New and Tips

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Aunt Debbie's Knit and Stitch Shop

and

Woolaroo Yarns

New

If you haven't been into our shops lately, it's time you make your way back. The newest products to hit our shops are:

1. The Knit Kit

If you are looking for the most amazing

comprehensive knitting kit, then here it is.

It includes a tape measure, crochet hook

(for dropped stitches), stitch markers,

point protectors, scissors, row counter

and threat cutter. And all in a small,

palm-sized container. It's easy enough to

slip into your purse or knitting bag. We

have them in black.

2. "Buffalo" Wool

Can't find it anymore? Well the original

Buffalo Wool is no longer made, however,

we do have something that will replace it

and works perfectly for your old Buffalo

Wool patterns.

3. Wood Buttons and shawl pins

Like the look of natural wood and the feel

of hand-made buttons. We have them too.

From exotic to local (lilac wood), our selection

includes natural and dyed over-sized buttons.

4. New Colour in Nameste

See the latest colour and trend from Nameste.

The deep red is very fetching.

5. Addi Clicks

Yes we have them in stock (but not many).

It goes without saying how amazing they are.

6. Hiya-Hiya Interchangeable Kit

These are my faves. They are smooth, warm to the

touch, seamless connection and short needles. All

you will ever need (except for the larger sizes,

which should be here by the end of Spring).

Tips and Techniques

This month's tip is: How to change a pattern from a double-knit-weight yarn to worsted-weight yarn.

I will use a 20" finished hat as an example.

If the instructions are calling to cast on 110 stitches with double-knit yarn which is 22 stitches to 4 inches or 5.5 stitches to the inch, then calculate as follows:

110 stitches = 20 inches

20 inches divided by 4 inches (standard swatch size) = 5

5 x 20 stitches (standard worsted weight yarn measure found on ball band)

= 100 stitches

If you would like to make a double-knit weight hat pattern using worsted weight yarn, cast on 100 stitches instead of 110. Be sure to measure a little less in the length or the hat will be too long.

Rule of thumb: If there are instructions for more than one size (i.e. small, medium and large) and you would like the finished garment to be a medium, follow the instructions for the small size, but measure for the medium size. Keep an eye on increases for sleeves; instead of increasing every 6th row, you might want to increase every 5th or 4th row, depending on how the gauge is for the yarn you are using.

Previously:

The question is often asked about how much yarn is to be measured when using a long-tail (or thumb method) cast-on. This is particularly annoying when 200 stitches are needed for a 3-ply sweater or an afghan. The answer is quite simple: for every stitch you need (i.e. 200) wrap the yarn around the knitting needle loosely that amount of times. I like to leave a little bit more (maybe 8 inches or so) just in case.

See you next month!