February is an odd month. It's cold, dark and short. My birthday is in February and nobody ever feels like celebrating, least of all me. So we decided what everybody needs this Feb is a bit of frivolous fun in the face of the doom and gloom. Don't let the darkness get you down, dress up in fabulous, flirty, feminine knits with a fun fifties vibe!

We are lucky to be based near Brighton, which is a veritable mine of interesting and quirky places to use as photo shoot locations. This shoot was held at JB's Diner (www.jbsdiner.co.uk) on the seafront, a brilliant American themed diner (albeit covered in Christmas decorations at the time of the shoot).

This cute cap sleeved shirt can be dressed up with a pencil skirt or down with peddle pushers for a retro ladylike look. A skinny belt adds a chic touch.



This flared jumper, knitted in Sublime Lustrous Extrafine Merino, has a lovely sheen and the flared edge and cuffs gives it a fun girly feel.



This gorgeous cardigan by Debble Bliss has the most beautiful puffed sleeves that taper down into an exaggerated rib cuff. It's a simply style with impeccable details that looks sophisticated and will make you feel (and look) a million dollars.



Also in this issue

• Angora sequin motif cardi
  
  


• Off the shoulder 50s style top
  
  


• Draped jacket
  
  


• Lace ankle socks
  
  


• Feature – Is pattern writing a dying art?
  
  


• Spotlight on – Knitwear for men
  
  


• Weekend knits – pretty romanticprojects from Sarah Hazell


• FREE voucher booklet AND Cozy Collection pattern book. 5 accessories including 2 brand new pre-publication patterns!

And as always, we bring you the best news, reviews, books, tips, styles and prizes in your favourite Knitting magazine.

Day 2 of our epic March shoot was the 'Modern brights' story; bright, fun, fashionable knits, some of them a little 'out there' or in eye-popping colours. Don't worry if this sounds a little crazy for you, a lot of it is in the styling and look of a shoot and you'll find it all actually very wearable.

This shoot was a very cold day, tucked up in our studio. I left Editor Emma and photographic assistant Ricky to wrestle with the wallpaper on the backing boards and concentrated on making fresh coffee and handing out croissants. As soon as model Chloe had her hair and make up done and actually put the garments on the shoot came alive – the camera seriously loves her!

We had fun trying to find the background that would best make the garment stand out. This combination sort of hits in you in the eye as you go past, it looks incredible in the finished photos (one of the ones I'm rooting for cover!)



Ugh, my lighting is so bad on my camera phone here (upgrade due next month for a certain snazzy brand new version!) but you can still see the amazing dip stitch technique used on this awesome jumper.



This boxy rib jumper is another contender for cover. You can't really see the colour as the lighting is so dull (so the flash works properly for the ACTUAL photographer) but it's a gorgeous mustardy lime green and has a fabulous Audrey Hepburn shape to it.



We managed to get through about 17 garments that day, which is a loooooooooong day – and then Emma and I had to traipse off to our work Christmas party! Amazingly, the wonderful Jeni, our Hair&Make up guru, didn't exit as fast as possible but actually stayed and did our hair and make up for the ball! (OK, I mean, pub).

So after 2 long and exhausting days (you wouldn't think so but we really do work hard on these photo shoots!), we had two shoots in the can, both so utterly different from each other and both looking gorgeous. And now that we are putting together the gallery spreads and can see everything in its entirety we are so pleased with how they have turned out. We think you'll love them too. And there's so many patterns! We haven't even begun to mention to the 20+ mens, kids, baby and home knits we also have going in.

Crikey, this is one issue you don't want to miss!

Working on our March issue on the run up to Christmas is always quite mad as we lose so much time between Christmas and New Year. Now add into the mix our March 2012 issue is our 100th issue. And we've decided to go crazy and have 50 extra pages so we can bring you a whopping 50 patterns. And then we had to add another 16 pages because we couldn't fit everything we wanted to give you into just 150 pages. So now we are working on a bumper 166 page 100th issue with 50 fantastic patterns. Have we bitten off more than we can chew? Of course not, because we are Super-Team Knitting and when we put our minds to doing something awesome then awesome it will be. 

Because we are featuring so many patterns we decided to do two stories for our gallery, a bit of something for everyone, if you like. This meant two solid days of long full day photo shoots but it was definitely worth it. Not only do they look utterly gorgeous, but they look totally different too.

The first, 'Timeless Classics', was shot at the most incredible antique furniture shop www.augustus-brandt-antiques.co.uk/ in Petworth, West Sussex (if you know Petworth then you know this is where the other half live – and shop!).

The chairs alone at this table cost £2,000 each.



It did have the most incredible natural light though.



Model Joelle was actually a perfect English rose. (And yes that's me snapping away in the mirror.)



I was too afraid to ask how much this sofa cost, but it was beautiful. Emma Varnam's Mary-Jane top isn't bad too eh?



This was an entire room of chandeliers. Just wait until you see the final photograph.



This was a very calm, elegant shoot with knits for women who like classic shapes and styles, neutral colours and pretty details. Even though the actual shoot was like running riot in our own giant dolls house, I think we managed to make it look quite grown up!



Part 2 – the 'Modern Brights' shoot is on its way!