Now that you’ve finished the main body of the shawl you can move on to the beaded edging.

Picking the right beads for your project can seem like a big task but you really, almost, can’t go wrong! Here you can see I’ve swatched with 4 different colors, they’re each appealing in their own way. The tonal color combo gives just an extra bit of shine, the darker amber gives more of an autumnal feel, while the iridescent green beads say Spring to me. My shawl will be worked with the grey beads, I’m on a bit of a yellow/grey kick lately.

Linda offers some great advice in the pattern that directs you to string only as many beads as you’ll need for a particular row. This way you don’t have over 600 beads that need to be pushed down along your yarn as you work the edging, 150-200 beads at a time is much more manageable.

We’ve put together a quick video showing you the bsc stitch from Row 1 and how to transition to Row 2

The edging is worked along the bottom of the shawl and Row 1 is worked with the wrong side facing you. It’s worked this way because when you bring up a bead for the bsc, beaded single crochet stitch, the bead sits on the back of the stitch. I like to work with about 10 beads at-a-time in my left hand, then I can get a bunch of stitches done before I need to dip down and grab more beads. You’ll cut the yarn and fasten off at the end of Row 1 and rejoin your yarn at the other end to begin Row 2,THEN you’ll turn the work over and work in the opposite direction for Row 3.

Here we also have a video showing the FPdc stitch and how to keep track of it’s placement in Row 3.

Next week we’ll tackle Rows 5-7 of the edging. Have you done any beading with your crochet?

Get your copy of the pattern here and join in the CAL at any time!

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Guest: Kathy talks with Sally Melville about her new book, Knitting Pattern Essentials: Adapting and Drafting Knitting Patterns for Great Knitwear.

This book is about adapting patterns to make sure that you’ll get something you love but it also helps you to draft patterns to create garments you’ll really wear. Beginner knitters can use the book to check measurements and patterns for basic fit. Intermediate knitters can see if sleeves were drafted to fit well and Advanced knitters can liberate themselves from patterns entirely.

Chapter 8: Fabrics, Finishes and Fixes is particularly useful, and Sally’s favorite chapter! This chapter helps you to clarify and fulfill the sometimes cryptic instructions in patterns. In this book you won’t find instructions for how to do things like long-tail cast-on but you will find instruction on when to use that cast-on.

Steve’s Yarn Picks 

• Jojoland Splatter Dash
• Fancy Tiger Crafts Heirloom Romney
• Aslan Trends Lecco
• Misti Alpaca Baby Me Boo Closeout
• Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Sock Discontinued Colors Closeout
• Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Tonos Pima Silk Discontinued Colors Closeout

The Rivers’ Family Music Meltdown and Book Bash! is happening today, here in Northampton. Check it out if you’re in the area!

Thanks to everyone that came out during the storm to see June Hemmons Hiatt.

Upcoming Events: 

Join us at  Stitches South! in the Renaissance Waverly Hotel & Cobb Galleria Centre April 11-14th in Atlanta, GA.

Don’t forget about the Tent Sale on May 18th and 19th!

 

It’s the first week for our CAL (crochet-a-long)! We’re extending some of the love from National Crochet Month in March into April!

Everyone was very excited when we saw Linda’s Sugar Sparkle Shawlette so it was an easy decision.

For the CAL you’ll need:

* 775 yards of a light Fingering weight yarn: the pattern calls for Malabrigo Sock, but you could also use Valley Yarns Charlemont or Valley Yarns BFL Fingering. I’m using a coned wool that I’ve had in my stash for a few years but the color makes me happy and I’m getting gauge!

* US size D/3.25mm and US size C/2.75mm hooks, I’m using the Addi Color coded hooks. You won’t need the smaller hook till you get to the border.

* 675 size 6/0 seed beads.  If you’re lucky enough to be local to our store the Northampton Beadery has a great selection of colors in this size!

* you’ll need a beading needle and a yarn needle, for weaving in ends.

I’m also going to suggest locking ring stitch markers, it’s always a good idea to have a few of these around.

The main body of the shawl is worked sideways from point to point with all the increases, and subsequent decreases, happening along the same side. You may want to place a marker, every couple rows, on the side with all of your increases. It can be easy to loose track of which side that is when your work is just a few, short rows and it will remind you what side the decreases will happen on when you get to them! You can also keep a small notebook handy and tick off each increase/decrease row as it’s made.

Here you can see my shawl, Mary’s(Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Raspberry), and Tina’s(Valley Yarns Charlemont Kettle Dye in Purple Passion), all just beginning the decreases.

This center section is fairly easy and moves along quickly. Next week we’ll look at bead choices, stringing your beads and working the first 2 rows of your border.

What yarn will you be using?

It’s the last week National Crochet Month and we’ve been so happy to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends. This week’s focus is on shawls.

You can play it simple or really complicated with shawls, stick with a beloved stitch pattern and an easy rectangle shape or change it up with crescent shaping and bunch of different, but related, stitches to create something really beautiful and fun.

The Pin Cushion Moss Shawl, made with Southwick, is a simple triangle that grows outward from the center back so you could just keep working the pattern until it is the size you desire.

The Daisy Wrap from Blue Sky Alpacas is a simple rectangle shape with undulating rows of soft waves and floral clusters. Crocheted in Blue Sky’s Metalico, you’ve got a great palette of neutrals to work with.

The Sumac Berry Shawl, worked in Hand-dyed 2/14 Alpaca Silk, has a super simple center section and all the Wow is in the border.

The Piquant Shawl by Lily Go is also worked with a fairly easy center section but a very detailed and delicate border.

Finally, I’m very excited to say that we’ll be running a CAL over the next few weeks with Linda Permann‘s Sugar Sparkles Shawlette!

Our first post goes up tomorrow and we’ll guide you through everything you’ll need to get started, then check the blog each Thursday to follow along with our progress.

Have you crocheted any shawls? What are some of your favorites?

Kathy and Steve are taking a break from the show this week but you can listen to past episodes from the archives. We’ll be back with a brand-new episode on March 30.

It’s National Crochet Month and we’re excited to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends happening in 2013. This week we’re focusing on crocheting with luxury fibers.

Being able to work with luxury fibers is something every crocheter looks forward to. Thankfully you don’t have to win the lottery to indulge in a little high-end crochet. One skein and a simple project can keep the cost down but allow you to add a little something to your wardrobe to makes you feel extra special. And when everyone ask you about it you get to say it’s silk or cashmere or even mink!

Start with a nice small project like this simple Crochet Necklace by Creativeyarn but go luxury by using Artyarns Beaded Pearl and Sequins yarn.

Try something a little larger like the Julie Cuff from Robyn Chachula‘s wonderful book Blueprint Crochet but work it in a skein of Mimi by Lotus Yarns which is 100% Mink!

If you’re ready for a slightly bigger project why not go for Julia Vaconsin‘s gorgeous Phoenix Mitts and work them up in the luminous Ensemble Light from Artyarns, an amazing blend of silk and cashmere!

When you’re ready for a bigger project with lots of impact visually, but not on your wallet, try a scarf or wrap like our Crocus Lace Stole. A single skein of the Silk Cashmere from Jade Sapphire would feel amazing around your shoulders and neck, and since this is an easy 1 row pattern you can just keep working till you run out of yarn.

Have you worked with any luxury fibers? What’s been your favorite?

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Guest: Kathy talks with Valley Yarns Design Manager, Kirsten Hipsky about the new Valley Yarns patterns featured in our Spring 2013 Catalog.

Best sellers at Stitches West were:

Blue Mist Cardigan in Southwick

looks more complicated than it

is and it’s a great standard wardrobe

piece.

Burning Branch Shawl in BFL Fingering

Has an easy repeat, looks much more

complicated than it is and works with a

range of yardages.

Hidden Hills Pullover in Northampton Sport has a great neckline with classic, simple colorwork and the Pelagic Shawl, using 6 color of Northampton Sport, is a wonderful update to our Jambalaya Shawl.

There’s also lots of crochet love in this catalog with the Molly Socks, The Michel Vest in Longmeadow and the  Meyer T-shirt in Goshen.

If you haven’t gotten a catalog yet, you can request one on the website, here.

Steve’s Yarn Picks 

• Juniper Moon Farms Moonshine
• Mirasol Illaris
• Mirasol Hachito
• Mondial Trilly
• Circulo Tecido Rendado Trico
• Queensland Collection Leche Closeout
• Queensland Collection Dream Closeout
• Mirasol Sawya Closeout
• Mirasol Asikita Closeout

June Hemmons Hiatt, author of The Principles of Knitting, will join our Tuesday morning Drop-in THIS WEEK on March 19th for a book signing and chat. Don’t miss out, register now!

Our 39th Anniversary Sale Starts April 1! and don’t forget about the Tent Sale in May!

Join us at  Stitches South! in the Renaissance Waverly Hotel & Cobb Galleria Centre April 11-14th in Atlanta, GA.

 

It’s National Crochet Month and we’re excited to share some of our favorite crochet techniques and trends happening in 2013. This week we’re focusing on Amigurumi, or small crocheted animals.

With Spring only a week away and Easter at the end of the month you have just enough time to create some great little gifts for the children in your life.

Amigurumi Cosy by Lan-Ahn Bui and Josephine Wan has some wonderful seasonal animals from bunnies to sheep and even an adorable snail.

Amigurumi World by Ana Paula Rimoli is one of my favorites! I’ve made tons of the Happy Eggs and the tiny duckling is adorable.

We have our own versions of these little stuffed animals, try the free Valley Yarns patterns for a bunny, lamb, robin and chickens!

Valley Yarns Valley Superwash and Valley Superwash DK are the perfect yarn for projects like these, they’ll be soft and washable and you have a great range of colors to choose from.

Have you crocheted any stuffed animals? What’s your favorite?

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Guest: Kathy talks with Rhonda Fargnoli of Coastal Colors Yarns about launching a new yarn company.

Rhonda and her partner Charlie have been teaching art for over 35 years and have applied their love of color to their new line of yarns. They use botanical extracts and many of the plants from their own yard to dye the yarn.

BFL, Superwash Merino, Flax for the Spring, are all yarn bases that they use but they keep their selection small and they buy their yarn locally. Coastal Colors yarns are currently available in 8 stores and online soon at Colorful Stitches in Lenox, MA.

Rhonda also works at RISD – The Rhode Island School of Design in their Continuing Education department as an adviser the Hand Knitting Design program.

Thanks to the Berroco Team for a wonderful Event this past Thursday night. Norah and the gang, as well as our customers, braved some typical New England late-Winter weather to be here with us.

Steve’s Yarn Picks 

• Plymouth Jelli Beanz 50g ball Closeout
• Plymouth Galway Nep Closeout
• Plymouth Baby Alpaca DK Closeout
• Plymouth Baby Alpaca Chunky Closeout
• Plymouth Alpaca Prima Closeout
• Knitting Fever Luxury Mohair Closeout
• Louisa Harding Albero Closeout
• Louisa Harding Millais Closeout

We’re happy to announce that WEBS is going to to Stitches South! We’ll be there with 6 booths at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel & Cobb Galleria Centre April 11-14th in Atlanta, GA.

Thanks to everyone who commented, Over 1,200 responses! You had some great ideas for this beautiful yarn.

The following people have won a copy of the Trinity Scarf pattern and one skein of the Perfectly Posh Sport yarn pictured above:

1 - Suzanne, who said, Very Lovely Yarn and Pattern. I would love to make that for my daughters teacher, it would suite her to a T.

2 - Gayle H., who said, Beautiful yarn, would make a lovely cowl or lacy shawlette

3 – Maryellen C., who said, I would make as many ornaments and crafts as I could get out of the skein to sell at our Christmas fundraiser to raise money for Rays of Hope and Cancer Connection

4 – Stephanie O., who said, The scarf is beautiful.

5 - Christine L., who said, Interesting, but simple enough to work on while watching TV or at knitting group…Amanda Keep’s Voyage Scarf. I made one last Christmas and the recipient loved it. Definitely looks harder than it is!

6 - Barb L., who said, Spring colors, misty mountains, Perfectly Posh is perfectly beautiful! I can think of many things to try!

7 - Melissa H., who said, I’d like to make a headband!

8 - Sabrina who said, This yarn is SO pretty! Not sure what I would chose to do with it, but a simple garter stitch cowl sometimes the perfect project for a variegated yarn.

9 - Kitty C., who said, I’d like to make a cover for my e-reader with a snazzy yarn like this! I’m keeping my fingers crossed!

10 - Sue K., who said, Love the colors! Great yarn.

Congratulations to our winners!