yarn Archives - Sew Wrong

Lucinda June 10, 2012

Yarn Shopping in MA – Webs!

I’ve written about trips out to Webs in Northampton, MA before but never wrote a comprehensive review of the store I refer to as “yarn heaven” or “the yarn store of all yarn stores.” A couple of the gals in my knitting group and I took a trip out there this past Saturday and I was so excited to share with them the experience that is Webs. I mean, come on…look at the size of the place!

If you’ve shopped online before at yarn.com, you’re familiar with the magnitude of the assortment that they offer. So be warned: if you’re planning a trip to Webs, come prepared with some ideas and list of what you’re looking for. I usually do and this time I didn’t, and was plenty overwhelmed (in a good way!) with the selection.

It’s always best if you’ve never visited before to ask one of the staff how the store is laid out since it can be a lot to take in at once. The newest yarn, needles, and notions are in the front; the remainder of yarn is organized from front to back by weight, fingering to super bulky. Above is a photo of the selection of cone yarn for weaving and knitting. We lusted over all of the beautiful colors and fiber blends!

Books, patterns, and magazines are found mostly towards the back of the store and are organized by category: stitch libraries, fair isle and color-work, toys, etc. They also have huge filing cabinets with PDF printouts and single page patterns from independent to large knitting companies and designers. This is sometimes a good spot to start at first if you’re not sure what to make or what you’re looking for. I love drooling over the glossy photos in their huge Rowan magazine section.

Throughout the store you’ll also find their private yarn label Valley Yarns. They’re great alternatives to more expensive name brands and from the ones that I’ve worked with, the quality is just as good. This is the rainbow wall of their Berkshire yarn right across from Cascade 220. I think I liked Valley Yarns’ colors much more!

You think I’m done with going over their selection? Not even close! They have a warehouse, you know…

This picture doesn’t even come close to capturing how large their warehouse section is in the back. You’ll find lots of closeouts at great prices in the back, and some of the girls I went with found some gems back here for their projects. Rowan, Debbie Bliss, you’ll find all sorts of discounted yarns in the back.

I ended up with some more Classic Elite Cotton Bam Boo for a Spring Garden Tee and Rowan Cocoon and Addi Turbos for an Owls Sweater. Not too bad after going back and forth for about four hours!

Pros:

The most amazing yarn selection you’ll ever find. It’s rare that they don’t have exactly what I’m looking for.
Super helpful and friendly staff: we asked them lots of questions and they were full of info to guide us to what we were looking for. Plus, they held our yarn for us while we went to refuel at a brunch place they recommended. Thank you!
Most of their yarn is discountable, just like online: 20% on $60 or more, 25% on $120 or more. That definitely helps out when trying to make a decision on what to buy!

Cons:

The drive: it took us two hours to get there, but it was completely worth it. We just need to be closer!

PS: Be sure to check out the bead store right down the street, Northampton Beadery

Webs

75 Service Center Road

Northampton, MA 01060

1-800-FOR-WEBS

(closed Sundays)

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Lucinda November 28, 2011

Tutorial: Yarn Ball Ornaments

I’m not exactly a big Christmas person. I work in retail, where it’s perpetually Christmas from the beginning of October until the end of December, so I get my dose of “holiday cheer” in a big way each year. But I still like to have a little tree at home, twinkle lights, and some She & Him Christmas playing in the background. This year, my tree has a knitting theme, and yours can too with these easy-peasy yarn ball ornaments. I can see smaller ones as decorations on gift boxes, big ones in a glass vase on the mantel, a couple attached to a wreath…the ideas go on and on!

Materials:

Styrofoam balls in assorted sizes
Scrap yarn
Aleene’s Tacky Glue or other craft glue
Yarn needle
Scissors

Directions:

Step 1: Place a dot of glue in the middle of a Styrofoam ball. Place the end of yarn in the middle of glue dot to secure and wrap the yarn around the Styrofoam ball several times through glue dot.

The beauty about working with yarn and Styrofoam is that the yarn “clings” to the Styrofoam texture, making it easy to wrap the yarn around the ball and not worry about the yarn slipping from place.

Step 2: Wrap yarn around Styrofoam ball several times in the same direction, then switch directions. Keep wrapping yarn around ball in alternating directions to get a “yarn ball” effect, as seen above.

Keep wrapping yarn around until Styrofoam no longer shows through. Doesn’t that look pretty?

Step 3: When the ball is wrapped to your liking, place a dot of glue next to the most recently wrapped area of yarn. Continue to wrap yarn over glue dot to secure yarn in place.

The yarn ball should look like this afterwards, the glue is covered by yarn wrapped over it.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail for weaving in the end.

Step 4: Thread a needle with the yarn end and pass needle underneath several sections of wrapped yarn. Repeat a few times to secure, then trim yarn end close to ball.

Step 5: To make a hanger for the ornament, use a needle and thread a length of yarn underneath a section of wrapped yarn. Tie ends into a knot at desired length and hide knot underneath wrapped yarn section.

Repeat for lots of yarn ball goodness to hang on your tree this year! So much cuter than store-bought ornaments.

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Lucinda July 23, 2011

Next on the Needles: Leaflet and Clapotis

Back home! On my trek back from PA to MA, I took a pit-stop at Webs in Northampton, MA which I deem to be the Mecca of yarn stores. I hadn’t been in over a year and yes, I can order from them online, but it’s not the same as being there in person and looking at the colors, feeling the fibers, etc. So I splurged.

I wanted to make Leaflet as soon as I saw it in the Knitty First Fall issue released a few weeks ago. While I do like the orange pictured, I was trying to remember my fall wardrobe and didn’t think I’d have many tops to layer with that color. So I opted for a hearty wool and alpaca blend from Valley Yarns in a boysenberry color that would work with my grays, browns, and purples that I wear in the fall. I’ll probably be casting on for this in the next week or so. I’m happy that I found a sweater that looks cute and knits up on big needles, since larger needle sizes don’t aggrevate my wrists as much. Probably the reason why I haven’t made much progress lately on my Round Yoke Cardigan.

Clapotis has been in my knitting queue since 2004. A long time, yes. But the length of time is due to the fact that I couldn’t find a substitute yarn I liked for the Lorna’s Laces Lion and Lamb, which would cost me an arm and a leg for this project. Noro Silk Garden, which is a popular sub on Ravelry for this project, has never appealed to me since I’m not a fan of lots and lots of variegation or the texture of the yarn (I frankly think it’s overrated). But the moment I walked in the door at Webs, I immediately saw this yarn and thought “Clapotis.” It’s got the color gradient I was searching for, the soft texture of the blend, and was at a more affordable price point for the project. Sold! I probably won’t finish this in time for the cool autumn weather to set in in New England since I think I’m the world’s slowest knitter, but it’s such a versatile color for a scarf that I could definitely wear it next spring as well.

Now, on to try out my new Thera Gloves to see if they actually help my wrists.

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Lucinda August 11, 2010

New WIP – Lace Neckwarmer

I must be a glutton for punishment because I started another lace project. Lace and I don’t get along, but this pattern was just too pretty to pass up. Plus, it makes a good project in-between my finished Jewel (a black tank) and my next project (a black cardigan). Color is good!

Pattern: Lace Neckwarmer by Classic Elite Yarns

Yarn: Rowan Silk Wool

Needles: US 7 16″ circs

The pattern called for a delicious cashmere Classic Elite yarn named “Wicked.” An appropriate name considering the yarn is about $55 a skein! Too rich for my blood, so I settled for a lowly 50% merino wool and 50% silk blend yarn instead (frankly, anything would be inferior to cashmere) that was much more affordable, and pretty soft to boot. Currently I’m about 60% of the way to finishing my little neckwarmer and the lace is going pretty smoothly, no major errors or problems thus far. And knitting lace on Addi Turbos makes it such a more enjoyable experience anyway.

Finished pics to come soon, I’m sure.

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Lucinda November 2, 2008

Webs: Truly an Experience

This past Thursday, since I had the day off from work, I took the opportunity to drive to Webs in Northampton, MA to see their retail store in person. If you have ordered online from their website, you know that they have a ton of yarn to choose from. But it’s nothing like what they have in their store. When I walked in and was immediately overwhelmed at not just the size of the store but the amount of yarn covering the walls and stacked throughout the aisles. There was so much that I had to ask for help because really, I had no idea where to begin. Plus, their warehouse is open to the public, so there was even more yarn in the back I had yet to see! I spent a good two hours in yarn heaven, and walked out a happy knitter with a large bag of yarn in hand for many projects.

Berroco Ultra Alpaca for a cabled beret from the new Debbie Bliss knitting magazine

Berroco Pure Merino DK for a bobbled tam from Vogue Knitting Holiday 08

Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran for a cabled scarf (ssh xmas gift!)

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran for some Fetching gloves (maybe some gifts as well?)

All in all, a very good day! I urge anyone is in the area to get out to this fabulous LYS!