25th Anniversary

July 22, 2022

Twenty five years ago, in November 1997, I launched my jigsawknits website. I was selling machine knitting patterns and books, plus I had a few info pages, some of which are still on my current website. I looked at the Wayback Machine (https://web.archive.org/) to see if anything was there from 1997, but no luck. The earliest I could find was a single page from 2000 – here it is…

jigsawknits.co.uk- 3rd February 2000

I’m fairly sure that the missing image at the top was an animated gif of a knitting machine carriage going backwards and forwards. I was pretty pleased with it as I’d made it myself, though it was embarrassingly basic 🙂

I’ve moved on a bit since then, but 25 years later I’m still selling patterns and other knitting related stuff!

jigsawknits.co.uk – July 2022

Left Leaning Decreases

July 4, 2019

Left leaning decreases can look sloppy, I think I’ve tried them all – SSK, knitting two together through the backs of loops, and slip 1, knit 1, psso. None of them were particularly neat. Then I had a lightbulb moment 💡😁. I’m quite sure I’m not the first person to think of this, but….

Slip 1 KNITwise, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over.

The knitwise bit is the secret – if you slip the stitch purlwise (as you would normally do) you get that loose sloppy edge.

By the way, this isn’t a variation of SSK as some people have thought, it’s a totally different decrease.

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For a limited time only

25% off

A B S O L U T E L Y   E V E R Y T H I N G

https://shop.jigsawknits.co.uk/

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The full tutorial is available as a PDF download on Ravelry
Also available as a PDF download on Etsy and my website

I came up with this really really easy short row heel some time ago, as all the instructions I found for short row heels on hand knitted socks were overly complicated with all their wraps, turns, double stitches, twin stitches etc etc etc

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The finished heel

This heel is so beautifully simple, that it’s easy to remember and it has absolutely no complicated stitches or techniques. Like any other short row heel, it works for both cuff down and toe up socks.

The full tutorial is available as a PDF download on Ravelry
Also available as a PDF download on Etsy and my website

 

More socks!

July 24, 2018

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I’m still hand knitting socks, though I haven’t posted about them for nearly 9 years. Has it really been that long?? I’ve knitted quite a few pairs since then, but these are the latest pair finished today.

It took a few tries to get the tension correct, though I got there in the end. Even the tiniest variation in the tension would mess up the pattern and you’d only get stripes. The pattern called for a standard toe and an afterthought heel, but I didn’t do either of those as I refuse to do Kitchener stitch! I did a round toe and my easy no wrap short row heels instead.

The yarn is Wool and the Gang’s Kinda Magic sock yarn. It’s made by Regia and is part of their Pairfect range, though it’s exclusive to WATG.

Carl Boyd patterns

July 19, 2018

I’ve recently acquired nearly 50 Carl Boyd patterns for both men and women. Carl is known for his classic styles with unique fairisle patterning which have always been very popular.

These were originally sold for around £5.00 each – I’m offering them for £3.00 each, with £1.00 postage and packing to the United Kingdom. That’s £1.00 however many patterns you buy, 1, 2, 20 or more. Postage to the rest of the world is charged at cost.

See the full range here

 

Patterns to Download

July 18, 2018

A selection of downloadable patterns, for hand and machine knitting. These are all my original patterns for which I hold the copyright.

Hand Knitting patterns
Machine Knitting patterns

*Valentine’s Day Sale*

February 14, 2018

Starting now and for 24 hours only, 14% off absolutely everything. Yes, that’s everything!
Sale runs from 00:01 to 23:59 GMT Wednesday 14th February
https://shop.jigsawknits.co.uk/

I’ve added a Preloved / Pre-owned / Seconds section to my website.
All the products are either pre-owned, from my own personal collection, customer returns, or seconds – I have several boxes full, so more will be added when I can. They are mostly in a very good or excellent condition; any significant faults or damage will be noted in the description. I post worldwide from the UK.

https://shop.jigsawknits.co.uk/index.php?_a=category&cat_id=11

Jigsawknits Etsy shop

November 1, 2015

Something I’ve been meaning to do for a while. I’ve opened an Etsy shop just for my downloadable patterns. As the Etsy shop is brand new, I’ve created a coupon code for 15% off all purchases, valid until 8th November.
Coupon code: NEWSHOP
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Jigsawknits?ref=hdr_shop_menu

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