Hugo & Ellie

Directions Website

Thoughtful knitwear patterns with clear instructions, good maths, and a focus on garments that actually get worn.

28/10/2026

Wednesday WIP, three projects on my needles this week.

1. Mullein hat, second sample. I finally sorted the rim gauge, so it now sits nicely snug. I chose hand dyed Classic DK from Shannon Long together with a beautiful handspun skein from WOOLENTO The delicate contrast and gradation in the handspun is lovely. This sample is for my daughter.
2. My next sock design. The first attempt had pattern placement I was not happy with. The second is better, but I am still deciding whether to leave it as it is. The colourful yarn is from Andrew Holcroft
3. I have already cast on a third sock to try another approach to the chart. This time I am using sock yarn I dyed myself at the not.my.mess.studio workshop.

26/10/2026

What testers said about Mullein, in their own words.

After testing, I asked everyone what they thought once they had finished their jumper. Several wrote that every row stayed fun, and others said the instructions were clear and that they always knew what to do next. Some enjoyed choosing one contrasting colour or several, and many wrote about how much they liked the finished jumper. I shortened a few answers and marked the cuts with (…), but the words are theirs.

The last quotes are an honest view for anyone unsure whether this is the right project. Mullein is written for knitters who have worked colourwork before, and testers said the instructions made it easy to follow.

If you are deciding whether this is a project for you, I hope their answers help.

Mullein is a top down stranded colourwork jumper in worsted weight, finished chest 84 to 180 cm. Pattern on Ravelry, link in bio.

Which quote would you most like to say about your own Mullein?

24/10/2026

After sharing the Mullein jumper, I received several lovely messages from people saying they’d like to try colourwork one day. It got me thinking about what a good first colourwork project might look like.

Meanwhile, I’d just come back from October Wool Fest and cast on a simple hat with a folded brim. I ran out of Zoya before reaching the top, so rather than frog it or undo the brim, I added another colour. Three strands of Rowan Kidsilk Haze later, the hat had a new look, and I started wondering if it could become that first colourwork project.

There are plenty of simple hat patterns already, so does the world really need another one? Perhaps, if it comes with clear instructions, straightforward construction and a gentle introduction to stranded knitting.

I’ve put together a few ideas for what the pattern could include. Swipe through and tell me what you think. Would you knit this hat? If you were looking for a simple hat pattern, what would you want it to include? And is there something you can never quite find in the patterns available?

Your answers will help me decide whether to turn this one into a Hugo & Ellie pattern.

For those curious about the yarn, mine is knitted in Zoya from Furora Yarns, a blend of merino, cotton and suri alpaca. I received it as part of the workshop on seamless raglan construction with Mysh. For the pattern, I’d include the gauge and yardage to make choosing a suitable yarn from your stash easier.

21/10/2026

A knitting pattern is more than a set of instructions for making a jumper. It’s also a lot of small decisions about what that moment looks like once you’ve cast on. So with Mullein, I asked a few questions on your behalf.

Can you find your size quickly?
Every size has its own colour, so you can spot your numbers at a glance. My testers noticed straight away.

Are the charts easy to use?
They come in two versions, dark on light or light on dark, make it simple to swap your main colour and contrast colour around from the sample, without having to rework the chart in your head. They are also easier on your eyes.

Can you get to the right chart?
Chart references in the PDF are interactive, so you can jump straight to the chart and back to the top when you’re done.

Is your stitch count still right?
Counts appear at every step, so a mistake gets caught before it travels any further.

Will it fit the way you want?
Beyond bust size, a measurement diagram helps you check upper arm, cuff, sleeve and body length before you cast on. There are also gauge swatch instructions, so you don’t have to work it out yourself.

Stuck on a technique?
Video links are there for the trickier ones, for when you’d rather see it in action.

None of these is a big gesture on its own, but together they are small decisions that add up to a more relaxing knit.

Swipe through to see what goes into the instructions, not just the finished jumper, along with some lovely feedback from my testers.

What small detail makes a pattern easier for you to follow? Tell me in the comments.

Mullein is available now in my Ravelry shop, link in bio.

20/10/2026

On 10 October I went to Dziana Konferencja in Łódź, the first national Polish knitting conference. I attended every session and learned a lot. Scroll through the carousel to see the details. Thank you to the organisers, and to the sponsors of the participant pack. Were you at Dziana, or are you planning to go to the next one? Tell me in the comments.

PL
10 października byłam na Dzianej w Łodzi, pierwszej ogólnopolskiej konferencji dziewiarskiej. Byłam na wszystkich prelekcjach i wiele się nauczyłam. Szczegóły znajdziecie w karuzeli. Dziękuję organizatorkom, oraz sponsorom pakietu uczestnika. Byliście na Dzianej, a może planujecie pojechać na kolejną edycję? Napiszcie w komentarzach.

19/10/2026

Mullein is out in the world, and I am so grateful.

Thank you to everyone who bought the pattern in launch week, and to everyone who shared it, saved it or sent me a kind message. Thank you to my testers, who knitted through colourwork, gauge changes and my many questions, and made the pattern better for everyone who knits it now.

If you have cast on, I would love to see your Mullein. Use so I can find it.

The launch offer has ended, but the pattern is on Ravelry, and the link is in my bio.

Which colours are you planning to knit it in?

17/10/2026

Long and fruitful day at October Wool Fest! 🧶

Started at 8:30 with a raglan construction workshop with . I made raglans for my kids a few years back, but adult grading is a bit more complex, so this was a great way to refresh my memory. Now it’s finally time to make one for myself. We got Zoya yarn from , a base I’ve wanted to try for ages: suri alpaca, merino and cotton.

Then shopping time. I was really good and bought nothing until 3pm. After that, all hell broke loose. A needle organiser, handspun yarn and a few more skeins (roughly two sweaters’ worth, oops).

The afternoon workshop was on acid dyeing with .my.mess.studio, where I managed to dye three colours (a bit cheeky of me) for another pair of Carthen socks.

Now I just need to figure out how to pack it all for the flight home.

Will drop some photos once I sort myself.

15/10/2026

What I’ve designed... and what testers made of it.

Testers have taken the colourwork in so many directions. Some kept it graphic and almost black and white, others went for an explosion of colour, with a few adding sequins or strands of mohair for extra texture. I spotted chickens with red combs, flowers worked in duplicate stitch, and other small whimsical details across the finished pieces.

Every jumper here is knitted from the same pattern, and every one looks completely their own.

Get 20% off from today until 18 October. Comment MULLEIN and I will send you the code for the discount.

Link to pattern: https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mullein-jumper

14/10/2026

Over a year in the making, and today Mullein is finally yours to knit.
There’s a launch 20% discount and the details are below.

My first adult jumper design: allover stranded colourwork with one uninterrupted motif that grows from the hem and scatters into blossom towards the neckline.

What you will knit:
Rolled crew neck
Neckline shaping with short rows
Circular yoke with all over body colourwork
Rolled edges at cuffs and hem
Decorative broken rib trim
Straight fit with 10 to 20 cm (4 - 8 in) ease
Nine sizes, 84 to 180cm (33 - 71 in) finished chest
Worsted weight yarn, gauge 20 stitches and 24 rows on 4.5mm needles

Good to know: the colourwork continues beyond the yoke, so this is a pattern for knitters who are comfortable with stranded colourwork, not a first colourwork project.

Launch offer: 20% off from today until Sunday, 18 October. Comment MULLEIN and I will send you the code. The pattern is on Ravelry https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mullein-jumper

Know a colourwork knitter who needs this on their needles? Send it to them.

Thank you to my wonderful testers ❤️

You’ll be seeing more of their jumpers over the next few days.

Stranded colourwork jumper pattern, circular yoke knitting pattern, worsted weight jumper.

13/10/2026

This is gentle reminder that Mullein is out tomorrow.

My first adult jumper design, over a year in the making, is ready for you.

Address

Beeston
Nottinghamshire

Website

https://www.ravelry.com/stores/hugo--ellie

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hugo & Ellie posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.