishings for centuries.

Amy is the simplest cushion cover using lines of ribbon and lace either side of a trio of pin tucks. Bella is more complex and has both horizontal and vertical embellishment. Chloe is designed to cover a bolster, its shape and rosettes for decoration adding a different element to this set of three.