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Our Spring Sprint begins today, and to recap: Spring Sprint is a challenge to GYI customers to knit/crochet/weave at least one entire project, start to finish, in 30 days. You can do it!

Have fun, amaze yourself, and inspire the rest of us! No purchase necessary. No yardage minimums. Work down your stash and/or have fun picking out new yarn from GYI.

Choose your own patterns or use one of our suggested designs — Elizabeth Smith’s Soundtrack sweaters and cowls. Not only are they well-written, beginner-friendly patterns, offering lots of yarn and wear options (either worsted or DK weight, wool or non-wool), but Smith also has helpful videos explaining each technique and term. If you choose to make one of the Soundtrack pieces and purchase your yarn from us, we’ll give you your pattern FREE!

Here’s my swatch for a Summer Soundtrack* sweater using Berroco Remix Light, a DK weight non-wool yarn:

Soundtrack is designed to be worn with 6-10″ of positive ease. My swatch tells me my gauge — the target number of stitches per inch to yield the desired dimensions. Summer Soundtrack has the same gauge for both flat and in-the-round knitting, 24 sts = 4″ or 6 sts/inch. After washing/drying my (flat) swatch, then measuring in several different spots (think of the 5 pips on a playing card) and averaging those measurements, I got a gauge of 6.5 sts/inch on a US 5 needle.

If I wanted 6 sts/inch, I would need to go up a needle size to a US 6 to get larger stitches. However, I’m staying with US 5 because I actually want my finished sweater to fit somewhere between two of the pattern’s sizes — a little bigger than Size 2’s 43.25″ body circumference and smaller than Size 3’s 48.5″. I will still cast on Size 3’s 292 stitches, though. With my higher gauge (6.5, rather than 6 sts/inch), I hope to end up with a 45″ body circumference (44.92″ or 292 ÷ 6.5) instead of Size 3’s 48.5″ (actually, 48.66″ or 292 ÷ 6).

If all this sounds too technical and like too much trouble, let me say that the swatching, washing, and measuring took only about an hour + overnight dry time — an investment of my time I’m happy to make before embarking on a month of knitting that could otherwise produce a sweater I’d NEVER want to wear! I also now know that I love the fabric made with this yarn on a US 5, and I’m already thinking how nice Modern Cotton DK or Pima 100 could be, too.

(You may notice I kept my swatch stitches “live” on a Knitting Barber Cord; I’ll use up my other balls of yarn first, but eventually I may have to unravel my swatch to finish the sweater. By not cutting my swatch yarn, I’ll be able to re-use it after a light steam to unkink it once it’s unknit.)

If you’ll be Spring Sprinting, please email us at info<at>goshyarnitshop<dot>com and share with us what project(s) you’ll be making. In April we hope to feature as many customer FOs here online and in-store as possible to celebrate everyone’s accomplishments!

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FYI at GYI: The wonderful Berroco 123 DropShip Program is still going strong — allowing us to order any of their yarns for you, in any amount and color, to be shipped directly to you. It’s as if GYI stocks every Berroco, Lang, Amano, Lopi, and WOOLADDICTS yarn available!

Howling wind and snow, sleet, ice… enough already, winter. Fortunately, our Spring Sprint starts next week, and that should make the last month of winter fly by! Spring Sprint is a fun way to challenge ourselves to start and finish (at least) one entire project in 30 days—a chance to stitch our personal best.

You can knit, crochet, or weave anything you like. The only rule for Spring Sprint is to start no earlier than March 1 and finish by March 30.

If you’re looking for some ideas, take a look at designer Elizabeth Smith’s Soundtrack sweaters and cowls. They have simple slip stitch patterning, keeping the knitting both interesting and easy. Choose from either worsted weight (cool weather) or lighter DK weight (warm weather) versions. When you buy your Spring Sprint yarn from GYI, we’ll give you your choice of one Soundtrack pattern FREE, as our gift!

Jill knit our store model of the Summer Soundtrack Cowl* using Berroco Ultra Wool DK in a matter of days:

If you’d like to join the Spring Sprint, just email us at info<at>goshyarnitshop.com and tell us what you’ll be making. In April, we will host an in-store show of Spring Sprint projects to celebrate the creativity of the GYI community. We hope we may feature your work! If you won’t be able to loan your work for display, please be sure to email us a photo so we can share it here online.

The email we sent out earlier this week mentioned yarns recently restocked — all of which can be used for the Soundtrack patterns, by the way — Rios and Sock from Malabrigo, Ultra Wool DK, Vintage Worsted, and Ultra Alpaca Natural from Berroco, Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, and Kelbourne Woolens Scout. But we left one out: Cascade 128 Superwash!

As you see, our favorite chunky yarn is back on the shelves in two dozen shades. The plump 2-ply twist of Cascade 128 Superwash is 100% buttery-soft merino that works up into a snuggly machine washable and dryable fabric.

The winner of this month’s “Didn’t-Know-I-Needed-It-Now-Can’t-Live-Without-It” Prize goes to the new Knitting Barber Cords. What are they? Smooth silicone cords that securely stick to your needle tips, allowing you to quickly slide your stitches off to try a garment on for size and then safely slip the stitches right back on your needle again. Each tin includes one 60″ cord and two 30″ cords. No more threading a needle with waste yarn or dental floss. (And after selling out in record time, the EZ PZ Gauge Ruler, last month’s winner, is now back in stock.)

What have our customers been working on? Laurie completed her lovely Avantaea’s Blanket last month. She said she decided to cast on 300 stitches to “see where that takes me.” It took her to 36 x 90″! She knit stockinette with a garter border, sideways on a 32″ cable needle using a little bit of a lot of yarns—Rowan Felted Tweed, Berroco Vintage Worsted, Titus Baa Ram Ewe, Lana Grossa Gomitolo 200 Dégradé, plus other fingering, DK, and worsted weight yarns, held alone or together — a real stash buster.

Molly chose Cascade 128 Superwash in pure white for her baby-sized blanket in an elegantly simple ribbed pattern.

Gina used (mostly) Cascade 128 Superwash for her bold OOAK version of Denise Bayron’s Wave of Change Jacket*. The original design is a solid color stockinette cardigan with evenly spaced purl ridges. Here Gina used all stockinette but has added diamond motifs and randomly-placed bolts of bright colors that are absolutely inspired!

Here is Betsy’s stunning Cumulus Blouse* from designer PetiteKnit in Shibui Billow in Deep Water. Holding two strands of silk/mohair lace weight together or a strand of silk/mohair with another lace or light fingering weight yarn is in vogue right now. What Betsy’s sweater so beautifully shows is that you can get the same on-trend look and DK weight by using Billow alone.

Now, what will you make in March?

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

Usually I try to show pictures of our latest arrivals, but so much inventory has been delivered in the last 2 weeks that my camera and I just can’t keep up – here’s a list of what’s new right now:

• Berroco Ultra Alpaca Natural – we’ve brought back all 7 undyed shades of this 50% super fine alpaca/50% Peruvian wool worsted, created by blending the natural colors of alpaca with undyed wool.
• Re-stock of Cascade 128 Superwash – this is our go-to “light chunky” superwash merino wool that’s happy on a US 10/6mm needle. Vibrant colors, buttery soft, and machine washable.
• Re-Stock of Kelbourne Woolens Scout – a true modern classic. 100% heathered wool at a sport/DK weight in a gorgeous on-trend palette, ideal for colorwork.
• Re-stock of Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok – are we allowed to have a favorite favorite? That would be this 2-ply yarn of the highest quality Peruvian Highland wool, available in 50g and 150g hanks. Extremely soft with excellent stitch definition. And incredibly versatile – the suggested needle range is US 6-11/4-8mm.
• Re-stock of Ultra Wool DK – not just for babies, but this is our pick for “baby yarn.” 100% machine washable wool, smooth and gentle enough for little ones but also a great all-around DK weight. Berroco’s own patterns for Ultra Wool DK show what a wonderful staple yarn it is.
• Jūl Shawl Pins – simple, elegant shapes in rosewood or metal, all handmade and Fair Trade.

I do have photos to show of…

• EZ PZ Gauge Rulers – our first shipment of these amazing magnifiers flew out the door. They make accurate measurement of stitch and row gauge a snap. Get your name on the wait list for the next batch coming in (even our supplier is temporarily sold out right now, that’s how hot these gadgets are!)

And will there be spring yarns coming? You betcha! Berroco’s brand new ombré gradient Isola (below) is headed our way, along with a full re-stock of Berroco Remix Light, our bestselling non-wool yarn. Also coming soon, lots more Malabrigo Sock and Rios. As soon as the boat docks, the truck unloads at the warehouse, and the boxes are shipped to us, we’ll let you know!

Here’s a teaser for Isola…

…and here are two pattern suggestions for light, breezy tops made with Remix Light, Maëlle (in #3982 Blue Moon) and Capucine (in #6961 Peony held with Berroco Aerial in #3444 Fuchsia), both from the Berroco Design Team and both available at GYI…

Remember my Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Three/One Colorwork Cowl from the last post? I did indeed have enough Rowan Brushed Fleece left to complete another one, but it ended up not being a cowl.

I made it into a hat!

I am pretty pleased with the results, both with and without the pompom. Want to make one for yourself? You can pick up my modifications for this free pattern when you purchase your yarn.

(My cowl/hat trick worked because I have a 22″ head; if you don’t have a melon head like mine, you may need to go down a needle size or two to trick the gauge into making you a smaller hat)

Let’s get our Gallery of Finished Projects off to a great start with four absolutely beautiful woven scarves from our customer Liz. Yarns used include Malabrigo Rios, Emma’s Yarns Practically Perfect Sock, and Berroco Ultra Wool DK.

Nan wanted an ear-warming cloche hat and chose the pattern Mrs. Peel, We’re Needed* by Nina Machlin Dayton. Remember watching The Avengers? This is a bit like John Steed’s signature bowler, but much more stylish. Her yarn is Berroco Ultra Wool Worsted.

Joanne’s ready for spring with this comfortable, classic pullover in Luma from The Fibre Co. The pattern is #993 Neck down V-Neck T-shirt for Women* by Diane Soucy/Knitting Pure & Simple. Joanne says this was her easiest, quickest sweater ever, completed in less than a month. Here’s hoping she gets to wear it very soon!

Until that day comes, Joanne will have toasty toes with these snappy socks made with the Churchmouse Simple Toe-Up Sock* pattern. Her first pair was worked with Opal 4-Ply Sock for the main color and Manos del Uruguay Alegria in Crimson for the heels. The second pair was knit in sport weight Cascade Heritage 150 with a brilliant purple Wonderland Yarns Mad Hatter as the contrast color.

Linda made herself a clever little Pandemic Wrister, a free pattern from Claudia Krisniski. Knit in Berroco Pima 100, it will be a handy spot for her to park her needles, stitch markers, pins, etc. while she crafts.

And it’s not too early to start crocheting a family heirloom for next winter like this amazing afghan Cindy made. You don’t want to leave a project like this to the last minute!

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

Shop with us through December 31 – don’t forget to redeem valuable Frequent Buyer Points!

QUICK GIFT-KNIT IDEA: If I can knit this plush Three/One Colorwork Cowl with two balls of Rowan Brushed Fleece in three nights, you can, too! I’m a new-ish stranded knitter, still trying out different ways to hold my yarns, and this pattern from Churchmouse Yarns and Teas is a very easy first colorwork project. You’ll even have enough yarn remaining to make a second cowl with the colors reversed.

Want to tuck your handmade gift into a pretty pouch or pick up a new notions or project bag for yourself? New Baggu Go Pouch Sets are here, $38 for a set of 3 zip bags (4 x 6.75″, 7 x 10.5″, and 9.4 x 14″).

For when stitching time finally runs out, Baggu’s snazzy metallic ripstop nylon Wine Bottle Totes will dress up the classic last-minute gift. Each bag folds into its own flat pouch, with a keychain loop so it’ll never slip away. Handles double as tie closures. Set of 3, $34.

New Shibui Billow has quite a fan club, thanks to our shop model of the Two-Point Cowl*, a Churchmouse Yarns and Teas design. This unique DK weight yarn makes the most deliciously airy fabric.

Billow, made of merino wool and fluffy alpaca spun around a contrasting cotton core, is lovely from start to finish.

RESTOCKED: Berroco Aerial, 65% mohair/35% silk. Like the dollop of whipped cream on your slice of pumpkin pie, mohair/silk just makes great yarn better.

We love using one, two, or even three strands of mohair/silk by itself for the ultimate in coziness.

Above, the Arrochar* cowl, designed using simple slip-stitch mosaic knitting by Meg Gadsbey, in Aerial held double and knit as a DK weight on US 7/4.5mm needles.

RESTOCKED: Berroco Vintage Worsted. Soft and machine washable – it’s our bestseller, still only $9/skein. And, yes, that is a rainbow of Malabrigo Rios on the top shelf.

As always, I have wonderful and inspiring customers’ projects to share in our FO Gallery.

Joanne’s crimson socks were knit with Alegria from Manos del Uruguay and Wonderland Yarns Mad Hatter. Her pattern is Churchmouse Yarns and Teas Simple Toe-Up Socks*, to which she added baby cable patterned legs and cuffs.

Rebecca’s delightful Christmas mini-sweaters, featured individually in earlier posts, are worked in both knit and crochet and decorated with sewn, sequined, beaded, and baubled details. Each is a tiny original work of art. Here is her completed (Ugly) Sweater Wreath, finished with lights and tinsel, with nothing ugly about it!

One more beautiful holiday decoration from Rebecca, a Christmas ball covered in sparkly, lacey crochet.

Bonnie had a request for a “polar bear hat.” This is the charming result, the pattern improvised with chunky yarn from stash.

Bonnie knit one Sunday Balaclava* from PetiteKnit… and then another… and another…

…and now she’s trying to keep up with the requests for them, too!

These three kiddos loved their Sunday Balaclavas so much, they wore them all night. Bonnie uses Malabrigo Rios and prefers it to other worsteds for this pattern for its next-to-skin softness and washability.

Francie wore her Junegrass Pullover* in the other day, and I insisted on taking her picture – what a happy knitter! This is why we make our own clothing! The pattern from Carrie Bostick Hoge is a favorite of Francie’s. She used Malabrigo Rios in Cian.

Yes, a sweater that fits perfectly is one of life’s great pleasures. I’ll close with this knit-worthy story for you from the New York Times about a T. Rex and its custom “Christmas jumper” at the Natural History Museum in London. Enjoy – and have yourself ferociously happy holidays!

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

We have special HOLIDAY SHOPPING HOURS this Wednesday, Friday & Saturday (this week only): 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. We will be closed on Thanksgiving.

You probably know the Saturday after Thanksgiving is Small Business Saturday, a national event that helps locally-owned businesses stay in business. Supporting neighborhood stores like Gosh Yarn It!, instead of buying from national chain stores or ordering online, really helps the entire community thrive.

We opened our doors in 2010, the same year Small Business Saturday was created. The reason we’re still your local yarn store is because YOU shop at GYI not just that one day a year but all year long, and we’re very, very thankful for your continued support.

We’re celebrating YOU this Saturday, November 27, with 15% savings storewide.

Now, let’s talk about yarn and what you can do with it!

For me, the next best thing to knitting with yarn is taking pictures of yarn. Sometimes I fuss over getting just the “right shot.”

Sometimes I just have to open a box.

Presenting Emma’s Yarn Practically Perfect Halves – 50g skeins of Practically Perfect Sock (80% superwash merino wool/20% nylon fingering weight), 200 yds each. This is exactly how they arrived from Florida last week, two dozen gorgeous colors packed in four layers.

Half-skeins make so much sense – perfect for small projects, of course, but also for stripes, stranded colorwork, mosaic knitting, or anytime you need just the right color… but not a lot of it. Halves join our stock of Practically Perfect Sock 100g/400 yd skeins and 20g/81 yd Smalls.

Did you know we create original patterns for the yarns we carry? While there are plenty of patterns available online (Ravelry alone has a catalog of nearly half a million), and we’re always happy to suggest our favorites from these widely-available designs, we also have our own “line” of exclusive designs, yours free with your yarn purchase.

Our new Turnover Scarf stars Rowan Brushed Fleece. It’s knit on US 10/6.00 mm needles. The stitch pattern is called Shadow Check, which has a completely different look on each side. Our sample takes 3 balls of Brushed Fleece. It really isn’t fair calling such a featherweight blend of extra fine merino and baby alpaca a “bulky weight” yarn!

Brushed Fleece comes in soft puffs of fluffiness.

Another of our patterns, the Queen Bee Cowl, would be beautiful in Brushed Fleece – a snuggly hug for your neck all winter. Here it’s shown in two of our older samples using discontinued bulky yarns. You’d need only one ball of each of two colors of Brushed Fleece.

We created the Two x Two Cowl to pair Rowan Felted Tweed Colour, a brand new gradient yarn, with the classic solid shades of Felted Tweed – but two colors of any DK/worsted weight yarn could be substituted.

You can make it shorter, narrower, use more colors or fewer. We used one solid color and two different shades of Colour. It’s knit flat, so you can either leave it unseamed as a scarf or join the ends to make a loop. Either way, you’ll enjoy watching your colors change with every row!

Two of our most popular yarns have been re-stocked, worsted weight Malabrigo Rios and Malabrigo Rasta super bulky.

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Just how beloved is Rios? Let us count the ways…

Rios in hot pink Fucsia appears in Liz’s woven scarf, along with Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok in Cast Iron and a shot of juicy orange from one of our Emma’s Yarn Practically Perfect Smalls. Such beautiful work – it’s hard to believe Liz has only recently started weaving on her rigid heddle loom!

Rios Fucsia also stars in Molly’s cheery garter stitch scarf. She liked the look of Rios held together with Berroco Aerial silk/mohair in our Churchmouse Shoulder Cozy* (below) but didn’t want a cowl. After checking the stitch gauge of the Cozy, we figured how many to cast on for the width scarf she wanted, and voilà! Another (impromptu) original pattern was born.

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Bonnie used Rios in Teal Feather for her pretty Tonka Bay Toque* from designer Virginia Sattler-Reimer. The matching fur pompom is the perfect crowning touch.

Cathe used Rios in Ivy for her Wheat from the Tin Can Knits Simple Collection. Would you believe this is only her first scarf?

Stephanie chose Rios in Cereza for Mary Annarella’s topdown pullover Throwback Thursday*, which really is a throwback since it’s been featured here before – it was her 2019 Rhinebeck Sweater. But when she wore it into the shop recently the place went wild, and I knew I needed to take another shot! She says she enjoyed knitting its unique construction. The designer states in her notes: “A photo tutorial guides you through the top-down construction for what is possibly the easiest set-in sleeve you’ll ever work – no sewing, no picking up stitches around the entire armhole, no short rows on the sleeve cap. Just carefully placed increases within the easy stockinette.” Stephanie says, give it a try!

Gina (who, incidentally, made her own Throwback Thursday* after seeing Stephanie’s back in 2019) knit her bright Antonia/Antonio* cardigan from Julie Weisenberger in Rios Camaleon.

Not made with Rios, but oh-so adorable, this colorwork/striped child’s sweater was made with Gina’s favorite pullover “house pattern” in stash yarn and Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3.

Hats seem to be on everyone’s needles these days, and pompoms are on top of many of them.

Crystal opted for a fun oversized pompom for her cabled The Rachel Hat*, from cold comfort knits. The yarn is Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, one of Crystal’s favorite “wooly wools.”

Francie is racing through her stash of fingering weight yarns with the Snap* hat from Tin Can Knits. Four strands are held together, creating the equivalent of a bulky yarn, knit on US 10.5/6.50mm needles. Here is her current WIP showing the four sock yarns she’s using.

And here are two of Francie’s finished Snap hats, both with pompom and waiting for pompom.

Sharon knit the Kitimat hat by Kayla Sparkes, a free pattern on Ravelry, with Berroco Vintage Worsted in Mochi, Indigo, and Sour Cherry.

She used the same colors in her Button-tab Hat* from Joji Locatelli.

For Laura Aylor’s Rimrock* cowl, Sharon chose madelinetosh Tosh DK in Tart and Daffodil.

Then, using the same yarns and another Laura Aylor pattern, the Love Note* hat, she took the mosaic pattern from the Rimrock cowl and substituted it for Love Note’s original simple colorwork design. Pretty darn clever!

Sharon used Malabrigo Rasta in Campfire for the last two projects she shared with us. The buttoned cowl is the free pattern Laser by Ashley N. Aguilar, and the hat is Sidewinder Beanie* from Aspen Leaf Knits. I love that cushy Rasta pompom.

Poshi used Malabrigo Rasta in Solis for her The Ade beanie, a free pattern on Ravelry, courtesy of designer Ola Ogunlolu. What do you think – will she pompom or won’t she?

As I began this FO gallery with a woven piece, so I’ll close it with Mary Lou’s lovely framed assemblage, which serenely combines woven yarn, beads, and shells.

What will you do with yarn next?

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

Our newest crush is Billow, the newest yarn from Shibui Knits. It’s everything Shibui says it is – lofty wisps of lush merino and alpaca embracing a contrasting cotton core, creating a light-as-air fabric with rich visual depth.

Fluffy yarns are hot right now, but they’re not always easy to work with. DK weight Billow, however, is a joy. I’m knitting the Churchmouse Two-Point Cowl* with this wound cake – the color is Pollen – and the fabric it’s making is heavenly.

Incidentally, the Two-Point Cowl* pattern, shown below, is written in two versions for different weight yarns. With Billow, I’m following the directions for the lighter weight, but there’s also a chunky version for Rowan Brushed Fleece – another of our new yarns!

Shibui introduced Billow with a collection of 5 new designs from Tayler Harris, including the Glance* scarf and Cecret* cowl, which is available free from us with purchase of Billow.

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Each 50g hank has a generous 250 yards for under $20. The suggested needle sizes are US 6-8/4-5mm, and the color range is as satisfying as a new box of crayons.

We’ve re-stocked one of our all-time favorite sport/DK weight wools, Kelbourne Woolens Scout. Not only do we have the original palette, below, but we also have the new shades for FW 2021: Stone Heather, Chestnut Heather, Autumn Heather, Ocean Heather, and Wisteria Heather. 100% wool Scout is a great choice for stranded knitting – classically soft and springy yet strong.

One of the few good things to come out of the pandemic, the Berroco 123 DropShip Program is still going strong. You can order any Berroco yarn from us in any amount, in any color, and it will be shipped directly to you. (Urth Yarns has a similar program now, too.)

Berroco launches new dropship kits regularly, like the oversized Waitsfield scarf that takes 6 balls of plushy alpaca/merino Mochi – all you have to do is pick your colors. Patterns are included free in the kits.

Waitsfield uses the same mosaic slip stitch pattern as the Fern Lake blanket, another DropShip Program kit. It’s kitted in Lanas, their handwash-only worsted 100% wool, but you could also buy the pattern separately and use a machine-washable worsted weight like Vintage Worsted or Ultra Wool Worsted, both of which we carry.

One more kit idea – the Keeler cardigan in Ultra Wool Chunky, loaded with attractive design details that make this a sweater you could live in all winter. All patterns designed by Amy Christoffers.

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Time for finished projects from our endlessly creative customers!

Molly’s Easy* shawl, designed by Martina Behm, shows off her lovely stitching and all the glorious colors in a single shade of Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3.

When you combine multiple self-striping yarns in the same project, prepare for a color riot! Francie says using three different shades of Edition 3 in her The Shift* cowl was the most fun she’s ever had knitting – “You never know what colors are coming next!” Andrea Mowry’s pattern of mosaic slip stitches will look great with any combination of solid and multicolor yarns.

Stephanie was equally pleased with her completed Wave of Change Jacket* from designer Denise Bayron. Using Cascade Eco+, Stephanie says it was one of the fastest sweaters she’s ever knit and recommends the pattern as one of the best-written she’s ever seen.

But for truly fast knit, Stephanie’s Rasta Fasta Cowl wins hands down! I watched Stephanie knit it in just 2+ hours on a Saturday afternoon at Gosh Yarn It! Monika Anna’s pattern is free on Ravelry.

It was knit with – what else? – Malabrigo Rasta. You can see more hanks of the colorway Jacinto behind Steph’s right shoulder.

Here is Rebecca’s Top-Down Raglan Cardigan, knit in Malabrigo Rios in the colorway Diana. She followed Ann Budd’s charts and directions in The Knitter’s Handy Book of Top-Down Sweaters: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes and Gauges to make it uniquely her own, with seed stitch at the neck, hem, button bands, and pockets. The wooden buttons are the perfect finishing touch!

Joanne calls these her “Low Boy Socks.” They’re knit toe-up and finished with an I-cord bind-off using the Churchmouse Simple Toe-Up Sock* pattern. Yarn is the Kopenhagen colorway of the Lang Super Soxx City Runner collection and Sweet Georgia Tough Love sock for heels and toes.

I love closing the FO gallery with adorable baby knits, and Aileen’s Cloverleaf Eyelet Baby Blanket* is as charming as they come. She used Berroco Modern Cotton DK for Lynn Spencer’s design.

Aileen also shared these cute Mary Jane booties with us, made with stash yarn. I will post the pattern name when I have it!

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

We’ve received lots of new and returning yarns in the past few weeks. There’s a lot to catch up on!

Take a look at new Rowan Felted Tweed Colour – wow! Rowan took some of our favorite solids of original Felted Tweed, magically stirred them together, and created eight amazing gradient colors.

Colour is the same smooth, tweedy DK base of merino wool/alpaca/viscose as original Felted Tweed, but now the colors blend beautifully into one another, ever so gradually.

You can see this slow color change in the Mist* cardigan by Kim Hargreaves, part of the debut Felted Tweed Colour pattern collection from Rowan…

…and also here in Savoy*, a poncho from Martin Storey, another design from the same collection.

New to Felted Tweed? You’re in for a treat! For a small project to sample either the solid or gradient shades, my Tree Hollow* fingerless gloves take just one ball. Pattern is available free at the shop with yarn purchase.

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We’re also introducing another Rowan yarn this fall – Brushed Fleece, a bulky weight with absolutely no bulk. It’s a light, fluffy, super soft blend of extra fine merino wool and baby alpaca. Brushed Fleece has been a Rowan staple for several years, and it’s easy to see why – it provides cozy, snuggly warmth without weight.

While a natural for hats and scarves, keep it in mind for fashion sweaters such as the Sucre Cardigan, a free Rowan pattern.

Le Mont Royal, a free pattern from Espace Tricot, is a shrug when it’s buttoned and a scarf when it’s not. Designed to be knit with Brushed Fleece, it’s easy to make and easy to wear.

This plummy version of the Churchmouse Two-Point Cowl* was also designed for Brushed Fleece.

The Victoria muffler, a free pattern Quail Studio/Rowan, would be great for Brushed Fleece, although going down one or more needle sizes is an option to consider. (But those pompoms are a must!)

I’ll be using Brushed Fleece with two of my favorite free patterns from Churchmouse, the Minimalist Hat and the Very Gifted Cowl, both of which are written for multiple yarn weights. Quick gift knits, anyone?

We have 14 of the newest colors of Malabrigo Sock, inspired by folk and fairy tales. Expect your yarn to have names like “Sneezy,” “Gepetto,” “Three Little Pigs,” “Land of Oz,” and “Alice.” This well-priced, machine washable 100% merino wool is great for socks, of course, but also makes superb shawls, accessories, and baby garments, so let your imagination go where the wild things are!

Below, Malabrigo Sock crocheted in Suncatcher* by Elena Fedotova and knitted in Gold Dust* by Lisa Hannes:

Speaking of fingering weight yarn, more new colors of Emma’s Yarn Practically Perfect Sock are in!

The last shipment included Practically Perfect Smalls, 81 yard mini skeins. Oh, the possibilities!

Jill used Practically Perfect Sock for her Checks All the Boxes* shawl from designer Cally Monster.

This 80/20 merino wool/nylon yarn has great stitch definition, particularly with mosaic knitting.

Opal returns with the arrival of the Rainforest 17 Collection of Sockenwolle 4 Fach, a.k.a. 4-ply fingering weight. This is the absolute favorite sock yarn of quite a few sock knitters we know.

If you’re not a sock knitter yourself, you can still enjoy the fun of letting self-patterning Opal Sockenwolle do all the work by making a Longstocking Muffler from Churchmouse. Our sample used just one ball, pompoms included.

Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted has been fully restocked. This yummy 100% fine highland wool from Peru, a light worsted weight, has been one of our go-to yarns since it was first introduced. We carry both the 50g and 150g hanks. Here is Jill’s Mountain Mist* in Woolstok Worsted, a Tin Can Knits design that’s knit seamlessly from the yoke down.

All the Woolstok colors you’ll need for Michael Vloedman’s sumptuous Gresham Wrap* are now available.

Our customer Tina used our Berroco Aerial held together with a DK weight yarn from a local sheep farm for her beautiful Ystävä* cardigan from Jonna Hietala. I think you’d easily get gauge – and as beautiful a sweater as Tina’s – using either Woolstok or Felted Tweed carried with a silk mohair.

If the Rasta is here, can Fall be far behind? Everyone’s favorite for super quick, super squishy projects, Malabrigo Rasta never disappoints. Always on the lookout for new Rasta-friendly patterns, we’ve recently spotted Kristel Nieves’ Frida Hat*…

… and the Reef Beanie* from Lizzy Knits.

Until “sweata weatha” arrives, there’s nothing “betta” than a poncho or slipover. Jill knit Casapinka’s Noncho* using self-striping Urth Uneek Cotton DK with a solid color of Berroco Modern Cotton DK.

But when the mercury falls, Gina’s ready – she rocked the Rooibos top-down pullover from Amy Christoffers by holding Manos del Uruguay Alegria double – first with other fingering weights from her stash and then with itself toward the hem for a faded effect. She added a clever folded neck, not in the original pattern.

Steven used Malabrigo Silkpaca for his ethereal Titania’s Shawl by Susanna IC. The pattern appeared originally in Interweave Knits, Summer 2017 issue. This lace would be well met by moonlight…

I pulled out some organic cotton yarn from my deep stash to make this baby set. Berroco Modern Cotton DK would be my choice to make it again. The sweater is Wee Liesl* by Ysolda Teague. The bonnet and booties are Florence* by Kate Gagnon Osborn.

Molly knit her heathery Malt blanket from the Tin Can Knits Simple Collection with Berroco Vintage Worsted. Time after time, the 12 patterns in The Simple Collection prove to be a knitter’s favorite “first” – first hat, first scarf, first mittens – and we recommend them over and over.

Joanne took a break from her knockout sock knitting to whip up a washcloth of smooth Berroco Pima 100.

I’ll end with an inspiring gallery of original shawls from our customer Yael. These six come from a much larger collection of over 200! She literally makes the patterns up as she knits and crochets, adding beads and embellishments, choosing yarns for their colors and textures. We’re proud that so many come from GYI. (More shots on Instagram.) Enjoy her creative, imaginative designs!

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

The Rasta has arrived! Pick your favorites from the largest selection of big, beautiful Malabrigo Rasta we’ve ever had. Both “watercolor multi” colors and a rainbow of semi-solid basics are now in stock. Spun from premium Uruguayan merino and unbelievably squishy and soft, this is your yarn for the ultimate in warmth and the ultimate in speed.

Above, Indiecita and Jacinto and, below, Natural – for when you want your wool to look like the fluffy sheep it came from…

Looking for pattern ideas? Visit the pattern page on Malabrigo’s website – select “Rasta” as the yarn from the sort filters.

Designer Kristel Nieves also has some great ideas for Rasta, including her Lara Beanie* and Lara Cowl*, available at GYI or on Ravelry, and Love Line Cowl and Love Line Beanie, which are free on Ravelry. And, yes – we have a great selection of pom poms, too!

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Jill held a strand of Malabrigo Rios along with a strand of silk/mohair to make a new shop sample of our favorite Churchmouse Classic Shoulder Cozy*. Knit on US #13/9mm needles, it’s a superfast knit that’s elegant and scrumptiously cozy, whether worn as a shoulder wrap…

or as a cowl…

One skein of kettle-dyed Rios is all you need for this smaller size Shoulder Cozy. Choose your coordinating silk/mohair from our selection of Berroco Aerial and Sugar Bush Yarns Drizzle.

Knits for baby and children are the stars of this gallery of customers’ finished projects. First up, Bonnie’s wee waffle stitch cardigan in Berroco Ultra Wool DK. This Sirdar design, #1749, is available in-store as a printed pattern (remember those?).

For this little striped pullover in Berroco Vintage Chunky, Bonnie took advantage of its pieced and seamed construction to easily match up her thick and thin stripes. The original is knit in a solid color, so the stripes and colorblocked sleeves are 100% Bonnie.

The pattern is the Easy Toddler Raglan Sweater by Gina Michele.

Here is Bonnie’s cheery Flicker and Flame* from Andrea Mowry in Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3 and Berroco Ultra Wool DK. The gradient colors of Edition 3 make the stranded colorwork only look complicated.

And Bonnie’s fourth FO is entirely her own creation, another mix of Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3 with Berroco Ultra Wool DK. Following a basic beanie formula, she clearly had fun switching her yarns and stitch patterns to knit up this easy colorwork beanie.

Want to design your own hat? Here are some free hat patterns for different yarn weights, each with a broad range of sizes from newborn to adult: Basic Beanie by Emily Bolduan for DK, Be Loving for worsted weight, the Backcountry Hat by Jackie Vlcek for bulky/chunky weight, and Kim Firth’s Frankie, ideal for a single strand of super bulky Rasta or multiple strands of thinner yarns held together.

Rachel snagged the last of our Chevron Baby Blanket kits in Berroco Modern Cotton, but don’t worry – we still have a wide color range of pure 100% cotton, baby-friendly, washable Berroco Pima 100 available to make plenty more. Choose your own sequence of 2-5 colors or let us help you with color options. Rachel’s enjoying the pattern from Espace Tricot so much, she’s making a second one!

Karen easily tweaked the Purl Soho Super Easy Baby Blanket to work with a very different yarn. The pattern is written for a DK weight yarn, but Karen wanted to use chunky Cascade 128 Superwash. Once she knew her stitch gauge, she only had to cast on the number of stitches needed on her larger needles for the size blanket she wanted to make. (I neglected to ask which pattern she used for the cute garter stitch hat in the matching yarn, but I will find out!)

Mary Ann chose Madelinetosh Tosh DK Twist for her adorable Beyond Puerperium*, designed by Kelly van Niekerk. There is also a free companion version sized for newborns, Puerperium Cardigan.

Mary Ann also recently finished Kelly Herdrich’s in threes: a baby cardigan* in self-striping Urth Uneek Cotton DK. As cute as this tiny sweater may be…

…it only gets cuter when modeled by the little one Mary Ann knit it for!

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

Lately, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of knitters coming to the shop with pattern-related woes. This is an open letter to them… and maybe you, too?

Dear Knitter,

Don’t let a confusing or challenging pattern stop you from knitting.

Get another knitter’s advice, check on Ravelry in project notes to see if others have had issues with the pattern, or check the designer’s or publisher’s websites for corrections. If you’re still frustrated or don’t like what’s coming off your needles, find another pattern – or change it to make it the way you want it to be.

Yes, some written directions can be confusing, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or seasoned knitter. But never let a pattern undermine your confidence in your own skills or waste your time once you realize you won’t be happy with the piece when it’s done.

When you don’t love what you’re knitting, that’s when you stop. Look for another project or switch out the technique or feature you don’t like for one you do. Your time and your materials – that wonderful yarn you got at Gosh Yarn It! – deserve better. There are always multiple paths in knitting to arrive at the same result. Knitting is only making fabric with yarn and needles, and we knitters have total control over the process – not the designer. Take charge of your knitting and know that your success has been in your hands all along!

– A friend at your local yarn shop

On a very small scale, I faced this issue recently with Wallagrass, a perfectly lovely pattern from Amy Christoffers that begins every row with a yarnover. You can see how my Wallagrass was turning out in the picture below.

The designer must have liked the look of those loops along each edge, but I didn’t. Since that “yo” added a stitch each row, I started over and replaced the yarnovers at the beginning of every row with “knit 1, kfb.” I added 4 stitches to the stitch count before beginning the pattern repeat, which established a 2-stitch garter border on each edge that incorporated the “knit 1, kfb” and kept the increases outside of the pattern repeat. My Wallagrass now looks like this:

I solved my problem my way and am very happy with the results.

Jill just made another Clincher* cowl, one of her favorite patterns. Loops are the main attraction here!

For this clever design from Ash Kearns she chose Malabrigo Arroyo and Freia Flux Sport.

It’s knit flat, and here’s how it looks before you thread the narrow end through the loops to make it a cowl:

Our The Big Y* shop sample in Kelbourne Woolens Scout, a pullover from Hinterm Stein, continues to inspire others to cast on for one of their own. Here is Debbie’s completed The Big Y, also in KW Scout in the beautiful color Meadow Heather. What fine knitting!

More fine knitting, both technically, creatively, and size-wise, comes from Rebecca, who added two more tiny original sweaters to her collection for her holiday wreath. You’ll find the first six included in the last post.

Speaking of the last post, this Saturday, July 31, is the deadline to order the Emma’s Yarn custom kits for Casapinka’s Snark-o-meter Mystery Knit Along, and you can see all the available choices there. Also, Our Manos del Uruguay Alegria colorways are starting to sell out, so don’t delay picking up your favorite from the shop. You’ll want to be all wound up and ready for the first clue on August 14! The designer has posted a full project page for the MKAL here with the latest details.

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

Finally, the shop’s Big Table is open again – next time you visit, bring a WIP and sit and stitch awhile!

Last month we practiced our interpersonal stitching skills on World Wide Knit in Public Day, in the shade under a tent in the parking lot. As fun as it was to show off our love of yarn crafts, stitching together for the first time in over a year was definitely the main event.

Are you a fan of designer Casapinka? Do you love mystery knit alongs? You can get ready for her upcoming Snark-o-meter MKAL at GYI! The pattern and first clue drop August 14, with 5 more weekly clues to follow. The design is a rectangular shawl, approx. 20” wide, that will take 4 skeins fingering weight yarn (approx. 375 yards each) and US6 (4mm) and 4 (3.5mm) needles, 24” or longer. She says it will be appropriate for an “intermediate beginner,” with “easy” sections as options for first-timers. We’re counting on it being classic Casapinka – a fun and entertaining knit from start to finish.

We’ve put together several color “quartets” of our favorite Manos del Uruguay Alegria; grab your favorite soon – it may not be here for long! If you already have a stash skein or two and need to complete your palette, bring the yarn with you to the shop – we’re always happy to suggest color options.

We’re also taking special orders for custom Snark-o-meter MKAL kits of Emma’s Yarn Super Silky (80/20 SW Merino wool/silk). Order deadline is July 31. Cost is $118 + $9 dropship charge to have kit sent directly to you from the dyer in Florida.

Call 570-287-9999 or email info[at]goshyarnitshop[.com] to order by kit name:

• 1 – Poppin
• 2 – Barbie Girl
• 3 – Take A Hike
• 4 – Remote
• 5 – Yellow Submarine
• 6 – Forget Me Not
• 7 – Wink
• 8 – Aloha
• 9 – Remote
• 10 – Vacay

Please note that the Snark-o-meter pattern will be sold separately and can be purchased from us or as a Ravelry download from the designer.

And now a summer surprise – we just received a big restock of Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok! This buttery soft Peruvian Highland wool is one of our must-haves. It’s incredibly versatile, producing consistently beautiful fabric along a wide gauge range, from DK to aran. Along with 50g and 150g hanks were these mini-hank Woolstok Bundles, aptly named “Cool,” “Warm,” and “Neutral”:

Each Woolstok Bundle contains 252 total yards, (3) 12-yard skeins each of 7 coordinated colors. Oh, the possibilities! But there are some great BSF patterns created just for the Bundles. (Each also requires 1 or more 50g hank of Woolstok.) Here is Bobbi Intveld’s Chilton Cowl*…

Bobbi Intveld’s Breckenridge Hat*…

and Mary Pranica’s Ephraim Wrap*…

LYS happiness is a full-to-bursting display of Woolstok. Samples shown knit in Woolstok are Carolyn Kern’s Multi-Pane Mittens* and Sylvia Hager’s Trimont Snood*.

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If you receive our direct emails (and we hope you do – if not, sign up on our homepage to join the mailing list) you already know we’re big fans of Schoppel-Wolle Edition 3 – we have 4 shop models! They are Martina Behm’s Easy* shawlette, Andrea Mowry’s Shiftalong* and Flicker & Flame* hats, and my new fingerless glove design Tree Hollow*, which you’ll get free with a yarn purchase.

Our featured customer FOs are truly inspirational. Steven knit Boye* from Arne & Carlos in Rowan Felted Tweed and Sugar Bush Yarns Drizzle. This is stranded colorwork with an ingenious twist – the pattern is created simply by holding the silk/mohair with the wool. Brilliant! I can’t wait to try this technique.

Gina used Universal Yarn Colorburst for her own unique take on Diane L. Augustin’s Springtime Wrap* bias scarf, a stitch sampler design that makes the most of gradient yarns.

Stephanie created this cute little fella using the pattern Alpaca by Susan B. Anderson. His name is Humberto Huacaya.

Krista chose Berroco Ultra Wool DK for this charming Méabh’s Cardigan, a free pattern from designer Ciara Ní Reachtnín. (Thank you, Krista, for allowing me to “slurp” your pretty pics from Ravelry!)

Molly’s bright, graphic Grain from Tin Can Knits is knit with Berroco Ultra Wool. Grain is an easy, relaxing pattern, part of the Tin Can Knits Simple Collection.

For a pair of cool summer socks, Joanne used her favorite Churchmouse Simple Toe-Up Sock* with Schachenmayr Regia 4-Ply from the Arne & Carlos Mountains and Fjords Collection and Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock for the heels and toes.

For anyone with “Christmas in July” on their minds, I’ll close with Rebecca’s insanely cute collection of mini “ugly” Christmas sweaters, which are going to be decorations on a wreath. (Remember her amazing Autumn Wreath?) She knits and crochets them without patterns…

…and her creativity shines in the details:

Let’s all have a festive time until my next post!

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