Tips and Tricks for the September KnitCrate Membership by Dayana Knits

Tips and Tricks for the September KnitCrate Membership by Dayana Knits:

Dayana Knits for KnitCrate September 2017

Let’s Face It – It’s All About the Yarn

Yes, that’s what we really think about – opening a KnitCrate to see which plush eye-grabbing yarn is lying in wait inside! I’ve gotten to the point where I open the box and use the enclosed intro and pattern cards to shield my eyes and stretch out the surprise.

Well, if you love yarn the most (like me), then the new standard KnitCrate is our box, baby. Inside I found a super high quality, high-value yarn and one pattern each in knit and crochet.

For those of you who still love getting notions and extras, no worries, keep on getting the Artisan KnitCrate for what you love most!

September was the month for über-squishy Vidalana Worsted, a superwash hand-dyed 100% merino. There were (2) 110g skeins, each with 180 yards. That’s 360 yards of merino yarn, yesss!

The color was an absolute stunner – a turquoise called “Intensity” toned out with flecks of white, which I personally love.

VIDEO TIP 1: Have you ever bought or received a loosely wound skein? Or, have you opened a skein to peek at the dyeing inside only to have no idea how to get it wound again? Watch my video here to see how to do it!

Included was a shawl knitting pattern by rhyFlower Knits using both of the skeins. It’s a relatively simple body with a sweet trim made in lacy waves. I knew it would have to be a generously sized super-comfy shawl if it were in this yarn.

Looking at the pattern, I saw that it started with a cable cast-on. Fun!

VIDEO TIP 2: Watch my video here to see a tip on how to start a cable cast-on without an ugly slipknot.

One of my issues with shawls that start from the neck and increase downwards (like most crescent shawls, for example) is the lack of elasticity along the edges. It can look really awkward, especially if the shawl increases many stitches quickly.

VIDEO TIP 3: Want to know two easy ways to give your shawl edge a little more elasticity? Watch my video here for some awesome tips!

I mention in the video that there are more effective ways to do this (aren’t there always, ha!). Here’s a tip that requires a little more forethought.

It’s not always the yarnovers that are at fault – the Make 1 stitches can tighten an edge, too! You can have less yarn-hungry Make 1s by doing a yarnover in the row before the Make 1 stitch.

For example, in this pattern, the increased ends of the rows look like this:

(WS): Purl

(RS): K2, yo, M1R……….… M1L, yo, K2.

To leave extra yarn for the Make 1 stitches, simply:

(WS): K2, yo…… yo, K2.

(RS): K2, yo, M1R (into the yo from the previous row)…………M1L (into the yo from the previous row), yo, K2.

**Remember that you may have to twist the yarnover to get the right M1 direction.**

Well, there is no doubt that this Vidalana yarn is knitting up beautifully and the white flecks are integrating in a really masterful way!