It’s here: the first of the month and the very first pattern release from Confident Knitting! Let me introduce you to your hands’ new best friends, the Flux Hand Warmers by Martina Behm. We’ll be using them to explore the tidy joy of folded hems this month!

March can be a funny month in this part of the world. Snow drops, daffodils and the first tulips herald spring’s arrival, but some days it certainly doesn’t feel like warmer weather is on the way! Martina’s March design, the Flux Hand Warmers, are just the thing for this in-between time. Perfect for your daily walk, these will protect your hands from the last of winter’s chills, while being lightweight enough for warmer days too.

Martina’s lovely design celebrates not just the arrival of spring but also the simple beauty of a folded hem! Folded hems are, for my money, rather unsung heroes of the knitting world. They’re the type of detail that can really elevate a handknit item and are quite versatile! They look great on mitts and mittens, socks, sweater hems, sleeves, collars, hats .. the list goes on!

Martina’s sample Flux Hand Warmers feature a picot folded hem, which has a lovely, delicate quality to it. But if picot isn’t quite your speed, we’ve also included instructions for a plain knit or purl hem edge, so you’ve got options!

The Flux Handwarmers knit up a treat in Schoppel-Wolle’s Zauberball Crazy, a yarn as beautiful and unpredictable as the transition to spring! Depending on the size(s) you make, you’ll be able to squeeze at least two and up to four pairs from a single Zauberball Crazy — how lovely would it be to send a pair of these off to a friend or family member? We’ve got a whopping 18 shades of Zauberball Crazy in stock, ranging from muted and subtle to pastels and brights! (And if you’re in the EU and worried about shipping and customs costs, Martina stocks Zauberball Crazy in her online shop.)

If you’ve already purchased Confident Knitting, you will be receiving the Flux Hand Warmers pattern and accompanying photo tutorial on the folded hem in your inbox shortly. In that update email you will also find details of this month’s exclusive discounts, so do check there before you go shopping! We’ll be chatting all things folded hem over in our March knitalong topic over in The Knitalong Hub — we’d love to see you there! Any project that uses the folded hem technique is eligible, and we’ve got some lovely KAL prizes lined up. Full details are on the Hub! And if you’d like to jump into Confident Knitting, you can purchase it directly in our online shop. You’ll receive twelve patterns, from twelve stellar designers, featuring twelve techniques, giving you a dozen chances to build your knitting confidence. When you purchase, you’ll immediately receive the Flux Hand Warmers + accompanying tutorial, and receive all subsequent patterns and photo tutorials as they’re released. If you choose the print + eBook combo, you’ll also receive the Confident Knitting in print in September 2021. And you can find supporting video tutorials for each technique freely available on our YouTube channel.