Yarn Geeks Newsletter

May 2017

Last month I recommended the KFSB (Knit Front Slip Back) increase as an alternative to a KFB, and Knitting Paradise user, Judith, got in touch to let me know about a situation when it's best not to use it.

She pointed out that if the KFSB is used on the first row after a color change, the old color is pulled up into the line of new color.

While this is definitely a problem with the KFSB, it isn't fixed by using the regular KFB increase either.

KFSB and KFB interfere with stripes on the first row after a color change

A solution for this situation is the 'Make 1' (M1) increase. The new stitch is pulled up from the old color, but then it drops back into its own color block as you knit it.

M1R and M1L leave clean stripes on the first row after a color change

If you'd like a reminder of how to make all the different forms of an M1 increase, I've made a picture tutorial. It includes a handy way of remembering which way to insert the needle to get the increase to lean in the direction that you want.


New shawl pattern - Northern Flurries

I am so excited to share my new shawl pattern, which uses the double short rows technique that I wrote about in a previous newsletter.

Northern Flurries shawl

The shawl contains sections of lace as well as the double short rows in garter stitch. The lace pattern was the one I used while trying to tame multicolored yarns, so this pattern is completely inspired by YarnSub newsletters!

Northern Flurries shawl

The yarn I used, Northern Yarn 4-ply, is woollen-spun. The wool fibers are pointing in all directions when they're spun, rather than being combed into neat alignment as for the more commonly-used worsted spinning.

Woollen-spun yarns have a matte, fuzzy appearance and tend to keep the warmth in and the wind out! They also "bloom" after blocking, giving a more cohesive, softer and smoother fabric. Watching the transformation is almost my favorite bit of the process.

The pattern is available to buy on Ravelry, Northern Yarn 4-ply can be found on Northern Yarn's online shop, and a list of alternatives can be found on YarnSub.

See the pattern on Ravelry >


Newly-published books

SereKNITy
Peaceful Projects to Soothe and Inspire

By Nikki Van De Car
View on Amazon >

Little Knits for Little Feet
30 New Baby Booties

By Jody Long
View on Amazon >

Knit Noro
Accessories 2

By Sixth&Spring Books (Editor)
View on Amazon >

A Garden of Shawls
By Karen Whooley
View on Amazon >

How to Crochet
Techniques and Projects for the Complete Beginner

By Emma Varnam
View on Amazon >

Interweave Presents - Classic Knit Shawls
20 Timeless Designs Featuring Lace, Cables, and More

By Interweave Editors
View on Amazon >

Crocheted Animal Hats
35 Super Simple Hats to Make for Babies, Kids and the Young at Heart

By Nicki Trench
View on Amazon >

Learn to Crochet
25 Quick and Easy Crochet Projects to Get You Started

By Nicki Trench
View on Amazon >

CocoKnits Sweater Workshop
Knitting Top-Down Seamless Tailored Sweaters

By Julie Weisenberger
View on CocoKnits >


New and discontinued yarns

New yarn Paintbox Yarns - Cotton Aran

New yarn —Paintbox Yarns - Cotton Aran—Image © Love Knitting

New

Aalta Yarn
Cloud – Super Bulky – 100% Nylon – Fleece style – Solid colors

Adriafil
Cromia – DK – 62% Acrylic, 38% Wool – Fuzzy – Multicolored

Bernat
Beyond – Super Bulky – 85% Acrylic, 15% Nylon – S on S plied – Solid colors, Multicolored

Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Cake DK – DK – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid, Multicolored
Cake Worsted – Aran – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Semi-solid, Multicolored

Fibra Natura
Unity – DK – 28% Cotton, 36% Wool, 18% Linen, 18% Bamboo Viscose – Single wrapped with thread – Semi-solid colors, Multi-colored

Frida Fuchs
Tamtam DK – DK – 65% Silk, 35% Linen – 2 plies – Semi-solid colors, Tonal colors

John Arbon Textiles
Devonia 4-ply – Fingering – 100% Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers
Devonia DK – DK – 100% Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers

Katia
Ombr̩ Cotton РDK Р100% Cotton РS on S plied РGradient set

Lana Grossa
Portofino – Worsted – 60% Cotton, 40% Nylon – Tweedy – Solid colors
Summer Lace – Fingering – 97% Cotton, 3% Elastic – S on S plied – Solid colors, Gradient

Loops & Threads
Poppy – Worsted – 51% Nylon, 49% Acrylic – Plied – Dotted colors
Sugarspun – DK – 98% Acrylic, 2% Superwash Wool – Fiber-filled net – Multicolored

Nako
Elit Baby Muare – Worsted – 100% Acrylic – S on S plied – Semi-solid colors

Paintbox Yarns
Cotton Aran – Worsted – 100% Cotton – Loosely plied – Solid colors

Patons (North America)
Alpaca Blend – Bulky – 60% Acrylic, 22% Superwash Wool, 10% Nylon, 8% Alpaca – Single ply – Solid colors, Heathers

Plymouth Yarn
Cammello Merino – Sport – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Camel – S on S plied – Solid colors
Cuzco Cashmere – Sport – 40% Baby Alpaca, 40% Mulberry Silk, 20% Cashmere – Plied – Solid colors
Encore Starz – Worsted – 74% Acrylic, 25% Superwash Wool, 1% Metallic – Plied – Solid color with metallic thread
Estilo – Sport – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Mulberry Silk – Single ply – Heathered colors, Speckles
Incan Spice – Fingering – 45% Merino Wool, 25% Baby Alpaca, 15% Mulberry Silk, 15% Yak – Single ply – Solid colors
Reserve Sport – Sport – 45% Merino Wool, 35% Silk, 20% Bamboo Viscose – Plied – Multicolored

Premier Yarns
Toy Box – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – 2 plies – Solids, Self-striping marls

Schoppel-Wolle
Oxford – Jumbo – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers

Universal Yarn
Bella Cash – Sport – 60% Merino Wool, 30% Nylon, 10% Cashmere – Plied – Solid colors
Revolutions – Bulky – 57% Acrylic, 10% Wool, 8% Mohair, 10% Alpaca, 15% Nylon – Fuzzy – Self-striping (long, gradient)

Woolfolk
Luft – Super Bulky – 55% Merino Wool, 45% Organic Cotton – Fiber-filled net – Semi-solid colors

Discontinued

Bernat
Bargello – Super Bulky – 100% Acrylic – Chained – Self-striping (gradient)
Boa – Bulky – 100% Polyester – Eyelash
Gazoom – Super Bulky – 100% Polyester – Looped
Sparkle Fur – Heavy Worsted – 67% Nylon, 33% Polyester – Eyelash – Solid colors with metallic

Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Sock Candy – Fingering – 96% Cotton, 4% Elastic – Tweedy – Solid colors, Semi-solid, Multicolored

Crystal Palace Yarns
Allegro Aran – Worsted – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers
Allegro DK – DK – 100% Merino Wool – Plied – Solid colors, Heathers
Chunky Mochi – Super Bulky – 80% Merino Wool, 20% Nylon – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient color change)
Cotton Chenille – Heavy Worsted – 100% Mercerized Cotton – Chenille – Solid colors
Cotton Twirl – Aran – 90% Cotton, 10% Nylon – Single wrapped with thread – Solid colors, Multicolored
Danube Aran – Aran – 40% Nylon, 30% Wool, 30% Viscose – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient)
Danube Bulky – Bulky – 40% Nylon, 30% Wool, 30% Viscose – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient)
Danube DK – DK – 40% Nylon, 30% Wool, 30% Viscose – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient)
Merino 5 – Worsted – 100% Merino Superwash Wool – S on S plied – Solid colors, Multicolored
Mini Solid – Fingering – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Single ply
Mochi Plus – Aran – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Single ply – Self-striping (gradient color change)
Panda Cotton – Fingering – 59% Bamboo Viscose, 25% Cotton, 16% Nylon – Tweedy
Sausalito – Fingering – 80% Merino Superwash Wool, 20% Nylon – Plied – Self-striping marls

Handmaiden Fine Yarn
Silk Maiden – Worsted – 50% Wool, 50% Silk – Single ply – Solid colors, heathers, Multicolored

Juniper Moon Farm
Zooey Aran – Aran – 60% Cotton, 40% Linen – Tweedy – Solid colors

King Cole
Masham DK – DK – 100% Masham Superwash Wool – 2 plies – Solid colors
Masham Misty – DK – 100% Masham Wool – Single ply – Heathered colors

Plymouth Yarn
Heaven – Super Bulky – 100% Nylon – Fleece style – Multicolored

Trendsetter Yarns
Merino Yak – Worsted – 70% Merino Wool, 15% Alpaca, 15% Yak – Plied with a soft haze – Solid colors

Universal Yarn
Mohair Mountain – Bulky – 67% Acrylic, 14% Wool, 9% Mohair, 10% Polyester – Fuzzy – Self-striping (gradient)


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