I've been working on something behind the scenes for a while now, and I think it's time to share it properly — because it genuinely changes how a pattern feels to use. It's called a 𝗱𝘆𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻. Now, if you've ever followed a knitting pattern and hit that moment where the numbers just don't quite match your tension — and you've either guessed, fudged it, or quietly given up — this is for you. A dynamic pattern 𝗮𝗱𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. You enter your tension swatch results, and the pattern recalculates everything for you. Your stitch count. Your rows. All of it, based on 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 yarn and 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 machine — not some average that may or may not match what's happening on your needles. No maths. No guessing. No squinting at a chart wondering if you've got the right size. It also comes with clear step-by-step instructions, written for real knitters — not pattern-book shorthand that assumes you already know what you're doing. I've built this into MkH because I wanted patterns that actually 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 for the person using them, whatever machine they have, whatever yarn they've chosen. I'll be sharing more about this very soon — including how you can get your hands on one. 👀

I've been thinking a lot lately about what brings people to the Hub — and more importantly, what you're really hoping to get from being here. On the surface it's machine knitting. But I don't think that's the whole story for most of us. So I'd love to ask you something, and I genuinely want to hear your honest answer: When you joined, what were you really hoping for? Was it… 🪡 Confidence — to finally trust yourself with the machine ✅ Completion — to actually finish something you're proud of 🎨 Creative fulfilment — to make things that feel like you 🤝 Belonging — to find your people, the ones who just get it 🏆 Pride — to wear or gift something you made and feel genuinely pleased Or something else entirely? Tell me in the comments — I'd love to know in your own words. Your answers are going to help me shape what the Hub becomes next, so nothing is too small or too honest. 💛 You'll notice the next few weeks there'll be a lot of new things landing and the start of the tutorials. But, before I carry on creating and building in the background I'd love to reflect your responses. Jan x

Welcome to the Hub, @Donna Mnisi ! 🧶 It's lovely to have you here — you're in the right place there's plenty of newbie machine knitters in MkH. Something I come back to again and again is just how many different roads lead here. Different machines, different starting points, different stories — and yet the same thread running through all of it. A love of the craft, and the want to keep growing. That's what this community is built on. ❤️ We're so glad you've joined us, Donna. Looking forward to getting to know you and helping you with your machine knitting journey.

I found this an interesting history lesson into knitting. Thought you might too. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/haptic-hue/id1530400722?i=1000771095618

From the souks of medieval Egypt to the mill towns of the East Midlands, knitting has been shaping lives, livelihoods, and communities for centuries. It's been a royal obsession, a revolutionary trade, a cause worth rioting for, and a quiet domestic art — sometimes all at once. Over the coming weeks we're going to be sharing some fascinating snapshots from the story of our craft — and some of them might just surprise you. Because knitting isn't just something we do. It's something people have always needed — to clothe families, to earn a living, to find community, and to create something beautiful with their hands. Sound familiar? 😊 Did you know that to become a master knitter in a medieval guild, an apprentice would typically spend around six years learning the craft before being considered skilled enough to call themselves a master knitter? I can promise you that with modern teaching, the right community - MkH 😉, and today's equipment, you won't be waiting six years! 😊 One of the most surprising aspects of knitting's early history is just how male-dominated it was — right up until the craft became associated with the home and hearth from the 16th century onwards. It's a fascinating shift that says as much about society as it does about the craft itself. I've put together an infographic that explores the influence men had in knitting, the reasons behind it, and how and why that gradual shift toward a domestic, feminine craft came about. Take a look and let me know — does it surprise you that knitting has such deep masculine roots? Thanks @Jane Harbison for this prompt to explore the history of knitting. 🙌