We loved Kristin Nicholas’s Sebastian Gloves the first time we saw them. But we were blown away by the incredible response they got when we featured them on the cover of our Fall 2012 Catalog. Their cheerful cuteness were hard to resist.

Last week, Kristin Nicholas kicked off a two-day Sebastian Gloves knitting class. But not everyone is fortunate enough to live close enough to WEBS to take our classes. So we’re starting a knitalong today for the Sebastian Gloves! If you’ve never heard of a knitalong (also known as KAL) or participated in one before, they’re a fun way for a group of knitters to virtually knit a pattern together. We’ll offer tips, answer your questions, provide tutorials on techniques used in the gloves. You’ll share your progress, ask questions when you get stuck, and definitely post photos of your finished gloves.

If you’ve never knit gloves before, a knitalong is a great excuse to try a new kind of project. You’ll find lots of help and encouraging words here.

This week of the knitalong you’ll be collecting the supplies you’ll need to get started.

Step 1 – Purchase the pattern. You have two options. The Sebastian Gloves can be found in the Classic Elite Yarns 9209 Color by Kristin Book 1 pattern book which we currently have in stock. Or if you prefer a digital version, you can purchase the Sebastian Gloves PDF pattern on our website too.

Step 2 – Purchase the yarn. The yarn used for the gloves is Classic Elite Yarns Color by Kristin, a 50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% mohair worsted weight yarn. If you’re knitting the Ribbed Cuff version, you’ll need 1 skein each of 4 colors. If you’re knitting the Cabled Cuff version, you’ll need 1 skein each of 3 colors. In my Ribbed Cuff gloves, I’m using the 4 colors pictured at the right, with the Turquoise Sea color as my main color.

Step 3 – Decide which color will be your main color and contrast colors. Especially if you’re going to knit the Ribbed Cuff version, I recommend drawing a quick map of the glove and where each color will appear in the glove. This will save you time later to prevent you from knitting the wrong color. Believe me, it happens.

Step 4 – Check your gauge by knitting a swatch. Some people swatch, some people don’t. Sometimes it depends on the type of project you’re going to knit. Check out our blog post on Checking Your Gauge if you’re not sure if you think you need to swatch or not. If you do swatch, use the color that appears the least in the gloves you’re knitting.

Step 5 – Get together the other materials you’ll need. After you determine which size needles to use, you’ll need a set of double pointed needles in that size (larger needles) and then a set about two sizes down from there (smaller needles). The recommended sizes are US 5 & 7. You’ll also need a cable needle, stitch holders, and some waste yarn.

Note: if you prefer to knit gloves on two circulars or use one long circular needle for magic loop, go right ahead. I’m finding using two circular needles easier to use when knitting the cabled portion of the gloves since I don’t like it when a cable crosses between two double pointed needles.

Step 6 – Decide which size you’re going to make. This pattern is written in small, medium, and large sizes for women.

Step 7 – Share your color combination and questions. Please share your color choices in the comments below or in the Sebastian Glove KAL thread on Ravelry. And if you have any questions, ask away. That’s what we’re here for.

We’ll start knitting the gloves next Sunday. Then the knitalong will wrap up a week later, which leaves plenty of knitting time left if you’re making them as a gift for the holidays.

I can’t wait to see which color combinations people are going to come up with. This is a great project for trying a color you may not normally use. Have fun with your color selection.

Happy Knitting!
- Dena

Hi Everyone!

Did you finish your Caeles? We all completed ours and we’re excited to show you our finished project!

 We all used Valley Yarns Goshen, except for Tina (grey Caeles). She chose to create more of a layering piece by knitting hers our of Valley Yarns Northampton. It looks great in both yarns!

We all chose to shorten the top because we were more comfortable with a shorter style. Since it is knit from the top down, this wasn’t an issue. We kept trying it on until it was a length we were comfortable with.

Caeles is a great top that you can wear casually with jeans, or dress it up like Dena did with a skirt for this picture. You can also customize it by adding a picot edge like Lise did.

We hope you had fun knitting along with us. If you head over to the All Things WEBS group on Ravelry, make sure you post a picture of your finished project. We would love to see them!

We took last week to work the body up to the hem in our Caeles KAL. We have four of us here at WEBS that are currently working on the Caeles, and we have three different options for the hem that we chose to do. Here are three videos that show the different hem options we chose to use.

Woven Hem for Top-Down Knitting

Bound-off Hem for Top-Down Knitting

Sewn Hem for Top-Down Knitting

Another tip for the hem is to run a length of yarn through your stitches at the point where your live stitches will meet the back after it’s folded, so you can sew your stitches down all along the same line.

Next, you’ll pick up stitches and work short rows on the sleeves and collar. We found that the best way to do attach the live stitches on this part is by sewing them down. It lays the flattest, and you don’t want any extra bulk at the collar or the arms, especially the underarms.

How is your Caeles coming?

I hope that your armhole shaping and neck shaping went swimmingly. Now, you’ll join the fronts and backs, including casting on for the front neckline and a few stitches for the underarms.

Make sure you place the safety pin on the stitch that the pattern calls for. You’ll need this spot later. You can use a safety pin, but it’s just as easy to use a locking stitch marker.

When you join the pieces, make sure nothing is twisted! One of use discovered this the hard way (and that knitting when you’re tired isn’t always the best decision!). It’s easy enough to go back and undo it, but it’s better to save the hassle before you get there.

As you continue the body, you’ll be using the make one increases again for the shaping on the body.

One of the best things about working a piece from the top down is that you can try it on as you go. We put our stitches on waste yarn and tried them on. (In the pictures below, you’ll notice Tina’s working her sweater in Valley Yarns Northampton for a fall/vest option.)

Next week, we’ll finish up the body and work the hem.

Happy Knitting!

How did the first part of the sweater go for you? Are you ready to move on to shaping the armholes? You’ll need to know how to work M1R, M1L, M1L-P, and M1R-P increases. This video should help:

Do you have any tips for remembering which one is which? I still haven’t figured out the best way to remember it myself!

Moving on to the fronts, you’ll pick up the stitches at the shoulders and begin working down. You’ll also notice the “dreaded” AT THE SAME TIME makes and appearance. The neck and armhole shaping is worked at the same time, so you’ll want to make sure you do this. I have found it’s handy to write out the directions with both sets of shaping and check them off as complete.

I have notes all over my pattern (and they’re color-coded!). I have highlighted the stitch counts and measurements for the size I’m knitting and I have counting marks and other various notes all over!

Next week, we’ll join the fronts to the back and begin working the body. Do you have any questions so far? Let us know and we’ll answer. Is there anything you’ve encountered so far that you would like to see a video for?

We’d love to see your progress. Head on over to the Ravelry group and share a picture!

Happy Knitting!

Hi Everyone!

How did the swatching go? Are you ready to cast-on? The pattern begins at the back and includes working a couple of short rows right at the beginning. If you’ve never worked short rows before, there’s nothing to be nervous about. They’re exactly what they sound like – knitting to a certain point in a row, stopping short, and turning and going back. For this pattern, you’ll also be wrapping and turning, so you don’t leave a hole.

Check out our video on short rows using wrap and turn:

We found that as we were working those short rows, we picked up and worked our wraps as we came to them instead of when the pattern indicates. This way, you don’t have a wrap spanning several rows. Once you get to the stitch you wrapped, just knit the wrap with the stitch you’re working as Dena shows in the video.

Continue working the pattern to the armhole shaping and next week, we’ll demonstrate the different increases that are used there.

If you haven’t had a chance to purchase the pattern yet from Twist Collective, you can do so here.

Happy Knitting!

If you’ve followed along on our podcast, Ready, Set, Knit, you know that we’ve featured many knitalongs and crochetalongs, and now it’s time for another. Instead of featuring it on the podcast, we’re going to run this one here on the blog. We hope you’ll join us!

Play Now:

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Guest: Dora Ohrenstein, author of Custom Crocheted Sweaters. Kathy and Dora chats with Kathy about crochet and her new book. They also talk about how crochet has evolved. Dora’s book includes a comprehensive teaching section at the beginning. Through research on Ravelry, she discovered that people want to make garments, but they find that they don’t fit. The book answers this fear with information about getting your measurements and modifying the pattern to fit you.

Check out Dora’s song Family of Stitches on here site crochetinsider.com.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Artyarns Ensemble Light
• Juniper Moon Farm Findley Dappled
• SMC Egypto Cotton
• Aslan Trends Santa Fe Closeout
• Plymouth Nazca Wind Closeout
• Lana Gatto Class Closeout
• Lana Gatto Camel Hair Closeout

Brenda Dayne is coming to WEBS! Stay tuned for more details.

Play Now:

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Guest: Kate Atherley, author of Beyond Knit & Purl. Kate studied mathematics and has always been a knitter. She worked in the tech industry for 15 years and knit throughout. 10 years ago she started teaching knitting. Kate created the book as a follow-up to the questions she receives after teaching someone the basics of knitting.

The book is available online as a digital PDF and also available as a physical copy.

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Schoppel Wolle Zauberwolle
• Classic Elite Sanibel
• SMC Select Reflect
• Regia 4 Ply Design Ombre Stripe by Kaffe Fassett
• Jojoland Baritone Closeout
• Aslan Trends Pima Clasico Closeout
• 2/8 Worsted Closeout

KAL with Kirsten

Hearts of Oak Hat

It’s a simple, straight-forward hat. You’ll need just one ball of Valley Yarns Northampton in red. For the cast on, Kirsten recommends knitting the first couple rows of the ribbing flat, and then joining it. This way, it’s easier to join in the round without twisting. Next week, Kirsten will get into the stitch pattern.

Facebook Party will be Friday, February 17th from 3:00pm-4:00pm. Ask us questions and we’ll be online answering your questions.

Play Now:

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Guest: Linda Pratt of Westminster fibers talks with Kathy about SMC Yarns. SMC is a shortened version of the Schachenmayr brand. The brand has been given a huge face-lift and rejuvenation. SMC Select is a little higher end, fashion-focused line. Several of the Gedifra yarns have been absorbed into SMC Select.

• SMC Select Silk Wool
• SMC Dolce Vita

Steve’s Big Announcement!
We’re excited to introduce Knitter’s Pride needles, hooks, and accessories that we’re now carrying online and in our store. Check out our entire Knitter’s Pride collection!

Dreamz – laminated birch (Symfonie wood) needles, every size is a different color

• Dreamz Interchangeable Deluxe Interchangeable Needle Set
• Dreamz Fixed Circulars
• Dreamz Single Point Set
• Dreamz Single Points
• Dreamz DPN Set
• Dreamz DPNs
• Dreamz Crochet Hook Set
• Dreamz Crochet Hooks
• Dreamz Interchangeable Tunisian Crochet Hook Set

Nova – nickle-plated brass

• Nova Interchangeable Needle Set
• Nova Fixed Circulars
• Nova Single Point Set
• Nova Single Points
• Nova DPN Set
• Nova DPNs

Cubics – Symfonie wood with an ergonomic square shape

• Cubics Single Points
• Cubics Fixed Circulars
• Cubics DPNs
• Cubics Interchangeable Needle Tips

Trendz – Acrylic Interchangeable Needle Set

If you experience any problems with any of the parts and pieces of your Knitter’s Pride needles or hooks, just let us know and we’ll get a replacement right out to you!

We’ve also got a ton of accessories! Sock blockers, cable needles, stitch holders, chart keepers, magnet boards, shawl pins and more!

CAL with Kirsten
After the crochet chain, you’ll work the main body of the cowl. Round 4 and 5 you work into the chain, not the chain space. You should have a loose gauge here, so you shouldn’t have to force the hook.

Learn from us and make sure you check your gauge! A couple double crochets off over four inches makes a huge difference in the finished size. Make sure you’re working nice and loose!