If you’ve been around our shop at all this season or taken a look at the class list, you’ll notice that our Latvian Mitten class, taught by Laurie Bellin, has been all the rage. We’ve run this class numerous times. Student’s have felt like they’ve climbed a mountain but ended up triumphant and like they can tackle anything. One key discussion we’ve noticed during each of the classes is about color dominance and I thought I’d share a little bit more info about it here and a great example.

In stranded knitting,often referred to as fair isles knitting, you carry the multiple colors of yarn in the back of your work.  As the yarns travel along behind the work, one strand will be carried below the other. This bottom strand of yarn will become slightly more prominent in the finished object. This is because its stitches will be just a fraction larger than the stitches of the other strand.

It might not seem like this could all make a big difference, but it really can. One student in the latest class gave us a terrific example of what can happen when one yarn becomes dominant over the other and how it can affect a finished object.

Here you can see just how one color can be more dominant over the other and what happens if you don’t keep the dominant yarn consistent.

Many experienced knitters suggest the contrasting color should ride below the main color when being stranded behind the work. Therefore the main color would be the top yarn and the contrast would be the bottom yarn.

To help you remember which yarn goes in which hand or rides above or below you may want to write it on your pattern just as you do when you jot down which symbol on you chart matches each color use. For example:
Black = background color / right hand or top yarn
White = contrast color / left hand or bottom yarn

Thanks to Jenny for lending us her pics of the gorgeous mitts and showing us a fabulous example of color dominance.

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We’ve had such a great class line up this winter. Not just because of the large number of classes we’ve been able to offer but because of our amazing line up of teacher and the energy and excitement of the students who’ve signed up.

This Sunday was no different. I caught the tale end of our Dorset button class, taught by a new addition to our teaching staff, Jules Means. I walked in to a bunch of smiling faces and lots of jubilation!

Jules really got the ladies’ creative juices flowing.  The table was heaped with yarn in all colors and weights as well as some finished buttons to showcase what can be done.

The students ended up with some fantastic finished projects.  Also make sure to check out a blog post from fellow SSFY teacher and (on Sunday) student, Rhonda Culbert, about her experience in the class.

We hope to run this class again in the coming weeks.  If you’re interested in joining the next session.  Give the shop a call and ask to be put on the list.  Once we have the date secured we’ll give you a call and try to get you registered.  As a reminder, check out our class policy and pre-payment is required to secure your spot in any class as the demand for them is so high.

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As you know we are big fans of the Debbie Bliss Knitting Magazine (NOW AVAILABLE) and we’re lucky enough to be able to give you guys a sneak peak of the upcoming Fall Winter 2009 issue due out in September.

I was able to see some of the model garments at TNNA.  There are some fantastic patterns and projects including “The Brit Home” which give the issue some English elegance with six  patterns including Union Jack cushions, a Welsh blanket and an Argyle dog bean bag.  There is a whole section on tweeds, some patterns from the Bears, Blankets, and Booties book, and patterns for toddlers showcased including hats, gloves and scarves in playful animal themes.

Some glamorous knits for a night out on the town using elegant and luxury fibers.  As well there is a feature called the “Big Softie” using bulky yarns — four patterns, including two for men.

The Fall Winter 2009 issue will feature Donegal Tweed, Alpaca Silk Aran, Rialto, Cashmerino Aran (one of our shop favorites), Baby Cashmerino, Como, and others.

Debbie Bliss doesn’t disappoint in this issue and I think they just keep getting better and better.  We’ll let you know when it arrives and will surely have samples knit up to inspire.

Updated August 24th 2009: This is now available at our online store. Buy it Now

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When Seed Stitch customer, Maxine Hartley called from her home in Avila Beach, California she said she just had to pick up Debbie Bliss’ Spring/Summer magazine and make this adorable sweater and hat set for her co-worker’s new daughter, Parker. Happy to oblige, we sent this Debbie Bliss Prima in pink right to her vacation spot in Florida over the winter so she could work on it there.

Waa Laa…Here is the finished project from the West Coast. Maxine thanks for sharing this with us and with Parker, too!!

We just recieved some more copies of Debbie’s summer magazine in the store if you didn’t get a chance to pick one up yet.  The next issue is due on the shelves in September.

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Of course we love all things Rowan and we stock tons of different Rowan yarns and patterns, but this one certainly has caught our eye.  Several customers have fallen in love with this pattern and colorway and knit it up.  The latest being Sabrina Harmon.

This is the Martha pattern from Rowan Studio, Issue #2 knit up in the Rowan Felted Tweed colorway 141, Melody.  It’s just lovely.

One of the things I love about this project example is the fact that it shows off each knitter.  Three different customers have knit this sweater in the same colorway within the last couple of months.  Each of the projects came out beautifully, but each are different, showing a bit of the hand and personality in each knitter.

Sabrina picked out these lovely simple buttons that are not done justice in this picture.  But from up close they look like etched glass and have a purplish tint to them that really picks up the color way.  We wanted her to try it on so badly and show it to us that we undress the manican in the store so she could try on her finished garmet with our manican’s shirt on undeneath!

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On Saturday (last week) a customer came into the store carrying a lovely little creation of her own and I couldn’t resist showing it off.

Julie Kahn made this bag with Blue Sky Alpaca’s Bulky weight yarn (colorway 1211).  It’s a lovely, simple design of her own — basically a seed stitch square turned into a bag with cute handles.

We always want to see customer projects so please feel free to email us pics of your FOs (Finished Objects) or drop into the store and share them with us.  You can also share them with our new Seed Stitch Fine Yarn Flickr group.

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