Growing up, I spent a lot of happy summer days sitting in my paternal grandmother's sewing room. She was a talented quilter with an eye for juxtapositions of colors and patterns. I've never felt like I've achieved her level of boldness or brilliance at this but I love the adventure of creating colorways. If I… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Ultra Alpaca MKAL Color Inspiration
Tag: Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Emily Explains: Picking Up Stitches Along a Garter Stitch Edge
For our Ultra Alpaca MKAL, we each designed colorful, modular garter stitch squares inspired by Housetop quilts. Knitting this kind of block is really simple and fun! For my block, you begin knitting in the center, alternating between lavender and white. Then, leaving those stitches on holder, you pick up and knit with the white yarn along… Continue reading Emily Explains: Picking Up Stitches Along a Garter Stitch Edge
Ultra Alpaca MKAL: Yarn Quantities
If your interest is piqued to participate in our Ultra Alpaca MKAL, you're probably wondering how much yarn you need for the project! Here is some information to help you. Please note: all of these are only rough estimates. Your mileage (yardage) may vary! To make the whole blanket - comprised of 5 of each… Continue reading Ultra Alpaca MKAL: Yarn Quantities
Amy’s Thread: Anna Zilboorg Giveaway
When I taught myself to knit (from a library copy of Montse Stanley's Knitter's Hanbook* and Leslie Stanfield's The New Knitting Stitch Library) there wasn't this amazing online community of knitters and blogs. There was no Ravelry, and most of the yarn shops were very different than they are today. I wasn't really inspired by… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Anna Zilboorg Giveaway
Disney Classic Crochet Giveaway
We don't often get yarn requests like the one Megan Kreiner sent last April. She had just landed a contract for an exciting project with Disney and needed one skein of each of our Vintage yarn colors as soon as possible. We happily obliged because we love Megan's work...and who doesn't love Disney? It took a… Continue reading Disney Classic Crochet Giveaway
Amy’s Thread: Mai Tai Winner
Thanks so much to everyone who entered our Mai Tai Giveaway! The winner is... Sarah She said: "To beat the winter blahs I take time to enjoy the small signs of spring on my outdoor runs, like slushy puddles instead of icy patches on the sidewalks, and being able to run with just my winter running pants… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Mai Tai Winner
Amy’s Thread: Mai Tai Giveaway
Something refreshing just in the nick of time! The BabyCocktails Tiki Collection by Thea Colman is an ebook of tropical knits (paper umbrellas not included) featuring Mai Tai, a cowl knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. From Thea: These focus on bright color, deep texture, and bold details. I tried to take the vibrant and lush feeling of the tiki bar and translate… Continue reading Amy’s Thread: Mai Tai Giveaway
Designer Spotlight: Extreme Hedonism by Geanie Helfrich
There are lots of different reasons to start knitting. Geanie Helfrich was motivated to learn after she saw a beautiful handknit sweater featured in a catalogue. She couldn’t afford to buy it, but decided if someone else’s hands could make it so could hers…eventually. A trip to the local library led to a trip to… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Extreme Hedonism by Geanie Helfrich
Emily Explains: Snow Day Fun
When I am home on a snowy day there is nothing I want to do more than curl up with a bowl of popcorn, some tea and yarn. Yesterday, I had the popcorn and the tea, but I did not have enough yarn to cast on for a new project! Not sure what to do,… Continue reading Emily Explains: Snow Day Fun
Designer Spotlight: Aila by J.L. Fleckenstein
J.L. Fleckenstein comes from a family of artists and problem solvers. She sees creating things as a way of communicating something worthwhile, and one of her preferred mediums is yarn. Last fall, J.L. created Aila, a cozy cowl knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca. She says inspiration started with the yarn – one hank each of… Continue reading Designer Spotlight: Aila by J.L. Fleckenstein
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