My End of Year Sale is here! I'm offering a massive 50% discount on all patterns until midnight on 31st December. Use coupon code BOXINGDAY23 for half price knitting patterns!

It's a great time of year to stock up on knitting patterns. Maybe you got some yarn for Christmas and you're not sure what to do with it, or maybe you're looking for something creative to occupy your holiday. The time between Christmas and New Years Eve can feel a little empty, and crafting is a great way to spend some quality time and get away from the consumerism of the season. And coming from Scotland, we're looking ahead to some of the coldest months of the year so it's a great time for making something super cosy to snuggle up in!

Whatever the reason, we've got a huge range of knitting patterns with something for everyone!

And if you're looking for some (free!) knitting with a purpose, you might be interested in signing up for one of my current test knits:

We have two fabulous test knits with spaces open at the moment. Both are top down, totally seamless, available in nine sizes and feature gorgeous gathered lace stitches. Auldhouse is a simple crew neck sweater - slightly oversized and slightly cropped, knitted in chunky yarn. Arnprior is an open fronted cardigan that's incredibly quick to knit in super chunky yarn.

You can sign up to test knit and find out more in my Ravelry Group. If you don't use Ravelry but still want to test knit, get in touch via the "contact" button on my homepage.

My big news of the week - I've started a test knit for my latest design, Auldhouse Sweater!

It's a super simple, slightly cropped sweater with a gorgeous lace pattern. Super quick to knit in chunky yarn.
We work from the top down using a simple construction. We cast on stitches at the shoulder and, after a little short row shaping, work down the back to the underarm, shaping for armholes. Stitches are picked up at each shoulder and worked down the front to the underarm, shaping the neckline and armholes as we go. All stitches are joined in the round and worked straight down to the hem, working a simple but stunning lace pattern and delicate twisted ribbing. We pick up stitches round each armhole for the sleeves and work them in the round to the cuff. Finally, stitches are picked up round the neckline and worked in twisted ribbing. We recommend this sweater is worn with 15 cm/6” positive ease at the chest.
I normally name patterns for places I’ve visited recently – in the past it was usually mountains I’d climbed in my last adventure. Now at six months pregnant, my patterns are being named after places closer to home. Auldhouse is just down the road from my house and the location of a fantastic toddler group – how times change!

You can find out more and volunteer to test knit in my Ravelry Group, there's still plenty of sizes left! And if you don't use Ravelry, you can drop me an email at contact "at" littletheorem "dot" co "dot" uk to test via email.

Here's the latest progress on my Brocken Cardigan too:

All of the body and one sleeve are done, cannot wait for this to be finished! Just a second sleeve and a band of ribbing round the front to go. It's soooo soft and cosy, the ya​rn is Eden Cottage Yarns Titus Fingering (merino and silk) held together with Lowther Lace (suri alpaca and silk), super luxurious!

And finally, here's a bump pic for the week! 

This is my An Dùbhlachd Cardigan – very fitting for the time of year, An Dùbhlachd is Scottish Gaelic for December. In Irish Gaelic it’s Mí na Nollag, or Christmas Month, but in Scotland it literally translates into “The Blackness”. Perfectly descriptive for how dark it is at this time of year. With how far North we are and all the rain that sweeps in off the Atlantic there’s certainly very little natural light here. My studio lighting certainly comes in handy – I’d be able to take about three photos indoors from October to March without it!
 
The cardi itself is a big cosy wrap, mainly in garter stitch with some lace detail in the body, perfect for winter wear. The yarn is Black Elephant yarns dk in colourway “Charcoal” it’s a lovely workhorse yarn in gorgeous handdyed colours. It’s a really warm black if that makes any sense, with undertones of purple. 

My Garabato Cowl pattern is live! It's a mohair silk cowl with an unusual and beautiful stitch pattern. Measuring 38 cm x 140 cm/15” x 55”, so big enough to wrap around twice, using less than 50g of yarn, making this super quick to knit – perfect for gifting! For those of you reading this as it's hot off the press - there's a 50% coupon code valid until midnight on 10th April 2023 - it's GARABATO50.

I knit this up for my sister for her 40th birthday, I'm so lucky to have so many family and friends who like to receive handknitted gifts. I've been really loving lace mohair recently - I absolutely fell in love with the stitch in my Liathach Cowl and I'm planning a cardigan with a similar stitch pattern. I'm going to knit an oversized cropped version of my Dairsie Sweater with laceweight mohair and some 4ply silk yarn from The Urban Purl, hopefully to be released this Autumn. 

In case anyone's interested, here's the gritty details!
Suggested Yarn: Black Elephant Yarn Lace Mohair (72% mohair, 28% silk) 420 m/460 yds per 50g skein.
Colourway: Silver Lining
Meterage: 336 m
 Yardage: 368 yds
 Dimensions (Metric):
38 cm x 140 cm
 Dimensions (Imperial):
15” x 55”
Needles: 5 mm/US 8 80 cm/32” circular needle or as required to achieve gauge. We recommend sharp lace needles if using laceweight mohair.
 Gauge: 11 sts and 20 rows = 10 cm/4” with 5 mm/US 8 needle in garter stitch after blocking
 Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, marker for end of rnd, blocking wires, pins and blocking board for finishing

I've got a few test knits running at the moment too with spaces spare. On the left is my Dairsie Aran Cardigan and in the middle is my Pollokshaws. They're running in my Ravelry Group at the moment, but if you can't use Ravelry then click the contact button on my homepage to get in touch. On the far right is my Pollokshaws Cardigan which is coming soon, should hopefully be up to test this week sometime. Keep an eye on my instagram to find out when!

And on the needles this week is my Spring Snowfall Sweater. I'm absolutely loving knitting this up. Narrow twisted cables on  reverse stocking stitch just look fab in my opinion. Love how well they pop against the background. And the yarn from Black Elephant is just sublime! It's their Winter Fade in DK yarn and I am in love!!

We’ve just released our Glen Shiel Cardigan knitting pattern! It’s classic cardigan with a pretty lace pattern and a cosy shawl front. The lace pattern is simple and straightforward, and it knits up fast with DK yarn and larger needles. This is a perfect winter warmer – one you’ll want to snuggle up in every day! Available in eight sizes to fit bust from 30 – 60”.
 
This cardigan is worked in one piece from the hem up to the underarms, then stitches are divided and we work the two fronts and the back separately, then we rejoin fronts and back with a three needle bind off at the shoulder. Pick up stitches round the armhole for sleeves which are worked flat and seamed, and to finish off pick up stitches round the front of the cardigan for a shawl collar. Shown in size 85-90 cm/34-36” on a model with 34” bust.

Here's the nitty gritty details:
Yarn: Wool and the Gang Sugar Baby Alpaca (100% Baby Alpaca 116 m/127 yds per 50g) DK weight
Colourway: Margaux Red
Meterage 850 (950, 1125, 1290, 1500, 1690, 1930, 2150) m
Yardage 935 (1045, 1240, 1420, 1650, 1860, 2130, 2365) yds
 
Dimensions (Metric)
To fit bust: 75-80 (85-90, 95-100, 105-110, 115-120, 125-130, 135-140, 145-150) cm
Across Back: 40 (45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75) cm
Length Armpit to hem:46 (46, 49, 49, 52, 52, 55, 55) cm
Upper Arm Circumference: 30 (35, 35, 40, 40, 45, 45, 50) cm
Sleeve Length 48 (48, 51, 51, 54, 54, 57, 57) cm
 
Dimensions: (Imperial)
To fit bust: 30-32 (34-36, 38-40, 42-44, 46-48, 50-52, 54-56, 58-60)”
Across Back: 16 (18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30)”
Length Armpit to hem:18.5 (18.5, 19.75, 19.75, 22, 22, 23.25, 23.25)”
Upper Arm Circumference: 12 (14, 14, 16, 16, 18, 18, 20)”
Sleeve Length 19 (19, 20, 20, 21.5, 21.5, 23, 23)”
 
Needles: 5 mm/US 8, 100 cm/40” circular needle, set of 5 mm/US 8 DPNs or spare 5 mm/US 8 circular needle
 
Gauge: 16 sts and 26 rows = 4”/10 cm in main lace pattern after blocking.
 
Extras: Tapestry needle for weaving in loose ends, holder or waste yarn for holding live stitches.
 
It’s available on Etsy, Ravelry and here on our website.

We’ve also got a fab test knitting opportunity!

Dip in the Lily Pond is a pretty hat pattern in an unusual stitch pattern. A versatile knit with a wide range of sizes from newborn to adult large, and three colourwork options letting you create beautiful and unique hats for every occasion. Perfect for using mini skeins or leftover odds and ends of sock yarn too! The pattern uses dipped stitches which look just like waterlilies, hence the name of this pattern.
 
To find out more, visit our group on Ravelry. If you’d like to test knit but you’re avoiding Ravelry due to their ongoing issues with accessibility, please get in touch via email. Go to our homepage and click “contact” at the bottom of the screen.
 
For current test knitters, here’s the tutorial video:

We're looking for test knitters for two new patterns!

The first is our Steall Shawl.  
A gorgeous shawl with a beautifully simple lace design that’s so much fun to knit. We love how quick this is to knit in mainly garter stitch, with a stunning lace section that’s much easier than it looks! This scarf makes the most of a spectrum of mini skeins from River Knits yarns, but it would be a perfect way to use up odds and ends of 4 ply yarn too! The pattern is similar to our Bracklinn Crop so I named it after another Scottish waterfall. The Steall Waterfall is found in Glen Nevis, a stunning beauty spot near Scotland’s highest mountain. The colours match with a waterfall theme too!
 
Please note that we value inclusivity at Littletheorem Knits. We welcome all test knitters regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or yarn budget – knitting is for everyone!
 
If you’re interested, head over to our Ravelry Group to find out more! If you can't access Ravelry at the moment due to its new format, drop us an email by clicking the mail icon at the bottom of our homepage.

For current test knitters, here's a video showing how to work that one tricky stitch!

 Our second pattern up for testing is our Kingsbarns Baby Blanket.

A simple but addictive mosaic pattern that makes a beautiful heirloom baby blanket. If you’ve never made a mosaic knitting pattern before, you’ll soon find out how straightforward and satisfying it is.
Kingsbarns is a little coastal town near where I grew up. I spent hours as a child playing in the rockpools there. The blue green and white pattern reminds me of waves breaking on the rocky shore. But maybe I’m just getting nostalgic with a baby of my own on the way!

Again, if you’re interested, head over to our Ravelry Group to find out more! It's available to test in three different sizes. If you can't access Ravelry at the moment due to its new format, drop us an email by clicking the mail icon at the bottom of our homepage.

We've just released our latest pattern - Bracklinn Crop! It's a super cute cropped tee worked from the top down with an "easier than it looks" lace pattern. Designed for mini-skein sets or leftover sock yarn - with detailed instructions on using more/fewer colours.

It's available in nine sizes too, to fit busts from 28" - 62", and it's been thoroughly tech edited and test knitted.

It's available here on our website and also on Etsy and Ravelry - use coupon code BRACKLINN50 for a 50% discount until midnight (GMT) on Wednesday 5th Aug.

We've got a few new test knits on the go at the moment too! One's sweet and simple children’s sweater with zigzag colourwork detailing. Worked from the top down using a yoked construction, this straightforward knit is totally seamless. Available in 9 sizes to fit newborns to 11 year olds:

The next is a worsted weight version of our classic winter warmer, Courie In. It's got a slightly unusual construction. Sleeves are knitted first from cuff to centre back, then both sleeves are joined with a three needle bind off. Stitches are picked up at the bottom edge from underarm to underarm and worked down to the hem to form the back. Then stitches are picked up round the front to form the garter stitch wrap front. There's instructions for nine sizes to fit busts from 26” to 60”/65 to 150 cm, and I'm looking for two testers per size ideally.

Apart from all this knitting I've been trying to chill out and enjoy month seven of pregnancy! Not always easy when your back's aching and you can't sleep due to a baby practicing for future dance-offs in the womb! Here's a bump pic, again modelling my new design Worsted Courie In!

The weather here in Glasgow's been pretty poor, even by Scottish standards! But still managed a bit of time out in the garden, there's quite a lot of veg still growing and the sweet peas are thriving!