In Which I Attempt Yarn Stash Control

I have friends who are using this time of quarantine to clean, paint, repair, repurpose, and improve all the things. I also have friends who are accomplishing as little as possible, going from pj’s to sweats only on days they feel fancy, elevating hibernation to an Olympic sport.

Me? I think I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of coping with all this. I’m still doing a lot of my Normal Life things, even though life ain’t; and I’ve added in a few Pandemic Projects™ to keep my mind and body occupied, while trying to remember to laugh everyday.

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I can’t really judge myself nor my friends harshly in all our varied responses to life right now. So if you’re reading this and you feel like you’re not doing enough or doing it right or whatever, promise me you’ll take a deep breath, smile, and know that I believe in you, you’ve got this, and we’ll get through it. (Seriously, hang in there!)

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When I talk about my Pandemic Projects™, I have to add the disclaimer that in between them I’m binge watching things on TV like it’s my one job in life (balance!). The biggest project has been my attempts to “organize” the yarn, projects, and accessories from 15 years of heavy knitting. It’s been tough, I’m not gonna lie. After several hours spent sorting all the leftover bits of yarns (and wondering why I kept them this long!) in the craft room, I walk into my bedroom and find MORE yarn. It’s overwhelming.

Before: I just can’t even…

Here are a few tips I can offer if you, too, are attempting this sort of task:

1. Take it slow. You didn’t build this mountain of yarn overnight, so bite off small pieces to sort or you will be tempted to give up the first day.

2. Make mistakes. I tried a few different configurations before I was happy, but I’m a visual learner and had to see if it would work (and it didn't always).

3. Be fearless. Don't be afraid to unravel something that you KNOW you’re never going to finish, or to throw away yarn that truly is crap, or fill a huge giveaway box of excellent yarn that you realize you will never ever use.

4. 80’s tunes. Or whatever works for you. My cable company has given us free Sirius XM radio through the end of May and I basically live to hear Richard Blade’s afternoon show on 1st Wave.

5. Get help. While you can’t really have a friend over to pitch in right now, you can FaceTime your disaster for outside opinions and motivation. And perhaps wine drinking, if that’s your thing. Also, see below for other ways to get input.

After: This one is all just cotton. Remind me not to buy cotton. Please.

When you take a break from actually working on it, here are some other resources with ideas to make your yarn stash something you delight in.

LionBrand Yarn Blog: 12 Tips on How to Organize Yarn Yarn Stash

Marie Kondo (because if anything should “spark joy” shouldn’t it be your hobby??")

Studio Knit: My Yarn Monsters (I untangled some and tossed others, depending on the size)

Yarn Room Makeover (her “after” pic = Goals)

I hope this gives you some encouragement and maybe inspiration to take control of your yarn stash. There is something exciting about the fact that I now know where ALL my sock yarn is!

If you attempt this sort of Pandemic Project™, send me a pic of your “after” (and your “before” if you dare)!

Knit That Sweater: Finishing Techniques 3 with Sandy Huff

Knit That Sweater, Part 3

A guest blog series on Finishing Techniques

Part 3 of the series featuring the lovely and gracious designer Sandy Huff, someone I am proud to call my friend (and not just because she might block something for me if I'm nice to her...)

If you missed her other posts, click here for Part 1 or Part 2.

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Knit That Sweater--Finishing Techniques, Part 3: Blocking and Buttons and more!

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Blocking serves several purposes.  Blocking is used to “set” the stitches so that they relax into each other for a more uniform look.  Blocking is also used to open up a lace pattern. Small alterations in size can also be facilitated through blocking.

There are many ways to block your pieces but generally, you should consult your ball band laundering instructions to determine which blocking method is best for your yarn fiber(s).  ALWAYS test your preferred blocking method on your swatch. The wrong blocking method could ruin all of your hard work. You can consult Deborah Newton’s book “Finishing School” for a comprehensive understanding of blocking methods.

After blocking your buttons and any special details can be added.

When sewing on buttons, use the yarn that was used for the body of the garment.  If the yarn is too thick for sewing buttons then separate the plies. If the plied yarn is not strong enough then twist it together with a matching thread.  Create a little space between the button and knitted fabric by wrapping the yarn around several times. To prevent droopy buttons follow this handy tip:  sandwich your knitted fabric between two buttons.  You’ll have the visible button on top of the fabric and another button hidden underneath making the button more stable.

Finally, finish your piece with special finishings like embroidery, duplicate stitch, cross-stitch, crochet chain, pom-poms, tassels, fringe, braids, or i-cord.  Be creative and make your garment a one-of-a-kind.

Now you are on your way to finishing your garments with a professional and polished look.

Sandy Huff is a knit and crochet designer from the Atlanta, GA area. Her designs have been featured in Creative Knitting, Interweave Crochet and more.

Knit That Sweater: Finishing Techniques 2 with Sandy Huff

The second in a series written by my friend, designer Sandy Huff. Catch part 1 HERE

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Knit That Sweater: Finishing Techniques, Vol. 2: SEAMING

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Now you have finished the knitting.  You are ready to do the “finishing”. Follow these helpful tips to produce a garment you will be proud to wear.

When it comes to seaming side seams, how do you know that your seams will be even?  My solution to that is to knit the front and back pieces simultaneously using two separate balls of yarn.  There will not be any guesswork as to whether or not your edges are the same length. Do the same with your sleeves and you will have sleeves that are exactly the same length.

Always do seaming with the right side facing you so that you will be able to see how it looks as you go.  

The order in which seaming should occur is:

1. Shoulders ( the foundation of the garment)

2. Side seams

3. Sleeve seams

4. Work neckline and front edges (usually done as picked up stitches)

5. Attach buttons, zippers, etc.

6. Sew in sleeves.  This step is last because adding them earlier will make the garment too heavy and awkward to work with.

My least favorite seaming task is the shoulders.  Patterns typically guide you in the direction of a shoulder edge that ladders and is very difficult to seam.  There are several other options for finishing your shoulder seams.

A sloped bind off will give you a curved edge rather than a ladder.  On the last row before the BO, sl last st purlwise. On the BO row (sl one purlwise) twice, pass the second stitch over the first to BO the first stitch.  BO the remaining stitches as usual. Continue in this manner until you finish all your BO rows.

You may also use short rows to shape the shoulder in order to finish with live stitches when you can use the kitchener stitch or a 3-needle bind off for a seamless finish.  Knit across the first BO row rather than binding off. On the next row, stop to within the number of stitches you were to BO on the first BO row. Turn your work. Knit the remaining stitches and repeat until you finish all of the BO stitch numbers.  You will be left with live stitches in which to do your kitchener or 3-needle BO.

For vertical seams such as side seams and armhole edges leave a long enough tail when casting on the body or when binding off in order to use the tail for seaming. Use the mattress stitch for Stockinette stitch and reverse stockinette stitch.  

When sewing in in the sleeves, first mark the middle of the top of the sleeve cap where it will match up with the shoulder seam.  Begin seaming at the lower armhole where it meets the side seams and sew up towards the shoulder until your marker is even with the top of the shoulder easing the fit as you go.

When picking up stitches, if you’ve already added edge stitches, use these stitches for a flawless seam.  Work into the backs of stitches to prevent holes if you need to. A pattern will tell you how many stitches to pick up but that may not happen in your knitting.  If you pick up too may just decrease on the first row of knitting. When picking up stitches on a vertical edge the loose rule is to pick up 2 stitches for every 3 rows. On ribbing, pick up at every row or 5 stitches to every 6 rows. Decrease evenly a few stitches on the last row before the BO to prevent flaring.

Next time--Part 3: Blocking and Buttons and more

Sandy Huff is a designer, knitter, crocheter and all-around awesome person. You can find her patterns here on Ravelry, including some gorgeous brand new ones!

How-to Video Tutorial: Slip, Knit, PSSO

I made this video for a student to show the proper way to work the Slip, Knit, PSSO (Pass Slipped Stitch Over) decrease. This left-leaning decrease is useful for knitting hats, socks, lace and much more.

Here's how it works: 

1. Slip the stitch from the left needle to the right needle without working it.

2. Knit the next stitch.

3. Pass the slipped stitch over the stitch you just knit. Ta-da! A left-leaning decrease!