As our second CustomFit workshop gets underway, it occurs to me to stop and take note of how much fun we are having with the whole CustomFit program at WEBS! We launched our new offerings in January, and since then we’ve had so many customers make appointments to get started on CustomFit sweaters. I think the appeal, apart from knitting a sweater that’s designed to fit perfectly, is the notion that knitters may choose any yarn and knit it to a gauge that works for them. And, once the measurements are in our system, knitters can make a new swatch and purchase a new pattern any time.

In addition, Amy Herzog has been making changes and modifications to her makewearlove.com website. She has added options for no shaping and a-line shaping to the traditional hourglass shaping offerings. She has also added the ability to use more generic measurements, and added some great patterns for men and kids so that we have the ability to knit beautifully fitting sweaters for our loved ones. Her library of CustomFit patterns continues to grow as well. Many of Amy’s own sweater designs may be generated to a knitter’s particular measurements – and even the ever popular Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig (aka Knitbot) may be knit CustomFit! How cool is that?

If you have ever lamented a sweater project because it just didn’t fit properly, or you just want to have a better understanding of sweater construction and how all the pieces and pattern instructions work together to make a beautifully fitting garment, then CustomFit is the way to go! Check out all of the levels of CustomFit available here in the store to see which one best suits your needs. If you have questions, just email us at customfit@yarn.com – we look forward to having you knit your perfect sweater with us!

I’m so excited about just having wrapped up our first CustomFit Workshop here at WEBS! We had so much fun throughout the course of the 11 weeks, knitting our sweaters and discussing different techniques and schools of thought on decreasing, increasing and seaming. We talked about how yarn selection would affect the types of garments we’d have, the importance of seams for stability in a properly fitting garment, and shaping in a specific stitch pattern. Most importantly, we had the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences. And, as a very special treat, Amy Herzog was here for the last class to see all of our hard work for herself! We got to show off our pattern and yarn choices and even to ask her some questions – not only about the CustomFit program, but about knitting in general!

There are so many things I love about teaching this workshop. Getting to work with students on choosing their sweater style and yarn; planning out the methods of casting on and shaping that might work best; and discussing sweater construction and assembly – just to name a few. I also enjoy seeing the progress from meeting to meeting as rows of knitting become garment pieces, and discussions and solutions evolve organically as we knit together. It is wonderful to see the confidence that students gain as they being to see sweater construction from a new perspective – how the combination of proper body measurements, yarn selection and gauge work in concert to influence the final shape of a sweater. In addition, students acquire the understanding to adapt other patterns to knit a sweater that fits. I’m so looking forward to future sessions of the CustomFit Workshop to see where each new journey will take us!

This year marks our 10th annual Big Game Day Escape!!! Once again, we’re planning a relaxing afternoon of yarncrafting, snacks and fun prizes for the hours leading up to the Big Game!!

On Sunday, February 7, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. join us at WEBS retail store in Northampton. MA, to escape the pre-game coverage, and be sure to bring your current knitting, crocheting, spinning or weaving project along to work on while you’re here!! You’ll be surrounded by beautiful yarns, yummy nosh and lots of like-minded folks (football attire and chat is entirely optional). This is a free event, but registration is required, so please sign up online or call Customer Service to let us know you’re planning to be here. We look forward to seeing you!!

I am so excited to be teaching a Custom Fit Workshop here at WEBS this winter! One of the first projects I did when I started working here a year ago was a Custom Fit sweater. I had always wanted a basic v-neck pullover that fit perfectly and thought that this would be a great way for me to knit one. I had my measurements taken, created my swatch, and logged in to the Custom Fit program to generate my v-neck sweater pattern.

I was struck by two things as I worked my way through the sweater. The first was that the shaping was written in a way I had not encountered before, which I loved, and the second was that, apparently, I like my sweaters a bit longer than I thought I did. It was an extremely valuable learning experience.

One of my favorite things about teaching in my life before WEBS was working closely with students and offering them a very hands-on learning experience, working through various techniques together in smaller groups. In this workshop, students will review Amy Herzog’s basic principles about sizing and fit, and then work through each piece of the Custom Fit sweater to help achieve a garment that truly IS custom made for each individual knitter.

Patterns will be generated using The Custom Fit Program’s basic styles so students will be able to choose their preferred sweater type, as well as neckline and sleeve options. Each sweater pattern will be as unique as its knitter, and students will have the opportunity to learn from each other in a dynamic and interactive setting. In addition, I will review the finishing techniques that will put the polish on every perfect sweater.

I can’t wait to get started working on a new Custom Fit project with a class of like-minded students. Registration is open now, so go ahead and sign up! This sweater could change the way you feel about knitted garments.

Once again, this October, WEBS, together with our friends at the Cancer Connection of Northampton, will be hosting our 12^th annual Knit and Crochet for the Cure event. On Sunday, October 4^th, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., yarn lovers can gather here at the store to knit or crochet fingerless mitts and cowls for cancer patients. I was so happy to be asked to be a part of this event, despite the fact that I have not done a great deal of charity knitting myself. My life, like so very many others, has been touched several times over by cancer, and being able to collaborate with an organization like Cancer Connection is so exciting!!

Cancer Connection is a non-profit organization that provides care and support for cancer patients and their loved ones. They are fully funded by donations and all of their offerings, such as education, complementary therapies, peer support and creative programs, are free of charge. By working with Cancer Connection, the WEBS community has the opportunity to share our love of knit and crochet and offer some comfort to others who are dealing with the hardships of life with cancer.

The projects we will be knitting and crocheting this year are fingerless mitts (the ones donated last year were very popular!!) and neckwarmers (read: shorter, closer fitting cowls). The patterns are free and WEBS will be providing the yarn!!

We are so looking forward to this afternoon of charity and community and hope to see you here!! This is a free event, but registration is required, so please, sign up on our website!

As the craft of spinning continues to grow in popularity, we wanted to re-vamp our existing space into a beautiful, welcoming area in the store. And we’ve done just that. It’s our hope that experienced spinners and beginners alike will visit us to explore our enticing fibers on offer from workhorses like Blue Faced Leiceister and Romney to more luxurious blends like Frog Tree Meriboo Top (which comes in 10 shades and is on closeout for $2.29 per ounce, by the way). There’s an open space to try out a variety of wheels from Schacht’s popular Ladybug and elegant Matchless to the staff favorite, the Lendrum DT Complete. The back wall features an array of eye-popping color which is sure to inspire lots of new spinning projects! We’ve had such fun putting this new space together, and as the sole member of the store management team who does not (yet) spin, I have definitely caught the bug! Next time you visit the store, please stop by our new spinning area – even if you’re not (yet) a spinner, you’ll likely find yourself enticed to learn – ask me how I know…

I should probably start by saying that I am a life-long knitter. My passion for playing with two sticks and some string has been with me for as long as I can remember. In fact, I was crafting with yarn long before my grandmother ever taught me to knit. So it seems odd to me, in retrospect, that my deep and abiding love of all things yarn never made the jump to crochet. Perhaps it’s because there simply wasn’t a crocheter close at hand to steer me in that direction. At any rate, as time went on, I found that I was quite happy knitting away and gave very little thought to including crochet in my skill set.

Since joining the team at WEBS, however, I have found that it just might be helpful to have some understanding of the crochet questions and conundrums that arise from time to time, and in order to do that, I should probably begin to acquire some functional knowledge of the craft. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got the conceptual basics down, you know, things like: crochet projects require more yarn than knitting projects; recommending the proper hook size for a particular yarn; and making (very) basic estimates about gauge. Herein was the sum total of my understanding of crochet. Until now.

Over the past month or two, I have begun a new adventure into the world of chains and half-double crochets, and find myself chomping at the bit to unravel such mysteries as pattern reading and crocheted lace. Fortunately, I am firmly committed to the notion of swatching as a means of acquiring skill, and I have created several lovely (and with mostly straight edges, I might add) single crochet swatches. Feeling confident that it is time to expand my repertoire, I am celebrating National Crochet Month by incorporating a new stitch or two into my next few swatches and investigating our crochet class offerings here at WEBS. How lucky I am to spend my days in the company of truly accomplished crocheters who are happy to answer questions and take the time to help a newbie progress. Whenever I get stuck or make a mess (I even crocheted so tightly that I once broke my swatch – don’t ask), my co-workers patiently get me back on track and tell me how well I’m doing. Encouragement for which I am truly grateful. They point me in the direction of the instructional videos on our website, suggest wonderful tools of the trade (the Knitter’s Pride Dreamz hooks are my favorites so far), and some beautiful patterns to whet my appetite – Valley Yarns Crocus Lace Stole and Fluvial by ChickenBetty both have piqued my interest. They tell me the motion of the hook and my tension will begin to feel more comfortable soon, it just takes a bit of practice. I know they’re right, after all, I’ve said very similar words to many a burgeoning knitter. I just have to relax and and enjoy the process.

Once again, we’re planning a relaxing afternoon of yarncrafting, snacks and camaraderie for the hours leading up to the Big Game!! On Sunday, February 1, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. join us at WEBS retail store in Northampton. MA for our 9th Annual pre-game escape, and be sure to bring your current knitting, crocheting, spinning or weaving project along to work on while you’re here!! You’ll be surrounded by beautiful yarns, yummy nosh and lots of like-minded folks – football chat is entirely optional. This is a free event, but registration is required, so please sign up on our website or call Customer Service to let us know you’re planning to be here. We look forward to seeing you!!