Sarah Winsper
Digital Assistant, Simply Knitting and The Knitter
Sarah has been knitting for as long as she can remember, and spends her working days thinking about yarn as Digital Assistant for Simply Knitting and The Knitter. She’s also a knitting designer with a passion for making cosy accessories – you can check out her latest patterns on Ravelry. Sarah has more than 10 years’ experience in the publishing industry, starting as author of The Good Nutrition Guide, and working on magazines including 3D World and The Simple Things. When she’s not in the office you’ll usually find her snuggled up on the sofa with a cup of tea, a packet of biscuits and her latest craft project.
Recent articles by Sarah Winsper
The mood-boosting foods you aren’t eating enough of
Beat the blues with ten feel-good foods to give your mind and body a boost
10 superfoods you’ve probably never heard of (but should be eating)
Move over kale and quinoa: these are the little-known superfoods you should be adding to your diet in 2026
Your free needlework downloads!
Beginner's guide to lace knitting
Learn how to knit lace with this easy-to-follow guide, and put your new skills into practice with our collection of beautiful lace stitch patterns.
This is the best way to stop bloating and get a flatter stomach by tonight
Suffering from bloating and gas? The culprit behind your belly bloating could be your healthy diet.
Baby knitting ideas | Top tips and what to knit
Your baby knitting journey starts here! Read our essential guide to knitting for babies, including adorable patterns to inspire you.
Darn good advice! Mend your knits with our guide to darning
Whether it's patching up elbows or fixing holey socks, we'll help you bring your knitwear back to life with our guide to darning.
Free Pudsey Bear knitting pattern
Get your needles out for a great cause when you knit this Pudsey toy, designed by Val Pierce, for BBC Children in Need.
Knitting gauge squares: what to do and why to do it
Knitting a tension square to check your gauge is a sure-fire way to create knits that’ll fit you like a glove. In this tutorial we show you how it's done.
Free beginner project | Knit a placemat
Knit these pretty place settings by Katina Killey and enjoy al fresco eating in style this season. Our quick and easy project is ideal for beginners!
Knitting needle sizes and conversion chart
Find out how to measure your needles and convert between UK, US and metric sizes with our guide to knitting needle sizes.
6 easy ways to cast on knitting
Discover everything you need to know about adding your first stitches to the needle with our how to cast on knitting guide.
17 cosy scarf knitting patterns you can make this weekend
Scarves make great gifts, and we've found the best free scarf knitting patterns you can make for yourself or someone special.
17 knit and purl patterns to try today
Learn new stitches and create your own knitting designs with our collection of beginner-friendly knit and purl stitch patterns.
Learn the lingo with our glossary of knitting terms
Learn the lingo with our guide to the knitting phrases you might see online or hear at knit night. From frogging to Fair Isle, we explain them all!
The best yarn for baby blankets and clothes in 2025: treat the little ones in your life
Choosing the right yarn for your project is especially important when knitting for little ones, so check out our top baby yarn picks for 2025.
Slip stitch knitting: beginner's guide and 18 stitch patterns
Learn how to slip stitches to create beautiful colourwork and textural effects. Plus browse our library of slip stitch knitting patterns.
How to darn a hole
Patching and mending expert Tom of Holland shows you how to fix a small hole in your knitting using a traditional stocking darn.
Free bobble hat knitting pattern
Master your cables and keep warm this winter with our free bobble hat knitting pattern.
Moss stitch scarf pattern
Wrap up in stripes of squishy moss stitch with this scarf pattern from Sarah Winsper. Easy to knit, it's a great project for beginners.
How to decrease in knitting: ssk, k2tog and more
Decreases reduce the number of stitches in your knitting and narrow the shape. Jim Arnall-Culliford explains six different knitting decreases you can try.
Embellish your knits with Swiss darning
Add small details to your knitting or fix minor mistakes in colourwork by duplicate stitching using this easy-to-learn embroidery technique.
DIY quick-knit owl mittens
You’ll have a hoot making these knitted fingerless gloves by Amanda Jones! Cast them on today with our fantastic free pattern.
Rib stitch beginner's guide plus 24 stitch patterns to try!
Alternate between knits and purls to create stretchy ribbing. Learn the basics and try out some new rib stitch patterns with our guide.