Most Recent Blog Post from Christine Weiss

I am one of those people that always wants just a few more hours in the day to just sit with
my yarn and needles and hooks and dwell in the world of knitting and crocheting. Well, I got it- 6
solid weeks of time after a knee injury proved unexpectedly complicated and needed to heal
without being much disturbed. So now I am sick of all things yarn. OK, that is not true. But
having all this time to knit and crochet comes at the price of everything else I typically attend to
and very much enjoy and that pretty much stinks. But enough whining. I am close to being able
to walk again, and I am very grateful that this ailment is a temporary one. I get it, I do!

So with all the time I am spending knitting and crocheting, I am also watching a lot of
YouTube and House MD. I have had particular fun watching the Antiques Roadshow Celebrity
Edition. This is a solidly British show that has made me excited about going antiquing when I
can drive again (look out Jennifer, I will recruit you to come along). One episode drew my
attention to a region in Scotland called Carbeth. Watching, I recalled a pattern that I love and
many of you will know, called the Carbeth Cardigan. I had assumed the pattern was named
after a person. However, I went down the rabbit hole that is the internet and found that the
designer Kate Davies is Scottish and likely took the name from this region just north of Glasgow.
First, check her out. She is fascinating and has a website and many publications. Second, in
that rabbit hole I learned about Carbeth Hutters. They were a group of war veterans who made
an indelible mark on this part of rural Scotland after they returned home, post WWI. This history
or herstory (whichever you prefer) goes into designs coming from that region. The backstory is
yet another layer of the Maker world I am embracing. Connecting myself to the specific history
and parts of the world where my knitting and crocheting developed, makes me appreciate what I
am working on and producing. Be it the Norwegians, Arnie and Carlos; The Danes, Knitting for
Olive; American turned Dutchman, Stephen West or one of the many pattern makers you follow,
there is a story there. Check it out! I think learning about the history of the craft is part of
embracing being a Maker.

At this time of year when we are full steam ahead on “making” for gift giving, it is no
secret to any of us that our making skills are more and more irrelevant to supply our
everyday needs. Time once spent producing food, clothing and shelter for survival can now be
spent on the skills that excite us. We can pursue with gusto and share the fruits of our labor. If
you are reading this you likely treasure knitting and crocheting. Whatever your typical approach
to knitting and crocheting, I hope you will join me, even briefly, in an intentional mindset. Instead
of making our craft an extension of our oft need to achieve and perfect, may we approach our
craft with insight, patience and an understanding that the pursuit informs us of our history and
connects us to humanity. Sure, we may get lucky once or twice and create a truly exceptional
piece (that is a very sweet feeling). But today let us practice the craft without judges, score
sheets, clocks, finish lines or medals, and instead dwell in the space that is the world of Making,
space that fulfills our basic need to create.

We can help with that!

Join us at The Artful Yarn as you learn, connect and honor tradition and allow us to be a part
of your craft. Just as our ancestors learned from each other and passed on skills, we teach and
learn from each other. Our people have ample years of knowledge and know-how. We
understand the backstory of knitting and crocheting to help inform your modern pursuits. Our
circles, classes, yarns and tools are all thoughtfully designed and chosen to help you build your
craft on your terms.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to the shop.
Favorite Yarn in the shop right now: I am liking the Andora, although I have not yet used it, it
is on tap for when I make my next Carbeth Cardigan.
Favorite “UnYarn”: Oh Gosh, that’s easy! The felted bags
Outside of the shop: Just concentrating on getting that knee back into working order. I have to
say I have been really touched by my friends who have visited, brought food and made my
husband’s job of doing everything that I need two hands and two legs for a little easier.

Hi there! My name is Erin. Here's what's going on for me right now!
​
​Have you ever found yourself in a crafting rut?
Last year my knitting/crocheting/crafting motivation was at an all time low. In part from job stress, but a lot of it was being stuck in a cycle of the same types of projects on repeat. I've made lots of stuffed creatures, hats, cowls, shawls/wraps, and several blankets and as much as I was happy with the finished projects, it was getting tough to want to cast on unless I had something really special to work on. At that point in my knitting story I had also completed one vest and two baby sweaters and had a UFO cardigan that has been sleeveless for probably 2 or 3 years.

The thought of starting  and finishing an adult sized sweater on my own seemed not just scary, but impossible. My thoughts were kind of jumbled.
What if I hate it?
What if I never finish? 
What if I invested all this money and time into a sweater that I complete, but I HATE, or it doesn't fit, or I wash it wrong and ruin it?
It seemed like such a risk and investment for something with a murky outcome at best. 

Fortunately for me, I don't just work at The Artful Yarn. Here, I have creative and supportive coworkers and a boss that challenged and encouraged me to push myself to try something new and cast on a major sweater project. 

Last summer, Tiffany, owner of The Artful Yarn, brought in a trunk show with Wonderland Yarns and I just fell in love with their Rainbows in the Gorge cardigan. But for me, this was an especially intimidating project. Not only was it a longer length cardigan, but it was in fingering weight yarn and on size 3 needles. Talk about a challenge! I have a mainly worsted weight and up, size 7 or bigger needle project history. Fortunately, Tiffany not only talked me into going for it, she helped me make sure my gauge and sizing and everything was right on track when I got started. 

I actually cast on in August 2023 and had the first arm almost completed before realizing I was not increasing correctly. I had to frog and restart. Despite that discouraging start, I kept at it. The rainbow cardigan regularly came to the shop with me where I could work on it and where I got encouragement (and accountability to finish) from both my coworkers and our fantastic shop community. 

Slowly but surely I got through it. In April, just in time for the change in our weather to 70+ degree days, I finished the collar and seamed the sides. It was definitely a challenge and a long and ambitious project, but having everyone at the shop at my back, helped me to keep at it and not get discouraged. Having help readily accessible when I got confused and fiber friends cheering me on as I went, definitely made the difference for me on this project. 

And now I'm on a sweater kick. I finished the Boneyard Sweethearts (Tellybean Knits) and the Luminos Tee (yamagara) this summer and just cast on another for the November Sweater. I'm so glad I stretched out of my comfort zone to try a new type of project and I'm so thankful for our community here at The Artful Yarn for the support to get it done! And you can too!

Favorite yarn in the shop right now: Emma's Super Silky
Favorite "unyarn" in the shop right now: Katrinkles stitch markers--the pasta shapes make me laugh every time I see them
Hobby (other than fiber arts): Reading