Countdown to Knitmas: Day 16

Here is my favorite gift giving tip. I may have shared it in the past but it bears repeating.

When you package up a dear handmade fiber item, you may consider including these three things -
1. A bit of the left over yarn in case of repairs needed (in the far off future when they have loved it to pieces)
2. One of the ball bands or tags; it holds tons of useful info like care and fiber content
3.And, perhaps, most helpful, a small container of rinse optional wool wash; this inclusion is a really clear and kind message about the special care that a handmade yarny item should receive and it demonstrates how simple that care is. Basically, soak and lay flat to dry.

I choose by scent and this Lavender seems like a good, calm fit for the intended recipient. This little bottle of Kookaburra only increased my gift cost by $2.50, pretty cheap insurance policy. For a bit more, we also have slightly bigger little bottles of Eucalan brand.

Happy Needling,
Anne

Countdown to Knitmas: Day 14

Here are some handy tools that help well you are choosing your yarns for those last few projects in these last few days before the 25th. These tools will likely be useful as you plan your projects for the New Year and beyond as well.

This calculator will help you to figure out what to change if your gauge doesn't match the pattern's gauge.



This detailed worksheet will help you plan for the exact amount of yarn you need to make a sweater to certain dimensions.

Happy Needling,
Anne

Countdown to Knitmas: Day 12

 As we make gifts for our loved ones, choosing the right color can be a great challenge. It is nice to have some guideline. I like to default to declarations made by Pantone.

The Pantone color of the year for 2015 is Marsala (PANTONE 18-1438). It is a lovely burgundy that leans toward the purple/brown side of that hue. I am thrilled because that is a great color for me (and I think many others). It is a color that can appear rich and feminine as well as refined and masculine.

Color of the Year 2015

Color Forecast for 2015

I left this selection of colors in the Marsala family on the table in the shop. Coe see for your self or share your interpretations of this color.

If you want to read more about this color choice - 

1. Pantone Color of the Year - page 1, page 2, and page 3

2. A closer examination 

3. Some pretty fashion items to go with your knits

4. A Dissenting Voice

Happy Needling,
Anne

Countdown to Knitmas: Day 10

We are all rushing to finish our holiday knits as the days fly by. With speed, problems can arise. We love the chance to set a yarn problem straight. Sometimes, you bring us easy problems that we quickly fix. Sometimes, you bring us problems that take a little head scratching and strategy making. Sometimes, you bring us problems that we recommend you look away while we conduct knitting surgery.

I had an instance while knitting my Hitofude Sweater that required some intensive knitting surgery. I had knitted to where the yarn was so thin that it was certain to break any second, and, then, I didn't notice that perilous state until I was about six rows above it. I tried a couple of things before admitting that I need to drop down those six rows, break the yarn at the thin spot, and reknit the effected stitches with some good yarn. I executed this surgery in a quiet spot with no one around, my full attention available to this fix. It went swimmingly; the ends from the thin spot dangled and the new yarn lengthy reworked back into the stitch pattern. All four ends were woven in safe and sound and no one would know if I were not revealing this happening to you now.

The broken yarn

The stitches post drop and reknit with new yarn

Healed, no scars

If you wold like to know more about serious knitting surgery, you can learn more From Romi Hil at her beautiful blog in this post.

Happy Needling,

Anne

Countdown to Knitmas: Day 6

As you survey your needle collection, wondering if that circular is going to be long enough to hold all those stitches of your new blanket or shawl project or anything else, please make use of this handy chart. I found it floating around on the internet without an original point of origin. (Let me know if you know where it originated.)

Happy Needling,
Anne