Father's Day is less than a month away - Sunday 16th June. So here are five of our best patterns you can knit up for him, ready for the big day...

Jane Burns' set of six Father's Day gifts consists of a flower pot cover, golf club cover, picture frame, notebook cover, mug hug, and this fun knitted bow tie. They're quick to knit, and sure to bring a smile to your Dad's face. You can download all six patterns for £2.99 by clicking here.

Fancy a sneak peek at the lovely new patterns waiting for you in issue 107? It's on sale in 10 days, so here's a first glimpse at our new cover...

Have you tried felting? Whether you opt for machine felting, needle felting, or felting by hand, the effects you can create are stunning. If you're new to felting, this Clemency flower corsage is a perfect first project - the pattern is available on The Making Spot for just 69p!

Felting by hand is a simple process; all you need are two large shallow bowls, a pair of rubber gloves, soap, your knitted item, hot and cold water, and ice cubes. Full step-by-step instructions are available here. 

Feeling the pinch after Christmas? There's no need to cut back on indulging your love of knitting, thanks to The Making Spot - over 1000 patterns and projects are half price until 20th January, so be quick!

Wondering how to show your dad how much you care on 17 June (Father’s Day in the UK)? We vote for a special gift handknitted by you! 

Most of the dads we know love a cuppa, and love a beer more, so our talented tech ed Kirstie McLeod has come up with a fab mug cosy that will tap into both these loves!

Go on, give your dad a mug hug!

What you’ll need

YARN Artesano, Superwash Merino (100% Merino wool, 50g/112m) Yarn A Sand Yellow (7254), 1 ball Yarn B Cream (SFN10), 1 ball 

NEEDLES A pair of 4mm needles 

EXTRAS Suitable mug, a button

Welcome to the May issue of Simply Knitting magazine! This issue we’ve put together a fantastic collection of patterns for you, from Alan Dart’s latest mouse collection, the May Day Mice (they’re just irresistible!) to our usual great selection in the magazine.

We also have a handy set of 3mm bamboo toy needles for you too, so all you need is some yarn and you can get knitting the mice right away!