Rose's Fine Yarns

Knitting Resolutions

Posted on January 9, 2016 by A Baker

It’s that time of year when you resolve to make changes in your life. So what knitting resolutions could you make? One thing I tried to do in the past year is to actually finish some of my UFOs ( unfinished objects). I put all my half-completed ( some were more like 95% completed) projects in one drawer and then when I am looking for a new project I would see the incomplete ones and finish one of those before I let myself start a new project. I was able to finish off some socks that had been sitting for quite a while unfinished. I like to have a few different things on the go so I can have some variety. Sometimes you just don’t want to think about what you are knitting or have to count you stitches and that is when I choose to work on socks. If you finish something and then move onto something new you get variety, the spice of life,

This year I want to try some new techniques. So far I have learnt a new provisional cast on. I like it so much I have already used it on 4 different projects and we aren’t even half way through January yet. It is great for the Burberry cowl, the 1898 hat (both patterns are on www.ravelry.com) and another hat I am working on that has a cabled brim. I had always hated the provisional cast on that uses a crocheted chain ( the most common provisional cast on) and so I would skip those patterns or figure out a different way to do the cast on. Now that I have learnt a new provisional cast on I am trying it on all different projects. I want to keep trying new techniques. You never know when you find some new way to do something that you have always avoided doing. I wonder what technique or stitch I should try next? I am thinking I want to try the stitch that looks like you have smocked your knitting. Now I just have to remember where I saw the pattern that I admired.

To go along with trying new things, why not take a class to learn a new technique that you have shied away from because you thought it was too difficult. You will learn something new and meet other knitters at the same time. Check out the classes page on the website to see what classes we are offering. What will your knitting resolutions be this year? phd

The Knitting Race is on!

Posted on November 24, 2015 by A Baker

How did it get to be almost December? As I write this, Christmas Eve is one month away. I think our warmer fall deceived us into thinking it was still late summer/early fall not almost winter. Well, now that we have actually had some snow, it is really time to pick up those knitting needles and crochet hooks if you want to make something for Christmas.

So how do you figure out how much you can knit in time for the big day? First you have to decide who is deserving of your handiwork. Write a list of who you think you want to make something for. Next, you have to decide what you want to make and how much time do you have to devote to it. I make a calendar and write all the activities I have and what free time I have available and figure out how many hours that is. Are you going to make multiple small items or one big item? What are you going to be more motivated to work on? Once you have decided what to make and have cast on, put a marker to show where you started and after an hour check your progress. This will give you an idea of how much you can get done in an hour and therefore how long it will take to finish the project. Block off time on your calendar so you know how long it is going to take you to finish. In this way you can see what is reasonable to hope to get done in time for the big day.

I like to do smaller projects as I can feel more of a sense of accomplishment as I finish each item. Knitting with a chunky yarn is also a big help. Often a yarn has enough interest in it that you don’t need to do anything fancy. You also have to consider what you like to do. If you are going to be bored doing seed stitch, don’t do a whole project in it, just do a border in seed stitch. If you get bored doing garter stitch throw in a cable to make it more interesting.

Check out ravelry.com for some quick knit ideas. You are sure to find something you want to make ( probably more than you can get done before Christmas so add them to your library so you can get back to them after Christmas).

Come in and pick some yarn and needles and get knitting. It is a good excuse to sit down during this busy time and nicer than rushing around a shopping mall. Happy Knitting!

Posted on October 27, 2015 by A Baker

Well it is that time of year again. The leaves have started to change and the evenings are getting colder (and darker sooner). Time to take up the needles again( if you are one of those who don’t like to knit in the warmer months). The next question is what to knit? Bergere de France has a yarn called Recyclaine that is a nice thick, chunky yarn great for a knitting up a quick cowl. A couple balls does a nice cowl. Bergere also has a sweater pattern in their Creations 15/16 pattern book using their Cyclone yarn that only takes 6 balls to knit a simple, comfy sweater for those cold winter months. It comes in nice gradient colours so there is no need for fancy stitches. There are lots of new sock yarns in stock that can be used to make socks but also make great fingerless mitts, hats, shawls or scarves.

cyclone recyclaine

We are now carrying some Canadian yarns that come in some great colours. Come in and check out Indigodragonfly, Sweet Georgia Yarns, Dyeversion and Briggs and Little. Support our Canadian dyers!.

indigodragonflyjack sweetgeorgia snapdragon

Summer Knitting

Posted on July 9, 2015 by A Baker

I hear all the time – “oh I don’t knit in the summer”. Summer is the best time to knit. How often do you have to move to find better light so you can see what you are knitting. Do you turn on the light only to have someone say “turn off the light, I can’t see the TV”? In summer you can sit out in your back yard after dinner or on your front porch and listen to nature and see your knitting! There is light until almost 9:00 at night. If you are an early riser, get up early and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and the great light for knitting before everyone else gets out of bed.

Summer is the time for travelling so why not take along a knitting project and use that travel time productively. Whether it is by train plane or automobile, knitting will pass the time quickly. It doesn’t have to be a large project but why not get a start on some of those Christmas presents. Maybe work on busting your stash. Go on Ravelry and search for one or two ball projects. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that you have some Christmas presents taken care of early? Hats, mittens, cowls are small enough that you won’t get too hot knitting them. Maybe check for any single socks that you haven’t yet knit the second sock for and finish them off. Think of the satisfaction you get for finishing those UFOs ( unfinished objects).

Finding Out What is New

Posted on May 13, 2015 by A Baker

Every spring and fall, I drive to the yarn suppliers warehouses to find out what new things are coming out from the different yarn companies. In the end of April, I went to visit the warehouses and saw a lot of the new yarns that are due out in the fall. Often the yarn companies have many similiar new items but this time they all had things that were a bit different.One company was showing more of the big chunky yarn where another company didn’t have anything chunkier than a yarn that calls for an 8 mm needle.

A couple companies are going to start carrying roving in different colours. One of the companies, Noro, which is well known for its colourful yarns is carrying a roving that comes in a big coil and is multicoloured. It would look nice just sitting on a table in its package. There is a new yarn by Mirasol called Yaya that is a single ply merino that is so soft. It is like a roving and I love the name.

Two different companies have mixed packages of little balls of yarn for making dolls or toys so you don’t have to buy 50 or 100 gm balls when you only need a couple metres of diferent colours

Of course there are lot of new sock lines coming out or the fall. Sirdar is coming out with its own sock line which is something new for Sirdar. We sell a lot of their Snuggly baby yarn and their Cotton DK is also a really nice yarn so you know their sock yarn will be of good quality..

We are starting to carry a new line of yarn by a German company called RIco. They carry a full line of yarn from acrylics to cottons to merino. We already have some of their cotton in both DK and aran weights in stock as well as some of their sock yarn. We have a bamboo sock called Superba Bamboo that knits up in a pattern and another sock called Superba Poems ( shown above) which has long colour runs that would be great for shawls or designs where the long colour runs are used for interesting effects. Rico also has something called Sock Stop which is like a rubberized paint that you apply to the bottom of socks or slippers so they don’t slide. It comes in diferent colours but at the moment we have the black in stock.

One of the fun things that Katia ha coming out for fall, are socks and hats that come in a kit. The kit contains a knit stuffed animal that has live stitches that you pick and knit the scarf or hat with. With the scarf the stuffed animal is on the ends and the hat has the stuffed animal as a pompom.

Socks – try it, you’ll like it!

Posted on January 28, 2015 by A Baker

For many people, socks are the go to project. For others, socks are too scary- the yarn too fine, turning the heel seems a mystery and the whole process a little daunting. But socks really are one of the simpler things to knit, Because they are knit in the round there is a lot knitting and not very much purling.

Another excuse non-sock knitters have is that they can’t wear wool or the person doesn’t want to have to lay the socks flat to let them dry. There are quite a few non-wool options for sock knitters. Berroco carries a yarn called Comfort Sock which is a 50% acrylic, 50% nylon combination and come in self-striping, self-patterning and plain colours. Plymouth has a yarn called Diversity which stripes in long colour runs which is 93% acrylic and 7% elasthane which is a stretchy fibre. If you come into the store I have a shawl called wingspan knit in the Diversity ( sock yarn doesn’t have to be used just for socks). Wisdom yarns has just come out with a new non-wool sock yarn called Naked Sock which is 93% acrylic and 7 % PBT ( a multi-filament yarn designed for applications that require excellent stretch and recovery properties). All of these sock yarns can be machine washed and dried.

Sock yarn comes in all kinds of great colour combinations that you don’t find in other gauge yarns. There are self-striping yarns, self-patterning yarns, marls, and heathers as well as plain colours. There is everything from the Nova Sock Plus line which is $8.99 for a 100 gm ball ( which makes a pair of socks ) all the way up to the hand dyed merino and silk or merino and cashmere sock lines which are worth the splurge, as well as lots of options in between.

When you are travelling, sock yarn is a great souvenir to pick up. You only need one ball to make a pair of socks or a shawl and it is small enough to squish into your suitcase or you can always pull the needles out as you travel and knit it up right away. That solves two problems – what to do when you have all that waiting in airports, train stations or in the car ( when someone else is driving) and not having to worry about whether your souvenir will fit in your suitcase. Another added benefit is getting to go to a yarn store.

When you need a colour fix, sock yarn is defiinitely the way to go. Plymouth has a sock yarn out now called Neon Now which is combinations of neon orange, pink, green and yellow. If you want a crazy pair of socks, this is the yarn. Brightly coloured and funky patterned socks are in fashion right now especially for men under a suit. You can find sock yarn in just about any colour and combination of colours.

For those who think that socks are too hard, sign up for our sock class and we will teach how to knit socks. All you have to be able to do is knit, purl, cast on and cast off. Classes run for four weeks and at the end of the four weeks you will have a fingering weight sock completed if you you do your weekly homework. Many get both socks done as they find the process quite relaxing.

Socks are small enough to have in a bag that you can take anywhere with you and most of the sock is plain knitting so you can pick it up and put it down without worrying where you are in the pattern. If you want to try out new a new stitch, a sock is a great place to try it without having to commit to a big project such as a sweater.

So for those of you who haven’t tried sock knitting yet, come in and get a ball of sock yarn and give it a try. You’ll like it!