“THE DESIGN for this cowl is the result of playing with mirror images,” says Barb Brown. “Not only are the colours reversed on each side, some of the colours in the rounds are reversed as well. Wear it as a scarf, button it up for a cowl, or give it a half-twist before buttoning for a moebius look.” Barb has used two shades of Excelana 4 Ply for her cowl. This pure British wool, which comes in a palette of vintage -inspired colours, blooms beautifully after washing.

SIZE: 21¹/₂cm (8¹/₂in) by 117cm (46in)

YARN: Excelana 4 Ply (4ply weight; 100% wool; 159m/174yds per 50g ball)

A Powdered Egg; 2 x 50g balls

WE LOVE the homespun, 1930s look of this cabled cardigan by Martin Storey. Its chunky texture of diamond cables works perfectly in Rowan’s Pure Wool Aran yarn, and details such as the lined pockets and shallow set-in sleeves add to the vintage feel. The Pure Wool Aran yarn is arobust, machine-washable wool that’s ideal for winter garments which will get lots of wear. It’s available in 18 shades, both muted and bright.

SIZE AND YARN: look after the description

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

1 pair 4mm (UK 8/US 6) knitting needles

1 pair 4.5mm (UK 7/US 7) knitting needles

THESE ELEGANT wristwarmers by Tanis Gray are decorated with two lace ‘cuffs’, which overlap to provide warmth and beauty. The cuffs are knitted separately, then sewn onto simple garter stitch tubes which have thumbholes. “It’s easier to put them together by wearing the mitts while sewing the cuffs on,” Tanis suggests. She has used the wonderfully soft and light Lustrous Extrafine Merino DK yarn from Sublime, which is a merino wool spun with delicate, lustrous metallic threads.

SIZE: One size, to fit average woman’s hands

Length: 25cm (10in)

Palm circumference: 15cm (6in)

THIS COLOURFUL clutch bag by Nicki Merrall is knitted in a variegated yarn, using seamless techniques. The front flap is made first, one hexagon at a time, with more hexagons joined on by picking up stitches. Once the front flap is complete, stitches are picked up round three sides of the flap to make a mitred facing. Stitches are then cast on and picked up along the remaining flap edge before the bag is knitted in the round, from the top down. The lower edges are joined using a three-needle cast-off. The bag is then completed by inserting a lining fabric and thick interfacing.

SIZE: 33cm (13in) wide by 19¹/₂cm (7¹/₂in) deep

YARN: Noro Silk Garden Sock (4ply weight; 40% lambswool, 25% silk, 25% nylon, 10% kid mohair; 300m/328yds per 100g ball)

FASHIONABLE YET practical, hooded scarves are fun to make and wear. This design by Bergere de France features elegant cables and a patterned rib, and is finished off with chunky tassels on the ends of the scarf and the peak of the hood. It’s knitted here in an aran-weight blend of wool and alpaca from Bergere de France, called Pure Nature. This rounded, roving yarn comes in a palette of eight soft shades, achieved using 100% natural dyes.

SIZE: 25cm (9³/₄in) wide by 168cm (66in) long

YARN

Bergere de France Pure Nature (Aran weight; 50% alpaca, 50% combed wool; 82m/90yds per 50g ball)

Jonquille (29573); 10 x 50g balls