Thanks to Liz for providing such a simple, yet elegant knitting tip on how to deal with messy looking stripes in ribbing.

I learned this trick while taking a class at WEBS. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it as it is super simple and it yields great results.

If you’ve ever changed colors while knitting ribbing, you’ve no doubt noticed the unfortunate thing that happens in the purl columns. The purl bumps of one color end up showing through in the fabric of the other color, and it creates an unfortunate zig-zagging line. The good news is that there is an easy fix for this.

When you change colors in ribbing simply knit all the stitches for the first round; do not purl. After the first round you can go back to your rib pattern. The result is a very clean line between the two colors. And don’t worry… You won’t even notice that round of knit stitches. They blend in completely.

You can use this technique whether you are working flat or in the round. There are just a few things to take into consideration. The first is that your work must have a wrong side, since that row/round of knit stitches will appear as a garter ridge on the wrong side. As a result, this technique shouldn’t be used on reversible patterns.

The second is that this technique works best on stripes made up of more than two rows/rounds. If the stripe is only two rows then you are basically going back and forth between a knit row and a rib row, and that can affect the integrity of your ribbing.

If your pattern is appropriate for this technique then I suggest you try it. I think you will find, as I did, that it is a simple trick that makes a big difference.

- Liz

If you’ve followed along on our podcast, Ready, Set, Knit, you know that we’ve featured many knitalongs and crochetalongs, and now it’s time for another. Instead of featuring it on the podcast, we’re going to run this one here on the blog. We hope you’ll join us!

Hi Everyone!

The winner of the Eucalan Gift Pack is Kelly. Kelly’s tip was: “I just learned the easy way to wash my woolens (in washing machine with eucalan, soak overnight, spin in the morning, block/lay out to dry) and it was just.so.easy!  I love easy cleaning!  I also recently discovered the joys of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 dish soap (the translucent, handwashing kind) as a cleaning spray for the tub/shower walls.  Spray on, leave for a bit, wipe off.”

And the winner of the Getaway Gang is Jasmine Liska. Jasmine’s helpful tip was: “Whenever I boil water for tea, I pour a bit of hot water onto the stove top to loosen the oil and whatnot that has spattered onto the stove.  It makes it a lot easier to clean!”

Please contact me at mkubasekDOThaberATyarnDOTcom with your contact information.

Thank you so much to everyone for sharing your cleaning tips. There are some wonderful tips in the comments, so if you haven’t already checked them out, make sure you do!

Happy Cleaning!

Play Now: 

Tent Sale is next weekend at the store! May 19th and 20th

Guest: Mary Beth Temple chats about Vogue Knitting Crochet. It’s their first crochet publication since 1994! You’ll find over 35 patterns in the magazine for just $6.99 and there’s a range of designs.

The designs were picked by the same team that picks the knitting patterns, and they wanted to make sure they picked the best patterns of the submissions. There were a wide range of options and wanted to make sure they represented all that crochet can offer.

Kathy and Mary Beth also chat about crochet and how we’ve finally reached the point where it is coming into the spotlight. Mary Beth has a crochet book coming out in September. You can also check out her Hooked for Life pattern line. Her website is www.hookedforlifepublishing.com

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• Rowan Kidsilk Haze Creation Stripe
• Dream in Color Classy with Cashmere
• Misti Pima Silk Closeout
• Debbie Bliss Riva
• Mirasol Ushya
• Plymouth Select Worsted Merino Superwash
• Universal Yarn Classic Shades

The May portion of our Anniversary Sale is in full swing right now with over 40 new yarns on sale this month. One of those yarns is customer favorite Valley Yarns Goshen,on sale for $2.79/skein. This Peruvian cotton blend yarn is not only soft and drapy, the Modal® and silk add durability which will prevent pilling.

Here are some Ravelry projects using Valley Yarns Goshen, great for your spring/summer wardrobe.

Fan Kimono by Vicki Square, available from the book Knit Kimono, knit by Cyn557

Two-Tone Shrug by Erika and Monika Simmons, available as a free pattern, crocheted by deadalchemist

Abigail by Cheri Christian, available as a downloadable PDF pattern, knit by danceswithcats

Miette by Andi Satterlund, available as a free Ravelry download, knit by debby

Miss Terry by Kyla Hurst, available for purchase on Ravelry, knit by blackpebble

So, which of these garments would you most like to add to your wardrobe and why? I’m always curious what draws someone to a particular pattern.

Stay tuned to the blog next week when we kick off a new knitalong using Valley Yarns Goshen! We’re getting kind of excited for it.

Have a great weekend.
-Dena

With Spring in full force, there has been lots of spring cleaning going on. It seems like every day more of us are bringing in selections from our own stash clean-outs to pass on. I’ve packed up most of my sweaters, but before that, they got a little bath in Eucalan.

Eucalan has shared with us a Gift Pack and Getaway Gang to give away to you, but more on that later.

If you’ve never tried Eucalan, it is a no-rinse delicate wash that is available in four scents: eucalyptus, lavender, grapefruit, and unscented. It is great for washing your woolens, but it has many more uses! From your delicate handwash clothes to drapery, it’s a wonderful cleaning product that you don’t have to rinse out (so it saves on water too).

Check out this introductory video from Eucalan for more information:

Now for the giveaway! One random commenter will receive a Eucalan Gift Pack that includes 3.3oz bottles of each of the four scents, and one random commenter will receive a Getaway Gang that includes a sample size of each scent, plus a small sewing kit, Eucalan Lint Remover Sheets, and Eucalan Stain-Treating Wipes.

Some of the simplest tips can be the most useful. This week’s tip comes for Tina, our Education Manager.

If you are working with two balls of yarn and need to keep the strands separate, but also need to keep the yarn in the same bag, use a zip-top bag. Zip the bag closed for a few inches, feed the first yarn out of the bag, zip a few more inches, then pull the second strand out of the bag.  The zipped spaces will keep the two strands separate outside of the bag!

How else have you used zip-top bags to organize your knitting and crochet life? Share your ideas with everyone in the comments.

Play Now: 

Guest: Gail Callahan, our Kangaroo Dyer, and author of Hand Dyeing Yarn and Fleece and The Kangaroo Dyer’s Color Grid. Her Color Grid is so versatile and useful beyond knitting! Use it for decor, flower arrangements, and more. Gail explains how she came up with the concept for the Color Grid.

Check out Gail’s website www.kangaroodyer.com and sign up for Gail’s weekly newsletter!

Steve’s Yarn Picks

• May Anniversary Sale
• Cascade 220
• Cascade 220 Superwash
• Plymouth Encore
• Noro Silk Garden
• Berroco Ultra Alpaca
• Cascade Eco Wool
• KFI Flounce
• Misti Alpaca Chunky
• Valley Yarns Northampton Bulky

Reminder: May 19th & 20th is Tent Sale weekend!

Check out the PBS series Craft in America on May 11th.

Bruce Weinstein class – Woven Knitting

June 14th – Launch Party for Cast On, Bind Off by Leslie Ann Bestor!

This week the staff at WEBS has a lot to Buzz about! Our Anniversary Sale is in full swing with our new May sale yarns, and we have a fantastic new video to share!

Valley Yarns Goshen - I’m not a big fan of cotton yarns, but our Goshen is a blend of cotton, modal and silk and it’s a dream to work with. It’s happy being knitted and it crochets beautifully! On sale this month only for $2.79! Be sure to check out the great designs we have too! > Kathy E.

This week I’m buzzing about a video I shot with the Kangaroo Dyer, Gail Callahan. Gail hand dyes Valley Yarns Franklin, Charlemont, Northfield, and 2/14 Alpaca Silk in her basement, which she’s converted into a working studio. Hearing her story and seeing her workspace left me feeling inspired to rethink color and design with my own work in multimedia. This is a video I am sure to revisit when I’m needing a little inspiration. > Lindsey P.

Berroco Ultra Alpaca is a wonderful workhorse yarn. The alpaca content gives it some extra warmth as well as some drape, while the wool content gives it body and memory. With a gauge of 5 stitches to the inch you can use it for worsted weight patterns, as well as some DK weight patterns. I have some Ultra Alpaca stashed for a crocheted sweater that I’ve had my eye on for awhile, and now that it’s on sale I may just have to buy some more to make a knit sweater too. > Liz A.

Freia Sport comes in four lovely colors. My favorite color is denim. I especially like the monocromatic graduation in this colorway. This yarn would be perfect for a shawl or scarf or perhaps a cute handbag. It could make an interesting felting project too. Check out projects made with this on Ravelry. > Heidi R.

Hand Spun: New Spins on Traditional Techniques - A great new book from Pluckyfluff  (a.k.a. Lexi Boeger) with fantastic photos and fleece-to-finished yarn instructions for a plethora of art yarns, as well as some great projects to knit up with your stash of handspun goodies. With an eye for inspiration, this book is a smorgasboard of techniques, easy to follow instructions and interviews with some of the hottest fiber professionals around. A great addition to the adventuresome spinner’s library. > Ashley F.

I love the video on our Kangaroo Dyer, Gail. I like to add images and video to my Pinterest boards and browse through them when I need to get my creative juices flowing. What do you use when you need a little inspiration?

This week, our free pattern is in one of our new May Anniversary Sale yarns – Berroco Ultra Alpaca. Reyures is a striped, shorter sleeve, cowl-neck pullover with tons of color combination options.

Berroco Ultra Alpaca is a great blend of wool and alpaca. It is available in many, wonderful heathered colors.

The stripes on the back of this sweater are narrow, while the stripes on the front are wider.

Have you had a chance to check our the new yarns that are on sale this month? Ultra Alpaca is one of the many yarns that are in the sale that are a great option to have in your stash. It is a classic worsted weight, so even if you don’t have a project planned right away, you’re sure to find something you’re interested in. Ultra Alpaca is also great for accessories, like cozy mittens!

Click here for a link to the free pattern.

What color combination would you choose for this pattern?