Knit Now Issue 45 (2015): A Complete Guide to This Beloved Knitting Magazine

There is something quietly magical about flipping through an old knitting magazine. The patterns feel timeless, the photography carries the warmth of the era in which it was published, and the projects waiting inside still have the power to make your hands itch for yarn and needles. Knit Now Issue 45, published in 2015, is one of those issues that knitters return to again and again — and thanks to the Internet Archive, it remains freely accessible to anyone who wants to download, borrow, or stream it online. Whether you discovered this issue years ago or are hearing about it for the first time, this guide will walk you through everything worth knowing about it.

What Is Knit Now Magazine?

Knit Now is a British knitting magazine that has built a loyal following among knitters of all skill levels. Published by Aceville Publications, the magazine has long been known for its approachable tone, its generous range of patterns spanning beginner to advanced projects, and its practical tutorials that make even complex techniques feel achievable. Each issue typically includes a mix of garment patterns, accessories, home décor projects, and yarn reviews alongside informative articles about techniques, fiber types, and the broader knitting community.

Unlike some specialty publications that skew heavily toward one style or skill level, Knit Now has always prided itself on inclusivity. You might find a simple garter stitch cowl sitting comfortably alongside an intricate lace shawl or a colorwork sweater with a dozen colors. This breadth is part of what makes each issue feel like a treasure hunt — you never quite know which pattern is going to stop you in your tracks.

Issue 45, released in 2015, is widely regarded as one of the stronger issues from that period of the magazine’s run. It landed during a time when the contemporary knitting renaissance was in full swing, with platforms like Ravelry connecting millions of knitters globally and a renewed interest in handmade goods spreading across social media. The patterns in this issue reflect that moment beautifully, balancing classic British knitting sensibility with the fresher, more relaxed aesthetic that was gaining ground at the time.

The Internet Archive and Why It Matters for Knitters

Before diving into the contents of the issue itself, it is worth taking a moment to appreciate why the Internet Archive plays such an important role in the knitting community and in the preservation of craft knowledge more broadly.

The Internet Archive, found at archive.org, is a nonprofit digital library with a mission to provide universal access to all knowledge. Since its founding in 1996, it has grown into one of the most important repositories of digital content in existence, housing everything from vintage websites captured by the Wayback Machine to out-of-print books, old radio programs, classic films, and yes — magazines like Knit Now.

For knitters, this matters enormously. Knitting patterns are not just entertainment. They are instructional documents, historical records, and cultural artifacts that document how craft has evolved over decades. When a magazine issue goes out of print, the patterns inside it do not disappear in the physical sense — some people still have their copies on shelves — but they become increasingly difficult to find, share, and use. The Internet Archive solves this problem by making such materials freely available for download, borrowing, and streaming.

Knit Now Issue 45 being hosted on the Internet Archive means that a knitter in New Zealand, a fiber arts researcher in Canada, or a beginner in rural England who never had access to a well-stocked newsagent can all sit down with this issue and work through its patterns. That kind of democratization of craft knowledge is something worth celebrating.

When accessing materials through the Internet Archive, users typically have several options. Streaming allows you to read the publication directly in your browser without downloading anything — ideal if you just want to browse or check a specific pattern. Borrowing works similarly to a library loan, allowing you to access a full digital copy for a set period of time. Downloading gives you a local copy to keep, which is especially useful for patterns you plan to use frequently or reference while away from an internet connection.

What to Expect Inside Knit Now Issue 45

Issue 45 is a satisfying issue from cover to cover. Like all editions of Knit Now, it opens with a notes-from-the-editor section that sets a warm, conversational tone — the kind of opening that makes you feel like you are settling in with a friend who happens to know a great deal about yarn.

The issue features a strong lineup of garment patterns that span the seasons, which was always one of Knit Now’s strengths. Rather than focusing exclusively on winter knitting (the obvious choice for a craft so closely associated with warmth and wool), the 2015 issues from this run included lighter-weight projects and transitional garments that acknowledged the reality of a knitter’s lifestyle: we do not stop knitting when the weather warms up, and we do not want to wear heavy Aran sweaters in a mild spring.

Among the garment patterns, there are options that would appeal to those who love a clean, modern silhouette as well as those who prefer more traditional British designs with their characteristic structure and stitch texture. The sizing ranges in these patterns tend to be thoughtful for the era, though contemporary knitters should be aware that ease assumptions and sizing conventions have shifted somewhat since 2015 as the industry has moved toward more inclusive grading.

The accessory patterns in this issue are particularly strong. Cowls, hats, and mittens have always been reliable staples of knitting publications for good reason — they are quick to complete, immediately satisfying, and make excellent gifts. But Issue 45 goes beyond the basics, including accessory designs that push into more creative territory. There are pieces here that make use of interesting construction techniques and that reward a knitter willing to engage thoughtfully with the making process rather than just working through rows on autopilot.

Techniques and Tutorials Covered in the Issue

One of the things that distinguishes Knit Now from a simple pattern collection is its editorial commitment to education. Each issue includes tutorials and technique guides that help knitters build their skills progressively. Issue 45 is no exception, and the tutorials included here are genuinely useful whether you are encountering these techniques for the first time or need a clear visual refresher.

Among the techniques covered in this issue, readers will find guidance on managing yarn tension — one of those foundational skills that new knitters often struggle with and that can make the difference between a finished object that matches the schematic and one that is either baggy and formless or tight and stiff. The explanations in Knit Now tend to be written accessibly, with the assumption that readers are enthusiastic rather than experts, which keeps the content from feeling condescending to beginners while still being substantive enough to be useful.

There is also coverage of finishing techniques in this issue, which is an area that separates a polished knitted garment from one that looks homemade in the less flattering sense of that word. Seaming, blocking, and weaving in ends properly are skills that knitters sometimes neglect because they are not the exciting creative part of the process — but they are what ultimately determine how a project looks when it is worn or displayed. The magazine treats these unglamorous topics with the seriousness they deserve.

For those interested in stitch patterns beyond the standard knit and purl, Issue 45 includes exploration of textured stitches that can be incorporated into otherwise straightforward projects to add visual interest. These are the kinds of techniques that allow an experienced knitter to customize a pattern, adapting it from something plain to something distinctive while maintaining the basic structure the original designer intended.

Yarn and Materials Featured in Issue 45

Any knitting publication from 2015 reflects the yarn market of that moment, and looking back at the materials featured in Knit Now Issue 45 is a small window into what was popular, widely available, and considered aspirational in British knitting circles at the time.

The magazine features both accessible high street yarn options and more premium fibers, maintaining its characteristic commitment to being useful to knitters across a range of budgets. This is a genuinely important editorial choice. A magazine that exclusively uses yarn priced beyond the reach of most casual knitters serves a narrower audience and risks feeling more like a catalog for luxury goods than a practical craft resource. Knit Now has generally avoided this pitfall, and Issue 45 continues that tradition.

Wool-rich blends dominate the issue, which reflects both British knitting tradition and the practical reality that wool behaves beautifully on the needle and produces garments with the kind of drape and memory that synthetic-heavy yarns often cannot match. There are also nods toward the growing interest in natural fibers beyond wool — alpaca, cotton, and linen-blend yarns make appearances throughout the issue, reflecting the broadening of the knitting market that was well underway by 2015.

For modern knitters working from this issue, yarn substitution will often be necessary, as some of the specific yarns featured may have been discontinued or reformulated. The good news is that any competent substitution based on matching weight, fiber content, and gauge will work well with these patterns, and the explosion of independent dyers and small-batch yarn producers since 2015 means you are spoiled for choice.

How to Access Knit Now Issue 45 on the Internet Archive

Accessing this issue through the Internet Archive is straightforward. Navigating to archive.org and searching for “Knit Now 45 2015” should bring up the relevant listing fairly quickly. The page for the issue will typically display the cover image along with metadata about the publication, including its date, publisher, and file formats available.

From there, you have the options described earlier: stream it in your browser for a quick look, borrow it for a more extended reading session, or download a copy in a format that suits your device. The PDF format is generally the most versatile for a magazine like this, preserving the original layout and making it easy to zoom in on pattern instructions and stitch diagrams.

If you plan to use patterns from the issue regularly, downloading and organizing your copy locally is worth the small effort it takes. Many knitters maintain a digital pattern library organized by project type, technique, or yarn weight, and adding Issue 45 to such a collection means it will always be at hand when inspiration strikes.

It is also worth noting that the Internet Archive has a community element — users can leave reviews and ratings for items in the collection, which can be a useful way to discover which issues of a magazine are particularly beloved or which patterns within an issue other knitters have found especially worthwhile. The Knit Now listings on the archive tend to attract positive comments, which speaks to the enduring affection the magazine has earned.

The Broader Value of Archiving Craft Publications

There is a deeper conversation worth having about why the preservation and accessibility of knitting magazines matters beyond the individual pleasure of working from a good pattern.

Knitting as a craft carries within it centuries of practical and cultural knowledge. The way stitches are constructed, the regional traditions that produced distinctive patterns like Fair Isle, Aran, or Shetland lace, the evolution of garment construction from the seamless yoke sweaters of Scandinavia to the drop-shoulder silhouettes popular in British knitting of the 1980s — all of this history lives in the pages of publications like Knit Now, even in issues that do not position themselves as historical documents.

When a magazine issue becomes inaccessible — whether because it goes out of print, because copies deteriorate, or because it was only ever distributed in a limited geographic area — that knowledge risks disappearing from active circulation. The Internet Archive’s preservation work ensures that future knitters, historians, textile researchers, and craft educators can continue to access these materials and draw on the traditions they document.

For knitters, this is also a reminder of the importance of the communities and institutions that make craft knowledge shareable. Ravelry, the Internet Archive, public libraries with strong craft collections, knitting guilds, and the generosity of individual knitters who share their knowledge freely are all part of an ecosystem that keeps the craft alive and growing. Making use of these resources — and, where possible, contributing to them — is part of being a thoughtful member of the knitting community.

Tips for Working with Patterns from Older Issues

If you are planning to work from any of the patterns in Knit Now Issue 45, a few practical considerations are worth keeping in mind.

Gauge swatching remains as important as ever, and perhaps more so when working with older patterns. Yarn characteristics, needle recommendations, and finished garment dimensions were calculated under specific conditions, and recreating those conditions as closely as possible is the best way to ensure your finished object matches the pattern’s intentions. Take your time with the swatch, block it before measuring, and be willing to adjust needle size accordingly.

Pattern grading and sizing conventions have evolved since 2015. The body measurements and ease assumptions in this issue may not align with what you are used to if you have been working primarily from more recently published patterns. It is worth checking the finished measurements listed in the schematic and choosing your size based on those rather than the labeled size, which is a good practice with any pattern regardless of era.

Finally, if a pattern references a yarn that is no longer available, the knitting community on Ravelry and in various online forums can be an invaluable resource for finding well-tested substitutions. Searching for the original yarn on Ravelry and looking at what others have substituted with success in their project notes can save a great deal of guesswork.

Why This Issue Continues to Resonate

Knit Now Issue 45 from 2015 is not just a historical artifact — it is a living document that continues to inspire knitters nearly a decade after its original publication. The patterns hold up well, the tutorials remain instructive, and the overall spirit of the issue captures something genuine about what knitting means to the people who love it: a combination of practical making, creative expression, connection to tradition, and the simple pleasure of working with beautiful materials.

Its availability on the Internet Archive ensures that this issue can continue to reach new readers long after the last physical copy has been thumbed through. Whether you are a seasoned knitter revisiting a beloved issue, a newcomer exploring the archives looking for a project to tackle, or simply curious about what the knitting world looked like in 2015, Issue 45 has something to offer you.

Take your time with it. Browse slowly. Let the patterns speak to you. And when something catches your eye, cast on.