10 Tips

1. –   This winter season is all about comfort, ease and style in beautiful neutral or soft tones.  Neutral shades combine with soft mints and nude tones for a new look.  Classic, natural shades using creams and browns are highly desirable with this fashion.  Knitted or crocheted men’s and women’s apparel, kids and babies wear, home textiles and accessories are all included in this trend.
2. –   Big and chunky easy  to make throws, scarves, wraps, jumpers and cardigans are all the go this season.   See the Patons yarn range using Chainette Aire, Gigante and Inca.
3. –   Scarves, wraps, ponchos, rugs and blankets are in lots of options this season.  Layering and oversized shapes set the pace.  Long, lush fringes are being added to finish the look.
4. –   Aran knits have had a make-over.  Oversized scales and silhouettes in classic cables and honeycomb stitches look new when using shades of grey, charcoals and neutrals instead of the usual cream shades.
5. –   Yarns with noble fibre content such as Merino and Alpaca (whether 100% natural or blended) are in high demand.  These are worth the investment in money and time as the better quality is easily recognisable and treasured.
6. –   The fab fake fur gilet is a key item for girls and women with the multi-coloured fur look updating our scarf collections.  Cardigans made from plush fur giving the grunge nod are a must have item this season.
7. –   Colour blocking and bold stripe combinations continue to inspire and delight with reds, purples, pinks and oranges combined.  Multi-colour change effect yarns  such as Cleckheaton California and Patons Gigante are knitted or crocheted.
8. –  An easy, simple start for beginners to learn to knit is the “Official AFL Easy Knit Kit” available in either an Adult or Child Beanie or Scarf.  The Kit includes AFL Club Badge, Logo Badge, 14 ply Wool, 7mm Knitting Needles, Wool Needle and Instruction Leaflet.
9. –  If you wish to use a different yarn than what is stated on your Pattern you may need more or less of the original yarn.  A lot of knitters think you just need to use the same gram amount but this is not so.  You need to work out how many metres per skein is in the original yarn and compare that to the metres in the substitute yarn to work out how many skeins you will need.  Bear in mind using a different yarn may give a different size or finish to the original look of your Pattern.
10. –   To keep track of rows worked, particularly where increases, decreases or other kinds of patterning occur a “Row Counter” is helpful.