Pure, minimally-processed yarn requires a clean, simple canvas in order to shine. The absolutely delightful La Bella 4ply yarn, by Great Ocean Road Woollen Mill, is an incredible, rustic blend of merino and alpaca. The characteristics of this yarn – little slubs, an alpaca halo, natural colours, and merino clouds – deserve to be highlighted, an...

Anyone who has knit one of my patterns knows that texture and small details are my thing. I love to incorporate these elements into my designs; they add interest without over-complicating the piece itself. VEM is a collaboration between my daughter Violet and me. She knows that, out of all the possible details I could include in a design, bobbl...

Tokyo is my dream city. It’s a place of contrasts: busy, yet still; modern, yet old; complex, yet simple; odd, yet traditional. Tiny suburban streets give way to wide, busy hubs, while shrines and temples hide in the midst of neon skyscrapers. You can blend in here, or you can stand out, and anything goes. I wanted to explore these contrasts th...

When Jennifer, of Mulberry & Flax, first shared details of her brand new Great Southern Yarn, I knew I had to try it. A delicious blend of 50% merino and 50% alpaca, this yarn brings the best properties of both fibres to the table. I needed to create something that would highlight those properties, and not detract from them, and I believe a...

I’ve been dreaming of a wrap knit in White Gum Wool for quite some time. I’ve imagined a lofty, soft, and airy piece that will become a daily travel companion, keeping my neck warm while outdoors in an entirely new place, and providing comfort to my young children as they adjust to long days of exploration. I have deliberately kept the stitch p...

The farm from which White Gum Wool originates has a wonderful story. I dream of one day going to visit Nan, the lovely shepherd and owner behind the brand, on her farm in Oatlands, Tasmania. I would love to shadow her as she works, observing the sheep that give us this most beautiful wool, and their interaction with the land. Nan often talks ab...

It would appear that I have a favourite stitch. Tiny bobbles have found their way into several of my designs, and I make no apologies for that. My FUYU wrap uses a crochet technique to create very neat and very small bobbles, which pop on their background of smooth stockinette. Garter stripes in two colours ebb and flow, switch once, and then s...

A striking lace brim, fuzzy, warm yarn, and a classic shape: CARIS might just be your new favourite bonnet. I have knit my samples in the beautiful Moody Hues, by Skeinz; this delicious yarn combines a base of merino with alpaca and possum for a luxurious finish. However, you can choose any heavy DK yarn with plenty of loft for your CARIS bonne...

I love baby bonnets. They’re sweet, practical, and the perfect canvas for beautiful stitch patterns. KOJIKA is the Japanese word for fawn; sweet and delicate, it is a fitting name for this softly-detailed piece. My choice to use a fingering weight yarn references those classic baby knits of last century, the kind my Nana makes, which are almost...

I love cowls. I also love White Gum Wool, and have been intrigued by their bouclé yarn for quite some time. This deliciously soft and surprisingly light yarn has a character all of its own, and shines in a simple stitch pattern. I am instantly reminded of the characteristics of cumulus clouds when working with this bouclé, and I wanted to refle...

I love brioche. I could honestly sit and squish the fabric for hours. It can seem like an intimidating stitch to someone who has never worked brioche before, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it becomes second nature. HAPPENSTANCE provides those knitters that are new to brioche with the opportunity to learn the basics of two-colour brioche kn...

Right now, here in Australia, we’re pretty lucky to have access to an excellent supply of high quality, ethically grown and produced, local yarns. When Angela, of Blackwattle Alpaca Yarn and Fibre (formerly One Tree Hill Alpacas), reached out to local knitwear designers to work with her on creating some patterns to showcase her incredible dye w...

I once tried to get a few friends to collaborate on a new hat design by selecting a bunch of favourite stitch patterns, and then having them vote on which they liked best. I think I probably don’t need to say that this didn’t go well, as they all liked different things.

Not long after I first started designing knitwear, I came up with my own version of the classic two-pompom beanie. As my aesthetic has matured, and favourite knitting techniques have settled into a comfortable groove, I adapted and reworked my original bear beanie into something I truly love. Delicious, Australian-grown merino blooms into somet...

One of my favourite things about being a knitter is being able to create beautiful pieces for family and friends. I once was requested to knit up a very simple, pixie-style bonnet with long ties for an old friend’s new baby. Named for that sweet girl, FLO was straightforward to create. However, being the pedant that I am, I had to try several d...

Let’s face it: bonnets on babies and children are always adorable. AKI is the ideal bonnet to grab for your babe as the weather turns cool; the generous stretch provided by the textured rib and the sweet, tasselled drawstring provide a snug fit as well as an interesting point of difference to what is a classic bonnet style. This piece is also t...

When my daughter was quite little, we borrowed a beautiful picture book from the library. The story was of a young girl who lived somewhere very cold and quite remote, who had to walk in the dark to the school bus each morning, singing as she walked. I’m a sucker for gorgeous illustrations, and these were no exception, showing school children d...

This hat needs no introduction, really. It’s named for my beautiful daughter, and inspired by the knitted baby bonnets of days gone by. The VIOLET bonnet knits up quickly, and has an easy-to-memorise lace stitch pattern, making it the perfect choice for a last-minute,

WANDERING – stitches, thoughts, colours. This simple, single loop cowl has been designed to highlight the beauty and character of hand dyed and hand spun yarns. Rib, garter, and linen stitches allow the unique personality of your chosen skein to shine, while also keeping the work interesting for you. Wandering uses just one 100g skein (or 50g f...

Linen cloth is one of my favourite things, particularly the kind that has been well-loved. It’s soft, strong, lustrous - and oh, how I adore those little nubs and slubs that give the woven fibre its delicious character. linen has been inspired by the texture of this gorgeous fibre; a tiny rolled brim hints at the creases that develop in washed-...

FORM combines classic beanie features and simple-yet-fun details to create the perfect everyday, cold-weather hat. Worked in either a solid, semi solid, or gradient yarn, FORM is a perfect, not-quite-blank canvas.

While pregnant with my second child – my hard-won, rainbow baby – I was inspired to knit him a bonnet. It needed to meet all of my usual knit criteria: simple, with small and unusual details, and enough give to fit for a little longer than is the average. I knit a prototype, we

FRANKIE is simple in both name and design. Yummy, stretchy garter stitch, bottom-up, in the round construction, and one of my favourite geometric patterns combine to make the perfect hat for your babe. FRANKIE is also a great choice for last-minute gifts, as it works up very quickly.

AWAYUKI is Japanese, translating roughly to “light snow”. The beautiful, drifting cable pattern I have chosen for this beanie has always reminded me of fallen snow that has been gently moved about by the wind. Delightful texture and dimension created by the cables add a unique spin to this classic hat style. The pattern is just simple enough to...

Button-up cowl, or infinity scarf? My LOU two ways pattern gives you both patterns in one file, leaving the choice up to you. A simple-yet-beautiful lace stitch is the main design feature of both options, which is offset by a subtle rolled edge. LOU is both stylish and versatile, and the patterns are suitable for both beginners and experienced ...

Non-traditional cables and a twisted rib crown and nape give this bonnet an unusual and modern twist. It has been cleverly designed so that each size can be worn for longer than most baby and toddler hats allow. The utterly delightful, super soft and squishy MillaMia merino is the perfect match for this bonnet.