We’re very excited about the new Spring Yarns from Berroco.  All the yarns are washable with a great range in weights from DK to Bulky and as always Berroco has fantastic pattern support for their new yarns.

Weekend DK – available in over 20 colors, is wonderful for striping, summer sweaters and accessories as well as children’s garments. Berroco 328 – Weekend Stripes features 12 designs using Weekend DK, Weekend and Weekend Chunky.

Karma –  with it’s unique mesh, tape construction makes for an amazingly light weight bulky yarn. Berroco 330- Karma includes 6 projects with almost instant gratification appeal.

Maya – a beautiful cotton and alpaca blend, is a much lighter weight yarn than you would expect because of it’s chainette construction. Berroco 331 – Maya includes 6 designs that are perfect mid-season pieces.

Fuji – a great blend of silk, cotton, and rayon, makes for a solid but light weight fabric that has beautiful stitch definition and would be wonderful for cables. The fibers take in the dye differently for great, subtle color depth. Berroco 327 features 6 designs using Fuji.

Floret – is another great cotton, acrylic blend in multi color strands with a great sheen that works up into a subtle, almost tonal fabric. Berroco 332 – Floret is a collection of 5 designs featuring Floret’s beautiful drape and color.

Berroco 329 – features 6 delicate, Victorian inspired designs in Lago, Seduce and Captiva Metallic.

Berroco Norah Gaughan Vol. 12 is a collection of 14 designs, tops and accessories in simple shapes with refined elaborate detailing that play with geometry, texture, and drape, featuring the full line of Spring yarns.

I’m looking forward to making the Hami tank in Fuji from Berroco 327 Fuji, the cedar colorway is calling my name!

What new yarn from Berroco are you looking forward to using?

 

Knitting and Crochet are a huge part of our lives here at WEBS and this year we wanted to bring them together for a quick Valentine’s Day project that is accessible to everyone from the most advanced to newest beginners. Valley Yarns Pattern #526 Heartfelt Coasters.

With just 3 skeins of our Valley Yarns Northampton Sport you can make 6 coasters with enough yardage left over for quite a bit of embellishment.  Here you can see Kirsten’s mug on her basic coaster and mine on my fancy one. Kirsten knit hers and I crocheted mine, then we swapped hearts, so each of our coasters contains knit and crochet! All it takes is two simple squares, knit or crocheted, that have been felted. Cut out a heart shape from the center and swap the hearts, then sew them back into place in their new home.

For the sewing you’ll need an embroidery needle with an eye big enough to accommodate the yarn and a tip sharp enough to pierce your felted square, as well as the third color of Northampton Sport. Here I have a square in natural and a heart in burgundy, so I’m using the merlot heather to sew everything together.  And don’t worry if your heart doesn’t fit exactly into the cut out space, your stitches should pull everything together nicely. If you’re feeling fancy you can do a blanket stitch around the edge and then add a decorative crochet border.

Swap hearts with a friend or get your knitting group/circle to swap hearts.

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: Kathy and Kristin talk about The Finer Edge: Crocheted Trims, Motifs & Borders, Kristin’s newest book.

The book began as a seasons worth of project ideas for Knitting Daily TV and there was so much to work with that it made sense to turn it into a great reference book for edgings and borders.

The book is divided into sections for edgings worked from the top down, the bottom up and side-to-side. There is also a pattern section featuring garments and accessories where the fabric is actually constructed from edgings!

Kathy loves the Luxor Blanket and the Palmira Shawl crochet in our own 2/14 Alpaca Silk.

Finer Edge Giveaway!

Leave a comment on our post as well as on Kristin’s Blog to win a signed copy of The Finer Edge as well as a Prize pack containing the yarn and hook to make the Palmira shawl, a bottle of Eucalan in Kristin’s Wrapture scent and a $25.00 WEBS Gift Card. Comments are open through Thursday, Feb. 7th and the winner will be announced here on Saturday Feb 9th.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Rowan Magazine 53
• Rowan All Seasons Chunky
• Rowan Softknit Cotton
• Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk Dk Solids
• Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk Dk Prints
• Debbie Bliss Luxury Silk DK Pattern Booklet
• Classic Elite Provence Discontinued 100g Closeout
• Cascade 220 Discontinued Colors Closeout
• Cascade 220 Superwash Discontinued Colors Closeout
• Cascade Eco+ Discontinued Colors Closeout

Reminder: Pre-Game Sunday Escape, tomorrow, Feb 3rd from noon-4:00PM

February 15-18 Debbie Stoller will be at the Rowe Conference Center for a weekend long workshop: Raging Wool

Monday February 18th Debbie Stoller will be at WEBS from 3-5pm! She’ll be teaching a one hour lace workshop and then signing books. The class is free but Registration is required.

Two weeks from today, on Feb 16th, we will air Show #300! To celebrate we will be giving away three $300 gift cards. You must be on the e-mail list to participate, join here. We will be e-mailing a short survey, this Tuesday –  February 5th,  and filling it out will enter you in the contest. The winners will be announced on the 300th episode.

 We’re pairing up with one of our favorite designers, Kristin Omdahl, to give away a signed copy of her newest book, The Finer Edge!

We’ll also be giving away a bottle of her Wrapture scent from Eucalan, a cone of our 2/14 Alpaca Silk (to make the Palmira Shawl featured in the book), a Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Crochet hook: US size E/4/3.50mm, and a $25 Gift Certificate to WEBS.

Just leave a comment here and on Kristin’s Blog letting us know why you’d like a copy of the book. All comments must be posted by 11:59PM  EST on Thursday, February 7th to be entered to win. We’ll announce the winner on the blog on Saturday Feb 9th.

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: Kathy talks about some exciting new pattern books for Spring.

Westknits 4: Made for Movement by Stephen West. Once again Stephen is featuring his signature architectural shaping and stitch detail to create 10 gorgeous designs.

      

Kathy really likes the Barndom Shawl, featured on the cover, the Itaca shawl as well as the Shrowl – which is a free pattern

Classic Elite Yarns has paired up with Stephanie, the owner of Unwind in L.A., to create 2 collections with 5 patterns each. Both collections are modern and fresh, and still very recognizable as Classic Elite designs.

Handmade Los Angeles I : a collection of more wintry garments

Kathy loves the shawl knit on the bias in 3 colors of Chalet, and the beautiful scoop neck sweater that would be a perfect wardrobe staple.

Handmade Los Angeles II : designs with more of a summer vibe

Kathy’s favorite is the Poncho knit in Silky Alpaca Lace in cream with the multicolor fringe.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Fibra Natura Sea Song Closeout
• Fibra Natura Flax Closeout
• Fibra Natura Exquisite Bamboo Closeout
• Fibra Natura Cottonwood Closeout
• Universal Yarn Classic Worsted LP Closeout
• Universal Yarn Dolce Merino Closeout
• Regia My First Regia Solids – New!
• Regia My First Regia Prints – New!
• Regia Journal 005: My First Regia- New!
• New Rowan Yarns – And Rowan 53!

Reminder: Pre-Game Sunday Escape, Feb 3rd from noon-4:00PM

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: Kathy and Betsy talk about the new Classic Elite Book: Shawls, Wraps and Scarves. Betsy and several of the designers will be here at WEBS to introduce you to the book and designs on January 24th, be sure to register now!

Betsy and Kathy also discuss the versatility of the items featured in the book, and how adventurous you can be with these simple shapes just by varying your yarn, color and stitch choice.

If you are in New York City you can see Betsy at Vogue Knitting Live today!

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Noro Takeuma
• Noro Koromo
• Tahki Marina
• Tahki Pixie
• Regia 4-Ply Arabesque Color Closeout
• Regia 4-ply Concerto Color Closeout
• Cascade 220 Paints Discontinued Colors Closeout
• Plymouth Yarns Pasea Discontinued Colors Closeout

• Vogue Knitting Winter 2012/2013
• Debbie Bliss Magazine Spring/Summer 2013

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: Kathy and our Berroco Rep., Andra Asars, discuss the New Spring yarns from Berroco.

Fuji -  worsted silk/cotton blend, almost a tweed or marled effect due to the fibers taking the dye differently

Maya(Andra’s current yarn crush!) – a chainette construction pima cotton/baby alpaca blend  soft and machine washable with beautiful drape

Karma – bulky cotton in a fish net construction, like the ruffle yarns, but meant to be knit as a classic yarn.

Two additions to existing yarn lines: Captiva Metallic and Weekend DK. All the new, spring yarns are machine washable

 The cover sweater, Niche, from Norah Gaughan Collection Vol. 12 is knit in Maya.

There are 56 new designs for Spring!
Pattern Booklets: 332 – Floret, 331 – Maya, 330 – Karma, 329 – Lago, Seduce & Captiva Metallic, 328 – Weekend Stripes, 327 –  Fuji

Additional patterns are published throughout the season and can be found in Knitbits.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Art Yarns Silk Essence
• Cascade Cash Vero Closeout
• Cash Vero DK Closeout
• Cascade 220 Quatro Closeout
• Stylecraft Life Dk Closeout
• Stylecraft Life Chunky Closeout
• SMC Highland Alpaca Fino Closeout
• SMC Alpaka Closeout

We’ve asked our staff members what their fiber related resolutions are for 2013 and we’ve gotten a great range of ideas from more spinning and stash-busting to learning new techniques and planning projects.

What are your Fiber Resolutions for 2013?

My fiber resolution for 2013 is to knit at least one item for myself. – Jamie

I resolve to use up my stash! – Linda

I want to make a multi-colored felted rabbit without using a wool pets kit. – Kyle

I’m determined to learn how to use Photoshop Elements to develop fabulous weaving drafts! – Barbara

I resolve to spend a little time every day doing fiber art, I’d like to make art a daily, restorative habit. – Kirsten

My resolution is to get better at spinning on my wheel this year. – Jackie

I resolve to dust off my spinning wheel and put it back into action. – Tina

 

I now have a basket Full of handspun that I NEED to use up in 2013! – Sara

My resolution is to buy the yarn for, and start (and try to get significant progress on) my epic fingering weight fair isle sweater. – Kristin

Self publish a sweater design! – Emma

I plan to weave a blanket! – Karen

I resolve to finish the hat I started last February! – Kendra

I plan to spin down A LOT of my fiber stash. It’s out of control! – Mary

I resolve to knit from MY stash and use MY patterns. – Lise

This year I’m going to be a slightly selfish knitter and make sure I have a nice hand made hat and cowl.  - Grace

I want to use up many of my coned yarns to make room for new yarns. – Debbie

My only resolution right now is to finish the hexagon blanket. This WILL be the year I do it. I swear! – Dena

I will encourage Tina to have quicker project turn-around times. – Bryan

I plan to spin more, maybe with camel! – Heather

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: It’s time for Kathy and Carol’s Annual Year in Review! Kathy is excited about the resurgence of crochet with the special Vogue Knitting Crochet issue earlier this year and the new Crochet Noro book; just two great examples of crochet coming into it’s own.

They also discuss a few yarn companies that closed their doors this year, the fashion yarn trend still going strong, trade shows and fairs, great books, the shift to digital patterns, social media marketing and more.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Zen Yarn Garden Serenity DK
• Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20
• Malabrigo Rastita
• Manos del Uruguay Alegria

Play Now:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Guest: Kathy and Leslie Ann talk about some great last minute gift ideas. Bulky yarns will work up quickly for a few more handmade gifts.

Greta’s hat in Fibre Company Tundra - or try a simple ribbed hat in Cascade Magnum or a cute earflap hat crocheted in Berroco Souffle

Leslie Ann and Kathy also discuss great little gifts to put together; washcloths in soft cottons with fancy soaps, potholders with cookbooks, or coasters with some special mugs. Don’t forget sheep themed, little, stocking stuffers!

And for the weaver you can’t go wrong with a new shuttle or a beautiful and unique shawl pin.

For more ideas check out our videos: Holiday Gift Ideas for Knitters and Crocheters and Holiday Gift Ideas for Weavers

WEBS Annual Year End Blowout Sale is happening online now through January 1st and  In-Store December 26th – 31st.

Steve’s Year End Blowout Sale Yarn Picks

• Tahki Cotton Classic Grab Bags
• Tahki Cotton Classic Lite Grab Bags
• Supreme 5 and 10 bag Grab bags
• Classic Elite Cottom Bam Boo
• Filatura Di Crosa Prestige Baby
• Filatura Di Crosa Prestige Baby Print
• Cascade Yarns Pastaza
• Filatura Di Crosa Lovely Jeans
• Cascade Yarns Covington
• Noro Wadaiko