Sarah Winsper
Digital Assistant, Simply Knitting and The Knitter
Sarah has been knitting for as long as she can remember, and spends her working days thinking about yarn as Digital Assistant for Simply Knitting and The Knitter. She’s also a knitting designer with a passion for making cosy accessories – you can check out her latest patterns on Ravelry. Sarah has more than 10 years’ experience in the publishing industry, starting as author of The Good Nutrition Guide, and working on magazines including 3D World and The Simple Things. When she’s not in the office you’ll usually find her snuggled up on the sofa with a cup of tea, a packet of biscuits and her latest craft project.
Recent articles by Sarah Winsper
6 easy ways to cast on knitting
Discover everything you need to know about adding your first stitches to the needle with our how to cast on knitting guide.
17 cosy scarf knitting patterns you can make this weekend
Scarves make great gifts, and we've found the best free scarf knitting patterns you can make for yourself or someone special.
17 knit and purl patterns to try today
Learn new stitches and create your own knitting designs with our collection of beginner-friendly knit and purl stitch patterns.
Learn the lingo with our glossary of knitting terms
Learn the lingo with our guide to the knitting phrases you might see online or hear at knit night. From frogging to Fair Isle, we explain them all!
The best yarn for baby blankets and clothes in 2025: treat the little ones in your life
Choosing the right yarn for your project is especially important when knitting for little ones, so check out our top baby yarn picks for 2025.
Slip stitch knitting: beginner's guide and 18 stitch patterns
Learn how to slip stitches to create beautiful colourwork and textural effects. Plus browse our library of slip stitch knitting patterns.
How to darn a hole
Patching and mending expert Tom of Holland shows you how to fix a small hole in your knitting using a traditional stocking darn.
Free bobble hat knitting pattern
Master your cables and keep warm this winter with our free bobble hat knitting pattern.
Moss stitch scarf pattern
Wrap up in stripes of squishy moss stitch with this scarf pattern from Sarah Winsper. Easy to knit, it's a great project for beginners.
How to decrease in knitting: ssk, k2tog and more
Decreases reduce the number of stitches in your knitting and narrow the shape. Jim Arnall-Culliford explains six different knitting decreases you can try.
Embellish your knits with Swiss darning
Add small details to your knitting or fix minor mistakes in colourwork by duplicate stitching using this easy-to-learn embroidery technique.
DIY quick-knit owl mittens
You’ll have a hoot making these knitted fingerless gloves by Amanda Jones! Cast them on today with our fantastic free pattern.
Rib stitch beginner's guide plus 24 stitch patterns to try!
Alternate between knits and purls to create stretchy ribbing. Learn the basics and try out some new rib stitch patterns with our guide.
Free pattern | Premature baby hat
Knit a textured hat for premature babies with this pattern from Sirdar, free as part of UK Hand Knitting's Commit to Knit charity campaign.
Yarn weights | All you need to know
Bookmark our handy yarn weight conversion chart, explore the difference between DK and aran weight yarn and choose the right needles for your yarn
Knit to raise funds | Free poppy knitting pattern
Knit a Remembrance Day poppy with our collection of free poppy knitting patterns, including easy designs for beginners
7 Fair Isle vest knitting patterns to download now
In the mood for some stranded colourwork? Cast on one of Mary Henderson's beautiful women's tank tops and waistcoats today.
Stocking stitch (stockinette stitch) for beginners: all you need to know
Stocking stitch forms the basis of most knitting and is easy to make using knit and purl stitches. Follow our guide to learn how it's done…
How to cable knit: beginner's guide and 24 cable stitch patterns
It's easy to create twists and cables in your knitted projects – in this guide we explain how. Plus discover new cable patterns with our stitch library.
Take your stitching to another dimension with these 3D cross stitch patterns
Make 3D scenes, decorations and more with these fun and fabulous cross stitch models.
Make your own pipe cleaner animals using just two materials!
Pipe cleaner animals are easy and fun to make for all ages. Follow our guide to bend, twist and shape an octopus, turtle and snake!
This otter cross stitch kit is the cutest gift for a nursery
With everything you need to create one of three designs, this otterly adorable kit will keep you entertained for hours
'It's a delight to use' We tested Tom’s Studio Original Flourish Oblique Calligraphy Pen
Whether you're new to calligraphy or you've been practising for years, you'll love writing with this beautifully crafted tool.
This refillable pen from Tom's Studio is a must-have for stationary lovers
The Wren from Tom's Studio is a refillable, reusable writing tool that's designed to replace disposable pens. Read on to find out whether to make the switch
