It’s the last weekend before the “official” start of autumn; here in Massachusetts, that means kids are starting to go back to school, colleges are welcoming freshmen for their orientation, and we’re starting to see the store fill up with parents of boarding school-ers and college students who see WEBS as the destination they come here for AFTER they drop off the kids.

Since it’s still pretty hot, I thought about knitting a “Last Gasp Of Summer” project, and with a minimum of searching I found the perfect top: Baby Cocktail “White Sangria” sleeveless top, designed by Thea Colman. It’s a gorgeous confection of eyelet patterning and a flattering shape–a super-feminine A-line with a fitted bust and the option to tailor the “skirt” for your figure. It won’t take long to make, since the details, while beautiful, are fairly simple, and although Thea used Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton, I think I might gravitate toward one of our Rowan closeouts like Pure Wool Worsted Superwash in a discontinued color. Grasshopper is a minty light green, almost a neutral; but Vintage (a mauve-y purple) would carry your top into the warmer days of September over jeans or some white capris (if you want to break some fashion rules!). Check it out, and let us know in the comments what your end-of-summer project is.

Rowan Yarns has teamed up with Martin Storey for another incredible Blanket Knit-a-Long.

The fun kicks off when the first square is released on January 28th. For this year’s blanket Martin looked to Northern European knitting traditions for inspiration, drawing patterns and textures from the Shetland Isles; the Faeroe Isles; Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland. 8 squares will be released every two weeks over the course of the project, each knit 6 times, culminating in a stunning design made up of 48 squares in total. The final, and ninth release,  May 12th features the edging design.

Also new this year, you can choose from four suggested palettes in Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted, chosen to fit in with most popular, interior colour schemes. A very soft and natural palette: a calming, blue palette; a fresh green and a zingy, and a warm spice palette.

And don’t worry if you’re new to knitting! this KAL has been designed with the beginner knitter in mind.  In this blanket you’ll create motifs in one color and two color squares.  Delicate motifs in simple texture, lace and  a further option that introduces the beginner knitter to a simple bead technique, patterns and different stitches.

Keep an eye on Rowan Yarns’  YouTube channel for an exclusive interview and tutorials from Martin himself.

Our friends at Rowan have pulled together three great patterns knit in Rowan Fine Art to help us celebrate this year. The Verdant Lace Shawl is a wonderful wrap knit in a simple eyelet pattern, perfect for keeping you cozy without being too warm. The Lace Panel Cowl is knit flat with a provisional cast on to make it easier to join into a cowl, and with a simple 8-row lace repeat this one will fly off your needles. Finally, the Cable and Lace Scarf has an intriguing stitch pattern that alternates between cables and lace, and can easily be made wider to be worn as a stole.

Any of these pattern would make a wonderful and quick Holiday gift or just a little something special for yourself! Which color of Fine Art will you use?

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This week Kathy talks with Linda about the line of new Spring yarns from Rowan.

Rowan Truesilk graces the cover of our Spring 2014 catalog with a pattern from the Truesilk Collection. We’re also now carrying Rowan Silky Stones, and the accompanying pattern collection, Rowan Pure Linen and pattern collection, Rowan Pure Wool Worsted and two dedicated pattern collections, and longtime favorite Rowan Cotton Glace which is featured in Rowan magazine 55.

Reminder:

Be sure to stop into the store and see all the new Spring garment models! And don’t miss the Classic Elite Yarns Trunk shows.

Steve’s Yarn Picks:

• Anzula For Better or Worsted
• Euro Babe Soft Cotton Chunky
• Aslan Trends Royal Alpaca
• Aslan Trends King Baby Llama and Mulberry Silk
• Classic Elite Meadowlark
• Madeline Tosh  is back in stock!
• Classic Elite Woodland
• Classic Elite Giselle

  

This week the staff at WEBS is buzzing about…

1. Ever since I took Mary Jane Mucklestone’s “Colorful Knitting” class in the spring, I’ve been looking forward to her book. 200 Fair Isle Motifs is a great reference for Fair Isle patterns, and is filled with colorful, well-photographed swatches. Each motif offers four chart options, including a color variation, and a chart showing a suggested way of repeating the pattern.  With so much of the planning done for me by this book, I can’t wait to start plugging these motifs into projects! > Tina M.

2. I am saddened, though selfishly excited by the price, to see Rowan Calmer on our closeout shelves. This yarn has long been a favorite of mine, ever since I knit a log cabin baby blanket with it. A wonderously soft cotton, it has a bit of acrylic in it that adds a great spring. I feel a bit like Mr. Whipple, squeezing the bags of this great yarn. Many people have commented on what a great yarn it is for chemo caps. And judging by the number of bags of Calmer I see on WEBS’ staff desks right now, I think I’m not the only one who will miss it! > Leslie Ann B.

3. This time of year, a lot of future knitters come into the store hoping to find a way to make their family heartfelt gifts for the holidays, or a customer comes in looking for a good gift to help teach a friend or family how to knit. I always point them to the book I used to learn knitting, Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘n Bitch, and a couple of balls of Valley Yarns Northampton or Amherst for practice. The book has cute but clear illustrations and some simple accessory patterns, and is, in my opinion, the easiest to follow of any of our learn to knit books. > Elisabeth P.

4. I knit these fingerless mittens out of Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool last spring and barely had a chance to use them. Now that it’s cold again they’ve entered my accessory rotation as a regular feature (I have a bit of an accessory addiction!) I fell in love with this deep coral-y peach color the day it arrived as a closeout. I love the way stockinette fabric looks in this single-ply yarn, while the silk content makes them surprisingly warm. > Emma W.

5. We recently added Madelinetosh PDF knitting patterns to our website and I completely fell in love with the Brick Road Cowl. It comes in a short and long version and is knit in the popular Tosh Merino Light. But now the dilemma of color choice. Which two of the 30 colors we carry do I want? > Dena C.

This week the staff at WEBS is buzzing about…

1. Knit Local by Tanis Gray – There’s a lot to love about this book – gorgeous photography, over 30 patterns, and all of the yarns used in the book are grown, spun, and dyed in the U.S. It is broken into Northeast, South, Midwest, and West and includes 28 profiles of U.S. yarn companies. There’s also a handy list of fiber-y events and festivals across the country, so you’re sure to find one nearby. Not only will you find great pictures of the garments (fantastic mittens, hats, sweaters, and more), you’ll also spot pictures of farms and, of course, adorable sheep, including one that’s sporting a handknit cowl! > Mary K.-H.

2. Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe Colours by Kaffe Fassett – If you love Kidsilk Haze you may enjoy playing with the color repeats in the new Kaffe Fassett colorways. I’d love to see what this yarn would look like knit up into a Modern Quilt Wrap (free download) with its modular squares. Or what kind of effect would you get combining this yarn and solid Kidsilk Haze colors knit in the Earth Stripe Wrap (now available in Rowan’s Greatest Knits book). Or you could try a simple project like the Cocoknits Everyday Wrap (free pattern) which would use just one ball! > Dena C.

3. Coastal Knits by Alana Dakos and Hannah Fettig – I’ve been a big fan of Never Not Knitting and Knitbot patterns. So I was very excited for the release of their new book which includes 10 designs inspired by the California and Maine coasts. Now that it has arrived, I’m even more thrilled. I can’t wait for their trunk show and book signing in December, to meet both of the designers and to see their wonderful designs up close. > Dena C.

4. The Anna Cowl – This cowl is knit with Swans Island Worsted yarn. The Swans Island pattern is well written and easy to follow. The cowl is so soft! > Marion H.

5. Jojoland Rhythm Closeout – We just got in some new colors of Jojoland Rhythm on closeout and they’re great! I made the Autumn Shawl with this yarn and while the entrelac pattern was tricky, the yarn was so much fun to work with. Each square revealed a new color and gave the whole shawl a beautiful look. I’m sad to see this one on closeout but I’ll definitely be picking some up at this price. It’s sturdy, washes well, and you can’t beat those colors! > Grace H.