Hi everyone! Jenn here. This week's topic, making a garment that fits, involves that dreaded subject, gauge. All patterns have one, but more often than not, we choose to completely ignore it. We just want to dive right into our new project. We found a great yarn. We found a great pattern. Why can't we just start knitting or crocheting?!

There are lots of good reasons to make a gauge swatch. Here are just a few:
>First, it let's you take a test drive with your yarn and pattern. Maybe you want to use a different yarn than what's recommended in the pattern. The swatch will help you see if you like the resulting fabric.

>Second, your tension as you knit or crochet is unique to how you are as a crafter. If your tension is the same as the designer who wrote the pattern, fantastic. If it's different, your guage swatch will help you figure out if you will need to make any adjustments to the pattern. 

>Third, if you know your gauge you can adjust your stitch and row count to get the correct size for a garment that fits you. I usually end up adjusting the number of stitches for my sleeves, and when and how often I do the decreases. 

>Fourth, patterns are like recipes. You can follow them to the letter and end up with a great meal, but will it be something you enjoy? I always sub parsley for cilantro because, to me, cilantro tastes like soap. Knowing, with a little 'funny math' I can adjust a pattern for my specific needs (like wider and longer sleeves), gives me the confidence to choose from a broader range of projects. 

Now, all that being said, if you want to just get some yarn and a pattern and jump right into a new project, no gauge swatch required, we have lots of pre made kits in the shop ready to go.  From simple cowls to colorwork cowls to holiday stockings (i.e. projects where exact sizing is not so crucial) we've got great options for some last minute gifts.

Favorite yarn that's in the shop right now:
For my Sweater in November I'm using Wonderland Yarns, Mary Ann (fingering weight), The Road Less Traveled.  

Favorite "unyarn" that's in the shop right now:
A great book to help take your knitting to the next level - Patty Lyons' Knitting Bag of Tricks

Hobby (other than fiber arts):
Is there anything better than knitting? Ok, maybe jigsaw puzzles are a close second.

​(Hum “I’m a Believer “) as sung by the Monkees. 

Many, many years ago, I told anyone who would listen that I would never knit socks. What converted me to a sock addict you ask? Cathy Hougan asked me to teach an intro to sock class. First I called my friends, so they could laugh and then I set off to make my first finished pair of socks. Guess what- a change in me took place. I no longer needed to always just make shawls and sweaters I could get the same challenge and comfort from creating socks. Learn small and be confident in tackling bigger projects. Much less frogging involved!

A bit about me- I'm Randi. I have been knitting since my grandmother taught me at age eleven. I will not comment on how many years ago that was. The reference to the singing group the Monkees gives you a clue. Knitting has been more than just a creative process for me. It also and most importantly calms and brings me joy. I was a Montessori teacher for 30 years. I have found teaching is in my bones, so I recently started substitute teaching. I always look forward to my time in the shop and sharing stories and our knit or crochet creations. Come join me October 26th to learn to knit socks on two needles. Details are on the website calendar page.

Favorite yarn that's in the shop right now:
Kelbourne Woolens Perennial Sock Yarn
I currently love for color blocking and lace work. Such vibrant colors.

Favorite "unyarn" that's in the shop right now:
Lantern moon needles and needle sets

Follow me for sock knitting tips
The Sock Believer
Randi 

​I'm Christine Weiss, the resident indie dyer at the shop at the moment. You have access to a kit of my yarn in the 2024 ADVENTure Collection which is available right now in the store or online. There are also a few skeins from The Darling Yarn Company (that's me) still available from my summer dye sessions. They are on the shelves next to other Indie Dyed yarns. In fact, there is a lot of Indie Dyed yarn at the shop, like Spun Right Round and Emma's (some of my faves). That is one of the special reasons our customers love the small yarn shops over the big box stores, we get some amazing yarn that comes from the imaginations of some talented people. 

Back to me! My yarn is unique in that I use exclusively plant based dyes and exclusively non-superwash yarns. I do this because I wanted to return to a process like the one when making our clothing was not toxic to the planet.  Prior to the invention of acid dyes, fiber artists, servants (and homemaking women) used various ways to get color from plants. Yes, some of those methods were pretty toxic because back then they sometimes used copper and lead, but for the most part getting color from plants is a time consuming, but clean process. Getting the color onto fiber is done using a mordant and heat to get the lasting results. Back in the day, they may have chosen urine to mordant yarns, nowaddays we use a variety of alum products. Alum is a non toxic chemical which you find in many foods (such as pickles), cosmetics, medicines and in water treatment to purify tap water.  Not all plant dyes need mordants, many of the grays, beiges and browns from tree nuts stay on yarn just fine. But mordants in general are used to help plant dyes stay on the yarn for years of wear. You know those tapestries you see at the art museum, or in the natural history museum? Those are plant dyed. I use some of these same dyes, like madder and indigo, and I have access to other very local dyes like golden rod and oak.

Learning how to dye with plants was by trial and error, and happily there are a lot of helpful people on the internet. You do have to weed out some of those who suggest you dye with turmeric or wine, nice color until the sun comes out, then poof, bye bye.  I have figured out what stays (non-fugitive) and what does not (fugitive). If you ever have questions about dyeing yarn with plants feel free to reach out to me, I am happy to teach you what I have learned.

Here's the recipe
Here is a quick recipe that does not use mordant:- clean four or five avocado skins and the seeds and simmer these on the stove in enough water to cover them plus an inch. Keep the simmer very low for about 2 hours. It is better to not get to simmer than to get to boiling. You will see the liquid turn to dark pink.  Allow the  mixture to cool over night. Strain the liquid into a pot and add a few inches of water and a teaspoon of baking soda. Find an undyed 100g skein of yarn, as light as you can. Untwist the skein, but keep the ties in! Soak that skein in water for an hour until it is wetted through. Place that skein in the avocado water and heat this on the stove. Keep the fan on or ensure good ventilation. Be sure the water completely covers the skein. Add tap water if it does not. This time, do not allow the mixture to simmer, a thermometer should read between 140-160 degrees Fahrenheit. Hold the heat here for up to an hour moving the yarn every 15 minutes or so to even out color, then allow the entire mixture to cool over night. Remove the yarn and squeeze out any liquid then rinse under cool water. Re-soak in a basin of water with a drop of clear dish soap or wool wash for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Allow the skein to dry and wind, it is ready for use. I often cure my skeins. To do this, when I remove them from the color pot, I squeeze out excess water and let them hang dry for a few days before I rinse or wash them. Some of us think this deepens the color. If you do not have avocados, you can use brown onions skins, the completely dryed bits. Place a few cups of these in a pan and follow the same directions as for avocados, but do not add baking soda. The avocados produce pink, the onions skins make a wonderful rusty orange. The two colors actually look fabulous together if you have two blanks skeins.  

I do hope you enjoy finding your perfect skein as you do using it! Making knitting and crocheting a thought filled, intentional endeavor maximizes the fun!

Go Easy,
Christine Weiss
Favorite yarn that's in the shop right now:
There is some pretty amazing Amano Mayu alpaca yarn that I have my eye on (available in the shop)
Favorite "unyarn" that's in the shop right now:
That's easy, the Mini Minder, for holding a skein on the go! (available online and in the shop)
Hobby (other than fiber arts):
Hiking.

​​​Welcome to In The Loop, The Artful Yarn shop blog.  In this new space, you can look forward to some great tips and insights drawn from our staff's collective years of experience. 

But first things first! I wanted to remind you that we have a neat opportunity for our fiber friends to GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. We all have a few skeins in our stash that are "extras". This weekend is I Love Yarn Day during which you can donate those unused, full skeins.  The shop has partnered with local crafting charities that will take the donated yarn and make hats, scarves, blankets, mittens, and other hand made items to distribute to people in our communities who could use a helping hand. Check the shop website for details.

A little background on me. I have a degree in Fine Arts with an emphasis in photography.  Art has been such a big part of my life for so long.  Recently I have less time to sit down and paint, or photoshop, or draw. Instead I take the opportunity to paint with my yarn.  Bold color choices mixed with a fun colorwork pattern always gives me a painting vibe.  It is something that I really encourage our customers to try. Basically, you follow a chart (color by numbers style) and watch what you imagined taking shape.

When designing our Yarn Discovery Tour pattern I kept that in mind. I wanted to create something truly unique to Chagrin Falls. I started by brainstorming:  What are some of my favorite parts of this town I call home?  What icons represent these things? How can I paint these into something I want to wear? With graph paper and a good sense of color (helped along by a great supplier, Wonderland Yarns) I created a big cozy cowl/snood (the pattern is available at the shop). My pattern captures a time and place that is meaningful to me. Color work gives you such a great opportunity to make a project that is truly one of a kind. Give it a try and feel free to stop in- there is a lot of helpful advice at the shop and even some charting cards available if you aren't quite ready to go completely custom.