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by Amy Our popular Top Down Sweater Class is expanding into a three session workshop! The first set of classes will be held on three Saturdays from 1 - 4 PM over the course of five weeks. The dates are August 27th, September 17th and October 1st. This workshop will only be offered twice a year (fall and spring), so your next opportunity to take this class won't be until March or April. When the three sessions are complete, you will be well on your way to completing a top-down raglan pullover in the yarn of your choice and made to fit YOUR measurements. The sweater may incorporate any stitch pattern of the knitter's choosing (cables, lace, texture patterns) or may be all over stockinette. As long as you swatch, anything is possible! There will be homework before the first class and between classes in order to be able to keep up with the pace of activities listed below. The first class will focus on sweater planning:
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by Jenn One of the questions that we receive frequently is “What kind of knitting needle should I use?” Ultimately, this is completely a personal preference, but we can give you some guidelines to help you get started. Let’s begin with the types of needles that we carry at Natural Stitches: straight, circular and double-points. Straight needles are what immediately comes to mind when you first think of knitting. They come in different needle lengths and can be used to knit flat pieces. Circular needles are more versatile; they can be used to knit in the round or flat. Some people find knitting flat on circular needles to be preferable to knitting on straight needles because the bulk of the weight is carried over your lap rather than on the ends of the needles, relieving strain on your wrists. Double pointed needles are used to knit small circumferences. The next thing to consider when selecting knitting needles is the type of material from which the needle is made. Natural Stitches carries straight, circular and double pointed needles in two types: wood and metal. Wooden needles are generally lightweight and feel warm in your hands. Knitters with joint problems may find wooden needles more comfortable to use than metal needles. Wooden needles also provide surface friction, which can help “slippery” yarns such as cotton or bamboo stay on the needles. New knitters may also benefit from bamboo needles, because the added grip helps them concentrate on knitting instead of chasing their needles around. The downside to wooden needles is that they can splinter or break. Natural Stitches carries wooden needles in bamboo and rosewood. Metal needles can be aluminum or steel and are sometimes coated with nickel. Metal needles are strong and lightweight with a smooth surface. This smooth surface has less drag which means faster knitting; when needles are nickel plated, they are even smoother and can help you to knit faster still. Metal needles are strong, but can still bend and can be uncomfortable for knitters with joint problems. Another consideration when choosing a knitting needle is the needle tip. Lace needles have sharper tips and more grip than their non-lace counterparts. Sharper tips can help with complicated lace stitches (nupps, anyone?). Natural Stitches also carries a wide variety of interchangeable needle sets, which allows you to have many diameters and lengths of circular needles for less money than buying the needles individually. The most important thing to remember when choosing needles for your next project is that it is entirely a matter of personal preference. Try different styles and you’ll be sure to find the ideal type for you! |
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by Karen A few months ago, I was looking for a pattern and yarn to knit a shawl for my mom. I found a great pattern (“Fern Garden Shawl” from Bad Cat Designs ) and when I saw the Angel 2-Ply Lace from Natural Dye Studio, I knew I had found the perfect yarn. I can’t say enough good things about this yarn! It’s 70% baby alpaca, 20% silk and 10% cashmere and is exceptionally soft and luxurious to work with. The fiber content means that the yarn has fantastic drape. The stitch definition was excellent and I was really pleased with how it blocked. My nupps look great! I knit the Fern Garden Shawl with the “moss” colorway of the Angel 2-Ply Lace, and I really appreciated that while there were slight variations in color, the color doesn’t deviate greatly and there were no watercolor-y splotches of color. The ply of the yarn is consistent, with no thick & thin points or slubs. I experienced virtually no splitting while I knit and the yarn also unknits well, with very little sticking or unplying. The alpaca and cashmere does make the yarn shed a bit, so you might want to keep a lint roller handy! At $29.40 for 870 yards, Angel 2-ply Lace is a really great value. I didn’t get tired of knitting with it, even after a month. I’ve already bought more for my next shawl! Yarn Details: Angel 2-ply Lace from Natural Dye Studios, 70% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 10% cashmere. 870 yards/100 grams |
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We've had some outstanding yarns entered into our Summer of Socks and Lace contest! Take a look at some of our entries! Courtney spun this beautiful BFL laceweight yarn on a spindle. Nora, our spinning teacher and judge of the Summer of Socks and Lace spinning entries, said that this is the thinnest yarn spun this year! 
Please, click on the photo. This yarn is AMAZING! Leslie spun this yarn as practice for the Tour de Fleece. It's a mix of Polwarth, Falkland and Wensleydale fibers. 
Another Wonderous yarn! Click, please! Sarah spun Mountain Colors Targhee Top into a fractal two-ply yarn with her Hansen miniSpinner. 
Can I have this please?? Click to see the beauty! |
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And, as always, if there's anything we can do to help, just let us know!