December update

Dear Readers

This month I usually remind you that we need to turn our attention to the kitchen in the not-too-distant future, but there’s still time for some festive knitting. This issue is always hard to plan because many of you have read the magazine for years, some have come back after a long break whilst others are very new to machine knitting. For that reason I’ve included a mix of new ideas and old favourites, hoping some of the designs will hit the spot for you.

Look beyond the actual design this month and you’ll find lots of ideas. For instance, Sleigh Ride’s Fair Isle pattern on Page 18 could easily be used for Christmas stockings or a sack, for a colourful knee rug or a scarf. If you’d like a larger size, substitute the pattern for any other Fair Isle sweater, as it’s a standard 4-ply tension. Use the bright stripes of Colour Wheel for a stocking stitch design on any machine. Mix and match Teddy Boy’s punchcard designs and try out your favourite cable from Bill King’s book on the front of Cover Slip.

In Dear Anne, June asks if one Bill’s Fisherman’s Catch patterns from last month would work for a scarf or cowl and this reminded me of a recent conversation I had with Norman Whitfield. He’s no stranger to our pages and, for years, he’s knitted some amazing things on his Passap. Right now he’s busy using up as much of his stash as possible, knitting full needle rib scarves. He takes them along to his local Food Bank, quietly hands them over and they’re tucked under the counter. When someone comes in looking especially cold, a member of staff asks if a scarf would help to keep them a bit warmer. Each scarf is received with much gratitude. Norman makes them extra-long, so they can be wrapped once or twice round the neck and I think it’s a lovely idea to spread some kindness and goodwill. For a wonderful heart-warming story, please also read Brian’s letter on Page 12.

One tradition I keep on these pages each December issue is to send you very best wishes for a happy Christmas, from everyone who helps to bring the magazine to you each month. As winter’s cold starts to bite, keep well and stay safe all of you, but most of all… knit happy!

NEXT ISSUE January 2026

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 4th December

On sale Thursday 11th December

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!

New hard copy subscriptions

NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS Our magazines are mailed to subscribers on the first Thursday of the preceding month, so our December 2025 issue went out on Thursday 6th November.

If you’d like a new hard copy subscription, as long as we receive your order by 31st December, it will start with our January magazine. No money is taken with your order and January will be mailed out to subscribers on Thursday 4th December. If we receive your order after this date, your subscription will start with the February 2026 issue, to be mailed to subscribers on Friday 2nd January as the Thursday is New Year’s Day.

INTERNATIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS will always start with the next issue and we’re unable to send back issues outside the UK mainland.

UK SUBSCRIPTIONS If you’d like to start with an earlier magazine, please buy it as a back issue and you’ll find lots of choice in our shop. UK readers please note At present, we can only send back issues to UK mainland addresses.

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy the digital version of the magazine. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so check it out NOW at machineknittingmonthly.net/shop/ Please note that, as yet, we don’t have a digital subscription available.

December 2025 (Issue 335) with Bill King and a host of designs

Our December 2025 cover design is a chic, slim-fit cardigan in a huge size range and in our mix of patterns for standard, mid-gauge and chunky machines. There are new ideas and old favourites, hoping some of the designs will hit the spot for you. Alison Dupernex is a constant support and when some things are impossible, Bill King finds a way. Susan Guagliumi’s expertise lives on in the Machine Knit Community, the new custodians of Susan’s invaluable online content. We join Nic Corrigan on her machine knitting journey to the present and Roni Knutson has designed a cowl for a cold and windy walk in British Columbia. It’s another packed issue with lots of techniques and help, advice, news and reviews.

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy the digital version of the magazine. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so check it out NOW at machineknittingmonthly.net/shop/ Please note that, as yet, we don’t have a digital subscription available.

High quality digital version

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy a digital version of the magazine. The high quality downloads from January to December 2025 are all available. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so make sure you have a good Wi-Fi connection and check it out NOW at machineknittingmonthly.net/shop/  

Please note that, as yet, we don’t have a digital subscription available.

Museum Lates

The Fashion and Textile Museum has a special Museum Lates celebrating Costume Couture: Sixty Years of Cosprop.

Explore dazzling designs from Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders, A Room with a View and more in a relaxing evening setting. Founded by Oscar-winning designer John Bright, Cosprop has shaped the world of period costume for film, TV and theatre. Now, for the first time, many of their most celebrated creations are on public display. Evening entry includes a complimentary glass of fizz (or alcohol-free alternative). To book, choose your ticket type and select your desired date at 18:00 to 20:00 (last entry 19:15) as your time slot at fashiontextilemuseum.org

Upcoming Dates: Thursday 23 October, Thursday 30 October, Wednesday 19 November, Thursday 4 December

The Fashion and Textile Museum is at 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF, United Kingdom


New Pop-Up

TV’s Anna Campbell-Jones appearing at Cherry Picked Pop Up in Glasgow

On Saturday 8th November, the Cherry Picked Pop-Up takes over Saints of Ingram from 10:00 to 17:00, bringing a curated mix of vintage clothing, jewellery, art, books, homeware and more. The event is free to attend and invites you to browse independent talent in the heart of the city. Interior designer and BBC Scotland TV presenter Anna Campbell‑Jones will be present with Lucky Swallows (a collaboration with Ocean Plastic Pots) turning marine plastic waste into stylish design pieces; jewellery by renowned Scottish artist Muriel Webster; hand-knitted scarves and bags by Missy Montague; plus a host of other indie makers.

This pop-up offers a relaxed, well-stocked shopping experience featuring everything from 1980s sequins and bold metallics to contemporary art and upcycled music accessories. Central to the day is the all-day vintage sale by MOXIE, with rails full of Studio 54-inspired looks, designer labels, maxi dresses and prints. Sizes cater for everyone; pricing is £10 per item or 3 for £25.

You can try on clothes, meet the makers and pay by card or cash. The venue is fully accessible and open to all. For those aiming to get ahead of the crowd and secure access at 10:00 sharp (especially for the vintage rails where once they’re gone, they’re gone), early-bird tickets are available here: https://cherrypickednovember8.eventbrite.co.uk

Whether you’re hunting for a statement piece, a meaningful gift or simply want to support Scotland’s independent creative scene, the Cherry Picked Pop-Up is a weekend event worth your time.

November update

Dear Readers

Autumn is a busy time of year, as we settle down to some serious knitting. With perfect timing King Cole, Nina Miklin, Uppingham and Yeoman remind us to reach for some wool this month. By now we know that Pure Merino is exceptionally soft and we’ll all need to keep warm in the coming months. As you read through the magazine, we’ve included contact details so do check it out.

You’ll notice I’ve included a message from HMRC on Page 8 and it’s not a scam. All those years ago, lots of us in the UK were paid child allowance and we took a break from fulltime employment to look after our children. It seems a mistake was made with many of our National Insurance (NI) records and they’re trying to put things right. Home Responsibilities Protection(HRP) was automatically applied to the NI records of those who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2010 and included their NI number in their claim. However, people who claimed Child Benefit before May 2000 didn’t have to include their NI number on their claim, so may not have HRP on their NI record. It’s worth checking eligibility, as it could have a significant financial benefit for a huge number of women and their pensions, including me! We can also claim by post and the print and post form can be downloaded at GOV.UK. If you’ve no computer access, call the NI helpline and ask them to send you a paper copy. The number is 0300-200 3500 and there’s also extra support available online.

We’ve a slightly different look on our letters page this month. Years ago we were all pleased to discover a new technique or knit something lovely and pass on the joy we had from machine knitting. Times have certainly changed and so have our letters. Things are being shared on social media, but sources of old techniques are falling by the wayside. There are no longer boxes of old magazines to rummage through at shows and books are being thrown away. The excellent technique books published by Brother, Knitmaster and Toyota are also disappearing fast. Some of you are struggling and we still have many resource files. So if there’s something you’d like to know, do please ask and we’ll do all we can to help. Until next month, knit happy!

NEXT ISSUE December 2025

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 6th November

On sale Thursday 9th October

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!

November 2025 (Issue 334) with Bill King and Nina Miklin

Our November 2025 cover has the effortlessly elegant look of Nina Miklin’s longline jacket and her design is in our mix of patterns for standard, mid-gauge and chunky machines. If you knitted last month’s cover design, we’ve a matching cardigan that’s designed to be worn over it. Alison Dupernex is a constant support and Bill King goes on a rack and a roll with Fisherman’s variations. Susan Guagliumi’s expertise lives on in the Machine Knit Community, the new custodians of Susan’s invaluable online content. We shine the spotlight on Nic Corrigan and her machine knitting journey and we look at setting up and aligning a ribber. It’s a packed issue with lots of techniques and help, advice, news and reviews.

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy the digital version of the magazine. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so check it out NOW at machineknittingmonthly.net/shop/ Please note that, as yet, we don’t have a digital subscription available.

October update

Dear Readers

To remind us that this is the October issue, we’ve Carole Dunkerley’s seasonal ideas for spooky hats, so have some fun knitting for the young and ‘young at heart’. There’s more magic in store as we shine the spotlight on the Machine Knit Community’s (MKC) fifth birthday celebrations. We’re really excited about a brand new knitting event being organised for the start of October. There’s to be a Machine Knitting Summit and we’re all invited. Nic Corrigan gives us full details and offers us great savings and discounts, so turn to Page 10 for all the details.

We’re also pleased to see that Tools With A Mission (TWAM) is to be MKC’s partner charity for the coming year. We’ve long supported TWAM’s charitable work in recycling our once-loved knitting machines, together with accessories and all types of yarn for hand and machine knitting. TWAM welcomes haberdashery, needles and threads, large pieces or rolls of material, buttons, zips and tapes, then turn them into kits. Through a team of volunteers, they’ll also collect items from you. Nic Corrigan tells us more on Page 50 and she includes one or two joyful stories from people receiving a full machine knitting toolkit.

Other news closer to home is that there’s to be an autumn meeting of the Scottish Machine Knitters Association (SMKA). New members are always welcome and SMKA membership is open to all machine knitters worldwide. The cost is £16 a year, they send out four newsletters a year and hold workshops in the spring and autumn. If you’ll be in travelling distance, the autumn meeting is taking place on 25th October 2025 from 10.00am to 3.00pm at Parklands Centre in Alva. It’s not far from the M80/M9 and seven miles from Stirling. Everyone is welcome, the cost is £5 for members, £8 for non-members and tickets can be bought on the door (cash payments only please). Tea and coffee is available but take your own lunch. Firm favourites are the demonstrations, raffle and sales table plus yarn bargains, books and magazines. The special guest this year is Eilidh Weir and visit www.scottishmachineknitters.org.uk for full details.

 Yes, it’s that time of the year again, bringing the prospect of a busy few weeks ahead. I hope you enjoy this month’s magazine and let’s all get together again at the Machine Knitting Summit. As always, knit happy!

NEXT ISSUE November 2025

Subscription copies sent out Thursday 2nd October

On sale Thursday 9th October

Ask your newsagent to reserve a copy or order a subscription NOW!

October 2025 (Issue 333) with Alison Dupernex and Bill King

Our October 2025 cover has an all-year-round cover-up in self-striping yarn and is in our mix of patterns for standard, mid-gauge and chunky machines. Alison Dupernex has another fabulous stash-buster design that’s knitted all-in-one and Bill King turns his attention to the much-neglected slip stitch. Susan Guagliumi’s expertise lives on in the Machine Knit Community, the new custodians of Susan’s invaluable online content. Joan Lafferty knits lace on all machines and Nic Corrigan celebrates five years of the MKC and invites us all to the Machine Knitting Summit. It’s an extravaganza that will be accessible to everyone. We’ve another packed issue including some tricks and treats together with Mylar sheet and punchcard ideas, along with all the usual help and advice, news and reviews.

NEW DIGITAL VERSION From the January 2025 issue, you can now buy the digital version of the magazine. Just head for the SHOP and select either the hardcopy or downloadable option. The downloadable magazine is just £4 (sterling) for each issue and available straight away. It saves the huge expense and wait for overseas postage, so check it out NOW at machineknittingmonthly.net/shop/ Please note that, as yet, we don’t have a digital subscription available.