Author: Tess Young

New Pattern Release: The Giro Cowl

July 30, 2026

Hello, today I want to introduce you to a new pattern release, the Giro Cowl. Sometimes the thing you most need in your wardrobe is the simplest of accessories, the one that goes with everything. Something that can be as neutral or as colourfully uplifting as you want. Sometimes as a knitter the thing you most need on your needles is also the simplest of patterns that allows the gentle meditative repetition of stitch after … More New Pattern Release: The Giro Cowl

New Pattern Release: The Clarissa Socks

June 30, 2026

I’m so pleased to be able to share with you my new pattern release, The Clarissa socks, today the last day of June for a number of reasons. New pattern releases are always exciting, but this one is even more so given it is named for Virginia Woolf’s fictional character, Clarissa Dalloway, who hosts perhaps the most famous party in modern literature in June. In the UK, Dallowday is celebrated on 16th June, while here … More New Pattern Release: The Clarissa Socks

Crafting wellbeing – Inspiring projects and the latest research

May 8, 2026

Today I’m stopping by to share an event I went to last week and to share some of the resources from it. I’m sure it’s a subject many of you here will share my interest in; the wellbeing benefits of crafting. It may come as a surprise to any active crafter that there’s any doubt about such benefits, but there are some people out there (hint, probably non-crafters) who still don’t get it. The event … More Crafting wellbeing – Inspiring projects and the latest research

Introducing the Ancient Grain inspired Verna Cowl

April 17, 2026

I’ve been enjoying designing with twisted stitches lately, their crisp three dimensional structure gives both excellent stitch definition and allows them to stand proud against a background. The first of these two features, the crisp stitch definition, is evident in the recently released Lucrezia socks and an as yet unreleased sock pattern that I’m really looking forward to sharing with you in the future. The second feature, prominence against a background, is something I’ve explored … More Introducing the Ancient Grain inspired Verna Cowl

The Textiles of Tracey Emin at Tate Modern

March 31, 2026

Almost 30 years ago Tracey Emin became a household name with her provocative art and equally provocative personality. She and her contemporaries challenged the art establishment and Emin challenged patriarchal attitudes way beyond the art world and became an exemplary voice challenging the status quo. In the intervening years her art has retained that challenge, it is at once incredibly personal, totally unapologetic and totally liberating. It often feels like painful scream, but it always … More The Textiles of Tracey Emin at Tate Modern