What Knitting Step By Step Monthly Actually Is
Knitting Step By Step Monthly is a UK-based publication that targets the intermediate knitter — someone who already knows how to knit a row but keeps second-guessing their tension or can't quite figure out why their cables look uneven. It's not a beginner's crash course. They assume you've done a few projects already and now want to get better at the technique-heavy stuff. I've been buying it for about eight years now. Some months it's gold. Some months it's decent enough to keep around. The editors do a good job of picking patterns that feel current without chasing every YouTube trend.
What's Inside a Typical Issue
Each issue runs about 100 pages and breaks down into roughly four sections. There are full-sized patterns you can cut out — mostly cardigans, shawls, and accessories. Then there are technique spotlights where they take one specific skill, like lace knitting or intarsia, and walk through it with worked swatches. They also include yarn reviews and occasionally run interviews with designers. Not every issue has the same mix, but the balance stays consistent. The patterns themselves are written in both metric and imperial measurements, which is unusual for a British magazine and honestly a relief if you're trying to follow along without converting everything yourself. That said, the gauge information is sometimes buried two paragraphs into the pattern. I've wasted half an hour on a few occasions because I missed it on the first read-through.
How to Get the Most Out of It
Most people just flip through and pick whatever catches their eye. That works fine, but it's not the most efficient use of your time. I recommend reading one complete technique feature all the way through before you start a project from that issue. These features build on each other. If you skip around, you'll miss the part where they explain why your stitch count dropped on row fourteen of the lace pattern. The magazine also publishes errata online occasionally. Not every issue has corrections, but the ones that do usually involve a stitch count discrepancy or a missing row repeat. I found out the hard way when working through a Fair Isle sweater pattern in the March 2022 issue — the chart showed a 24-stitch repeat but the written instructions described a 26-stitch one. I noticed because my arm span felt off after completing two motif sections. Cross-referencing the chart with the row-by-row text flagged the mismatch immediately. I used the written instructions as the primary source and adjusted my chart reading accordingly. That's become my standard approach with this magazine now.
Get the Full Details
Download and Access Options
There's a digital subscription available through the publisher's website. It includes access to the current issue and most back issues going back several years. The PDF version is print-accurate, which means you can actually trace patterns if needed, though the resolution isn't high enough for detailed chart reading on a phone screen. I'd recommend a tablet or laptop for that. There's no free downloadable copy of complete issues available legally. You'll find scans posted on random forums occasionally, but they're always from subscribers who obtained them through a paid channel. The publisher doesn't release preview copies except through partnered bookshops and knitting stores. If you're unsure whether the magazine suits you, buy a single newsstand issue first. They tend to cost around £5.99 in the UK and a bit more through international mail.
Common Pitfalls to Watch For
Yarn substitutions are the biggest problem area. The magazine occasionally lists a suggested yarn brand that's been discontinued or gone out of production. The last time this happened was in the November 2023 issue with a specific merino DK weight that the named manufacturer had already stopped producing. You have to be willing to pick your own equivalent and swatch properly. The gauge given in the pattern is a target, not a law. Your tension matters more than hitting that exact number. Another issue is that some of the advanced technique features assume a level of comfort with reading charts that beginners genuinely don't have yet. If you're still learning what a knit stitch versus a purl stitch looks like on paper, skip ahead to the simpler patterns and come back to the technique spreads later. There's no shame in it.
Is It Worth the Subscription
For knitters who want consistent pattern material without scrolling through blogs, it's useful. The curation is solid. The patterns are wearable and well-tested. But it's not cheap at roughly £70 a year, and the value drops significantly if you already have a steady supply of free patterns from designers you follow. I keep my subscription because I like having a physical reference library and I appreciate the structured technique lessons. Someone starting out on a tight budget might be better off with a local library membership or picking up single issues at craft fairs where they sometimes go on sale for three or four pounds.
