If you’re looking for a fantastic, yarn-filled way to spend a weekend, hop in the car with your fiber-loving friends and take part in this year’s I-91 Shop Hop. June 27-30 (Thursday-Sunday), we are joining 10 other yarn shops in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut for a weekend of fun.
The theme of this year’s Shop Hop is “A Kaleidoscope of Color.” Each shop will showcase a particular color and will develop an interesting display around it, so you want to make sure you hit every shop to see what they display.
All of the participating shops will have goodies and special giveaways. Two lucky grand prize winners will receive $550 in gift certificates as well as yarns, books, tools, and more from our favorite suppliers. How do you win? Simply have your passport stamped at each shop. At the last shop, leave your completed, stamped entry form. The winners will be chosen on July 1, 2013.
Passports are $5 and are available at participating shops and on our website. Grab them now so you’re ready to go on Thursday morning!
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Guest:Kathy talks with Donna about her path into the knitting world, she began as a computer tech writer and at the prompting of a friend began to transfer to writing about something she loved – knitting! She now writes books and teaches as well as tech editing for independent designers and translating German knitting books into English. She has a new book in the works on knitting in Lithuania with history, culture and telling that culture’s story through knitting; similar to her book Arctic Lace.
Donna has also worked to develop 2 different apps for iPad and iPhone. First there was the Knit Companion app and her newest is Travel the World of Knitting with embedded stitch video tutorial and a collection of new patterns.
I have been loving my Schacht Zoom Loom over the last week! I used Tahki Cotton Classic for a coaster and a Noro yarn that’s been sitting in my stash for a while to make a coaster and then a trivet by sewing 4 squares together. The Zoom Loom is easy to use, and the finished squares are versatile. You can use them as coasters, pockets, tech cases, or washcloths. Then, sew them together to make potholders, blankets, purses, scarves, or even add a knit or crocheted border to a finished square! > Jackie V.
(Left) I have been having a lot of fun crocheting coasters with the 8/2 Warp Linen. It works up such a nice rustic and sweet little project. It would be kind of fun to go even further with this idea and make a couple doilies or placemats. They’re perfect for coffee coasters because it doesn’t show the stains. You can find the pattern here or at www.greenkri.com> Kristin L.
(Right)I have a new cowl pattern, Fluvial, that I’ve been working on for a bit and I had to try it in a few different yarns to find the right one. I was most happy with the Rowan Felted Tweed in the Peony. It’s a DK weight with a great halo and tweedy pops of color and just enough body to hold up in an open stitch pattern. > Sara D.
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!
You’ll find that many sweater patterns are knit in pieces from the bottom up. Most of these patterns instruct you to start knitting the body first and then move onto the sleeves.
Recently when I cast on for the Playful Stripes Sweater, it wasn’t until I was nearly done with the body that I wished I had started knitting the sleeves first. I was straying from the pattern and trying a different cast on method. It would have been easier to test the cast on with only 38 sleeve stitches compared to the 144 body stitches.
There are a few reasons you might want to start with a smaller number of stitches on a sleeve before knitting the body.
Trying out a new stitch pattern or technique
Testing color combinations in your multi-color project
Straying from the instructions in the pattern and not sure you’ll like the changes
Hate swatching so a sleeve essentially becomes your swatch so you know if you’re using the right needle size.
If I was going to start my sweater over, I probably would have done something a little differently on the cuffs and hem. It wasn’t until I was too far into the body that I realized I wanted something different. But I felt I was too far along to make it worth ripping out and starting over. But if I had started with a sleeve first…I wouldn’t have hesitated to start over and get the cuff/hem I really wanted. Live and learn.
Are you a strict pattern follower? Or do like to use a pattern as your guide and change things up a bit?
Today marks the first day of our 39th Annivesary Sale! Many of our customers count down the days until this incredible sale begins. It’s the only sale where we have regularly priced yarns on sale, and this year, we’ve got some incredible savings.
Each year, we have a few yarns that are on sale during both the months of April and May. This year, during those two months, you’ll save on Cascade 220, Cascade 220 Superwash, and Plymouth Encore. In April we have a selection of yarns on sale, and then, once May 1st hits, we have another group of yarns on sale, so if you see something you like, make sure you grab it at the sale price now.
This year, for the first time, we’ve added Knitter’s Pride sets to the sale. This month, we have the Knitter’s Pride Nova Deluxe Set (only $55.99. regularly $69.99), Knitter’s Pride Dreamz Special Set (only $50.99, regularly $62.99), and Knitter’s Pride Dreamz 6” DPN Set (only $31.99, regularly $39.99). I’m personally excited about the Dreamz Special Set. I’ve been knitting a lot of hats recently and I think having these 16” interchangeables on hand will be helpful. You’ll have to wait until May to see what we have in store from Knitter’s Pride for next month!
What else do we have on sale this month? You’ll want to head over to the sale page on our site to see everything!
What are you most excited to see on sale this month?
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
If you’re looking for a fantastic, yarn-filled way to spend a weekend, hop in the car with your fiber-loving friends and take part in this year’s I-91 Shop Hop. June 27-30 (Thursday-Sunday), we are joining 10 other yarn shops in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut for a weekend of fun.
