Knit Now 34: Everything You Need to Know About This Beloved Issue
There is something quietly magical about sitting down with a new issue of Knit Now. The magazine has built a devoted following over the years, and Knit Now 34 stands out as one of those issues that knitters return to again and again. Whether you stumbled across it in a craft shop, inherited it from a friend, or tracked it down online after hearing about a particular pattern, this issue has something genuinely special to offer. In this deep dive, we’ll explore what makes Knit Now 34 so memorable, walk through the kinds of projects and techniques it covers, and help you get the most out of every page.
What Is Knit Now Magazine?
Before we get into the specifics of issue 34, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate what Knit Now is and why it has earned such loyalty among the knitting community. Published in the UK, Knit Now is a monthly knitting magazine aimed at enthusiastic knitters of all levels. It combines original patterns, technique tutorials, yarn reviews, designer profiles, and practical advice into an approachable, beautifully presented package.
Unlike some craft publications that pitch themselves exclusively at beginners or exclusively at advanced knitters, Knit Now strikes a balance. It offers patterns with a range of difficulty levels in each issue, meaning a newer knitter can work on something achievable while a more experienced knitter in the same household can tackle something technically demanding. That inclusivity is one of the magazine’s greatest strengths, and it’s very much on display in issue 34.
The magazine also has a strong community feel. Readers are encouraged to share their finished projects, write in with tips, and participate in discussions that run across multiple issues. Knitting is, at its heart, a social craft, and Knit Now has always understood that. Issue 34 is no exception.
The Patterns in Knit Now 34
The patterns are the heart of any knitting magazine, and Knit Now 34 delivers a rich and varied selection. The issue tends to reflect the season it was published for, so the garments and accessories feel timely and wearable rather than abstract exercises in craft.
Sweaters and Cardigans
One of the highlights any knitter looks forward to in Knit Now is the garment patterns, particularly sweaters and cardigans. Issue 34 features designs that sit comfortably in the space between classic and contemporary. You’ll find shapes that work with modern wardrobes — relaxed silhouettes, thoughtful stitch combinations, and construction methods that feel satisfying to work through.
The sweater patterns in this issue are notable for their clear sizing information. Knit Now has always been attentive to size inclusivity, and issue 34 continues that commitment by offering a generous range of sizes with detailed measurements so knitters can choose the right fit for their body rather than adapting on the fly.
For knitters who are newer to garment construction, the patterns include guidance on shaping, seaming, and finishing that goes beyond a bare-bones abbreviation list. The instructions are written in a way that anticipates common sticking points and addresses them within the pattern itself, which is a genuinely useful touch.
Accessories and Quick Knits
Not every knitting session is a multi-month project commitment, and Knit Now 34 understands that. The issue includes a range of smaller projects — hats, cowls, mittens, and other accessories — that can be completed in a weekend or even in a single evening if you’re using chunkier yarn weights.
These quick knits serve a dual purpose. On one hand, they’re perfect for gifts, charity knitting, or simply the satisfaction of finishing something. On the other hand, many of them are cleverly designed to introduce or reinforce a technique. A hat that seems simple might incorporate an interesting decrease method at the crown. A cowl might feature a stitch pattern that looks complicated but is actually a four-row repeat that becomes rhythmic and almost meditative once you’ve got the hang of it.
The accessories in issue 34 also make excellent practice pieces for knitters who want to try a new yarn before committing it to a larger project. Working a hat or pair of mitts in a yarn lets you understand its drape, stitch definition, and how it feels in your hands before you invest weeks or months into a sweater made from it.
Home and Gift Projects
Knit Now has always understood that knitting isn’t only about wearables, and issue 34 includes projects for the home and for gifting. These might include cushion covers, decorative items, or practical objects that bring warmth and texture into a living space. Home knits are a wonderful category because they allow for experimentation with color, texture, and structure in a lower-stakes context than, say, a fitted garment.
Gift projects are particularly popular in issues that align with seasonal gifting periods. The patterns in this category tend to be compact and achievable, designed to be made in batches or completed within a reasonable time frame, which makes them practical as well as beautiful.
Techniques and Tutorials
One of the things that sets Knit Now apart from simply buying pattern books is the editorial content that sits alongside the patterns. Issue 34 includes tutorials and technique guides that help knitters grow their skills rather than simply following instructions.
Stitch Patterns and Texture
Knit Now 34 places real emphasis on texture and how different stitch combinations create completely different effects even within the same yarn and needle combination. Understanding why a seed stitch lies flat while a stockinette fabric curls, or why moss stitch creates a different drape than ribbing, gives knitters the knowledge to modify patterns confidently and eventually design their own.
The tutorials in this issue break down the mechanics of various stitch patterns with clear diagrams and step-by-step photography. This is particularly helpful for knitters who are visual learners or who struggle to parse written knitting instructions. Seeing a technique demonstrated across several photographs makes it much easier to replicate correctly at home.
Shaping and Construction
Garment construction is one of the areas where many knitters feel uncertain, and Knit Now 34 addresses this directly. The issue includes guidance on how shaping works — how decreases and increases are placed to create a fitted sleeve cap, how short rows can be used to add depth to a shoulder or shape a collar, and how to read the finished measurements of a pattern alongside its schematic.
Understanding construction means you’re not just following a recipe but genuinely understanding what each step is doing and why. This knowledge pays dividends across every project you knit for the rest of your life. A knitter who understands why a raglan sleeve creates a certain fit is better equipped to choose between raglan and set-in construction for a future project, or to alter an existing pattern to suit their measurements.
Finishing Techniques
Finishing is the stage that separates a finished object from a truly polished piece, and Knit Now has always been excellent at taking this seriously. Issue 34 covers blocking, seaming, and the picking up of stitches for neckbands and button bands with the kind of thoroughness that helps knitters achieve results they’re genuinely proud of.
Blocking, in particular, is covered with the care it deserves. Many newer knitters skip blocking or are uncertain about how to do it correctly for different fiber types. Wool behaves differently from cotton, which behaves differently from acrylic or silk blends, and understanding how to block each effectively can transform the appearance of a finished piece. The guidance in issue 34 covers wet blocking, steam blocking, and spray blocking, explaining when to use each and what results to expect.
Yarn and Materials
Knit Now 34, like all issues of the magazine, makes thoughtful yarn recommendations for each pattern. The magazine works with a wide range of yarn companies and is careful to recommend yarns that are genuinely well-suited to each design rather than simply promoting whatever is available.
Understanding Yarn Weight and Substitution
One of the most common questions knitters have is how to substitute yarn when the recommended yarn is unavailable, discontinued, or simply outside their budget. Issue 34 addresses this practically, explaining what to look for when choosing a substitute — matching the weight and ply, checking the recommended gauge, considering fiber content and how it will affect drape and stitch definition, and always swatching before committing.
Swatching is a topic Knit Now treats with respect rather than dismissiveness. The magazine consistently emphasizes that a gauge swatch is not a bureaucratic formality but a genuine tool for ensuring your finished object matches the intended dimensions. Issue 34 reinforces this with clear explanations of how to measure a swatch correctly and how to adjust needle size if your gauge doesn’t match.
Fiber Choices and Their Properties
Beyond the specific yarns recommended for each pattern, issue 34 includes content that helps knitters understand fiber properties more broadly. Wool, merino, Shetland, alpaca, cashmere, cotton, linen, bamboo, silk — each brings different qualities to the knitting experience and the finished fabric. Understanding these properties helps knitters make better purchasing decisions and choose the right fiber for each project’s intended use.
A cozy winter sweater might call for the warmth and elasticity of a good wool. A summer top benefits from the breathability and drape of cotton or linen. A baby garment might use a superwash wool or cotton that can be machine washed. These considerations matter enormously in the long run, and the educational content in Knit Now 34 helps knitters think through them clearly.
The Community and Editorial Content
Beyond the patterns and tutorials, Knit Now 34 contains the kind of editorial content that makes a magazine feel like a conversation with a community of fellow enthusiasts rather than just a collection of instructions.
Designer Profiles
Knit Now regularly features profiles of the designers whose work appears in the magazine. These profiles humanize the creative process and give readers insight into how patterns are conceived, developed, and refined. Understanding that a designer spent months working through different construction methods before arriving at the one that appears in print gives readers a deeper appreciation of what they’re working with.
Issue 34’s designer content is particularly engaging, offering glimpses into different creative processes and the diverse inspirations that lead to finished patterns. Some designers draw heavily on historical textile traditions, adapting motifs and techniques from Fair Isle, Aran, or Scandinavian knitting into contemporary designs. Others are more influenced by fashion, architecture, or the natural world. Seeing these different perspectives enriches the knitting experience.
Reader Projects and Community Features
There is genuine pleasure in seeing how other knitters have made the same pattern their own. Knit Now 34 includes reader project features that showcase finished objects submitted by the magazine’s readership. These are invaluable for several reasons. They show how a pattern behaves in different yarn substitutions and colorways. They demonstrate how the same design can look quite different on different body types. And they offer a sense of connection — the feeling that you are part of a larger community of makers.
The magazine also includes letters, tips, and contributions from readers that reflect the breadth of experience and enthusiasm within the knitting community. A tip about a clever way to hold yarn, a solution to a common finishing problem, or a recommendation for a local yarn shop can be just as valuable as a formal tutorial.
Getting the Most Out of Knit Now 34
If you’re working your way through this issue or considering picking it up, a few approaches will help you get the most out of it.
Read the whole issue before starting any project. It sounds obvious, but skimming through in its entirety first gives you a sense of the full range of projects and tutorials available. You might find that a technique explained in one section is directly relevant to a pattern elsewhere in the issue, and having that context will make both the tutorial and the pattern more meaningful.
Tackle the tutorials even if you already know the technique being covered. Different explanations click with different people, and even experienced knitters occasionally discover a new way of thinking about something they thought they fully understood. The tutorials in Knit Now 34 are well-written and approachable, and revisiting fundamentals never hurts.
Use the yarn substitution guidance seriously. It can be tempting to leap straight into a project with whatever yarn you have available, but spending a little time thinking through whether your chosen yarn is genuinely appropriate for the pattern will save frustration later. The substitution advice in this issue is practical and grounded in real knitting experience.
Swatch. Always swatch. Issue 34, like every issue of Knit Now, will tell you this, and it bears repeating. The gauge swatch is not an obstacle between you and your project — it is the foundation on which a successful project is built. Ten minutes spent swatching can save ten hours of frustration with a garment that doesn’t fit.
Finally, share your finished objects. Whether you post photographs online, show your work to friends, or simply write in to the magazine, sharing what you make is part of the pleasure of being a knitter. Knit Now has always been built on community, and your contributions to that community — however small they might seem — add to something genuinely valuable.
Why Knit Now 34 Is Worth Tracking Down
If you don’t already have a copy of Knit Now 34, it’s worth tracking one down through secondhand magazine sellers, online marketplaces, or the Knit Now back issue archive. The patterns remain as relevant and beautiful as they were when the issue first appeared, and the technique content has no expiration date whatsoever.
Good knitting content is timeless. A well-written pattern for a classic sweater silhouette will still produce a beautiful, wearable garment years after the issue that contains it was first published. The tutorials in issue 34 teach skills that knitters will use for the rest of their lives. And the community content provides a snapshot of a particular moment in the knitting world that is charming and worth revisiting.
Knit Now 34 is a genuinely rewarding issue that reflects everything the magazine does best — thoughtful patterns, clear instruction, beautiful photography, and a warm sense of community. Whether you’re a longtime subscriber or someone coming to it fresh, it’s an issue that rewards time and attention and will very likely send you reaching for your needles.
