Yummy Yarns!

 

I LOVE “yummy yarns”.  You know them – the yarns that feel so good to work with and make amazing hand-crafted items.  Alpaca, silk, llama, Seacell, Merino wool, cashmere – if it’s a “yummy yarn”, I want to work with it!  And I have the stash to prove it!

You may wonder, though, why The Knitting Nest only carries a few of these delicious wonders when I am so much in love with them.  Well, as Patrick (the business guy and math tutor) likes to say, “It’s a simple matter of doing the math.”

We were on a budget when starting The Knitting Nest, and we knew that the “workhorse” yarns are REQUIRED!!  When a knitter or crocheter comes into the shop to buy yarn for a project, they need to know that we have the basic fiber types (wool, cotton, acrylic, and blends) in a selection of colors.  So that’s where we spent our budget for initial inventory.

But, now, comes the real fun!!  And the role you can play!  As we get established, we will start carrying more of the “yummy yarns”.  But, there are zillions of kinds of yarns out there!  How do we decide which ones to carry?  That’s where you can help us!  What kinds of yarns (fibers or lines) do you want to see on the shelves?  Which amazing yarns do you have on your wish list?  Leave a comment here or stop by the shop August 23rd or later and let us know.  As we expand our inventory, we will use your input to prioritize our yarn purchases!

Progress–August 11, 2011

The Knitting Nest is starting to look like a real yarn shop!!  Here is our current status.

1. All of the yarn has arrived, is priced, and it put away (except for the few backordered items and the local wool).

2. Patrick put up the wire rack for needles, and most of the needles are priced and put up.

3. We have some amazing glass buttons from Blessings Glasswork.

4. Our sitting area is complete and ready for customers.

5. The sign company has our logo and the plastic from the old sign – we should have the new sign with our logo in a few days!

6. I’m working on lots of shop models – more on that later.

7. Patrick has learned to use the cash register and Square and is teaching the rest of us.

8. We are hosting the Weyauwega Chamber’s Business After 5 next week!

We open on August 23rd and can’t wait to see you!!

A Few Of My Favorite Things–HiyaHiya Needles

 

I love using circular needles for just about any project.  I use them instead of straight single-point needles, to knit in the round in place of double point needles, and to knit in the round using Magic Loop technique.  Unfortunately, really good circular needles are pricey.

I’ve found a solution – HiyaHiya circular needles.  Why HiyaHiya?

1. The needles are stainless steel with a finish that lets the yarn slide smoothly, but not so slick that the yarn slides off all the time.

2. The cable is very supple.  When using the Magic Loop technique, the cable needs to be able to bend easily, and the HiyaHiya cables do just that.

3. The join between cable and needle is very smooth.  The yarn moves smoothly from the cable to the needle without catching.

4. The price!!  HiyaHiya needles are about 30% less than Addi Turbos.

The Knitting Nest will carry HiyaHiya circular needles with 20 inch and 40 inch cables from size 000 to 13.  We are happy to let you try some out (after we open on August 23rd) in the shop.  I’m convinced that you’ll find them perfect for your next project!

Technique Tuesday– Continental Knitting

Today’s technique isn’t a new stitch or a way to make something that looks different.  Instead, I want to discuss English versus Continental knitting (and purling)

Most of us learn to knit English style, or “throwing”; that is, we hold the yarn in our right hand and pull it around the needle to make the stitch.  This is an excellent way to learn because it’s easy to see how the stitch is made.  Continental style knitting, or “picking”, involves holding and tensioning the yarn in your left hand and using the right needle to pick up a loop of yarn for the stitch.

If you already knit English style, why should you consider learning Continental style? 

1. Many knitters (like me) find that we knit more quickly using Continental technique, mostly because there’s less hand and arm movement needed. 

2. The smaller amount of movement also puts less stress on the elbow and forearm. 

3. If you are going to do Fair Isle or stranded color knitting, it is very helpful to be able to knit with each hand so that you don’t have to drop the yarn every time you change colors. 

4. It’s also helpful to be able to do both Continental and English style knitting so that you can use change if you start to get a repetitive strain injury.

Are there downsides to knitting Continental style?  Yes.  Nothing is perfect in this life.  The biggest thing that people find to be a barrier to using Continental style is learning to purl and it was what gave me so much trouble when I first tried to switch.  All I can recommend is that you keep at it until it finally becomes comfortable for you.   Also, most knitters have different gauges when knitting English and Continental.  This isn’t so much a problem as a reminder to always make a gauge swatch!

I definitely recommend taking the time and effort to learn both English and Continental style knitting. Here is a good link with excellent pictures.  And here is another link with videos.  And, as always, if you need in-person help, stop by The Knitting Nest (after August 23rd!).

A Few of My Favorite Things–Cascade 220

I love Cascade 220 – one of the “workhorse” wool yarns that is very popular with knitters.  How do I love, thee, Cascade 220, let me count the ways!

1. I love that you are 100% wool, but still not scratchy.
2. I love that you come in a zillion colors (even though The Knitting Nest is only starting with about 20 colors).
3. I love that you felt beautifully.
4. I love that you feel so nice to work with.
5. I love how warm you are when you are made up into a scarf or hat.
6. I love how consistent you are.

The 220 in the name Cascade 220 refers to the fact that the original worsted yarn has 220 yards/100 grams.  Nowadays, though, you can get Cascade 220 in other weights, etc.  The only possible downside to this yarn is that it comes in hanks instead of skeins.  However, we will have our swift and yarn winder at the shop and will be happy to wind your hanks of any brand of yarn into center-pull balls.

Here’s a picture of a scarf I made using brioche stitch so that it’s red on one side and black on the other.  I love how deep and strong these Cascade 220 colors are!

 

How do you love Cascade 220?  Leave a comment and let us know!

Technique Tuesday–Casting On

On Tuesdays, I’m going to share with you some of my favorite knitting techniques and I might occasionally get Patrick to write about crochet!  These might be things to make your project go faster, tips to make something look a little neater, or a fancy technique to make your fiber projects amazing!  There are lots of great resources out there to help us learn lots of new things to do with yarn, so I won’t be trying to teach you a technique on this blog, but I’ll tell you why I like it and give links to where you can learn more about it.  And, don’t forget, that you can always stop by The Knitting Nest (after August 23rd) to ask questions and get help.

Today, we’ll start with the foundation of knitting – casting on.  Casting on is the process of putting stitches on the needle so that you can then knit and/or purl in rows to make a fabric.  There are a number of ways to cast on, each with it’s advantages and disadvantages.

1. The long-tail cast-on.  I use this cast-on when I need a stretchy edge, like when making socks or hats.  It also has the advantage of casting on and knitting the first row at the same time, so it’s a more substantial cast-on.  The disadvantages are that it’s easy at first to over or under-estimate the amount of yarn that you need for it.  It’s quite often the first cast-on taught, so most knitters have been exposed to it.  Here’s a link with pictures and here’s a link that includes video.

2. The knitted cast-on (or knitting on).  I prefer this cast-on for most projects, mostly because I don’t have to worry about estimating the right length for the tail (as in the long-tail cast-on).  However, it’s not very stretchy.  Here is the link with video.

3. The cable cast-on.  The difference between this and the knitted cast-on is that you put the needle tip between the last two stitches on the needle to get the loop of yarn instead of through the front of the last stitch.  It is a little stretchier than a knitted cast-on, but a bit more cumbersome, so I don’t often use it.  Here is a link with pictures – and you’ll note that she talks about knitted cast-on and cable cast-on together.  And here is a link with video.

4. The backward loop (or thumb) cast-on.  I almost never use this cast-on to begin a project.  It is easy to learn and to do, but it is difficult to knit the stitches evenly and you are often left with some leftover yarn at the end of the first row.  But, some people do like it and it is useful for lace knitting, so here is the link with video and here is the link with pictures (and some commentary).

The world of the cast-on is vast and I’ll return to this topic later with discussion of casting on extra stitches at the end of a row or in the middle of a row, provisional cast-on, and more.  So, stay tuned!

If you need help with any of these techniques, don’t hesitate to stop by The Knitting Nest!

Progress–August 1, 2011

Only 22 more days till we open!!  We’ve got tons to do despite all that’s already done.  Here are our most recent accomplishments:

1. We have a logo!!  If you are reading this in a reader, come to the site so you can see the header with the logo.  We are thrilled with the results.

2. The Universal Yarn and Mango Moon Yarn is all priced and placed into wire display cubes.

3. The Cascade Yarn is about halfway priced and put into cubes.

4. The needles and notions are ordered!!

5. Patrick and I discussed the story layout last night, but it is subject to change.

6. I’ve finished one of my shop model projects – a hat with Mango Moon Recycled Silk and Bumble Bee.

7. I’m working on a shawl, a cardigan, and a baby blanket.  I’m glad the kids can help Patrick with the pricing and inventory!!

22 more days!!  Hope to see you then!