Firstly, Diane and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to give us their thoughts on Issue 2 of The Inside Loop, either on the blog, Ravelry or by email. The site got around 3,000 hits in the first two days of Issue 2 being live - almost double the number of hits we got for Issue 1 (we are now actually having to increase the site’s bandwidth allowance!) - and having such positive feedback makes all the hard work worthwhile.

So, the new patterns are already being cast on and there’s even the first finished project from Issue 2!

Yarndancer finished a pair of Storm socks in four days. I think the thundercloud grey yarn is very appropriate and goes very well with the weather we’re having at the moment for our “Great British Summer”.

I am particularly fond of today’s finished project.

This is Lisknit’s (Ravelry link) Matilda, knitted with ColourMart Cashmere/Silk 3/45NM laceweight. She did a few more pattern repeats and also knitted some beads in the edging. The result is gorgeous!

I’ve enjoyed spotting the “first” of every design from the first issue of The Inside Loop and seeing just how many people have the patterns in progress. In many of these cases, though, the patterns have been modified for a different fit, or made with a different yarn

For example, Megan, the designer of Treenah, has come up with a lovely modified version of her pattern:

This time she’s used Tess Dawson Merino 4ply and chained 51 instead of 43 to get an extra pattern repeat and more width.

Then we have another gorgeous Maude, knitted by Lyni (Ravelry link) using Rowan 4ply Cotton instead of Jaggerspun Zephyr.

And there must be many more! So what we’d like to do is set up a Readers’ Gallery on The Inside Loop blog. If you would like to have your finished project included, please email us a photo of the finished item, and a link to your blog, if you have one.

The first Treenah! Knitted with Knit Picks Gloss.

And although Lindsey claims to be a crochet numpty, I think the finished result is just perfect.

What makes a pattern grab you and scream “KNIT ME NOW!”? Maybe the stitch pattern, or the colour combination or perhaps because it shares your name? Yes, Maude (Sittelle on Ravelry) has knit a Maude!

This Maude is knitted in the most beautiful purple shade of Fiddlesticks Jaggerspun Zephyr. And has such cute buttons. I think I’ll be getting some of that colourway for my own Maude very soon!