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Machine Knitting with Busy Bee Basics

New Books

page updated 21/02/2009

Exhibition update - Bournemouth 7th March 2009; Nottingham 5th April 2009

Order Form Update - Order by email and pay with Paypal

Two new helpful books from Busy Bee	This week's featured Busy Bee Designs
Book 205	Book 83
Making A Textured Scarf £4	Rhuddlan Castle - Garter Carriage £4
You choose the stitch pattern, you choose the yarn - you can even choose the machine (our examples are based on a standard gauge, but any machine can be used) - if you know how many stitches and rows there are to 10cm you can make a scarf with confidence! There is something extra in this book, something which newer knitters especially will enjoy, as instructions are given for multi colour tuck stitch and partial pin tucks. Multi colour tuck stitch is a simple way to add both colour and texture to the fabric, whilst partial pin tucks can be used on any machine - even machines that can only do plain knitting - to add bands of texture, thickness and weight to the fabric, easily.	The weather in March and April is always changeable; one moment its all daffodils and spring sunshine, the next its blizzards and snowdrifts. But the days are longer and a bit brighter and the shops are full of printed cotton tops and skirts, so I've looked through our collection of garter carriage designs to find one book that just might cope with whatever the climate throws at us whilst also looking forward to warmer, brighter times. The three designs in this book are all knitted in Yeoman Panama, a good mid-season yarn with its mix of cotton and Acrylic and a range of colours from cool and pastel to bright and jewel. Choose from a cap sleeved top with a sweetheart neckline, V neck top with short or long sleeves or a round neck jumper with a border pattern which can be adapted to give three different textured effects. Sizes are from 30"/32" to 44"/46".
Book 206	Book 12
Making Cushion Covers £2	Summer Collection £4
These quick and easy cushion covers can be made on any machine with any yarn and any stitch pattern. The cushion covers in Book 206 are each made from just one piece of fabric - what could be easier? Guides are given for making a ribbed cushion with a nautical colour theme and a summer meadow cushion and, of course, fair isle and textured patterns can all be used. Another option is to use the textured designs from Book 205, Making A Textured Scarf, for a modern look. More experienced knitters can easily add trims and fastenings to complete their own designs. These cushion covers are not just for the living room - use them for dining chair pads, workroom chair or wheelchair cushion covers, too.	Sometimes the classics are just the right thing for these changeable weeks and, although Book 12 is called Summer Collection, the 4 ply Acrylic or Yeoman Panama designs will be warm to wear but forward-looking to the spring season. If you have a Brother machine you could make the fine lace, square necked top; a classic designs but also very modern, which would sit well under the shawl collared cardigan. Although the two lace designs in the book are written for Brother machines, experienced knitters using other machines can usually find similar stitch designs that will knit to much the same tension. Also included in the pattern book is a classic V neck sweater or summer top knitted in Yeoman Panama. The sweater has semi-set in sleeves and an optional 24 stitch border design; just select the short sleeve option to make a spring or summer top. Sizes are 34"-40" in this book, but other pattern books have designs which go up to size 48"/50"
	This is the cover of the September 2008 issue of Machine Knitting Monthly - heralding a completely new, fresh look to the magazine. It's not just the cover, either! Every page is now in colour, patterns have their own section, as have newsy items and articles, and the result is really inspiring. As the knitting season is just about to begin (although with the weather in Manchester I think summer has been and gone!) this is going to be a magazine to really look forward to every month. Machine Knitting Monthly is often to be found on the magazine shelves in W H Smith, but if you can't wait until your next forage to the nearest store, you can always go to Machine Knitting Monthly's website at www.machineknittingmonthly.net/

GALLERY

All our book covers on one page

Busy Bee Basics

Machine knitting patterns that are clearly written and easy to follow. Designed, written and published in the UK by Busy Bee Basics

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Busy Bee's Pattern List

83 pattern books listed in numerical order - that's over 300 exclusive designs!
Click on a thumbnail to see all the patterns in the book

Garter Carriage Designs

Browse through Busy Bee's exclusive garter carriage designs
Bold designs or subtle texture - let your garter carriage do all the work

Standard Gauge Designs

Suitable for Brother, Knitmaster/Silver and Toyota machines
Stocking stitch, tuck, slip, fair isle and ribs for all machines, lace patterns for Brother

Chunky Machine Designs

Four books of classic designs
Use modern, fashionable yarns in double knit or aran weight hand knitting yarns to ring the changes

Helpful Books

Cut & Sew Necklines
Your Knitleader Explained - in Plain English
Busy Bee's Guide to the Garter Carriage

Ponchos and Wraps

Follow these instructions to make your own, individual, ponchos and wraps
Use your own choice of yarn and stitch pattern

Soft Furnishings

Cushion covers, delectable texture using double knit yarn on the garter carriage
Cushion covers, using coordinating colours and the standard gauge machine

Cut & Sew Neckline Templates

In book format - no lost templates!
Instructions included
Each neckline graded by garment size
Easy to customise
Simply trace, sew & cut
Infinitely reusable

Busy Bee's Guide to the Garter Carriage

Extra help for new users
Help with buttonholes
Untangling knots
When things go wrong
Maintenance tips

Your Knitleader Explained - In Plain English

For the Brother Knitleader only - built in or accessory (KL116) models
Set up the Knitleader
Knit and measure the tension square
Select the stitch scales
Knit the garment

Charts for your Knitleader

Trace these shapes onto your Brother mylar sheet
Ideal for customising to get the perfect fit
Easy to make design changes

Disks for Brother Disk Drive

Formatted for the Brother FB100 Disk Drive
Check the lists to see which disks match which books

Designaknit Disks

Compatible with DK6 & DK7
Designed with the correct texture settings for trouble free garter carriage knitting
Check the lists to see which disks match which books