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DUETS IN YARN

Combining two contrasting yarns in one project can produce delightfully interesting and unique fabrics, and the team at The Fibre Co. have been exploring yarn combinations with their 'Better Together' project.

The Fibre Co. has worked with three designers to produce garment patterns with matching accessories, which will be a great way to use up leftover yarns from the main project. Sylvia Watts-Cherry has designed a gender-neutral raglan cardigan with a stripe and slip stitch pattern, plus a matching hat, called 'Kehinde'. This combines the brushed suri alpaca-blend Cirro yarn with Luma, a mix of cotton, linen, wool and silk.

'Balnaan' by Emily K. Williams is a boxy pullover with a ribbed yoke, and a matching hat, which combine Cirro and Luma in a modern marled stripe pattern. "Chanson' by Leah Prestamo is a drop-shoulder cardigan and cowl with lace details, which mixes Cirro with the wool-mohair Cumbria Fingering to produce a beautifully soft and tonal fabric.

Available as individual patterns or complete knitting kits from www.thefibreco.com

British beauty

New from Blacker Yarns is Blue-faced Leicester 4ply, a lustrous, soft yarn in nine elegant shades

£21; www.blackeryarns.co.uk 01566 777 635

CREATIVE COLOUR

We love the range of stranded colourwork knitting kits available from Gathered Sheep Yarns, and top of our wishlist is this charming owl cushion, designed by Mona Zillah. Called '8 Accented Hoots', the kit includes six shades of Shetland wool, which are dyed to order by Sarah of Gathered Sheep Yarns, plus five toggle buttons - the pattern is sold separately on Ravelry. Other colourful kits include modern Fair Isle sweaters, beanies with animal and flower motifs, and a charming tea cosy decorated with hens, ducks and pigs.