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Vikki Haffenden

A website and blog about textiles (especially knitting), and other things….

  • Blog posts
  • ‘Translating Between Hand and Machine Knitting’, the book that is quite simply, ‘…your best ever buy as a machine or hand knitter’
  • ‘Single and Double Bed Machine Knitting; the Designer’s Guide’, An “outstanding book” and an “exceptional read”
  • Creative machine knitting
  • Hand knitting
  • Spinning yarns
  • Natural Dyeing
  • Crochet
  • Sewing stories
  • Media
  • Knittofit
  • Academic research and collaborative activities
  • Workshops and community events
  • Errata to patterns
  • Reflections on food and cooking
  • podcast

The Burn Test

If you have a mystery yarn, one way of trying to find the fibres it may be made of is to burn a small length and study the result.

This table is a useful starting point.

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  • A ‘wow’ review of ‘Single and Double Bed Machine Knitting; the Designer’s Guide’
    • ‘Single and Double Bed Machine Knitting: the Designer’s Guide, is it worth it? Honest review!
    • A video introduction to ‘Single and Double Bed Machine Knitting; the Designer’s Guide’
    • ‘Single and Double Bed Machine Knitting; the Designer’s Guide’
  • Academic research and collaborative activities
    • Collaboration with Juliana Sissons at the V&A
    • Textiles and scabies
  • Colour grid
  • Cooking and recipes
  • Creative machine knitting
    • ‘Translating Between Hand and Machine Knitting’, the book that is quite simply, ‘…your best ever buy as a machine or hand knitter’
      • Errata to ‘Translating Between Hand and Machine Knitting’
    • A very neat double-bed cast on edge
    • Grafting stitches
    • Knitting machine punchcards, how do they work?
    • Notes to support Vikki’s Designaknit 8 workshop at the Royal College of Art
    • Reforming ribs on single bed knitting machines
    • Replacing the cam lever and tension dial on a Knitmaster 700 knitting machine
    • The Knitmaster/Silver Reed SC3 Linker – what can go wrong?
    • Working with DesignaKnit 8
  • Crochet
  • Designaknit software
  • Doggy things
  • Dyeing wool
    • Natural Dyeing
      • Making yarn into hanks for dyeing
    • Using a slow cooker for dyeing wool
  • Errata to patterns
  • Hand knitting
    • Eco-Spa Designer facecloth
    • Hand knit hot water bottle cover – free pattern
    • Handknitted socks from handspun yarn
    • Infinity Scarf – a multi-version pattern to suit all knitters
  • Knittofit
  • Media
  • Mystery spinning wheel
  • Pattern for Sew Sussex Magic Makers face mask
  • Reflections on food and cooking
    • Getting a great crust on bread
    • Other useful sourdough hints and tips
    • Raisin yeast experiment – 1
    • Raisin Yeast Sourdough Bread
    • Still making sourdough, and converting others…
    • What does autolyse the flour mean?
  • Sewing stories
    • DIY cotton face masks – please use these free resources to make masks for keyworkers.
  • Spinning yarns
    • Aldon Amos find
    • Bluebird tops – chain plied
    • Carding for art yarn
    • Choosing a new drive band
    • Converting my Ashford Traditional single drive spinning wheel to double drive
    • Drum carding – fine tuning my technique
    • Drum carding in the sunshine
    • Fibre preparation – raw fleece
    • Fixing a creaky Ashford Traveller spinning wheel after fitting a double treadle kit
    • Getting started with an E spinner
    • Getting the twist you want when using an Espinner
    • Making a cover for Ashford Traveller
    • Motorized drum carder
    • Reverse twist and ply experiment
    • Spinning award, what a nice surprise
    • Tackling some simpler aspects of ‘art yarn’ spinning
    • Wool combing and planking
    • Wool combing with Peter Teal English Wool Combs
  • The Burn Test
  • The Knitting Thingamabob; a podcast about machine knitting and hand knitting, with a hefty serving of hand spinning on the side.
  • Tour de Fleece 2026
  • Weaving for pleasure and a restoration project
  • Workshops and community events
    • Imperia circular sock machine
    • Machine Knitting Workshop 9th November, Brighton

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