With over 100 items in this years sale it’s hard not to find the perfect yarns to add to your stash or to cast on with right now! I’m already dreaming of summer projects, hoping I can get a few finished in time to wear them this year!

Rowan Summerlite DK is a beautifully soft, 100% cotton, DK weight yarn that has me dreaming about a cute cropped cardi for me and maybe one for my niece.

Jil Eaton CottonTail is another 100% cotton yarn, this time in a cable plied, worsted weight, and it might just be perfect for a lacey, summer poncho in a bright pop of color.

Cascade Yarns Sateen Worsted keeps calling my name and telling me that it wants me to make a blanket. I walk past this yarn almost every day and I keep seeing new color combinations and they start spinning in my head like a kaleidoscope, and then I’m wondering should I knit or crochet? Since I’m planning to use this yarn over the winter I think I might knit a blanket since I don’t need to worry about being bundled up under it as it grows, that’s kind of the point isn’t it? Now, do I go with simple stripes, log cabin, or something even more colorful?

And if I didn’t already own a set of Addi Click needles I’d be getting one because they’re at a great price!

That’s my plan for now. 3 yarns, 4 projects, though I still need to make a decision or two on what those will be, and I’ll have 2 tops, a gift and a new blanket for summer. That is if I don’t walk by another yarn that starts calling my name!

What are your plans for your Year End Blowout Sale purchases, or are you stashing for a rainy day?

And don’t forget that if you’re within driving distance you should stop by our retail store for deals that you won’t find online! You’ll find directions here.

Kristin Omdahl is one of our favorite crochet designers and we’ve recently started carrying her two yarns, Be So Fine and Be So Sporty.  Both yarns are 100% bamboo, in bright, saturated colors inspired by tropical flowers and the sea. There’s great pattern support for these yarns including the FREE Beachy One eBook which contains six fantastic patterns including the Sunny Isles Soft Yellow Crochet Shawl.

One of our store staffers, Mary, recently crocheted a sample of this shawl in the Lilac Memories colorway of Be So Fine and at  a whopping 650 yards per skein you only need one! This is one of the most beautiful shawl samples we’ve ever, if you’re near our retail store in Northampton MA stop by and check it out!

Our young man, J. is working on a store sample to show off the beautiful new Malabrigo Mora. The pattern is called Herald and was designed by Janina Kallio. J. reports that this asymmetrical scalene triangular shawl pattern will keep your interest and show off any hand-dyed yarns beautifully.

Next up is Marthe’s Eccentric Chevron Wrap. Painstakingly knit from a kit using 6 different colors of Prism Merino Mia fingering weight yarn. Marthe says that this wrap was a fun knit and the yarn was a pleasure to work with. She truly enjoyed the subtle color variations and the delightful ‘hand’ of the knitted fabric. This is a wrap that really needs to be seen in person to appreciate its beauty.

Bonnie took her first rigid heddle weaving class, and here’s the finished project that she completed in one class session. She really enjoyed the class and is looking forward to purchasing a loom and doing more weaving. But that’s not all! Bonnie has been busy the past couple of months–she finished a poncho too. This is a free pattern on our website. It features Berroco Briza, a lightweight blend of mohair, nylon and wool. This on-trend poncho is knit in stockinette stitch and features a garter stitch band across the bottom edge. Bonnie enhanced the existing pattern by picking up stitches around the neck opening and working for a few more inches, creating a loose turtleneck.  She says “It’s a great accessory for fall evenings when a coat is just too much.” She loves the poncho so much she’s knitting another one!

What are you working on for the fall? We love seeing  your beautiful hand knits in the store when you visit. Please stop by and show off!

This week, I’m thrilled to show off this beautiful colorwork sweater Oranje, which was knit by one of our loyal customers, Martha. You can see her project notes here on Ravelry.

Not only was this Martha’s first colorwork sweater, it was her first steeked project as well.  She eased her nerves about steeking by reading lots of information about how other knitters approach the technique. Martha adapted the pattern to incorporate a fair amount of ease and modified the sleeves to a 3/4 length. The pattern calls for yarns that WEBS doesn’t carry, but Martha substituted Madelinetosh Pashmina, and WEBS’ own Valley Superwash DK.

Martha says, “The finished sweater is warm and soft and feels more like a favorite sweatshirt!” Hopefully you’ll be sufficiently inspired by Martha’s work to cast on for a project that includes some new techniques you’ve been curious about. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you can accomplish!”

If you’re proud of a project you’ve recently completed, tell me about it! Please send all your info, and images, along to me at sgibbs@yarn.com.

Thanks for supporting WEBS and I hope to see you in the store soon.

When you first read through your pattern you may see a note that says to “hold the yarn doubled throughout” or “yarn is doubled throughout”, this means you’ll carry 2 strands of yarn and knit with them as if they are one strand. This allows you to knit at a bulkier gauge or to combine yarns for a completely different look and texture, like transitions of color. The Lodge Pole Cowl uses two strands of Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky for a chunkier gauge than one strand would have yielded and the Gradient Cowl from Shibui transitions colors easily by changing just one at a time.

If your pattern is made up of short stripes, usually only 2 or 4 rows of each color, it may make more sense for you to “carry the yarn up the side” of your work rather that cutting and starting with new yarn for every new row – think of weaving in ALL those ends! The trick to this method is carrying the yarn up the side of the work each time you change color for the stripes. You’ll finish a row, and when you turn the piece over you’ll let the color you just finished with hang to the front of your work and bring the new color up behind to begin the new row. If you remember to change your colors this way for each color change it will be nearly invisible. The Garter Trap scarf, and the Chevron Tube Cowl are great examples of this technique!

What techniques or stitches are you struggling with? Ask WEBS, we can help!

Our new Heart Pops Hat pattern is not only adorable but FREE!

Just two skeins of Valley Yarns Berkshire is actually enough to make two hats (in opposite colors). And try the Clover Heart-Shaped Pom-pom maker for the perfect topper to this little hat. What colors would you use?

Are you joining us in making a WEBS Mystery Blanket? There’s a Knit-A-Long and a Crochet-A-Long, something for everyone!

Our first square will be revealed, FREE!, on February 26th right here on the WEBS Blog. So get your yarn ordered and get swatching!

You can find all the information about yarn, needles, hooks and gauge here. We can’t wait to share this project with you!

The Winter Games begin Feb 7th  – just 2 weeks away!

If you’re looking for a few quick projects to knit or crochet before the games begin, to show your support, we’ve got some great ideas and each pattern is FREE.

Our Last Minute Hat pattern is a great quick knit! Written to double strand our Berkshire Bulky, you could easily substitute with 3 strands of our Valley Yarns Berkshire or Northampton.

The Last Minute Mittens are also a great choice. Shown knit in Northampton Bulky, you could substitute Berkshire Bulky, and easily add stripes.

The Bits and Pieces Cowl is a great way to show your team spirit, and being worked in singled crochet on a larger hook with Berkshire Bulky you’ll zip right along!

Finally, a cute and slouchy crochet hat from the My Mountain collection from Schachenmayer worked in their Boston yarn.

If you already have projects planned but need yarns in the right patriotic color scheme to support Team USA we have a few more great options:

Berroco Comfort, Berroco Comfort Chunky, Plymouth Encore

What will you be working on during the games? And what events are you most looking forward to?

As we enter into the darkest month of the year, it is fitting that candles have a symbolic role in the Christmas holiday. Our festive Advent Candle Wall Hanging allows you to mark each of the weeks of the Christmas season. Now you can celebrate the season without fearing hot wax, flames or prickly pine needles. In addition, our pattern allows you to create a 4 or 5 candle arrangement.

You can download the free pattern here.

Happy Holidays!

The Free Knit Lace and Crochet Lace Jar Covers from our Holiday Gift Guide have been quite popular.

Whether you knit or crochet, these projects work up quick and are made with just a little bit of yarn so they’re perfect for using up some of your stash.

Decoration

These jars, set in clusters, can really pull together a seasonal display on a dining room table or mantelpiece, and they can easily be filled with seasonal greens or berries for a pop of color.

Gifts

They also make for great gift presentation! Whether you’re giving a decorative candle, a delicious cookie-in-a-jar mix or a few sets of colorful double pointed needles, these jar covers make the most beautiful gift wrapping.

Have you knit or crocheted and jar covers yet? How will you use them?