This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about some beautiful finished projects!

When I worked at Stitches Midwest this August, I couldn’t keep my hands off the super soft Malabrigo Finito. In a spontaneous moment, I thought of a simple shawl shape that I could easily knit while working and travelling, and the High Plains Drifter was born! Since quantities of Finito are limited, I made sure the pattern could be knit in any yarn, with any gauge or yardage. I think it would look incredible in the new BFL Hand Dyed. > Kirsten H.

I recently finished Valley Yarns #487 Dappled Shawlette. I loved knitting the pattern. It was just complex enough that it wasn’t completely mindless, but it also wasn’t so complex that I was pulling my hair out. While the Valley Yarns Charlemont Hand Dyed that the pattern is done in is gorgeous, I was drawn to the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in Flashdance as soon as my co-worker Lindsey suggested it. I love deep, bright pinks and purples and since most of my wardrobe is black and gray with a few pinks and purples thrown in, this was a perfect choice. It was already cool enough here for me to wear it and I absolutely love it. > Mary K.

I loved the Loire Cardigan from the moment I laid eyes on it. I started this back in August when I was on vacation and I was able to finish it in about 2 weeks! It was fun and quick to knit and I enjoyed in bottom-up construction. I had never knit a simultaneous set-in sleeve before, but I think it is a really flattering shape and much easier than I thought it would be. Also, my coworker Emma had the brilliant idea to put the lace panel on the sleeves as well and I liked it so much I did it too. > Greta S.

I was getting ready to leave for a week long beach vacation and needed a project. I fell in love with the Color Affection shawl by Veera Välimäki, but I was really itching for a crochet project. I found Stephanie’s Wrap by Julie Blagojevich. Inspired by Verra’s design, Julie adapted the pattern so a similar effect could be achieved with crochet. I used Fiber Company Canopy and it was super soft and great to work with. I was able to work up this project in a little over a week. It’s a cold and rainy day here in Western Mass. today, and this shawl is keeping me nice and cozy. > Grace H.

This week, the staff at WEBS is excited about Heidi’s Catkin shawl! We have two buzzes for it this week, along with other stunning projects and yarn.

The pattern I knit is called Catkin by Carina Spencer, and it’s available on Ravelry. The pattern may seem intimidating, but it is just very thorough. Madeline Tosh Merino Light and Madeline Tosh Sock are recommended. If you use Tosh Merino Light, you only need one skein of each  color. I used Tosh Sock in Ginger and Byzantine for this catkin, which required one skein of Color A and two skeins of Color B.  This project is so much fun! > Heidi R.

Heidi passed by me in the store last week wearing this beautiful shawl she knit to wear to her friend’s wedding and I immediately stopped her to see if I could take her picture. It’s the Catkin Shawl by Carina Spencer. I love the colors, the way the stripes swirl about her shoulders, and that awesome pattern on the bottom. She used two colors of Madelinetosh Sock, Ginger and Byzantine. > Lindsey T.

I knit this store sample out of Jade Sapphire’s new yarn, Brigadoon – washable cashmere? Yes, that’s what I asked. I washed it in the machine on gentle cycle with Eucalan. Dried flat. It washed well and is so soft. We all can’t stop holding it. The pattern is the Getting  Purly with it Brigadoon Neckwarmer. > Marion W.

When Juniper Moon Farm’s Marlowe yarn crossed my desk, I was immediately hooked by the variegated colors, which are so sheeny, they seem to glow. Marlowe is 50% Merino, 50% silk, so this single ply beauty is really a luxury item–it’s perfect for special accessories. Stephanie swatched Marlowe and she reports that it knits easily and isn’t at all splitty. She used a Barbara Walker Indian Cross Stitch pattern (from Volume 1, p. 112) to show how a bigger, stockinette-based pattern makes the most of Marlowe’s busy variegation. The swatch is fantastic – Marlowe knits up into a substantial fabric with nice drape. I can’t wait to make one of Marie Grace Smith’s cowls from the Marlowe pattern book, maybe the honeycomb patterned Terra Cowl. It’ll keep me cozy and stylish all winter! > Kendra C. and Stephanie G.

I recently knit the Cloudy Day beret from Never Not Knitting. It was a great pattern that ended up being a fairly quick knit. I knit it in Lorna’s Laces Sportmate. This is one of Lorna’s Laces yarns that contain Outlast – a fiber designed to help regulate body temperature. I thought that this would be a great option for a hat and I’m excited to wear it more often once the weather starts to really cool off. > Mary K.

 

 

I took an end of the summer trip to the beach last weekend and I wanted a quick and easy project to knit. The Chrysanthemum Hat knit in Valley Yarns Buckland seemed just right. I decided to add striping with the golden rod and charcoal colors, and I really liked the outcome. Buckland is one of the newest valley yarns we have in the store. It’s super easy to knit with and leaves you with a garment that’s really special. This pattern is free and looks great on both men and women. Check out the video below for a closer look at Buckland! > Lindsey T.

This week, the staff at WEBS is buzzing about…

A good friend of mine was turning 50 and I really wanted to knit her something special. After narrowing down hundreds of patterns, she decided she wanted a cardigan from Knit, Swirl! in a beautiful charcoal color of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. We decided the Plum Perfect pattern would be the right silhouette for her. It was a bit daunting starting since you cast on 513 stitches around the outside of the swirl. But working a few rows first before joining made it a lot easier to not introduce a twist. Since this sweaters is constructed so differently than any other sweater I’ve made, it was a ton of fun to knit and to see how it magically came together at the end with only one seam. I really want to make one for myself now, maybe the Sheer Beauty which alternates rows of lace yarn and DK yarn creating sheer stripes. > Dena C.

          

Metalico, the new yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas, was so nice to knit. I was lucky enough to snag a skein to knit a swatch for the store and I loved every minute of it! The yarn is so soft and warm, yet it is surprisingly light. It absolutely begs to be knitted into lace, as evidenced by my swatch. > Greta S.

Classic Elite Yarns Blackthorn was knit up into this fantastic wrap for a store sample, and I have to have it! It’s Widgeon Hill and you can find it in the new Classic Elite pattern book 9182 Blackthorn. It’s wonderfully warm and the sample is very long. You can wrap it several times around your neck for extra warmth and protection from winter wind. It’s also crescent shaped, so it sits really nicely over your shoulders so you can easily wear it as a traditional shawl. > Grace H.

I’m always excited when we publish a new season of classes, but fall tends to feel extra special to me. Maybe because I’m so happy for the air to get cooler and looking forward to yarn weather. This fall we are kicking off the schedule with two of the things I am most excited about – The Valley Yarns Trunk Show event, and an ergonomics class with Physical Therapist and knitter Carson Demers! At the Valley Yarns event you’ll be able to try on our new designs, get a sneak peek at the holiday designs, ask Kirsten Hipsky questions and try out our newest yarns. (It’s free, but we ask you to register.)  Carson Demers is offering two workshop options for learning about avoiding aches and pains while knitting – something I know many of us can use advice on. These both happen in September, so don’t miss out! > Tina M.

I was so excited when I saw a copy of The Beaded Edge 2 arrive at the store I ran right to the registers and bought it! I have Midori’s first book and I’ve dreamt of making beautiful beaded edges for everything but until now I’ve never actually done it. Once I had this book in my hands I grabbed a cone of UKI 20/2 mercerized cotton in dark grey and then headed down to the local bead store to find the perfect little pink beads. I’m so excited about getting the first full scallop done, I may just make this piece into a necklace. > Sara D.

 

 

Wet splicing is a great technique that can be used to join two pieces of yarn together. You can use it in place of weaving in ends, or if you come across a knot while in the middle of your row. 100% wool works best, but any animal fiber or any fiber that felts can be wet spliced.

Step 1: Take your two strands, and make sure your ends are frayed. If you’ve used scissors to cut your yarn, unply it with your hands. It’s easier for the wool to grab onto itself when the ends are rough. Overlap both strands about an inch in the palm of your hand.

Step 2: Take some water and wet down the yarn really well. The yarn needs heat and moisture to felt together.

Step 3: Rub your hands together quickly. You want to feel your hands starting to get warm.

Now, this acts as one strand of yarn. You might get a slight bump in the middle, but wool and animal fibers block so well, once you knit it into your project you’ll never even notice where you joined your strands.

Watch wet splicing in action by viewing the video below!

 

 

If you’ve struggled with messy edges on your knitting projects, you’re not alone. Knitting the first stitch of a row is tricky to get just right. I like to keep the edges of my project neat by slipping the first stitch of every row. This slipped stitch is then knit (or purled) when you work back on the next row.

 

Some people strive for their projects to look as perfect as possible while other choose to embrace the imperfections of hand knitting.

 

Do you have any tricks for keeping your knitting neat? Or do you let the stitches fall where they may instead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week, the staff at WEBS has some fantastic buzzes! A stunning Daybreak shawl by Greta, Kerry’s Smooshy with Cashmere projects, everything you need for your own Dr. Who scarf and more!

Daybreak is a wonderful semi-circular shawl pattern from Stephen West. At first I didn’t want to jump on the Stephen West band wagon, but now I’m hooked! Knitting it was a breeze and I had so much fun doing those little stripes. I used two colors of a heavy weight sock yarn I bought at Stitches, but you can use pretty much any fingering weight yarn. Try Valley Yarns Charlemont in Solids, Kettle Dye and Hand Dyes! > Greta S.

I am a huge fan of the vibrancy and variation of Dream in Color yarn, and the moment I touched a skein of Smooshy with Cashmere in the It’s a Sparkler colorway, I just had to have it! It really is SO smooshy that I wish I could make a bed with hanks of it and curl up to sleep! The colors worked up even better than I’d hoped in my shrug, and still looked great in a little knitted cuff I made out of a bit of the extra. I can’t wait for cooler weather so that I can start wearing this! > Kerry T.

I walk through the warehouse several times every day and enjoy seeing the ever-changing landscape of yarn closeouts. Occasionally a yarn in the warehouse makes me smile every time I pass, and recently that yarn has been Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse Semi Solid.  The colors of this semi-solid yarn are just stunning.  I can’t help but stop at the shelf it is on and think about which colors I would mix together for a fun striped project!  At the moment I’m really loving the colors Thistle and Citric. But there are so many possibilities. > Tina M.

Well, I’m excited about the new Classic Elite yarn line Color by Kristin for a slightly nerdy reason, and I’m not ashamed to admit it! Fans of the classic Sci-Fi TV series Doctor Who remember the Doctor’s iconic scarf, and for knitters seeking to make one of their own, matching those colors properly can be a challenge. As your lines change and companies come and go, that perfect match can be here and then gone again. This lovely yarn, a 3-ply blend of wool, alpaca and mohair, features several colors that perfectly compliment the original scarf, especially the October leaves and the Deep Forest colors as well as Yarrow and Mushroom. The Doctor Who scarf in all its various forms is painstakingly detailed season by season at www.wittylittleknitter.com if you’d like to get started on a scarf yourself. > Ashley F.

I’m very excited about Ann Budd’s newest book, The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters. This new volume is formatted in the same way as her previous volumes, The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns and The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. Designs are organized by sleeve type and accommodate a range of yarn weights from fingering to bulky. Following the instructions is straightforward and the results are always rewarding. I’ve successfully used each of these books as templates to jumpstart my own knitting designs. This volume also includes new top-down designs by several knitting luminaries including Jared Flood, Pam Allen and Veronik Avery. If you’re ready to expand your knitting skills, I think this book is a must-have for your knitting library! > Stephanie G.

 

Instead of weaving in your ends at the start of a project or when joining a new ball, try knitting the tail of the yarn right into your project.

• Hold the tail and the working yarn together and knit 3-4 stitches.
• Knit these stitches a little tighter than you normally would to cut down on the bulk knitting with two strands.
• Then, when you knit the next row, just make sure you knit into both strands for these stitches.

This works best with wools that will block well and hide the areas with slightly more bulk.

Weaving in ends is my least favorite part of knitting. Do you have any other suggestions on how to avoid weaving in ends?

Registration is now open for all of our fall classes. We have our usual great classes to get you started such as Knitting I and II, Crochet I and II, Beginning Weaving, and Spinning with a Drop Spindle.

We also have some new classes never offered before at WEBS.

Design a Pi Shawl with Annie Foley

Design Your Own Knitted Cowl with Kirsten Hipsky

Exploring Tunisian Crochet with Sara Delaney

These classes may fill up fast, so sign up early if you’re really interested.

September is right around the corner, so check out these classes first up in our fall schedule – Stitches II: Terrific Textures, Mix & Match Socks, Crochet I, Knitting I and II, Spinning with a Drop Spindle, Helix Knitting, and Bring Out Your Best in Variegated Yarns.

Stay tuned to the blog to hear more details from Tina about guest teachers coming to WEBS this fall such as Margaret Radcliffe, Laura Nelkin, Shannon Okey, Andi Smith, Courtney Kelley & Kate Gagnon Osborn.

Hi Everyone,

This week’s free pattern is knit in Tahki Misty. The Promenade Cardigan is a great layer for the rest of the summer.

The tie detail on the front is a crochet chain that is then laces through the eyelets. You could have some fun with this and do them in a different color, different yarn, thread them differently, or even leave them off.

Tahki Misty is a blend of viscose, linen, and acrylic that is available in beautiful watery shades.

Click here for a link to the pattern.

Happy Knitting,

Mary

I know my post from earlier today was a bit on the dry side, but it was a necessity.  Fortunately before I left the office this afternoon, I wandered by Mary’s desk and discovered these:

Can you say adorable?  At first they just struck me as pretty colorwork mittens.

Then I focused a bit more on them and THAT’s when the ah-hah moment happened.  That isn’t just any ordinary colorwork – that is colorwork cupcakes:

I was so smitten with these mittens.  (Sorry ’bout that – I just couldn’t resist).   I tried them on and I have to tell you – they felt magical.  It had nothing to do with the yarn and everything to do with the motif.

Supposedly this is Mary’s first colorwork project that she has seen through to the end.  That may be true but her work is exquisite.    I flipped the mittens inside out to see how things looked on the dark side and it was equally exquisite – that is the true sign of beautiful colorwork, imho.

The pattern is the aptly named Cupcake Mitten and it was designed by SpillyJane Knits and can be found on Ravelry for $6.00.  Mary used Brown Sheep Nature Spun because it had the exact colors she wanted.  Madeline Tosh Sock is also a good option as is our Valley Yarns Huntington.

Another option is to dye your yarn.  You don’t need a ton of yardage and this is a great little project to test out the process of dyeing.

Unfortunately that darn groundhog says we have 6 more weeks of winter.  These mittens will defintely make that time much more cheerful!

Enjoy!

Kathy