Two Pattern Books Released: Tin Can Knit's Mad Colour & Ann Kingstone's Tup Knits

It's a colourful week on the blog. Earlier in the week I reviewed Woolly Wormhead's Painted Woolly Toppers for Kids and on 15th September Canada/Scotland duo Tin Can Knits released their print and ebook Mad Colour.

Image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

Ravelry shows all sixteen patterns in the collection. Three look familiar - their popular POP blanket, first released in 2012, makes an appearance; there's the gorgeous Wenlock jumper that the company sell kits for, and was originally published in Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 10; and the Bounce Blanket, which was previously sold as a kit on their sister website Rainbow Heirloom.

The rest are a riot of colour, from the Polygon blanket:

Image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

To the spotlight sweater, sized from baby to adult:

Image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

The Triptych mitts for the colder weather to come:

Image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

And the summery Slice shawl.

Image courtesy of Tin Can Knits

Confusingly the book is priced in US dollars: on Ravelry $23 for the print and ebook and $18 for the digital version only. Knitters who have previously bought the patterns for Wenlock, POP and Bounce may feel slightly cheated for paying for them again but Mad Colour is worth it, particularly as Tin Can Knit's USP is to include sizes from baby to adult, making their patterns multi-functional.


Ann Kingstone's Tup Knits

Meanwhile Yorkshire-based designer Ann Kingstone has taken inspiration for her latest collection from all things sheepish.

Image courtesy of Ann Kingstone

I haven't seen a review copy of the ebook and therefore can't comment on the patterns but the photos are tantalising. Tup Knits contains seven patterns: two adult sweaters, a child's cardigan, socks, a hat, cowl and fingerless mittens.

The Drover socks look fabulous:

Image courtesy of Ann Kingstone

And the hat and cowl make a fun pair:

Image courtesy of Ann Kingstone

Ann Kingstone says that also included are "clearly illustrated tutorials for crochet provisional cast-on, lifted increases, two-handed stranded knitting, trapping floats, slip-stitch seek reinforcement, picking up stitches next to a steak, and wrap and turn short rows."

The word 'steek' pierces my heart with fear, but at some point I have to bite the bullet and learn how to cut my knitting effectively!

Image courtesy of Ann Kingstone

I'm liking the sheep motif on the cardigans, which reminds me of the current trend for yokes as seen in Kate Davies' book Yokes. and Ella Gordon's Crofthoose Yoke sweater. If sheep aren't for you then you might want to give this one a miss, but I think Tup Knits is a fun collection from Kingstone, who designs from her home county of Yorkshire.

The ebook costs £12 but until 30th September there's a 20 per cent discount off the ebook using the code OVINE when buying Tup Knits on Ravelry.


Kate Davies future patterns hint

In her latest blog post Kate Davies has dropped a hint about her next collection following The Book of Haps. Davies' patterns, hailing from the Scottish countryside, are perennially popular. I didn't buy her haps book because I don't have an interest in wearing one, but I am looking forward to seeing what her next collection has to offer. She says in her blog post called Collection Photoshoot, accompanied by a photo of her and her husband Tom taken in Islay:

"We've been hard at work all summer preparing my new collection, and we are now off to photograph it in one of our favourite places. The collection is a mix of garments and accessories and (as it seems to be something of a trend at the moment: half are sized and designed for both men and women."

We look forward to seeing the photos Kate!