This week, we were excited to celebrate another set of graduates of the WEBS Expert Knitter Certification Program!

These amazing garments were designed and knit by two program members, Jennifer and Sylvia, who were tasked with designing their ideal sweater as the final challenge in the program.

The Expert Knitter Certification Program is a series of 18 classes, taught at our store in Northampton, MA, designed to increase the knitting skills and confidence of everyone enrolled in the program.  These classes range from the very basics of knit and purl to advanced construction techniques, and everything in between.

After completing the required courses, members of the program begin a final project designing and knitting an original sweater from scratch, drawing upon the skills learned throughout the program. Each knitter is assigned a design mentor who is available for support. The process of sketching, swatching and knitting happens between January and June, when the project is due. The sweater can be a cardigan or a pullover and can be simple or elaborate, as long as it is finished well and suits the designer perfectly both in size and in personality. And that’s exactly what both of these garments accomplished.  We are so proud to add these two designers to our list of program graduates. Congratulations Sylvia and Jennifer!

For a slideshow of images of graduation, press play below.

For a look at past graduations, click here.

For more information about the program, click here.

Store associate, J, was here the day that June Hemmons Hiatt visited the store. He had a wonderful time at the event and shares his experience with us below.

We were so lucky to have June Hemmons Hiatt, author of The Principles of Knitting, visit the store on March 19th. The snowy and icy weather worked against us. (Isn’t it March that goes in like a lion and out like a lamb?) Not only was she here to sign her book, but she also made herself available to us. She gave some excellent background on both the original writing and the revision that this knitting textbook undertook.

To offer an anecdote of The Principles of Knitting’s importance among the knitting community: The first edition was selling on eBay for hundreds of dollars just months prior to the recent re-release.  A knitter’s version of The Joy of Cooking, June Hemmons Hiatt’s book should be at every knitter’s side, marked up, highlighted, dog-ears on the pages you return to again and again. While the internet has broadened the availability of knitting technique instruction, blogs, videos, etc., The Principles of Knitting is truly the definitive source for knitting techniques. It is a valuable work for beginners and advanced knitters alike that works without need for power or internet connection, with clear illustrations (over 900 illustrations, she told us) to compliment the text.

June Hemmons Hiatt spent nearly two hours at WEBS, taking the time to speak with the group, as well as with each of us individually while she signed our copies. I was able to get a picture to capture the moment, which was the icing on the cake for me. I blame the weather for my hair, but as you can see I was overjoyed to have time with June Hemmons Hiatt.

There are so many exciting people visiting us at WEBS in the next few months!

Our first guest in February is Debbie Stoller, author of the Stitch ‘n Bitch series of books. She’ll be joining us for a workshop and book signing on February 18th. 

She’ll be in the area because of a fabulous sounding retreat she is teaching in Rowe, MA.  So if you are looking for a quick, relaxing getaway, this month, you should check that out too!

In March we are welcoming Norah Gaughan and the Berroco Design Team who will share the Berroco Spring 2013 collection, the Comfort Baby & Toddler Book, and a few favorites from Fall 2012. Hear all about the new garments, the design process and get a chance to try on some new favorite pieces.

Beth Brown-Reinsel will be here to teach three classes exploring traditional folk knitting techniques. Learn colorful knitting methods of Latvia, Maine and Norway.

In April we welcome Judith Durant and Dorothy Ratigan, a dynamic duo who will share their Knitting Know-How and help you out with your knitting woes.

Also in April, Melissa Morgan-Oakes will have you knitting two socks at a time, (top-down, or toe-up!) in no time.

For more details about all of these events and workshops visit our website! And keep an eye on that page – you never know who will visit us next and that link is the place you’ll always find the latest information.

The stocking kit will be going to Christine Katic who said:

I’m in a new home in a new city and state and I will be celebrating the first “real” Christmas since the death of my husband. I’d love to have a brand new stocking to help get me through the holidays. Fresh beginnings are sometimes a really good thing.

Thank you to everyone for the great comments! We’re thrilled that Kristin Nicholas’ Stocking Kit is getting so much love.

We have been so inspired this fall by Kristin Nicholas’ newest designs using Classic Elite’s Color by Kristin. So when we saw her new knitted stocking kit come into the store we knew it would quickly become a staff and customer favorite!

Using stunning color combinations, this kit includes patterns for both stockings and enough yarn to knit both!  These stockings will be a fun, colorful addition to any celebration.

We are giving away one Classic Elite Color By Kristin Stocking Kit this week.  Leave a comment on this post telling us why you would like to knit these stockings. You have until Monday, November 12th at 9:00am EDT when we’ll choose one comment at random.

Carol Sulcoski was so excited about the response to the blog giveaway of her book, she gave us books to give to two knitters!

So, congratulations to Nicole Gottier who said:

“My favorite sock yarn is on the cover of this great new book – Schoppel Wolle Zauberball!!!

And congratulations to scifiknitter who said:

We have been loving Carol Sulcoski’s new book Sock Yarn Studio: Hats, Garments, and Other Projects Designed for Sock Yarn so when she agreed to hold a book signing event at WEBS on Saturday, November 10th, we were thrilled!

Carol is a talented designer, author and hand-dyer with a particular interest in light weight yarns. This book is filled with gorgeous projects to inspire knitters everywhere to use their colorful stashes of sock yarn for projects other than socks! There is also a handy section packed with information about how sock yarn works, how to best use self-patterning yarns and how to avoid pooling.

The beautifully photographed projects are the real stars of the show in this book. This Gumdrop Raglan pullover makes great use of both solid and striping sock yarns:

We are excited to kick off our Fall 2012 events season with a celebration of all that is new for Valley Yarns on September 20th at 6pm!

Join us as we hear from some of the people who knit the garment samples you see in the catalog,

as well as from some of the designers of this year’s line!

We’ll have all of the fall garments to try on (and maybe even a little sneak peek at the garments from the upcoming holiday catalog.)

We’ll also be debuting our newest yarns, with a chance to try them out for yourself!

Join us for an informal evening of fun, snacks and yarn while finding out more about what goes into putting together a line of fun things to knit, crochet and wear.  The event is free, but we do ask that you register here.

Each year we celebrate members of the WEBS Expert Knitter Certification Program who have completed all of their required classes and have taken on the challenge of designing and knitting an original sweater. This final phase of the program is known as The Capstone Project.

This year three people spent the months of January through May sketching, swatching, knitting, ripping and reknitting a garment that reflected their shape, style and skill. From elegant bead work to ornate cables, these cardigans are stunning projects and expertly constructed.

This year’s Capstone Projects (from left to right) are the works of Diane, Harriett and Kathy:

(Click on the photos to view them larger.)

Expert Knitter Graduation is one of the best events we hold all year. Filled with knitters, staff members, and friends and family of the graduates, it never fails to be fun, lively and inspiring. You can press play below for a slideshow of images from this year’s graduation.

You can view last year’s Capstone Project sweaters here, and sweaters from years past here.

If you are local to WEBS and are looking for some fun things to do with your fiber friends, we have plenty of events to keep you busy in June!

On Thursday, June 14th we are excited to host the book launch for our very own Leslie Ann Bestor’s book Cast On, Bind Off! Join us from 6pm – 8pm to celebrate this comprehensive collection of all of her tips and tricks for dressing up the beginning and end of every project. (Leslie Ann is also teaching some of these techniques this summer! Find out more about her classes here.)

On Tuesday, June 5th Iris Schreier will join our regular Drop-In session!  Iris Schreier is the founder and designer of Artyarns, and author of One + One Scarves, Shawls & Shrugs. Stop in to meet and chat with her between 10am and 12pm and see many of the beautiful garments from the book.  Then feel free to stick around for a little advice on your current project.

On Friday, June 15th we will welcome designer Ysolda Teague to the store! From 4pm to 5:30pm Ysolda will hang out in the store for a meet-and-greet after she finishes teaching her class (more information on that class here). Swing by and say hello, she’ll be happy to answer a few questions or sign your book!

And, of course, there is the I-91 Shop Hop!  Eleven local yarn shops located along I-91 from Putney, VT to New Haven, CT are joining together for the second annual I-91 Shop Hop! This event is a fun way to visit new and interesting yarn shops in our area.

The I-91 Shop Hop will take place June 29th – July 1st.  All participating shops will be open from 10am–6pm on Friday & Saturday and 12pm–5pm on Sunday.  Find out how to purchase your passport and all of the other details here.

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June is going to be such an exciting way to kick off the summer!  For details about registering for any of the events above, click the event image or visit our events page.