We are now taking submissions for the Winter Issue of The Inside Loop.

Winter is the the best time of year to be a crafter. When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than picking up a pair of needles or a hook to make something to keep you warm over the coming months.

So we’d like knitting and crochet patterns for any Winter Warmers: scarves, sweaters, hats, gloves and socks. Patterns for men, women and children are welcome.

Please visit our Submissions page for more information. As usual, we are offering remuneration of between 30 and 50 GBP for each design we use. The closing date for submissions is 30th September 2008.

Only a week to go before Issue 3 of The Inside Loop goes live!

Put Wednesday, 20th August in your diaries and start hitting the refresh button around 7am UK time (that’ll frighten Diane! *evil grin*)

I cast on for this immediately when we realeased Issue One, and it was gorgeous crocheting with the Alpaca Silk. However it was one of those things that you allow to snooze because there’s “loads of time to finish…”

Suddenly it was August and the birthday this Treenah was destined for was a week away! I won’t be in time, I’m afraid, but I won’t be too desperately late either.

Thanks Megan, for such a fantastic pattern! More details here.

We are still taking submissions for the first ever Gift Issue of The Inside Loop.

The gift issue aims to be an annual all-encompassing lifesaver, rescuing you from your “what on Earth can I make my Auntie Mabel for Christmas?” type dilemmas.

So we want patterns for small or quick to make knitted or crocheted items, particularly one-skein projects. No sweaters in this issue, please! Scarves, hats and socks, and stashbusting patterns for toys, accessories and widgets are welcome.

Please note: we prefer not to have any overtly religious symbolism.

This issue is for patterns only. Article submissions are welcome for other issues of The Inside Loop throughout the year.

Please visit our Submissions page for more information. As usual, we are offering remuneration of between 30 and 50 GBP for each design we use. The closing date for submissions is 16th August 2008.

Quite a few people have asked for the pattern for the blue cardi that Monkey so rakishly sports in Issue One. It’s a great practice pattern actually, and is a good one to do if you’re about to embark on a larger top-down project such as Maude and just need to build a little confidence in the construction technique.

You’ll need one ball of DK yarn, 4mm circular needles (60cm long is a good length) and a suitably fashion-conscious Monkey. Follow these instructions alongside the Simply Seamless article in Issue One and you’ll have your cardi made in no time at all.

Abbreviations: inc - increase by knitting front and back; pm - place marker; sm - slip marker; rm - remove marker; rs - right side; ws - wrong side;

Yoke

Cast on 24 stitches, knit 1 row. Next row (ws): k5, pm, k3, pm, k8, pm, k3, pm, k5. Increase row: *knit to last st before marker, inc, sm, inc, repeat from * for three remaining markers, knit to end. Next row (ws): k2 (for front band), p to last 2sts, k2. Work the increase row and the next row 6 more times, you will have 22sts in the back between the two markers.

Body

Next row: k to next marker, rm, slip sleeve stitches onto waste yarn using a darning needle, rm, cast on 4 sts for underarm using backwards loop method, k across back and repeat for other sleeve, k to end. Next row (ws): k2, p to last 2sts, k2. Next row: knit. Continue to work the body in stocking stitch with 2 garter stitches at each front edge for 6 more rows, finish with a rs row. Next 2 rows: knit. Cast off lower edge.

Sleeves

Slip the held sts back onto the needles from the waste yarn. Rejoin yarn and pick up and knit 4sts from the underarm. Using Magic Loop method, work in the round and knit 6 rounds. Next round: purl. Next round: knit. Cast off cuff edge. Repeat for second sleeve.

Finishing

Monkey has a squishy head so I didn’t bother with a proper buttonhole - I just sewed right through the two layers (!). If you have more concern for your loved ones, you can make an eyelet buttonhole every so often down the front garter edge by working yo, k2tog.

Darn in all your ends and, if your Monkey is the fussy kind, block lightly.