Knit in woollen spun fingering-weight yarn for a light and warm layer, this cowl explores different textured stitch patterns. It is larger at the bottom to provide coverage over the upper chest then narrows to ensure it sits high around the neck for maximum warmth and wind protection.

This classic Fair Isle colour work beanie can be knit over and over in different colour schemes for radically different looks. The pattern calls for five colours but you can work it in as little as two or (almost) as many as you like. It can be a great way to use up scraps. Modification notes are provided, as are colour-your-own versions of the...

My regular Thursday night knitting group has a number of participants who are relatively recent arrivees to Aotearoa, New Zealand and they can sometimes struggle with the “kiwi” accent.

This little sock is knit from the toe-up allowing you to explore that construction without committing many hours to a full-sized sock.

Materials

An ideal first-time project for those who haven’t attempted stranding before. There is no shaping to be considered, and no long yarn floats to deal with.

Knit from the toe-up with a smooth and comfortable heel. A delicately cabled panel graces the front; the cables are small and can be worked without a cable needle if you desire.

Octade has a doubled brim to keep warmth in and wind out, thereby preventing sore ears.

A simple hat with just a touch of stranded colourwork to make for an intersting colour transition. Three sizes are provided.

Gloves are so desirable in cold weather; they’re much warmer than fingerless mitts, and allow more dexterity than full mittens.

Laceweight yarn doesn’t always need to be knit into extremely open, lacy items. It makes a delightfully cosy, light fabric when knit at a tighter gauge.

Aspidistra elatior were the darling houseplant of Victorian parlours and sitting rooms. So hardy they’ve been nicknamed the ‘Cast Iron Plant, their striking green foliage has brought cheer to many a dark corner.

Materials:

I created this pattern using traditional Fair Isle charts as a little amusement for myself. Then I knit it over and over again because I adore colourwork and the look of this hat changes so much with each new colour combination. Everything about this pattern happens in multiples of ten and since this year I have been in business and professiona...

Mary Ann Müller was one of New Zealand’s earliest suffragettes and under the pen name Fémmina wrote An appeal to the men of New Zealand, calling for votes for women in 1869. New Zealand women didn’t gain the right to vote till 1893, but without women like Müller talking a stand almost 25 years earlier we may have had to wait much longer.

Kawarau is named for the Kawarau river and suspension bridge here in Otago, New Zealand. It is a stranded mitt with the added interest of two-colour cables.

Thick socks are ideal in winter. Wear them as slipper-substitutes around the house or in your winter boots to keep toes toasty warm.

This pattern is available for preorder at the special price of $5 (discount automatically applied at checkout). You will receive the full pattern on June 30th (NZ time).

Two yarns become three! The plain garter sections of this infinity scarf are worked with both yarns held together - blending the colours. Between the blended areas, a single-strand of yarn works each lace panel. The combined effect is harmonious but visually interesting. The resulting scarf is light, beautifully soft, and warm. It’s also versat...

Acanthus uses a toe-up construction and packs a lot of punch into an elaborate lace panel worked over just 29 stitches across the front of the foot and leg. The rest of the sock is streamlined and speedy.

Wrap yourself is lovely tree-inspired lace!


Cowls are just so useful. They don’t slip off you neck like scarves and shawls can, nothing dangles to get in the way, and they keep the wind out. I like my cowls tall, so they pile up high around my neck and provide plenty of warmth.

A good hat in winter is indispensible when it comes to fighting off the cold. Helmut is a fun take on a traditional Helmet: a nice cabled band for interest, ear flaps for extra wind-chill protection and braids for fun.

Spring-Heeled Jack (so named after the Victorian folklore character) is easy TV or company knitting.

Inspired by the rural landscape: fences covered in lichen, ploughed land and stone.

Figh (pronounced “Fee”) is a Gaelic word meaning weave. The design looks like a distorted woven pattern and, despite appearing to be the result of stranded knitting, is in fact formed with artfully placed slip stitches. Each row is only worked with one colour, there is no need to worry about controlling two working yarns at once, or about tensi...

Retiary (pronounced Re-she-ah-re), is a completely reversible stole (or large scarf). The patterning is worked over three rows, there is no right-side. Beads are added to the ends of the stole to provide weight that aids in its drape.

Featured in the Vintage Purls Christmas Club 2015

Nephele (pronounced Nef-ah-lee) is a long, crescent shaped shawl, A bold lace border drips with beads. Block the finished item firmly to reveal the dramatic lace work.

In 2009 I debuted my first colourwork pattern, Nightingale. Ever since I’ve wished to return to the theme and work something else with a version of that chart. Recently, the right idea struck me and I set about creating a damask-like variant of Nightingale that is more suited to larger projects.

Named after New Zealand’s iconic reptile, Tuatara is the perfect lounging sock. Thick and soft, these will keep your feet nice and toasty as you put them up for a well deserved break. Or wear them in boots in winter to provide maximum comfort when your do need to be more active. Unisex in design, the simple textural garter rib keeps them intere...

Shamelessly vintage in it’s inspiration, Cloche To The Top is a close fitting hat with a little brim. Turn the brim up just above one eye and secure with a pretty broach or a sparkly button for a fetching look. The brim is knit separately, then stitches are picked up along its edge and the band and crown of hat knit in the round.

Constantina is a one-skein shawlette shaped to stay on your shoulders - perfect for a little added warmth when working at a desk. Decorative panels provide an appealing border and shoulder line. All the lace is worked in garter stitch, making for faster, easier progress.

Cherry Pi is my ode to Summer in New Zealand. I adore Cherries, they might just be my favorite part of Summer time and I gorge myself on them whilst they are in season. The bulk of the knitting on this little shawl is plain sailing, something that a wine or two and good conversation won’t interrupt. The border provides more challenge - somethin...

Miss Wendover’s lace is predictable, so it’s easy to see where you are when working the pattern. Work starts with a simple round toe, this is a good shape for many feet - it’s not too pointy but can readily accommodate a narrower foot (as well as a wider one). There is a ribbed gusset to aid in the perfect foot-hugging fit at this point (though...

This pattern is exclusive to the Vintage Purls Winter Sock Yarn Club 2014 until August 31, 2014. You can preorder the pattern now at a special discounted rate of NZ$5.00 (discount is automatically applied at checkout). Preorders receive an information sheet and will be sent the full pattern upon its public release in August.

Little Skater is so named for the dreamy world of ice-skating of the 1940s and 1950s. I have a number of vintage patterns for skating outfits - lovely flared dresses with matching knitted knickers! They often feature colourwork designs and really are about being warm and stylish when you’re out on the ice. I had no desire to produce a pattern f...

My Robot Overlord captures the notion of a robotic, articulated hand - I liked the idea of replicating metal and plastic in a textile.

A Game of Two Halves is exactly that - you use half of your yarn getting to the midway point and then produce a mirror image of your work to finish it. The pattern is entirely reversible, no need to fuss to get it on the right way around. No purling, no curling edges, once you’ve worked the little bit of lace at the tip, this is all very easy k...

I wanted this sock pattern to be a useful staple pattern:

Heidrun, in Norse mythology, was the name of a goat who would eat the leaves from the tree of life and then produce mead in her udder.

Ms Moneybags features two designs, pick whichever you like.

Quoits (named for the game involving rings of rope), is incredibly easy to memorise and so is a great on-the-go project. It’s unisex, and makes a great gift if you are inclined to share your talent with others. Knit it in stripes to use up scraps or get the most out of one special skein of yarn. Knit it in your choice of 4ply (fingering) or a h...

Youturn is a little whimsical, I felt the need to work on a design that wasn’t typical in terms of construction. I’m easily bored and I like to play with techniques in order to preserve my interest. The heel turning in this sock is one I first worked with in my first Sock Club, four years ago. For some reason I haven’t returned to it since and ...

If you’ve never done colourwork before Bebop is a great option for a first project. The repeats are small enough that work is quick and the pattern builds predictably meaning you are not a slave to the chart as you are in less symmetrical designs. Most of the hat is comfortably worked on a 40cm circular; no moving between needles or turning you...

Ngaire (pronounced ny-ree, rhymes with fiery) is a very fancy pair of mitts, and is named in honor or a very dear friend who has a particular passion for such things. She (and I agree with her) likes them long, to keep her arms warm too. The length of Ngaire is adjustable, so you can tailor them to your own liking, but knit long they can be wor...

Miss Wonderly is a fairly straight-forward knit despite the complex appearance of her lace. The lace pattern is worked on every round but there are only six rounds to the repeat. The lace is kept to the front of the sock at all times so you have a quick, easy passage for half of every round. The lace makes this sock quite stretchy and it will f...

The main section of Clorinda is but two rows of pattern, all structural increases occur at the edges of the shawl, so progress is quick and doesn’t require you to carry the pattern with you. The short-rows in the edging give it plenty of length to stretch out when blocked and gives a lightly ruffled effect. The pattern is adaptable to different...

Murex is a highly textured sock, lacy but not overtly so and not delicate in appearance.

Toe up, with cable details depicting an anchor and chain. Rope twists feature at the sides of the foot.

Epsom is so named after the lace border it features. The Epsom lace border is an old one, popular in Victorian times but very simple to knit. It’s only a four row repeat and you’ll quickly memorize it. The top portion of the shawl is very straight-forward, making this project great for TV or company knitting. I’ve written the pattern conservati...

Toe up.

Demelza is a pretty little shawl, ideal for Summer wear. The lace is very open, it incorporates yarn overs on every row but it is all worked in garter stitch and so doesn’t require any directional decreases or other complications.

This pattern was part of installment two of the Vintage Purls Winter Sock Club 2011.

A textured hat, a little slouchy (though you can make it more so by working an extra repeat before the crown shaping if you desire), and you’ll easily work it from one skein. Blocking is the real secret behind this hat’s final look, don’t be afraid to treat your finished hat sternly, show it who is boss and get a lovely finished result. Do reme...

Textured cuff featuring i-cord cast on.

Knit from the toe upward this sock features a square toe, short row heel and a easy faux cable stitch pattern.

Neither toe-up nor top-down, this sock is started in the middle of the foot. The toe and heel are added as “afterthoughts”. This is a very quick knit, and the stitch pattern makes your yarn go a good distance, expect longer socks than normal.

Knit from side to side, this shawl pattern is an easy knit, with a strong geometric lace motif trim (which is knit as you go).

These mirrored spiral socks are knit from the toe up, they have a gusset and heel flap. The spiral bands are never interrupted; they travel right around the foot and one even momentarily straightens to travel over the heel.

The cable panel is just worked up the front of the sock, the rest is plain which makes for a speedy knit.

Floralia is a toe-up, stranded colour-work sock that uses just two yarns; one variegated and one almost solid. Pick two colours that contrast well with each other for maximum effect.

A heavy weight version of the Vintage Purls Basic Sock.

Stranded colourwork sock knit from the toe up, with gusset and heel flap.

Instalment Two for the Vintage Purls Sock Club Summer 2010.

Instalment One from the Vintage Purls Sock Club Summer 2010.

Installment three for the Vintage Purls Sock Club Winter 2009.

Toe up

Knit from the toe up this sock features a gusset on top of the foot which is integral to the visual design.

Nightingale is a toe-up, stranded colour work sock that uses just two yarns; one variegated and one almost solid. Pick two colours that contrast well with each other for maximum effect.

Named after the nymph Daphne who was transformed into a Laurel tree, this sock has delicate, leaf-like lace panels up the front and rear of the leg.

This toe up sock features an easy cast on and a flat toe. The heel is smooth and well fitting, there are no stitches to pick up.

Knit from the toe upward this sock features a round toe, gusset and heel flap and a ribbed top.

Blue Sky Baby is a toe-up pattern. Work as an ankle sock for a interpretation of the 1950s bobby sock or make the leg longer for a warmer option.