Emma Varnam’s blog – Knitting, nattering, crochet and craft

Yarn (S)mothering

21 Sep 2025

There is a moment, a fleeting magical moment, when eyes meet – a plan is hatched, and you know, you really know that you have a bonafide making commission. This is special. Not for an unappreciative, mere acquaintance – ‘I saw a cute fairisle jumper on the internet-and I wonder if you could make it this weekend?’ kind of commission. This is a special project that one of your dearest loved ones would really like and you are ecstatic that you can, will and want to make it.

I know exactly where I was when this most recent occurrence happened. We were returning from the West Country seeing my folks and popped into the poshest of motorways service stations. I don’t spend much time these days in physical shops so I always enjoy exploring the depths of their farm shop and particularly looking at the clothing. It was there that B and I spotted a rather fetching bottle green aran jumper. I suspect it was designed especially for the retailer and I don’t recall the maker but to hazard a guess I would say Harley.

[As an aside, get ready…Aran is making a comeback. The last few years have been about fairisle patterns, but aran cable patterns are returning. Dig out those patterns and find new bright aran yarns on the shelves. That cable needle is going to be busy].

Now the young man looked at the label, turned the label towards me and we both knew the price tag, whilst fair for the quality and skill of the item, it was a little too spicy for our pocket. Plus…plus and it was then that our eyes locked and without a word the next knitting project was planned.

So, what am I making? Well, I have done a fair bit of research. The start of the project has coincided with a little holiday and so I wanted the pattern to be manageable and not too complex that I couldn’t relax with my knitting. I have chosen a Sirdar pattern and King Cole Forest Aran in Grizedale Forest green.

My natural colour palette would not be straying into the greens. But for the bracken haired boy, the mossy green tones are perfect. Right now, the yarn feels a little thinner than a traditional aran weight. But I know that during the blocking process the 35% wool content will bloom and give a lovely loft to the knitted fabric.

I promised myself that I wouldn’t do a double moss stitch ever again. It’s a traditional aran stitch pattern – but it can be a real pain in the fingers. And yet… because of B I have been happy to complete a full back panel in double moss stitch. I am now on the second sleeve and have left the cable detail front till last. I will need full concentration to tackle this detail and will need to set some time aside at the weekend before I endeavour to start.

After years of not really being that keen to accept of ‘made’ item by his Mum, this is the second handknitted item that B has requested. (Thanks goodness!). After completing my first Pelica vest, I enquired if a version might be a nice idea for Uni. The offer was politely and diplomatically declined and an alternative option was suggested. A cardigan. I turned to Petit Knit for pattern inspiration. I used the Eva cardigan pattern, which has a lovely simple drape, but I changed the side of the button band and extended the length of both the body and the sleeves. The commissioner was delighted with the finished result and I am pleased that the Drops Soft Tweed yarn has formed such a luxurious finish when it was blocked.

A couple of learning points from me. Firstly, if you took to knitting/crochet again for the arrival of new babies, don’t be disheartened when they lose interest in your making during childhood and teenage years. In young adulthood, pennies are tighter and they have their own sense of style you might get your child muse back again.

Secondly it is worth recording body measurements in your phone. You never know when your skills will be activated.

Finally, everything comes round again. Those fairisle and aran skills are on the ascendancy, sometimes mixed in with new pattern constructions or colour choices. Hurrah! I say. Bring it on – a good bit of yarn love bombing is a good thing

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Me Made Summer

14 Sep 2025

I have been crocheting in the past few months. But not as much as before. Having completed a book in winter – and then developing a new blanket and toy design, my crochet hook and brain has needed a bit of a rest.

Like many of you, I don’t just craft for the gram or the blog. But actually, I like to sit quietly making in lots of different ways. It is like breathing – I need to do it. Surprisingly I have done a little bit of garment making. Inspired by my friend Jane Crowfoot, I have now just finished my third Pelica waistcoat designed by Rosa Pomar. My first was a pretty pink ‘long’ version. Very cosy and was put away in the top of the wardrobe during the very hot summer weather.

I then made a denim blue version in the shorter length. I used Stylecraft Recreate DK in Ink for this, and it proved to be lighter and much more useful with blue jeans. I originally matched it with gold/bronze buttons. But have now revised this plan and swapped them out for silver. Mostly because I want to use the gold buttons on my third…. A cosy red/pink option. I simply love the vibrancy of pink and red together – I like it in the garden – I like it for interiors, and I particularly like in yarn. You can get a really nice effect by combining a solid DK yarn colour with a wispy mohair yarn. In this case I used a red shade of the old faithful Stylecraft Special Dk, and a vibrant pink Alpaca Silk by Drops. Worked together they create a marled effect and thicker knitted fabric.

You might well wonder why I need three versions of the same pattern. Well firstly this garter stitch pattern is a joy to make. Good mindful knit stitch curled up in front of the TV. Secondly waistcoats are really having a moment. The fashionable tank of the past two winters has evolved, and its new baby sister has buttons! A veritable practical boon.

Thirdly I thought it might be a good idea to plan ahead for the festive period. I wanted something cosy to match my new ‘homemade’ gingham trews. I realise that I might be straying into the fashion realms of Santa’s helper here, but why on earth not! I haven’t sewn clothes for myself for decades. As a teenager I would often spend a Friday evening sewing inventive little garments together. But there must have been a combination of time and decreasing confidence that made me stop.

I was interviewed recently by the riotously entertaining Jamie (Mr X Stitch) and Merion Willis for the Craft Talkin podcast. I began to recall that I had made the most incredible hareem pants using Liberty fabric. It makes me feel sad that they disappeared. But it got be thinking. Why don’t I make clothes anymore? I suspect a lack of skill and courage. Well inspired to give it a go I grabbed a pattern which I had picked up from the wonderful Coolcrafting – the very popular Bob Pants. I was really strict with myself and fully concentrated. The final trousers are very wearable. In the summer the light gingham has been joyfully cool. Into winter matched with the new waistcoat they will be fun as pair of relaxing trousers.

All these adventures are good for my soul. I don’t need anymore clothes. But I do need to make and I’m glad that I can let my imagination flow in the process. Have you picked up any old crafts again? There is something comforting and fun in the new/old adventure.

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Happy Heart Blanket

5 May 2025

Don’t you just love colour? On a recent holiday in the Lake District, I saw this wonderful display of pastels in an art shop. It was the most beautiful thing. I thought to myself I think I would love to have just that on the wall. And then the penny dropped…I think I end up doing this – creating little squares of all the colours in my blanket designs. Yep, that’s it.

I can’t always remember when the idea for a new blanket started. But the Happy Heart Blanket is a combination of my love of ‘all the colours’, the desire to ‘stash bust’ my yarn collection and the pure love of the granny square. When I was creating my last book ‘Vintage Granny Squares’, I kept thinking; ‘You know this format is so versatile, so enjoyable, I love it.’ There are a fair few heart motifs available as patterns, but I wanted to create a larger heart motif.

I also remembered a lovely time I had with Stylecraft yarns celebrating their Ruby anniversary. After a long open day at the mill, someone asked me to host a Stylecraft Special DK Bingo Game. To be honest, I can be quite an introvert and then very occasionally in ‘Game-mode’ I jump into being very silly – and being the bingo caller for yarn-bingo was hilarious fun. So, this blanket is also a sort of memory and celebration of all those colours.

Whilst I have used 45 contrasting shades of Stylecraft Special DK for the heart motif and then the additional cream background – don’t feel you have to go to those lengths. The pattern is intended to inspire you to use what you have in your yarn collection. You could use just one colour for the hearts and even change the background colour for each square. The options are endless.

The pattern has a stitch diagram for the heart and another for the oblong motif. The large blanket is arranged in a brick format – alternating rows of 6 hearts and 7 hearts. Its not always easy making decisions about arranging colours, but I have done a diagram which shows the original recipe so you can see how I have combined the colours

To create the heart, you can do the colour changes in your own preferred way. Either cut of each colour as you change it and sew in all the ends. I don’t mind this myself and I quite enjoy the sewing in of ends. Or you can if you prefer, run the contrasting yarn along the top of the round below. It is your choice. This will cut down the weaving in ends but does use up more yarn.

I have put two patterns in one – with an option to make a lap/baby blanket too. This just uses 9 heart squares and then adds a generous linen border. I love a linen stitch border, and I also really like to be economical with the yarn – a border is a brilliant way to use up the end of the colour when you have completed the heart.

In each pattern I create, I include the yarn colours and quantities I have used for the completed piece. But I always hope that people will feel inspired to use the pattern in their own way.

Check out my personal introduction to the pattern on YouTube

Whatever your preference, I do hope you love this pattern. I loved making it and having the finished blanket in our home.

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Pretty in Pink

6 Apr 2025

There is something quite exciting when you realise that you can create something for yourself, and seeing it grow and develop is enormously exciting. There is of course that element of jeopardy, when you have finished, when all the ends are sewn in, when if being very, very disciplined you have blocked your creation, you put it on…and…it fits.

With every make there is a little gamble. If it has turned out well – you have got your sizing right, your tension right and the idea in your mind matches what you see before you in the mirror – what a win! However, if it doesn’t go well then all the investment of yarn and time seems like a cruel disappointment.

To ensure you don’t make catastrophic mistakes there are a few top hints and tips I would proffer. Firstly, take some accurate measurements – forget the sizes Small, Medium, Large, X Large – nobody cares. Certainly, nobody needs to know. Make the pattern in the size you need. The categories can change depending on the magazine, the country of origin or the designer. Ideally do the ‘good crafter’ thing and make a swatch – a small sample of stitching in the main pattern of the garment. You then compare your stitch and row count with the numbers quoted by the designer in the pattern. A large number of mistakes can be avoided if you take this extra step. I have short arms. It took years before the penny dropped. With every bought jumper and handmade creation, I always seem to have to roll up the cuff. For heaven’s sake, Emma… Just make the sleeve and inch shorter! It is after all as bespoke item of clothing.

Well one way I can avoid this issue is by making waistcoat! No arms and all the body warmth. Over the past few years I have found tank tops and waistcoats to be a ….literal boon! There can be no finer accolade in my mind. I have now finished my Pelica Waistcoat and it is a thing of beauty. I had the pretty pink yarn in the stash. As the colour as faded from my hair, pink is perhaps one of the better colours for my complexion. When I am dithering about which yarn to choose, its a safe bet that I will enjoy wearing the finished item.

In the last week, on a short break I nearly lived in the vest. So cosy and excellent in the early morning padding around in pyjamas. It occurred to me it might be a lovely project to make version for my son. He liked the look, but said. ‘Can I have sleeves…please?’ Yes, yes you can… but now I really need to measure them. The colour choice is not pink this time – but a rather tweedy forest green. Not my first choice of hue. (Unless I am making an amigurumi plant). But the customer is always right and sat in the sunshine, knitting outside I felt quite at home in my surroundings. Will it be finished by Easter? I am not sure. There is quite a lot of knitting stitch difference between a mini-mummy vest with no sleeves and a huge young man’s cardigan with sleeves. Better get those needles clacking. Happy Sunday x

The Pelica vest is by the designer Rosa Pomar. Both the vest and the cardigan are made using Drops Soft Tweed. The white shirt is a gorgeous cotton from Community Clothing and the Scarf is by Scarlet bought from Still Life, Stockport (well worth a visit).

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Yarn (S)mothering

Me Made Summer

Happy Heart Blanket

Pretty in Pink