Welcome to a brand New Year

How are your New Year's resolutions going? We are determined to do some stash busting, so in this issue of our newsletter we have some ideas for you.

Don't forget to keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry group to stay in touch with our latest news and giveaways.

Yarn Diet

Many knitters and crocheters start the New Year by trying to reduce their yarn stash. If this sounds familiar we hope you have had a chance to read our blog post about how to make the most of a yarn diet here. We have lots of helpful hints and tips to reduce your stash and have fun doing it.

We have been trawling through Ravelry to find some useful and beautiful patterns that we hope will inspire you. You can find more ideas on our special pinterest page.

3 Colour Cashmere Cowl by Joji Locatelli

Earbud Pouch by Mary Keenan

Kejuillen by Tiina Kuu

Mrs Murdock's Mittens by Brenda K B Anderson

Beautiful Marblz

Marblz needles were a huge hit in the run up to Christmas. The feedback from knitters has been fantastic. You tell us you love the unusual combination of colours that make identifying the needle tips really easy. The high quality acrylic that they are made from helps you to glide through your knitting.

If Santa didn't bring you a set of Marblz last year, you can still purchase them from your favourite KnitPro stockist.

Yokes by Kate Davies

Kate Davies is a very thoughtful designer whose attention to detail is so much appreciated by those who knit her wonderful patterns, Her blog is full of interesting articles about her designs, techniques and tips (she helped us to learn how to steek), as well as insightful pieces about the history of knitting.

Now based in Scotland, Kate launched her new book just before christmas. It is called Yokes and is packed full of 11 jumper designs that all have interesting constructions featuring, you guessed it, yokes. But much more than that the books looks at how this construction we are so familiar with 'changed the shape of modern knitting'.

Garments with a yoke have a wonderfully flattering construction that you can adjust to your own body shape from the neck down. Kate explores the influence Greenlanders and Norwegians had on yoke knitting and design in the 1930s. She gives us insight in to the wonderful Bohus yoke and looks at the traditional Shetland Tree and Star pattern before stopping off in Iceland. We found the interview with the legendary Meg Swansen particularly illuminating.

To any fans of Fair Isle and top down construction this books is a must.

Yokes by Kate Davies

Are there any knitting books you would like to recommend to us?

Monthly Giveaway

Congratulations to Barbara Medcalf who has won a selection of goodies from our November newsletter. We have already emailed you.

This month we have a Comby Interchangeable Needle set for two of you to win. Good luck!