News

IN THIS POST:

• two new classes
• a club for sweater lovers
• finished projects gallery
• trunk show wrap-up

DAYBREAK SHAWL CLASS: After making Stephen West’s Daybreak* you’ll be a master of the “make one” increase. This semicircular shawl gets its shape from 4 different kinds of these easy increases. Graphic stripes echo a rising sun and offer a fun way to play with color. You’ll also learn a foolproof garter tab cast-on technique and a neat trick to stop stressing over tension. Registration is open for this 2-session Saturday class meeting March 14 & April 4, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Cost: $50 (Daybreak pattern additional, available at GYI); Yarn: 1 skein each of 2 colors fingering weight yarn; Instructor: Ann.

CUFF-DOWN SOCKS CLASS: New to socks? Or new to Magic Loop? This class is for you. You’ll speed through these worsted weight socks. Learn the Magic Loop technique using a 32″ (or longer) circular needle and our favorite Basic Sock* pattern from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. Registration is open for this 3-session Saturday class meeting April 4, 18 & May 2, 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Cost: $40 (Basic Sock pattern additional, available at GYI); Yarn: 1 skein Berroco Ultra Wool or Vintage yarn (a second skein will be needed if using contrast cuff/heel/toe); Instructor: Kathy.

SWEATER CLUB: It’s not a class… it’s not a clinic… it’s a happy place for everyone who makes (or wants to make) sweaters!

In Sweater Club you can get together with other stitchers to “share the love” of making your own clothing and to work on your sweaters-in-progress.

Sweater Club is free and will meet 12:00-1:00 p.m. on 3rd Saturdays starting March 21. Stay for lunch if you can; bring a brown bag or join the regular Saturday Stitchers in placing an order from a local restaurant.

Even if you’ve never made a sweater before, Sweater Club is still for you. A lot goes into a sweater: choosing a flattering style, finding a well-written pattern, deciding on a size, selecting a yarn and getting a fabric you like with it (even if you don’t get exact gauge), altering the fit, assembling and finishing. Since no one likes talking about making sweaters more than sweater makers themselves, Sweater Club can offer plenty of inspiration.

(And if you think Sweater Club members should get sweater-quantity discounts on their yarn, we agree!)

FINISHED PROJECTS: Stephanie is the proud maker of a beautiful Seachange* from designer Jennifer Steingass, whose patterns are published under the name Knit.Love.Wool. Stephanie worked with our DK weight New York from Trendsetter. If you’re a fan of Norwegian inspired, seamless circular-yoke sweaters, the hardest part will be picking which of Steingass’ designs you’ll want to knit first.

This sleek Memories Sweater*, designed by Heidi May, will be a go-to sweater for Bonnie. It also shows why Malabrigo Rios is a go-to yarn here at GYI. This classic cardigan shape perfectly complements the vibrant color variations in Rios, a hand-dyed yarn.

Francie finished her spring green Junegrass Pullover* in Scout from Kelbourne Woolens in plenty of time for spring. She’s now working on a second Junegrass, having already swatched for gauge in summery wool-free Remix Light from Berroco. The designer is Carrie Bostick Hoge.

Here’s one more sweater FO: Jill’s Hyphen* in Malabrigo Rios. The color is called – what else? – Peachy. The pearl buttons only add to the cuteness. The pattern comes from Lisa Chemery.

Wanda made her bright Knotted Openwork Cowl in chunky Cascade 128 Superwash. Shannon Dunbabin’s pattern is free on the Cascade website.

Marcia’s Dimorphous Mitts* from Miriam Felton appeared in the last post as a WiP and are now a fabulous FO. Her yarns are Urth Uneek Fingering (the gloves) and Classic Alpaca from The Alpaca Yarn Company (the mitts).

PERENNIAL TRUNK SHOW: Here’s a last look at the models that were in the shop last month from the Kelbourne Woolens Perennial Collection, featuring their washable wool/alpaca/nylon Perennial yarn. If you weren’t able to see these pretty pieces in person, enjoy them here. The patterns and yarn are still available at the shop.

Roxborough Dolman* by Courtney Kelley:  

Yangtze Cardigan* by Courtney Kelley:

Nana’s Pullover, by Kate Gagnon Osborn, a free pattern:

Baby Fiddlehead Pullover* by Courtney Kelley:

Colette* by Kate Gagnon Osborn:

Lucille* by Courtney Kelley (This vintage-inspired baby set includes cardigan sweater and bonnet.):

Meadowsweet Shawl* by Courtney Kelley:

Parquet* shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn:

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at GYI.

We do love our gadgets. And when they’re as good looking as they are useful – bonus! Take the measure of your stitches at a moment’s notice with these clever key fobs and comfortable leather Wrist Ruler bracelets.

Our new shipment of Katrinkles Mini Tools and Needle Gauges has just arrived. These handy wooden tags save so much time: the ins and outs of the Kitchener stitch can be at your fingertips, your needles sized, your yarns identified by weight, and increases and short rows de-mystified.

There’s a new class coming in March: Daybreak* is Stephen West’s shawl that features M1L and M1R increases in both knit and purl. You’ll master these and learn a foolproof garter tab cast-on and a pretty way to carry yarns up the side of the shawl. Below is Brigid’s serene blue and white Daybreak. This will be a two session class, Saturday, March 14 & April 4; 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino had a “soft opening” at GYI before the holidays, and it’s time to make some noise about this wonderful washable sport weight yarn. Kathy’s BABY Tea Leaves* is our newest shop sample. The pattern is the smallest size of Melissa LeBarre’s Tea Leaves* adult cardigan, with the TINY Tea Leaves* for children 2 and up.

I’ve been able to collect photos of some amazing customer finished projects since the last post. First up, Tina’s cozy Weekend Walking Mitts*, designed by Dianna Walla, were knit in rustic 100% wool DK Trendsetter New York.

Steven chose easy-care Berroco Vintage for his reversible double knit cowl. The pattern is Malvolio’s Cowl by Celia Cobodevilla.

A double thick cowl is the perfect accessory for blustery winter days, and seeing Steven, modeling his handsome Malvolio’s Cowl himself, makes me wish I had one, too!

Bonnie knit these color-blocked worsted weight socks in Berroco Ultra Wool for her son. She followed a pattern for a traditional gusset and heel flap sock created by Shelly, another of our customers.

Unfortunately, Bonnie recently found out what happens when bad dogs happen to good yarn:

What would you do with so many short pieces of yarn? (I suggested something with tassels.)

Kristen kindly shared photos of her cute Little Greystone* cardigan made from Sarah Cooke’s pattern and knit with Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

The Clara* dress by Karin Vestergaard Mathiesen is legendary, with 2000+ projects on Ravelry and no small amount of controversy over its sizing. Kathy sailed though her version in Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock, making a few modifications to improve the fit. The printed pattern is not easy to find, but we have it!

Shannon made her version of Jason’s Cashmere Hat from Melissa Thomson in Tosh DK Twist. What a beautiful, classic cabled hat.

I can’t think of anything more challenging than knitting the ten fingers of a pair of gloves. Marcia shows she has what it takes with her Dimorphous Mittens*. She’s making Miriam Felton’s pattern for mitten/gloves with Urth Uneek Fingering.

I took the easy way out by making two pairs of fingerless gloves last month with the Churchmouse Welted Fingerless Gloves* pattern. Both were knit with vintage GYI yarns (as in, ones no longer in stock) from my deep stash.

I am pretty proud of having figured out a way to eliminate the gap at the top of the thumb gusset that the original directions will make.

Finally, I’m knitting a sweater right now. The Creek* pullover from the Berroco Design Team is an incredibly easy and enjoyable knit. Designed to be worn with 4-6″ positive ease, it fits a range of bust measurements from 40 to 68″ and looks great on everyone. I’m using and loving Kelbourne Woolens Scout, a DK weight wool.

Have you ever knit a sweater? If not, what’s holding you back? Finding a wearable pattern? Figuring out what size to make? Worried about getting gauge? I’m starting the (free) GYI Sweater Club to crowd-source the answers to your sweater questions and make sweater knitting simple, make it fun, and make it routine.

Sweater Club kicks off March 21st at noon. The plan is to keep meeting on the third Saturday of each month. Bring your knitting if you’re already working on a sweater project or bring the sweater patterns you’re considering or just bring your questions about how to get started!

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

We have another Make & Take with Kathy coming! Knit these sweet Little Hearts on Saturday, February 8, 2:00-3:00 pm. Call to reserve a spot; seating is limited. Admission is only $10. Included is a kit with enough yarn and stuffing to take home a finished heart for a Valentine. You only need to bring a US 7/4.5mm needle, straight or circular, and a tapestry needle.

Do not miss the Dizzywig Fibers Pop-Up Shop on Thursday, February 13, 4:00-7:00 pm. Jason Klus, who dyes his beautiful yarn right here in Kingston, will be bringing dozens of his skeins to the shop in several different yarn bases. Come and meet Jason and snap up your favorites. Jason will also be accepting a limited number of custom orders that evening. We are very excited to be hosting Dizzywig Fibers at this exclusive pop-up.

Ready to learn to crochet? Have we got the class for you! Learn to Crochet is coming on Saturday, February 15, 11:00 am-1:00 pm. Let Instructor Rebecca Pinkoski get you off to a great start, mastering the foundation chain and basic stitches. This one’s going to fill fast, so call soon to register. Yarn will be supplied. If needed, hooks can be purchased with your 10% class discount.

Are we your favorite Wyoming Valley yarn shop? Then please vote for us in the Times Leader Best of 2020! Click this link: http://impressions.secondstreetapp.com/TL—Best-of-2020/#/referrals/fd93d827-e9ac-4a4b-bc8f-f800174f9337 Next, choose the Category “Miscellaneous.” Under “Wildcard – Did we miss your favorite Category – Enter it here,” type Gosh Yarn It! – Yarn Shop in the field.

You will be asked to supply a few more details about yourself, such as your postal (zip) code, but you can de-select the checked boxes if you do not wish to receive emails from the Times Leader. Please share the above link with your stitching friends and cast your vote before Thursday, February 13, 12:00 am. Thank you!

And now, it’s finished (or almost finished) project time:

Francie is rocking her in-progress Junegrass Pullover* in Kelbourne Woolens Scout by Carrie Bostick Hogue. (No, dangling circular needles aren’t a new fashion statement.) After a few armhole stitches are picked up and the sleeves knit and a few more inches worked before binding off the back hem, this sweater will be street-legal.

Jill needed only one ball of Cascade 128 Superwash for these too-cute slippers, Claire Slade’s Woodland Loafers*. Make a comfy pair for yourself or start your gift knitting early this year.

Joanne also chose Cascade 128 Superwash for her recent project, an ear-warming buff and brown hat of her own design. Love this!

Stephanie used Knitted Wit Single Fingering for her Grotine from Carolyn Dick. Linen stitch knit on the bias makes the colors of this lovely hand dyed yarn really pop.

I took the first pictures of Stephanie’s Fruitcake*, which was originally a mystery knit-along from designer Laura Aylor, thinking that the narrow garter stitch section at the top of the cowl should be worn as a turtleneck. Then Stephanie set me straight – the garter section is meant to be folded to the inside, making a double thick funnel neck. Her yarn comes from her “deep stash” – Three Irish Girls Springvale Worsted.

Not that the above styling doesn’t work, but this is the “right” way to wear it:

All patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Note: If you can’t make the Make & Take on February 8, Ravelry has many pattern listings for knit and crochet hearts. Kathy will be using Tatyana Grigoryan’s Full Hearts. Check out these other free patterns:

• Theresa Fox’s Little Hearts
• Susan B. Anderson’s Little Hearts
• Anna Hrachovec’s Hearts
• Mary Ann Walters’ No-Sew Heart
• Mags Kandis’ Felted Milagros.

Is it too late to wish you a happy new year of stitching? I don’t think so! It’s two weeks into January, and (so far) I’m actually keeping my three New Year’s knitting resolutions:

• spend more time each day knitting
• finish more of my UFO’s
• knit more wearable, well-fitting sweaters

Luckily for my resolution #3, new colors of Malabrigo Rios and Madelinetosh DK Twist just arrived!

Just look at those classic Madtosh colors. Our palette of DK Twist has “sweater” written all over it.

A few sweater patterns have already caught my eye (see below), including Strange Brew*, the Tin Can Knits stranded yoke pullover “recipe.” Then Gina wore her Strange Brew into the shop the other day…

This sweater comes in 3 gauges, can be made bottom-up or top-down, and comes with nearly 100 ready-to-use charts for different Fair Isle yoke motifs. It also has instructions for making your own original designs, as Gina did with her gold stars. That sounds like such fun! I’m giving it a gold star and moving it to the top of the must-make-now list.

More pretty stranded knitting appears in Joanne’s original design in warm, chunky Cascade 128 Superwash.

I loved working with Berroco Ultra Alpaca (plus some of my handspun) for this On Off Shawl* by Larissa Brown. After washing, it’s as soft as cashmere.

Laurie wore her gorgeous Braidsmaid* to Thursday Night Sit & Stitch recently. Her yarn is Malabrigo Rios. Braidsmaid comes from designer Martina Behm. 

I made good on my resolution #2 by finishing an Oaken Shawl* that should have been on my 2019 FO list. It’s another Tin Can Knits pattern. I used Berroco Vintage, and I’m beyond thrilled this shawl can go in the washing machine and dryer.

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Here are some of the other sweaters I’m considering:

Bedrock* from Lori Versaci

Anker’s Cardigan – My Size* from PetiteKnit

BiRTHDAY* from ANKESTRiCK

Sweaters may seem like the Mt. Everest of knitting to some folks, but they’re so worth it. Everyone has a few oopses along the way, and I’ll be combining resolutions #2 and #3 when I un-knit and re-knit my Weekender* from Andrea Mowry. Unfortunately, I chose a size that turned out to be too big for me. Getting gauge doesn’t help when you pick the wrong size in the first place! Here’s the “before” picture, and after some washing and re-skeining, I hope to get my “after” underway soon.

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

Looking for gift ideas for stitching friends (or yourself)? We have more than just the handy Baggu tote bags in stock right now. Check out Baggu’s nifty zippered pouches and dopp kits. They all make great project bags.

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And Chiao Goo’s Yarn Butler should be on every yarn lover’s wish list. It puts an end to yarn balls bouncing across the floor forever!

Wondering what’s been on some folks’ needles recently? I have finished projects to share! Jill finished her Drift* from Tin Can Knits in Malabrigo Rios, the Frank Ochre colorway.

She immediately cast on for Laura Aylor’s Bittersweet* in our spanking new Cascade 128 Superwash chunky weight, and, quick as a wink, she was done.

We have 20 colors in stock. With 2 weeks until the holidays, easy-care 128 Superwash and our other “wool-endowed” bulky yarns (Lyonel, Coco, Topas) are ready to help you finish up the last of your gift stitching.

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One more finished project from Jill: she used Urth Uneek Worsted for this cute Puddleduck* by Melissa Schaschwary.

More cute? Coming up! Bonnie chose Malabrigo Rios for this Winter Sunset* from Gabrielle Danskknit for her granddaughter. Those buttons are a great finishing touch.

Below, Bonnie’s moppet models her Bitty Birchbark*, designed by Alicia Plummer, in Kelbourne Woolens Scout.

A few views of Bitty Birchbark‘s sweet details…

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Rebecca’s crocheted mushroom wreath is spectacular! It was inspired by Kate Eastwood’s free pattern Autumn Wreath, but she created many of the highly detailed fungi all on her own.

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Joanne’s go-to patterns for both her toe-up and top-down socks come from the always-reliable Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. Here is her Simple Toe-up Sock* in some Done Roving Frolicking Feet and Cascade Heritage and her Basic Sock* (top-down) in Austermann Step 6 and Frog Tree Pediboo. Way to rock the sock stash, Joanne!

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Joanne has this stunning Derecho* from designer Alison Green ready and waiting for spring. Her yarn is Berroco Remix Light.

Until the warmer weather arrives, perhaps Gina could loan her the Winter Concept Shawl she made from designer Elizabeth Finn? Joanne’s sweater and this shawl would be beautiful together. Gina’s yarn is a mix of stashed alpaca yarn and Fibre Company Luma.

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

For this Friday’s free hat pattern, we present a GYI-exclusive: the Lazy Cable Hat. I designed it for our Berroco Coco, a super-bulky merino wool yarn that’s incredibly light, soft, and fun to knit. What makes it “lazy”? It has only 3 cable crossings, so it’s a simple and quick one-skein project. We hope you’ll enjoy it!

It’s particularly nice timing that tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. In addition to our Storewide Sale (you’ll save 15% on everything in the store on Saturday, November 30) offering the Lazy Cable Hat as a free pattern is another way we can thank you for your support throughout the year. The creative community that has grown up around GYI enlivens and inspires us every day. Or, as we say in hashtags, #shopsmall #shoplocal #shopyourlys #makewhatyoulove #lovewhatyoumake

Another new arrival this week: Baggu bags in a variety of designs and sizes. The new Baby Baggus and the Standard Baggus are perfect for project totes. Stash a few in your car as reusable shopping bags, and don’t forget to give them as gifts.

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We are delighted to announce we now carry yarn from local indie dyer Jason Klus’ Dizzywig Fibers. And when I say local, I mean really local – Jason hails from right here in Kingston!

We’d like to thank our customer Gina for bringing Jason to our attention. Gina wrote a great business profile for the Times Leader newspaper on his Dizzywig Fibers. Skeins from our first order of his amazing Sock Base (75% superwash merino/25% nylon, 463 yards/100g) are going fast. Come in soon to see them (and score some) for yourself.

On the subject of new yarn in the shop, we’ve received restocks of Berroco Coco, Malabrigo Rios, and the latest monthly club color from Dream in Color Sock-It! Club. Below, all shades of super bulky Coco now in stock.

Here’s a skein of Camaleon, one of several new kettle dyed Rios colors, just waiting to check a few items off your gift knitting list:

The new “Cardinals in the Snow” colorway from Dream in Color arrived just in time for our recent blast of arctic weather. Dyer Veronica Van even shared the photo that inspired it. Each skin of Smooshy, in all its 85% merino superwash/15% nylon fingering weight glory, comes with matching mini-skein for heels and toes.

What’s been on our and our customers’ needles? Here are the finished projects that have visited the store recently.

Above, Paula’s favorite go-to cap pattern, knit with worsted weight 100% alpaca Espiral from The Alpaca Yarn Company. Below, Wanda’s graceful Alp Natural Tamara Round Top in Gomitolo Merino from Lana Grossa. The designer is Simona Merchant-Dest.

Meg came in this afternoon for yarn to make a second Butterfly/Papillon*. Around her shoulders was the gorgeous first one she’d made with Urth Yarns Uneek and Harvest. I couldn’t let her leave without my taking a photo of her modeling it, could I?

Staff needles have also been busy. Today Catherine wore her Afmæli – 20-Year Anniversary Sweater from Védís Jónsdódottir. She finished it in the spring, using Berroco Ultra Wool, but it took until now for it to get cold enough to enjoy wearing it!

Kathy knit her very own beautiful Ballard* hat in Navy Heather Scout after making our shop sample in the colorway Orchid Heather. Kate Gagnon Osborn’s design is truly a classic.

And aren’t these mittens of Kathy’s spectacular? The pattern is Evja* from Skeindeer Knits. The yarn is Trendsetter New York.

I used Uneek Worsted from Urth Yarns for these socks for my granddaughter. I followed my favorite 4-stitch ribbing pattern from Charlene Schurch’s book Sensational Knitted Socks.

And finally, another view of last week’s featured hat, the first of our five Free Hat Friday hats for November. We wrote our own version of the Churchmouse Minimalist Hat for Lang Lyonel, a yarn slightly bigger than any called for in the original pattern. For your own copy of our upsized adaptation, just flip back to the last post.

Tomorrow is another Free Hat Friday. No spoilers here! Hat #2 will be revealed in our next email. If you aren’t already on our mailing list, we hope you’ll join here.

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

‘Tis the season for hat knitting, whether for yourself (it snowed last night!) or for gifts. And who doesn’t love finding patterns that are fun to make, fun to wear, and free? We’ve enjoyed pairing our yarns with some great hat designs that we hope you’ll love. We’ll be sharing a new one with you each Friday, and all are free!

As originally written, this one-size pattern can be used with multiple weights of yarn. Minimalist is based on an old, traditional formula for shaping a hat crown with four lines of decreases that form a “+” at the top, starting with a multiple of 8 stitches. The key to getting a hat that fits is knowing your yarn’s gauge. Yes, I said it: g-a-u-g-e.

If you have neither time nor inclination to knit and wash a gauge swatch for your hat, your yarn’s ball band can at least point you in the right direction (although it can’t guarantee the same success a swatch would). Here’s an example:

This is a yarn that knits to a gauge of 17 stitches and 23 rows over a 4×4″ square of stockinette on US 8/5mm needles, or 4.25 stitches per inch. The finished size of Minimalist is 19″ to fit a 20-23″ head. Multiply 4.25 sts/inch x 19, and you’d need to cast on 80 stitches, the closest multiple of 8. However, Lyonel has a gauge of 10 sts/inch on US 13/9mm, or 2.5 sts/inch. Multiply that by 19, and the number to cast on drops to 48. Easy peasy!

Below, you can download a printable PDF for our Lyonel Minimalist Hat. Copies will also be available at the shop.

For more information on the original Minimalist Hat pattern, visit the pattern page on Ravelry. If you’d like to start designing your own hats, Interweave has some good advice, here.

Note: In the last post, I had promised this post would list our Early Winter Class Schedule. At this time it is still under construction. Look for it here very soon!

Scout, our newest yarn, arrived with a trunk show of six lovely knit pieces you can see and try on yourself through Saturday, October 26th. Kelbourne Woolens, the makers of DK weight Scout, describe it as a “classic, strong, versatile, heathered wool yarn… designed with classic knitting and crochet in mind… it is unfussy, beautiful, high-quality, and comes in a gorgeous color palette.” Couldn’t have said it better myself!

With the arrival of Scout, the shop is now delightfully full of yarn at all weights, just in time for sweater weather and gift knitting season. (Tip: don’t leave that to the last minute!) I’ve mentioned before that we’ve restocked our Berroco Ultra Wool and Vintage, including this season’s newest colors, yummy candy-color brights (above).

All this wonderful yarn has inspired us to offer a new round of fall classes and events. The complete schedule will appear in the next post and will include:

• Simple Garter Stitch Slippers, a great stash busting gift,
• a customizable easy on/off dog sweater,
• the Apple Cheeks Hat for keeping little ones warm,
• the Raven Fall Cardigan, also for wee ones (knit seamlessly from the bottom up),
• a newbie’s guide to Ravelry.com,
• plus a month-long celebration of knitted hats during November – the hats we’re knitting, wearing, and gifting this season, with…
• pop-up classes on Saturdays for any hat-knitting skills that may be new to you,
• and something completely new: a “Make & Take Night”…

Aren’t these just the cutest? They’re perfect for Thanksgiving centerpieces and wreaths or place card holders on your holiday table… however you use them, they knit up quickly using the Magic Loop technique. If you aren’t already a Magic Looper, Kathy will get you started, and you’ll have an entire pumpkin patch in no time! Along with your kit, you’ll need a 32″ or longer circular needle, size US 6-8. Seasonal potables & cider doughnuts will be served.

What’s on our needles? Laurie wore her On Off Shawl* into the shop recently. She made it a year ago, using Berroco Remix worsted weight, and she even customized Larissa Brown’s design with a contrasting eyelet lace panel. On Off checks all my boxes for a fall shawl: it sits squarely and securely on your shoulders with little or no “styling” needed. It keeps your entire top half warm with no long triangle point hanging down in back or elongated “wings” that need to be tied, tucked, or twisted,

Seeing Laurie’s On Off again, I realized what was wrong with the shop sample I’d made using lightweight linen Solo Lino. Even though my version showed how well On Off could be a summer weight cover-up, the single row stripes I’d knitted (because I only had one ball of each color) completely obscured the simple but elegant pattern of contrasting sections of stockinette and garter stitch:

See what I mean? That you can’t really see what’s going on, pattern-wise?

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Can you see the difference between Laurie’s and mine? I knew I needed to cast on for another right away, this time using a solid color of a woolier yarn. I’ve chosen a not-quite-green shade of Berroco Ultra Alpaca (below), and I think I’m finally doing the pattern justice.

This On Off will be my second “shawl for fall.” I’m switching back and forth between it and my blue Berroco Vintage Oaken*, which has reached the charted lace section. I ripped it back and restarted it with a new cast-on that I hoped would better match the K1, P1 edging. (To see how the original garter tab cast-on looked, check the last post.) Meanwhile, Jill continues to happily cable away on her bright yellow Drift* in Malabrigo Rios.

Only one customer project this time around, but what a beautiful FO it is! Charlotte used her favorite red, white, and black (charcoal grey, actually) in Ewe So Sporty from Ewe Ewe Yarns for her The Shift* by Andrea Mowry. Wow! She says she gets compliments everywhere she wears it, and I’m not the least bit surprised.

So be sure to keep an eye out for our next post in a couple of days for the new class schedule AND pictures of new yarn arriving soon from Dizzy Wig Fibers, a.k.a. our first “truly local” dyer, Jason Klus of Kingston, PA!

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

Did you know our upcoming classes cover all 6 of our customers’ all-time, most-requested knitting techniques? We check all the boxes: socks, sweaters, stranded and brioche knitting, seaming, and fixing mistakes. There’s even a class in mosaic knitting, just for the fun of it.

• Make your first sweater an Iba* cardigan, Monday, October 14 & 28, 6-8 pm.

• Learn stranded knitting with the Ballard* hat in Kelbourne Woolens Scout, Saturday, October 19, 11 am-1 pm.

Our shipment of Scout arrives next week, and it’s coming with a trunk show!

• Master reversible 2-color brioche stitch in the Brioche Cowl class, Monday, October 21, 6-8 pm.

• Knit Oxford Socks* from the toe up with easy German short rows, Saturday, October 26, 9 am-12 pm.

• Grab a spot in Oops!, our #1 most requested class, October 26, 1:30-3:30 pm.

• Play with mosaic knitting making the Incise Hat*, Saturday, November 9, 9-11:30 am.

• Seam like a pro, thanks to our Seams So Easy class, Saturday, November 16, 1:30-3:30 pm.

Find more details on these classes over on our Classes page. Please call the shop soon to register, 570-287-9999.

Now, about those shawls for fall… Jill and I have cast on for our Drift* and Oaken* shawls, respectively. Care to join us in making a cozy, warm shawl now that frost is in the forecast?

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Above, Jill’s Malabrigo Rios Drift and, below, my Berroco Vintage Oaken on their needles. Yep, Jill got a slight headstart on me, but I’m catching up quickly with all that easy garter stitch.

In my own defense, I did just finish making the sample and writing up a free shop pattern for our new Berroco Coco, a super bulky superwash merino. It’s called the Coco Twist Cowl. It’s a one skein, one night project. Gift knitting, anyone?

Time for your FOs: Here is Joan’s sumptuous Comfort Fade Cardi* from designer Andrea Mowry. Her beautifully blended colors are 3 shades of Dream in Color BFL Silk DK.

A close-up of a perfect fade…

This is Joan’s jaunty Paper Bag Cap, a free pattern on Ravelry from Lisa Myers. She had fun knitting it in Maxima from Manos del Uruguay.

Knit sideways with a crown shaped with short rows, it’s a great choice for variegated and kettle-dyed worsted weight yarns, too, such as Malabrigo Rios or Lana Grossa Gomitolo Merino.

I’ll close with a second hat in Manos Maxima, Steven’s classic ribbed beanie, Two by Two by Anne Gagnon, another free Ravelry pattern. Keep both these hats in mind as we move into gift knitting season!

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