How to knit! A work in progress. A series of how-to-knit videos. Enjoy!
First, cast-on:
Then, knit stitch:
Then, bind-off:
Finally, sew seams:
Truly a classic, Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Yarn has stood the test of time. It comes in neat little 107 yard, 50 gram skeins (we call them jelly beans). Classic DK Wool is a go-to for any knitter familiar with the line, or anyone looking for a new standard in a DK weight since it is suitable for all sorts of projects. Spun from premium grade, extra long fibers, it’s really warm and durable. Use it to knit your favorite hat, pair of socks, blanket, sweater, mittens… you get where I’m going. And if you need to find a pattern, Jo Sharp has you covered there too. Not only does she have lots of patterns specifically designed for the Classic DK Wool, but she also recommends it as a substitution for other Jo Sharp lines such as Jo Sharp Alpaca Kid Lustre Yarn, Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed Yarn, and Jo Sharp Soho Summer DK Cotton Yarn.
Speaking of patterns, check these out: This pattern for a garter stitch jacket keeps popping up on my radar, particularly the shorter version (pictured). I’d also like to point out that the majority of Jo Sharp patterns come with a second design as well. This pattern not only includes instructions for the jacket, but also a cabled hat. You can download it here- Jo Sharp Garter Stitch Jacket and Cabled Hat Pattern - Pattern Download
But then there’s the Jo Sharp Empire Coat - Pattern Download, which is a favorite amongst the Halcyon staff. This pattern includes instructions for the coat in two different lengths, the longer version being the red one pictured here.
Ok one more, then I’ll leave you alone… I also really like this pattern, the Jo Sharp Cable Shawl plus Unisex V-Neck Sweater - Pattern Download. I love how cozy that shawl looks. Not to mention, there are also instructions for a unisex sweater included with the shawl pattern.
So I guess if I had to sum it up (which I do) I’d say Jo Sharp’s Classic DK Wool is a stash staple. It’s versatile, durable, and affordable without sacrificing good quality. It’s not a superwash, just all natural handwashable goodness that will last for years. Looking for a specific color? You’ll likely find it. This yarn is offered in 29 solid and heathered colors, all of which we have in stock. Stop by the shop to feel the samples, or browse the color selection online. This wool is named Classic for a reason!
Plus, right now it’s on sale! Save 10% off all Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool until Friday November 11, 2016. Want a closer look? I made a quick video of this yarn up close and personal:
Special introductory price – 10% off until Friday, October 28th, 2016.
We’ve got another great new yarn here at Halcyon- Noro Tennen Yarn! This is a new member of the Noro family, and a unique one at that. Noro is famed for their brightly variegated, single ply yarns. Our little Noro corner in the shop is a veritable riot of color. Enter: Tennen. Also a single ply, Tennen is a much more subtle line, featuring more tonal variation in a palette of neutral colors.
Tennen yarn holds its own! I knit up a swatch of our color 0270, which is a grayish sage green . You can see that it still has Noro’s trademark variegation, but in a more subdued color scheme using just the green, white, and gray. These colors make the knitted fabric look just as soft as it feels.
Speaking of how it feels, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft this yarn knits up! Tennen is an interesting blend of 50% wool, 25% silk and 25% alpaca. It’s soft and a little squishy; the silk pokes out in happy little threads here and there, lending the finished fabric a slightly rustic feel. Not only that, but there’s just a hint of sheen over the whole thing that catches the light and highlights the gradients from dark to light.
The color palette and fiber content aren’t the only things that make Tennen stand out – it’s also a very generous put-up. Tennen is sold in 100 gram skeins, each containing approximately 275 yards. That cozy sweater I’ve been picturing out of this yarn is looking a little more attainable now! Being a worsted weight yarn, this would suit a ton of different patterns for all kinds of projects. If you’re looking for some ideas to start with, Noro also released a book specifically catered to Tennen. It’s called Noro Natural Style – check it out!
Why am I smiling? My new hooded scarf knitting pattern – with pockets – is here! Check out my video for some tips and and tricks for the Gimme Shelter - Hooded Scarf with Pockets Download.
It might not seem possible right now, but soon enough it’s gonna be winter. Especially here in the Northeast, where our summers are always so very short and sweet, we don’t really like to be reminded of the whole winter thing.
I can’t speak for every knitter out there, but I can look forward to the impending cold a lot more cheerfully when I have fun projects to stitch up. My wish list is constantly being added to and I never seem to make a dent in it. Today, though, I can proudly cross off an item that I’ve been “hank”-ering to make for some time now: A big, snuggly hooded scarf!
I’m not exaggerating – I have wanted to make a Little Red Riding Hood scarf since my early teens. Nothing is more appealing to me than the idea of wrapping a bunch of soft, warm fabric around my head and shoulders and hunkering down into my homemade turtle shell. What always deterred me from making my own, however, was that I didn’t ever want to tackle the hood shaping. That, and the fact that I was a teenager and didn’t have the patience to spend any length of time working on one solitary project.
Well, I’ve come a long way since I was a teenager (much to my parents’ relief). At the request from my lovely coworker Kate, I decided to finally tackle the elusive hooded scarf project. We grabbed our picnic basket and skipped down to the store, full of excitement at the thought of all the yarn possibilities. After spending a long time browsing shelves upon shelves of potential colors and fibers (have you ever been to Halcyon Yarn? It’s very big!), we landed on the Halcyon Signature Victorian Boucle Yarn. It has such a lovely drape when knitted up, and despite the mohair it is surprisingly silky – not itchy like you might expect. And because of that mohair, it is wonderfully warm and lightweight. I immediately dove for the most “Red Riding Hood” red I could find (our color 3560), and it was decided.
In designing this piece, I wanted the scarf and the hood to really be continuous. So, the hood is actually fashioned after the scarf is complete. It seems like cheating but it totally works! You just fold the scarf in half (with the narrow ends together) and put a small seam from the center fold down one side, about 12.5” long. The center fold is the part that will sit on your noggin and the seam will be in the back, thus closing up and creating the hood. This makes the scarf wearable with the hood down, as this style of hood won’t be clunky and hang below the rest of the scarf with it’s pushed back.
But wait, there’s more – pockets! Who doesn’t love pockets? These are done the easy way too, in a manner that I like to think the teenage me would approve of. Once the scarf is complete, you fold about 9” of each end up and stitch the side seams, creating a little pouch on each side. Whether you use them to store snowballs or just to keep your hands warm, I think these pockets add just enough detail to give the scarf some dimension and structure.
There you have it – a modern, fun and easy accessory that makes a great gift for yourself or a loved one. When winter storms are threatening, warmth and style are just a hooded scarf away.
Eileen has been so convincing in her enthusiasm for Lucet braiding and cordmaking we had to put her in front of a video camera. This is the result, and we hope you like it too! The lucet is a wonderful tool – wonderful for kids and adults, for travel and at home, for quick bracelets and complex cords. Eileen shows a basic how to on her favorite lucet, and gives some examples of what she’s made and how it fits in with her yarn and fiber arts obsessions. Hint: this is the perfect tool to use up all those beautiful loose-ends and small lengths of yarn in your stash that are too beautiful to throw away!
Convinced yet? Try one of these: Cherry Lucet by Wool Tree Mill, Filigree Rosewood Lucet, Lucet Braiding
Related items of interest:
A few weeks ago we introduced you to the Solid Wood Hand Felting Tool - Palm Washboard, a fantastic tool for wet felting. We’ve now gone one step further and made a video so you can see it in action. I think you’ll agree it’s one cool little tool that definitely belongs among your felting tools. This video is also a mini-introduction to wet felting (with the Palm Washboard) so if you’ve ever been curious, take a gander!
With its unique fiber combination of 35% Hemp/Flax, 35% Cotton and 30% Rayon, Block Island Blend Yarn is a stand out among Halcyon’s Signature Yarns. We’ve been excited about this yarn all along – even more so as we’ve brought production closer to home. If you’re not familiar with this yarn you’re missing out. This stylish 3-ply yarn has one ply of a gentle slub cotton for textural interest, one ply of rayon for subtle sheen and one ply of a hemp/linen blend for added body and strength. You’ll love the wonderful textural dimension it adds to both woven and knitted pieces. Each fiber takes the dye slightly differently creating rich tonal colors and with 29 colors there’s lots to love. Make sure you check out Halcyon’s video highlighting Block Island Blend to see this distinct yarn.
We love it that customers are looking for more locally produced yarns. We’re fortunate that producing yarn to our stringent standards has become possible in Maine. Block Island Blend is spun by our good friends at JaggerBrothers, just up the road in Springvale. The spun yarn heads back down to the coast to new and wonderful Saco River Dyehouse to be dyed. Finished yarns are stocked in our one-and-only retail location in Bath, waiting for your visit or order!
Long known for its elegance and sophistication in woven wraps and table linens such as the Woven Cowl Wrap - Block Island Blend and the Seguin Sunset Table Set weaving pattern, Block Island is now being discovered and loved by knitters. The new [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] features Block Island Blend color 2110 (8211) in Therese Chynoweth’s Mint Cascade, a gorgeous cardigan with set in sleeves with each side framed by lacey cascading leaves. Of course we’ve always known it’s a fantastic yarn for knitting. We’ve experimented knitting it at multiple gauges with both a single strand as well as doubled. There’s something to love about each swatch. One of our all time favorite sweater patterns is the Very Versatile Neck Down Hoodie / hooded pullover by Knitting Pure and Simple in which we used 2 stands of Block Island knit at 4 stitches per inch. How about lace? Just 3 mini cones is all it takes for the Heirloom Lace Scarf in Signature Block Island Blend. Give Block Island Blend a try and let us know what you think.
Related items of interest:
Tame your unruly yarn with handcrafted Wool Trees from Wool Tree Mills in McKinleyville, CA (we love made in the USA!). Whether you’re knitting, crocheting or winding a warp for weaving, once you’ve tried these tools you’ll never want to be without. Choose from the single, single with tool tray or double model. Let Halcyon tell you more in this video.
Originally stocked in Sapele, Walnut and Maple, we’ve decided to focus on the beautiful Sapele wood. Sapele Wool Tree Plus with Guide Arm, Sapele Wool Tree Tray with Guide Arm, Sapele Double Wool Tree with Guide Arms.
That means going forward Wool Trees will be available in Walnut and Maple by special order only. To reduce current inventory we’re offering a *20% discount on existing stock in Walnut and Maple only. [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] , [Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock] .
![[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]](/images_products/6499000W.jpg)
Disc. or unavail.![[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]](/images_products/6499001W.jpg)
Disc. or unavail.![[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]](/images_products/6499002W.jpg)
Disc. or unavail.![[Sorry, item discontinued or temporarily out of stock]](/images_products/6499000M.jpg)
Disc. or unavail.*Sale price valid while supplies. Limited quantities so order quickly.
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