The other day I noticed a small hole in my handknit sweater. Alas, my yarn had worn down to almost nothing and snapped! I was lucky because I had an extra skein of the yarn that I made the sweater with. Using the duplicate stitch I wove a new piece of yarn into the row where the yarn… Continue reading Emily Explains: My yarn broke and there is a hole in my knitting… help!
Amy’s Thread: How to Turn Your Mittens into a Hat
As soon as I cast off my last Hanne mitten, I wanted to make the pattern into hat. Actually, I want to turn it into multiple hats, because I can't stop thinking of different variations and colorways that I want to experiment with. The Hanne mittens are written for Berroco Ultra Alpaca or Berroco Ultra Alpaca Tonal, either yarn also… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: How to Turn Your Mittens into a Hat
Designer Spotlight: Snug-as-a-Bug Baby Bunting by Denise Balvanz
Most people would think raising 8 children is a full-time job, but Denise Balvanz balanced that with various entrepreneurial endeavors. She spent 25 years running a sewing and alterations business. Then she got into teaching and designing knitting patterns. Denise was inspired to design her Snug-as-a-Bug Baby Bunting while expecting her first grandchild. Knit in… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Snug-as-a-Bug Baby Bunting by Denise Balvanz
Amy’s Thread: Ultra Alpaca Fine
Ultra Alpaca Fine is the rare, machine washable alpaca yarn. This fine gauge blend is 50% wool for bounce, 20% alpaca for warmth, and 30% nylon for strength and durability. What I love about this yarn is the versatility - warm socks, beautiful lace and with a rage of beautiful rich heather colors perfect for colorwork. This… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Ultra Alpaca Fine
Designer Spotlight: Grain of Sand Sweater by Gabrielle Vézina
When Gabrielle Vézina quit smoking several years ago, she picked up knitting to keep her hands busy. She describes it as replacing one addiction with another that is far more rewarding - for her and for everyone who now gets to knit her patterns! Gabrielle’s Grain of Sand Sweater came from an impulse yarn purchase.… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Grain of Sand Sweater by Gabrielle Vézina
Emily Explains: How do I choose the right needles for my yarn?
When I first learned how to knit I was given a set of pink size 11 metal needles and a skein of hot pink yarn - a bulky wool and mohair blend. The needles felt long and a little awkward in my hands but I eventually got the hang of it and began knitting away. For… Continue reading Emily Explains: How do I choose the right needles for my yarn?
Amy’s Thread: Elizabeth Smith, Designer to Watch
Elizabeth Smith designs under her line, The Brown Stitch. Recently, she has recently come out with a series of beautifully simple patterns in Berroco yarns that are not only photographed beautifully, her styling is spot on. The first time Elizabeth's work caught my eye was in 2009 with the pattern Mud Season (which was knit in Berroco's discontinued… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Elizabeth Smith, Designer to Watch
Designer Spotlight: Toothless Dragon Graphgan by Sarita Kumar
Sarita Kumar spent a lot of time on bed rest during her two pregnancies, but she made the best of it by learning to knit and later, crochet. She mostly crochets now, using her skills to make creative toys and gifts for family and friends. Sarita’s Toothless Dragon Graphgan is an adorable colorwork baby blanket crocheted… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Toothless Dragon Graphgan by Sarita Kumar
Portfolio Party Recap
We had a great time at our Berroco Portfolio/Ultra Alpaca Party last weekend. With 10 years of this great yarn and a fabulous new pattern collection, there was a lot to celebrate! We want to thank everyone who joined us for the fun and also share a few pictures for those of you who couldn't… Continue reading Portfolio Party Recap
Emily Explains: How do I make an afterthought thumb?
One of our latest free patterns, Hanne, is a seriously beautiful pair of mittens designed by Amy. They sit on her desk across from me in the office and I want to steal them! They are a pair of stranded colorwork, Scandinavian mittens with an afterthought thumb. I just learned the afterthought thumb technique and it is blowing my… Continue reading Emily Explains: How do I make an afterthought thumb?
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