Oh my, but isn't this pretty? And warm and cosy and soft. Sigh. Another lovely design from 100% Rain aka Veera Valimaki.

I am loving the delicate cables, the reverse stocking stitch, the seamless construction and the way the alpaca yarn has a slight halo and a silky sheen. I confess I am less sure about the cowl neckline, only because it's the type of design element that looks great but can be annoying to get under a coat. I'd be tempted to adapt it to just a deep band of garter stitch without the rollover.

Also, I haven't used alpaca in a seamless, aran-weight sweater before. Would it stretch too much? Be too heavy? I love the generous sleeves but would they end up reaching to my fingertips? Hmm, I won't be able to start this for a while so will probably lurk on Ravelry and see what other yarn combos people come up with!

You can find the pattern over here:

http://100-rain.blogspot.com/2011/11/white-light.html

Some of you may recognise this from its previous incarnation as the Carrot Cardigan in a Knitscene 2009 collection from Hannah Fettig, but it's not one I had come across before.

It's simple, it's cosy, it's a perfect example of the power of a mahoosive button band (without buttons). Love it. You can find the pattern over here on the Knitbot site:

http://knitbot.com/2011/11/04/introducing-autumnal/

We all know I'm a sucker for a seamless yoke jumper, and this one adds a little simple colourwork for interest and fulfills my craving for a big cosy bag of a sweater for curling up on the sofa or pootling about at the weekends. (Ed: Is pootle an actual word? Really? Ok then, as you were).

The sample is knit with one strand of worsted and one strand of mohair, but on 5.5mm and 6.5mm needles I think you could use a heavy aran or chunky yarn and this kind of pattern is a little more forgiving when it comes to yarn subsitution. The grey colour combo here stops the hearts looking too cutesy, but you could easily go for something brighter, or use it as a stash-busting opportunity.

It's a very simple pattern, there's no shaping, and only one round of decreases just before the ribbed neckline. Not everyone is a fan of wide necklines, and with a heavy, seamless jumper there's the risk it will pull itself down off your shoulders, so I'd be tempted to play around with a couple of short rows after the hearts, and ensure that the ribbing and bind off are tight. You can always reinforce it with a crochet chain if necessary.

It would be easy to add some waist shaping if you wanted to, though personally I like the big and baggy look. This would be my snow day jumper, or my I-have-a-cold-and-I'm-staying-on-the-sofa-watching-crap-tv-and-knitting jumper.

The L/XL size is free, or you can buy the S/M for $2: http://www.pickles.no/i-3-me-sweater/

Ah, 'tis the season. Yes indeed, holiday knitting is upon us, and Vogue have released their Holiday 2011 edition. As one would expect, it contains a wonderful mixture of the sublime and the ridiculous. Whilst I will not be knitting a giant stocking cap anytime soon, nor a hat with wings, and I am lost as to the appeal of a bulky skirt with bobbles and giant bows, there are other patterns on offer here that get my needles twitching.

The Mitred Stripe Top is, despite its fanciful name, a mitred stripe top. Echoing the classic shape and look of a Breton t-shirt, it has an interesting construction with an exaggerated raglan forming the shape of the yoke. With loose sleeves and relaxed fit, it looks casual but in a slightly preppy, sail boat kind of way. I confess it doesn't really strike me as a Holiday jumper; in fact it's closer to Spring and I'm sure would be lovely in a smooth cotton yarn. But I like the fact that it's playing with a relatively simple technique to give it a twist, and I think you could have a lot of fun with colour combinations.

The likewise imaginitively titled Structured Jacket is a sideways knit with a garter stitch peplum and shawl collar. Nipping in at the waist with a couple of pretty buttons, it's a flattering shape and ideal for layering over a Christmas party dress. I'm not usually a fan of variegated yarn in a sweater, but the construction means the striping effect runs vertically, which helps, and I think this is one that would put a special yarn or hand-dyed colour to good use.

You can see all the patterns in the magazine here: http://www.vogueknitting.com/magazine/holiday_2011_fashion_preview.aspx

I am ignoring the fact that we are in the midst of a heatwave, with blue skies, sunshine and temperatures of 28 degrees. I was just getting into the swing of Autumn, looking forward to getting out my cosy knits, and Mother Nature pulls a fast one. But, lovely as it is, I won't be fooled by this late season trickery. Before you know it we'll be reaching for the woolens and debating whether to switch the heating on. And when this happens I will be prepared. Oh yes.

Vaila is a Twist Collective pattern from a couple of years ago, designed by Gudrun Johnston. Since her Audrey cardigan is one of the best-written patterns I have ever used (and one of the few I have made twice) and her recent Levenwick has people all a-flutter, I think it's a fair guess this one will be a joy to make as well.

I have a complete mental block against knitting jumpers in pieces at the moment. Partly because I know I get fed-up and petulant whilst knitting them and lose interest; partly because I like being able to get a sense of how it's going to fit while I'm knitting along and partly because I simply don't like seaming. But thankfully this is knit in the round from the bottom up.

I love that, whilst the shape is fairly close-fitting and flattering, the body is long over the hips, and the sleeves easily reach your hands. Put together with a generous polo neck (or turtle neck, for those using American English) it's just the thing for keeping toasty warm this winter. The pretty lace panels add some interest without being too demanding and at this gauge I imagine it flies off the needles.

The sample is knit in Malabrigo Worsted, which is incredibly soft and cosy and comes in dozens of delicious colours to brighten up a grey morning, however I'm not sure it wears very well? Either way, a worsted yarn in this kind of jumper should be fairly easy to substitute if necessary. You can buy the pattern and see more pictures on the Twist Collective website:

http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/130-vaila-by-gudrun-johnston