This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about doggie sweaters, Halloween treats and more!
Little Penny Sweater from Doggie Knits by Corinne Niessner; modeled by Juke the Miniature Pinscher – Let me just say up front that I am not the most experienced knitter here at WEBS but this was a quick knit even for me. Super easy pattern to follow and the ribbing even stretches over Juke’s harness to keep him warm on walks. The pattern called for worsted weight yarn but as Juke has little fur and gets cold easily, I wanted a bulky sweater and this pattern adapted beautifully. Just knit a sample swatch ahead of time! I wanted something machine washable so I went with Berroco Comfort Chunky due to the ease in care. I had a bit of difficulty with the yarn splitting due to so many plies. And knitting in the dark was out of the question since I had to keep an eye on what I was doing. It was also my first time working with yarn that I could not spit splice, so weaving in the ends was a bit of a challenge, but they are all on the inside now and he won’t care. I plan on knitting it again in Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted next time to keep him warm through the New England winter. > Malea R.
(Left) Here at WEBS I work packing orders for shipment. When I saw this pattern come across my desk, I had to have it! I made the bag (with lots of help from one of the lovely ladies at the store) for my son to go trick or treating. It is a simple stockinette stitch that I made in Cascade 220 in Burnt Orange and Black. You can find the pattern here. > Jenny D.
(Right) I have a thing about felted bowls. Every season I seem to come up with some reason to need a bowl. It’s really just an excuse to try new things with knitting and felting. These bowls were inspired by Autumn. After a plain bowl is felted, it’s like a blank canvas. On the pumpkin bowl with the lid, I used the “mistake” of pulling the embroidery thread too tight to my advantage. It puckers the felt and makes it look more natural. All the bowls were made with a closeout yarn that is long gone but could easily be made with Cascade 220 or Valley yarns Northampton held double. > Amy S.
I made this shawl to wear on my wedding day in mid-October - to keep my shoulders warm, as the ceremony was outdoors on a Berkshire hillside. The pattern is Purity by Sharon Miller and I used two skeins of Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Cream. As written, the pattern has a “frill” on both ends, but I omitted the second one because I wanted a simpler look. Knitting with Kidsilk Haze requires a bit more attentiveness, as the stitches can blend together - I was off on stitch count a couple of times in the lace section, but the lace section is so forgiving that I can’t tell where the mistakes are. I love this shawl, it’s so light & airy but still very warm! > Andrea V.
(Left) When I decided to knit my sister a blanket, she and I briefly argued about fiber content and yarn weight before we compromised on Spud & Chloe Sweater. The yarn is so soft and has such great stitch definition that I want to use it for everything. And it’s machine washable so I know I don’t have to worry about the finished project getting ruined. I didn’t use a pattern; instead I just cast on 180 stitches and knit feather & fan until it was as big as I wanted it! > Jackie V.
(Right) The first time I saw the Fibranatura Cobblestone was when I was putting it on the shelves for Stitches East. I knew it would be perfect for children and babies. The colors are great and it’s 100% superwash merino. I grabbed a skein and quickly knit up the Ear Cozies hat for a friends’ two year old. I had enough left over to knit a matching one for her baby that’s due in March. I think I’m going to grab some more for “last-minute, I need a baby present” projects. > Amy S.
