Juliet Bernard, editor of The Knitter, confesses all about her growing obsession with felting.

I am becoming increasingly obsessed by felting.  I mean the deliberate kind rather than the terrible accident that shrinks your favourite jumper to the size of a teddy bear garment – very upsetting.

You need to choose a yarn with animal fibres in because it is the combination of hot water and agitation that causes the fibres to swell up and catch on each other to make felt. 

Issue 41 of The Knitter is out today, crammed with innovative patterns and useful advice to help you build on your creative knitting skills.

It’s a big commitment to knit a garment in a yarn you are unfamiliar with, so if you are a little unsure, then hopefully this issue – which is full of accessories and smaller projects – will give you the opportunity to try something new. For example, the little ‘Blyth’ shawl by Kitman Figueroa has already found its way on to editor Juliet’s needles: “She is a designer we have been eager to work with, and I’m excited to be knitting one of her patterns.”

Have you knitted a garment or accessory that you are particularly proud of? Over at The Knitter we’ve been admiring the many  gorgeous knitted items appearing on our readers’ Ravelry profiles and in our knitting groups, and we would love to share them with other readers by publishing the pictures in our magazine.

Whether it’s a design from one of our issues, from your favourite designer’s latest book, or a download from Ravelry, we’d love to print one of your photos in our ‘In The Loop’ reader gallery, along with a few lines from you about your experience of knitting and wearing the piece, as reader Janki Cunnington (pictured left) did.

Amy Last from Deramores shares news of the online yarn store’s exciting competition.

Deramores has caught up with renowned knitwear designer Debbie Bliss to give three lucky winners a chance to win a signed copy of one of her popular books, such as The Knitter's Year. Autographed by the renowned knitwear designer herself, this is a prize to truly treasure!

As huge fans of the Debbie Bliss range, staff at Deramores were excited to have the chance to ask the talented designer where she finds her inspiration, as well as a whole host of other questions. Debbie’s answers can be found on Deramores' social media pages throughout this week.