I’ve started it! “What”, you say, “what have you started”? “The first pattern of Martin Storey’s Knit Along 2019, that’s what”!

Yes, the first pattern of Martin Storey’s Knit Along 2019, the Bead Coin Cable Square, was released last Monday 13th May so I downloaded it and as I had my yarn and seed beads ready I got knitting and here is the result…..

I’ve knitted for years – since I was about 4 or 5 – and I don’t think I’ve ever come across a design like this one. I really like it! Martin Storey is very creative! The pattern looks complicated but after you get through the first 5 or 6 rows, the stitch pattern is set which then dictates the stitch sequences for the following rows and is therefore easier to repeat the 8 row pattern. I’ve made that sound very complicated!

However, if you are a beginner or are new to any of the knitting techniques used in the pattern you will find lots of tutorials on the Rowan Yarns YouTube channel showing you:

• How to Thread Bead on Yarn
• How to M1
• How to Slip1 Purlwise with Yarn at Back (SL1PWYB)
• How to Cross 5 (CR5)
• How to Work Bead on Wrong Side

The 2nd pattern, the Bead Diamond Cable Square, will be ready to download on Monday 20th May 2019 along with more videos from Martin Storey. The patterns will be available on www.knitrowan.com. You must be logged on to the Rowan website to access the patterns.

If you have never knitted with beads it’s really quite easy. There are a couple of methods you can use to add beads: threading the beads on the yarn before you cast on or using a crochet hook to add to a stitch as you knit. For this Knit Along Martin Storey uses the first method I mentioned and strings the beads on the yarn first. The bead is placed in front of a slipped stitch allowing the bead to sit proud in front of the work, as you can see in the image below.

The crochet hook method could be used but the bead will sit on a stitch in the work, as shown in the image below.

There is a chance that your bead could get lost between each ‘coin’ as the edges of the coin raise up around the bead. However, you could try the crochet hook method and see what it looks like. You will need a crochet hook about 1.4mm in size, small enough to fit through the bead’s hole.

If you are using beads and are not buying the Debbie Abrahams’ ones (I know English Yarns stock all the beads required for this Knit Along) you will need a size 6. This size relates to the number of beads that can fit along a length of one inch. It is referred to as the aught size and is often written as 6/0. The higher the number the smaller the bead and the smaller the size of the hole. So a size 8/0 bead is smaller in size and has a smaller hole than a size 6/0 bead.

Just in case you’ve forgotten from my previous post, Whose Ready for a Knit Along? Martin Storey’s Knit Along 2019 is knitted using Rowan’s award winning Pure Wool Superwash Worsted yarn and Debbie Abraham’s beads. I have chosen the deep plum shade called Windsor and Debbie Abrahams Metallic Gold seed beads to knit Cushion C which will then go in my bedroom. This plum colour features in my duvet cover, pillowcases and curtains and the gold beads are the shade of my aged pine bedroom furniture. I think the cushion will sit quite nicely in there.

If that has not got you inspired how about going along to a Kim Hargreaves Trunk Show? From Saturday 18th May to Saturday 25th May, Shoreham Knitting & Needlecraft in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex will have a selection of designs from Kim’s books: Calm, Haze, Pale, Form and Grey. Also, on sale a complete selection of all Kim’s books, past and present, including her new book Flutter…

and of course all the yarns to go with them! If you cannot make it to the store see all of Kim’s books here: Kim’s Books. Look out for more Kim Hargreaves Trunk Shows coming to a Rowan Flagship yarn store near you!

So, what will you be doing in the next few days….knitting Bead Coin Cable squares or visiting Kim Hargreaves Trunk Show? Please do let me know by scrolling down to “Leave a Reply” below.

Esther x

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