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 have many customers who come in and say I want to knit this pattern but don’t know what yarn to use.  Of course we are always more then willing to help, but we want to be able to educate as well so you can continually improve in your craft.

Matching up gauge between a yarn and a pattern is very important to get a good fit and help set you on the best foot forward to finishing a garment or object you’ll love.  Gauge is simply a measurement of the number of stitches and rows per inch of knitting. We need to understand how many stitches or rows per inch so we can understand how large or small our finished object will be.  An inch or two difference in the breast of a sweater or across the shoulder can really make a difference in how your project will look and wear when complete.

So what do you need to know when you’re looking at a skein of yarn?

You might see something like the below image on the tag such as this one from Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted Alpaca

Or you might see something like this as on the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

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We received some of the new Amy Butler bags in the store recently and I decided I needed one to be my new summer purse.  It’s perfect for a momma who is constantly hauling around stuff for herself and for her tot and of course it has plenty of room for any knitting project I might want to toss in along the way.

These are now up on our online store, but I thought the pictures just didn’t do them justice.  You can’t get a sense of just how well made these bags are as well as see the functionality inside.  So wallah here you go A Yarn Tale’s first video product review!

Seed Stitch Fine Yarn: Amy Butler Crafting Bags from Seed Stitch Fine Yarn on Vimeo.

PS. When I hear myself talking on video I think I sound goofy.

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One of my most anticipated new additions to the store is this scrumptious new yarn from Rowan called Lima.

It’s a worsted weight 84% alpaca 8% merino and 8% nylon that knits up 5 stitches per inch on a size 9. The construction of the yarn is one of the interesting things about it. It’s a woven construction, which looks like an I-cord, allowing it to feel lighter and loftier than a similar gauge and fiber content yarn. It comes in beautifully heathered colors and I think is sure to be one of the big yarns for the season.

As you can see there is also great pattern support for this yarn right out of the starting gate.

Again some nice men’s garments in this collection as well.

If you can’t fly to Peru, stop in to Seed Stitch in Mid July to bring a little Lima into your life.

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One of the things we’ll be introducing more into the Seed Stitch line up are products that are eco-friendly, local or sustainable.  However, we’re not willing to give up great design, lovely hand feel, and we don’t want to have to pay a fortune.

At TNNA I was lucky enough to meet the team from Imperial Stock Ranch.  These guys are truly doing it right.  Located in Shaniko Oregon, this 30,000 acre, family owned and operated ranch is a nationally recognized historic site.  “The Imperial Stock Ranch works closely with numerous public and private agencies on projects ranging from sustainable practices to wildlife restoration and preservation to help create an even healthier ranch environment.”

The fibers from the ranch come from their herd of Columbia sheep and all of the “wool is custom milled without harsh chemicals or extreme temperatures, leaving it comfortable, soft and pure.”  All the colors are inspired from the unbelievable landscape of the ranch and use low impact dyes.  Here is another really great thing about this company — the yarns are actually spun in North America, which a rarity in today’s industry and they are looking for outlets to spin and process the yarn right here in the good old USA in the near future.  As well, some of their new colors are actually all natural dyes from coffee grounds from the ranch and surrounding areas as well as other gorgeous colors from merlot grapes.

So what will you see from these guys at Seed Stitch?  We will have some amazing accessory kits in the store soon.

Imperial Stock Ranch teamed up with Leigh Radford (who we love from AlterKnits and now her new book, AlterKnits Felt) to create these amazing felfted bracelet designs.  We’ll also be getting in some knit and then felted hat and scarf kits.  They are not to be missed.  Another interesting product I picked up from Imperial while at TNNA is some super soft pencil roving.  We’re going to play with it in the shop and we’ll let you know what we think.

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