Author: Rebecca Willis

Having been knitting for over 15 years and crocheting (or hooking!) for more than 10, I’ve squished my fair share of yarn, used a variety of different hooks and needles, and made up patterns from a wide range of designers!

So I thought I’d share with you a few of my favourites. Of course, these are just my preferences and may not suit you! But if you’re looking for something new, then why not try one or two of my suggestions…

YARNS

One of my utmost favourite (more luxurious) brands for yarn is Juniper Moon Farm, particularly their Findlay Dappled, which is a gorgeous silk and merino wool blend. As a finer yarn, its perfect for lacy shawls. And some of the colourways are just awesome!

If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, you can’t go wrong with Drops yarn in my opinion. They have a range of different fibres and colours and are all easy on the purse!

In terms of fibre, I absolutely love alpaca yarns, either solely alpaca or blended with wool. I think part of this stems from my obsession with the animals, and their ability to decide whether or not they get pregnant! But also, the alpaca fibres are much softer than wool, and warmer too! They are also hypoallergenic and resist pilling, so win-win. Some great alpaca yarns are Drops Alpaca or West Yorkshire Spinners Illustrious.

HOOKS/NEEDLES

My personal preference is for wooden knitting needles – and I’m a sucker for anything pretty and rainbow colours. (If you know me, this won’t surprise you!) So my needles of choice are KnitPro Symfonie – just look at those stripes! They are also just fabulous to knit with, a soft click and the stitches move easily around on them.

As for crochet hooks, I have to admit that I’ve not yet delved into the world of luxury hooks. You can find lots of beautiful hooks on Etsy, made from polymer clay, but having found the hooks that I use now, I am hesitant to move away from something that feels so nice to work with! I pretty much exclusively use the Drops Pro Circus hooks now, as they have a soft silicone coating and are the right length for my hands.

DESIGNERS

The knitting and crochet world is full of amazing designers who create the most stunning patterns! I have tried to pick a few out who I love for different reasons.

Stephen West does some really amazing work with colour and texture in his patterns. He is known for his mystery knit a long shawls, which have all been just stunning!

Joji Locatelli takes classic shapes and patterns and adds her unique style to them. I particularly love her “Like a cloud” cardigan.

Woolly Wormhead hats are really lovely to knit and look stunning. I love how they include waves in the patterns.

Jacki Badger has some incredible lacework in her designs, and isn’t shy of a subtle rainbow! She gets a massive tick from me.

I also create my own patterns – which are mostly accessible to beginners. You can find them here.

What are your favourites from the yarny world? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

I have always marvelled at knitters. I haven’t always been the Yarny Bees knitter and designer I am now! Since I was a very young child it’s a skill I have been aware of, and indeed my family is (perhaps unsurprisingly) full of people who can knit well! Throughout my childhood both my Grandma and my Nanna had tried, with varying success, to teach me when I asked. But somehow it never stuck!

The way the needles moved in their hands, even without them watching what they were doing, the sound as the needles gently clicked together, the surprising speed something new appeared from the ball of yarn at their feet. It’s forever been something I associated with family. Memories of time spent with them are intertwined with memories of crafting. I vividly remember Grandma and Nan (my great grandmother) tag team knitting. They would both work on the same garment, taking turns. Their tensions matched perfectly. I’d love to have this sort of craft relationship with someone! Especially if they loved different parts of the process to me!

Finally, age 19, I had a project in mind. A friend of mine was newly pregnant and I was determined to knit her a baby blanket. I spent the summer down in Cornwall, where my ever loving, ever patient Grandma finally taught me to knit. The blanket I made was the first proper knitting I ever did. It was made with love and determination, but VERY UGLY! I still this friend a couple of times a year, and was surprised to hear that she has kept the dodgy blanket. Perhaps more out of sentimentality for her son as a baby, and knowing it was made with love!

From there I had the bug, and I would knit whenever I had the chance. Smaller projects for myself and others, including a black hat with cat ears, requested by my now husband. We still have it in a drawer, a piece of our history, despite not being worn anymore. I view all my makes as part of my crafter history, telling the story of my learning, my development and my mental health.

Knitting has remained with me ever since. I have knitted items for my own children now, and my niece. It isn’t often I spend an evening “yarn-free”, but my husband doesn’t seem to mind. At least now I can finally knit without constantly looking! I find that the clicking of my needles (or the movement of my hook, but more on the crochet another time!) takes me to a place away from the constant noise of my mind, away from the never-ending jobs list. This is part of the reason I started The Craft Hive, to allow others to feel that sense of calm and peace that crafting can bring.

I lost my Grandma over a year ago, but I like to think that I have kept a piece of her with me in my knitting. Every item I make has some of her knitted into it. She was excited to hear about the advent of Yarny Bees, and I know that she would be proud of what I am building. I’m also passing little pieces of her on to all those who come to one of my workshops, sharing the love and passion that both she and I have for knitting.