Are you beyond ready for some bright spring-y colors? If so, we have good news — our spring yarns have color to spare! The first on our shelves is Uneek Cotton from Urth Yarns…

Talk about a party in a skein — it’s a hand-dyed, self-striping DK weight mercerized cotton that’s cottony light and smooth. There’s a generous 275 yards in each 100g hank, $14.95. For a scarf that will be a nice pop-of-color for summer, I’ve started knitting a Scalene Scarf* by Theresa Gaffey in this shade of Uneek Cotton, pairing it with a neutral color of Berroco Modern Cotton DK (more about that in a minute).

Looking for an easy knit pattern that uses only one hank of Uneek Cotton? Try Diane L. Augustin’s Easy Scarf, and crocheters, take a look at Jen Baker’s The Grapes of Wrap. Both patterns are free downloads on Ravelry.

And look what was tucked into the same Urth Yarns box…

Yes, they’re back! Each clever kit makes a perfectly matched pair of socks from pre-wound balls of Uneek Sock. The last time we had them in stock, it wasn’t for long.

Now about Berroco Modern Cotton — it’s one of two old favorites we’re giving a spring trim. You loved silky Modern Cotton and classic Ultra Wool in their worsted weights, now you can love their lighter DK versions, too! They’re even more perfect for baby blankets and clothing, as well as lighter tops, shawls, and accessories for everyone. We’re expecting a very large box from Berroco this week.

Our Play With Color KAL has ended, and our prizes, copies of Modern Daily Field Guide No. 16: Painterly, have been awarded. As promised, my Play With Color Cowl is now available as a free download, below. Use any DK/light worsted yarn you like; make it longer, shorter, wider, skinnier — just have fun playing with color!

The best part of every KAL is seeing your completed projects. With extra stripes for good measure, here is Gina’s bold and beautiful 7 Color Scarf* in Rowan Felted Tweed, the star of the knit-along. So happy to see she took ‘playing with color’ seriously!

Gina also recently completed this stunning Faeno* pullover designed by Orlane Sucche. The relief-patterned yoke is created with diamonds of twisted knit stitches against a background of purls. Her yarn is the wonderful Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok.

Joanne used her favorite Churchmouse Simple Toe-up Sock* pattern for socks she calls her “Round Trip Socks.” The yarn is from the Lang Super Soxx “City Runner” series; the foot color is called ‘Zurich’ and the heels and toes are ‘Paris.’ Knitting these was her way of taking an imaginary trip — as all trips were in 2020! — from Paris to Zurich and back again.

Another of her toe-up socks she named “My Summer Socks.” The contrast heels and toes are Wonderland Cheshire Cat and the striping yarn is Dizzywig Fibers Sock.

Krista made these two cozy pairs of Laura Nelkin’s Flip-Top Mittens* in Berroco Vintage. (More colors of Vintage will also be in that big Berroco box.) For years, Nelkin’s pattern has been our favorite for this clever type of mitt; it’s written for both fingering and worsted weight yarn. Love the buttons Krista chose.

Laurie dipped her hand into the technique of intentional- or planned-pooling with hand-painted yarns. She used Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s Colour Stacking Cowl pattern from the Yarn Harlot’s Patreon Channel. Laurie knit with Manos del Uruguay Alegria, adding an i-cord edging of Kelbourne Woolens Scout. If you would like to try planned-pooling, check out the Ravelry Group Pooled Knits for tips and pattern suggestions. A popular one is the DaVinci Cowl* by Mary-Ann Lammers.

And finally, our customer MaryKate kindly sent us some great pictures of her finished projects from the last few months. She’s been a busy, busy knitter! She knit Cassie Clarke’s Double Plaited Cable Turban/Headband, with Malabrigo Rios in Purpuras…

…and again with Berroco Vintage.

These Drunk Girl Designs Hey Bee-Otch* mittens were knit in Knittinbro Sock…

…and these “Bernie Mittens” in Berroco Ultra Wool.

And this purr-fectly adorable Cattitude Scarf* by Lisa Hannan Fox is Madelinetosh Tosh DK in the colorways Madonna and Smoke Stack. Kudos, MaryKate!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

“I read every project note and was terrified to start… After knitting one repeat of the flowers, I didn’t need the printed directions. This pattern became a joy to knit… watching the design unfold. It looks so complicated but isn’t.”

That’s how one knitter on Ravelry described making her Pressed Flowers* shawl. Jill said much the same thing about hers—this Amy Christoffers pattern quickly makes intuitive sense and is a totally addictive!

Jill’s black and grey version is currently on display as our store model. We’ve already had another Pressed Flowers* sighting at GYI. Tina brought in her elegant cat’s-eye yellow and black shawl yesterday. She also used Rowan Felted Tweed but chose to knit to a slightly lower gauge, making it a bit larger overall than Jill’s.

I’m loving the clever patterning details of this design.

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Have you tried mosaic knitting yet? It’s no more than slipped stitches. If you’d prefer a smaller first project than a shawl like Pressed Flowers*, I’d recommend Meg Gadsbey’s Arrochar* cowl, which calls for a DK/light worsted (below, in grey and white). I knit mine with a silk/mohair held double (Berroco Aerial and Sugar Bush Yarns Drizzle), but it would be gorgeous done in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers or Malabrigo Rios.

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I finished my Astrid* hat, my first solo stranded knitting project. Why did I wait so long? From now on, I will always have a colorwork project going. What I learned is what I always tried to teach in my pre-pandemic knitting classes at the shop: everything is hard until it’s easy. Practice, practice, practice.

Think you’d never be able to knit a Fair Isle pattern? Think again! Yes, your hands will have to learn a new skill, not easy at any age. New muscle memories must be created. You’ll feel like you’re learning to knit all over again. But once you work out the most efficient, most comfortable way to hold your hands and yarns, away you’ll go!

That said, there are 2 videos I can recommend that address stranded knitting yarn management, trapping floats, and color dominance—did I mention there will also be some new terms to learn? In her tutorial on color dominance, Jen Arnall-Culliford demonstrates different ways to hold your yarns. As I watched my own fingers fumbling, I found it encouraging that even she doesn’t perform all three methods perfectly.

Suzanne Bryan shows how to trap the floats of both main and contrast colors, a technique that comes up quickly in the Astrid* pattern. This is a skill easily mastered once done. The catching and carrying of yarn across the back of the work makes sense once the knitting is in your hands; you may not “get it” just by watching the video.

There may be starts and stops… you may try one way of holding yarn and then switch to a completely different way… you may question your color choices once they’re knit into stitches, as I did when I got this far with a blue as my second color and said, ummh, no.

But keep going! And when your colorwork piece is finished, give it a nice bath. Soak rinse-free wool wash made me look like a much better stranded knitter than I am—yet. The Felted Tweed plumped and softened, as if the stitches were reaching out to greet one another, and the fabric visibly relaxed. There actually are scientific reasons why washing wool is such a game changer; they’re entertainingly explained by Jillian Moreno here. Naturally, you’ll find Soak at GYI.

I was asked the other day about the difference between directions to “pick up” stitches vs. “pick up and knit.” This was in connection with another of our KAL options, the 7 Color Scarf* with its long edge borders, above. One of the best explanations I’ve found is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee’s in her Yarn Harlot blog.

For the scarf, you’ll find it easiest to pick up stitches first, as per The Yarn Harlot, place them on your left needle, then knit into them with the working (contrast) yarn. The key is to be consistent. First, take a few practice pick-ups to audition each of your garter edge stitch options and choose the one you like best. Is it the stitch that looks like a “(” ? Is it the one that looks like a “)”? Maybe it’s the one that looks like “—”. Whichever you choose, pick that one up every time, down the entire edge of your piece.

REMINDER: our Play With Color Knit Along ends March 20. You don’t have to finish your project to be eligible to win one of the KAL prizes. To be entered in the drawing, all you have to do is purchase 4 or more balls of Rowan Felted Tweed, plus you’ll save 10%!

More finished customer projects? Yes, please. Tina also shared these exquisite Late Bloomer Mittens by Kristin Ledgett with us. Her yarns are Berroco Aerial and Kelbourne Woolens Scout, held together. The pattern can be found in the 10th issue of Making magazine, Intricate.

Catherine S. was kind enough to send us this shot of several of her recently completed crocheted afghans. All were worked in easy-care Berroco Vintage. The textures and patterns are all different and all beautiful. They look so cozy!

Bonnie knit another adorable Cache Pullover* in Cascade 220 Superwash for her younger granddaughter. The design comes from Laura Spargo Anderson. She added to the sweater’s length to make a toddler-friendly tunic.

Big sister will be enjoying this Children’s V Neck Down Pullover #293* from Diane Soucy. Bonnie used soft, washable Berroco Ultra Wool and clearly had fun with the striping.

Way back in 2018, I started a PetiteKnit Anker’s Jacket* in Fibre Company Arranmore Light. I finally got around to working the buttonhole bands a few days ago. Languishing so long in the WIP basket means that although it was intended for my older granddaughter, it may now need to go to the younger. Maybe I’ll anticipate possible future delays by making the next one a couple of sizes too big!

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Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Rowan Felted Tweed has captured our hearts. If you aren’t already knitting along in our Play With Color KAL, more colors of Felted Tweed have just arrived, which means more colors to choose from for your 7 Color Scarf*, your Astrid* hat, Lindgren* mittens, Pressed Flowers* shawl, Play With Color Cowl*… wait—what?

Yes—my striped and cabled cowl finally has a name, thanks to the lovely commenters on our Facebook page. For now, the free pattern for the Play With Color Cowl* is only available from GYI with your purchase of Felted Tweed, but it will be posted on Ravelry at the end of the knit-along.

If you know me, you know I regularly “geek out” when I find new knitting tricks and tips. With the Play With Color Cowl* off my needles, I wanted to cast on for the Astrid* hat, which starts with 1×1 ribbing.

The look of 1×1 or 2×2 ribbing can always be improved by using either an Alternate Cable Cast On or switching between long tail cast on knits and purls, as Cheryl Brunette shows here and Purl Soho demonstrates slingshot-style here. My vote, however, for the most elastic, attractive ribbed edge always goes to a tubular cast on.

I had been using a version of the Long Tail Tubular Cast On¹ with a slight modification² (see my Geeky Footnotes, below), but I couldn’t resist researching other methods for Astrid* to achieve that smooth, rolled tubular edge.

For knitting “aha moments,” I often turn to Roxanne Richardson’s YouTube Channel for her Technique Tuesday videos. Sure enough, my knitter’s brain was blown by her tutorial for a Tubular Crochet Cast On. I used it for Astrid* and am completely happy with the results. Yes, it has a few extra steps, but foolproof wins out over fussy. I have a new favorite.

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Geeky Footnotes:

¹ I do still love a long tail method for creating a tubular cast on—what if you don’t have a crochet hook and waste yarn handy when you want to cast on for ribbing? The first tubular cast on method I ever learned involved picking up stitches, demonstrated here by Eunny Jang. Then I found Ysolda Teague’s video. Eureka! It’s so much easier to make, even though it has the slight downside of creating twisted knit stitches that must be worked through their back strands on the first set-up row. This Purl Soho video shows the same method. This video shows a fiendishly-clever trick for a gap-free way to join a tubular edge in the round and uses the same method as the two above but demonstrated in the Continental style.

² Another version of a long tail cast on for ribbing that doesn’t produce twisted knit stitches in the first row is the Italian Cast On, and, once again, Roxanne Richardson, a.k.a. Rox, has a clear explanation in this video. The edging it produces isn’t truly tubular but—fun fact—you can turn an Italian Cast On into a tubular edging by adding two or four set-up rows of alternately knit and slipped stitches—and that’s the modification I’ve been using. As Rox says, there are many ways in knitting to end up in the same place, and I originally learned the Italian Cast On from this 2006 blog post, even though it shows a completely different way to achieve the same cast on.

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Now it’s show time! Time to showcase finished projects. On the subject of tubular cast ons, I encountered a completely unfamiliar version when making a Churchmouse Ribbed Watch Cap & Beanie*. It starts with a backward loop cast on—not my favorite—and in the unlikely event I were ever to make another deep brimmed hat with sock yarn (like this madelinetosh Tosh Sock) on 200 stitches in all 1×1 ribbing with US 1/2.25mm needles, I would use ANY of the tubular cast on techniques mentioned above before using the one in this pattern. Just sayin’. But I do like the hat.

Our customer Molly recently rediscovered knitting and enjoyed having her skills come back to her as she knit the Wheat scarf by Tin Can Knits. Her yarn is Malabrigo Rios. Gorgeous.

Saritha also picked Vintage for her own Wheat—bet you can’t tell it’s her first FO ever!

Steven, an accomplished sweater knitter, used the traditional “Modified Drop Shoulder Sweater” pattern from Ann Budd’s Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns for his handsome pullover. He held strands of Trendsetter New York and Sugar Bush mohair/silk Drizzle together throughout for one cozy, classy sweater.

The remaining FOs all come from our customer Bonnie and represent her “output” since November. I think I need to spend more time knitting!

First up, her Arrochar* cowl from Meg Gadsbey. The pinkalicious yarn is Malabrigo Rios.

Below, the Cache Pullover* by Laura Spargo Anderson. Yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash.

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Above, the Odila Cape Pullover* designed by Heidi May in Cascade 128 Superwash. Below, Kristen Rettig’s Gingersnap* in Berroco Ultra Wool.

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Warmest Wishes*, a pattern from Sophie McKane, in Berroco Vintage Chunky.

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Next, the Logan Hooded Poncho* from Muki Crafts, also in Berroco Vintage Chunky.

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Here’s the Wee Gol Tee* by DesiLoop designer Sheta Shankar Khatri. Yarn is Classic Elite Liberty Wool.

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The Lodgepole Pullover* was designed by Sara Gresbach. Bonnie used Ewe So Sporty from Ewe Ewe Yarns. Begun for big sister, it fits little sister.

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Above, a Frosty the Polar Bear hat for each granddaughter from the book Knitted Animal Hats by Fiona Goble. Below, Koala Hat*, created by Cassandra May. All hats knit from Berroco Vintage Chunky.

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For this OOAK mother/daughter mitt set in Malabrigo Rios, Bonnie had fun mixing and matching parts of different patterns.

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Below, a slouch hat that’s another of her own patterns, knit from stash yarn topped with a bright I-cord bow. She made the pompom-topped Sidewinder Beanie* in Malabrigo Rasta with plenty of growing room. Pattern from Aspen Leaf Knits.

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And finally, another Bonnie “original” in some bright and colorful mystery stash yarn, a muff for her younger granddaughter to keep little hands warm.

Keep on stitching, everyone!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Have you chosen your pattern yet? For the next 7 weeks, we’ll be knitting along together with wonderful Rowan Felted Tweed, and I know I’ll be loving every stitch. KAL details are in this post. I promised to share hints here that I’ve found helpful for various techniques you’ll find in the different patterns. It’s easiest for me to start with the Tiverton Cowl, since I designed it!

As written, the pattern calls for 4 colors, but you caught me—I’m about to add a fifth, which is why I don’t have the finished cowl to show you quite yet, except worked in its original undyed colors of Tiverton Tweed:

Tiverton is a ribbed cowl, and those ribs get a twist every few rounds with a 2 x 2 Right Cross Cable. It’s not news that the traditional way to work any cable is with a cable needle. With this technique, the first set of stitches in the cable column are slipped onto the cable needle, pulled out of the way—either to the front or back, depending on the direction the cable will lean—then the next set of stitches are knit, and then the held stitches are knit off the cable needle or placed back on the left needle to be knit:

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But…I’m a big fan of cabling without a cable needle. Whatever you may have heard about this maneuver, your stitches will not drop! The key is rearranging the stitches without actually moving them too much and using smooth, pointy needles. I would not recommend trying this technique for the first time on blunt-tipped bamboo needles.

I am using the new Addi Click Rocket² [Squared] needles, which I totally love. Our “house brand” Hiya Hiya Sharps or similar needles with long tapered points would also be perfect. (We can always special order any type of Addi, Hiya Hiya, Chiao Goo, or Knitter’s Pride needles for you!)

I’ve found two ways to rearrange stitches to knit a cable, all at once, off the left needle. Here’s my Method #1, shown on my Tiverton in progress:

From the front, insert the right needle purlwise into stitches #3 and #4 on the left needle (above). Once those stitches are safely onboard the right needle, gently slide the left needle out of stitches #2 and #1 (below). Don’t panic! Those “needle-free” stitches aren’t going anywhere—if you don’t wiggle them too much!

With stitches #3 and #4 now out of the way, reinsert your left needle into #2 and #1. You should be able to slide the needle right back into the waiting stitches as easily as it came out.

Now all that’s left to do is re-hang the stitches on the right needle back on the left needle and knit them across. That’s it!

And here’s my same-but-different Method #2: From the front, slide the right needle purlwise into all 4 stitches of the cable column at once.

With the 4 stitches now on the right needle tip…

…insert the left needle tip into the back of stitches #1 and #2 and…

…gently slide the right needle tip out of stitches #3 and #4.

Now that stitches #1 and #2 are out of the way, reinsert your right needle into #3 and #4. You should be able to slide the needle back into the waiting stitches as easily as it came out.

Once again, all that’s left to do is transfer the stitches on the right needle back onto the left needle and knit them across.

I encourage you to experiment with both methods shown above. See which one makes the most sense and is easiest for you to do. I bet you’ll be able to figure out the logistics of a Left Cross Cable on your own!

You’ll find how-to videos online telling you to “pinch” and “pull” stitches around with your fingers when you aren’t using a cable needle. Please ignore them. While it’s true that different yarns and different needles may make this technique more or less challenging to perform with confidence, my “needle slide” method is a great match for Felted Tweed. And If you don’t want your actual Tiverton Cowl project to be the first time you try cabling without a cable needle, make yourself a practice swatch, similar to one I made when I was auditioning needle sizes:

What do you think my fifth color is going to be?

The Tiverton Cowl pattern will not be available on Ravelry until after our KAL ends on March 20. It is only available from Gosh Yarn It!, free with a purchase of Felted Tweed.

Which pattern should we talk about next?

Our Play With Color Knit Along is just about to kick off! The star of this KAL is Rowan Felted Tweed:

Spun to a light DK weight, with 191 yards per 50 gram ball, it is a beautifully soft—not at all “picky”—tweed. The magical combination of 50% lightly-felted wool, 25% alpaca and 25% viscose blooms luxuriously after washing. It’s as much a gorgeous option for Fair Isle stranded colorwork as lace or garter stitch, creating a drapey, cosy fabric that’s still light and easy to wear.

• The KAL officially begins Wednesday, February 3 and ends Saturday, March 20—7 weeks!
• There are 5 patterns to choose from: Tiverton Cowl, 7 Color Scarf, Astrid hat, Lindgren mittens, and Pressed Flowers shawl,
• Save 10% at GYI when you buy 4 or more balls of Felted Tweed,
• Every GYI purchase of Felted Tweed during the KAL earns one chance in a drawing to be held March 20 for one of 3 copies of Modern Daily Knitting Field Guide No. 16: Painterly, which features 4 designs by Kaffe Fassett for Felted Tweed,
• Projects do not need to be completed by the end of the KAL on March 20 to qualify you for the drawing.

The Tiverton Cowl and 7 Color Scarf patterns are only available at GYI with a purchase of Felted Tweed. Antonia Shankland’s 7 Color Scarf calls for—you guessed it—7 colors/balls of yarn, but since this KAL is all about playing with color, there are infinite combinations of more/fewer colors and stripes you could create with this easy log cabin scarf…

The center panel is worked first in 3 colors, then stripes are added along the long edges, then a single stripe finishes off the short edges…

The cabled Tiverton Cowl is written for 4 colors/balls but also can be knit with stripes of fewer/more colors. It’s shown here in the yarn it was originally created for, the now-discontinued Classic Elite Tiverton Tweed. The new, more colorful Felted Tweed version will be pictured in the next post. I love the length of this cowl—it’s comfortable whether worn as a single loop or doubled for a warmer, closer fit.

Currently we have 13 colors of Felted Tweed in stock—plenty to play with! We’ve been promised a shipment of 13 additional colors will be sent next week from Rowan’s U.S. warehouse, with the final 5 colors from our order reaching us in early March. The supply of Rowan yarn from the U.K. has been severely disrupted by the pandemic, so we’re thrilled to have as many colors as we do for you to choose from!

Once the KAL begins on February 3, this is the place to come for video links for tutorials and hints for techniques used in all 5 patterns that we hope you’ll find helpful.

I love grey. It’s one of my favorite colors for yarn. But as the color of the sky, day after day—not so much. Welcome to January in Northeastern Pennsylvania. But there is an easy fix…

Because where has all the color gone? To our shelves! We’ve had almost daily deliveries in the last couple of weeks and have plenty of rainbows here and in store for you.

Above, our bright selection of Rowan Felted Tweed, a soft blend of merino wool/alpaca/viscose that will be the star of our upcoming PLAY WITH COLOR KAL beginning next month. This is a “choose your own adventure” knit-along, with 5 different projects to pick from:

• one of my own designs, the easy cabled Tiverton Cowl*
• Antonia Shankland’s log cabin/garter stitch 7-Color Scarf*
• Karie Westermann’s Astrid* hat and Lindgren* mittens — both great beginner colorwork projects (and, yes, they do look a little like Bernie’s!)
• Amy Christoffers’ Pressed Flowers* shawl, with its beautiful slipped stitch all-over flower pattern.

Now, what colors will you play with?

Reminder: Shop safely with us Wednesday through Saturday, 12-4 p.m. or schedule a private shopping appointment. When you visit, you can choose your colors of Rowan Felted Tweed for the KAL and fall in love with this extraordinary yarn (if you aren’t already a member of the fan club). We’re always happy to offer color advice! If you prefer, we can easily ship your KAL yarn and pattern to you.

Once the PLAY WITH COLOR KAL starts in February, this news column will be filled with our favorite technique hints and how-to video links so each pattern will be a joy to make.

I did promise lots of rainbows in this post, so here we go: we recently re-stocked some of our most popular yarns, including 100% Fine Highland Wool Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers, a light worsted weight…

There are new colors of heathery sport weight Kelbourne Woolens Scout to choose from…

Also much-loved Rios, Malabrigo’s kettle-dyed, washable merino worsted weight…

Ten brand new shades of Malabrigo Sock…

Single-ply fingering weight Malabrigo Mechita, awash in speckles and splashes of colors…

My fellow grey yarn lovers can choose three of our five shining natural shades of slinky alpaca/silk Blue Sky Fibers Metalico to make a spectacular Lexington Cowl…

For the warmest knitwear you can imagine, there’s luxurious Myak Baby Yak Medium for either solid color projects like the Antler Toque from Tincan Knits or the Churchmouse Ferryboat Mitts* or for stranded colorwork such as Kirsten Kapur’s Swimming in Colors hat or the Moonwake Cowl* from Andrea Mowry…

And last but definitely not least—maybe the most colorful of all—Universal Yarn Colorburst. These are whopping 200g/660 yard swirly cakes of self-striping color. Smooth single-ply Colorburst looks great on 4-5mm hooks and US 6-7 needles and is machine washable. Just one would make a cozy Churchmouse Two-Point Cowl*.

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Time now to spotlight some WiP/FO projects! Here is Suzanne’s vibrant Breathe and Hope* from designer Casapinka. Her yarn is wonderful Knittinbro Sock.

Jill is currently working on a Mountain Mist* pullover from Tincan Knits in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers. You’ll find her on Sleeve Island these days.

Kathy finished this cheery Carrousel Cowl* from Laura Aylor right before the holidays. She used our favorite chunky weight Cascade 128 Superwash.

Gina whipped up this Wonderful Wallaby for Kids* from GGH Topas, adding sections of broken rib as fun accents to the basic, classic design. This pattern from Carol A. Anderson has been winning knitters’ hearts since 1983.

If you’ve shopped at GYI for awhile, you may remember Liberty Wool from the now-defunct Classic Elite Yarns. I pulled the last skeins of yellow from my stash for these Elegant Knit Crowns for the royalty in our family. The pattern’s two sizes just fit a 7- and 2-year old. For an older child, I’d adapt Kathryn Andrews’ instructions by casting on 14 more stitches to the large size for one additional repeat of the crown points; for an adult, maybe 28 more for two extra repeats? To make your own crown, try Berroco Ultra Wool or Vintage.

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Finally, using Ultra Wool DK from Berroco, I made another Ysolda Teague Sophie*. The sweater is Evelyn Clark’s Piccolina Doll Cardigan, a free pattern on Ravelry.

Did you know Berroco now offers four different weights of Ultra Wool? We carry a large color selection of the Worsted, but the Chunky, DK, and Fine weights, as well as a new Handpaint Worsted, are all available through their 123 DropShip Program, which is still going strong. They will ship any amount of any of their yarns directly to customers if the order is placed with us first. The convenience/shipping fee is still only $7 — that’s a great deal! Also check out their DropShip Store for kits that can be sent directly to you. Berroco’s Spring/Summer ’21 yarns and patterns have just come out; you can preview them here.

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Happy Winter Solstice! We’ve made it this far—the shortest day of the year. Things will be looking brighter very soon.

Our holiday hours for safe, in-person, last minute shopping this week are Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-4 p.m. both days. The shop will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We’ll be open our regular hours on Saturday, December 26. Next week, you can shop Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday; we’ll only be closed on Friday, New Year’s Day.

The latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly, guest-edited by Stephen West and Aimée Gille, has finally arrived, but our supply may not last long. It’s a honey!

Grab Jared Flood’s free Mitten Ornament pattern (above) and some odds & ends of all different size yarns to make adorable mitten decorations — they make great gift card holders, too. Look at all these cuties Kathy has already made…

Another pattern Kathy thought was nice enough to make at least twice is Amy Miller’s Donder and Blitzen*. She used sportweight yarn from her stash, including some Ewe So Sporty. Our Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino or Kelbourne Woolens Scout would also work well.

Jill”s Fox Scarf was made with soft, washable Ultra Wool from Berroco as a gift for a glamorous little lady in her life.

A reminder that your 2020 Frequent Buyer Points will roll over to 2021. While we’d love to see you before the end of the year, there’s no need to rush in to use points before they expire. We’re happy to keep them ready for you to redeem for savings in a happier and healthier New Year!

Finally, a teaser… In early November, I searched on Ravelry for a Christmas stocking pattern to knit in aran/chunky weight yarn. I didn’t find one I was 100% happy with, so I decided to make my own. I’m still noodling my design, so it’s not quite ready to share and be knit and hung by the chimney with care this year. But I will post the pattern as a free download here when the final version has been properly edited and test knit, in plenty of time to make plenty for 2021. This is a shot of my very first prototype, 9″ straight needles included for scale. Directions will include easy options for the cuff and the striping — you won’t have to fiddle with making a folded ribbed cuff or helical stripes unless you really want to!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

As a thank you for supporting GYI in 2020, we’re rolling over all your remaining Frequent Buyer Points earned in the last 12 months to become the start of your 2021 points. Ordinarily, points expire on December 31, but not this crazy year!

We also have another thank you — a free PDF download for my Bitty Bulky Hat pattern for both newborn and 3-6 month sizes. Whatever the time of year, babies need soft, cozy hats on their little noggins. This hat knits up quickly with chunky yarn on size US 9/5.5mm needles. The comfy garter ribbing won’t ever be too tight. My newborn size samples, below, were made with my favorite Cascade 128 Superwash (pink) and Berroco Vintage Chunky (white).

(Don’t know any babies right now? You can use the newborn size directions to make a tree ornament just by downsizing the gauge and using sock weight yarn and US 01/2.25mm needles.)

Click below to download your copy of my Bitty Bulky Hat pattern and enjoy.

Back by popular demand, we have a very limited supply of our durable GYI Logo Project Bags. Get your 9×11″ zippered bag before they’re all gone!

I have great FOs to share… our customer Catherine uses nothing but Vintage Worsted for her beautiful crocheted afghans. She was kind enough to send along this picture of her latest. I love that windowpane edging.

Tina posted pictures of two of her recent projects in our GYI Group on Ravelry and graciously allowed me to feature them here. Her cabled Realeza Cowl was knit with one of our new Pintada colors of Rasta. The pattern is from her personal library, but if you’d like to make a similar cowl using only one skein of Rasta, try Susan Ashcroft’s free pattern, Rasta Swirl.

We have many of these beautiful Pintada colors still in stock:

Tina’s other FO is the It’s Bitter Cold Hat by Carol Bristol, which is also free on Ravelry. She used Cascade 128 Superwash. Bet both of these pretty pieces would be super quick knits if you need any last-minute gift ideas!

Bonnie created her Occam* from designer Bristol Ivy with two shades of silky Metalico from Blue Sky Fibers. I included the second photo to prove that, yes, those horizontal stripes you start with really do become chevron stripes by the end of this clever scarf.

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We recently received word from Rowan that nearly all the remaining colors from our order of Felted Tweed should arrive in their North Carolina warehouse from the U.K. today or tomorrow. They’ll need about a week to process and ship orders — ours and hundreds of other local yarn shops’ — but we hope to see our missing colors before the end of the year. To celebrate, we’re planning a Felted Tweed KAL for the New Year. Stay tuned for details! Until then, we already have a wonderful paintbox of colors…

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Happy Thanksgiving. If 2020 were yarn, it would be that tangled plug that pops out from the middle of the skein labeled “center-pull ball.” It hasn’t been easy to pull out all the knots from this mess of a year, but we’ve had a lot of help. Thank you for sticking with us and continuing to buy your yarn and notions from our little shop.

We’re taking today and tomorrow off. The shop will re-open Saturday, November 28, which just happens to be Small Business Saturday. We don’t know if we’ll be seeing as many regular customers and visiting out-of-towners that day as in years past, but we’re thinking of you and wishing you all well.

Whenever you do shop with us, you can count on it being a safe, socially-distanced, and convenient experience. We will welcome you with masks on, plenty of hand sanitizer, and all the same passion for yarn and what you can create with it.

If you have some gift knitting still to do or are ready to plan a new project for a new year, may we suggest something with Rowan Felted Tweed? Nothing has captured our imagination lately so much as these plump little balls of colorful DK weight yarn, a blend of soft merino wool, cozy alpaca, and viscose. Below, Jill’s 7 Color Scarf, made with log cabin knitting. (You’ll get the pattern free with a yarn purchase.) What else can you make with it? More like, what can’t you make with it—enjoy looking through Ravelry’s 100+ pages of pattern suggestions for Felted Tweed!

Yarn companies Rowan and Sirdar have created 7 beautiful reasons to shop local this year. Their newest kits are exclusive to yarn shops–you won’t find them anywhere else. Best of all, you won’t need to wait until Small Business Saturday on the 28th. Order from us now, and your kit will be sent directly to you for a $7.95 flat rate shipping charge, so you can cast on right away. It’s a win/win!

#1 / Merino Aria Cowl: You must feel this yarn to believe how soft it is next to your skin. Chunky yet lightweight with a soft halo, Merino Aria is a chainette yarn that’s 93% merino wool. Two balls make this simple, textured cowl. Drop ship kit available in three colors, Slate, Steel Grey, or Bear. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $38.

#2 / Merino Aria Beanie & Pom Pom: A quick knit in Rowan’s new Merino Aria. Two balls makes this cute beanie topped off with a matching vegan pom pom. Drop ship kit available in 3 color combinations, Slate/Black, Steel Grey/Steel Grey, or Bear/Camel. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $76.

#3 / Jewelspun Hat & Scarf: Sirdar Jewelspun has the look of handspun in practical, easy-care acrylic. This wide scarf uses simple increases and decreases to create the chevron design, while Jewelspun does all the work of the colorful striping. Kit includes two balls to make both the scarf and hat, a free Sirdar project bag, and free pattern. Available in 3 colorways, Northern Lights, Golden Green, or Glacier. Kit price: $26.50.

#4 / Honey Hat: Using one hank of Rowan’s new Pure Cashmere, Honey is a quick knit and a luxury gift to to give away or keep for your own. This buttery soft yarn is made up of gently-plied purest cashmere. Pure Cashmere comes from the renowned mill of Todd & Duncan in Scotland–this is cashmere at it’s finest. Drop ship kit available in two colors, Potash or College Red. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $63.50.

#5 / Glory Hat & Mittens: Another wonderful way to cosy up to Rowan’s new Pure Cashmere. Create this on-trend hat & fingerless mitts set with 2 hanks of the world’s finest cashmere. Drop ship kit available in two colors, Derby Grey or Ink Well. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $127.

#6 / Soft Boucle Scarf: New from Rowan, Soft Boucle is a lofty blend of cotton, alpaca, merino wool, and polyamide that creates a warm, yet light-as-air fabric. Just 3 balls makes this scarf with fringe. Available in three shades, Ash, Natural, or Plush. Kit includes free pattern and Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $47.50.

#7 / Three Color Scarf: Wrap yourself or someone you love one in coziness and color this winter. Sirdar Country Classic Worsted is a 50/50 blend of merino wool and premium acrylic. This kit includes seven balls of Sirdar Country Classic Worsted, a free Sirdar project bag, and free pattern. Two calm neutral colorways available (pictured in Petrel/Toffee/Clotted Cream). Kit price: $59.50.

To order, email jill@goshyarnitshop.com or call the shop, 570-287-9999. It’s that easy!